Hi, so here is another story from me, my first for this fandom that i discovered I loved after watching the movie.

I am going to keep this short and sweet-I am including the songs here, I am not great with spelling and grammar and I am planning to make this about twenty chapters long.

There is going to be some swearing-it wouldn't be a story without that from me so if that offends you stop now.

I tend to do a mass update of my stories all at once so please keep that in mind.

Disclaimer-Nothing is mine.

Please Read and Review.

The Slipper And The Lily

Chapter 8-That Was The Night That Was

The Ball-Part 1.

The ball was in full swing.

It was honestly the most magical thing that's he had ever seen in her life. And that was saying something.

Everyone was glittering and shining brightly against the candlelight a thousand and one twinkling jewels. The feast beforehand had been one of the best and they had all gone in behind the Dowager Queen which meant that they were due the best food and they were due the best places. Caroline had helped her get dressed and had twisted her hair back off her face and added little sapphire and diamond butterflies to her hair that had shimmered in the light and little beads. She had always known that she was well liked within the palace but the girls had made sure she was well loved and she loved them in this moment ever so much for it.

The King and Queen had opened up the dancing and then the Prince had gotten out of two dances by asking his mother and then his grandmother to dance and then he was forced to do some actual dancing.

And that had been the moment his smile had dimmed somewhat.

Lili stood there in the background in her new gown with her hair down her back and watched and waited. Granted she was not expecting to dance but she was watching and soaking it all up. John had parked himself right next to Caroline who she suspected was not going to move unless she was forced to. This was one of those rare few times that they could look at each other with naked adoration in their eyes and nobody would be able to criticize. This was a ball, half of the ladies in waiting were going to be in love with wildly unsuitable people by the time the night was out.

She watched and then as she saw Flynn come in she frowned. He was almost drunk. She did not know what had happened to him, this flirtation game that he had been on had cooled definitely but she suspected that it was more on her part than his. She didn't like him anymore she had decided but she was not going to let the opportunity go to pass by so she distracted herself by ducking around Caroline and making her way around the dancefloor to see him.

"Oh it's you" he said smiling at her.

"Yes" she said bitterly. "Me. Are you drunk?"

"Very"

"What's wrong?"

"My father has betrothed me to someone. So I guess this has to end"

She frowned.

"Oh"

"What?" he asked pressing himself closer to her in a way that had her stepping backwards. "Not interested anymore are you? Not surprising. As my father said servants use men like me to get upwards"

"I can assure you" she said coldly. "I have no interest in you whatsoever—let go!"

She had turned and he had reached out and grabbed her arm and yanked her back and…

"Problem?" came a cool voice.

Oh God.

She turned back around and nearly fainted.

It was her brother, the Prince and the Duke of Montague all standing side by side all looking slightly murderous.

Oh God.

Flynn let her go and she rebounded straight into John who was smiling like a shark. The Prince had one hand on John's shoulder as if he was making sure that he was staying right where he was. For a second the three of them stared at the boy and then.

"No…Sire" he said Sire in the way one might sneer and then he was gone.

Lili wanted TO DIE.

"What a very rude fellow" the Duke of Montague said finally. "Edward do you think—"

"A nice spell away from court is fitting? Indeed. God knows father owes me something for this charade he may as well give it to me—"

"Sire really there is nothing—"

"Lili if you say there is nothing wrong I will scream" John said with slightly gritted teeth. "I nearly ran the little shit through then—"

"I ruined—"

"Nothing" the Prince said. "You ruined nothing, actually I wish he had started something, I've been looking for a fight all night. Come on Lilibet let me take you on the floor"

Lili blinked.

"Sire?"

"Oh don't look like that, I reckon if anyone's earnt a dance tonight it will be you"

"Oh I do agree Cousin! John do you mind if I grab the next one?"

"Eh…fine but I can have a third?"

Lilianna blinked.

And then she smiled.

"You really are the best sometimes you know" she said to the Prince who smiled with an almost forlorn look on his face as he took her onto the dance floor in the dress he had bought her.

"I know" he said and this time when they went into the dance she was rather glad to see him smile.

"John?"

"Ma'am"

"Take me onto the floor"

Gently helping the older woman up he propelled the Dowager Queen onto the floor and they began the stately dance. It was nice and easy with her because she didn't try to speak to him about anything other than his sister.

"I suppose the first heartbreak is always the hardest" she said finally.

"Ma'am?"

"Good Lord boy I have eyes, she's young enough to get her heart broken and smart enough to know that it doesn't mean anything. You did a very good job. Your parents would be proud"

It was the gentle reminder of his parents that found him close to tears. The Dowager Queen tsked at him.

"Not on the dancefloor boy"

"Sorry Ma'am"

There was a pause and then.

