Adeena: What's gonna happen at the party?

Suzi: You're evil, you know that?

Ruwalk: I thought you said she deserted you for this story?

Disclaimer: I don't own Dragon Knights.

Retiring room off the Ballroom

"So when do you plan on talking to him?" Lykouleon asked Adeena when she entered the room minutes after him.

"Sometime tonight, I hope. His stuffs already been moved. One way or another he'll be staying in those rooms" she replied with a worried look.

"It will work out. You'll see" he replied.

"Mother" came a female voice from the doorway.

"Lord" came a male voice from the same place.

"Rath, Cesia, it's about time you arrived. I'm sure the rest are wondering where we are" commented Lykouleon as he looked towards the door and the two who had just entered.

"Not really. Tetheus is wandering around the room watching everyone, Rune is talking with Raseleane and Cernozura" Rath replied. "Thatz, Zoma and Kitchel are over by the food. No one seems to be to worried about us not being there."

"Thank you for that run down. You didn't mention three of them though" replied Lykouleon.

"If you mean Ruwalk, Kai-stern and Alfeegi, they're in there too" said Cesia. "Kai-stern seems to be enjoying himself but there's something wrong with the other two."

"Guess we should go in and get things started then" said Lykouleon heading for the door into the ballroom.

"Rath, would you stay a minute?" asked Adeena.

"Sure" he replied, handing Cesia off to Lykouleon and holding the door as the two walked through. "What can I do for you?"

"Where in the room are Ruwalk and Alfeegi? I need to know where to look when I enter."

"They're standing by the doors to the balcony, but something's wrong between them."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, usually they'd be standing right beside each other but tonight … " he trailed off, looking slightly worried.

"Blast it Ruwalk! Couldn't you have arranged things a little better" she hissed under her breath. "Rath could you take a look and tell me exactly where they are? Specifically where Alfeegi is standing."

"Ok" he replied opening the door enough to look through. "As you look across the room Ruwalk is on the left side of the doors while Alfeegi is standing to the right of the palm on the right side of the doors. Is that what you wanted?" turning his head to look at her.

"Yes, thank you" she said with a sigh.

"Hey! You're one of the guests of honor at this party. I didn't get all dressed up to watch you mope. You'd better start smiling or I'll … "

"You'll what?" she asked with a slight smile.

"I'll think of something" he replied holding his hand out to her. "They're gonna think we're doing something we shouldn't be if we don't get moving."

She walked over and took his hand. He opened the door and they walked through, laughing at his comment. As they entered she looked to where Alfeegi stood, needing to see his reaction to her presence. She watched as his face changed from bored indifference to a mix of love and desire to jealousy to hurt and back to indifference again.

"Thank you" she said to Rath and gave him a quick kiss. Then she moved towards Lykouleon.


Dinner table during birthday festivities

Alfeegi was seated between Ruwalk and Adeena for the main meal. He didn't know what to do. When she had walked into the room laughing with Rath he had felt pangs of jealousy. Just sitting next to her was causing him problems – he couldn't eat or drink and he was acting really strange towards both her and Ruwalk.

Ruwalk was worried. Alfeegi was acting strange, even for him. He was being extremely rude to both him and Adeena. Something was seriously wrong, and getting worse.

"That's it!" Adeena hissed as Alfeegi made another rude remark to Ruwalk. Standing up she turned to Alfeegi and said "Come with me. Now! We have something to discuss. In private!"

"Fine!" he hissed at her in an angry tone, rising from his seat as well.

He followed her down the hallway to an empty room with a door leading to the balcony. She ushered him into the room and closed the door to a crack wide enough to let Ruwalk slip through when he arrived. She walked over to Alfeegi and pushed him into a chair with its back towards the door, and therefore his back too, so he couldn't see the third person involved in this case standing in the shadows next to the door.

She dropped to the floor in front of him, took hold of his hands, looked him the eyes and said "I need you to answer two questions for me. Will you answer them truthfully?" At his nod she continued "The first is this. What are your feelings for Ruwalk?"

Without hesitation he said "I love him. You know that already. Why do you ask?"

"I needed verification" she said. "Now the second question. What are your feelings for me?"

"I … " he hesitated, dropping his eyes from her face.

[No!] thought Ruwalk almost dropping to his knees in despair. [I'm gonna lose one of them!]

Adeena: *claps hands together* Coffee break!

Ruwalk: Are you gonna leave me hanging like that?

Adeena: Yep! Here, have some coffee. *hands cup of steaming black coffee to Ruwalk*