[Squee, it's finally time for the ball! Please review if you want the story to go beyond this, because otherwise, this is going to be the second-to-the-last chapter of Jane's Hairy Situation. Mostly because I can't imagine anything else hair-related happening after the ball. So, yeah, it's the last bit of story right here. Enjoy though! Read and review if you please.

[Let's feature all the characters in this chapter now :D]

-.-.-

"Jane, Jane, you must dance with me!" Lavinia called, now nearly a lady and even more so in her beautiful peach off-shoulder gown as she had requested, 'all glitters and sparkle.' She just left the company of her irate brother Cuthbert and was hurrying through the crowd to Jane. "Oh, Jane, your dress is so beautiful! Hurry, they're about to play the first song!"

Jane smiled at the princess and curtsied politely to the girl who used to be so fascinated by dragons and stories of knighthood. She had grown out of that state quickly, what with being fawned by suitors and readied for the royal life of a real lady princess. "Of course, princess," she said, nodding politely. "I hear you've become quite the expert at the waltz."

"It's all thanks to the tutors that daddy has been hiring for me. There's this one dance tutor that's really cute, he's got a great smile and he's really good at waltzing too," she said, blushing slightly, taking Jane's hand and leading her towards the center of the ballroom. "Daddy seems really preoccupied with teaching me all of this princess business. I hardly get to spend time with you, anymore, Jane. I've really missed you," she said, longing evident in her voice.

They stopped walking for a second, both lost in thought; Eyes looking past the glittering ballroom and people, back to years gone by, when life was simpler and everyone was simply a friend.

"Well, circumstances change, dear princess," Jane said, shaking away sad thoughts and giving the princess a smile. "But it's a good thing we don't," she offered her hands to the princess, as everyone around started getting ready for the dance.

Lavinia blinked tears away and leapt into her arms, hugging her. "Oh Jane, there's been so much going on lately. I'm so glad you're still my friend."

"And I'm glad you're my princess," Jane said, hugging her back. "Now, shall we dance?"

-.-.-

King Caradoc sat in his throne, surveying the whole scene. A few white hairs graced his head of brown, and he absent-mindedly twirled the end of his moustache in his fingers. Spotting Lavinia and Jane dancing in the middle of the ballroom, he smiled and turned to his wife, leaning over his armrest to talk to her over the ballroom waltz music.

"She has become quite the young lady now, hasn't she, Gwendolyn," he said, motioning to them. "Just look at her, all grown up and hosting her own ball. It makes a king want to cry."

"Don't fret, dear," said the queen in her soothing voice. "Your daughter is a responsible and independent girl now. She makes us both proud."

"I know, dear," he said. "Perhaps it was my fault for relying too much on her after Cuthbert proved too stubborn to teach. Maybe I should have been more patient, maybe it wasn't the right time yet."

"It's not your fault," Gwendolyn replied, placing a hand on her husband's. "Besides, we're supposed to be enjoying tonight. Be happy for your daughter."

"Indeed I am, Indeed I am."

-.-.-

Sir Ivon was busy laughing his head off in a corner of the ballroom, next to the food table. Sir Theodore, chatting with some visiting knights shook his head and clucked at his colleague's behavior.

"Don't worry about him, gentlemen, he's just enjoying himself," he said, following it up with a silent 'too much' in his head. "Now, what were we talking about, again?"

"We've been considering sending some squires to this castle for training. We've heard of your innovative training techniques and would like for some of our students to study under you, if you would allow," one of the knights said, sipping from a glass of wine.

"Your squires are also quite exceptional," another knight interjected, motioning with his half-full wine glass. "The first girl knight in the history of Kippernia? It is something to be proud of."

Sir Theodore involuntarily looked over to where Jane was dancing with the princess, both laughing as they spun around and around on the ballroom floor. "Indeed, our squires show exceptional talent. We knights merely teach them, encourage them, and polish their skills. But I assure you, they are shining well enough on their own."

And with a smile, he took a sip from his glass, ignoring the loud noises of his fellow knight, as he enjoyed the scene.

-.-.-

"Oh Rake, you don't really have to help out here, you've been so busy with the garden," Pepper said, huffing as she carried a tray of assorted pastries on the way to the ballroom. "You might have some other stuff to do."

"It's no problem, Pepper, anything to help with the ball," he said, carrying three more trays precariously balanced on his long, thin arms. "And besides, Smithy's taking care of everything else. Not much left to do in terms of decorating, anyway, everyone's too busy to notice. Food, on the other hand, is something everyone needs to pitch in to help with."

"Thank you Rake," she said, blushing slightly. "It's just so much work, I don't know if we'll have time later to-."

"Don't worry about it, Pepper," Rake said, slowing down. "I asked you to the dance even if I knew you'd be busy, and I just knew you'd worry about it. That's why I wanted to help with your work, so that at least we'd be at the dance together, in a way."

Pepper blushed an even deeper shade of red as she started walking again. "Well, let's get this food to the hall then. Wouldn't want the guests to go hungry."

-.-.-

Unnoticed, right outside the doors, stood Gunther, peering into the ballroom, unusually uneasy. He pulled at the tall collar, feeling like it was strangling him. He took a deep breath and started pacing again, something he'd been doing all since the ball began. He couldn't settle the butterflies in his stomach every time he almost-entered the ballroom.

"So, you're out here, are you? Enjoying yourself?" a sarcastic voice came from behind him in the castle garden.

"I could ask you the same thing, 'jingle-boy?'" Gunther threw back at him.

"I'm not the one who thoughtlessly invited Jane to this affair," said Jester, slowly walking towards him.

"I'm not the one who started this pointless bet between us," he said, giving the boy a head-to-toe scrutinizing look as he came closer. "You weren't kidding about it, though. You're serious about this, aren't you?"

"Oh I'm always serious," Jester said with a smirk. He surveyed the other with the same look, as they stood a foot apart. "You go on in. I'll follow soon enough."

"Don't you dare go back on your word on this," Gunther said, steeling himself. "I'm expecting you to honor your promise when I win this bet."

"Hah," Jester said, giving one big laugh. "Good joke, but that's my job. May the best man win."

"That would be my job, then."

They shook hands, grip too strong for comfort, then Gunther turned away from the jester and entered the ballroom just as the song ended, with the guests all clapping for the musicians.

-.-.-