Chapter 4: The Ball

Winter's P.O.V

They got to the ballroom right as the guards were sounding there trumpets, and opening the huge double doors. Once everyone was able to see both her and Neptune the same guard who had given the trumpet fanfare looked at the crowd and said in a booming voice, "Introducing his Royal Highness, Prince Neptune Jackson Frost, and her Royal Highness, Princess Winter Evangeline Black." Once he was done talking, the whole room exploded in a chaos of clapping and cheering everyone that we passed congratulated us and told us how lovely the decorations were and how we looked stunning together. After about 5 minutes the band in the corner played the first song, a lovely ballad that was both slow but somewhat up beat.

Before I knew what was happening Neptune had grabbed my hand and led me to the dance floor. Before I could say a word he started spinning me and twirling me around as everyone watched, I couldn't help but laugh and just look at Neptune; I mean he was just so amazing it should have been a crime. Once the song ended we retreated to the side of the room where we were greeted by my parents and Neptune's. My mother looked at me wiping tears out of her eyes as she told me how beautiful I looked and how she was so proud of me. I couldn't help but be stunned at what she was wearing though.

My mom had on a beautiful dark emerald green dress that went straight down to the floor and highlighted her curves and had her hair pined up in such a way that made her look as if she were a queen. My dad on the other hand had on a black tux with a silver under shirt that went perfect with her moms dress; they really could have been royalty. Neptune's parents were equally stunning, his mom had on a blue dress that was the same ice blue as her eyes and had her lovely platinum blond hair in an elegant french braid that was swept over her shoulder with tiny diamond snowflakes in it. His dad was wearing a snow white tux with a frost blue under shirt looking as opposite from her dad as you could get.

After about an hour of being at the party the band stopped playing and my dad along with Neptune's went up to the front of the room and asked for everyone's attention. "Thank you everyone for coming to celebrate Neptune and Winter's 18th birthday!" King Jack said in a nice booming voice that came out in a way that suggested he was up to no good.

My dad than added "We would like to take this time now to give the ceremonial crowning of the prince and princess do to their coming of age."

Jack then followed saying, "This will allow them to officially take their place on the throne when the time comes."As they kept talking all I could think about was that there had been some kind of mistake and my dad was playing some kind of joke, I mean I was no princess I didn't live in a castle or anything like that. Then I remembered that they had introduced me as a princess but I didn't know why. Than Jack asked for me and Neptune to come up and face everyone.

"Neptune I hear by name you Crown Prince of Arendale and the frozen kingdom." As everyone clapped and cheered Jack put a crown of silver and sapphires on Neptune's head then gave his son a slap on the back and told him how proud he was. Then it was my turn my dad looked at me and smiled and told me not to be scared that he would explain later then turned to face the crowd.

"Winter I now hear by name you Crown Princess of Arendale and the shadow fire kingdom" Everyone cheered and clapped for me just as loud as they had for Neptune and even louder when my dad put on a tiara of pearl and ruby's on my head.

The whole time I just tried to keep from fainting, what was going on? Did Neptune know? What did this mean? How could I be a princess of Arendale? What was the shadow fire kingdom? All these questions kept going around in my head. Finally after we were allowed to go back out to the crowd I made a bee line for the balcony and as soon as I got outside I shut the door and fell to the ground and looked up at the moon as tears fell from my eyes. I must have been like that for an hour before I heard the door open and close and when I looked up I saw it was Neptune.

Neptune's P.O.V

After Winter and I were crowned, she ran outside to the balcony. I couldn't understand why she was upset or why she hadn't told me she was a princess or how she could be a crown princess of Arendale for that matter. I decided to go straight to her father and see if he knew, of course he must have read my mind because he and my father took me aside and said they wanted a private word.

Before they could say anything at all though I burst out asking, "She's a princess? How can she be a crown princess of Arendale? What's going on?" My father promptly told me to take a deep breath and slow down and then turned to Pitch and gave him a gesture as if handing the floor over to him.

"You see Neptune this has all been a secret from Winter and it probably came as quit a shock to her, her mother and I weren't able to tell her before hand and honestly didn't know how I mean where do you think her power comes from…"

He paused and took a deep breath, as if to calm him and get his thoughts in order before he continued, "Winter is the sole heiress to the shadow fire kingdom throne, her mother is Selene Ruby Ignis Black, Queen of the fire kingdom and once married to me the shadow kingdom as well. I, myself am King Pitch Tenebris Black. As far as the Arendale part...um Jack why don't you take that one?"

My father gave Pitch a look that would have froze the room and then turned to me and smiled. "You see Neptune you and Winter are how you say…um…you're promised to each other."

I looked at him for about a minute before I finally found the right words and said, "You mean were engaged?" My father and Pitch looked at each other and said at the same time "Yes." After that I just turned and walked out to the balcony without another word to my father or Pitch. When I got there I found Winter sitting on the ground looking up at the sky and crying. Honestly I didn't blame her, I closed the door behind me and smiled once she turned around and looked at me.

"Are you ok?" I didn't know what to say other than that but it seemed like the right thing until she started crying all over again. I sat down by her and wrapped her in my arms and let her cry into my shoulder for what must have been forever before she raised her head and looked at me. I couldn't help but be aw struck though even after crying she still looked beautiful, even more so under the light of the moon if that was possible.

"I'm sorry you probably think I'm stupid huh?" I was so taken aback it took me a second to respond. "Why would I think you're stupid if anything I think your reaction is appropriate."

I then proceeded to tell her what I had learned from her father leaving out the piece about her and I being engaged and waited while she took that entirety in. "It all makes since actually, I mean my parents would always have to go off on business meetings and taught me weird stuff like etiquettes and the history of some weird kingdom which I guess was the shadow fire kingdom…what else did they say I can tell your holding something back." I didn't know what to say, should I tell her about the engagement or not? What would she think? Did she even like me? Did I even want an arranged marriage? What would she do if I kissed her right here and now?

End of Chapter 4

Authors note: Hey guys hope you're enjoying the story so far! I would love to hear what you think so far or even get some ideas for future chapters any kind of comment is welcomed good or bad, after all how else can we grow? Enjoy the rest of the story and I can't wait to read your reviews!