Chapter 2 – The ball continued …….

A/N: Sorry for the last chapter to be too short. This one will hopefully be longer. Tell me if there are any mistakes in my story and I'll try and edit them. Thanks to all who reviewed.

Disclaimer: same as before…. I do not own any characters or places mentioned in Ella Enchanted. The rest however are owned by me.

Lyrin's mind formed an unlikely to succeed plan but she decided to try it anyway although it would properly result into punishment.

She edged towards the guest room slowly, not wishing to be seen. All the guests but one have arrived now and the atmosphere was filled with an excited buzz. The rich Prince of Kyrria has returned from his visit to Ayortha, and was expected to arrive soon.

She laughed inwardly as she spotted Riana flirting away like mad. Now was her chance, she decided and slowly inched through the shadows towards Riana.

"Miss Riana," she spoke sweetly. "May I have your attention please?" Lyrin asked as Riana turned on her with a glare. "What is it?" She asked in an impatient and annoyed voice. "Miss Riana, I can see the prince arriving." Lyrin announced as Riana's hands flew to her mouth. She quickly excused herself to the man she was flirting with a second ago and rushed out the door to greet the prince, or at least she thought she was.

She was out and before she realized it, Lyrin shut the door silently behind her back.

-

Riana was still straining to see the carriage until she realized it was very dark and cold outside and it was beginning to rain. There was no one in sight. She turned around to go in, but found the door locked. The rain poured steadily over her as her fists clenched up and she resolved to give that wretched girl a good beating afterwards.

She started pounding on the door screaming her head off. Soon, someone came and opened the door. It was her parents. They didn't take her disheveled appearance well and quickly shoved her behind them, and told her to change before the prince arrives.

Unfortunately, the carriage arrived just at that second.

Two tall figures stepped out of the carriage and approached in a steady pace. Riana ran like a shot rabbit, past stunned guests towards her room. She was going to kill that brat. She ruined her chance to be the first to greet the prince. After all, her family was very rich and she, in her opinion was as royal as the prince. He was obliged to come because the king and queen couldn't afford to lose our alliance her mother had told her smugly. She snapped out of her thought and resolved to get dressed and dried up as quickly as possible as she rushed towards the stairs.

Lyrin stared fearfully as Riana ran towards her. For a split second she thought Riana was going to come and kick her, but fortunately, she turned halfway through the hall and ran like mad towards the stairs.

Lyrin stifled a laugh. Serves her right she thought happily.

She turned around and blended back into the shadows. There were two figures there standing in the door way. She was surprised that the second came without an invitation. But, then again, he wouldn't need to because he had the Prince of Kyrria with him.

She watched as Lady Evelyn and Lord Tor rushed and fussed about the royalty and his friend. She looked at the guests sitting in their seats.

The ladies and their friends were giggling and talking about the two handsome strangers that had just entered, occasionally glancing at them. The mothers looked at them speculatively with a glint in their eyes and each probably hoped their daughters will catch one of the two men's eyes. The males however, were not so pleased when the ladies' focused on the two who had just arrived and ignored them.

There were excited talks and the noise level rose. Lyrin quickly stepped aside as another maid Siane rushed with a plate of food from the kitchen. She looked about, and saw Riana, dry and clean, and surprisingly even more beautiful than before. She sighed. Even though Riana was mean, Lyrin grudgingly admitted to herself that Riana was beautiful. She outshone everyone in the room with her long golden hair and deep blue eyes.

As she observed and had guessed, Riana slowly walked towards the two new guests and talked to them in a surprisingly shy manner.

She walked them to the table and sat beside the prince.

Just then, Lord Tor and Lady Evelyn clapped their hands and ordered attention.

"We're here to announce that our daughter Riana," and at their daughter's name they paused with a smile directed at her. "is now eligible for marriage. We've decided she is of age and it's time we're considering her marriage. We're all here today to celebrate her 18th birthday." announced Riana's parents as they sat down amidst clapping from the guests; as Riana blushed a shade of deep crimson which made her the more beautiful.

The dinner began, followed by dancing, and Riana was asked by several males to dance but Lyrin could tell she was not happy because the prince hasn't requested a dance. Riana was dancing with the prince's friend who seemed to be besotted with her.

Lyrin looked around for the prince and found him sitting in a corner opposite her. She noticed the prince was deep in thought. He was just sitting there; unaware of what's happening around him staring.

She then realized that his gaze was directed right at her!

She turned around quickly and ran. She couldn't believe herself. She forgot everything as she watched Riana and didn't realize that she was being observed.

She ran into the garden and her breathing slowed down. She had lost him. Or had she?

She turned around when a hand landed on her shoulder.

She started to scream but a hand covered her mouth. Her eyes wide with fright, she turned around and saw the prince!

(in the garden)

" lemmmenrer goorere" cried Lyrin as she kicked him on the leg. He realized he was still covering her mouth and released his hands.

"Pardon me," said an apologetic voice.

"What was that for," she continued, annoyed that he had scared her.

"Well, you looked like the one I was searching for." He replied with a shrug.

"I hope you are not jesting with me your majesty. I have no time for such nonsense. I must attend my duties." Lyrin stated stiffly.

She turned around to go. What did he mean I was the one he was searching for? It's like as if I committed a murder crime, the way he's acting.

"Wait! What is your name?"

"Why should you care? And why should I tell you?" She replied as she continued walking away slowly.

"Listen to me; you are the long lost daughter of Ella and Char, meaning you are the lost princess of Kyrria. I am your older brother and so of course I care."

Lyrin stopped dead in her tracks. She turned around slowly, disbelief shown in her face.

"Sure I am," she replied sarcastically. "If I am a royal princess, then what am I doing here?"

"Haven't you listened to me?" the prince answered in mock frustration. "I have just told you that you were lost, or in fact stolen. You were stolen by the Lord Chancellor who had planned a ransom for you. We caught him, but it was too late. You were sold to a manor. I've been spending all these years looking for you. You looked so much like mother that I knew at once it was you."

"Sure, I'll believe you." laughed Lyrin as she rolled her eyes. "Thank you for the fairy tale your majesty." She thanked sarcastically as she walked once more.

The prince sighed. "I have proof."

But Lyrin kept on walking.

"you have a black birthmark on your right leg near the ankles"

At this Lyrin stopped in her track and frowned. Not even Tarilne knows this. Then could it be……….

Lyrin turned around but unfortunately, at this minute, Riana came.