This is extra short, it's a sort of prologue to the ball. People getting ready, etc. Roald going over the plan. Anyways, enjoy!
"Ow."
"Hold on, we'll get it."
"Sera, ow, stop, I can't breath."
"Lysse, look, you have to wear the corset. Now hold still." Sera pulled the strings in the back of the corset tighter and tied them. "There now, that wasn't too bad."
"Speak for yourself." Lysse looked at the dress lying neatly on the bed then she looked at the door. "I can't believe the ball is tonight."
Sera picked up another undergarment. "Arms up." Lysse lifted her arms and the undergarment fell into place.
"I absolutely hate dressing up for these functions. It's just too much work." Lysse pouted while watching herself in the mirror. "I'd rather go in breeches and a loose shirt if I could."
"I'm sure you'd shock the other court ladies with that!" Sera laughed. "Last layer."
"Finally! I'm going to be so hot."
"I know, but you'll look so beautiful. There, done." Lysse looked at herself in the mirror and her eyebrows rose slightly. She wore a dark green, silk dress with a cream colored, silk shift that could be seen through a cut in the overskirt. Her hair was up with curly tendrils centered around her face, a little tiara sat in her hair. Her mouth formed a slight 'oh'.
Sera looked over her work and smiled. "I am good." Sera did a little dance behind Lysse causing Lysse to laugh. Lysse stopped looking at herself in the mirror and turned to Sera.
"Sera, where's Anji?"
*****************
"Now do you all remember the plan?" Roald stopped pacing in his room and looked at his friends before him. He was answered with various 'yeses' and the nodding of heads. "Good, now remember to act surprised, I know it doesn't involve much of us, but we need to play it off like we didn't know it was going to happen. Okay? We don't want to get caught. Our only goal in this is to break up this marriage between Joren and Lysse." At that point there was a knock at the door. "That must be her." Roald answered the door. "Oh, Anji, what are you doing here."
"Well, don't ask me how, but I found out about your little plan and I'm not happy about it. How could you of all people do this Roald? You know how much this marriage means to our family." Anji glared at Roald, folding her arms across her chest.
"You have no idea how much this means to me." Roald muttered.
Anji softened a bit. "Roald. I do, I do know how much she means to you." Anji had gotten quiet so the others could not hear her. "But I really don't think what you are doing to my family and Joren is fair."
"Maybe you don't deserve it, but Joren does. He's been asking to be embarrassed ever since he came here. Besides, it won't effect you all. Just Joren."
"What is wrong with this Joren? I've heard nothing but bad things about him, but I've seen him around the castle and he seems to be okay."
"You've never met him." Neal spoke up from the back.
"Yeah." Cleon continued. "He's the biggest ass in Tortall."
"Well, I'll just go meet him now."
"I wouldn't if I were you. Especially by yourself." Seaver said.
"I'll be back." With that Anji turned quickly around and walked out the door.
[15 minutes later]
Anjie stormed into the room, her face red with anger and embarrassment. "Okay, what's the plan? And hurry, I've got a ball to get ready for."
****************
The Plan stood seductively against the door way that lead out into to the garden where they said they'd meet. They'd better hurry," The Plan thought, "I don't got much time."
(A/N)Okay! There it was. The ball comes up next! You thought I'd tell you the plan, huh? *evil laughter* You wish. That'll be in the next part.