Darnit… I took a long time to update… again. Sorry! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE REVIEWS! Thanks to Smitten by Marauders (your review made me so happy! I laughed a lot. It was great. I didn't use bubble gum, but there is something else in this chapter I thought you might like…lol. Hope you like this chapter as much as you liked the last one!), flammingirl (uh… I don't know what you're talking about… jk I fixed it as soon as I read your review 'cause I was like "Darnit!" and I fixed it. Um… yeah… I'm okay. Thanks for the help!), JamSack, little mimi, Masked Dragonfly (hooray for a new reviewer!), Kat (sorry I didn't update sooner…) jubli pebble (I fixed the subtlety slightly…), Indian Ink (hooray for another new reviewer!), and Mellem.

The next day the feast was even bigger, because according to the holiday, the first feast is the smallest, but the fourth is the largest, and then the Ball is the celebrating. Of course, to me it seemed like too much because I had never seen that much food at one time.

At the second feast, Areida, Queen Ella's friend, came from Ayortha to visit. She came with her husband and her daughter, who was probably my age or a year older. John, now "Leglos", stared at Areida's daughter when she entered. She was a beautiful Ayorthaian, and I found jealousy rising up inside. I elbowed John in the ribs a little too hard when he began to gape as well as stare wide-eyed. The introductions were made, and I simply nodded my head curtly, but John inclined his head and tried to impress her with his almost perfect Ayorthaian. I was tempted to flirt with Rilean to get John's attention, but I shook my head and cursed myself for thinking so childishly.

To begin the second day, a seemingly prominent old man stood up to make a speech. He droned on and on about only the Creator knows what. As my attention quickly drifted away, I saw that of all the people the King, Queen and Areida were paying the least amount of attention. They were whispering to each other and… giggling? My picture of a king and queen, as well as the queen's personal friends, was completely wrong. After the speech, the Great Hall was noisier than ever, and we continued to talk and joke and laugh and eat and eat and eat. John did not tell any more adventure stories, even though everyone insisted, because he claimed to be all out of tales of our adventures. I just had to shake my head and smile.

During the next three days of the feast I got to know the King and Queen better, and they got to know Leglos and Adrianna better. The princes constantly commented on how much I was like someone they knew. I noticed that Caspian was increasingly more interested in the veiled woman, whom I was now sure was Emma. Evidently, he was reminded very much of a friend he once had. I pretended not to know Emma, and only asked her polite, every-day questions once in a while. I was surprised she didn't recognize me, but I was also glad at the same time.

After the second day's feast, Rilean insisted that we stay at the castle, having gotten reports that we had slept in a barn with our horses (how he got these reports, I didn't ask). So we accepted, and lived in luxury for the next three days. There were feather beds, hot baths with many perfumes and oils, and servants to completely pamper us. When I came to check on John in the adjoining room to mine, he was grinning from ear to ear while eating breakfast in bed. All I could do was laugh at him. They were days I will not soon forget, for it was a taste of how the rich lived. I decided that I didn't want to live that way (I found there was too much dependence in the servants, plus I had been a servant at one point in time not too long before and was scarred for life by that experience), but every once in a while wouldn't hurt anyone. Emma was staying at the castle as well, as a royal guest. I made sure she never saw Moonlight, because she would recognize him immediately.

At one point in time John and I were asked by one of the guests why we only wore one set of clothing. The comment reminded me so much of Amelia that through clenched teeth I replied, "We have no need for finery and we traveled light to get here. Besides, it's not the end of the world to only have one set of clothes so please don't panic on our behalf."

John sniggered, and the woman "humph-ed" and walked away. John commented, "You really don't get along well with others, do you?"

"No, not really. At least not those kind of people."

