First update of the New Year! Happy 2005, everyone! For this special occasion, two updates for you guys. My resolutions this year: 1)to eat less junk food. 2)do all my homework. 3)not kill anyone. I always make that third one so that when I eat too much junk food and don't do my homework, I can say 'Well, at least I didn't kill anyone.'
Tiger Lily21: Yes, Lark is very old. Yes, she's Daniela. I like names that end in 'A' for some reason. :c/
fell4adeadguy: No, it's pretty deserted in that woods. Just a couple of woodsmen and some knights, maybe, vanquishing evil.
TrudiRose: Yup. Lark. He's the most amiable towards the Humans.
UruvielTruviel: I just had a LOTR marathon with my friends. All three extended editions! in a row. My bum was very sore after that. XcD It was fricken awesome, though. It really puts the time line in perspective.
rainkisser: Yay for Shakespeare! I think my favourite play is Midsummer's Night's Dream (I wonder why XcD) I had to read Hermia in it.
Phillipa of the Phoenix: Totally.Lark's so supportive.
Glaze: You have very keen intuitions,young jedi. ;cD Or, maybe he does recognize her, but she doesn't let him. I just confused myself with that sentence. Oh well.
Moonjava: Thanks. :c)
Pabo: Well, I don't know if you're going to read this or not, but that's pretty cool.
ruberduckysrfun: I think I've read that one. Is it the one where she's really ugly, but it's actually just a mask? Or is that a different one? I think she cries pearls in that one.
naughty little munchkin: Erg. The curse of writing this story. I wasthinkingAladdin, you know, he finds the Genie (she findsLark), he rubs the lamp and frees the genie (she cuts the ropes and freesLark) and then the Genie turnshim into a Prince (self explanitory), but when I reread it, I was like,'ZOMG, this is so Cinderella.' Hmm. I just realized I'm eight chapters in and have only hinted at anevil character. I better get on that.
Dragonblade Goddess: I'm glad youare enjoying it! It'ssuch a pleasure to write.
I hope you like these new chapters.
See you next update!
-Lulai
Chapter Seven: The Ball
"Chin up, shoulders back, spine straight," Lark whispered encouragingly to her. "You are the Princess Daniela."
"I am the Princess Daniela," Danni repeated. It sounded ridiculous no matter how she said it. She took a deep breath and stepped out of the carriage Lark had given her.
She walked regally into the castle, lit up by sconces in front of the main doors. Lark paused a moment to whisper something to a regally dressed footman.
Danni took another breath to steady her nerves, and nodded as a way of greeting to another passing couple, lifted the front of her dress and made her way into the great hall.
The doors were open and she could see the bright garbs of everyone dancing. She almost turned back right then and there.
"Princess," she muttered to herself encouragingly. "Besides," she said, brightening, "it might be fun to live like a princess, at least for one night."
With this thought in mind, she strolled into the ballroom.
"Princess Daniela Fer Tolaro," a man beside her boomed.
She nodded her greeting to the people around her.
"Welcome princess." One woman came forward. "I am the Duchess Sarah Par Barrish." She smiled. "I would bow, but I'm afraid I would topple over." She laughed and patted her swollen belly.
"That is perfectly alright," Danni insisted, taking her arm. "When are you due?"
"In about a month," Sarah said proudly as they walked to the refreshment table.
"That is wonderful news," Danni said as she accepted a glass of punch.
"Did you have a pleasant trip?" Sarah asked.
"Yes," Danni replied, "for the most part. I do hate to travel by sea, but when you live in Tolaro, what can you do?"
They continued to make pleasantries for a while, taking refuge on some chairs beside the dance floor.
"There are about fifteen eligible ladies here, including you," Sarah told her. She grasped Danni's hands enthusiastically. "I hope you will be able to join us for luncheon tomorrow."
"I would be delighted," Danni said. She would be gone by tomorrow anyway. She felt bad about lying to this woman, but after this she would never see her again.
"Marvellous!" Sarah beamed, clapping her hands together.
Danni smiled.
"Announcing King Gerald Fer Drewery the Third and his wife, Queen Isabelle Par Drewery," a herald boomed from the top of the double stairs.
