A/N:: This is based off of Taylor Swift's "Love Story". It started off as a story for a friend, but I could see the story line starring the Glee characters. Now, this is a Puckleberry fic, but, as in the song, you have to wait for the happy ending. I hope you like it!
My birthday is tomorrow!!! *happy dance* XD
~Destiny
The palace was buzzing as servants and other hired helped scurried to get everything ready for the princess's birthday ball. It was the day that she turned seventeen, and her father hoped that tonight was the night she chose the prince that would become the future king. Nobles were traveling from around the world, all hoping to be the lucky family to be the future royalty at Longleat House, Wiltshire.
In her room, the princess was getting ready with her best friend and lady in waiting, Tina. The birthday princess was sitting in front of an exquisitely decorated mirror as the younger girl fixed her hair. Her expert fingers worked deftly and quickly, twisting her dark hair up into an elegant bun, "You look beautiful, My Lady."
"Tina, you make sure I'm beautiful, and I thank you for it. Now, will you please remember to drop all formalities in my chamber?" The princess smiled at her in the mirror, "Now what dress did your impeccable fashion sense pick out for me tonight?"
Tina went to the bed to open a box, "The Italian designer, Valencia, sent it over just this morning. It's a little risqué, but I thought it was perfect for you." She pulled out a royal blue gown, "Now come here, so I may tighten your corset, Rachel."
"Must I wear this, Tina? I hate how it constricts!" The princess sighed and walked over to her lady in waiting, "Are the guests even arriving yet?"
Tina tugged on the corset strings, "They will be in a moment. If you don't be stubborn, you could probably watch them come in from your balcony." She finished lacing up the strings and gingerly lifted the royal blue fabric over her princess's head, "Arms up, Rachel."
She obliged obediently and the gown was dropped and pulled into place. The princess looked at her reflection, "Valencia outdid herself. This is gorgeous." She adjusted the bodice, "Though, I do feel weird without any sleeves."
"That's the risqué part." She laughed, tying the lace on the back of the gown into a bow, "Did you pick out the tiara you are to wear tonight?"
"Just a simple one. I don't want anything to upstage the dress." Rachel smiled and picked up a silver and diamond tiara that wasn't too exquisite, but elegant enough to compliment her gown.
Tina gasped, "The carriages are here!"
The princess squealed and rushed out onto the balcony in excitement. She clutched the railing and leaned over as far as she could without falling, "Oh, look at Lady Santana! Her dresses are always orange. There's Sir Matt and Sir Mike! Wait, who is that?" She pointed at a carriage she had never seen before.
The two girls watched curiously as a finely built man with an odd hair cut stepped down from the front of the carriage and handed the reins to the man who actually rode in the exquisite vehicle. Karine giggled as the Mohawk noble gave his servant a mock bow. As if hearing her, he looked up with a smile that was brighter than the stars.
"Who…" Rachel struggled to regain composure after the ginger gone into the palace, "Tina, who…"
The lady laughed, "It seems that you have developed feelings for this unknown man within a minute! You haven't even spoken to him yet, my lady."
"Is that my cue, then, to join in the celebration?" She laughed and winked playfully, "Let us not keep the lords waiting. My father is banking heavily on this ball."
Tina led the way out of the chamber, "Doesn't this all seem a little Cinderella-ish to you, my lady?"
"All balls do, dear friend. Yet, we must play the roles society makes us play as if we are mere actors on a stage." Rachel lifted her skirt and descended the stairs, "At least I was able to persuade Daddy not to announce my like last year."
She giggled, "That was amusing, my lady."
"I fell on the last step!"
"Exactly."
They walked into the ballroom and paused to take everything in. Couples were already dancing in the center of the room and those who were not dancing were gossiping and mingling with one another. Some noticed the princess and bowed.
She nodded her head regally in return and made her way through the crowd to visit her friends, "Lady Santana! Lady Quinn! Lady Brittany!" She hugged each of them, "Oh, how I missed you!"
"Happy birthday, Rachel!" Santana lifted her glass in a toast, "Who knew you would survive this long?"
She rolled her eyes and laughed along with the joke, "So what's new?"
Brittany started to launch into one of her amazing stories, but her eyes widened, "He is coming this way!"
"Who?"
"Sir Noah! This is his first time at court. I hear he has quite the lively spirit."
A voice that immediately sent her heart fluttering came from behind Karine, "Excuse me, ladies, but I was wondering if the process would care to dance."
She turned to see the noble she saw from the balcony, "Sir Noah, I presume?"
"Aye, princess." He bowed his head.
"You come to ask me to dance without a proper greeting?"
Noah smiled at her, "But I did greet you while you were standing at your balcony. The invitation was dance was indeed made in a proper manner."
She blushed, "Then I would love to dance with you, Sir Noah." She gave him her hand and allowed him to whisk her to the dance floor, "Do you enjoy dancing?"
"Yes, though being with a beautiful partner like yourself adds tremendously to the experience." He placed his hand on her waist as they started to waltz, "So you enjoy the small talk of society?"
Rachel grimaced, "Not at all. The weather, dancing, number of people… They are all topics that do not allow you to really get to know your dance partner. If I had my way then the topics of conversation would not be limited. Any question could be asked and any subject could be breeched?"
"Then what subject shall be breeched, my lady?"
Her eyes sparkled under the light from the chandelier, "The irritation of formalities such as 'my lady'. There are many ladies in court. What makes me yours?"
"In that sense, it seems that I am your lord."
"How so?"
Noah spun her around, "When I saw you on the balcony, your beauty captivated me. When I heard your faint laugh, you captured me. You have me wrapped around your finger, Rachel."
She blushed, "That was a pretty speech, my lord."
"What am I to do to claim you as my lady?"
Her body sank into a curtsey as the dance ended, "Be yourself. Do not fall prey to my father's court like so many before you." She smiled brightly at him before gliding off into the arms of her next partner.