P.O.V of Caitlin

Felicity and Iris go ahead of me as I am introduced last to the ball. And so I wait in the shadows out of sight, wait patiently for my turn to descend the grand staircase.

"May I present, the Princess Caitlin of the kingdom of Frostfields." The announcer calls out, his loud voice ringing in my ears from being so close. Taking a deep breath, I move forward and look out at the ballroom below me. I feel eyes on me as I slowly begin to make my way down, one step at a time. Movement catches my eye and I see Prince Ronald move from off to the side of the bottom of the staircase move towards the center and our eyes meet. My lips twitch, a small smile pulling at my lips while I watch him as I continue my descent, not breaking eye contact as I get to the bottom. At the last few steps he offers me his hand, which I take before I take the last few steps.

Tilting my head I examine him before I impulsively ask, "Care to open the ball with me, Prince Ronald?"

"Of course, I would be honored to open the ball with you Princess Caitlin." he bows his head slightly, still looking up at me even through his eyelashes and I smile and I let out what could almost be considered a giggle before he leads me out to the center of the room to dance.

The band strikes up the music, and we begin our dance. Twirling, spinning and gliding around the room, more fluidly and in synch than I would have thought possible. "You know, you are a wonderful dancer." His voice is soft and low in my ear as he speaks only to me, "You're not so bad yourself." I respond, barely holding back another smile.

As our dance comes to a close we separate; I curtsey, he bows and kisses the back of my hand in a very gentlemanly fashion and I cannot help the small blush that creeps up into my cheeks.

"Thank you for the dance Princess." He smiles up at me before straightening and stepping back, allowing the next person who came to dance with me in. His thumb strokes the side of my hand softly before he passes my hand over. Around us many more have come out to the floor to dance, and I find myself whirled away by this new man, away from Prince Ronald.

The next handful of dances are subpar, especially in comparison to the first dance. I manage to refrain from grumbling, but these other suitors truly do not know how to dance. Their form is all wrong, they do not know where they are supposed to put their hands exactly and they keep almost stepping on my feet. It is a miracle the hem of my dress still looks well and intact. One of them did manage to step on my feet, multiple times in fact and now my feet are rather sore. So, when I finally leave the middle of the dancefloor saying I was tired, it was not entirely false.

Sighing in relief I find a seat among the many small tables surrounding the dancefloor, only to be followed by Marcus, the fool who stepped on my feet one too many times Even one time was too many for me with his heavy footfalls, and his idea that somehow stomping your feet qualified as dancing.

He sits next to me and I narrow my eyes on him, trying to figure out just how foolish he really is. Does he want me to freeze him? I'm starting to think he does. Just as I open my mouth to say something to get him to go away, I am interrupted by someone else who's come to my rescue it would seem.

"Hello Princess, I hope I am not intruding." Prince Ronald stands at the back of my chair. "I was wondering, if perhaps, you would care to take a walk through the gardens with me to get some fresh, cool air." His smile is easy, and he ignores Marcus entirely who has begun babbling like the fool I believe he may be.

"You are, in fact intruding." He whines, "Se are taking a break from dancing." He looks at Ronald with disgust.

"Fresh air you say?" I tilt my head, trying to look like I'm considering it when I've already decided, "That sounds lovely Prince Ronald."

He offers me his arm and I accept it as I stand up, now also ignoring Marcus and his loud protests. Rolling my eyes I send an bit of cold out of my palm without looking back, that wraps around and covers him in frost from head to toe.

"Now Princess, that wasn't very nice." Ronnie laughs, keeping his voice low, but I can tell he is pleased. I do not think he liked Marcus much either.