There was a knock on Ali's door and she groaned as she heard Susan call to her, sounding irritated.
"Ali! Get up! Lucy's party is today and we need to start getting ready!"
Ali rolled over as Susan pushed the door open. "Oh, go away Su. It can't be past 8 o'clock."
"It isn't, but we need to start getting ready now."
"Why now? It's too early to put on a dress and look pretty."
Susan threw the covers back and yanked Ali out of bed. "Maybe you don't, but we need to set up and get Lucy ready. This is a huge party and she needs to look her best. Now, come on! Get ready!" With that, she left the room and Ali could hear her yelling out directions to other people.
Ali quickly changed into a comfortable dress before heading down to breakfast. Only Peter and Edmund were there, both looking extremely tired and irritated.
Ali took her seat. "Did Susan get you up, too?"
Edmund merely grunted and pushed some eggs in his plate around, not interested in eating. Peter sighed and nodded.
"I can tell already that this is going to be an extremely stressful day. Nobles arriving all day, having to set up the Ballroom, trying to tune out Susan talking about what everyone is going to wear, convincing Lucy that she has to wear a dress tonight…"
Ali grinned and Edmund snorted. "I don't know what's going to be harder: dealing with Areese all night or making Lucy wear her ball gown."
"Oh, really, Ed. Areese isn't that bad," Peter said.
"Not that bad! She drives me absolutely insane! If I have to listen to her talk about clothes and parties and her courtiers one more time, I think I might burst."
Ali raised her eyebrows. "Ed, you do realize that she wants you to think that she gets courtiers every day, and that she won't be available forever?"
"Of course I do! But I don't care if she is available until I die; I don't like her and I don't want to become anything more than an acquaintance."
"But Ed," Peter protested, "it would form a good alliance with Archenland."
"We've already got an alliance with Archenland. What do you want another one for?"
"Sorry—it would form a better pact with Archenland," Peter said dryly. "How's that?"
"You'll have to think of a better reason than that. You couldn't possibly place an alliance over your brother's happiness, could you?" Edmund looked at his brother innocently. Ali snorted into her goblet.
Peter merely sighed. "No, I couldn't. But just try to get along with her for the ball, won't you? I don't want a war to break out." He stood up and exited the hall.
Edmund smirked. "'Course not, dearest brother. Only a battle will start."
- - - - - - - - - -
The day passed smoothly, with nobles from different countries arriving every hour. Luckily, Ali didn't have to greet them, although she did have to sit up in Lucy's room while the two sisters argued for hours on end.
"Susan, you have got to be kidding me! I'm not wearing that!"
"Oh Lucy, what's wrong with it? You'll look beautiful in it! You'll turn many heads, I'm sure."
"I don't want to turn heads!"
"It's your birthday! You have to turn heads! Many young men will beg to dance with you."
"I can't dance!"
"Lucy, just try the dress on. You know how to dance and you will dance if anyone asks you."
Furious, the younger girl snatched the dress and slammed the bathroom door. Susan sighed and sank down on the bed, holding her head.
"She's impossible to deal with! I can never make her do anything."
"Well," Ali said, "There's your first problem: you make her do things. Teenagers don't like to be told what to do. I certainly don't." She shrugged.
"Well…" Susan started, looking about to protest, when Lucy appeared, looking furious.
"Happy now? I'm in this cursed dress."
"Aw, Lu, you look so beautiful!" Ali cried mockingly, jumping up and admiring the flowing gown.
"Yes," Susan agreed, circling her younger sister. "I do like it," ("At least one of us does," Lucy muttered) "It really does accent your hair, and once we fix it up, you'll be absolutely gorgeous. How do you want your hair? Perhaps half up, with it curled a little? Or a knot at the top? What about just letting it hang down? Oh, I don't know! What do you think Ali? Ali?"
The two sisters turned to the window seat where Ali was perched, gazing down at the castle front where Edmund and Peter were greeting the guests. Ali seemed to be daydreaming, although her gaze was fixed on the younger king.
Susan glanced knowingly at her sister who grinned in response. "You know, Ali," she started, "you'd better start getting ready for the ball. I was thinking you could wear one of my dresses. It's a lovely one, perfect for a ball like this. It's magenta, very pouffy and frilly with all kinds of lace and bows," (Ali started making faces of disgust here) "and I'm sure you'll look stunning in it. I'm sure princes from other countries will really love it, and you'll get many offers to dance. I think Edmund will like it too…"
Ali's head jerked up. "Rea—uh, what do you mean?"
Susan smirked. "Never mind. Now, what do you think we should do with Lucy's hair?"
Looking a bit flustered, Ali stood up. "Leaving it attached her head would probably be a good look, but that's just me." She shrugged. "I think I'm going to take a walk."
She quickly made her way out of the room into the hallway and rushed down the steps and outside. It was cool outside, but she felt oddly warm and shaky. She sat on a stone bench by a small pond and rested her head in her hands.
"Alexis, you fool," she muttered to herself. "What are you doing? Come to your senses and don't act like a blithering fool."
She sighed loudly in frustration. "Curse this whole mess. Bother it all."
She went back inside a bit later to get ready for the ball. Susan had gotten the magenta dress out, which wasn't as frilly and ugly as she had described it as. Ali was a bit relieved, but still quite down when the ball began.
- - - - - - - - - -
The ballroom was extremely crowded and stuffy when the ball began. The huge doors at the end opened, and the two Queens and two Kings walked in, Peter in the lead and Lucy at the rear. They took their respective thrones at the head of the room, Lucy looking positively thrilled. Susan seemed smug, finally having convinced Lucy to wear the gown she had tried on earlier.
Peter stood. "Good evening to all of you. My siblings and I greet you warmly tonight here at Cair Paravel in honor of Queen Lucy's fourteenth birthday. I hope you all have a wonderful evening and enjoy yourselves. And now, in honor of Lucy, the first dance."
The band in the corner of the room picked up a lively tune as the room clapped jovially. A young prince offered his hand to Lucy and she took it courteously and the two began the first dance. Slowly, others joined in and Ali retreated to the side of the room. She searched the whirling crowd for her friends, and saw Peter dancing with a princess from another country. Susan was dancing with Tumnus the Faun and Lucy was with the Prince. Edmund was with Areese, who seemed to be enjoying herself. Edmund, on the other hand, looked as if he would rather have the whole castle topple down on him. He caught Ali's eye and mouthed 'Help me!' but she merely grinned and waved joyfully at him.
The night passed slowly, and Ali had dance with a few fauns, a fox, Peter, a young Tarkaan from Calormen and some other young men she didn't know. She was starting to feel a bit lightheaded and tired as the night drew on. She was sitting down on the side of the room, trying to cool off, when Edmund walked over.
He smiled warmly at her and extended his hand just as the band struck up a slower song.
"Would you honor me with this dance, Lady Alexis?"
- - - - - - - - - - - -
Ooh. Funny place to end, I know, but whatever. Sorry it took so long to come out. I also apologize for its tackiness or corniness or whatever you want to call it. Anyway, please review!