Disclaimer: There's a black hole in my closet. Not only has it stolen all
of my socks, but it's also taken all of my legal rights to owning anything
that I don't legally own. Who would've thought?
Author's Notes (VERY IMPORTANT): I feel so loved! 158 reviews total! I've received 14 for this chapter alone! Yay!! Also, I should make treanz-alyce aware of the fact that she was -yatadataaa!- the 150th reviewer! She gets the lovely offer of picking the final pairing. And if she doesn't want to, the honor can go to (MWAHAHAHAHA!) the 175th reviewer! Everyone would like that, wouldn't they?
~ ~ ~ ~
Audrie woke to the bright and chipper face of... Jered? Poking her in the shoulder was an overly cheerful friend who, in Audrie's opinion, ought to be wiped off the face of the world at this time in the morning.
"What," Audrie snapped, sitting up, "Are you doing here?"
"Poking you."
"No really? I couldn't tell." Audrie flicked him in the forehead in a slightly less than affectionate way. "Now what are you actually doing here?"
"Probably getting on your nerves."
"Jered, if you want to avoid an extremely painful and gruesome death, I recommend you Get To The Point." At this point, Jered was tempted to reply with another annoying comment but the look in Audrie's eye told him it would be wise not to. The knife pointing at his throat probably helped some, too.
"Well, we have some planning to do."
"We?"
"You, George and I do, at least. Involving tomorrow. It being your last day here and all."
"Oh, yeah." Audrie's eyes drifted down to the floor with a slight melancholy. "I guess it is."
"You're not actually sad about that, are you?" Jered grinned at her incredulously.
"Of course not!" She snapped, shooting Jered an annoyed look. "I'll just miss the edible food, that's all."
"Ah." Jered rolled his eyes.
"What are these plans anyway?"
A sadistic grin danced onto Jered's face. " I have a gift for you."
"I'm touched. Not." Audrie stuck her tongue out at Jered. "What's that got to do with planning my escape and such?"
Jered pulled a black silk dress out of his pack and handed it to Audrie. "You'll see. Look at it after I'm gone, okay?"
"Why, so I can't strangle you for giving me an incredibly revealing dress?"
"Partly." Jered grin and barely ducked a punch from Audrie. "Let's get started. First off, will you be attending tomorrow night's dance?"
"Of course!" It was Audrie's turn to grin cockily. "I'm not totally unprepared."
~ ~ ~ ~
Audrie finally managed to cram Jered back into the passageway by the time her stomach was growling in anger and accusing Audrie of malnutrition and abuse. At the instant she was planning to go and demand the court to hold a second breakfast merely for her, lunch was announced. Audrie was about to bounce out of her room and down the hall when Sarri attacked her with a corset.
"M'lady, you still have to prepare! You can't leave now! Look at the state of your clothing!" Sarri dragged a protesting Audrie back into the room and started dragging out various dresses to torture Audrie with.
"I'm not wearing a dress that color! It'll make me look like a tomato!"
"But Orange-red would look lovely on you, m'lady."
"Do you think I particularly care? And the feathers on it will be the laughing stock of the court!"
"But, m'lady, tonight is a masked ball. Think of the opportunities of hiding your face behind a seductive feathered mask!"
"Mask? Sure. Feathered? No. I have this strange thing called dignity."
"What about..." Sarri sifted through the various dresses. "This one?" Sarri held up a soft pink dress with so many frills Audrie doubted whether she'd be able to walk without tripping on something, let alone dance.
"If you want to kill me, sure that'd work. Just give me some stairs and I'd be gone to the Goddess in seconds."
"This?" Audrie looked at it skeptically. "Am I actually expected to be able to put that on? The wait is so tiny you wouldn't be able to fit it over my head."
Finally, in desperation, Sarri held up a white silk dress, that had a graceful simpleness to it. "M'lady?"
Audrie looked as though she wanted to refuse merely to spite Sarri but actually liked the dress. "I suppose it will do." She finally replied.
~ ~ ~ ~
By the time Audrie had prepared herself to actually leave the room, her stomach was complaining so loudly she received several odd looks as she stomped down to the kitchens to demand something to eat.
As she was nearly to the kitchens, she noticed Raoul, Squire Alan, the Prince, Gary, Alex and, much to Audrie's usual displeasure, Delia, all standing as a group staring out the window. As she passed by, Gary called out to her.
"Lady Audrelinia! It's been such a long time. Come, talk with us."Gary grinned and waved her over.
