Stephen and Alanna heard music and nobles chatting far before they reached the ballroom. When they finally got there, they weren't surprised at the sheer number of nobles who had shown up. They stood behind a red velvet curtain waiting to be announced, when a man, escorted by two giggling ladies, stepped into the small chamber. Immediately, everyone stopped and stared at the trio.
Alanna knew at once who the man in the center of the ladies must be. He was the Prince ! She dipped a low curtsy to him, then stood up, staring at him like everyone else was apt to. He ignored the stares and continued talking to the flirtatious young women surrounding him. He didn't even look up from his escorts !
The Prince was dressed in blue velvet coat, with a white shirt underneath. He had dull brown eyes and muddy brown hair. He wasn't anything special, he was just admired for being born. Soon, Alanna began to notice something…Stephen was staring at her staring at the Prince ! She blushed and turned to her companion.
"Sir Stephen and Lady Alanna," announced the man. They stepped forward and entered the ballroom via the red draped staircase. Once on the dance floor, Stephen at once asked Alanna to dance. The spun through the next few dances, unable to take their eyes off of each other. Stephen saw only Alanna's light violet eyes that matched her gown, Alanna saw Stephen's.deepest blue ones that twinkled as he moved about the dance floor.
Finally, breathless with the excitement of a fast waltz, they removed themselves from the floor and helped themselves to drinks from the refreshment table. They downed punch and chatted about their lives. Well, Alanna chatted about hers. Stephen seemed shy about his past, unwilling to share details. Alanna found this strange.
"Stephen, would you like to go for a walk?" she asked politely, wanting to get away from the crowds of dancers.
"Of course, Alanna, where should we go? To the gardens?" asked Stephen.
"The gardens sound lovely, but I've never seen them," replied Alanna. So with a mutual nod, they stepped outside, arm in arm, and wandered through the flowers, topiaries, and statues.
After wandering around for awhile, they found a bench that seemed to welcome the pair to sit on it. It was wrought iron, and vines had reclaimed the legs it stood on, making it seem truely like part of the garden. They turned and stared into each other's eyes, like they had moments before. Alanna inhaled, knowing what was about to come.
She was right. Stephen leaned in towards her face as she exhaled. He brought his lips of to her face, and slowly kissed her. When she didn't recoil in horror, he deepened his kiss, pulling her close to him. After a few moments, he pulled back and looked at the girl he had kissed. She was smiling.
"That was my first kiss," said Alanna.
"Mine too," Stephen replied.
The full moon shining above was smiling down on the pair in that moment. It was the perfect night for romance, and they were both falling in love.
Alanna knew at once who the man in the center of the ladies must be. He was the Prince ! She dipped a low curtsy to him, then stood up, staring at him like everyone else was apt to. He ignored the stares and continued talking to the flirtatious young women surrounding him. He didn't even look up from his escorts !
The Prince was dressed in blue velvet coat, with a white shirt underneath. He had dull brown eyes and muddy brown hair. He wasn't anything special, he was just admired for being born. Soon, Alanna began to notice something…Stephen was staring at her staring at the Prince ! She blushed and turned to her companion.
"Sir Stephen and Lady Alanna," announced the man. They stepped forward and entered the ballroom via the red draped staircase. Once on the dance floor, Stephen at once asked Alanna to dance. The spun through the next few dances, unable to take their eyes off of each other. Stephen saw only Alanna's light violet eyes that matched her gown, Alanna saw Stephen's.deepest blue ones that twinkled as he moved about the dance floor.
Finally, breathless with the excitement of a fast waltz, they removed themselves from the floor and helped themselves to drinks from the refreshment table. They downed punch and chatted about their lives. Well, Alanna chatted about hers. Stephen seemed shy about his past, unwilling to share details. Alanna found this strange.
"Stephen, would you like to go for a walk?" she asked politely, wanting to get away from the crowds of dancers.
"Of course, Alanna, where should we go? To the gardens?" asked Stephen.
"The gardens sound lovely, but I've never seen them," replied Alanna. So with a mutual nod, they stepped outside, arm in arm, and wandered through the flowers, topiaries, and statues.
After wandering around for awhile, they found a bench that seemed to welcome the pair to sit on it. It was wrought iron, and vines had reclaimed the legs it stood on, making it seem truely like part of the garden. They turned and stared into each other's eyes, like they had moments before. Alanna inhaled, knowing what was about to come.
She was right. Stephen leaned in towards her face as she exhaled. He brought his lips of to her face, and slowly kissed her. When she didn't recoil in horror, he deepened his kiss, pulling her close to him. After a few moments, he pulled back and looked at the girl he had kissed. She was smiling.
"That was my first kiss," said Alanna.
"Mine too," Stephen replied.
The full moon shining above was smiling down on the pair in that moment. It was the perfect night for romance, and they were both falling in love.