Chapter 7

M'lar stood back and viewed herself in the mirror and was amazed at how lovely she looked in the heavy white gown, now only was she dressed in a gown that looked like it belonged to a queen or princess, it was down right sexy too.

The way it hugged her figure, and accented every curve she owned, it also accented the honey gold of her skin and her hair was now styled in braids and curls that started at the top of her head and flowed down her back to lay over her shoulders, it allowed the curve of her muscular sculpted back to be accented by the lay of the material to expose her more feminine wiles that hinted at more a more sensual nature underneath the gown.

She had to admit; Morgan knew what he was doing when he ordered this dress. He would be able to accent all her charms without exposing too much. Begrudgingly, M'lar had to admit she looked nothing like herself. The stylist had hidden her little pointed ears with her hair, and with the mask she would hide a part of her scro features behind the feathers, crystals and pearl inlay. The mask accented the emerald green of her eyes.

Moving down the hallway to Kait's door she knocked lightly, her gloved hands masking a more forceful knock when she rapped. The door opened to a flurry of skirts, and the waft of rose perfume that drifted over M'lar, She looked at Kait standing resplendent in her dark blue gown of Safire's and crystals.

Her hair had been done in intricate braids to be accented by long beautifully coiffed curls that lay down her back and over her shoulder and M'lar was struck by how beautiful she looked. 'Kaitlin you are ravishing my dear. So very lovely."

Kait smiled beneath her mask and looked at how utterly gorgeous her sister looked dressed as she was and could see what it was Morgan had seen in her. Though Kait had gotten used to seeing her in stained and comfortable barmaid dresses that her sister liked to call serviceable dresses.

Or when she wore those cut offs and the tank top, then there was her gnomish armor, Kait had never seen her so dressed up in such grandeur and looking more lovely than she did this night. Kait spoke softly, "do you know how beautiful you look sister? I have to say you are breath-taking."

Morgan's voice behind M'lar seconded the opinion of Kait. "I must admit from this angle you do look very delectable my dear and you my dear Kaitlin look equally as lovely, if not more so."

M'lar turned and peered at Morgan and was struck by his costume, he wore a double breasted jacket with gold braiding, leather pants. Under his jacket she could see the blouson top, of pure white silk, with a gold cravat, and a long duster jacket of leather that floated about his body lapping at his legs, on his side he wore his rapier with the spikes and on his hands were his black leather gloves.

"Well Ladies it appears you are ready and now I ask you, are you prepared to meet the elite of the elite of nobles?" M'lar looked away from Morgan the mask he wore was pure black with dark sequins edged along the eyelets. On the bridge of the nose was edged with a strip of black satin.

It had the appearance of a demon from the way he wore the mask M'lar could believe he was a demon at heart. Looking at Kait she appeared to be enthralled with Morgan and his costume as well as his mask stepping through the door to stand at his side.

"It really does not matter to either of us if we meet any of the nobles that live here in Waterdeep the fact that we are able to attend such a wonderfully elegant function like this is very endearing and overwhelming."

Morgan smiled lifted her denude hand to his lips and kissed her wrist, then lowered her hand and turned to lay an appreciative eye on M'lar. He could not help but notice how sensually beautiful she looked from the rear when he approached and now turning to peer at him through her mask he was enchanted by the beauty before him.

With Kaitlin and M'lar on either side of his arms tonight he knew he would be the envy of the ball. He knew most the males would be jealous of him and most the females would be jealous of M'lar and Kait. He also knew that the women would despise his lovely women.

Dressed as they were they would easily outshine most the hopeful females present. The hopeful mothers would know that he was no longer available as a potential match for their daughters and the women mature enough to be a hopeful would know he had settled his attention on one woman.

Thinking about it now he had to admit he did not care one iota what the women thought it was the envy of the men he enjoyed. "Shall we ladies, and you both must promise me that you leave me at least one dance on your card this night for I fear the minute I leave your sides you will be inundated with requests for dances."

M'lar turned and hooked the train of her dress over her white gloved wrist and turned to Kait. "Well shall we?" Secretly she thought, "The sooner we go the sooner we can be home and another day passing until we return back to New Damara."