"Sir Gareth," Audrie replied icily, raising a sarcastic eyebrow, "You saw me last night."
"And to some that is a lifetime."
"To the mayfly, perhaps." Audrie glanced to the kitchens and her stomach nodded approvingly metaphorically. Then she headed over to the group.
"We were just discussing the Ace of Sp-"
"Just remembered, got to eat lunch, quite busy, yes yes." Audrie nodded and tried to escape by walking off.
"Wait," Raoul grabbed her by the hand, "Why're you leaving?"
Audrie's stomach growled loudly, seemingly towards Raoul. "I'm very hungry. I missed breakfast and lunch, you see. I've got to request to the kitchens to prepare me something."
"Why'd you miss the meals?" Alex spoke up from his nonexistent dark corner that he had formed around himself despite the fact the only corner was twenty feet away (AN: Don't YOU always imagine him standing in a dark corner? I do.) .
"Busy preparing for the ball, of course." Audrie brushed the slight suspicion away lightly. "It's a masked ball, you know. Had to pick out the perfect mask and such."
"Oh? So we'll be seeing you there tonight?"
"If you see me, you see me. If you don't, you don't." Audrie raised an eyebrow and smiled mysteriously. Then she whisked away from the group and hoped to the Goddess that they would notice the graceful exit rather than the fact she was heading directly for the kitchens.
~ ~ ~ ~
As Audrie was changing into the white dress, she decided to do something on a whim. Taking off the curly brown hair attachments, she sifted through one of her suitcases for some of her extra hair attachments. Picking out a light airy white-blond, she changed her hair to match it and gave herself long, graceful hair down to her waist and changed her eyes to a crystal blue to match the hair. Picking out a small glass tiara, Audrie placed it on her head with a satisfied smile.
"They'll see me, but they won't know me, that's for certain." Deep down, Audrie knew they would wonder where she had been. But tonight, Audrie's little girl in her wanted her to be a princess.
~ ~ ~ ~
Holding up her jeweled white mask, Lady 'Odette' smiled softly, a nostalgic and sad look in her eyes. Nearly automatically Audrie headed over to Raoul and the other knights, but realized the most expected thing to do would be to go and see the king and queen, neither of whom wore a mask, first. Walking over to them, she dipped as low as she deemed physically possible. She prided herself on the entire lack of a wobble, but realized it was probably dumb luck and decided not to try it again.
"You majesties," Audrie smiled and cast her eyes down, but did not remove her mask. "It is a lovely ball I witness tonight. Your kindness to you guests is indeed flattering."
"How kind of you to say so." The queen smiled kindly, and Audrie nearly felt it was an authentic smile but reeled herself back with the reality that the queen wouldn't be so sweet.
"I haven't introduced myself. I'm terribly sorry." Audrie nodded to the prince as he joined the group, "I am Odet, of the fief Griffin's Nest." Did such a fief even exist? Audrie wondered, yet the king and queen simply nodded knowingly, enforcing Audrie conviction that they had no idea about actually running the country.
"Yes, it is a pleasure to meet you. Your fief is so far off, we have not heard news from you for months. How is your fief?" The king nodded and Audrie realized there actually was a fief by that name.
"It's perfectly fine. We've just been extremely busy."
"Of course." The queen assured her and then gestured to the prince, who also wore a mask. "Lady Odette, this is Prince Jonathan. Prince Jonathan, Lady Odette."
Audrie swept another curtsey but didn't risk it being as low as the one before. "It's an honor for one such as myself to meet the royal family."
"I don't suppose you to have met?" The queen looked to Jon with an inquisitive look that, had it not been royalty, Audrie would have taken to be a nosy mother's silent expecting of all information about a son's personal life.
"I would have told you if I had yet met such a lovely lady in court."Jon smiled at Audrie with what Audrie sickeningly recognized to be what was defined as a 'dashing' smile. Audrie never trusted 'dashing' people.
"Indeed, I don't believe I've ever seen you before at all. And I thought I had seen all of the most beautiful ladies in court."
Audrie was squirming on the inside, barely restraining from regurgitating on the floor. "I... Have not been in court for the previous days of the midwinter festivals. I have only tonight to enjoy the balls."
"Then we shall need to assure you have the experience of all of the nights, tonight. You must dance!" Jon grinned and held out his arm to 'Odette'.
