Author's Note: Thank you to all of my faithful reviewers, especially Jillie. I appreciate all of the suggestions and help you all have given me. Keep reviewing. I will do my best to meet your expectations. Sorry that this one took awhile. Enjoy!

The next three days passed in a blur for Jaselle. Because of her father's lack of interest in the ball, it was laid on Jaselle's shoulders to plan it all.

Susan, thankfully, helped her out. So the two of them had planned out the menu, the decorations, and everything else. Now, as Jaselle walked into the ballroom the morning of the event, all that was left was to set up.

Jaselle looked around the room. It was large, and circular, like the dining hall. It was the base for another of Blood-Gate's towers. The ceiling ended in a dome about five stories above them. A brilliant chandelier hung above them. Susan and Jaselle planned to hand lines of rope covered in crystal from the points on the chandelier, draping them down and attaching them to the walls lower down.

When Jaselle had asked how they would do that, Susan had winked and said 'leave it to me'.

Hearing footsteps behind her, she turned to see Peter come in. She hadn't really talked to him much in the past few days, being too busy. At dinner, they hadn't sat beside each other. Susan had asked her what was wrong, and she had dodged the question. She didn't know what was wrong. She just, couldn't talk about it.

Peter smiled tightly at her, then looked around.

"Is Susan here yet? She asked, well, ordered me to come and help."

Jaselle started to answer when there was a creak from overhead.

Looking up, she saw a trapdoor open up in the ceiling. Then Susan slid out of it, grasping the chain to the chandelier with her legs.

"Susan!"

Peter shouted at her. Jaselle just gasped.

Susan waved her hand at them.

"Don't worry, it's perfectly safe."

It looked to Jaselle like she mumbled something else, but she wasn't sure what.

Susan shimmied down the chain, until she was standing on the chandelier. She called up to the trapdoor, and someone threw down a package. Susan unwrapped it, displaying the crystal strands.

"Alright, you two," she called down to Jaselle and Peter, "Here's where I need your help. I'll tie these on at this end, then I'll toss them down. Tack them to the wall."

Susan tied the first one on, and then let it drop. It easily reached to the floor, because it was straight down. When it would get stretched over to the side it would be further up.

Jaselle grasped the strand, and started to walk over to the wall. But she couldn't make it. The strand was too short. When it reached the wall it would only reach to about ten feet above the ground.

"Susan, it's too short."

"Pish-posh. I wanted them that high so no one would mess them up. Have Peter give you a boost."

Peter and Jaselle caught each others eyes. Peter, give her a boost?

"Oh, come on. I haven't got all day."

Peter looked worried, almost. He came over to where Jaselle was standing. Reaching down, he grasped her waist.

"Uh, up you go."

He lifted her up into the air, so that it reached the wall. Jaselle started to tack it into the wall. A moment later, she realized she was purposefully going slow.

So Peter would continue to hold her? True, he did have very strong hands. She couldn't say she didn't like them there…

She waved her hand over her face, and tacked it quickly. Peter lowered her down.

"Alright, next one"
………………………………...

Peter lifted Jaselle up for the last one. His hands felt more comfortable there now then they did earlier. And he wasn't sweating as much, that was good.

He had given up asking himself why this felt different then when he did the same with Susan or Lucy for a ball or banquet back at Cair Paravel. It was because Jaselle wasn't his sister. There was a connection that was different between them. A different sort of feeling.

Jaselle signaled that she was done, and Peter lowered her to the ground. His hands, however, lingered on her waist for a moment before he let go. Had she noticed?

Susan climbed back up the chain, and a strong pair of arms helped her up. A moment later she came in through the main doors, with Clorin trailing her.

If Peter and Jaselle had been ignoring each other Clorin and Susan had been doing the opposite. Despite Susan's intense planning of the ball, her and the Prince had gone riding, sailing, on picnics, walks, jogs. They had even spent hours reading together!

Susan had told Peter how perfect Clorin was. But he heard that before. With a few of the other suitors. Was this any different?

He couldn't know. And Susan wouldn't jump into anything. She was more cautious then that. So, as much as Peter wanted to help her out, he would let her run her own course.

But what should he do about Jaselle? He hadn't asked if she needed an escort to the ball. He didn't think she had one, since Clorin was escorting Susan(a fact Susan had made clear to everyone). But, maybe her father would escort her? Or maybe the advisor, Hassin?

Peter sighed, and walked over to the other side of the hall. He didn't know what to do. He didn't want to hurt her feelings, or anything, by not asking. But he also didn't want to make her feel guilty if she had to escort her father or something. So he decided he just wouldn't ask. It was probably for the best.
………………………………...

