DG started when she heard a knock on the door.
"Cain," she said loudly as she walked over to it, "I really don't want to – "
She opened the door and saw a rather startled looking maid.
"Um, let him see my dress," she finished lamely, "I didn't want to let him see my dress before I was ready."
"Well, Commander Cain had to go dress for the ball as well."
"He's going?"
"Well of course – he's your security, everywhere you are he will be as well. Now, are you ready your highness?" the maid asked.
"Yeah," DG replied, "Yes. Um, just give me one second okay Mariellen?"
The maid nodded and waited outside while DG went over to the mirror for one last check. She seriously doubted the maid believed her badly thought-out lie (see her dress? Come on) but then she had noticed that even in the face of the most obvious falsehoods, the staff of the palace acted as though every word the royals said was golden truth. It was rather disarming actually – DG was used to people disagreeing with her, calling her out when she lied.
Cain being at the ball, and most likely shadowing her like an angry bulldog, was not exactly something DG wanted to think about. She was still upset with him, but the real reason she would rather avoid him was because she was afraid some part of her feelings might trickle out. That was the last thing she needed.
Okay, she reminded herself as she did one last hair check, I'm a princess right? I can do this. I'll just be composed. And polite. I'll talk to him if he talks to me, but we won't …
Won't what? Asked the voice in her head.
Won't really talk. Won't really spend time together. Won't really open up to each other.
DG told herself to stop thinking about it. He would probably apologize tonight, and she would forgive him, and everything could go back to normal. Well, except for the part about her being in love with him.
Shut up! Her head screamed, this is not what you need to be thinking about now!
"All right, I'm ready," she said.
"Oh Princess you look absolutely lovely," Mariellen exclaimed.
"You think so?" DG asked, looking down at herself, "I don't know, I'm really not used to this. And these shoes are gonna be killing me by the end of the night."
Mariellen laughed softly, "Follow me please your highness. I'll take you as far as the grand staircase."
DG nodded and followed her silently, the sound of her heels echoing around them. She tried to take deep breaths and remain calm. Sure, she was being presented to the whole of The O.Z. tonight. Sure, everyone's eyes would be on her. It would be fine. It would be absolutely fine.
"Here is where I leave you," Mariellen said, stopping in front of large, polished double doors.
"Oh, wait," DG said, "Um, do I just – "
"Oh how silly of me," Mariellen smiled, "Your escort will be meeting you here your highness. Your parents are already in the grand ballroom. Enjoy your evening."
A moment later she turned a corner and was out of sight.
DG started fidgeting. She couldn't quite put her finger on it, but something about this whole situation didn't feel right. Should she really be alone right now? Where was her escort? For that matter, who was her escort?
"What are you doing here kid?" Cain's gruff voice came from behind her.
"What do you mean?" she asked, turning to face him, "I'm supposed to be here."
It was almost hard to get those words out – he looked absolutely amazing. DG hated herself just a little bit for noticing that, but the exchange of his duster and fedora for a tuxedo, the tie still hanging undone around his neck, was making it a little hard to breathe.
"No," Cain said, "No you're not. You're supposed to be entering the hall from the western stairs. When you didn't show your parents got worried and asked me to come find you."
DG shook her head, "Mariellen told me to wait here," she replied, "Trust me Cain, I'm in the right place."
At the mention of Mariellen's name, a look of concern came over Cain's face.
"Mariellen?"
"Yeah. Something wrong?"
"DG," he began, "Mariellen was fired yesterday, she was suspected of conspiring with the remaining Longcoats."
Cain took a few steps closer to her, "Look around princess," he said in a quiet voice, "don't you find it a little strange that there's not one single person in sight?"
Only now that he'd mentioned it did DG notice – and he was right, it was strange. There should be servants, there should be a doorman, there should be … movement.
"Follow me," Cain said, taking her hand, "We're getting you to where you're supposed to be and then I'm sending security to patrol this area."
DG was glad to feel his strong hand wrap around her own. She would go back to being angry at him when they were out of danger.
Just then, the sound of a scream sliced through the air. It was quickly followed by the appearance of at least six longcoats.
"Run!" Cain yelled.
DG didn't need to be told twice. Tearing down the hall, she could hear bullets ricocheting off the walls. Cain was a few steps behind her, doing his best to shield her with his body and firing shots whenever he could. DG couldn't fathom where he'd been keeping his gun, but she figured that wasn't important. What was important was not getting killed.
"We need to get to a place with more security," Cain yelled as they skidded down another hall in an attempt to lose their attackers, "I got two of them but I'm running low on ammunition."
Just then, DG felt her feet go out from under her.
"Damn shoes!" she yelled as she fell to the marble floor.
Cain bent down to help her up, "Come on," he said, "Come on kid we gotta go."
"Cain – " DG said, her eyes going wide.
The sickening sound of someone cocking the barrel of a gun came from behind the tin man's head.
A/N: Cliffie!! I promise I'll update soon