Audrie was about to reply 'On my death bed,' when she realized that while Audrie might say this, Princess Odette would love, with all of her dear, sweet heart, to dance with the prince that would rule her country. Taking his hand, Audrie smiled a sweet, sad smile and whispered, "Of course, you highness. I would like nothing better."
At the end of the dance, a chill ran down Audrie spine as she realized that Jon was leading her to Raoul, Gary, Alex, Squire Alan and Delia to apparently introduce her to people she already knew.
"Gary-" Jon suddenly blushed as he realized that Audrie shouldn't be used to such informality among his friends and stopped. "Ah, um, Sirs Gareth, Raoul, Alex and my Squire, Alan. Ah, and Lady Delia. " He indicated each to Audrie as he announced them to her. "Everyone, this is Lady Odette."
A silence greeted her as everyone took in her image. Audrie began to feel uncomfortable under the silence and finally broke away her gaze from the group to stare at a suddenly very interesting tile on the floor and held up a hand to cover the blush that was spreading across her pale face.
The display of embarrassment broke the silence as suddenly Gary smiled and said, "It's a pleasure to meet such a beautiful lady."
Audrie cursed her embarrassment at being looked at by people whom she considered friends. "Certainly you have met ladies far more beautiful than I." She curtseyed but wobbled slightly at the bottom, but prayed no one noticed.
Audrie wanted to grin when she realized the trap she had put the group into. No matter what they said, they'd be saying she was more beautiful than herself, at which she could take the severest offence at, if she felt like it. She was nearly disappointed when Gary instead asked her to dance. Nodding to the group, Audrie left with her arm lightly resting on Gary's arm.
Audrie returned to the group to see a slightly disappointed prince and vaguely aloof Raoul. Raoul seemed determined to ignore her.
Audrie walked over to the knight, who was staring off, as though trying to find someone on the dance floor. She touched him softly on the arm and he nearly jumped in surprise.
"I- I'm sorry. I didn't mean to surprise you so." Audrie wanted to talk to Raoul. She smiled weakly.
"No, no, it's all right." Raoul looked off into the crowd and murmured, "Why isn't she here? It was important that-" Suddenly he realized that Audrie was still there. "Oh, sorry, did you want to speak to me?"
"No," Audrie looked down sadly and remembered why she was glad for her normal life. "I don't want to bother you."
Audrie curtseyed and drifted away to find a near legion of men waiting to dance with her. Her stomach wasn't complaining, but she knew her feet would soon be, but her pocket book wouldn't be. At that thought, Audrie forced a sweet, calm smile and took the arm of the first man.
~ ~ ~ ~
After Audrie had been dancing nearly non-stop for two hours, the ball was soon coming to an end. She at last found herself able to rest for a brief period of time and discovered she had wound up standing next to the princess of Tusaine. Turning to the girl, who appeared to be 16, Audrie curtseyed.
"Your highness," Audrie looked down only briefly.
"Ah?" The girl looked up from a book that had been hidden discreetly among her skirts.
"What were you reading?" Audrie cocked her head slightly and smiled warmly.
"Oh..." The girl seemed to hesitate, "Nothing particularly... ladylike. You wouldn't enjoy."
"Perhaps I wouldn't. I'd still care to know though." "It's about the care for a falcon."
"Oh my," Audrie brought a hand to her lips in false shock, "I've always heard that falcons can be vicious."
"Well, not really. Not if you train them. That's what I-" The Princess suddenly cut herself off, for parents' abilities to give a disapproving looks have a large range that can last miles if the stare is strong enough.
Audrie decided to switch tactics. "I always thought the eldest daughter of the Tusaine royal family was eighteen, not sixteen."
"Where did you hear that?" The girl's asked sharply.
"From many people, particularly in letters from friends in Tusaine. Of course, that was years ago, but it still seems as though you should be older."
"My elder sister died years ago."
Audrie's face showed extreme shock. "I- I'm so sorry. I didn't know- I didn't mean to bring up anything painful. Forgive me."
The girl's voice softened. "It's not your fault. I was only three. I hardly remember her. But I was always told by the servants what a wonderful girl she was. Strong willed, but sweet. Though my parents never speak of her."
"I'm sorry. It's hard to lose a family member."
Suddenly a young man came up to Audrie and asked 'Odette' to dance and ended her conversation with the Tusaine princess.
~ ~ ~ ~
Audrie walked out of the ballroom with a vague sadness, despite the fact that she had been one of the most popular ladies in court for the night. But as she entered her room, she reminded herself that that was why she had left home. To escape everything like that. One night of dancing was sort of nice though.