Hassin reclined beside the underground hot springs, where the King sat soaking.

"You are certain of this?"

The King asked. Hassin grinned.

"Quite sure. Clorin has made the girl fall for him completely. And after tonight, hopefully the King will as well."

The King grunted.

"Hopefully? I thought my wife's daughter would have fallen head over heels for the handsome fool."

Hassin spread his hands.

"So did I, your majesty. But the girl has been so busy getting ready for this ball, she hasn't spent much time with him."

That was as close to saying that it was the King's fault they weren't in love with each other yet as Hassin would get. He thought the ball was a wretched idea, but maybe it would help. As soon as they were certain, they could move forward with their other plans.

"Advisor, make sure that all is ready. And keep an eye on them. If it happens, then I will talk to the young fool tomorrow. And we can get on with this. I am getting impatient."

Hassin smiled that wicked smile of his.

"As you wish, sire. But remember: patience is a virtue. As long as we are patient, and do things as I-, we have planned them, this will work. And we will be greatly rewarded"
………………………………...

Jaselle sat on Susan's bed, already dressed. Susan was pinning her hair up. The younger girl couldn't stop talking.

"Oh, this is going to be so much fun! I can't wait. I know it's only an hour away, but I still don't know if I can wait that long. And I wonder how well your brother dances. Is he a good dancer?"

Jaselle shrugged helplessly.

"Oh, that's right, This is your first ball. Well, you must come to Narnia. We have them all the time. Winter solstice, summer equinox, Christmas, and the birthdays of all four of us. Plus random ones whenever we feel like it."

Jaselle smiled sweetly. Her new friend was in a very good mood. She just wished she was.

She had wanted Peter to ask her to the ball. Even though she knew she had kind of been forcing him away. He still should have tried!

Maybe he had. Maybe someone told him he shouldn't ask her. Maybe he was scared. She didn't know. But she still was disappointed.

She was confused with herself. What did she want? What she needed to do was find out if he was genuine. But how to do that? Could she ask him that? Would it scare him away?

She didn't know. How could she know? Her father had purposefully kept suitors away, her entire life. Despite the fact that she was twenty, she had only met a single man her own age once or twice. And then, there had been no interest on her part.

But Peter, he was different. Jaselle wasn't sure why. But there was something about him. He was kinder, and understood her better. And he was gorgeous…

But did he have any feelings for her? Susan had observed that he was enthralled by Jaselle's beauty. But was there anything beyond that? Had his lingering touch this morning in the ballroom mean anything?

Susan finished with her hair, and then they switched places. As she braided Susan's hair, she tried to find a straight path through her thoughts.
………………………………...

Peter stood in the ballroom. The crystal strands were bedazzling, with the light from the chandelier shining through them. A line of tables at one end held drinks and appetizers, or 'finger foods' as they had been called back in England. Well, what Peter and his siblings had called them.

He was talking to one of the servants about the drink selection when they entered. First, the King strode in, tailed by Hassin, walking around and shaking various dignitary's hands, thanking them for coming and such. All of the royalty from this part of the world had been invited. Ambassadors, dukes, princes and princesses, had all arrived for the ball. It seemed to Peter that they must have known beforehand to have all gotten here on such short notice. But he didn't think much of it.

A few minutes after the King entered, Clorin came in. Susan hung on his arm in a forest green dress, one that she had brought from Narnia. Edmund had exclaimed she wouldn't need anything fancy as that. She had defended that it never hurt to be prepared. Peter made a mental note to avoid the moment when Susan brought up the fact she had needed it to their brother. Sparks would fly.

Susan seemed to belong there, on the Prince's arm. But Peter had seen her look the same way on numerous other suitor's arms. Was this any different? He doubted it. But, maybe.

Following Susan was Jaselle. Again, he found himself entranced.

She wore a bright blue dress. Her shoulders and arms were bare, and her hair was pinned up on her head.

"Are you alright, sir?"

Peter snapped his head to the side.

"Um, yes. I am fine. If you will excuse me."

He started to make his way towards her. The King stood on a podium and one end, and loudly cleared his throat.

"Hello all, and think you for coming to this ball. It is being held in honor of two new friends of our nation, High King Peter of Narnia. And his sister, Queen Susan."

Applause rose up. Peter slid his way through the throng closer to Jaselle.

"In the near future, we hope to work out an alliance with this fledgling nation. But until then, I pledge you all to enjoy the night!"

The musicians started up. Peter pushed past one large lord. He was almost there. He wasn't exactly sure why he wanted to be with her, so urgently.

He was almost there when a girl appeared in front of him. He stopped, to avoid knocking her over. She smiled sweetly at him.

