"Tada!" Alanna danced into the room and twirled around for all to see. What Thom, Lucy, and Cythera saw was a tall, ogre-ish lady dressed in unbecoming pink lace and ruffles. Her face was painted pale with powder, and her lips a deep blood red.

Immediately, Thom and Lucy started laughing with loud guffaws. Cythera stared at the supposed lady before her and exclaimed with shock, "Alanna! You look absolutely horrible!"

Alanna grinned at her friends' reaction and responded, "I know." She looked at her own reflection at a nearby mirror. Alanna indeed looked like an ogre. Perhaps a male troll who was trying to pass for a lady. Her lips were big and bloated. It stood out against the pale complexion, and her eyes were small and squinty. The limp greasy strands that hung out of a bun were supposed to pass for hair. The warts were bigger than normal, and a few zits and moles were added.

"Alanna, I applaud you for your beautifully created guise." Thom said grinning.

Alanna mock-curtsied.

Mid-way laughing, Lucy quickly gasped, then choked. Thom quickly went over and thudded her on the back. Straightening up, Lucy turned towards Alanna and asked, "Do you have an escort?"

"Escort? Why would I need an escort?"

"You can't go by yourself." Cythera argued.

"Why not? I'm not here to find a suitor. That's the whole point of this disguise. I thought you knew that." This statement was addressed to both Lucy and Cythera.

Lucy blushed.

Alanna was immediately suspicious. "Lucy…do you have an escort?"

It was Thom's turn to blush.

Alanna's eyes widened, but on the contrary, Cythera smiled.

"I'm sorry Alanna," Lucy apologized, "but I…"

With haste and panic, Thom quickly tugged on Lucy's hands, and together they fled the room, leaving only Cythera, Alanna, and an unfinished apology.

Not soon afterwards, Alanna went to Cythera's room while Cythera was thinking up a way to get Alanna an escort in such a short time. There was a knock on the door. Alanna glanced up from her seat in the back of the room. Cythera got up from the couch and went to open the door.

"Gary," she exclaimed. "Come in."

Alanna saw Gary walk in, with his chestnut hair combed neatly. Cythera led him to the middle of the room, but he hesitated when he saw Alanna.

"Gary, dear, I have a problem."

Upon hearing this, Gary's attention was quickly directed at Cythera. Concerned, he gently put a hand on her elbow.

"Cythera, what's wrong?"

Cythera smiled sweetly. Flirtatiously, she raised her eye slowly until it met his. Alanna scowled. What was Cythera up to? By the looks of it, she had Gary under her charm like a seductress.

"Gary, my friend here does not have an escort. I was wondering if one of your friends…could accompany her to the dance?" Alanna's mouth dropped open in surprise. Escort? This wasn't part of the plan. She was supposed to be the repulsion of every man in court. Why would Cythera set her up with an escort? What was she up to?

But it was too late. Gary already agreed to it. Cythera then walked him to the door before meeting Alanna's surprised and somewhat angry gaze.

"Alanna-," Cythera started quickly. She was familiar with her quick temper.

Alanna cut her off with an angry shout. "Cythera! What did you do?" She had risen from her seat at the end of the room and had stomped over to her friend.

"You have to get a suitor sometime, you know that. Where would you go when you grow older? You cannot avoid men forever. Or are you afraid of love? Do you not want an escort because you are afraid?"

Alanna was appalled at Cythera's explanation. Yet she didn't reply, because she knew that some part of her is indeed afraid. But she really didn't need someone, nor did she want someone. At her own mental retort, Alanna subtly thought about George, but she quickly shut that thought out. She now felt both frustrated and trapped. Wanting to snap back, but not finding the words, she consented.

"Fine. But I'll get you back for it."

Cythera smiled. "I knew you would see reason. Now come." Gently, Cythera guided Alanna by the elbow to the door. Together they walked out.

"Jon?" Gary knocked on the door. "Are you in there?" He knocked louder.

