I hope you guys have been enjoying the story so far!

As this is one of only two chapters for this story that are going to be shifting POVs, I'm going to specify who it is going to, so as to make it clearer. I'm not thinking it will be too much of an issue, but I just want to be sure. Also, this chapter begins the main time of the story, the first chapter was when the girls were 10, 8, and 7, and the second chapter was when they were 15, 13, and 12. From here until the last chapter and epilogue the girls will be 19, 17, and 16.

As a heads up, I'm going to be out of town and unable to post on Saturday, so I will be posting that chapter tomorrow in addition to tomorrow's chapter

Sorry for the long author's note, here is chapter three!

-owl

ZIVA

Ziva had just turned sixteen two days prior. As such, she was officially old enough to begin courting. Now, she was getting dressed in one of her nicer dresses for the ball Abby had planned for that night.

Abby, who was now nineteen, and still an unmarried maiden, had decided to throw a ball to celebrate Ziva's birthday and for the three sisters to find possible matches. She had been working on the great hall for nearly two days, and when she would take breaks she would draft up orders for flower arrangements.

Ziva had been told by Kate that Abby was expecting the pair of them to meet her in the great hall at lunch to check on the decorations for the ball. She didn't need to be there until later, so Ziva decided to go out to the garden to work on her accuracy with her bow.

First, she grabbed her bow and quiver of arrows from her room before heading outside. When she got outside, Ziva saw Kate sitting by the tree she had fallen out of when they had first been getting to know each other. Kate had a pad of paper in her lap and a quill in her hand. Next to her lay a woven loop of roses.

Ziva waved to her. "Hi, Kate. What are you drawing?" she asked, drawing the attention of her older sister.

Kate looked up at her, turning the paper around to let her see the drawing. "I was sketching the flowers. Are you here to work on your aim?"

Ziva nodded. "Yes. That is what I plan on working on until Abby needs us to check on the ball preparations."

Kate smiled. "Have fun," she called as Ziva waved and went deeper into the garden.

Near the middle of the gardens, Gibbs had agreed to set up a small shooting range for Ziva. The area was also big enough that she was able to work on her sparring. When Ziva entered her area, she quickly stretched her arms before nocking an arrow and beginning to aim.

She pulled the bowstring taunt as she eyed the target in front of her. She breathed in, then out. Then let the arrow fly.

'thwack!'

It hit the innermost ring, but not the center. She was a good shot, but the first arrow always hit off-center. Ziva quickly grabbed another arrow and began the process again. By the time Ziva was done shooting, she was hitting dead center every time.

ABBY

Meanwhile, Abby was frantically running around trying to help the maids and servants get the great hall ready for that night. The flowers were in their places, red roses and white lilies mixed together.

The food was prepped and ready to be cooked, and the tables were set up near the wall. There would be a drink table alongside as well. Overall, Abby had not had the biggest part in the menu, though she had given the final approval for it.

The last thing she needed to do to get ready was the musicians. She had hired a seven piece orchestra to play throughout the night, and they were due to arrive an hour before dusk. Abby only had to make sure there were chairs on the raised platform where they normally had musicians perform.

After she did that, she would be able to go and meet her sisters for lunch before showing them the progress she had made. Abby found herself, in her half-hour of rest, sitting in the garden with her sisters. Kate was drawing Ziva as she fired arrows in the middle of the garden.

Ziva had just loosed her final arrow in her quiver when the bells chimed, signaling noon. She quickly gathered her arrows and joined Abby and Kate by the entrance of the gardens. The girls stopped by Kate and Ziva's bedrooms to drop off their things before making their way to the great hall.

"I'm so excited to show you what I've completed!" Abby exclaimed as the trio got to the door of the great hall.

Kate gave her a smile. "I'm excited to see what you have done." Kate's tone didn't have the same level of excitement as Abby's, but she still seemed to be looking forward to what was in the room before them.

Ziva nodded. "Show us, Abby."

Abby grinned as she opened the door and led the other two into the room. "Ta da!" she exclaimed.

The room was just as she had left it, other than the servants having left after they had hung the last of the colored drapes. The drapes were in shades of red, deep blue, and royal purple. There were candelabras around the walls of the room, and the food tables and musician corner were set up.

"Wow, Abby," Ziva said, her voice full of awe as she looked around the room. "I am Impressed."

Kate agreed. "You've out-done yourself, Abby."

Abby blushed slightly. "Thank you!" she said, before beginning to pull them from the room. "Let's eat lunch before we get dressed for the ball," she added as she led them along the hallway.

Their lunch was a light meal of stew and bread. Lunch took them about an hour, as they kept up a conversation throughout. After they finished, Abby again dragged them through the castle. This time she had convinced Kate and Ziva to all get ready together, dresses, make-up, and all that. Abby had volunteered to share her own room, so the other two weren't too opposed to the idea.

