Author's Note: IF YOU'VE NEVER READ AN AUTHOR'S NOTE, PLEASE READ THIS ONE! 

            Well, this it. The last chapter of Venitia, The Princess. I mean, I'll probably put an epilogue, but this is the end. I just wanted to thank everyone, and I mean everyone, every single person, who has ever read my story. Thank you so much for supporting it, and thanks for all your wonderful comments. It was my first story, and I actually began it not really liking it, and now I'm incredibly sad to see it end, so I just want to thank everyone who helped me.  Even if you just began to read it, thanks.  If you've never reviewed, I'd love to hear from you now that it's almost over.

            Sometimes it took me forever to decide where to go next, and sometimes the story just poured out, but looking back, I have to say I'm pretty proud of it. I know it is very AU, and kind of farfetched, but isn't that the beauty of fanfiction?

            I've already begun a story that's under Fairy Tales, and it's called Lilies and Ivy, and it's off to a fantastic start, so if want to check that out, you can. I don't know when I'll have another LOTR story up and running, because it is so hard to think of a story for LOTR, which is why I did a fairy tale since there aren't as many restrictions on the writing. I do have a LOTR story, but I'm kind of tentative to post it since I'm not sure if I have all the facts straight. If anyone really knows their Middle-earth background, and would be willing to help me out, e-mail me at DiscoGirl99@aol.com. It would be a humongous help. I also have another fairy tale in the works, so if you miss me, you can check out my fairy tales. :) 

            Well, I suppose I've droned on enough, eh? Again, thank you, yes you!, for supporting me. I know I'll sorely miss Venitia. It sounds pathetic, but she's kind of like a friend. Well, here you go!

            ~Emma the NazgulQueen~

Chapter 31

            Venitia was very, very antsy. She spent the whole day of the last night of the masquerade jumping up and down, chattering about nothing, and staring at the clock, willing it to go faster. She had to know…she turned the thought over and over in her head. Could it be him? Could Dorian really be Donovan?

            Finally, the hour she had been waiting for arrived. At two o'clock she jumped up from her seat in the library and rushed to her room. She jumped into the bathtub.

            You know it's him, the familiar voice said.

            Venitia just sighed. But what if he wasn't?

            She left the bathroom, and all thoughts vanished when she saw the dress that lay on her bed. 

            Hope the colors are alright – Annette, a note read on top of it.

            Venitia's nehipox dress had become a reality.  It was red and gold and… marvelous.  It had two golden wings attached to the back, and the mask had red feathers on it.  Venitia clapped her hands. Tonight was the night!

            She put on the fabulous dress and gasped at herself in the mirror.

            "Wow," she murmured. The vibrant colors stood in stark contrast with her pale skin and dark hair. She smiled happily; it was perfect.

            She pulled her hair high, and spent a good half hour curling it. Checking her clock, she realized she only had ten minutes.  She forced the matching shoes on her still-aching feet and set about pinning the mask securely to her head while not messing her hair.  Since that took her ten minutes anyway, she ran out of the room.

            "Three nights in a row, you've been late," her father scolded her.

            "Not fair! It takes time to look beautiful," she teased.

            "Well, you do look lovely. A nehipox, if I'm not mistaken?"

            She pecked his cheek as an answer.

            "Have fun," he said, winked, and then went in with her mother. Venitia followed them, coming in to applause. Surprised, she staggered back a bit, but controlled herself and nodded her head politely.

            The guests soon began to dance, and Venitia walked down the stairs. Except this time, there was no Dorian waiting at the bottom.  Her heart dropped a little. This was driving her crazy! She had to know…

            "Sorry I'm late," a voice said behind her. She whirled around to see Dorian, not dressed in his uniform, but in a rather classy outfit.

            "You look nice," she said.

            He smiled at her, but his eyes were looking at her dress. "So do you," he choked. She smiled, and pulled him out onto the dance floor.  She desperately tried to avoid his eyes; she didn't want to be reminded of what they…well, reminded her of.  He seemed to notice something was wrong, but he didn't say anything.

            They switched partners now and then; one horrible moment, Venitia was stuck dancing with Lady Bernadine, who talked to her endlessly about how Venitia still hadn't married.

            "Oh, don't worry dear, it'll happen for you! You're so beautiful, it has to! Unless, mind you, it doesn't happen until you're old and then you won't be as beautiful anymore, but it could still happen! Of course, I do have to boast that now my Noam is engaged! Think on it! I can plan an elaborate wedding…oh, it'll be beautiful." Did she ever stop talking?