M'lar sat next to Kait avoiding the penetrating and thoughtful stare of Morgan watching her from behind his mask. Those eyes were fixed and with the mask he was more intimating then before. He did appear almost demonic with the set of his gaze on her.

As soon as the carriage pulled up in front of the D'Armond estate, the livery hired by Daniela and Darius for the night were there to open the door and help the ladies out. Kait exited, Morgan smiled to see the appreciative glances from the two male liveries, and then when M'lar exited the carriage there was almost a palatable silence as they gaped at her in that dress. Morgan knew he would achieve what he had intended when they entered the room and were announced by the major domo "Here-ye, Here-ye all hail and well met it is our honor to present the Marquis de Bergeron, and his guests the Princess Eleandra and her Majesty, Queen Shalandra."

M'lar was to be the Queen, while Kait was the Princess. With their persona's delineated, Morgan was representing him self as the Marquis de Bergeron. Morgan had stepped forward then turned to take Kait's hand and tuck it in the crook of his right arm. There was a hush over the room with all eyes turning to peer at the very beautiful Kaitlin.

Drawing M'lar forward, the room gave an audible "Ahh and Ohhh's" that followed them down the stairs Morgan tucked her hand into the crook of his left arm then walked them down the stairs to the ballroom floor. Morgan moved among those on the ballroom floor, he smiled and nodded and was searching for his meal for the night.

Seeing that there were several lovely young ladies that were watching him move with the grace of a tiger across the room to find a spot to stand with his guests, Morgan noted one in particular young lady that seemed to be ignored and knew he would lavish attention on her get her into the garden or behind one of those heavy drapes and take his meal for the night that is after he had enthralled her.

Darius D'Armond stood next to his mother in a receiving line and Alexis had sunk her nails into his arm when Morgan and his two guests had shown up and noticed how Darius' eyes were transfixed to the vision in white. Mentally he made himself a promise that one day he would possess her.

How could he not recognize who she was with a body like that and now dressed for high society he could see she would make a fitting bride and mother for his sons? However, he had one rather large and obnoxious problem, and it was now posing as a Marquis.

Feeling the bite into his arm he turned and glared down at the hand that lay like a shackle around his forearm. "Let go Alexis if you wish to keep your hand you would do well to remember where we are."

Alexis hissed, "Just be glad she is under Morgan's protection otherwise she would not make it through the night."

Darius jerked his hand out of the tight hold Alexie held on him and turned to look her in the eyes.

"I mean it Alexis, you do not want that man on you. Now if you will excuse me they are about to do the opening dance and I plan to ask Morgan's date for the first dance."

Darius noticed that Morgan had left M'lar and Kait on the side of the room in an attempt to get drinks for them, moving to M'lar he smiled, "Majesty?" May I have the opening dance?"

M'lar smiled curtsied to him, let him take her gloved hand and lead her onto the floor. Darius turned and nodded to the orchestra leader to begin the music. The orchestra immediately began to play a slow but easy waltz. "I hope my dear you know how to waltz."

M'lar smiled, "I am a priestess of Oghma what do you think Mr. D'Armond?"

"Tonight, I am Lord Wellington." He smiled and together they began to glide around the room. M'lar moved with fluidity and grace following his lead and moved into the flow of the music. All eyes seemed to be trained on her and Darius as they moved about the room to the lovely rendition of Midnight Seduction.

A rather risqué waltz that had been making the circuit of most balls in Waterdeep but had not made it much further to their location on New Damara. M'lar glided with him around the room and felt like they were dancing on air. Executing the precise dance stapes as if she had been born to them.

Darius was surprisingly pleased at how well she danced and could not help on one turn note how Morgan was watching them with an intensity where he stood holding two drinks and had the very lovely Lady Kaitlin at his side, they apparently were commenting on how striking M'lar looked while she moved about the room with Darius to the music.

The music soon drew to an end; M'lar was surrounded by a bevy of males that all wanted a dance with her. She accepted one young man as her next partner and then turned to the others. "I shall be happy to dance with you all if you will but allow me one dance with my benefactor for the night and he gets the last dance."

The other men were thrilled that they would be able to have time on the dance floor to charm the beautiful enchating Queen Shalandra. M'lar was grateful for the fact that she would be able to stay away from Morgan for a while and still enjoy what she loved to do and that was to dance.

