As much as I'd love to be her, I'm not Tamora, so I'm stuck making up my own versions. Poor pitiful me!

That afternoon Danni and Kel went to their room's right after gulping down lunch. Danni was determined to have curls in her hair tonight, so she immediately wrapped her hair into curlers. This was a lengthy chore, due to the fact that her hair was always straight as a pin. It didn't help that it was extremely long and naturally smooth, even though that was good any other time.

After they had finished rolling her hair, Danni insisted Kel bath, but not get her hair wet, and use the expensive soaps and oils Dayane had just bought. The oil felt nice on her skin, and the heady scent of oranges and cloves was relaxing. Once she had gotten out she and Danni looked over their dress choices. The oil inspired Kel, and she selected a dark orange gown that had burnished gold velvet trimming and bits of bronze lace peeking up from the bodice. The sleeves were the same bronze lace and hung in large bells that ended past Kel's fingertips.

Before they dressed, Danni taught Kel a simple version of the dance she and Jay had done the previous night. After a few tries Kel was ready for more complicated steps. They worked on this for about an hour, laughing at mistakes and gasping for breath at the end. Kel felt just as tired as she would after practicing with her glaive for and hour.

Tonight she wanted to try out a pair of heels, though Danni warned her that her feet would ache by the nights end. Her jewelry was a small problem but once again Danni managed to find something. Half a dozen thin gold chains, each holding a small white lily, hung from her neck along with one chain of about thirteen delicate lilies around her wrist. Gold shadow covered her eyelids, and bronze dust shimmered on every inch of exposed skin. Kel felt beautiful.

Danni had finally managed to get a bit of curl into the ends of her hair, but anything further than that was hopeless. Walking to her wardrobe, she tapped her pinky finger against her lips. What to wear? Last night Kel had worn green, but it was mint green. Her mother had sent her a dark, forest green velvet. It was a little loud with bright canary yellow bodice and sleeves, but there was an overcoat that she could wear. Deciding that that was the thing to do, she quickly pulled on all the necessary undergarments and shimmied into the dress.

She grabbed a pair of dangly sliver butterfly earrings and a matching necklace. White gold pins, in the shape of butterflies of course, were scattered throughout her long hair and sliver powder was dusted over her neck and shoulders. Metallic eye paint and a thin line of black kohl completed the look. Kel and Danni then went down to the hall outside the ballroom, where the boys were waiting.

"You're all powdery." Neal commented helpfully.

"Thank-you for pointing that out Neal. I've no idea how this got all over us." Danni said with a laugh. It took him a second to realize that she was joking and Kel rolled her eyes at him. Once they were all announced and grouped in a corner, Neal ran off to find his lady friend from last night and the rest of the boys hurriedly paired off with the nearest court ladies. Kel and Anders danced together when the first galliard began, but were interrupted by a young gentleman Danni didn't recognize. Blane stood at her side and watched the dancing with her, occasionally commenting about a particularly gaudy dress or a bad haircut to make her laugh. Suddenly the herald announced another couple. Danni stared open mouthed as her Mother and Father walked down into the room, Jay not far behind along with two of her other brothers.

"Mama, Papa! Vaalkin, Armadan!" she called racing to meet them. Her Mama smiled and grabbed her up in a hug.

"Danni, my sweet daughter! I've missed you." She whispered, the familiar accent marring her common (think something along the lines of a Romanian accent. You know, like Dracula) Tall and slim, Lady Marishka was a mirror of her daughter except with laugh lines around her eyes and streaks of gray in her long hair. Danni felt a tug on her ear and turned to hug her Papa.

"Papa!"

"'Ello Danni-Doll." His deep gravely voice was as comforting as the smell of pipe tobacco and horses that always clung to him. Danni felt the tickle of his beard, once pure black but now salt-and-pepper, and the ridges of the braid that hung to his shoulders, also beginning to be more gray than black. For a moment she was six years old again, sitting on his lap and begging him to tell her stories from his life at sea. The sound of Kel's voice brought her out of this reverie.

"Danni? Danni I think that- Oh! I'm so sorry, I didn't realize…"

"It's fine Kel. This is my Papa Lord Aaritvon, my Mama Lady Marishka, and my brother's Vaalkin and Armadan." She said, gesturing to each in turn.

Danni went to her brothers and gave them each a warm hug and a kiss, tousling little Armadan's hair only to have her own head treated the same by Vaalkin. Looking at Armadan again, she found that he was no longer the dirty-kneed seven year old she'd left behind, but a strapping twelve year old. His pale blonde locks were the same, but longer and more wavy than curly. Papa always said that he had his Grand papa's hair. 'Pale as a frightened widow!' he would say. Vaalkin was just as she left him though. Tall, big boned, and with a head of shaggy black hair that he kept tied back with a leather strip. Danni noticed Kel staring slightly slack-jawed at her older brother.

"Vaalkin let Kel take you to the maestro and ask him to play the Gypsy Rouge." Marishka said, giving Danni a conspirators look. Danni smiled at her mother and laughed at Kel's cornered look. Vaalkin was only three years older that her and had the best humor of anyone in her family. He was perfect for the serious but shy Kel. Her Mama and Papa pared up as Kel and Vaalkin walked back, Vaalkin telling her some witty story of his. The waltz died down and the requested song started. Once again flustered couples fled the floor to allow Lord and Lady of Graveshill room to dance. Danni caught Kel trying to sneak off.

"Oh no you don't!" Kel froze and turned, once again wearing the cornered look.

"I'm going to watch from here..."

"No, you'll dance with Vaalkin. He doesn't have a partner yet and you know the steps."

"But I-"Kel's words were halted by the object of her distress appearing. He simply offered her his arm, and Kel simply took it and fallowed obediently. Danni smiled, completely satisfied with her work. Jay came to claim her, and as they swept out onto the floor, Danni let herself be swept up by the music.

Hello! Sorry about the delay kiddies, I have a mean older sister : ((!! Any-hoo, you got to meet Danni's family. Well, most of them. I plan to make them a large family, four brothers and three sisters! You'll meet the rest of them later. Also, her mom and dad have heavy Romanian accents and I've decided she will have a slight one to. If you've seen Van Helsing its like how Anna, Dracula, and all his vampire wives talk. I got the name Vaalkin from that movie, only I changed it a bit, Lol. I think I may have written other names for her parents, but i like these, so I'll go back and change them soon. Well, that's all for now Lovely's. Review!!!!!!!

Armadan - Arm-ah-daan

Vaalkin - VV-Ah-ll-Kin

Marishka - Marr-Ish-Kah

Aaritvon - Ay-Rit-V-on