            Venitia thanked the heavens above when the partners finally switched again. This one, however, she found much more to her liking.

            "Good evening, your highness," a man who was to be her next partner said, while bowing.

            "How did you know it was me?" she asked, checking to make sure her mask was still there.

            "A mask cannot hide your famous beauty, your highness."

            Venitia blushed, but said nothing. The dance began.

            "So, who are you?" she asked.

            "Donnan, your highness."        

            Venitia laughed internally at the irony of it all. She made a new goal to meet a man whose name did not begin with 'D.'

            The man's very thin mask showed that he was indeed very handsome, with blonde hair and blue eyes.  They chatted while dancing, and they got on quite well. 

            "You can read dwarfish?" he said, fascinated.

            "Only a little. My father taught me what he knew when I was young."

            "I myself have always been fascinated with languages. Any language. I used to teach them to myself when I was child."  

            "You taught yourself?"

            "Yes, although I learned when I was older that I had learned many things wrong."

            She laughed. "That is amazing."

            "Well, thank you."

            She caught sight of Dorian, who was glaring at Donnan. She narrowed her eyes. He had no right to resent Donnan. Even if he was Donovan. Especially if he was Donovan!

            "Are you alright, your highness?" Donnan asked.

            "Yes, I'm perfectly fine," she said, a bit defiantly. He smiled.

            The dance ended with a last twirl.  Dorian was seen storming over to them.

            "Good evening, sir," Donnan said gallantly.

            "Good evening," Dorian said shortly.

            "Dorian, this Donnan. Donnan, this is Dorian," Venitia introduced them, carefully watching Dorian.

            The men shook hands, but Dorian broke off quickly. Donnan looked confused.

            Dorian looked as if he was about to ask a question, when Donnan said,

"Would you care for a drink, your highness?" Dorian looked furious, but Venitia smiled widely at Donnan.

"Yes, thank you. I'll come with you. Are you coming, Dorian?" she said coyly.

Dorian's forehead burrowed.

"Yes," he said defiantly, and joined them.

The odd trio got a drink, and stood side by side, drinking. Venitia sighed. This was going to be harder than she thought.

They joined in an awkward, strained conversation.

"So, Donnan, where do you come from?" Venitia asked.

"The western part of the land, my lady," he answered.

"So, why did you come to the city?" she asked, deliberately avoiding facing Dorian.

"I will admit it. My family needed money, so I came to work for your father."

"Oh, well, it is always good to be honest." She realized what she was doing, and felt horrible, but she couldn't help it. "Do you know how to speak Sindarin?"

"Yes, a bit. That was one of the languages I realized I had learned wrong."

She laughed.

"I assume you know it, of course?" Donnan said.

"Yes, my mother spoke in it quite often. My father as well," she said in the beautiful elvish language.

Donnan smiled. "It rolls off your tongue," he said, also in Sindarin.

"What kind of work do you do?" Dorian broke in, his voice colder than usual.

"I work in the library," Donnan answered.

"The library?"

"Yes."

"I think it's interesting," Venitia said.

"Why didn't you join the army?" Dorian said.

"I was offered more money at the library," Donnan answered. "Besides, I'm not quite cut out for the army."

"That's for sure," Dorian muttered.

"Pardon?" Donnan said.

"Nothing," Dorian replied, but Venitia narrowed her eyes at him.

"No, what did you say, Dorian?" she asked.

"It was nothing."

"It didn't sound like nothing," she went on. "It sounded like 'that's for sure'."

"What is for sure?" Donnan asked.

"That's what I would like to know," Venitia said, nodding in agreement.

Dorian looked from one to the other, from Donnan's innocent face to Venitia's calculating stare. He gritted his teeth.

"Alright. I did say 'that's for sure,' because look at him! He'd never last one moment in the army!"

"And there's something wrong with that?" Venitia said warningly.

"Well, I'm not going to let some coward come in and sweep you off your feet when I've been here all along!" He realized what he had said too late.

"Oh really? Have you? I don't even know what you look like! How can you be here when I don't even know who you are?" she yelled. People began to stare.

He didn't reply. Venitia stamped her foot and swept off toward the gardens.

"Venitia, wait!" she heard him yell after her.  She took an unknown shortcut and headed to the balcony that came out of the ballroom. People were dancing even all the way out here, down on the grass. The moon had come out and shone brightly. The wafts of music floated through the hot summer air. She leaned on the rail and sighed. She didn't know what to think; she didn't want to think at all.

