Fine, fine. Next chapter will be, undoubtedly, the ball. Yes. For sure. This chapter allows me to help with the next one, and I can't believe I didn't review my mental outline. Hope everyone is okay with the change. Thanks to all to read and comment and fav and follow. It's always appreciated.

Disclaimer: I don't claim to have any rights or ownership of the Enchanted Forest or its respective characters. I receive no profit, as this is just for fun. I will, however, take credit for original characters that I throw into the mix. That saying, Mabel, Sylvia, and Derek belong to me.

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Chapter Seven: In which Derek is a nuisance, Willin is bamboozled, and Daystar and Shiara speak.

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Shiara stomped out into the kitchen and surveyed the damage. Her cup of tea was upside down on the table, and its contents were everywhere. Pots and pans were all over the floor. She saw Nightwitch on the countertop and Derek right next to her. She quickly ran over to the cat and gently scooped her off of the surface, holding her close.

"What happened?" Shiara asked, wanting an explanation.

"Well I was only-" Derek began, but Shiara quickly interrupted him.

"Not you, you nitwit." Shiara said curtly, not liking the fact that her kitchen, which she just spent an hour cleaning, was once again a mess. It was frustrating. Did that hero even consider the work one had to do up keeping a dragon-sized kitchen? She looked down expectantly at her cat, and Derek watched skeptically as Shiara nodded every once and a while as the cat softly cackled at her.

"I see," Shiara said at last, and gently set Nightwitch down on the ground, letting her walk away as if that's what she wanted to do anyway. Shiara turned around and pointed at Derek. "You are no longer allowed to touch anything."

"What? Aren't you even going to hear my side of the story?" Derek asked, forgetting about the fact that he doubted her ability to talk to cats. He was almost insulted instead.

"Not at all," Shiara responded calmly, and began to clean up the mess. "I was already told what happened. Now, what are you doing here?"

Derek huffed slightly, and pouted as she didn't stop to give him her full attention.

"I can do two things at once, I'm listening." Shiara snapped after a moment. Really.

"I'm here to show you a good time."

Shiara stopped what she was doing and looked at him. "Excuse me? Try to follow through with that and I'll show you the inside of a dragon's stomach."

A little put out, Derek pulled a scroll from his vest and handed it to her, seeing as how the table was wet at the moment. Shiara looked at him hesitantly before taking it, and opened it slowly. As her eyes scanned over the poorly written inked letters, she began to understand.

"Derek,"

"Yes my fair lady?"

"Two things," Shiara said agitated, "One. Never call me that again. And two, this says 'wood rime'. You have a scroll about someone's weather observations… and actually I'm going to keep this, it looks like a good read." She nodded and tucked it into her belt.

"Exactly why I brought it," Derek nodded approvingly.

"Uh-huh…" Shiara responded doubtfully, looking at him a moment before grabbing a dishrag. "Well, thank you just the same." She said before she could stop herself. 'Damn it Daystar! You and your polite tendencies!' She thought to herself angrily. She looked over her shoulder at Derek when he was being quiet, only to find that he was in the far corner of the kitchen, bracing himself against the wall.

"You're not going to go off, are you?" Derek asked worriedly, not moving from his position.

"What on earth are you talking- ohhhh." Shiara said as looked at him, suppressing a grin. He figured since she was polite, something would have to happen with her flame next. "I seriously might. It feels a little warm in here. You'll be better off as far away from me as possible until I can try to control the unpredictable heat." She set the scroll on the now clean table, pleased that everything was in order again.

"I've had that effect on many women," Derek boasted, pushing himself away from the wall with a confident swagger.

Shiara turned and looked at him incredulously. Believing she was developing a serious twitch in her left eye, she pinched the bridge of her nose in an attempt to stop her headache from getting any worse. Waiting until he was near, she closed her eyes and flames sprung up from her whole body and engulfed her completely. Derek jumped back in complete shock.