"King Peter?"

Peter nodded absently as he looked back up to retain his eye contact on Jaselle. The girl in front of him continued.

"I've heard a lot about you. There are stories about you everywhere."

Peter looked at her and smiled. He opened his mouth to ask her to excuse him when the music changed.

"Ooh, I love this song. Come on,"

And the girl pulled him out onto the dance floor. Peter wanted so much to break away and go to Jaselle, who was standing by herself. But the King in him made him stay out on the floor.

After the song, he allowed the girl to thank him and then tried to walk over to Jaselle. But another song began, and another girl was there to fall into his arms. The High King took charge again, and away he went.

For almost an hour, girls entered and left his arms, as he whirled around the dance floor. He wanted desperately to go to Jaselle, but he couldn't. He wouldn't be rude.

Although Peter wanted to. He wanted to dump this latest girl onto the floor, and rush over to Jaselle. Push other women out of his way, and get to her. Hold her in his arms, tell her what he felt for her. And dance with her. Sweep around the floor.

But he didn't. He just spun around the floor with a different girl every song. While Jaselle stood by herself, watching him.
………………………………...

Hassin came up behind the King, who was talking to some Arch-Duke of somewhere. Hassin didn't really care. His main concern was the High King's choice of dance partners.

It was clear to Hassin, as he had watched the young monarch, that Peter wanted to dance with Jaselle. The way he kept looking at the young princess, trying to walk towards her. But one of the many flattering young women would get in his way.

The Princess seemed to be watching him as well. Which meant there was something between them. But was it attraction, or tension?

Hassin figured it was probably both. But either way, the two needed to be together. Not apart, staring at each other.

He calmly addressed the King.

"Sire?"

He turned and regarded Hassin.

"Yes?"

Hassin nodded back towards a more secluded spot.

"If I may have your ear,"

The King grumbled something to the dignitary and left with Hassin. When he had led the large monarch over to a more private spot, he spoke in hurried, quiet tones.

"Our favorite foolish boy is too handsome for his own good. The ladies flock to him. He hasn't danced with the Princess all night."

The King frowned.

"And why not? My late wife's daughter is the most beautiful woman out there. She has her mother's looks."

Hassin shrugged nonchalantly.

"That I do not know. But as long as they are apart, they are not getting together."

The King frowned.

"I know that! But what do we do about it?"

Hassin smiled.

"Allow me a dance with the Princess?"

The King nodded curtly.

"Get it over with. And they had better be kissing before the night is over. I am impatient to get this over with."

Hassin bowed.

"Of course, you majesty."

He slid away, thinking of what he would do when he was free of this windbag's control.
………………………………...

Jaselle stood at the edge of the room, watching Peter. He whirled around, a new girl in his arms every few minutes. He was a very good dancer, she could see. He probably danced all of the time back in Narnia, with all sorts of women.

Why did she think she would be special? She was just another girl.

Hassin materialized at her side, in that creepy way of his.

"May I have this dance, your highness?"

Jaselle was surprised, and unnerved. But no one had asked her to dance yet, so she nodded. Her father's advisor swept her onto the dance floor as the music turned upbeat.

They swung for a few minutes. Then a point in the song came when the guys spun their partners away, and everyone switched.

That was how she found herself spun into Peter's strong arms.

At first he didn't realize it was her. He seemed to be searching for something, looking over to where Jaselle had been standing. Then he looked down.

His face seemed to light up when he saw her. A broad grin split his face.

"There you are!"

Jaselle was surprised. As they danced, he continued talking to her.

"I was trying to get over to you, but these girls kept mobbing me. And then you disappeared."

She was grinning now.

"You were looking for me?"

He nodded.

"Yeah. I wanted to ask you to dance."

"Yes."

He raised an eyebrow.

"Hmm?"

"Yes, I'll dance with you."

Peter laughed.

"Well, then lets dance."

Jaselle felt her fears and misgivings melt away as they floated around the dance floor. A moment later the music changed into a slower song.

Jaselle saw a few girls drift towards them, and inwardly enjoyed the looks on their faces when Peter hung on to Jaselle pulling her closer to him. As they rocked back and forth, Jaselle rested her head on his chest, her mouth near his ear.

"Thank you."

She whispered. Peter smiled.

"For what?"

"For dancing with me. For holding me. For being my friend."

Peter slowly rubbed her back.

"You are welcome. I would gladly do it any day."

Jaselle felt his heart beat through his chest. It was steady. His warmth spread through her. And they slowly moved in a circle, Jaselle comforted in his arms.

Author's Note: Review please! What happens after the ball in the next chapter. Review!