Several weeks have passed since the little prince had first met the lady decked out in blue. They had spent most of their time bickering and drinking tea. On several afternoon's they took out some horses and rode about the castle grounds.

The May Day festival was fast approaching and although Eridan was, even if he refused to admit it, enjoying the company of Vriska, his heart was still aching over the loss of Feferi. She was to be married in august, but what he was distressing him at the present was that he had spent every May Day festival with Feferi for as long as he could remember.

Vriska was pretty good at distracting him whenever his moods got the best of him though. She would pick on him, and call him barely a man, but it was this that helped Eridan through the worst of his times. Soon he was spending basically every waking hour with Vriska until the festival, when Eridan had to help with preparations and Vriska was off being fitted for a new gown.

The day of the festival Sollux was helping Eridan get ready for the festival, when Eridan fell into one of his moods once more. Sollux teased him about what an ass he was making of himself but he was simply scoffed off. Sollux with a deep sigh gave up in trying to cheer up is melancholic prince.

The festival was in full swing when Eridan was able to get away from his princely duties of saying hello to all of the guests with his father. He was off to see the jousts when he saw Vriska chatting with a girl with a flowing gown of turquoise. The girl was grinning wildly and Vriska looked as bored as one could be. Eridan, being the charming prince he was, went in to save her.

"Oh Vris I was looking all over for you. Oh who is this?" asked Eridan as he hooked his arm with Vriska's. Vriska looked at him with a pleading glance before informing him that this was Lady Pyrote. The Pyrote's were famous for their long line of lawyers and clerks. Recently during a recent siege, their house was attacked and several servants were killed and the oldest daughter suffered a crippling injury. She had lost the use of both of her eyes. Normally such an injury would dampen the spirits of anyone; however, Eridan observed that Miss Pyrote was quite in high spirits.

"A pleasure to meet you." The girl gave a curtsey, but her expression showed no modesty.

"It is a pleasure to meet you as well Lady Pyrote. However I am sorry to say that I will be stealing the attention of Miss Serket for the time being." He said is the princeliest tone he could muster. He could hear Vriska softly chuckling.

"Absolutely, I do believe it was about time that I went and found Sir Strider. He is visiting all the way from skaia, shouldn't keep him waiting." Eridan noted that she had a rather loud voice and was pretty pleased to see her dash off to see the knight in red. Eridan hadn't forgotten that the Royal Family from Skaia had come to their May Day festival. His father had been talking about peace treaties between the two kingdoms; mayday was the perfect chance to do so.

"By Jove, she was dreadfully annoying." said Vriska, once she was sure that Lady Pyrote was out of ear shot. Eridan gave a chuckle and lead Vriska over to the jousting area.

The two idling talked of who would win and whose horse looked the toughest. By the time that they arrived, the jousters where all suited up and getting ready to go at it. Eridan took his seat up by his father, Vriska taking the seat next to his.

"Five gold pieces on the knight in blue." Vriska muttered to him.

"Very unlady like to bribe."

"Unmanly to decline."

She gave him a devilish smirk and he pouted for a moment before shaking her hand. A few moments later the two opponents marched their horses in front of the regions king, giving a bow and waiting for the king to send them off.

"Let's get started." The king basically sang. He had a few glasses of wine before every match and today was no different.

The Knights rose and brought their horses round to the starting area. A knight from the neighboring kingdom in took the handkerchief of a lady decked out in pink. She gave him a flirtatious wink and he gave a nod. The knight in blue took no tokens of affection and went to take his place.

A shot was fired and the two were off. The crowd cheered as the two men ran at one another, with a large cracking the blue knight was knocked off his horse, the wood splintering upon impact. The crowd cheered as the orange knight came round. Servants hurried the fallen blue knight to medical tent, a small girl is a cheap green dress followed behind them.

With a shit eating grin Eridan turned to Vriska who looked as though she had just partaken with a rotten fruit. "So when shall I expect my five gold?"

Vriska made a disgruntled noise and just said muttered something about later. The rest of the joust was pretty uneventful. No major casualty but it was a good enough to keep the crowd in good spirits. Vriska and Eridan made their way from their seat and head over towards the big feast.

Dinner was entertaining; his father had organized some acrobats and some jokers. Eridan even found himself giggling a bit at the act of a particular jester decked out in purple. A shorter man was catching the man as he wobbled to and fro while he juggled.

After the meal it was time for the first of several nights' dances. Immediately Vriska dragged him onto the dance floor where they danced for a while before the heir to the Skaia kingdom asked for Vriska's hand. Eridan, who was growing tired, obliged and moved over to the side of the room to catch his breath and take a break.

"Enjoying the festival?"

Eridan turned to the side to see Sollux dressed up in his finest garments. Which by Eridan standards where cheap, but he would admit that it gave his servant did look quite handsome this evening.

"Of course I am. I just need to take a breather. Vriska has had me dancing for the last hour or so." Eridan slumped against the wall and Sollux moved to lean against the wall with him.

"I thaw, quite a lively one."

"I'll say. Have you danced with any fine ladies this evening Sol? You have the day off until it is time I get ready for bed." said Eridan with a smirk. He knew for a fact that there were a few servant girls who had a thing for his little servant. If he ever went into the kitchens he sometimes heard a whisper or two.

"I haven't."

"No lady fit your fancy?"

"Dancing ithn't really my thing."

"Come on Sol. Stop bein such a prude. Go dance with a nice little servant girl." Eridan said while giving Sollux a light jab.

"Nahh I'm just gonna chill back here." Sollux surveyed the crowd. Just as he had figured, none of the girls really fit his fancy.

"Fine don't be fun, I'm gonna wait till this dance finishes then go dance with Vris again." Eridan shrugged and looked back to the dance floor where Vriska was dancing with the other Heir.

The song ended and the couples parted. Eridan pushed himself off the wall and made his way over towards Vriska who was laughing with the heir. Eridan introduced himself to the man and asking if he may have Vriska's hand for the next dance. Vriska took his hand and lead her away. The next song picked up and the couple danced together for several more songs.

Slowly the night was coming to a close and Eridan could feel that sleep wasn't very far away. He lead Vriska down the hallway to her chambers, along the way moans could be heard from behind curtains and kissing couples were scattered about the halls. Eridan blushed when he saw the pink clad women from the joust being held up against a wall buy a man in orange. Eridan was slightly appalled how unashamed they were. The curtains were barely covering them. He hurried Vriska long the hall.

"Well they were certainly…energetic…" said Eridan awkwardly as they reached Vriska's room.

"Aww are you embarrassed?" she teased him. A wide smirk spread across her face.

"Am not! It's just not very tactful." Eridan could feel a blush spreading across his face.

"Whatever, whatever." said Vriska smacking him light on the arm. She grabbed his arm and stood up on her tip toes. "Well good night." She went to lean forward to kiss his cheek but he moved so to kiss her lips.

It was short and chaste, only a few seconds before Eridan pulled away and wished her good night. She gave him a toothy grin before heading back into her room. Eridan still bright red when he returned to his room that night. Sollux was there waiting to ready for him bed. Sollux noticed the redness of the prince and asked him why he was so flustered. Eridan brushed him off claiming it to be the summer heat. But he couldn't hide the light smile that was beginning to creep up on his face.

Sollux wasn't one to be fooled; he knew something had gone down. He quickly dressed the prince for bed before heading out to go to bed himself. In the morning he would find out what happened with his prince. For now he would sleep and ignore the familiar uneasy feeling growing in his stomach.