Disclaimer: I wish I owned this. That would be so totally awesome, but I don't so…no stealing. It's not nice.

Warnings: Life happens, and it's not always rated G. Flames will be used to toast marshmallows which will then be used to make s'mores. I like s'mores.

Chapter Four: Controlled Chaos

The day of the ball dawned with an air of anticipation. Everyone was scurrying around with a giddy feeling deep in the pit of his or her stomach. I of course, had had my stomach tied in knots since the day that Adrian had made me promise to give him five dances.

"Milady, would you care to try on this dress?" I looked over at Ashleigh and nodded. I was resigned to my fate of going to this ball, so I did not even bother to protest.

"Ouch!" I squeaked as something on the dress poked me sharply.

"Sorry, Lady," Ashleigh mumbled. She finished tying the laces in the back and pushed me toward the mirror.

"Ugh," I said and grimaced. This dress was worse than all of the others by far. Not only was it puce, but also it had stripes of mauve running throughout the miles of taffeta and lace.

"No, I don't think that will do," Lady Elena said. She had taken over finding me a dress, and it was not going well at all.

"It's just not my color, is it?" I asked her with forced pleasantness in my voice. She had picked it out, after all.

"No, not at all." Elena looked at me. "I still like the blue the best." I looked at the fluffy blue dress and shuddered.

"I don't." I stated darkly.

"Well, we'll have to find you another one, won't we?" Elena sighed theatrically. "Maybe something in…hmm…red perhaps. Maybe the burgundy we saw you in the first day." She snapped her fingers, "Bring that dress!"

Ashleigh dashed off with a quick curtsey and a mumbled, "Yes, milady."

"At least that doesn't have taffeta," I said gratefully. "It doesn't have that much lace either. You know," I turned to Elena, "That might just work!"

"Mm." She observed unenthusiastically, seemingly annoyed that I had said it and not her.

Ashleigh's arrival with the red dress halted any further conversation. "Here, milady," She said, placing the dress in my hands and smiling.

We had developed a sort-of friendship over my short stay (and I vowed to myself that it would remain short) and could laugh together. Both of us didn't hold much respect for Lady Elena or her insipid daughters, Ilea and Jana.

Ashleigh helped me take off the hideous puke-colored dress and buttoned me into the much simpler, much nicer red dress. I stepped out, holding my head high and putting on my haughty spoiled Princess-act. "I think I like this one." I smiled serenely, and my smile brooked no argument from Lady Elena.

"Yes, that suits you much better. However, it just isn't a ball gown, my d-" I cut her off with a wave of my hand, amazed that she had tried to protest my decision.

"I don't care. I can wear this without looking like a fool, so this is what I will wear." I smiled sweetly. "Thank you for helping me pick this out, though."

She harrumphed and stood, knowing that I was dismissing her. "I'll send the hair stylist up, shall I?"

"Oh would you? Thank you ever so much," I gushed, acting as much like one of her daughters as I could stand.

"Yes," She said before gliding, ladylike, out of my room.

"Milady, if it isn't too bold to say, I think she wished that you had worn the horrible puke gown." Ashleigh smiled tentatively and I laughed encouraging her to timid laughter as well.

"You're probably right. I wonder why though, besides the fact that she so obviously hates me." I wandered over to a chair and plopped into, musing.

"Well, it could be that she sees you as a threat to her plans for Ilea and Jana." Ashleigh proffered the information with a wicked gleam in her eyes.

"Which would be…?" I couldn't stop myself from asking.

"To marry the King, of course!" Ashleigh giggled.

"Both of them?" I laughed, then grew serious. "Of course. That should have been obvious." A knock on the door jolted me out of my chair. Ashleigh was already at the door and waiting for me to smooth my skirt. Then, she opened the door.

"Princess Elensar?" A willowy woman standing in the doorway surrounded by an entourage of servants curtseyed to me. "I am to be your hairstylist. My name is Marilyn. Please, show me to your washroom." 

"Oh." I said rather faintly, overcome by the idea of trying to fit that many people into my apartments all at once. "This way, please."

"Fetch me a chair," She ordered one of the servants. He scurried to do her bidding and hurriedly pushed the chair over to her. "Sit, milady," She ordered me.

