Thank you to Rob for helping me to come up with this!!

Dedication: Robert. Without you, this wouldn't have been possible.

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Disclaimer: I own nothing except my own character. Everything else is either in the D&D universe or part of Rob's imagination.

"Sir! Admittance beyond this point is forbidden!" shouted the soldier as the spear flashed across Aridian's path. He chuckled, putting a hand into his coat pocket.

"No, I'm afraid that you're making a mistake." he said, grinning at the soldier as he placed his other hand on the spear. "You see, I'm a member of the caterer's company for this shindig of the Empress's and, wouldn't you know it, I left my boss's instruction book back in the meeting hall." He pointed down the hallway and smiled at the guard. "So. Can I pass?"

"You need permission." said the soldier with a bit of hesitation. Aridian's hand covered the soldier's for a moment and when he pulled back, a huge sapphire was in the soldier's hand.

"I can has permission?" he asked with a cocky arch of his eyebrow. The soldier stared at the sapphire for a moment before putting it surreptitiously into his pocket and withdrawing his spear. He stood at attention, eyes no longer looking at Aridian, but looking off to the side. Aridian's grin widened. "Good man." he said, patting the soldier's shoulder before continuing down the hallway of the palace.

'That was almost too easy.' said a quiet voice in his ear.

"What can I say?" he replied quietly as he strolled down the passageway. "The Empress's soldiers aren't paid well." His cocky grin made the air beside him sigh.

'Just do what we came to do and let's get out. This place gives me the creeps.'

"Dustin, Dustin. Calm down, my friend. All in good time." He passed by several other stressed out workers, mentally taking notes on possible exits and pathways in case something went horridly wrong. He noted a soldier who was his exact height and weight and mentally reminded himself of where he was stationed. He would definitely come in handy.

'Remember, ballroom, dungeons, dress pattern.' hissed the voice in his ear.

"Yes, yes. I know." said Aridian, running a hand through his short and spiky red hair as he passed by several scullery maids who stared after him in awe and giggled to themselves when he was out of sight. "Trying to find the damn ballroom."

There was a small rustle of paper. 'Okay, so it's down this corridor and to the right.'

"Got it." said Aridian, taking the directions and stopping outside the archway to the ballroom. "So if this is here..." he said, looking down the hallway and mentally plotting the fastest route to the dungeons that would be needed. The scratching of a pen beside him told him that Dustin was doing the same thing, only writing it down on their map. He grinned, patted Dustin's invisible shoulder and entered the ballroom.

As ballrooms went, it was one of the better ones that he had seen. Three crystal and gold chandeliers, wide marbled dancing floor, a small glided stage for the Empress to make her grand entrance from. He strode down the staircase and walked across the polished floor, boot heels clicking against the marble. He jumped up onto the stage and made several mental notes before heading behind the large golden folding screen behind which the Empress would be waiting for the orchestra to announce her entrance. He found the small hallway that led into the hallway, following it up and out.

He exited the hidden door in the wall, shutting it silently behind him as Dustin grabbed his shoulder and pushed him towards the dungeons. "The Hell? Alright, alright. I'm goin'." he muttered as Dustin's invisible footsteps echoed perfectly with his. He hurried down the corridors, the plan that had been laid out for so long starting to take a more definite shape.

Meanwhile -- In a Separate Part of the Palace

"Watch it, you clumsy oaf!" protested Atara as the dressmaker's apprentice poked her ankle with a pin as she stood being fitted. "Ceern, if your apprentice pokes me one more time-!"

"I assure you, Your Highness, it won't happen again." said the plump dressmaker with a bow to the young Empress standing before the many mirrors. She sent a glare at her apprentice who swallowed and went more slowly and much more carefully. Atara gave a huff, tossing her long sheet of honey-colored hair behind her as she admired her reflection. The dress was truly a marvel. Gold thread, sapphires, diamonds and it was of the most flattering cut. It was only suitable for an Empress to wear. Correction, it was only suitable for HER to wear. She preened proudly for a moment before kicking the apprentice away.

"Enough." she said, gesturing to the corseted back. "Untie me." The apprentice quickly obeyed, ignoring her smarting fingers. The dress slipped from the Empress's shoulders, piling in a puddle of silken gold at the foot of the stool. "My dress." The apprentice hurried to the dress that the Empress had worn in, put it on her, then buttoned up the back and adjusted the skirt.

"Done, Milady-"

"Finally." snapped Atara as she descended from the stool with a click of her heels. "Ceern, the dress will be ready in time." It wasn't a request. It was an order. The dressmaker nodded and bowed.

"It shall be done." she said as the Empress swept away. As soon as the glided door slammed behind Atara, the dressmaker let her hatred show through her plump features. The apprentice toyed with the idea of destroying the dress, but kept such dangerous ideas to herself. They began to work on the dress silently, neither daring to admit their true feelings out loud.

As Atara swept down the glittering hallway, everyone bowed before her, a chorus of "Your Highness"'s echoing along with her footsteps. She ignored all, regally sweeping through her domain to her Chamberlain's meeting hall where he would tell her all the details that had been secured for her Peace Ball later on that week. It was to be a magnificent masquerade ball to assure the peasantry that the government was being well run. Once they saw the nobility relaxing, they too would relax and cease in their constant demands. The peasantry were so tiring, why couldn't they just better themselves? Why did they always have to come to HER with their petty requests for lower taxes, more water-wells and something called an inner-city sewer system? Oh, please. Just dump it all in the river, that's why it was there! She huffed as she passed by a red-headed man in a low bow.

She almost paused in her walk but continued her regal pace. She hadn't seen him before, but he was probably just some hired help for the Ball. What did he think he was doing in one of her private corridors? The hired help NEVER came into her private corridors. It was NOT done. She'd have to have Bruno look into it.

She swept around the corner and disappeared from the sight of those in the hall. Aridian looked after her as he stood up, his long white scar on the right side of his face shining in the lamplight as he grinned. "There she is." he muttered quietly, rolling a shoulder to loosen it up.

'No acting rashly, Aridian.' said Dustin's voice from beside him. 'It's not time.'

"No worries, Dustin." said Aridian as he turned and swiftly walked down the corridor towards the dressmaker's suite. "I had no intentions of spiriting her away before the plan."

A heavy sigh echoed from beside him as they stopped outside the dressmaker's suite. 'I'm just making sure, Aridian. You have been known to act on impulse.'

"Which is why I'm still alive." he said as he pushed open the dressmaker's doors and strode in. Dustin stayed out in the corridor, keeping his eyes roving about, checking for guards. (In actuality, he was staring at the maids that scurried back and forth.) Aridian exited a few minutes later with a thick envelope in hand. He waved it at the invisible Mage with a cocky grin and they quickly strode away, headed for the dungeons and the secret passageway.

That night as he and his crew plotted in their inn room in the dankest part of her city, Takara, she feasted on the finest foods as a string quartet serenaded her in her glittering dining room. The Ball was less than a week away. Resistance plans had to be enacted. A few last minute invitations had to be sent. He humphed as he looked over the many maps and plans that they had been outlining for weeks. She sighed contentedly as she lay back on her luxurious pillows in her chambers as she settled down for the night.

The full moon rose in the silent sky, serene.

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