The door opened to reveal the Prince neatly dressed. His attire was fit for the imminent dance. His aura was that fit for a prince, potent and commanding. But as soon as Prince Jonathan saw his friend at the door, his demeanor was gone, and he was just a friend greeting another. He motioned for Gary to come in.

"What do you think?" Jon asked.

Gary grinned. "As handsome as always, my Prince."

Jonathan mocked a lady's sigh. "I should think so, I wouldn't want to be scaring Lady Delia away." The grin was quickly off Gary's face. He started to fidget nervously.

"Er, Jon, there's a problem."

The prince raised an imposing eyebrow. "A problem, Gary?"

"Uh..er…yes, a problem…"

Jonathan sighed. "What did you do this time?"

"I promised Cythera that I would provide an escort for her friend…"

"And…"

"And I was assuming that you could be that escort…" Gary trailed off cautiously, waiting for an outburst of anger. He had wisely avoided mentioning that it was one of the Trebond twin. Hopefully Gary would not be beheaded when his cousin and friend finds out. He sighed with relief when after a moment or two, no angry words were shouted at him.

"I'll be going now," he said, edging towards the door. "She will wait for you at the line." Once outside the door, Gary quickly picked up his pace into a run and headed towards Cythera's quarters.

Alanna took a deep breath. This was unnerving. Slowly, she approached the long line that stood to be introduced to the hall. Who could be her escort?

Disgusted at her cowardice, Alanna took a deep breath of resignation and decided to get this over with, once and for all. Perhaps if she went through with this, Cythera would stop trying to find her a suitor. Her plan had been to keep away from all suitors and the prospect of being married to one. The idea of being an obedient wife waiting on her husband loomed over her like an ominous cloud. Thinking about her possible misfortune brought once again the fear that coiled in her stomach. Quickly she warded away any thoughts that might interfere with the night and proceeded to look for someone who seemed to be waiting.

What if the friend that Gary got was so disgusted at having to escort her and simply left her there waiting for eternity? Alanna didn't know whether to rejoice at this or feel miserable. With all the unknown feelings coming towards her like an ambush of arrows, she decided to ponder over the meaning of them some other time, perhaps when she was alone.

Jon stood at a little distance from the line of nobles waiting to be announced. He waited with apprehension. Why couldn't Gary have chosen Raoul or Alex? Why did he have to choose him? But Jon already knew the answer. Gary knew he could not refuse. As a prince, it was one of his traits to be tolerable of all nobles, and it would be rude to refuse. No doubt Gary chose some lady who wanted a chance to at him. Who wouldn't want to have a chance to become queen? But no matter. His crowning was still a long way off, and he still had plenty of time to choose.

He waited a little bit longer. Who was he escorting? He had wanted to do Lady Delia the honor of providing her with an escort. But alas, this cannot happen, all because of his cousin.

Jonathan looked at the crowd gathering in front of the enormous doors. He could not see a lady by herself. There were only couples standing there, asides from him…wait, was that a lady standing away from the line? It did not look like a lady at all! Yet it was wearing a pink ball gown with an immeasurable amount of lacing. But it was almost as tall as him! And the face looked like that of a troll's wearing face paint! Could it be a lady? It was. Or she was. And…it was the Trebond! Jon's face flamed up in anger at his friend. He knew his hatred towards the surreptitious traitors! How dare Gary set him up with this treacherous swine! Did he think him void of honor!

But a second voice in Jon's mind countered the first. It argued that if Prince Jonathan were indeed a Prince, he would escort whomever, no matter if they were presumed traitorous. After all, he only have Roger's word that one of the Trebonds were traitors, but what of the other one?

He shall see.

With his head tilted up, and his expression neutral, Prince Jonathan walked up to the figure in pink.

"Lady?" He bowed and offered a hand. He kissed the white-gloved hand presented to him, then straightened.

"You!" the figured exclaimed in a surprised gasp. Jon kept his face expressionless.

Dear Readers,

Look! Look! (points excitedly at the new chapter). I updated! See? I updated! Haha, I'm so proud of myself! Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter, there's more coming.

I'm planning on rewriting Chasing My Dream. It will be different from the original. What do you guys think?

Bambolieblue