M'lar was beginning to tire with the waning evening. Stopping to rub her feet she looked up to see another hopeful beau would sweep by and take her onto the dance floor to glide her around the room with the other dancers and try to charm her with his prowess as a potential lover or would be future husband.

She successfully avoided being committed to any one young man. She finally found a moment to hide out in an alcove. Standing in the alcove she had a chance to see Morgan had gone for a walk in the garden. On his arm was a young lady in a sea foam green gown.

The gown had been designed to make her appear to be something akin to a Fairy with whisper light wings of an iridescent material and tiny little antenna made from pipe cleaners. On her head were leaves that had been formed into a crown on her head to peak up from a froth of mousy brown curls.

She watched him lead her out of sight to the gazebo. She frowned, was he trying to seduce this woman in the gazebo? Before she could speculate any further she felt a tap on her arm and looked up at yet another hopeful male dressed in a rogues coat wearing a pirate tri-corn hat and bowing low, "My Lady?" He held out his hand and she sighed and took his hand, then felt a sudden rush as the very air around them seemed to be suspended and then she knew noting else.

Kelson had begun to roll back time holding M'lar close to him, and back to nine thousand five hundred years to nine thousand two hundred years to finally nine thousand one hundred years and he stopped the spin of time.

The disorientation for M'lar was a bit much and she swooned into his arms. Kelson with a wave of his hand had changed her dress. M'lar now wore a soft pale blue gown of the most expensive elven silk ever made for this time. Her hair had changed to that of fiery red hair, and she no longer looked like M'lar she looked like a woman that once lived in this time.

"Annaleise?" The soft deep voice of the man that occupied the room called to the woman that stood in the open window her gaze fixed and her thoughts distant. Turning she smiled and moved back to the bed she apparently had just left.

"Yes, my love I am here."

M'lar slid into bed next to the strong muscled body of a man she knew as Ageis, "You are cold my sweet, come allow me to warm you."

He nuzzled her neck and she giggled, rolling over and into his arms, she felt him move her gown up as he began to massage the most sensitive part of her body and felt her immediate response to his touch.

"You are my light and my life my sweet, tonight we make love, and tomorrow I fight a battle that may not allow me to return to you. If that is the case my beautiful Annaleise, then know that tonight you have made me a happy man."

Ageis pulled her under him and then moved his manhood into position and smiled, "I will leave you with a reminder that I was here."

He took her and with his will and his way, he heightened her experience with him drawing her to the height of her orgasmic climax her scream of pleasure reacting down the long hallway of the bed chamber and surrounding area. They made love for most the night, Ageis had never felt so exhilarated with this woman as he did this night.

He reasoned it was because he faced possible death the next day and perhaps it was this experience and with those thoughts he felt would allow him to also experience what she was experiencing in his arms.

With the night growing shorter and daylight was soon upon him, Ageis finally released her from his driving needs to take her to heights she never felt before, kissed her forehead and dressed, leaving her with his child. She would be a beautiful child with dark eyes, and dark curly hair and the looks of her mother.

Ageis left the room, Kelson once again appeared in the room and took M'lar forward to the time she discovered she was pregnant and was sure the child was Tarin Gillman's; rushing the rim to when she gave birth and the child born was the girl. That little girl would be his cousin he smiled, and then shifted time again and brought M'lar back as she was to the party.

When the music ended, M'lar became aware she was in the arms of a young man with penetrating blue eyes, devilish smile and a soft voice that thanked her for her time. Then he was gone and M'lar was left feeling very odd and displaced, turning back to the alcove she had sheltered in earlier she turned to peer out the window.

She watched Morgan leave the gazebo and appeared to be straightening his clothing and this incensed her, he actually seduced that young girl in the gazebo and got what he went for. Feeling in a foul and outraged mood she sighed and turned back and accepted the next offer to dance.

As Morgan moved back into the room, M'lar could see he had lipstick on his cheek and neck and avoided looking at him. Kait being every the alert and respectful guest moved from her last dance partner and spoke softly to Morgan.

"You might want to go to the men's changing room and check your cheek and neck Morgan you appear to have some lipstick on your cheek and neck."

