"Their Majesties, King Roald and Queen Lianne." The herald cried out.
Alanna shivered nervously.
"Are you all right?" Jon was concerned.
"I'm fine, a little nervous."
Jon laughed, "I am too, just breathe."
"I forgot how…"
"All right then just follow me, don't think of anyone else, just follow my lead."
Alanna nodded and gulped as she heard their names being announced.
"His majesty Crown Prince Jonathan of Conte and Lady Knight Alana the Lioness of Trebond."
The ballroom was filled with white, fake snow lined the window, and white satin drapes fell across the window. The candles were even white, with snowflakes carved into it.
"It's beautiful."
"Mother does like to outdo herself sometimes…" Jonathan muttered, noting that even the chandelier was covered with fake snow.
"Look at the tree!" Alanna pointed at the Midwinter tree, a pure white tree filled with all kind of ornaments. She noted that several people had placed presents underneath.
"Have you put presents under the tree?"
"No, I plan to give my presents directly." Alanna noted something odd about his voice, and the fact that Jon was looking directly at her.
"What, do I have something on my face?"
"No sugarplum, your face is fine…" He joked, to which she nudged him hard in the ribs.
Alanna tried to remember what Lianne had told her and glided slowly down the stairs.
"You're doing well." Jonathan said through his smile.
"You're helping." She replied.
At the bottom of the stairs, Jonathan spun her slowly and took her arm, leading her down the stairs.
"There, that wasn't too bad."
Alanna visibly relaxed, "Yes but Lady Josephine is giving me the dirtiest look."
"Yes, well you should be happy that you'll be the first thing everyone gossips about tomorrow morning!" Jonathan replied.
"I know," Alanna sighed, "but everything will be worth the gossip." She flashed Jon a smile that made his heart rise.
"Hopefully…" he spun her onto the dance floor.
Alanna kept eye contact with Jon, and got lost in his eyes.
"I hate love…"
"What do you mean?" Raoul asked Buri.
"Well, everyone is drenched in it, and half of the people don't even realize it!"
"No, half the people we know recognize it."
"Half of our people."
"Are we included in that half?" Raoul looked at her and held her eyes.
"I don't know, should we be?" Buri blushed slightly, making Raoul laugh.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have put you in an awkward situation." Raoul blushed and suddenly became very interested in his feet.
"Look over there, I think that Sir Michael is going to get very drunk this year."
"That's why the best ball is the best midwinter ball."
"Because you get to watch other people get miserably drunk and laugh at them…?" Buri looked at Raoul, meeting his eyes.
"No, this is the only time when I can beat someone up for the smallest comment, say that I was drunk and get away with it."
"You're a bad person Raoul…"
"I know, but think of how many times I can defend your honor." She smiled and so did he.
"Isn't it thrilling to watch everyone else fall in love." Cythera said breezily, taking a break from the dancing.
"I know, it remind me of us…" Gary smiled.
"Except, I don't think that anyone else has gotten on a fight…in midwinter…in a public place."
"Hey I maintain that I was drunk!"
"I'm sure, I think it was sweet Sir Gareth." Cythera smiled as she looked up at him.
He laughed, "You're a little mischievous aren't you Lady Cythera?"
"I might have a little mischief in me, but you chose to marry me…"
"That I did…" Gary swept her up in a kiss.
"Maybe this year won't be that chaotic…" Cythera thought to herself.
The night went on smoothly. Slowly, the drinks became freer and people became tipsier and louder.
"You better not touch any of that Raoul…" Jon warned.
"I swore it to you, and I don't go back on my word…" he lifted up his right hand.
"I better not see you drinking too much either…" Alanna warned.
"Me? I never!" Jon gasped.
Alanna laughed, lightly hitting him on the arm.
"Has anyone seen Thayet?" Buri looked around.
"No…but has anyone seen Thom?" Alanna grinned.
Buri relaxed, "Don't tell him I said this, but he can protect Thayet better than anyone."
Thayet appeared shortly after.
"Hello everyone!" Her cheeks carried a tinge of red and she smiled very widely.
"Hello Thayet…May we have a word…" Cythera dragged Thayet, Alanna and Buri into the corner.
"Man, what did you do?" Raoul asked.
"Well, while you were out on the dancefloor…" Thom said.
(A/N Thayet and Thom are in two different places…I just wanted to clear that)
"…Thom pulled me into a corner and asked to talk."
"How romantic!" Cythera cooed.
"I didn't expect anything like that from you Thom!" Gary raised an eyebrow.
"Well, I brought her into the garden that I had lit with…" Thom continued.
"hundreds of candles, he had used his magic to make sure they stayed lit…then suddenly started to ask some serious questions." Thayet sighed.
"Like what?" Alanna asked.
"I asked her what she saw for us in 10 years…"
"Really, what did she say?" Jon asked.
"…I told him that I didn't know, and what did he see."
"What did he say to that?" Buri asked.
"I told her that I saw us happy together, maybe with children and living in Trebond castle."
"That was bold of you!" Gary laughed.
"And so then he got on one knee and asked me to marry him…" Thayet continued.
"And…?" Alanna asked.
Thayet merely showed them her left hand, spotting a sparkling engagement ring.
"Congratulations…" Alanna gave her a hug.
After they chatted about the wedding, they sent her back to her new husband.
"That's just how Gary and I were…" Cythera noted watching Thom and Thayet dancing in the center of the floor.
"How we are…" Gary commented, as the three of them appeared.
"They look happy…" Jon smiled.
"Indeed." Alanna noted.
Gary led Cythera away, and Raoul took Buri away for a drink (of punch).
"What's wrong?" Jon's eyes shone with concern.
"I don't know, I'm so happy for Thayet, but…"
"What?"
"It just makes me think that I may never have that…"
"Oh Alanna…" Jon put his arm around Alanna.
"I always knew being a knight would compromise so much, but now I almost wish I was normal."
"Are you worried about what knighthood will lead to?"
"No, it's just…everyone says I'm beautiful now. How I'm the belle of the ball, but that's when I wear makeup and wear my finery. How beautiful will I be if I have a scar on my face, or if I go lame, or if my leg is permanently wounded? Then I wouldn't be beautiful or have any suitors."
Jon turned her head gently to face his, and held her.
"Alanna, you aren't beautiful because of your features, you could have come to this ball in bags and people would still come after you. To me, your beauty…is inside, you've reached for an incredible goal Alanna. Now, you have what you wanted, and you're questioning what to do next that's it."
"Thank you Jon…" she said quietly.
Jon kissed her forehead lightly and Alanna rested her chin on his shoulder.
"It's my pleasure Alanna…" he murmurred.
Review!
-MK