"Just she's growing up and they should be here to see it"

There was a pause as the older woman who too had known love and loss in equal measure said nothing. She watched him for a second and then.

"I know son" she said finally. "I know."

There was another pause and then.

"The Prince was kind to take her out on the dancefloor, the Duke too"

Liliana was now dancing with the Duke of Montague and she was laughing at what he said. The Duke on the other hand was grinning at everyone and anyone who looked twice at him.

"Oh please. I imagine he will take her onto the dancefloor eight or nine times if only to break up the tedium. I imagine by tonight half of the Privy Council might think of your sister as the new Queen"

He knew it could never happen of course but he thought about it and then shuddered. The Dowager Queen laughed and tapped him on the shoulder as the dance ended and he took her back to the throne and finally with a bow managed to get his sister onto the dance floor.

"Sorry about Flynn" he said finally. "I know he was…special…"

Lili sighed and then looked up at him.

"Not really" she said in a mournful voice. "I suppose it did not feel right"

"What does that mean?" he asked.

Lili looked at him and then.

"The way you speak about Caroline and the way you speak about Mother and Father. That to me is true love. And that didn't feel like true love. He didn't make me feel like that, to be honest I am just rather glad that is' all over with"

John didn't know what to say to that.

"I guess your growing up huh?" he said as he twirled her out and then brought her back to him and she smiled at him.

"Sorry John, I'll try not to do it again"

There was a pause and then.

"Oh very funny"

She smiled and then dance ended. She curtsied and he curtsied back and they headed back up to the dais when the Dowager Queen spoke clearly with that air of mystery or general fuckery when she knew that she could mould the world to her fingertips and that her son or the Lord Chamberlain who was arguably more powerful than her son, if she was allowed.

"John?"

"Ma'am?"

"Would you mind taking Caroline onto the dance floor. Lili can attend me now and she should get some fun out of tonight"

It was said carefully. Nobody would know but the old woman, the girl, him and Caroline what it meant for her to offer him this chance. John bowed his head and then turned and took Caroline onto the dance floor without a second word. She beamed at him and finally…finally they were allowed to dance.

Lilianna watched her brother for a second and then she tilted her head to the side so that only the Dowager Queen could hear.

"That was awfully nice of you Ma'am"

The Dowager Queen watched her for a second and then.

"Emily can look after me" she said softly. "Go and enjoy yourself."

Lili watched her for a second and then…

"Life my dear girl is too short not to enjoy it, so go and do that"

Lilianna watched her for another second and then she nodded.

In truth she had only intended to go and stand by the window to get some cool air when a hand reached out and pulled her backwards and she opened her mouth only to see Glenn there.

"What are you doing?" she asked. "If you get caught your going to be in so much trouble!"

"I don't care" he said urgently. He had changed into what looked like nice pants and a clean shirt and a good jacket but it was clear that he was poor and also clear that he could not go into the ballroom.

"I wanted to see you…you look…" he struggled to find the words and she stared at him and he stared back and then he swallowed as if he was being forced to speak.

"You are stunning" he said quietly. "You look…you outshine them all tonight"

"No" she said easily. "It's just the dress"

"No" he said quietly. "Its not just the dress. It's you…your…bewitching, enchanting…everything"

She stared at him.

"I don't—"

"Look I overheard that shit Flynn…I wanted to see if you were alright…he was saying some dreadful stuff before and I…"

"He's gone" she said quickly. "He's…he didn't frighten me. I had the Prince and the Duke and John at my side quicker than he could blink and he knew that he was outnumbered. Then I had them all take me onto the dance floor and—"

"Thank God" he said. "You can come out of this with your reputation intact" he said and Lili nodded. She didn't really care about her reputation but as John was constantly saying it was the only thing he could give her for all his hard work.

Or whatever that meant.

"I just…I wanted to see you" he said finally. "Check that you were alright…check…" he pulled away suddenly biting his lip. "Doesn't matter now though does it" he said and he looked at her a little desperately.

"Where there is one Flynn there is bound to be another. Doesn't matter how I feel—"

"How do you feel?" she asked interrupting this conversation that was rapidly appearing one sided. It was as if he knew that he had to speak but didn't know how to stop himself and her heart was beating rapidly in her chest in the way it always did around Glenn and in the way that she could not understand.

But then just as he opened his mouth Major Domo pounded his stick onto the floor and everyone went silent. She went to the door dithering at the widow and she dragged Glenn with her even though he stuck behind her in some attempt to remain hidden from what was taking place within the palace walls.

"Your Majesties, Your Royal Highnesses" the old man intoned in his thunderous voice. "My Lords, Ladies and Gentlemen. May I present, the Princess Inconito"

And just like that Lilianna knew as if by magic, that the world she had existed in was never, ever going to be the same.

And there you go, I hope you enjoy

Next Chapter-The Ball. Part 2.