"Damn nostalgia." Audrie muttered as she threw off her dress. Sarri popped up, the way she normally did- rather eerily appearing out of no where- and began helping Audrie take of the corset.
Audrie changed into her spades outfit and took off her hair attachments. 'No more girlish dream,' Audrie grinned as she pulled her hair into a stiff ponytail at the base of her neck, 'It's time to go back to work.'
Audrie waited around until the point in time where she thought everyone would be asleep and then left her room.
Audrie headed over to the prince's room and was about to take a few rings from on his desk when she spotted who was in the bed with him. Originally she had thought it to be Delia, yet she nearly jumped in surprise when she saw it had red hair. Upon closer inspection she realized it to be Squire Alan, which made her wonder about the prince's choice in company in bed. Then she realized that the Squire was, in fact, female.
"No wonder h-she wasn't surprised when she found out I wasn't a lady. She's obviously used to having to change her appearance and act as someone else entirely." Audrie whispered, and smirked slightly. It would be entertaining to see how they acted tomorrow, and Audrie would look at 'Alan' a bit differently.
Audrie had made the usual rounds when she came to the Page quarters to see if they had anything worth taking. She was in a room where a young page had fallen asleep at his desk, working on math figures, when he suddenly returned back to a state of conciousness.
"Spades?"
"Does no one actually fall asleep at their desks anymore?!" Audrie ranted, "Can't I get in some decent thieving without people popping back to life randomly and deciding to interrogate me on what I am doing in their room, which is not really any of their proper business?! Can't there just be some honest stealing around this castle, where I'm not constantly pestered with questions?! Is there no law that protects thieves from this sort of thing?!"
"Uh. Not really, Spades."
"And why does everyone suddenly appear to know my name?!"
"Maybe because I know you?"
"And they all assume that stealing's something personal! What convinced nobles that thieves actually cared what happened to the- the- thieve-ees, or whatever you call them?!"
"No, really. It's me, Torran."
"And they all just- oh. Oh, sorry about that. Didn't mean to, uh... yeah. Sorry."
"I'm awake because I figured you'd come around one of these nights, and I've been wanting to talk to you."
"About what?"
"The fight last night."
"Yes?" Audrie arched an eyebrow neatly.
"Well, thanks. I don't think I could have beaten him."
"Obviously. You've been slacking off, haven't you." It wasn't even a question.
"Yes, well..."
"Yes, well."Audrie replied calmly. "See you tomorrow night. You'll be staying up extra late, to run those extra miles the instructor order you to run, won't you." Again, not a question. Audrie was nearly enjoying not making these questions. Or, at least, the author was, because it takes less effort for her to write a period than a question mark, and the author is feeling lazy and it is late.
"The instructor never said anything like that!"
Audrie grinned evilly. "Oh yes he did." Audrie gave him a look that said, 'and if you're not there you'll be severely sorry.'
"Oh..." A look of enlightenment came onto Torran's face "Okay, I'll be there tomorrow night to start my training again."
"Never said that," Audrie hit him over the head lightly, "But since you mention that, you obviously realize that you're pathetically out of shape, and it's a shame to my name to have someone as incapable as that claiming to be taught by me. I'll simply have to get you in shape again."
This was the way the training had begun in the first place; it was never actually official, just a silent agreement that 'Torran had better get his butt in gear and Audrie would be the one to kick it to get it there.'
Audrie nodded curtly and left the room with a vague satisfaction. She didn't realize how much she had actually missed the boy.
~ ~ ~ ~
Audrie curled up into her warm bed the comforting thought that tomorrow would be the last day of any more dancing, and it would certainly be an entertaining day.
~ ~ ~ ~
Author's Notes: I know this chapter was a tad bit shorter than the others. But remember tomorrow is the Last Official Day. The final pairing may not be announced until actually after the Last Official Day, and I'm not sure how many chapters the Last Official Day will take, since it's Very Important (notice all the caps, that may be a clue). AND TREANZ-ALYCE, GET YOUR BUTT IN GEAR AND TELL ME WHAT PAIRING YOU WANT OR YOU WILL BE IGNORED AND I WILL LET SOMEONE ELSE PICK THE PAIRING. I hope she reads author's notes. If she doesn't, she'll be severely disappointed. Maybe I'll pick my favorite reviewer (translation: Be really nice, write long reviews and tell me I'm the best writer in the world). I can't wait.
