The Infamous Ball

I stood there looking longingly at the chair as my feet began to swell. My shoulders ached and I felt like I weighted 300 lbs. The cause of this massive weight gain was not from eating. It was from the layers and layers of fabric that were being fitted to my body. A short woman with gray hair poked me with a sewing needle every few minutes. I would jump and she would give me a stern look, as if I had intentionally broken her concentration.

"Now this piece, yes, yes…right there. It'll show off your figure." She said as she lifted yet another slab of fabric into the folds.

"You know I was really hoping for something a little more….um…simple, Sara." I told her as I eyed myself from head to toe.

"Oh no dear. We need to "wow" the Prince." Is all she replied.

I rolled my eyes and sighed. Of course, sighing made my body move in a disapproving way so I was given another annoyed look from Sara.

The ball was the that night and I still had not told my Stepmother or stepsisters anything. I was going to tell them when I got home. I only had a few minutes with them before a carriage was to come pick me up. Even the thought of attempting any sort of sane explanation made my head start to perspire.

"There." Sara finally said and stood up straight.

I took a deep breath and looked at the finished product in the mirror. The dress was a dark purple color. The bodice was tight and it was difficult to breathe properly. The skirt was layered every five inches or so, giving it a ruffled look. I'll be honest, I thought it was hideous. It didn't matter though right? This whole marriage thing was fixed anyway.

"Now, get out of it, carefully, and I'll finish up with the sewing while you go home. But come back hastily, girl, I have to do your hair and by the looks of it, it's going to be quite the feat!" I glared at her insult.

I walked into the door of my house and found all the family in the kitchen. I had a hard time looking them in the eyes.

"I suppose you aren't going to tell us where you've been this time?" My stepmother said a little sadly.

"Actually, I am." I nodded. When they all sat there waiting I started. "Well, you see, I've been given…an…um…opportunity. It's something that's going to help all of us out of poverty."

All three girls perked up at the thought.

"What is it?" Ana demanded.

"Well, as you know I've been spending a lot of time at the palace…The King, he had this idea…I didn't want to do it at first…" I kept putting it off.

"Tell us dear. Come on, out with it." My stepmother said.

"I'm going to a ball tonight. And then the Prince is going to ask me to marry him. And I'm going to say yes, and then it'll be revealed that I'm a peasant, and all the people will rejoice." I blurted it out quickly, the last bit being slightly sarcastic. "At least, that's what the plan is."

They all looked at me with wide eyes. Then they all started laughing. They didn't believe me. I kept my face completely calm and serious. Soon they noticed that I wasn't laughing with them.

"Good heavens child!" Stepmother exclaimed. "You can't be serious?"

"I am." I lowered my head.

"Why on earth would you do such a thing?" Her face was getting slightly pale. I was nervous she would pass out.

"I'm doing it for this family, and for this city. Look at Ana, Stepmother, look at her frail figure and pale skin. How long has it been since these two, well any of us, had a proper meal. When was the last time this town felt like we had a decent government? I can help all of you! I know what you need, I know what this town needs."

"But dear, you are not one of them. You distain those people. I know this to be true, and I speak with experience as well. I once was part of high society and there are people who only care for themselves. They'll never accept you." Stepmother grabbed my arms as she spoke.

"The King and Queen have already accepted me mother, and they say that the Prince has as well." I explained.

"No, they say that now, but what about a week from now, when you start to speak you own mind. Do you think they'll have you then?" She questioned.

"I don't know." I said honestly. "But I was given a promise that you three would be taken care of. That is the most important. I am not speaking any more of the matter. I must get ready to leave soon." I turned and walked out into the backyard without another word. No one tried to follow me.

****

The Prince excused his servants from his room. He put on his black dress coat and buttoned it up. Running his hands through his hair he let out a great sigh. He could hear the guests beginning to arrive. Sweat began to form on his forehead. He walked over to his wash basin and splashed some water on his face. There was a knock on the door and a servant told him it was ready to go down to the party. The King was waiting.

At the end of the hallway he found his father and mother waiting. The king was dressed in his finest attire, the great Crown resting on his head. Char's mother, always beautiful, was wearing a see green gown and jewels of every color. Char descended the stairs first with his parents behind him. A man named Roger announced their arrival. People clapped as they walked down the stairs. Char put on his public smile and waved at the people below.

