Caisleán Caladh, Day of the Spring Equinox Ball…

Karina awoke at almost noon to the sounds of Spring, the birdsong drawing her to the window seat of her chamber. The scent of flowers was heavy in the air and for a few long moments, she sat and drank in the atmosphere.

Well, today is the day.

The day of the Ball, yes. But also the day that Randel would know who she really was. She'd spent the last couple of days trying to figure out how she was going to keep that knowledge from him while still attending the Ball. There was no way. The moment he saw her standing next to her mother, the game would be up. He'd see the resemblance instantly. It was a miracle that he hadn't already, and the only reason she could think of for that was because her mother was busy with preparations for the Ball and hadn't spent much time in Randel's company lately.

Thankfully, the relatively informal etiquette here in Caladh meant that she wouldn't be officially announced or anything when she came into the ballroom. She could slip in without much fanfare. She was hoping to get him a little more firmly bound to her before he discovered her identity. She figured they'd have a bit of a laugh over it.

This past week had been equal parts exciting and terrifying. Exciting, because she'd never met someone so rakishly charming in her entire life, and she was hard pressed not to just give in to the overwhelming desire to let him have her and let the chips fall where they may. Terrifying, because she knew he wasn't really aware of their heart-bond, much less that he was heart-bonded to his King's daughter, and every moment that she spent with him was fraught with the danger that someone would call her by name and expose her true identity.

She didn't have much more time to contemplate it before a bevy of girls came bursting into her chamber, all excited about tonight's celebration. They were a mix of ladies from all over the Kingdom, most from families that lived here in Caladh, but some as far away as Kashandale and Lythia. Her favorite was Erynne, a sweet, shy girl with light brown hair and blue eyes. She had high hopes of finding a husband this season and had come to serve Karina as lady in waiting a couple of months ago for that purpose.

Then there was Beatrix. She was pretty enough, with wavy blonde hair and dark blue eyes, but she was also vain, self-important, and spiteful. Karina had to intervene more than once when Beatrix turned her vitriol on Erynne. She thought that all the world was waiting breathlessly to hear her opinion on a wide range of subjects, and it was all Karina could do to remain polite.

Shaking off her thoughts, she joined the girls heading to the family solar for lunch. Mom and Lily were in the ballroom supervising the finishing touches on the preparations. Helena was off with Tremane somewhere. Dad and Jacen had made themselves scarce so that the girls could all get ready for the ball together (but in reality, to escape the sound of feminine giggling that permeated any room this bunch was in). Already, the Elven hairdresser was setting up in preparation and other servants were bringing in the girls' gowns. For the next few hours, they would work their magic to turn this group of women into creatures of mythological beauty.

Karina only hoped that it was enough. She'd imagined the events of tonight a thousand different ways but couldn't shake the feeling of dread she had. She simply must look so beautiful that Randel would overlook her failure to disclose to him who she really was. Yes, by tomorrow morning they would be laughing about it.

But the dread just wouldn't go away.


The ball was in full swing, couples dancing in the center of the room, onlookers standing aside and watching the dancing or making conversation. Jareth took Sarah out on the floor for a spin, their faces alight with love and happiness. Garthan and Lily swept by him, laughing and chatting as they danced. Randel shook his head… once upon a time Garthan hated dancing. He still did, but he tolerated it for his wife. All these years of marriage had smoothed out his dance moves at least.

He saw Toby and Aurelet off to the side, speaking to another Othánas couple. Anduin was over by the punch bowl, getting a drink. He looked around for Jacen, finding him near the foot of the dais, surrounded by a bevy of beauties. Randel chuckled to himself. Some things never changed, but where Jareth looked at the attention as tedious, Jacen had no such qualms.

Also on the dance floor were Tremane and Helena. It gave him a pang in his heart that he'd missed out on much of their childhoods. Tremane was almost a twin to Garthan at the same age… except Garthan never had the rakish smile that his son was giving the girl in his arms. Helena was a younger version of her namesake, her grandmother Helayne. But Jareth's mother always had a sweet, serene expression. Helena's was a mix of exasperation and affection as she gazed at her partner. He didn't see Jareth's other daughter, in fact hadn't seen her the entire time he was back. His prediction that she would be married before his return seemed to have come true.