Author's Notes (VERY IMPORTANT): I feel so loved! 158 reviews total! I've received 14 for this chapter alone! Yay!! Also, I should make treanz-alyce aware of the fact that she was -yatadataaa!- the 150th reviewer! She gets the lovely offer of picking the final pairing. And if she doesn't want to, the honor can go to (MWAHAHAHAHA!) the 175th reviewer! Everyone would like that, wouldn't they?
~ ~ ~ ~
Audrie woke to the bright and chipper face of... Jered? Poking her in the shoulder was an overly cheerful friend who, in Audrie's opinion, ought to be wiped off the face of the world at this time in the morning.
"What," Audrie snapped, sitting up, "Are you doing here?"
"Poking you."
"No really? I couldn't tell." Audrie flicked him in the forehead in a slightly less than affectionate way. "Now what are you actually doing here?"
"Probably getting on your nerves."
"Jered, if you want to avoid an extremely painful and gruesome death, I recommend you Get To The Point." At this point, Jered was tempted to reply with another annoying comment but the look in Audrie's eye told him it would be wise not to. The knife pointing at his throat probably helped some, too.
"Well, we have some planning to do."
"We?"
"You, George and I do, at least. Involving tomorrow. It being your last day here and all."
"Oh, yeah." Audrie's eyes drifted down to the floor with a slight melancholy. "I guess it is."
"You're not actually sad about that, are you?" Jered grinned at her incredulously.
"Of course not!" She snapped, shooting Jered an annoyed look. "I'll just miss the edible food, that's all."
"Ah." Jered rolled his eyes.
"What are these plans anyway?"
A sadistic grin danced onto Jered's face. " I have a gift for you."
"I'm touched. Not." Audrie stuck her tongue out at Jered. "What's that got to do with planning my escape and such?"
Jered pulled a black silk dress out of his pack and handed it to Audrie. "You'll see. Look at it after I'm gone, okay?"
"Why, so I can't strangle you for giving me an incredibly revealing dress?"
"Partly." Jered grin and barely ducked a punch from Audrie. "Let's get started. First off, will you be attending tomorrow night's dance?"
"Of course!" It was Audrie's turn to grin cockily. "I'm not totally unprepared."
~ ~ ~ ~
Audrie finally managed to cram Jered back into the passageway by the time her stomach was growling in anger and accusing Audrie of malnutrition and abuse. At the instant she was planning to go and demand the court to hold a second breakfast merely for her, lunch was announced. Audrie was about to bounce out of her room and down the hall when Sarri attacked her with a corset.
"M'lady, you still have to prepare! You can't leave now! Look at the state of your clothing!" Sarri dragged a protesting Audrie back into the room and started dragging out various dresses to torture Audrie with.
"I'm not wearing a dress that color! It'll make me look like a tomato!"
"But Orange-red would look lovely on you, m'lady."
"Do you think I particularly care? And the feathers on it will be the laughing stock of the court!"
"But, m'lady, tonight is a masked ball. Think of the opportunities of hiding your face behind a seductive feathered mask!"
"Mask? Sure. Feathered? No. I have this strange thing called dignity."
"What about..." Sarri sifted through the various dresses. "This one?" Sarri held up a soft pink dress with so many frills Audrie doubted whether she'd be able to walk without tripping on something, let alone dance.
"If you want to kill me, sure that'd work. Just give me some stairs and I'd be gone to the Goddess in seconds."
"This?" Audrie looked at it skeptically. "Am I actually expected to be able to put that on? The wait is so tiny you wouldn't be able to fit it over my head."
Finally, in desperation, Sarri held up a white silk dress, that had a graceful simpleness to it. "M'lady?"
Audrie looked as though she wanted to refuse merely to spite Sarri but actually liked the dress. "I suppose it will do." She finally replied.
~ ~ ~ ~
By the time Audrie had prepared herself to actually leave the room, her stomach was complaining so loudly she received several odd looks as she stomped down to the kitchens to demand something to eat.
As she was nearly to the kitchens, she noticed Raoul, Squire Alan, the Prince, Gary, Alex and, much to Audrie's usual displeasure, Delia, all standing as a group staring out the window. As she passed by, Gary called out to her.
"Lady Audrelinia! It's been such a long time. Come, talk with us."Gary grinned and waved her over.