After a bit of conversation with a few of the more important people at the party, the royal family sat on their thrones in the front of the great ballroom. The dancing commenced and Char waited. His father had given him specific instructions. Sure enough within just a few minutes, Char felt his father's elbow nudge him. He looked over hesitantly.

"There she is." The King said quietly. "The lovely girl in the violet dress, she just walked in."

Char looked over and noticed her immediately. No one could have missed her in that dress. He couldn't lie to himself, she was stunning. The color of the dress complemented the color of her hair and skin. Her dark hair was curled and placed in a knot on the side of her neck.

"Now remember, dance with two or three girls before you dance with her. But be quick about it, someone else might snatch her up." The King chuckled.

A few men had already noticed the girl and started a conversation. Char sighed with relief. Those men may buy him some more time before he had to dance with her. Despite the fact she was pretty, he still wanted no part of this scheme.

Char spotted a pretty girl in a red gown who was batting her eyelashes at him. He stood and walked to her. The girl, a Duchess from the south, was named Selene. They didn't speak much during there dance. She seemed too awestruck to say anything and Char was busy looking at the peasant girl. With each moment the music moved forward, his steps became heavier.

Finally the music stopped and another song began to play. He thanked Selene for the dance and she just giggled and curtsied. The peasant girl had finished dancing with the Earl of Westerlund. She was now walking towards the King. She curtsied to he and the Queen. Char wished he could hear what they were saying but didn't dare get any closer than he had to.

He just wanted to survive the night. This peasant girl was probably not as sweet as she was leading his father to believe. She was just like every other poor girl he'd met. Greedy.

"Hello my Prince." A voice said from behind.

Char turned and found Una standing there. She was wearing a jet black gown that formed to her every curve. She wore a smile on her face, though her eyes seemed slightly distant. That was understandable considering the circumstances.

"Princess, what are you doing here?" Char asked curiously. "I wouldn't think you'd attend, considering."

"Well, you know I'm always one for parties." She laughed. "Besides I wanted to see this girl who's stealing you away from me."

Char noticed she held a goblet full of wine in her hands.

"Oh," She said, "I thought you looked thirsty. I brought you a drink."

"Thank you." Char smiled. Una had always been so generous. He felt a pang of guilt as he took the cup from her. After he drank the wine, he called for a servant to take the cup away.

"Well, my dear, shall we dance? For old times sake?" He asked Una.

"Of course." She curtsied.

They moved in circles around the dance floor. Una kept giving him strange glances. He was about to ask her if she was alright, but she beat him to it.

"How are you feeling?" She asked, batting her eyelashes.

"I'm uh, fine. Thanks." Char smiled.

"You don't feel anything, um, different?" Her eyebrows came together curiously.

"No, should I?"

Una stopped them in their tracks and stomped her foot. She looked very angry about something and Char had no idea what that could be.

"I, have to go." Una said, turned then walked off.

"Maybe breaking up with her wasn't such a bad thing." Char whispered under his breath.

****

I was dancing with some handsome stranger wishing that he was Nathaniel when I saw Una stomp her foot and walk away from the Prince. That was very strange.

"Where are you from?" The man I was dancing with asked me.

"Um…" I wasn't sure how to answer that. Obviously I couldn't say I was from my home because then people would know I was an imposter.

Oh man, imposter. The word seemed to jump out at me like the very same wolf who destroyed my backyard.

"I'm from somewhere far way. To the north. A place called, erm, Grensberg." I lied.

"Huh. I've never heard of it, though by the looks of you it must be a wonderful place." He gave me a wide smile.

I gave him a small laugh and I was relieved to hear the song ending. Unfortunately, he didn't leave after it ended. He still wanted to chat.

"So, what is your standing?" He asked.

"My what?"

"Your standing." He didn't understand that I didn't understand.

I almost started to panic when someone came to the side of us.

"Do you mind if I steal this beauty for the next dance, Duke Gerald?" The Prince asked him with a small bow.