He didn't see Kari either, though. He must have made the rounds of the ballroom twice so far. He was about to make a third when he saw a group of girls come in through the double doors. One of them was Kari.

She was wearing a flowing blue gown with an embroidered neckline encrusted with crystal beads. Her hair was drawn softly back from her face to tumble down her back. She was so lovely that the other girls standing with her practically faded from his sight. He'd almost forgotten to breathe.

She and another girl separated from the group and walked over to the punchbowl. They stood and chatted a moment before she'd noticed Anduin, her eyes lighting up with delight. Smiling brightly, she and her companion began to talk to him. The wave of jealousy that swept over him was completely irrational and it drew him up short.

He was about to storm over there when he saw Anduin take her companion's hand and lead her out to the dance floor. Kari looked at them with a sweet smile on her face, sipping at a glass of punch.

So… she wasn't flirting with Anduin, she was matchmaking.

Before he could stop himself, his feet brought him over to Kari. She looked him with a hesitant smile, her eyes wandering over every detail of him. Without a word, he held his hand out to her. She took it, giving the ballroom a quick glance before meeting his gaze again. He led her to the dance floor, sweeping her into a smooth waltz. That perfume of hers drifted up to him, teasing the edge of his senses.

Tonight was the night. If he didn't taste those lips again soon, he thought he might die.


After surreptitiously browbeating Anduin into dancing with Erynne, Kari took her glass of punch and surveyed the room. Almost immediately, she saw Randel moving toward her. For a moment, she panicked, but realized that no one would really think anything of it if the Princess danced with the Lord Martial.

Would they?

She took his hand, allowing him to pull her to the dance floor. She kept an empty, social smile on her face, the kind her mother used and called her "Queen Mask". She figured if anyone noticed her dancing with Randel, they'd give it no thought. Randel looked at her a bit quizzically, it wasn't like her to be so quiet, and he'd noticed.

Karina would never know how she got through the dance without stumbling, she was so nervous. Somehow, she was able to execute the steps with her usual grace, but the anxiety within her was bubbling up with every move. She promised herself that when the dance was over, she'd dash over to the other side of the room, maybe lose herself in the gaggle of girls surrounding Jacen. She needed to think.

All too soon, or perhaps not soon enough, the dance ended. Randel kissed her hand, the electricity from the contact shooting up her arm and into her heart. She gave him a crooked smile and began to turn away when he'd stopped her.

"Shall we go out to the balcony?" he asked, while taking her arm and moving her toward one of the archways. They'd only gone about five feet before Karina came to her senses.

"Randel…"

"Ah… you're not afraid, are you Kari?" he said in low voice near her ear.

"I just don't want to leave the ballroom," she replied.

"But you will."

She stopped walking, giving him a challenging look. He smiled slightly, bending his head to hers. "You have a choice, Kari. Either I kiss you on the balcony or I kiss you right here on the dance floor. Which is it?"

Karina looked up at him in shock and no little panic. He took advantage of the moment by pulling her along until they'd gone outside. The air was warm and redolent with the scent of flowers. He'd pulled her over to the balcony, wrapping his other arm around her waist and resting his hand on her hip. She could feel the heat of him through the silk of her gown.

"Was it necessary to be so high-handed with me?" she asked, trying to project a strength she didn't feel into her voice.

"Oh yes… it was very necessary," he answered huskily. "All I've been able to think about all night is this." He drew her closer, one hand coming up to touch her cheek, then sliding down her neck. He used his thumb to tip her chin up.

Then, she felt his lips press against hers, a warm, beguiling sensation overcoming her in that moment. Her eyes fluttered closed, and she gave a soft, breathy moan when his tongue caressed hers and he'd pressed himself against her. His fingers slid into her hair and his knee slipped between her own.

Lost in a whirlpool of heat and desire, Karina held his shoulders tightly. Before she realized what he was doing, he had lifted her, setting her onto the railing of the balcony. He then pulled her skirt up to her thighs, moving closer and nudging her legs apart. He took her hands and moved them, so she was clutching him around the neck, then placed his hands on her knees, all of this while still kissing her. They slowly swept up the outside of her thighs, pulling her dress with them. When his hands reached her hips, he pulled her into him.