"Oops, look at that." She pretended to examine her arms in surprise. "How bothersome is this? Maybe if I walk around, it will extinguish itself." She began to walk in Derek's direction, and he promptly yelped and backed away.

"I can't believe that a simple thank you caused all this!" Derek yelled as he was quickly circled the kitchen. "From this moment forward, I insist that you show me no kindness whatsoever!" At his exclamation, Shiara's fire promptly went out.

"If you insist, then it's probably for the best." Shiara nodded, and took the scroll into the library for later. She jumped when she came back out, as Derek was leaning against the door frame. "Why are you still here? Can't you let yourself out?"

"And leave a lady alone?"

"It seems you had no problem leaving Sylvia." Shiara retorted, now starting to get on the bad side of annoyed.

It took a moment for Derek to recover from that. "Well, she has her future husband to look after her. What you need is a hero."

A meow was heard from the table, and Shiara turned thankfully to her cat. "You know as well as I do that I can't get blood from clothing out very well. I still need Cimorene's help with that one." She sighed and turned back to Derek. "If you're going to stay then you're going to work. I've several things to collect for a spell, and you have a greater sense of…" Shiara thought for a moment, "of… bravery? Yes, bravery, then I." When she saw her 'flattery' seemed to have worked judging by his composure, then she clapped her hands together. "Well, let us be off!"

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"Willin, please. Just distract her long enough for me to get some air!" Daystar pleaded desperately. For the past few days, it has been nothing but clinging and talking and ball gowns and he was feeling suffocated.

"Oh no, your father has played the same trick on me many times in the past. Before your mother, he'd ask me to distract a princess for a moment and he'd be gone for hours! I'll not be tricked again by a different generation from the same man." Willin huffed as well as an elf could, and looked up at Daystar like he was Mendanbar.

Daystar thought for a moment before an idea came to him. "All right, all right." He turned to walk away but stopped and looked at the small steward. "She's thinking about changing some things about the ball, you know." Daystar said offhandedly.

"Things? What things?" Willin said quickly, looking back at Daystar with hesitation.

"Oh nothing of great importance. Just things like not having announcements at arrival, the refreshments, the music, the time of the ball itself…"

"I've heard enough!" Willin shouted in horror, and pulled out a scroll from his vest, "These things will never do! Everything has already been rehearsed and prepared!" He said from behind the parchment.

Daystar shrugged. "Be that as it may.."

"Oh no you don't, your Majesty. Please, allow me to speak with the princess." Willin said, running over to stand in front of him.

"I don't know… I mean, it may take time to sort things out with her. I wouldn't want to put you out from your duties." Daystar said slowly, a hand up to his chin in thought.

"Prince Daystar, I beg of you, let me handle this affair!"

Daystar nodded, "Well, if it's that important to you. I'll transport you there this instant."

"Thank you your Majesty. I won't disappoint." He bowed and closed his eyes. Not a moment later he vanished, thanks to a certain royal.

"I'm positive you won't Willin." Daystar said with a smirk. As he walked to his room he smiled. Shiara must be influencing him in her way of deviousness, and it had its advantages. Now, he could take a moment to himself and breathe.

As he plopped upon his mattress, Daystar let out a long sigh. The ball was tomorrow, and he had been hoping for a different scenario. He was taking his fiancée, but it was someone he just met nearly a week ago. This wasn't how it was supposed to be. He looked to his left, then right. Daystar never noticed just how large his bed was without Shiara there. It was depressing, in a way; to be able to see how lonely you were every night, even though in reality you weren't. Daystar got up and walked over to the tallboy that held nearly everything he owned in its drawers. He pulled a chair alongside him and placed it beside the large piece of furniture. Carefully climbing upon the chair, he stood and pulled out the top left drawer and rummaged around until he found what he looking for. He shut the drawer and hopped down, dragging the chair back to its proper place. He sat down on the edge of the bed and opened the small box. Daystar looked at the ring inside for a long time as he thought.