To get ready for the Ball, I bathed in the rich aroma of the expensive oils, feeling slightly embarrassed at how many KCs were spent just for me to take a bath. After rubbing the skin powder over my body, I actually tried to tame my wild hair by smoothing it down with some substance Queen Ella had recommended (she recommended something for me!). I then put on the same attire I had worn since we arrived (after politely asking one of the castle servants to wash it for me), but I didn't care. I looked at myself in the glass mirror and smiled slightly at my reflection. A dark-skinned, green-eyed, tall girl stared back at me. Her almost waist-length black hair fell in cascades down her back, and it was smooth and shiny, reflecting the green streaks through her hair. Her muscles were toned and all the baby fat of childhood was gone. I almost thought that the girl staring back at me really was an Elfian warrior, if not slightly too young to be one. When I came out to meet John, he smiled and cocked his head to one side. I raised an eyebrow in question.

"It's funny… you almost took a long time in there just like a true lady would. I'm impressed."

I bore down on him, and he quickly deflected the blow that was about to be given to him. Laughing, he said, "Oh, come on, I was joking. Here, I have something for you."

He presented a wooden sculpture, and I realized it was the one he had been working on since I slaved for "Madam" Sarah. It was a beautiful unicorn, slightly resembling Moonlight, rearing up and pawing at the air, daring anyone to challenge him. I could almost see the unicorn's muscles rippling and I could almost hear his proud neigh.

"It's beautiful," I breathed. "Thank you."

After a moment's hesitation, I gave him a hug. John was surprised, but then gently hugged me back. Now we both felt odd, so we released each other with slightly pink faces.

"Shall we go?" John asked after an awkward silence. I nodded, and we set off for the Great Hall.

The decorations were even more exquisite, and the floor had been swept clean of tables for a wonderful ballroom area, with "finger-food" overflowing from the tables lined up against the wall. The place was completely crowded. People came from all over the country, some people from different countries who were in Kyrria as ambassadors, diplomats, or visitors. Rich and poor alike were there, but there was an obvious divider between the rich, poor, and middle class. However, different human races mixed freely. Some other creatures came as well. I saw several elves, a few gnomes and dwarves, and, to my utter amazement, even a giant, whom I knew was a friend of the King and Queen.

"Leglos! Adrianna!" Rilean called out to us. Giggling young girls in expensive dresses surrounded him, and he saw us as his escape. I couldn't blame him, but I couldn't blame the girls, either. Rilean was very handsome, and I admitted that to myself even though I didn't like him like that anymore. He politely excused himself and walked to us quickly. He breathed a sigh of relief.

I grinned. "You're very popular."

"I'm glad you noticed," he snapped, then apologized. "Forgive me. I just don't like any of those girls, and they get to be bothersome."

We stopped when King Charmount started his short speech to begin the ball. We all raised a toast to the King of Kyrria, and then to Kyrria itself, and then, to my surprise, to the Creator who gave us Kyrria. The Annual Kyrrian Ball had begun.

Rilean bowed to me. "May I have the first dance?"

I smiled slightly, and then I told him shyly, "Honestly, I don't know how."

"That's fine. I'll teach you." Rilean offered his hand. I glanced at John, who shrugged an "I don't care" (though I doubted that was the truth), so I took Rilean's hand.

The group of girls glared at me enviously. Then they eyed up John, who began to slowly back away from them. I couldn't help but laugh. I couldn't blame the girls there, either.

Rilean taught me the steps slowly, and he had much more patience for teaching me than I would ever have. I was clumsy, and I knew it, but I tried my best. After the first song I was fairly good, so we danced to the next song. I focused on the rhythm of the music and timed my steps with Rilean's. I relaxed slightly. Then another song was played and I had to learn new dance steps. This song was lively, and it was actually much easier to dance to since I didn't have an itchy dress to make maneuvering harder. Suddenly I realized that I was dancing next to John, who was dancing with Areida's daughter, Lindaeyan. A pang of jealousy hit me, but I shoved it aside. After the dance was over, the four of us – Rilean, John, Lindaeyan, and me – stopped and bowed or curtsied to each other.

John offered his hand to me, and Rilean offered his hand to Lindaeyan. I smiled at the look in Rilean's and Lindaeyan's eyes. I believe Rilean and she will go together nicely, I thought. Before I could stop myself, I also thought, Will John and I go well together?