Karina groaned, her head falling back, her limbs turned to liquid. His lips started blazing a trail along her neck. The world spun, the only stability being her arms around Randel and his hands on her. As she drifted on a sea of sensuality, a low masculine voice cut through the haze and had an effect like dousing her with ice cold water.

"What the actual hell?"

Randel jerked away from her, irritated. Karina's eyes focused on Jacen as he stood at the doorway to the ballroom.

Oh no… this is not good.

He was pissed. He stared at Randel in an eerie imitation of their father when he was angry, combined with the green fire of their mother's eyes. Those eyes were narrowed, his mouth a thin line. She could see his fists clenching.

"Jacen?" Randel was clearly puzzled. "What…?"

Jacen took a step forward. The rage coming off him was starting to become visible. Little wisps of red magic began drifting off him.

"What the hell do you think you're doing, Randel?"

Completely confused at this point, Randel looked down at Karina. Something in her face must have shown her fear because he took a step back, pulling her off the balcony railing and turning to face Jacen.

"Look, lad… I'm sorry if you'd thought to lay claim to her first, but clearly, she's where she wants to be," he said to Jacen in an even tone of voice.

The little wisps of magic now became waves. "Lay claim? Are you fucking insane?" Jacen's voice was now halfway between a snarl and a growl.

"Jacen… it's not… I don't…" she tried to interject.

Randel looked at her. "Kari, what the hell is going on here? Why should he care what we do?"

"Why should I care? That's my sister you're snogging, you bastard!" Jacen took a breath, looking at Randel closely for a long moment. She could see the dawning knowledge in Randel's eyes. So could Jacen, "Oh, sweet Goddess… you didn't know."

By now, both Jacen and Randel were looking at her in horror. Randel's expression was one of rage and betrayal. "Kari. Karina. Bog damn it." He looked down for a moment, clenching his jaw. He stayed that way for a moment before meeting her gaze again. "You lied to me."

"I didn't lie. I told you my name. I just didn't tell you all of my name," she said, weakly. This clearly didn't fly with Randel, nor with Jacen from what she could see.

"Now it makes sense," Jacen said, the wrathful magic dissipating. "You didn't recognize her, did you?"

Randel shook his head. "No. And when I asked her name, she only told me 'Kari' and didn't give me a family name." He gave her a venomous look. "Now I know why."

Karina had never felt so small as she did in that moment. Even Jacen was giving her a faintly disgusted look.

"Look, Randel… this doesn't need to go any farther than it already has. Clearly, you had no idea that you were dallying with Princess Karina Danaaru." This was said with an especially vicious emphasis on her name. "I see no reason why my father or anyone else has to know about this, provided you promise to stay away from her in the future."

"Gladly," Randel spat. With one last look of anger directed at Karina, he turned on his heel and walked away.

She stood on the balcony, refusing to meet Jacen's gaze. He stepped closer, putting his hand on her arm. His voice now gentle, he whispered "Karina… what were you thinking?"

She looked up at her brother. "I love him, Jacen. He loves me." At his clearly skeptical expression, she shook her head. "I know you don't believe me. Nobody would. But I promise you it's true. And someday… he'll admit it."

She turned and walked back into the ballroom. Randel was already gone.

AUTHOR'S NOTES:

It should be noted that Jacen's rage had everything to do with the kind of 'fuckboy' Randel is/was, and not because he objected to Karina having a relationship with someone. Had it been anyone else taking Karina to the balcony, he would not have followed (he would however have teased her mercilessly the next morning, as any big brother would).

He knows damn well that Randel isn't looking for a life-mate and doesn't want his sister to be treated as disposable. This was the source of his anger, that Randel would view his sister in the same light as the multitudes of other women he'd messed around with. He didn't count on the fact that Randel hadn't known who Karina really was and that she hadn't told him.

Also, the reason Randel would have run like the devil was behind him if he'd known who Karina was from the beginning has a lot to do with his being a 'player'. Jareth would have had no objection to him marrying her, if that's what he wanted to do, but he WOULD object to his daughter being treated like a throwaway. Randel (as far as he himself is aware) has no intention of bonding with her, and would not want to cause chaos in his brotherhood with Jareth by having a casual fling with his best friend's daughter.