"This ring is meant for you. I've spent years on perfecting it… I'm not throwing it away on someone I do not love." He spoke softly to himself, not sure why he was speaking aloud in the first place. Hearing it made him feel better though, and he closed his eyes and laid back on the bed. "I was so close…" He said frustrated with himself.

Sighing, he sat up and reached for the calling mirror he kept on the nightstand. He asked the mirror nicely to make a call, and seeing the glass change to white, waited for Shiara to answer. That was if she happened to be in her room at the time, it was always a tossup if they weren't calling at the designated times. He watched as the call went through, and waited to see Shiara as the glass cleared up.

"Ah, Prince Daystar, what an honor." A voice answered instead that definitely was not his lovers.

Daystar glared at the image as a wave of jealously and anger rose up within him. "Derek," He said calmly in greeting, his fist clenching tightly to his side.

"What can I do for you?" The hero asked innocently, watching the image with smugness. "Shiara and I are dreadfully busy at the moment."

Daystar resisted the urge to growl, instead, he cleared his throat. "Pardon my interruption, but I'm afraid this isn't a casual call. I've a revelation about Shiara's hold on her magic, so, if you don't mind."

"Ah, that is news indeed. I'll be but a moment." Derek set the mirror down, and went off to find Shiara.

Daystar looked away from the mirror, trying to concentrate on anything else. Why was that idiot in her room? It didn't make sense, and he refused to doubt his love in any way. He trusted her with all his heart. But why was he feeling this pain? Jaw set in anger without him knowing it, Daystar continued to stare out the window.

"Sweetheart," Shiara spoke up loudly enough to break his thoughts. Knowing that Derek wasn't around because of the way she spoke, he turned and looked into the mirror. He caught her eyes and said nothing.

"He was moving a chest from the treasury into my room. It was far too heavy for me to lift." She explained without question. She knew that look in his eyes; granted she didn't see it often, but she recognized it. She saw his expression lighten and she smiled.

"He made it seem…" Daystar began, a heavy feeling lifted from his chest after her simple explanation.

"I know, my love. He's been doing that all week. Derek's been reading into things and over exaggerating what he thinks it means."

"But why?" He asked, not understanding why everything was happening like it was.

"Probably just to amuse himself. Don't let it bother you." Shiara said seriously, eyes locking onto his.

Daystar looked away and let out a shaky sigh. How could that not bother him?

"Daystar," Shiara said softly, waiting until he caught her gaze. "I love you."

"I love you too." He said sincerely, his free hand playing with the ring in worry. "I…just called to tell you that, actually. That I love you…"

Shiara watched with a sad expression, knowing that her lover was hurt. She knew he was busy, and that he probably had to dismiss himself sneakily to get away to tell her that.

"And that I can't wait to see you soon.." Daystar said softly and stood up, stuffing the box back into a random drawer so that he wouldn't lose it later.

"I love you too dearheart, so very much." Shiara said softly, and smiled when he caught her eyes. "We only have tonight left. One more night."

"One more night." Daystar repeated, the fact that it was true making him in a much better mood. "My love?"

"Yes?" Shiara asked, moving the mirror slightly as she sat down on the bed.

"Please don't laugh at me when you see my 'outfit' tomorrow…"

Shaira laughed, not being able to help it. He just looked so cute saying it. "I'm sure you will look rather dashing love, just like always."

Daystar groaned, "But…"

"And I'll be sure to look at that too," Shiara said teasingly with a smirk, knowing how her lover would react.

Daystar placed a free hand over his face as he shook his head out of disbelief. "God… Shiara…"

"Why are you so red Daystar?" She said with a grin.

"You're such a tease." Daystar deadpanned, and pulled his hand away. He couldn't help the smile that he had on his face. She always made him feel better, and he was positive that she was the only one who would ever be able to do this to him and make him feel this way.

"But you love me." Shiara said back, returning her smile.

"I do. Ever so much." Daystar said sincerely, and then his smile stiffened slightly, "We better go my love, he's being too quiet."

"You're right," Shiara said, her mood reflecting Daystar's equally. "I love you."

"I love you too."

One more night.