"Sir Gareth," Audrie replied icily, raising a sarcastic eyebrow, "You saw me last night."
"And to some that is a lifetime."
"To the mayfly, perhaps." Audrie glanced to the kitchens and her stomach nodded approvingly metaphorically. Then she headed over to the group.
"We were just discussing the Ace of Sp-"
"Just remembered, got to eat lunch, quite busy, yes yes." Audrie nodded and tried to escape by walking off.
"Wait," Raoul grabbed her by the hand, "Why're you leaving?"
Audrie's stomach growled loudly, seemingly towards Raoul. "I'm very hungry. I missed breakfast and lunch, you see. I've got to request to the kitchens to prepare me something."
"Why'd you miss the meals?" Alex spoke up from his nonexistent dark corner that he had formed around himself despite the fact the only corner was twenty feet away (AN: Don't YOU always imagine him standing in a dark corner? I do.) .
"Busy preparing for the ball, of course." Audrie brushed the slight suspicion away lightly. "It's a masked ball, you know. Had to pick out the perfect mask and such."
"Oh? So we'll be seeing you there tonight?"
"If you see me, you see me. If you don't, you don't." Audrie raised an eyebrow and smiled mysteriously. Then she whisked away from the group and hoped to the Goddess that they would notice the graceful exit rather than the fact she was heading directly for the kitchens.
~ ~ ~ ~
As Audrie was changing into the white dress, she decided to do something on a whim. Taking off the curly brown hair attachments, she sifted through one of her suitcases for some of her extra hair attachments. Picking out a light airy white-blond, she changed her hair to match it and gave herself long, graceful hair down to her waist and changed her eyes to a crystal blue to match the hair. Picking out a small glass tiara, Audrie placed it on her head with a satisfied smile.
"They'll see me, but they won't know me, that's for certain." Deep down, Audrie knew they would wonder where she had been. But tonight, Audrie's little girl in her wanted her to be a princess.
~ ~ ~ ~
Holding up her jeweled white mask, Lady 'Odette' smiled softly, a nostalgic and sad look in her eyes. Nearly automatically Audrie headed over to Raoul and the other knights, but realized the most expected thing to do would be to go and see the king and queen, neither of whom wore a mask, first. Walking over to them, she dipped as low as she deemed physically possible. She prided herself on the entire lack of a wobble, but realized it was probably dumb luck and decided not to try it again.
"You majesties," Audrie smiled and cast her eyes down, but did not remove her mask. "It is a lovely ball I witness tonight. Your kindness to you guests is indeed flattering."
"How kind of you to say so." The queen smiled kindly, and Audrie nearly felt it was an authentic smile but reeled herself back with the reality that the queen wouldn't be so sweet.
"I haven't introduced myself. I'm terribly sorry." Audrie nodded to the prince as he joined the group, "I am Odet, of the fief Griffin's Nest." Did such a fief even exist? Audrie wondered, yet the king and queen simply nodded knowingly, enforcing Audrie conviction that they had no idea about actually running the country.
"Yes, it is a pleasure to meet you. Your fief is so far off, we have not heard news from you for months. How is your fief?" The king nodded and Audrie realized there actually was a fief by that name.
"It's perfectly fine. We've just been extremely busy."
"Of course." The queen assured her and then gestured to the prince, who also wore a mask. "Lady Odette, this is Prince Jonathan. Prince Jonathan, Lady Odette."
Audrie swept another curtsey but didn't risk it being as low as the one before. "It's an honor for one such as myself to meet the royal family."
"I don't suppose you to have met?" The queen looked to Jon with an inquisitive look that, had it not been royalty, Audrie would have taken to be a nosy mother's silent expecting of all information about a son's personal life.
"I would have told you if I had yet met such a lovely lady in court."Jon smiled at Audrie with what Audrie sickeningly recognized to be what was defined as a 'dashing' smile. Audrie never trusted 'dashing' people.
"Indeed, I don't believe I've ever seen you before at all. And I thought I had seen all of the most beautiful ladies in court."
Audrie was squirming on the inside, barely restraining from regurgitating on the floor. "I... Have not been in court for the previous days of the midwinter festivals. I have only tonight to enjoy the balls."
"Then we shall need to assure you have the experience of all of the nights, tonight. You must dance!" Jon grinned and held out his arm to 'Odette'.
