A/N: Thank you for your reviews, dear reviewers (: I love you muchlies. Anyway, here's Chapter Two! I'm on a roll here, and I appreciate your support as the story continues! I've updated the summary to fit the main storyline, and I might write some other oneshots in between updating this story, so do look out for them too, all right? Great! Anyway, enjoy this chapter!

Chapter Two: Dinner and Dance

Larsa Ferrinas Solidor sighed worriedly. This was it. The night of the reunion feast. However, the senate had taken the pleasure to invite a large number of women, and to them, this was a sort of 'fairytale ball' in which they could be chosen to marry the Prince. But Larsa was no Prince. He was an Emperor, which simply made the opportunity to the females even better. To Larsa, it was going to be a very nervous evening. But he was sure the appearance of his old friends would calm him, even if it was only slightly.

Straightening himself up, he tried to quell the sick feeling that was raging inside him. Finally, he managed to overcome it and walked into the dining hall to observe the preparations. Servants scurried about, setting the ornate table of gold and mahogany with polished silverware, such that the light from the chandelier above glinted off the surface of the spoons and forks, causing them to glitter as if they were carved from diamonds. Weaved cloths were placed in front of each high-backed chair, on which a plate was set.

The walls of the hall were in the traditional Archadian style. Slightly modern, with pots of large green plants placed at each adjacent corner. Stone and gold made up the patterns on the inner walls, and a richly embroidered carpet lay underneath the tables. Larsa couldn't help but smile in satisfaction. Everything was going as planned.

As the time for the guests' arrival drew near, Larsa looked out of the paned window to the peaceful, darkening sky of evening. Lines of orange, yellow and a fleck of pink made up the horizon, illuminating the thick clouds with an almost magical conflagration of colour. The court musicians took their places on a raised platform in a corner of the dining hall.

"My Lord, you must return to the head of the table and await your guests."

A servant spoke hurriedly, trying to dust a speck of dirt off the Emperor's right sleeve. Larsa cleared his throat and moved as calmly as he could over to the larger chair at the head of the rectangular table. He was dressed in his finest tonight, as fine as the Emperor's garments could get. Gold overlapped silver, with a brooch and chain of the Archadian symbol around his neck as usual. His hands were concealed within ivory gloves, and a fine velvet cloak ran down his shoulders, rimmed with gold threads. He wore his father's crown upon his head, and his eyes shone like bright stars in the sky. He portrayed now the image of a true ruler. Confident, calm and elegant.

That was, until, the women started to arrive.

They came in ornate dresses of silks and satins, gold and gem-adorned ornaments. Flamboyant feathered coats and vests. The higher workings of the Archadian society. These were the noblewomen of Archadia. The arrival of them in masses were rather disturbing, on carriages drawn by chocobos, and they surged into the dining hall, chattering incessantly. They hitched their skirts and took their seats.

"It looks like you've gotten yourself a fine array of choices, Larsa!"

A voice said jokingly, snapping Larsa back to reality. Turning around, he saw the sky pirate Balthier with his Viera partner Fran standing at the entrance to the dining hall. "Indeed." Fran said, her features unchanged, but the laughter in her eyes mirroring that of her partner. Although quite a long time had passed, they still looked the same. Balthier still looked as youthful and enthusiastic as he had been when they journeyed together, and Fran, of course, Viera never aged. It was extremely rude to ask of her age, as Vaan had learned before.

"Come, sit!"

Larsa said, smiling as the first of his old friends took their seats.

The Archadian women continued to file in, and Larsa watched the crowd of ladies expectantly, waiting to see a blonde plait somewhere, or at least that familiar smile he had so secretly admired seven years ago.

"Hello, Larsa. Glad to see you again."

It was the Queen Ashelia, with Basch following her, sword in hand.

"As am I, Lady Ashe. Ah Basch, you have returned. How was your stay at Dalmasca?"

"Good."

As the Queen and Basch took their seats, Larsa's heart began to pound faster than before. What if she didn't get the invitation? What if she wasn't coming? She was the only proof that something other than arranged marriages existed in the world. Larsa wasn't sure what he felt back then was just simple infatuation or something else. After all, he was only twelve at the time. But maybe tonight would prove different. Then maybe he wouldn't have to marry some Archadian woman he didn't even know. But...what if she--

"Larsa!"

It was Vaan.

The young street urchin strolled in merrily, dressed in his usual attire. Larsa smiled and shook his hand, glad that now no one, except maybe Al-Cid, tried to ruffle his hair in that annoyingly childish manner. He was no child. Not anymore, at least. And then, Larsa saw it. A pair of blonde plaits behind Vaan. It was Penelo. Her face was lit with that child-like innocence, just like seven years ago. Her hair was braided in a different style now, and she looked much more mature. She was already in her early twenties, but somehow, Larsa was still taller than her. For some strange reason, he felt better because of that.

"Sit, sit! Welcome. I hope you'll make yourselves at home."

"We sure will, Larsa!"