Danni helped Sarah to stand and they both watched the descent of the monarchs down the stairs.
"Announcing Prince Aiden Fer Drewery and Princess Krysalyn Fer Drewery."
Danni looked up and nearly fainted. The man coming down the stairs, crowned in a silver circlet, arms linked with his sister, was none other than Cameron! Cameron wasn't the prince's valet, he was the prince! Cameron wasn't even Cameron, he was Aiden!
Danni suddenly felt annoyed at him. She had felt so bad about lying to him, yet he had lied to her all along. Then a thought flew through her mind, bringing a new type of horror. What if he recognized her?
It doesn't matter now, Danni thought. I am the Princess Daniela, not Danni the stable girl.
"Only fifteen eligible, my dearest brother," Krysalyn teased.
"Fifteen more than I want to marry," Aiden shot back.
"I know," Krysalyn said, "but you should dance with them anyway, if only to please Mother and Father."
Aiden sighed. "I suppose."
Theo greeted the raven haired duo at the bottom of the stairs.
"There are some lovely ladies here," he grinned at Aiden.
Aiden growled his response.
"Although, none so lovely as the woman attached to your arm right now," Theo said.
Krysalyn laughed. "You were always the silver tongued flatterer," she said.
"May I steal her from you?" Theo asked, holding out his arm. Krysalyn took it.
"Of course you may," she answered for Aiden. "After all, he has fifteen other ladies he needs to dance with."
Aiden really wanted to run his fingers through his hair in frustration, but he remembered at the last minute that he was wearing the silver circlet. He compromised by pinching the bridge of his nose.
He'd better get going.
"My lady," he said, bowing to the first woman that he saw who looked to be about his own age, "would you care to dance?"
The girl giggled to all her friends that flocked around and nodded. Aiden sighed inwardly. It was going to be a long night.
After dancing with that lady, whose name was Amanda, he danced with all her giggly friends. He needed some punch and some conversation that was not peppered with, "I don't know, your highness, what do you think?"
He was sipping his punch when he saw his aunt talking to another young lady, dressed quite prettily in blue. He paused and cocked his head in thought. The woman seemed very familiar. He hadn't remembered meeting her yet.
The young woman laughed and suddenly, he saw it.
"Danni?" he said, almost choking on his punch. The young lady turned around, and curtsied to him.
"Your highness."
"Danni, is that you? What are you doing here?" Aiden demanded.
A confused look came over Danni's face. "I was invited, your highness."
"But how did you get here?"
"By boat, and then by carriage, your highness," Danni answered, looking even more confused.
Aiden strangled a groan. This line of questioning wasn't getting him anywhere.
"I hope you will not think this impertinent, your highness," Danni said, "but, have we met before?"
Aiden was struck speechless for a few seconds. He regained control of his vocal chords and cleared his throat. His mouth stretched into what could resemble a smile. "I am sorry, my lady." He bowed. "I am Prince Aiden Fer Drewery."
Danni curtsied to him again. "I am Princess Daniela Fer Tolaro." She straightened. "I must admit, your highness, I have not heard the name Danni since I was little."
He held out his hand to her. "Would you care to dance, my lady?"
"I do not know, my lord," she said, casting a hesitant look upon Sarah. "Will you be alright?"
"Oh, I will be fine!" Sarah laughed, flipping her hands in a shooing gesture. "Go! Away with you! Waltz to your heart's content!"
Danni reluctantly took Aiden's hand and looked discretely at the other couples. She brightened. This dance didn't look too hard.
She placed her one hand in Aiden's and her other on his shoulder. He led her into the whirling colours of the dance floor. She quickly figured out the timing of the dance and repeated it to herself.
"My lady?" Aiden was wondering what she was muttering under her breath.
"Oh, yes, Highness?" she said, her concentration breaking.
"Might I enquire as to what you are doing?"
She flashed him a wide smile. "My apologies, my lord. Dancing… isn't my forte." A small blush crept across her cheeks. "I was counting."
Aiden chuckled. "Do not worry, my lady. If you fall, I shall catch you." Good God, he thought to himself. Am I flirting with her?
Danni laughed along with him. "I think I shall be able to keep my balance, my lord. I am only afraid of trodding on your feet."