The girls all met up in Abby's room, carrying their dresses with them. Abby's lady's maid, Olivia, helped them with laces and ties on their dresses. Each girl had their own distinct dress, the colors and styles all different.

Abby wore a red dress with a sweetheart neckline and a tulle underskirt able to be seen from the knees down and a bright red belt that fell asymmetrically over her waist. Her entire dress was covered in a layer of lace.

Kate wore a light blue dress that was covered in overlapping, different-sized, polka dots with a shiny blue belt. Like Abby's, hers also had a sweetheart neckline.

Ziva wore a deep purple gown, with caplet sleeves and a gold chain along the neckline. From her knees, the lighter purple underskirt could be seen, and a belt of gold chains, with more hanging down from it echoed the break in the dark purple.

After they were all dressed, Abby began doing her sisters' hair. She had been doing Kate's hair since they were five and three, and had started doing Ziva's since they had started getting along.

Ziva got a simple bun on the top of her head. Abby added a few purple ribbons to the hair as well, letting them add a pop of color in Ziva's dark locks. Abby could tell that Ziva was not thrilled about the ribbon, but she had seen the flowers that were also on the vanity table that Abby could have used, and stayed silent. The final touch was the small silver tiara with blue and purple gems that Ziva wore on occasion to symbolize her royal status.

Kate ended up with a braid crown, decorated with blue and pale purple flowers. It took Abby longer to do Kate's hair because of the intricate details. Also, along with the flowers, Abby had woven in plain blue ribbon. Nestled in the braid, sat Kate's official crown as crown princess, the gold form with multicolored gems throughout it.

Kate did Abby's hair. She had decided to, instead of having pigtails, have two buns near the top of her head where the pigtails normally sat. Like with Kate and Ziva's hair, Kate added red ribbon to Abby's buns. Kate had woven a crown of red roses that morning in the garden, so that was set on Abby's head to symbolize her being royalty, even if she wasn't in the line of succession.

Olivia bowed as she left the room as there was nothing she could do to help the three princesses. They all waved goodbye and thanked her for her help. Once she was out of the room, Abby looked out the window to see that dusk was nearly upon them. It had taken them a good few hours to get ready.

Abby would need to leave quickly to receive the musicians when they arrived, so as she ran from her room, she called back to her sisters: "I have to go help the musicians get to their places. Be ready at the entrance of the great hall at dusk."

ZIVA

Ziva stood next to Kate and Abby outside the great hall. According to Abby, almost half the people invited were there already. Their parents were already inside, waiting for the three of them to enter the room themselves.

Abby turned to Kate and Ziva. "Are you ready to go in?" she asked as she straightened her dress and hair.

Kate smiled, touching her hair to make sure it was in its place. "I'm ready."

They both turned to look at Ziva. She was straightening her belt and not looking at her sisters. "What about you, Ziva?" Kate asked, drawing her attention.

"I'm ready to go," she said simply, with a nod of her head.

Abby smiled and the three girls entered the room. They weren't announced to the guests, though the ones nearer the door noticed them and bowed. The great hall was full of people. Knights, nobility, and visiting royalty had all been invited. The knights had left armor at their rooms, and the visiting royalty had frogone large, ornate, crowns.

Ziva could see Gibbs and Jenny standing in the front of the room, and pulled her sisters along with her to meet up with them.

Gibbsnad Jenny smiled when they saw the girls. "You three look amazing!" Jenny said, gently pulling each in turn for a hug. "And, Abby, you did a wonderful job planning the ball," she added, giving her an extra hug.

Abby grinned, but before she could say anything in response, someone approached the family.

A young man, probably about Kate's age stood in front of them. Behind him stood another young man. The first wore a nice suit and a simple crown on his head, a family crest was embroidered in his suit coat, near his heart. The second wore a more plain suit, again with the same crest as the first on his coat. They bowed in tandem.

"Your majesty," the first said as he rose from his bow, the second following a moment later. "I am Prince Anthony the second, of the country DiNozzo. You may know my father, King Anthony the first."

Gibbs nodded. "I remember him. I had heard he had a son, but he never brought you with for any meetings or treaty signings."

Prince Anthony nodded. "He didn't trust me to not get in trouble, so I was kept home. Tonight I have brought with me my most trusted knight, Sir McGee. However, I was hoping to ask one of your daughters for a dance."

Gibbs turned to look at the three girls, then back to the prince. "I don't answer for my daughters, you'll have to ask them yourself."

He nodded and turned to the girls. "Princess Ziva, would you dance with me?"

She nodded and as he took her hand in his, they left her family behind. The prince was not too much taller than she was, and seemed to be strong, if his grip on her hand said anything.

