Callista practically skipped back to the manor. She didn't know why, but she felt quite content. Maybe it was because she had managed to spend almost a whole day without Mary and Adrianna. She slipped through the side door and heard Mary yell "Callista? Where are you? Come here NOW!" Callista sighed and dragged herself up the stairs to Mary's room. "You hollered, my lady?" Callista said as she walked into the room.

"Huh? Hollered? What does hollered mean?" Mary said, confused.

"Never mind"

"Never mind what?"

Callista sighed exasperatedly. "Did you need something, my lady?"

"Oh yes, I just wanted you to brush my hair and to tell you that you have to pick up a dress for me next week, for the prince's ball. It's being made by the same seamstress that makes the queen's dresses. It's going to be the latest fashion, with long loose sleeves and a low neckline…" Callista stopped listening, and looked towards the door wistfully. Someone save me she thought. At that exact moment, Anna walked through the door. "Mary," she said, "I need to borrow Callista for a while." Mary, who had still been fantasising about her dress, just waved her away. "If you'd like.." she said vaguely.Callista put down the brush and hurried after Anna. Anna plonked herself on a chair and Callista sat down on the edge of the bed. "What did you need?" Callista asked?

"Need? Oh, nothing, I just wanted to save you from Mary. She won't be shutting up for the next week. There's going to be a ball for the prince's 18th birthday."

"Oh, well thanks then. And thank you for letting me have today to myself."

Anna smiled. "Anything interesting happen?" she asked.

"Uh…well, I met the prince."

"Really?"

"Yeah, it was quite funny really" and Callista recounted the afternoon for Anna.

Anna laughed as Callista told her the part about the prince falling off his horse.

"So…what did you think?"

"Think about what?" Callista said

"Him"

"Who?"

"The prince, silly"

"What do you mean 'what did I think'"

"What did you think of him"

"Oh, he was kind of flustered I think"

"Really? I wonder why?" Anna said mysteriously, a twinkle in her eyes.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Oh, nothing" Anna smiled.

Anna watched as Callista fiddled with her pocket. She saw a glint of gold. "What's that?" she asked. Callista looked down at her pocket as if she had only realised it was there and fished out an invitation. "Oh, the prince dropped it when he uh…dismounted from his horse" Callista said. Anna giggled. "Do you want it?" Callista asked.

"The invitation?"

"Yes"

"No, I don't need it, I've already got one but I don't hink I'll go"

"Oh, why not?"

"Why don't you go?"

"Me?" Callista said

"Obviously" Anna laughed.

"Why don't you go?"

"If the prince is there, Mary will be unbearable.I don't want to be stuck with her for the whole night"

"Neither would I"

"So, are you going?"

"Are you kidding? Me? At a ball?" Callista laughed, imagining her simple clothes surrounded by all the nobles' finery.

"You should go, you never know what could happen" Anna said mysteriously.

Callista left Anna with a 'goodnight' and walked to the kitchen. As she wiped dishes, she wondered what it would be like if she went to the ball. I don't think I'll go, she thought I don't have anything to wear.

You could make your own dress the reasonable part of her brain said

Maybe, but what if anyone recognises me? She asked

It's a masked ball was the reply

Still only maybe

"So tell me about this girl" William said. "Was she pretty?"

"Uh…kind of" Eric said

"Kind of?" William arched one eyebrow

"Fine. She was very pretty, but there was something about her…"

"Ah, something about her"

"No, not that way. Well not really. I mean. Don't worry. Anyway, I felt as if I'd seen her before."

"Maybe you have and you just don't remember, what did she look like?"

"She had dark red hair, long eyelashes, pale skin and these lovely green eyes." Eric remembered

"Lovely green eyes?" William said

Eric realised what he had said and blushed. "Uh, so do we know anyone who looks like that?"

"No, not really" William said "No-one with lovely green eyes" he added mischievously.

Eric punched him playfully on the arm and decided to change the subject.

"You're coming next week aren't you?"

"Coming?" William asked innocently

"To the ball"

"For your birthday?"

"Yeah"

"Hmm… you'll probably be fine without me, what with all those lovely ladies to swoon over you."