She stayed there for a few minutes, until she heard the sound of running feet come up behind her. She sighed, but didn't budge. She continued to look out at the moon.

"Venitia…"

She didn't say anything.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry I was so blockheaded. I'm sorry I never told you the truth. I'm sorry I never told you who I am." He walked up behind her, and turned her around. She didn't look up. "But you know what?" he said softly, while cupping her chin and pulling her face up to meet his. "I'm not sorry I love you." And with that, he kissed her.

She was taken by surprise at first, but soon returned it. She thought she saw fireworks, but she was hearing them. Great, big, colorful fireworks were exploding all around them.  A sudden thought struck her, and she snaked her hand that had been at the back of his neck up to the back of his head. She furiously untied the knot, and his mask came off.  He broke off the kiss, and she looked up at him. There, smiling down at her, was Donovan.

"It is you!" she cried. "I knew it!"

He laughed, and picked her up and twirled her around a bit. He kissed her again.

She just stared up at him, incredulous.

"It's me, I promise," he said softly. She smiled.

"I know, it's just…" she ran a hand through his hair.

"What?" he said. "I promise I won't run off."

"Well, actually, that's just it." She sighed, twirling a strand of his hair. "Why…"

His eyes looked sad for a moment. "I have never regretted anything more in my whole life…I don't know. I guess it's because I got scared. Not at your being royalty, just at the whole picture. Or I was just being stupid, either one."

She smiled and kissed him, knowing she had forgiven him. He sighed suddenly.

"What is it?" she said.

"I died without you," he said.

"Didn't you know I was coming?"

"I had heard rumors that you might join us, so I went, hoping you would. I guess it was just fate that allowed me to be near you the whole time."

The fireworks were still exploding, lighting up the sky. Venitia looked up at them, sparkling and glittering in the sky. It was exactly how she felt on the inside.

The fireworks died off, and the clock struck midnight.

"It's midnight," she said.

"So?"

"That's when we're supposed to take off our masks," she said. "Watch." She pointed down at the people below, taking off their masks. One particular couple was certainly not happy with the results, and stormed off in either direction. Venitia laughed, then reached up and unpinned her own. It finally came free. She held the mask in her hand, smoothing the feathers, until Donovan began to kiss her again, except this time on her neck, her cheek, her eyes. She laughed, and heard the music begin again.

"Would you care to dance?" she asked. He reluctantly stopped, and they began to waltz all around the enormous balcony. 

"If I didn't make it clear before, you look beautiful," he whispered in her ear. She smiled.

"No, you didn't. Why…" He stopped her by putting a finger to her lips.

"There's time for explanations later."

They danced and danced and danced. The music finally stopped, but Venitia still felt like she could have continued all night.

"Would you like to see my parents?" she asked hopefully.

He didn't look too thrilled.

"Don't worry, they won't bite. They'll understand, trust me."

He sighed, but nodded, so she led him around to the other side and headed up to where her parents were standing, unmasked.

"Mother, Father, look who's here," she said.

"Donovan!" her mother said, standing up and kissing him on the cheek. He bowed.

"Good evening, your majesties," he said.

"It's good to see you again. It's been a long time," the king said.

"He had a family emergency," Venitia said calmly.

"Yes, my mother is ill. She was much better when I left her, but it took a long time to get her through it. I am sorry I left so abruptly," Donovan said.

"Well, it's perfectly understandable," her father said. The music struck up again, and he looked toward his wife. "Shall we?" he said, giving her his elbow.

"I think we shall," the queen said. "Excuse us," she said, winking at Venitia as they left.

"My mother really is sick," Donovan said.

"Really?"

"Yes, but as soon as she meets you, I'll think she'll be feeling much better."

They stayed where they were, just watching the people dancing. Venitia looked up him every so often, just to check. She watched her parents whirl around, laughing. She now felt certain that she would be that happy someday.

"Oh, if I didn't mention it, I love you," she whispered to him. He looked down at her with such happiness in his eyes, and kissed her.

Yes. Her royal highness, Venitia of Gondor, was definitely going to be a very, very happy queen one day.

The End

*~NazgulQueen~*

There are places I remember
All my life, though some have changed,
Some forever, not for better,
Some have gone and some remain.
All these places had their moments,
With lovers and friends I still can recall,
Some are dead and some are living,
In my life I've loved them all.

-The Beatles