I sat.

"Now, if I pull too hard, I say that I am very sorry now. This also may take a while, as you have so much…hair. Please, try to keep still for as long as possible." Marilyn picked up some of my hair in her hands, and smiled as if she was in heaven.

By the end of the hour, I was trying extremely hard not to scream every time a breath of wind touched my head. I looked extremely lovely, though.

"There," Marilyn said, looking very satisfied. I looked at myself again in the mirror. She had swept half of my hair into a swirling bun on top of my head preceded by myriad miniscule braids, and left the other half down so that I had a dark river running down my back. It made me look quite refined and elegant.

"My…hair." I expressed my thanks and admiration eloquently.

"I know," Marilyn preened.

I nodded delicately, careful not to muss it.

"Oh, don't worry, milady, I pinned it to withstand a night of dancing. You may move your head without fear." She chuckled softly.

Ashleigh scurried in from the other room. "Princess Elensar, the herald has just informed me that the ball will be in an hour and one half."

"Thank you," I said, regaining control over my speech again.

Marilyn looked at me oddly, "Are you planning on wearing any makeup?"

I gasped. In the search for the perfect dress and then the stunning job that Marilyn did with my hair, I had completely forgotten about any type of cosmetics.

"Right then. I can help you there. Sit back down and you'll be ready within the half hour!" She smiled and pushed me into the chair.

One would have thought that I of all people would have remembered the bit about makeup. Of course I hadn't though. 

Once Marilyn was finished, I took another look in the mirror. I looked better than ever. The light lines of black kohl outlining my eyes accentuated them just enough to make them look interesting, while not drawing away the attention from the deep shade of red that she had coated my lips with. My eyelashes looked longer, and more feminine, and my cheeks had a healthy blush to them.

I gaped at her in astonishment. "You have got to be a miracle worker."

Marilyn laughed. "Not quite, but I am good, don't you think?"

I nodded emphatically and she scolded me gently.

"Princess Elensar," Ashleigh stood in the doorway, gaping, "The ball with start in one hour, but it is advisable that you begin to make your way there." She smiled. "You look stunning."

"Thanks," I said, rolling my eyes and smiling. "And now for the hard part, the ball!" I grinned, hoping that it wouldn't really be the hard part. Praying, in fact, that it wouldn't be the hardest part of all.

As I walked down the hallways to the ballroom, I saw many of the servants, pages and squires in their finest attire, scurrying around like ants. Along my way, I met Lord Raven.

"Good evening," I said politely.

"And to you," He responded, nodding his silvered head. He was dressed in the finest black velvet, per usual. "You know, there will be many fine young men for you to dance with tonight, but I am hoping that you will spare at least one dance for an old man like me." He phrased his request as a statement that I couldn't decline without offending his dignity.

"Oh but of course," I smiled at him.

"Thank you, Princess Elensar." He smiled and patted my arm.

Then, we arrived at the door to the ballroom.

"Here is where I leave you, milady," He said cordially before walking away. I stood and stared at the huge open doors, mouth agape.

The whole room was huge and decorated in the green and grey of Delran. I took a step forward and felt my fingers tightening around the folds of my dress. "Here we go," I muttered and stepped into the glory of the ballroom…

Author's Note: I think I've given up on the weekly update thing. Too restricting. Plus, I like updating too much. :P I have all this time on my hands, what with summer being here and all…I get bored easily and just write and write and then write some more!

Anyway, I would like to thank my lovely reviewers. They are awesome!

Sheep Dawggy: Lesser jerk? I think not! Hehe. I'm glad you like this!  

Lady Emera1d: So happy that you're enjoying Elensar! Also, I like the way you spelled your penname. It's snazzy!

Flummoxed: Ah, my admirable author…there must be reason for her to run away! Not that there isn't enough incentive anyway… but for an interlude, how about a ball?

Karli: I update! ::smile:: Oh good, I'm so glad that she doesn't come across as perfect. Fantasy usually has the problem of perfect protagonists, and I'm glad mine doesn't have that problem! Explanations will be forthcoming…

In the meantime, everyone else, please review!