"Please don't leave me alone with them.By the end of the night, I'll probably know every single piece of their clothingin absolute detail. I can't bear another night listening toone-sided conversations anbout sleeve length and clolours. Or even worse,the simpering and the"of course, your highness" giggles. Don't you remember how annoying Lady Mary was?" Eric pleaded.William winced, he had had to escort Lady Mary after Eric had left that afternoon. If that was what Eric had to go through then he should really come, just to help Eric. "Alright," He said 'You never know, maybe the maiden with the lovely green eyes will be there." William added, grinning. Eric rolled his eyes at his friend as they walked towards the dining hall.

Maia watched as Callista walked into the kitchen. She seemed very preoccupied. Maia said she could go to bed but she seemed miles away and kept putting away dishes. The poor dear Maia thought Firs' her ma dies, then her pa, an' now she's a slave for those two evil witches. And in 'er own home too! If I was her, I don't know 'ow I'd survive. Maia glanced at the girl again and saw a fancy card poking out of her pocket. She recognised it immediately, it was one of the invitations to the prince's birthday ball. She suddenly remembered the box in the back of her wardrobe and resolved to give it to Callista first thing the next morning.
After several hours of choosing napkins and wall drapes, Eric's mother finally released Eric from the torture. Before he left for bed, he decided to ask his mother about the girl.

"Mother?" he said

"Yes dear?" she replied, still examining wine goblets.

" Do you know any young maidens with dark red hair and green eyes?"

"Dark red hair and green eyes? They're quite unusual features aren't they?I've only ever known two people like that." She sighed "I once knew a woman with those features, I believe her daughter had them as well."

"Really? Who are they?" Eric inquired

"Who were they." The queen sighed deeply "Lady Adonia of Rasine, she died 11 years ago. It was when I was in Estaban visiting the new monarchs. We were best friends and I wasn't even there to attend the funeral. The daughter, she passed away too. After her father died, she fell ill. Duchess Adrianna of Rasine says it was the same sickness as her mother. I'm sorry I wasn't there. Her mother and I were close and I regret not consoling the daughter but I didn't think I could face it, I remember she looked so much like her mother. " A tear slid down his mother's cheek and Eric hugged her awkwardly. As he lay in bed later that night, asleep,a vague memory came to him.

He was in the palace ballroom. They were having a dancing lesson that his mother had organised. He was dancing with an annoying blonde girl and thankfully, the dance required them to switch partners .He twirled another blonde, a girl with nice blue-green eyes, a dark haired girl and finally a girl with mahogany coloured curls. She was looking at her feet, concentrating on the dance Eric supposed, when she tripped and Eric reached out and caught her. She looked up and hazel eyes met vibrant green ones. "Are you alright?" he asked. "Quite alright," she replied "it's just this silly gown. Why don't we all just wear breeches and save ourselves the hassle?" Eric laughed,finally, someone with a sense of humor. He was about to say something but the herald called something and she ran out of the room. Eric woke suddenly. The girl in his dream, she had exactly the same eyes as the mysterious girl from the oak tree! But the girl in his dream must have been Lady Adonia's daughter, since she was the only girlwith red hair and green eyes that his mother had known. But it wasn't possible, Lady Adonia's daughter was dead, how could he have seen her this afternoon? Was he going crazy? He couldn't have imagined it because he hadn't known about the Rasines until tonight. It was so confusing. I'll think about it in the morning he thought to himself and surrendered to his sleep.

Reviews! I love reviews! Please review. And I have reviewers to thank too, I haven't forgotten you!
ashley: I'm glad you like it. Writing embarrassing bits is fun.
Maggie:You know I can always scream louder than you! Spare time? I don't have spare time. This is how I like to procrastinate(also to get the crazy characters in my head to shut up too!), my other procrastination technique is to read but then my parents ask me why I'm not doing my homework, so this way, they think I'm doing schoolwork. Hehe. ; )
Lulai:Yeah, it took a while for them to meet didn't it? And as for Eric, I couldn't help it. Eric was on a horse and I just had to push him off it, to stop his sulking. I love embarassing moments, they're so fun. I get to write a party! Yay, they're so cool. There's gonna be lots and lots and lots of dancing. Maybe she'll fall again and Eric will catch her...?

So guys, please review, reviews makes me feel good (and update more too!). Click the button now! Pretty please?

Nicole