Morgan moved his hand over his face and with drew his glove to see he had smeared lipstick over the fingertips of his glove, again he moved his hand and ~cantrip~ the lipstick from his face and neck and glove, turning to Kait he leaned over and kissed her cheek. "Thank you that could have been awkward. The young lady in question was very exuberant with her affections and I had to calm her down."

Kaitlin was fuming silently and nodded and began to hum softly under her breath standing next to Morgan. "It seems M'lar had been very popular tonight. She even disappeared for a short time and then there she was. I think the young man in question tried to steal a kiss from her and when she would not kiss him, he brought her back to the dance floor."

Morgan hearing she had disappeared with a young man frowned but hearing he returned shortly with her, was less inclined to be irritated. He had successfully gotten his meal and was well sated, the young lady in question was going to feel weak but have a smile on her face for a very long time and would not remember who it was that had given her an exciting time in the gazebo.

She would believe that she was seduced and enjoyed it immeasurably thanks to the will of his way. She would feel this experience for months if not years to come and would dream happy dreams and feel exhausted. Now fully fed, he was feeling rather secure to be around his guests for the rest of the evening, what he wanted to do was take them home, and begin a subtle seduction on M'lar.

He knew this was not the time or the place for this particular involvement. He would wait when he got her back to New Damara and then he would begin his campaign to secure her as his and then use her for his means to secure the island and its inhabitants.

The night wore on, Dani D'Armond being the perfect hostess was very much aware of her son and his interest in the breed that had danced with most the males at this ball. She had watched anxiously over her son had taken her to the floor and with her in his arms had opened the ball with her for the first dance.

She could not help but notice how close he held her and how his eyes followed her for the rest of the evening. At one point Alexis came to stand next to Dani, "I would give anything to garrote her when she is over in that damn corner again."

Dani spoke softly, "Not if you want to live past this night you will not touch her. Do you understand Lexie; she is not one of your targets this night. Knowing Morgan he has already found another young lady to occupy his night."

Dani took her fan flipped it out with practice ease. "But, he is still very devoted to his house guests, so I suggest if you do not want to find your head suddenly separated from your body, you do not do anything to that horrid creature."

So the ladies stood and watched Darius become more besotted with M'lar. They also watched Kaitlin as she found her fair share of male admires that wanted to occupy her time on the dance floor. However, when the mysterious highway man with the tri-corn hat took M'lar to the floor and then out of the room they both tried to follow to see who was this person and when they could not locate M'lar they all became panic ridded until they saw him lead her back onto the dance floor and finished the dance with her only to disappear into the night.

Alexis try as she might follow the mysterious male to find he blended well into the crowed and was gone. Alexis was frustrated because she had spent the better part of an hour trying to locate him among the other guests and when she failed she growled low.

There had never been anyone that had been so quick to dodge her expert abilities to trail and in some cases to eliminate a problem that she had been paid well to remedy. Now as she felt like a vulture circling the carrion. She was beginning to grow irritated and thought she very well could end this man's life this night.

Again as she circulated and fopped off the requests from young male hopefuls for a dance with a decidedly cold glare and a growl though clenched teeth her frustration levels were growing with each passing minute, She did not want to go back to Dani and tell her that she had lost the man in question.

As the night grew longer and the hour later, the last dance was being announced and M'lar was not ready to dance with Morgan especially after what she had witnessed earlier. So, she opted to try and hide from him.

Moving to the garden she avoided the gazebo and moved along the back pathway, the moon was high in the sky and was full and she glanced up at the moon and sighed softly, her life was one most would never want to share let alone be her. She was not prepared to remove her mask and allow those present see allowing them to see her as the breed. So for her, she had decided that at the unmasking and that was usually after the last dance she would be in the carriage waiting for Kait and Morgan.

She moved along the pathway she could feel a sat of eyes on her, she knew someone was watching her and it unnerved her. Realizing she was in a vulnerable position, she moved back towards the house to hear the announcement of the last call to dance by the major domo.

Stepping forward towards the door, she felt her arm caught, and her body drug against a rock hard body and the most incredible dancing green eyes peered down into her gaze and the smile of a rogue played over his lips. He spoke softly against her ear, "Hello my beauty, where have you been all my life?"