"Thank you," he said, as they turned to face each other on the dance floor. "For accepting my offer to dance." They spun one circle, then he continued talking. "I hope you can forgive my boldness, but I must say, Princess, that you look lovely tonight."

Ziva smiled. "Thank you, Prince Anthony, for your kind words," she said.

"Call me Tony, Princess," he appealed. "My father is called 'Anthony,' and with all our issues, I try to distance myself from him."

Ziva gave him an odd look. "Fine, but then I want you to call me Ziva, I've never liked the title of princess. However, isn't that a bit forward? To be talking of such things only minutes after meeting someone?"

Tony shrugged. "I'm nothing if not confident. I'm sure you would have found out anyway, I'll be around for a while. In all honesty, my father sent me here to negotiate a treaty with your father. It's only my good luck that let me be here in time for the ball tonight."

"Ahh," Ziva nodded. "That makes sense."

Then the song changed and they switched to a different dance.

ABBY

Abby watched as Prince Anthony escorted Ziva away from their family. He had left his knight behind, and Sir McGee had gravitated towards the wall, and out of the way of anybody who might wish to speak to the royal family. Abby caught her father's eye, and he nodded. Once she had permission, she separated herself from her family and approached the knight.

He looked at her in surprise when she stopped in front of him.

"Your highness," he said, bowing low. "How may I assist you?"

"Rise, Sir McGee," Abby commanded, and he stood straight once again. "I would like to invite you to dance with me."

His eyes grew wide. "But I'm just a knight, you should have a prince."

She shook her head, taking his arm and pulling him away from the wall. "I have given up my place in the line of succession, and even if I hadn't, I can dance with anyone I wish."

The knight opened his mouth as though to argue, but didn't say anything and properly took Abby's hand as they reached the dance floor.

The musicians were just starting a new song, so they were right on time. Across the room, they could see Ziva and the prince. McGee turned to face Abby, and they waltzed in time with the music.

"I see that you, Sir McGee, have been taught how to dance," Abby said as they moved. "I didn't realize they taught knights to dance."

Sir McGee blushed slightly. "Please, call me Timothy, I don't like the 'Sir' title. They don't normally, but I have been close with Prince Tony since he was little, and so I learned when they taught him."

Abby nodded. "That makes sense. And I will, only if you call me Abby."

The pair danced for most of the evening, and, though Abby did take a few turns with some of the other suitors, she always returned to Timothy.

Abby had also been keeping tabs on her sisters. Ziva had danced with a good mix of people, Abby thought she had heard names such as the young Duke Ray or knight Sir Rivkin, though she was often seen with Prince Anthony. Kate, meanwhile, had danced with a number of young men, though none of them got more than one dance each. The only exception to that was Lord Haswari's son, Ari, who had asked Kate for another dance nearly an hour after the first time Abby had seen them dancing together.

Abby leaned her forehead against Timothy's shoulder as she laughed when she saw her father call a few guards to remove Ari from the ball. Timothy turned to see what she was laughing at and grinned a little.

"Is that what your father does if he doesn't like someone?" he asked under his breath.

Abby lifted her head to look him in the eyes. "Only if he thinks you're untrustworthy. I'm sure you and Prince Anthony will be fine."

Timothy nodded. "When you meet him, he will likely ask you to call him Tony, by the way."

"Do you suspect I will be meeting him tonight?" she asked in surprise. Why would he think that they would meet him? Most of the guests would be leaving early the next morning, so if she hadn't met him by now, when would she meet him later?

Timothy shrugged. "I don't know if you will meet him tonight, but his father sent him to negotiate a treaty with your father."

Abby nodded. "I see. Well, maybe I'll meet him properly tomorrow."

ZIVA

Ziva watched as the room slowly emptied. The ball was over, most if not nearly all the guests would stay the night before traveling to their homes the next day.

"Goodnight, Tony," Ziva said.

"Goodnight, Ziva. I look forward to seeing you very soon," Tony said to her, a note of smugness in his voice and a sly smile on his face. He then kissed her hand and left the room, Sir McGee following him.

The musicians bowed to the royal family as they, too, left the great hall. Ziva turned back towards her family. Kate and Abby stood talking to Jimmy, who had shown up halfway through the ball. Nearby, GIbbs and Jenny were talking to Ducky.

"That was a wonderful party, Abby," Ziva said as she joined her, Kate, and Jimmy.

All three of them looked over to her, and Abby smiled. "I'm glad you had fun. But, wait, Ziva, where is your necklace?"

Ziva looked down at her chest, where her golden arrow charm necklace normally lay. "I have a feeling I know where it is," Ziva said as she sighed lightly. Tony must have taken in when she wasn't looking, which explained his tone of voice and smile when he had bid her goodnight. Oh, well. She would just need to get it back, no big deal.