Penelo said cheerily, smiling at him. The young Emperor could do nothing but smile back, and Penelo earned a few jealous glances from a few women seated at the table. Dinner was served in courses. First came the soup. Larsa put his spoon into the creamy vegetable broth and stirred absentmindedly for a few seconds, before suddenly jerking it upwards such that a spoonful of soup nearly splattered onto his clothes. But luckily for him, it hit the cloth laid on the table. "Larsa, you absolute...ugh. What are you doing?" The young Emperor told himself, obviously embarassed. He didn't talk to himself often, it was actually quite rare.

"Larsa, your face's red. What's wrong?"

Vaan inquired, giving him a curious glance. Larsa's head shot abruptly up from where he was staring at the bowl of soup, and gave the entire table a smile which luckily, hid his nervousness. He was good at pretending. But his face was still flushed red. "Oh, it's nothing. Nothing at all. Do continue your meal." He said, spooning the soup into his mouth. The others shrugged and continued eating. During the dinner, Larsa spoke with his old friends about the past, and with the women, he talked about the growth of Archadia. After the soup came the main courses, and then there was a wonderful dessert. Finally, after the dinner was finished, servants hurried in to clear the plates.

It was then that the court musicians begun their first piece, a pleasant, soothing flute tune accompanied by a string orchestra, fit for dancing. The women looked towards the young Emperor, but Larsa remained in his seat as the others swiftly stood from their chairs to lead their selected partner out onto the dance floor. Unsurprisingly, Vaan asked Penelo to dance, which struck a chord somewhere in Larsa's heart, but he just couldn't place it. The women continued to look at him, as Balthier suavely asked Ashe to dance, which she accepted for 'entertainment purposes only', as she put it herself. But Larsa could see how she felt in her eyes, which made him feel even worse to not have a dancing partner. Of course, he had many Archadian women just waiting to follow him out onto the dance floor, but it was just so...inappropriate. Fran, who obviously didn't take well to dancing, sat in a corner, watching with a pleased reaction. Basch stood near to both Larsa and the Princess, sword still in hand. He was indeed a loyal guardian.

"My Lord, will you dance with me?"

A young Archadian girl, who looked barely seventeen, had mustered up the courage to ask him to dance. Nodding absently, Larsa followed her out on the dance floor. He was an excellent dancer, having been trained in the ways of royalty since birth, and brought up in House Solidor as one of its valued sons. The only son left, in fact. But this time, his heart wasn't with the music, but instead, his eyes were shooting small glances at Penelo, who was currently embroiled in a dance with Vaan, that uplifting smile still on her face. Finally, he let go of the girl's hand, as a series of claps signified that partners should be changed.

"Penelo, may I have this dance?"

Larsa finally asked, surprised that his voice came out without a single stutter.

"Of course, Larsa!"

Penelo replied, shooting him another gentle smile. Trying to divert his thoughts away from his horribly bad nervousness, he felt a bead of sweat trail down his forehead as he felt his hand, on its own accord, wrap around Penelo's waist. The music continued to play. Soothing, calming. "Don't be so nervous!" Penelo commented, grinning. The other Archadian women, luckily, had the men of the court at the time to dance with them, and thus they did not pay attention to Larsa, yet. He had managed to pull Penelo to a secluded corner, where the shadow of a hanging tapestry concealed them from the brightly lit ballroom. "Wow, this place is dark. I thought the entire ballroom was going to be really bright. Tonight's like...magic." Penelo whispered. "Yes, of course." Larsa answered, drawing her in such that his lips were barely centimetres away from hers.

"My Lord!"

An Archadian lady squealed, grabbing Larsa by the arm and violently wrenching him away from Penelo, who stood there, a surprised expression on her face. And that was when Larsa's heart sank. Very badly. "I had that chance..." He told himself silently. The woman managed to drag him here and there, and his feet just refused to move.

"He has interest in her." Fran stated calmly to Ashe, who had taken a seat next to the Viera.

"I can see that." Ashe said knowingly.

Very soon, the feast was over, and after some wine, the guests departed. It was strange that, right after this there was yet another meeting with the senate. After Larsa bid his guests goodbye, Queen Ashe placed a hand on his shoulder. "You can do it, I'm sure." She told him encouragingly, leaving before Larsa could gather up the sense of what she was saying.

"You have not chosen a bride."

A senator said, shaking his head slowly.

"None of them interest me."

Larsa replied in measured tones.

"Is that true? You are interested in the urchin from Dalmasca, the one with the young man..."

Larsa froze. How did they know? He could almost see the knowing eyes of the senators underneath the cover of their hoods. A low chuckle spread throughout the meeting hall, and Larsa felt his heart miss another beat. "She is not right for you, Larsa. You must marry someone with status." A senator recommended. "We will bring in more women from Archadia, and soon you will forget about her." That was the last straw. A clenched fist slammed onto the table in front of him.

"I will not!"

Larsa said through clenched teeth. Without a second word, he stood up and left.