Audrie was about to reply 'On my death bed,' when she realized that while Audrie might say this, Princess Odette would love, with all of her dear, sweet heart, to dance with the prince that would rule her country. Taking his hand, Audrie smiled a sweet, sad smile and whispered, "Of course, you highness. I would like nothing better."
At the end of the dance, a chill ran down Audrie spine as she realized that Jon was leading her to Raoul, Gary, Alex, Squire Alan and Delia to apparently introduce her to people she already knew.
"Gary-" Jon suddenly blushed as he realized that Audrie shouldn't be used to such informality among his friends and stopped. "Ah, um, Sirs Gareth, Raoul, Alex and my Squire, Alan. Ah, and Lady Delia. " He indicated each to Audrie as he announced them to her. "Everyone, this is Lady Odette."
A silence greeted her as everyone took in her image. Audrie began to feel uncomfortable under the silence and finally broke away her gaze from the group to stare at a suddenly very interesting tile on the floor and held up a hand to cover the blush that was spreading across her pale face.
The display of embarrassment broke the silence as suddenly Gary smiled and said, "It's a pleasure to meet such a beautiful lady."
Audrie cursed her embarrassment at being looked at by people whom she considered friends. "Certainly you have met ladies far more beautiful than I." She curtseyed but wobbled slightly at the bottom, but prayed no one noticed.
Audrie wanted to grin when she realized the trap she had put the group into. No matter what they said, they'd be saying she was more beautiful than herself, at which she could take the severest offence at, if she felt like it. She was nearly disappointed when Gary instead asked her to dance. Nodding to the group, Audrie left with her arm lightly resting on Gary's arm.
Audrie returned to the group to see a slightly disappointed prince and vaguely aloof Raoul. Raoul seemed determined to ignore her.
Audrie walked over to the knight, who was staring off, as though trying to find someone on the dance floor. She touched him softly on the arm and he nearly jumped in surprise.
"I- I'm sorry. I didn't mean to surprise you so." Audrie wanted to talk to Raoul. She smiled weakly.
"No, no, it's all right." Raoul looked off into the crowd and murmured, "Why isn't she here? It was important that-" Suddenly he realized that Audrie was still there. "Oh, sorry, did you want to speak to me?"
"No," Audrie looked down sadly and remembered why she was glad for her normal life. "I don't want to bother you."
Audrie curtseyed and drifted away to find a near legion of men waiting to dance with her. Her stomach wasn't complaining, but she knew her feet would soon be, but her pocket book wouldn't be. At that thought, Audrie forced a sweet, calm smile and took the arm of the first man.
~ ~ ~ ~
After Audrie had been dancing nearly non-stop for two hours, the ball was soon coming to an end. She at last found herself able to rest for a brief period of time and discovered she had wound up standing next to the princess of Tusaine. Turning to the girl, who appeared to be 16, Audrie curtseyed.
"Your highness," Audrie looked down only briefly.
"Ah?" The girl looked up from a book that had been hidden discreetly among her skirts.
"What were you reading?" Audrie cocked her head slightly and smiled warmly.
"Oh..." The girl seemed to hesitate, "Nothing particularly... ladylike. You wouldn't enjoy."
"Perhaps I wouldn't. I'd still care to know though." "It's about the care for a falcon."
"Oh my," Audrie brought a hand to her lips in false shock, "I've always heard that falcons can be vicious."
"Well, not really. Not if you train them. That's what I-" The Princess suddenly cut herself off, for parents' abilities to give a disapproving looks have a large range that can last miles if the stare is strong enough.
Audrie decided to switch tactics. "I always thought the eldest daughter of the Tusaine royal family was eighteen, not sixteen."
"Where did you hear that?" The girl's asked sharply.
"From many people, particularly in letters from friends in Tusaine. Of course, that was years ago, but it still seems as though you should be older."
"My elder sister died years ago."
Audrie's face showed extreme shock. "I- I'm so sorry. I didn't know- I didn't mean to bring up anything painful. Forgive me."
The girl's voice softened. "It's not your fault. I was only three. I hardly remember her. But I was always told by the servants what a wonderful girl she was. Strong willed, but sweet. Though my parents never speak of her."
"I'm sorry. It's hard to lose a family member."
Suddenly a young man came up to Audrie and asked 'Odette' to dance and ended her conversation with the Tusaine princess.
~ ~ ~ ~
Audrie walked out of the ballroom with a vague sadness, despite the fact that she had been one of the most popular ladies in court for the night. But as she entered her room, she reminded herself that that was why she had left home. To escape everything like that. One night of dancing was sort of nice though.
