The morning came and the whole castle was preparing themselves for the ball that was to take place later on that night. Arthur did not want to go, this meant that he would see Elena again, and with him. But he knew that he did not have a choice.

He entered the ballroom that was filled with people, chatter, music, food, drinks and entertainment. Elena was sitting at the royal table, she looked like a goddess in her dark-green dress, and Lincoln was sitting next to her. People kept walking up to their table, one after one, and congratulating them on their betrothal – wishing them happiness and wealth.

The first dance was now to take place to inaugurate the ball, and Lincoln took Elena's hand before they walked to the dance floor. Arthur turned in his seat as his jealously grew. After a while, people started to join them on the dance floor, and the evening had begun.

''Arthur!'' a voice was heard after a couple of hours and he turned to see his father.

''Come,'' he said and waved towards him. Arthur could smell the wine on his father's breath from where he was standing. He walked towards him but his steps started to ease as he noticed that Elena and Lincoln was standing beside him. He could not turn around now, they had already seen him.

''We were talking about you,'' Uther smiled. Arthur looked over at Lincoln that was smiling too. He then turned to Elena that looked uncomfortable.

''I'm intrigued,'' Arthur tried his best.

''Your father talks highly about your battle skills, you must teach me some before you return home,'' Lincoln explained.

''Yeah, for sure,'' Arthur said, cleansing his teeth. Lincoln was about to speak again when the band played a song that indicated that midnight had stuck. To follow tradition, this meant that the princess had to dance her second dance of the evening. Usually she did this with her fiancé, but sometimes also with her father, or uncle, or such.

''Crap, is it already midnight? I promised your father to exchange some words before midnight,'' Lincoln said and looked at Elena.

''I'm sure that no one will notice if we don't dance, they surely will understand if you're occupied,'' she said, almost seeming relieved by it.

''No but of course you have to dance! Arthur, would you do me the honor and dance with her? I really must talk to her father,'' Lincoln asked and Arthur froze to his spot. If he had been drinking during the evening, he would have thrown the liquid up right now. He saw how Elena's eyes widened and how his father had straightened his back with a more alert gaze.

''Oh, I could not, I mean, I...'' he did not know what to say, remembering the promise he made to her just last night.

''Surely you're not rejecting my wish?'' Lincoln said, raising a brow. Half serious, half joking.

''No, of course not. I just... uhm...'',

''He's knee are hurting,'' Uther said and put on a polite smile. Lincoln looked at him and then at Arthur with a frown.

''He did not seem to have any trouble when walking over here? I think his knee can manage a dance, it's not like I'm asking him to fight her,'' Lincoln chuckled but became slightly alarmed by the tension and everyone's reactions.

''If that's okay with you, of course,'' he now said and turned to Elena. Elena looked at him and then at Arthur before she cleared her throat.

''If it's okay with Arthur,'' she replied with a soft voice and Arthur turned his gaze up to hers.

''It would be my honor,'' he eventually let out.

''Fantastic, now if you'll excuse me,'' Lincoln said and headed towards Anthony. Arthur looked after Lincoln before he turned to his father that narrowed his eyes on him. They shared a gaze before Arthur reached for Elena's hand. She took his hand and they walked to the dance floor.

''So much for your word, huh?'' Elena said and Arthur looked a little hurt at her.

''This was not my planning,'' Arthur mumbled back. She did not respond to that. They danced the song out and even though she refused to look at him, he wished for this moment to never end. The people danced with them, and to his surprise – they did not seem to react to them dancing together. He figured it must be that they just except two royal people to dance the second dance, and Lincoln and Anthony were seen clearly talking about something about the alliance.

The dance was over and Arthur didn't get the chance to say a word before she tore herself away from him and headed out of the ballroom. He looked after her, wanting to go after her, but he didn't.

''No, and you still said yes?'' Arthur laughed and Morgana punched his arm, making everyone join in with the laughter. William had just told them about when he had ordered roses for Morgana, but his handwriting was so bad that the maids thought he ordered rice for Morgana, so she had gotten a bowl of rice instead.

''And she was so grateful about it,'' William laughed and looked at Morgana that putted.

''I didn't want to be rude, you seemed so happy about it,'' she smiled and he took her hand before placing a kiss on top of it. Arthur looked at them and felt a warmth washed over him, he was really happy for her.

''How did you find out-,'' Arthur started to say when someone bumped into him and he stumbled lightly. Morgana gasped as Merlin took Arthur's arm in reflex so he would not fall. But Arthur was quick to regain his balance by placing one foot in front of him.

''I'm so sorry!'' he heard Elena say as he turned to see who it was. He was about to tell her to watch where she was going when he saw her scared face, she looked at him and then back at the crowd, a movement that looked like someone was chasing her.

''Are you okay?'' Arthur frowned but she ignored him. She continued to walk hastily away from them, looking back in the same direction and not really watching where she was going. Bumping into more people than only Arthur. Arthur looked in the direction she was looking in but could not understand who or what that she was so scared of. He watched how she almost stumbled up to the royal table and took her father's side before looking around nervously.

''Oh my, she looks like she's seen a ghost?'' Morgana said and frowned, William that stood by her side nodded as Merlin and Arthur exchanged gazes. Arthur wanted to walk up to her and ask her what had happened, but he felt like it would only make things worse. He decided to let her be since she stood safe beside her father and Henry, but he glanced over at her a couple of times during the evening and eventually he saw that she seemed to have calmed down a little.

''Something's wrong,'' Merlin said and Arthur turned to look at him.

''What do you mean?'' Arthur asked.

''She's not a heavy drinker, she told me that she doesn't like alcohol,'' he said and Arthur had too noticed how she had started to become drunk, but didn't think much of it.

''It's probably just for the ball,'' Arthur said, not believing his own words.

''Perhaps,'' Merlin said in the same tone, making it clear he did not agree with Arthur.

The evening went by and now even guests had started to react to the princess behavior. She had two goblets of wine standing by her that she had emptied herself, and she kept asking for more from the servants.

''Ops,'' she giggled when she dropped her plate of food and people turned to look at her, whispering to each other. She had trouble picking it up. Arthur watched how Henry and Anthony exchanged gazes before Henry walked up to help her. He seemed to try to say something to her but she did not seem to listen.

Arthur noticed how Lincoln now too walked up to her and bent down to speak to her, but again she did not seem to listen. Next thing that happens is that they take Elena, almost lifting her, out through the back of the room so less people would see them. Arthur did not see Elena for the rest of that evening.