Happily, I danced with John. After a few moments of tension and awkwardness, we both relaxed in each other's arms. We stared into each other's eyes, trying to see into the depths of the other's soul. We talked a little, remembering when we first met and all that had happened since. I was in heavenly bliss. The song ended, and slowly the two of us were brought back to Earth. For a moment, I thought he was coming closer to my face to kiss me. However, I was wrong, as usual. He gently whispered in my ear, "Would you like to go get something to eat now?"

With slight disappointment and a fast-beating heart, I nodded. We walked over to the tables, and John excused himself to the bathroom. I looked around the ballroom, feeling dizzy from the tidal wave of emotions that had obliterated all other senses. I unwillingly admitted that I had actually hoped he was going to kiss me. I saw the veiled woman (Emma) and Caspian dancing together, both of them laughing and it seemed that neither had ever been this happy. Rilean and Lindaeyan were dancing wonderfully, and they became the center of attention on the dance floor. The King and Queen watched their two oldest twin sons with smiles on their faces. So did I, and I was unaware of the approaching man.

"Pardon me."

I jumped slightly, and turned to face the familiar voice. I stifled a gasp of surprise. Lou, my very own brother, gave me a polite smile. "I just wanted to ask if you could move to the side a little. I would like to try one of those." He pointed to some exotic finger-food. He didn't recognize me. Although I wasn't supposed to understand Kyrrian, I could've easily known by his gestures what he wanted. I moved to the side, not saying anything. I simply looked him over. Lou really hadn't changed in who knows how many months. He looked a bit more tired, and maybe even a little sad, but he was still my polite, reclusive, oblivious-to-the-fact-that-his-wife-made-his-sisters-into-slaves brother. He looked uncomfortable under my gaze.

"Can I, um, help you?" He asked, shifting his weight uncomfortably.

"What?" I asked automatically in Elfian.

Lou apologized in fluent Elfian. "Forgive me. I didn't realize that you didn't speak Kyrrian. I was wondering why you were staring at me."

"Oh, I, um, you, uh, looked like someone I know. Sorry."

Now he looked at me more critically. "That's all right. It's funny. You look like someone I know as well."

It was now my turn to be uncomfortable. "Really? Well, I was mistaken, so you must be mistaken, too. Listen, I must go, I'm looking for my friend-"

"Something wrong, Lou?" The icy, honey voice made every inch of my being want to attack the terror most unfortunately named Amelia. She hadn't changed, either. She was wearing the most expensive dress I had ever seen. Even though she didn't recognize me, there was an automatic reaction of hatred and she glared at me. "Who's she?" She asked sharply, the honey from her voice gone.

Lou blushed slightly. "I don't know, actually. Well, I suppose I was mistaken as well, madam. I bid you farewell."

He was starting to sound like Rilean. Then, something very confusing happened. He must have said something, and I must have looked at him confused, because all I remember is Lou saying, "Forget it."

So evidently I must have forgotten whatever he told me to forget. Then, I looked at him blankly, confused by the question. "Forget what?"

He started to say something, and then he frowned. "Um, excuse me?"

I shook my head. "Never mind. Farewell."

I walked away quickly, trying to become lost in the crowd. I went to the other side of the Great Hall and tried to get my bearings. I had come here first to keep an eye on Emma and second to enjoy myself at the ball. So, I had to stay. Lou and Amelia would just think I was a very weird elf, and would leave it at that. I first looked for Emma. I saw her dancing with Caspian in the "couples dance". An over-protective sister switch flicked on in my brain, and I wanted to go down there and rip her and Caspian apart. However, I refrained, turned the switch off, and allowed myself to be happy for her. Then I looked for John. There were too many people, and I didn't see him right away. Also, I forgot that I was looking for an elf with black hair, not dark brown.

"Excuse me?"

I almost groaned. Now what? I turned around and started when I saw Amelia's wide grin right in my face.