Without further preamble he held her close, drops his lips over hers and kissed her deeply and passionately then released her. "I see now why Darius wants you. You are one of the tastiest treats I have experienced in a while. I bid you good eve my lady."

With those words said he; like the other man disappeared into the crowd that was forming on the dance floor. Feeling her face flushed and her hands trembling she once again felt someone touch her shoulder, 'M'lar, my dance I believe."

Morgan had found her. She looked down at the toe of her shoe then back to him. "I will dance this dance with you but I do not wish to be on the floor when they take off their masks. Morgan I don't want to see the condemnation on those people's faces when they see what I am. So, please allow me to leave, and go to the carriage."

Actually he felt sorry for her and her anxiety over removing her mask and he nodded, "I will grant that wish my dear, now come they are about to start the last dance and you did promise me this dance."

Moving with her to the ballroom and onto the floor, he pulled her close to his body pressing his body into hers. There it was that confident smile she had come to hate. She knew he was smiling because she was annoyed.

he could sense was there just below the surface of that very elegant mask, as the music started he began to move her in the most sensual and dramatic moves over the dance floor and as they moved about M'lar suddenly became aware that the floor was clearing to allow them the run of the floor as all eyes seemed to be on them as they danced the dance of self indulgence and sensuality that had been performed that night. Many a envious eyes followed their flow and movements around the room as Morgan orchestrated his own demonstration of a dance that was designed to incite and intrigue the mind as to what making love with your clothing on and finding excitement in your partner in public purview. The ladies were flushed and some were excited to see two beautifully designed bodies moving to a beat that obviously was meant to seduce, other older women were appalled and moved to hide their faces in their husband's chests with a rebuke of such debauchery and open display of same. The older men were actually excited and intrigued by the dance and showed they were enjoying the display with the smiles and twinkle of the eyes as they placatingly patted their distraught wives backs.

As the dance drew to an end and Morgan released his tight hold on M'lar's body he also did one last thing to the surprise of everyone in the room, as the announcement was beginning to be made about unmasking, Morgan ~teleported~ them to his carriage. As they arrived outside his carriage he tipped her chin up with his index fingertip and smiled, then bent and placed a light kiss on her lips. "I will return shortly with Kaitlyn, we will then call it a night. Until later my dear." He then again ~teleported~ back inside to locate Kait as masks came off the males in the room were searching for Queen Shalandra, and as Morgan appeared at Kait's side he took her upper arm in his hand and again ~teleported~ them out to the carriage. "I hope ou ladies enjoyed yourself this night we have one more week of balls and masquerades and I am sure you will soon grow weary of the high life in Waterdeep and welcome the ride home."

For M'lar no truer words were spoken as she laid her head back and gently removed her mask to close her eyes and sigh softly, glad the night was over and her feet were finally going to be given a rest. Without anyone knowing she had slipped her shoes off and was wanting to get out of the heavy gown that now seemed to weight a ton. Morgan watched her from under his own lowered lids and smiled, perhaps this night he might go for a light snack as she slept and then again thought better of it, the little fairy had given him enough to keep her sated for at least another day. He glanced over to see Kait had now slipped down on the seat and laid her head in M'lar's lap and M'lar gently stroked the errant hairs from her face. "Rest sister, it has been a long night." Kait sighed and soon was fast asleep. M'lar glanced to Morgan and noticed he had taken his mask off and was studying her. "I saw you tonight in the gazebo with that girl. I hope you were entertained properly?" Her words were subtly soft and held a deeper meaning that did not go unnoticed. "I was entertained and sated my needs can you blame me? I mean I am spending a lot of time in your company and you refuse or rebuke my attentions I must then seek them else where does that make you jealous?"

M'lar rolled her head to the side and looked out the window, "Not hardly Morgan I just wish you would not make statements that were obviously not true, that if you intend to court me, you should focus that attention to me and not give out your charms to every young lady that offers to lay down in your bed or at your feet." Morgan chuckled, "Really my dear I do think you are jealous so that gives me hope that I might seek your affections some day?" M'lar swallowed and then sighed and rolled her head back to stare at Morgan, "Not anytime soon in my books." With those words said she remained quiet lost in her own thoughts for the rest of the ride home.