"Damn nostalgia." Audrie muttered as she threw off her dress. Sarri popped up, the way she normally did- rather eerily appearing out of no where- and began helping Audrie take of the corset.
Audrie changed into her spades outfit and took off her hair attachments. 'No more girlish dream,' Audrie grinned as she pulled her hair into a stiff ponytail at the base of her neck, 'It's time to go back to work.'
Audrie waited around until the point in time where she thought everyone would be asleep and then left her room.
Audrie headed over to the prince's room and was about to take a few rings from on his desk when she spotted who was in the bed with him. Originally she had thought it to be Delia, yet she nearly jumped in surprise when she saw it had red hair. Upon closer inspection she realized it to be Squire Alan, which made her wonder about the prince's choice in company in bed. Then she realized that the Squire was, in fact, female.
"No wonder h-she wasn't surprised when she found out I wasn't a lady. She's obviously used to having to change her appearance and act as someone else entirely." Audrie whispered, and smirked slightly. It would be entertaining to see how they acted tomorrow, and Audrie would look at 'Alan' a bit differently.
Audrie had made the usual rounds when she came to the Page quarters to see if they had anything worth taking. She was in a room where a young page had fallen asleep at his desk, working on math figures, when he suddenly returned back to a state of conciousness.
"Spades?"
"Does no one actually fall asleep at their desks anymore?!" Audrie ranted, "Can't I get in some decent thieving without people popping back to life randomly and deciding to interrogate me on what I am doing in their room, which is not really any of their proper business?! Can't there just be some honest stealing around this castle, where I'm not constantly pestered with questions?! Is there no law that protects thieves from this sort of thing?!"
"Uh. Not really, Spades."
"And why does everyone suddenly appear to know my name?!"
"Maybe because I know you?"
"And they all assume that stealing's something personal! What convinced nobles that thieves actually cared what happened to the- the- thieve-ees, or whatever you call them?!"
"No, really. It's me, Torran."
"And they all just- oh. Oh, sorry about that. Didn't mean to, uh... yeah. Sorry."
"I'm awake because I figured you'd come around one of these nights, and I've been wanting to talk to you."
"About what?"
"The fight last night."
"Yes?" Audrie arched an eyebrow neatly.
"Well, thanks. I don't think I could have beaten him."
"Obviously. You've been slacking off, haven't you." It wasn't even a question.
"Yes, well..."
"Yes, well."Audrie replied calmly. "See you tomorrow night. You'll be staying up extra late, to run those extra miles the instructor order you to run, won't you." Again, not a question. Audrie was nearly enjoying not making these questions. Or, at least, the author was, because it takes less effort for her to write a period than a question mark, and the author is feeling lazy and it is late.
"The instructor never said anything like that!"
Audrie grinned evilly. "Oh yes he did." Audrie gave him a look that said, 'and if you're not there you'll be severely sorry.'
"Oh..." A look of enlightenment came onto Torran's face "Okay, I'll be there tomorrow night to start my training again."
"Never said that," Audrie hit him over the head lightly, "But since you mention that, you obviously realize that you're pathetically out of shape, and it's a shame to my name to have someone as incapable as that claiming to be taught by me. I'll simply have to get you in shape again."
This was the way the training had begun in the first place; it was never actually official, just a silent agreement that 'Torran had better get his butt in gear and Audrie would be the one to kick it to get it there.'
Audrie nodded curtly and left the room with a vague satisfaction. She didn't realize how much she had actually missed the boy.
~ ~ ~ ~
Audrie curled up into her warm bed the comforting thought that tomorrow would be the last day of any more dancing, and it would certainly be an entertaining day.
~ ~ ~ ~
Author's Notes: I know this chapter was a tad bit shorter than the others. But remember tomorrow is the Last Official Day. The final pairing may not be announced until actually after the Last Official Day, and I'm not sure how many chapters the Last Official Day will take, since it's Very Important (notice all the caps, that may be a clue). AND TREANZ-ALYCE, GET YOUR BUTT IN GEAR AND TELL ME WHAT PAIRING YOU WANT OR YOU WILL BE IGNORED AND I WILL LET SOMEONE ELSE PICK THE PAIRING. I hope she reads author's notes. If she doesn't, she'll be severely disappointed. Maybe I'll pick my favorite reviewer (translation: Be really nice, write long reviews and tell me I'm the best writer in the world). I can't wait.