"You will not even see me wince, my lady. You are hardly of a substantial wait to do any damage anyway."
Danni gave him a mock frown. "While normally I would have challenged you to a duel for such a slight against me, I will let that insult pass, as you are so charming."
Aiden laughed again. "It is a good thing that you did not. I would not like to mar that pretty face."
Danni blushed, but smiled at the compliment.
"Your cousin and your sister make a wonderful couple," she said, glancing over in their direction.
"How did you know that that was my cousin?" Aiden asked, dumbfounded.
Danni gave him a look. "That no one knows about Tolaro does not mean that Tolaro doesn't know about everyone else." Then she grinned. "His mother told me all about him."
Aiden smiled and looked over at the pair. Theo obviously said something funny as Krysalyn threw back her head and laughed. He had never seen it before, but they did make a nice couple.
"Hmm," he said, noncommittally.
"Hmm all you want, your highness," Danni said, laughing, "but I'm right."
The music ended. They applauded the band. Aiden walked Danni over to where Sarah was seated, talking to another older woman.
"Please save the next waltz for me, Princess Daniela," Aiden said, kissing her hand.
"Of course, your highness," Danni said, smiling.
Theo met up with Aiden as Aiden was picking a canapé off a tray that a server held.
"So?" Theo asked curiously.
"So?" Aiden responded calmly, choosing a lobster puff.
"Anyone good?" Theo also took an appetizer, and munched on it.
"That would depend on your definition of 'good'."
"Have you asked anyone to dance twice?"
"Maybe," Aiden said, trying to sound mysterious, but he knew the look was ruined by his burning ears.
"Ah-ha!" Theo crowed. "You have your eye on someone. I knew it. Which one is she?"
"Princess Daniela Fer Tolaro," Aiden responded, grasping a glass of punch as a server passed by.
"Which one is she?" Theo asked, looking around.
Aiden was drinking his punch, so he pointed her out instead.
"Why have you picked her out twice?"
Aiden glared at his cousin. "What is this? The Interrogation Chamber?"
"Call it cousinly concern," said Theo with a shrug.
Aiden sighed. "She's the only one who has actually had a conversation with me without giggling or playing to my ego."
"And the fact that she's prettier than a Fey Queen has nothing to do with it, right?" Theo asked him with a raised eyebrow. Aiden shot him an exasperated glance.
"Speaking of interests," Aiden said deceptively mildly, twirling his glass in his hands, "what are your intentions towards my sister?"
Theo gave a happy sigh. "Your sister is a wonderful person. She laughs at all my jokes."
"Even the unfunny ones?" Aiden asked with a grin.
"None of my jokes are unfunny," Theo said, waving his finger in Aiden's face. He winced. "You aren't going to give me the brother-sister talk?"
"What talk would that be?"
"The 'if you hurt my sister, I'll beat you to a pulp' talk," Theo said.
"If you hurt my sister, I'll beat you to a pulp," Aiden replied, somehow holding back a smile.
Theo sighed in relief. "Well, I'm glad that's settled."
A waltz started up again. Aiden downed the rest of his punch in one gulp and gave the glass to Theo.
"Princess Daniela," he said from behind her. She turned and gave him a smile. He smiled in return and held out his hand. She took it.
They assumed their position on the floor and began to dance. He held her closer than was normal, but she either did not notice, or did not care.
"So, you say you do not dance," Aiden said. "What do you like to do?"
Danni gave him a look of reproach. "I did not say I did not dance, my lord, I said I did not dance well." She thought for a moment. "I am quite fond of riding horses," she said finally.
"Marvellous," Aiden said. "I enjoy equestrian pursuits myself. I have a horse named Thomas. Perhaps you would condescend to ride with me tomorrow."
"I would love too," Danni replied without thinking, caught up in her role. She pursed her lips in thought. "I have already agreed to luncheon with the ladies which I'm sure will be filled with giggles and praise for you, Highness, but I am free afterwards. Shall we say, two o'clock?"
"Perfect," Aiden said as the music ended. They clapped for the song then Aiden offered her his arm. She took it and they walked together back to the edge of the dance floor.
"Until tomorrow, my lady," he said, kissing the back of her hand.
"Sleep well, your Highness," Danni replied.