"Certainly not your Highness, as you wish." The Duke bowed deeply and backed away quickly. For some reason I broke out into a grin. Maybe it was the fact that he Prince had just referred to me as a beauty or it could be because I was so relieved he'd just saved me.

"Thank you, that was a nice rescue back there." I smirked after the Prince and I had taken our dance positions.

"I'm sorry, did you find something wrong with The Duke?" The Prince asked coldly, though he kept a smile on his face.

"Oh, no no, it's just..um," Why did he have that tone in his voice. This was the first time I'd met the Prince. Ever. Why would he be angry with me already? "He was just asking me questions that I didn't really understand."

"Well, that's to be expected I'm sure, there is going to be a lot you're going to have to learn in order to be welcomed into this society." He responded.

My heart started to feel a little funny. I didn't get it. He seemed to not like me at all, but he didn't even know me. This was his idea too wasn't it?

"Um, I'm sorry your Highness, have I offended you somehow? You seem a bit, tense." I mentioned as we danced.

"Look, just let me survive the evening ok?" He said back.

Well, if he treated Una like this as well it's no wonder that she stomped out the way she did.

"I'm sor…wait…wait." I stopped our dance. "I was under the impression that you were ok with this." I told him, looking him straight in the face.

The Prince came closer to me, he was only inches from my face.

"How could I be ok with this?" He whispered with a slight tone of anger.

My mouth dropped open. My mind went completely blank. Before I knew what I was doing, I walked away from the Prince and moved toward the King. When I reached he and the Queen I looked at them and my words just spilled out.

"I cannot do this. I was told, by you, that the Prince was all for this little scheme of yours." I wasn't talking loud enough that others could hear me, but my words were sharp. "I just discovered that this is not true. You lied to me. And I cannot do this. I don't know what I was thinking, I knew this was ridiculous from the beginning. I'm in love with someone else and the Prince already hates me. And you know what, your highness, I think that even though I am going to walk out of this ballroom right now, take of this blasted dress and break my promise to you, you should help my family anyway. Because that is the kind of King you should be. You should be willing to offer your help freely. Not by bartering of betting or scheming."

After that I didn't even have to look up to see that the King's face was red with anger. I turned and ran out of the ballroom. When I was in the foyer, the doormen saw me coming. They opened the doors for me. It was quite convenient because I didn't even have to slow down. I ran down the steps of the Castle and almost toppled over because of my shoes.

I took them off angrily and threw them into the dark bushes that were to my left. They were clear and were made almost entirely of glass. Sara had insisted that they were the most beautiful things in the world and that I'd be the 'belle of the ball' in them. I've never felt anything so uncomfortable surround my feet. I'd rather wear rose bushes as shoes than those darn things.

When I was at the bottom of the steps I looked back. No one was following me. That was a relief. The King wasn't sending his guards to kill me. I decided I didn't have to run the rest of the way. I was out of breath and it wasn't just from the running. It was also due to the fact I was about to break into sobs.

"Awe, poor thing." A sweet voice said from somewhere in the dark.

I turned to see Princess Una coming out of the shadows towards me. The look on her face was shockingly sinister. I gasped and jumped back.

"That Prince." She shook her head. "Tsk tsk, what a heart breaker."

"You can have him." I told her.

"Oh my dear, I will. Don't you fear, I will. But first, I just need you out of the way." She shrugged like it was a very simple matter.

But, suddenly, she wasn't Una anymore. Her face began to wrinkle and her skin sagged. Her tall figure turned into something more like a hunched beast. I was about to scream but she waved her hand and my mouth clasped shut. She grabbed me by the arm. Sticking out her index finger, she poked the air. Green light appeared and began to spread. Green colors swirled together, making me dizzy. The green circle got very wide and round. In the center was a black dot, and that was also getting bigger.

"Well dear, have a safe trip!" The beastly Una cackled.

She then shoved me hard and I fell into the swirling air. The wind was knocked out of me and I fell into darkness.

A/N: Ok, so I finally updated! I hope you guys enjoy it. Let me know if you like the multiple point of view thing. If not, I can totally stop doing it. I just felt the story came easier to me if I wrote it from different perspectives. Is that weird? Anyway. Enjoy and please leave a reveiw! Thanks!- Md