ok uhm thanks to some reviewers who happily reminded me that having a disclaimer is in the rules ::sheepish grin:: here it is:

DISCLAIMER: i do not own any of the characters in this fan fiction. except for ataniea. thats mine. nor do i own any of the places, names, etc. they all belong to gail carson levine. uhm. yah. that is all

woo. ::sigh of relief:: glad i got that off my chest. i was afraid the disclaimer police were going to come and arrest me!! ::gasp:: well before i start the chappie, i must answer a few questions. number one: elal is going to the ball to see char because it might be the last time she ever sees him. number b: char didnt purpose to ella in the candle tree grove because he knew she was married (Well thought she was married, is more like it) and number 3(is that what number were on?): their holding the ball again because... ohh you really dont know. ella tells her story, not the royal family's. they might have some plot, or the king and queen might not have told char. welp, uhm heres the chapter. i warn you, its very very very very very very very very very very very very very short. tee hee but it should hold you till thanksgiving.

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The day of the ball arrived. Again, I helped Hattie prepare for her meeting with Char. Yet this time I did not need to do it all day. Hattie excused me from the room and commanded me to start cleaning. I think she meant to prevent me from going to the ball, but it didn't cross her mind for a while that she could simply command me not to go and I wouldn't.

Olive asked frequently why I wasn't going. "I thought she was Hattie's handmaiden, and I need someone to talk to!"

Hattie then cut her mother off, saying, "But Ella needs to clean, don't you Ella?"

I nodded, leaving their presence once again to scrub the front hall. The time for the ball drew nearer and nearer, until a quarter of an hour remained. Hattie, Mum Olga, and Olive wanted to arrive early to talk to Char longer. I was still cleaning the front hall when they walked past me.

"Oh, Ella," Hattie said sweetly. Too sweetly.

"Yes, Hattie?"

"You may not attend the ball, even if you get done with your chores. Did you hear me? DO NOT COME TO THE BALL!" and with that, she departed from the house in the carriage, leaving me to stare at her.

Mandy came up the stairs just in time to hear Hattie say this last statement. "I agree with her, Lady. You should just stay home."

"But you don't understand!" I exclaimed. "I have to go! This may be the last time I ever see Char!"

Mandy sighed. "All right. Go to the ball, Ella."

At almost the same moment, I was dressed exquisitely in a new dress, new mask, and new jewelry. My hair was done differently than the last ball. All these things were to prevent Char from recognizing me as Lela OR Ella. These were the work of Lucinda, not needing to appear to get me dressed. I was ready for the ball.