Disclaimer: I don't own anything.

Author's Note: I hope you enjoy this.

Arguments on the Inside

Tori looked down at the dress Kelly had helped her put on. The material was a light blue satin which trailed in the back. The dress had bell shaped sleeves that flared at her wrists. Her hair was down with a slight curl in it.

"There, I think you look just perfect."

"Thanks Kelly." Tori knew what she was going to do. She was just going to go up and talk to Blake. Odds are he was going to ask her to dance anyways. By all rights he was supposed to ask her to dance.

There was a knock at the door. Kelly went over and opened it to reveal Cam, who was decked out in green. "Tori, you look beautiful."

Tori just shrugged her shoulders, "Thanks."

"Are you ready then?"

"Sure, let's go." Cam offered his arm which Tori took and the two headed down to the ballroom. "Where's Leanne?"

"She'll be there."

"Father wanted to make sure I went."

Tori glanced up at Cam as a smile crossed his face, "Perhaps. Although maybe I just wanted to escort my little sister."

After sharing another smile they fell into a comfortable silence as they entered the ballroom. There were ten elaborate chandeliers around the room illuminating the dark to a soft, gentle glow that was accented by candelabras scattered throughout the room on tables. On the walls hung tapestries that were in red and gold depicting scenes from the Anil's past. There were doors that opened to the outside that allowed a gentle breeze to flow through the room. The dance floor was filled with couples dancing to the gentle music of the orchestra. Others were scattered about eating some of the delicacies that came from the kitchen while others were engaging in conversation.

Tori quickly found Shane talking with someone that she didn't recognize. She scanned the room and saw Dustin and Marah in a very intimate dance in a darker corner of the room. She frowned a bit as she couldn't seem to locate Blake. She then heard a gentle voice that she recognized, "Cam, Tori, so wonderful to see you." Leanne walked up to the other side of Cam who smiled at her. Tori let go of her brother's arm and nodded to him followed by him holding his arm out to Leanne who took it.

"Leanne you look beautiful." Leanne was wearing a soft red with green flowers on the bottom of the sleeves and gown that seemed to match the color on Cam's outfit.

"You as well Tori."

The blonde smiled and nodded at her brother before he took off towards the dance floor with Leanne. She moved closer into the room hoping to see Blake.

Blake and Hunter moved back into the ballroom; they had been outside on the balcony for a bit. Blake was in a dark blue and black while Hunter was in a dark red and black. The two brothers scanned the room and took in notice of the different people who had since come in. The room was now completely filled with all of the guests that had arrived there in the past week. Even though there were many guests, the room still gave the look of being spacious.

Blake knew that it was only a matter of time before they would be engaged in conversation or on the dance floor. And sure enough Princess April came up. She was from the kingdom just south of his and Hunter's. They only had ever seen her a few times.

"Good evening Hunter and Blake."

While Hunter merely nodded, Blake smiled and said, "April."

"So, you guys enjoying yourselves?"

Hunter shrugged and looked away leaving Blake alone in the conversation department again, "It's always good here. You?"

"Lots of fun. So, Hunter, are you even listening?"

Blake looked at his brother who was still examining the room. "Yes April, I'm listening."

April was a very forward Princess who wanted all the attention on herself. Neither Hunter nor Blake liked her and yet they still ended up having to spend a month in her kingdom being trained by some of the best knights who happened to be under her Father. April touched Hunter's arm, "So how have you been?"

Hunter shifted backwards, "Fine."

"I noticed you're doing a lot better after Elizabeth."

"Excuse me, please."

Hunter shot Blake an apologetic look and walked off. Instead of turning back to Blake, April was off following Hunter. Relieved Blake headed towards where Shane was standing; he knew his brother would be back and that April wouldn't catch up to him. It was a tiresome game, but one played nonetheless.

"Hey Shane."

"Blake, how are you?" Shane looked around Blake, "Where's Hunter?"

"He needed a bit of air. Having fun?"

"Lots of fun." Shane smiled at Blake for a moment before gaining a serious face. "Blake I have a favor to ask of you."

Blake looked Shane in the eyes as if expecting the favor to jump right out and say what it was. "What?"

"I have a cousin who is here, she's from further south, her first time. Anyways, I was going to ask Dustin, but he disappeared and I'm sure I know who he's with." Shane smiled at Blake who smiled back; it wasn't that hard to know that Dustin and Marah always managed to find their way together at balls like these. "Would you mind dancing with her? I know you're betrothed, but, it would mean a lot. It's just one dance."

"Alright. I'll go."

"Thanks." Shane walked with Blake over to a set of doors where his cousin had to be standing since she was the only one there. She had long dark hair and was wearing a light pink dress. "This is my cousin Princess Arya. Arya this is Prince Blake."

She smiled and curtsied as Blake bowed. "Nice to meet you." She spoke with an accent.

"And you as well." Shane smiled and then walked off. "So, would you care to dance?" He held out his hand which she smiled and took. He led her out to the dance floor and they began spinning. But the more they spun the more Blake's mind left the dance floor. He couldn't help but think about someone else. Someone he knew that he shouldn't like. The only thing he didn't understand was why she couldn't seem to leave his thoughts.

Silently he began going over his list of reasons why he shouldn't like her. One, she from Amihan, right there said a lot. But at the same time she didn't seem like the kind of person that was supposed to be from Amihan; she seemed, he wasn't sure how to describe it but she was different. Two, she hadn't shown up when he arrived or when he left. That right there said that she didn't care and thought she was better than he was. Although when he left it was a spur of the moment, so maybe she didn't even know. Three, she was just like April, self centered, everything had to be about her. But was she really like that? He hadn't gotten to talk to her much, so maybe that was just him not giving her a chance. His mind continued this endless battle which he never seemed to be able to come up with a clear winner only that what he knew didn't match up with how he was beginning to feel.

Tori thanked Prince Jason for the dance and watched as he walked away. She smiled as he walked off. She looked around and still saw many couples dancing. Shane was over talking with Kapri, she followed their gaze off into the dark part where Dustin and Marah were still dancing in the dark. She smiled, if only that were the way, just meeting and knowing. Instead everything was about betrothals and getting married to people that you hadn't even really known for a year. She looked over at her brother and Leanne who were enjoying themselves just by talking.

All at once Tori heard the start of a familiar music. Within a few seconds she realized what it was, this was a popular dance played at these events where any couples who were to be married would dance. Tori watched as Cam and Leanne walked out onto the dance floor. She looked as Amber and Jacob went on. All of these couples walked on and began dancing while those who weren't to be married slowly came off. She knew she was supposed to be up there but where was Blake? She slowly began scanning the room and her eyes soon rested on him. He was there on the dance floor with a beautiful girl with dark hair and dark skin.

Tori watched them and saw that his face was set on hers and he was watching the girl with a deep interest. Why this bothered her so much she wasn't sure. She didn't like him, so why did she feel this way? The answer was simple; she had started to like him. She looked around one more time and then turned and left the ballroom and headed back to her own room. But before she opened the door she paused and instead heading out of the castle and to the stables. She took one of her horses and she took off.

The blonde rode around the grounds of the castle and let the wind fly through her hair. Why was she going to let this bother her? She didn't need him. Besides he probably wasn't anything special at all. He had been rude to her and treated her like she was worthless. That was fine with her; she didn't need to deal with him anymore. So after thinking about Blake and deciding not to let him bother her anymore she took the horse and brought it back to the stable. Tori made sure the horse was fine for the rest of the night and this time she headed for her room collapsing on her bed with sleep taking a while to capture her.