Hi peeps!!! Finally I've finished chapter 5!!! Sorry about the long wait, I had loadsa homework!! Anyway, on with the story…

1 Chapter 5: Leon

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Krystel and the Queen quickly came to the two ballroom doors. They were just like Krystel's door, except they were larger and more intricate in design. Krystel and Queen Hitomi stopped to catch their breath, regained their dignity, and slowly walked up to the doors. The Queen then shouted out in a commanding voice…

'In the name of Queen Hitomi of Fanelia, open the doors. The Princess Krystel has come.' Krystel had no time to question her new title, for as she was about to ask the Queen, the great doors opened. A wonderful site met Krystel's eyes. Fair ladies and handsome men in clothes only seen in fairytales, were whirling and dancing around on a huge white marble, engraved with emerald green jade. An orchestra sat over the left side of the room, playing a beautiful tune, Fanelian in origin. In fact, it was the same tune that Aria had been singing, the very first time Krystel met her. It was enchanting. But the dancers and orchestra stopped when a trumpet sounded, and a voice called out…

'The Queen Hitomi has entered' and then another trumpet rang out, and the same voice shouted…

'The Princess Krystel has entered.' A sudden rush of whispers broke out. Again Krystel had no chance to protest her name, as five people started walking towards them up the white marble steps.

'Ah, the very people I wanted to see!' the Queen said, as she smiled at the newcomers. Krystel looked at them with great curiosity.

'Let me introduce you all. Krystel, this is King Dryden of ----' the Queen pointed out a tall, dark man in the middle of the group. He looked middle- aged, around 45 maybe, but still very handsome. Dryden's deep brown hair was tied back in a long ponytail, and he had, for some reason, sunglasses covering his eyes. He was wearing a long navy coat, patterned with gold thread, portraying birds in flight.

'How do you do, your Highness' he said, bowing deeply to a startled Krystel. She curtseyed politely back.

'This is King Allen and Queen Millerna of Asturia' the Queen said as she then turned to a couple, both around 42 yet incredibly good-looking. The tall King had shimmering, golden hair down to his waist, and was dressed in a suit of rich sea blue, the same colour as his twinkling eyes. Queen Millerna had ash blonde curls streaming down onto her back, with a gown of sea blue and white fitting her slender figure. Her eyes shone the same rich blue as her husband's. Both nodded their heads in respect, smiling serenely.

'Krystel, this is King Chid of Freid' this time the Queen turned to a man slightly younger than herself, about 32. He had a gold and white turban on his blonde head, and was dressed in rich purple velvet and white silk. His blue eyes twinkled mysteriously.

'A pleasure to meet you Princess' he said as he bowed fondly to her.

'Charmed, I'm sure, but Queen Hitomi, I thought you said he was a prince??' exclaimed Krystel, instantly liking the young man.

'Did I?? Oh, well, you see, he's only been crowned King for a few months, so we're not really used to it!!!' the Queen laughed.

'Oh, right!' Krystel replied. Finally she turned to the last person standing there. A man, the oldest of the group, 60 maybe yet in the prime of his life, dressed in a deep red cloak, sweeping around his black boots. Under the cloak he was wearing a white shirt under a mauve waistcoat, with black trousers tucked into his boots. He had thick, dark brown hair on top of his head, despite his age, and stubble of a beard on the chin of his handsome, tanned face. Yet the feature that Krystel was drawn to the most, was his glinting emerald eyes. She was entranced, but the Queen spoke, snapping Krystel back to reality.

'And this Krystel, this is Laguna, King of Zenba. King Laguna is my father.' So that was it. Krystel had thought those eyes looked familiar. She almost got lost in trying to remember her own father, but yet again Queen Hitomi's voice pulled her back. 'Krystel, I'm going to go and find King Van, with the accompaniment of these fine five. Would you like to come too?' Krystel hesitated, but didn't have to wait long. 'Or would you prefer to go and dance' the Queen seemed to have read Krystel's mind. She glanced down at the Ball below her. Krystel didn't know anyone else there, but the prospect of dancing was too great.

'Yes, please. I would like that very much.' So she curtseyed and half walked, half ran down the marble steps, down to the whirling crowd of beauty.

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Two hours had passed since Krystel went down the white marble steps, and much had happened. Or rather, much of the same thing had happened. Krystel had danced with so many men, she had lost count. You may think it weird that she knew how to dance in the first place, but when Krystel had been in the manor as a servant girl, she had taught herself. Many hours had she spent waltzing around her little room, dreaming she would do what she had just spent two hours doing. She had always thought that she was meant for more than serving. And that's why she knew how to dance. And as she stood by the punch bowl, tired out from all the twirling and stepping, she thanked herself greatly for it.

As she stood by the punch bowl, watching the dancer twirl unceasingly, someone tapped her on the shoulder softly. She turned around, and gasped. In front of her was the most handsome person she had ever seen. He was about 15, the same age as her, with straight golden hair in a bob, dressed in sea blue, and his eyes shone the colour of the sky on a summer's day, the same as……someone she'd seen before. She didn't have much time to work out whom, before he spoke.

'Princess Krystel, would you like to dance' he said, in a voice as smooth as honey, yet laced with deep passion.

'Ok' was the only word Krystel could think of. He took her hand, and led her onto the floor. Just then the orchestra started playing a faster, more passionate song. Krystel and her mysterious partner began a strong dance, more complicated than the Tango, yet not unlike it. Each time the two came close, the boy would whisper things like 'You look so beautiful tonight.' It sent shivers down her spine. They held each other very close, and Krystel could feel the warmth radiating from his body. The rest of the dancers formed a wide circle around the pair. They danced and danced, until Krystel had lost all track of time. Abruptly, the song ended. Krystel and her strange partner stopped, each holding the other tight, their heads so close they could kiss. And oh, how she wanted to, but instead asked him, 'Who, who are you?' His answer came as a whisper.

'Leon, Leon Shezar.'

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Whoaaaa!!! What do you think!!!! Not bad eh!!!! I know you're out there, dying for them to kiss and throwing the screen out the window 'cos they didn't, but no fear. All in good time!!!! Like, the next chapter!!!!! ^_^!!!! Out soon!!! Oh, and PLEASE REVIEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!