Clara smoothed out the skirt of her blue gown. Straightening the ceremonial red and white sash that draped from her right shoulder, she pinned a couple of medals and a Sapphire broch on. With her blue gown and her sash, she realised that she completed the colours of the French flag. 

   Someone knocked on her door.

  "Come in!" Clara called out.

 The door opened and her mother, both her older brothers and AJ entered the room. 

    "Oh my! My little darling is so grown up!" Queen Maria Amalia teared up as she engulfed her daughter in a hug, being careful not to crumple either of their gowns.

   "Mother, she grew up ages ago." Frédéric laughed. 

  "Really? I still see a girl that ran around the halls and drove mother mad!" Sébastien grinned.

    "Oh leave off! It's her birthday, leave your teasing for another day." AJ chastised, swatting both the princes on their arms before taking her turn in giving Clara a hug. "Happy 24th birthday Clara!" AJ greeted her.

   "Thank you AJ! I love your gown!" Clara smiled.

  "Thank you, I love yours too!" AJ smiled back. 

     "All right then, guests are already gathering in the ballroom. There are a few yet to arrive, but there is no harm in being fashionably late. Sébastien, you will escort your sister into the ballroom. Frédéric, do you mind escorting Mademoiselle AJ? Perfect! Adélaïde and Antoine are already in the ballroom, and you father is already waiting for us. Let's get going." Queen Maria Amalia said, leading the way down to the ballroom.

   "Happy birthday sister," Sébastien whispered to Clara as she took his offered hand, "feels like only yesterday when you attended your first ball." 

  "Thank you, Sebby." Clara smiled.

 "There you are! Ah, my daughter is growing up so fast!" King Louis Philippe hugged his daughter quickly before they entered the ballroom. They stood at the top of the staircase as some announced that they had arrived. 

  "Presenting, His Majesty, King Louis Philippe, his wife the Queen Maria Amalia! Crown Prince Frédéric, Prince Sébastien, Mademoiselle AJ Richardson,  and the belle of the evening, Her Royal Highness, Princess Clara Francesca Isabelle!" 

    They descended the stairs, smiling and waving at the guests who clapped.

   Clara then noticed a man with black hair looking with a shocked and somewhat awe filled expression at AJ. But before she could question it, he disappeared into the crowd. 

   "If you'll excuse me, sister, I'm just going to see my friends. If you need to escape from anything, make the excuse to come find me." Sébastien whispered.

  "Of course, thanks. Have fun!" Clara waved as her brother weaved his way through the crowds.

 "Your mother has dragged Frédéric off to get acquainted with some Viscountess or something of the sort." AJ said.

   "I guess it's just us then." Clara laughed. 

  "So, how does it feel to be 24?" AJ asked as they strolled around the ballroom.

 "Well, no different from being 23! But... well, what can I say." Clara giggled.

    "That's how I feel on my birthdays. You hardly feel any different from the previous age!" AJ chuckled.

   "Yeah, that's true." Clara nodded, agreeing. 

  "Presenting, the Earl Eduard Enjolras, his wife, the Countess Aurelia Enjolras, and their two children, the Lord Marcelin Julien Enjolras and the Lady Kaylin Megan Enjolras." The Herald announced.

   Clara and AJ turned towards the staircase.

 "It can't be!" Clara gasped in surprise, staring at the blonde man tugging and scowling at the cuffs of his jacket sleeves. The man, apparently Marcelin Enjolras, was still wearing a red jacket, but it was a lot fancier than the jacket she had previously seen him wear. 

   "What can't be?" AJ turned to look at her in confusion, "Clara what is it? What's wrong?" 

  "AJ, it's him. He's the one I bumped into and who rescued me twice!" Clara whispered, nodding towards the staircase.

   AJ looked again. Realisation crossed her mind and she too gasped.

  "No way! You know who that is, don't you?" AJ turned to look at Clara again.

  "No, I don't. The name was on the list of friends Sébastien invited to the ball. And his family name was on the original list. And to be fair, I never asked him for his name or gave him mine whenever we met! How was I supposed to know!" Clara was panicking, "AJ! If he recognises me -"

  "Which I'm sure he will." AJ interjected.

 " - I'm going to be in so much trouble!" Clara groaned.

   "Clara, that's Marcelin Julien Enjolras, pretty much the most suitable and well sought for bachelor in all of Paris!" AJ exclaimed quietly. 

   "Isn't this going to be brilliant..." Clara muttered.

  "Girls always try to flirt with him, but he rejects every one of them and takes no notice at all. He has no interests in women and all he has time for is -" AJ paused here and looked around before whispering, "is the revolution." 

   Realisation flooded Clara's eyes. "He's the leader, isn't he?" She whispered. 

 "Yeah." AJ nodded.

    "Is there a way to avoid him for the evening?" Clara asked.

   "I hardly doubt it. Your mother might have other plans..." AJ grinned, though sympathetically, "And he's friends with Sébastien."

  "How lovely..." Clara sighed.

  "Clara darling! I want you to meet Duke Bertrand, quickly dear!" Queen Maria Amalia suddenly appeared, gesturing for her daughter to follow her.

   "Do you want me to come with you?" AJ asked.

  "No, it's fine. I'll catch up with you later." Clara smiled.

  "I'll be with Sébastien and others if you need to us." AJ said before she disappeared among the guests.

  Queen Maria Amalia introduced Clara to a man who was at least 30 or over. "Duke Bertrand, this is my daughter as you know, Princess Clara. Darling, this is Duke Bertrand." She said before leaving.

   "Bonjour, monsieur." Clara gave a little curtsy. 

 "Bonjour, your highness. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance." The duke bowed.

   "And mine yours." Clara said politely, though through slightly gritted teeth. 

 "Your gown is quite lovely, your highness. But then again, nothing but the best for a princess." The duke said, smiling.

   Clara felt uncomfortable but she nodded and thanked him anyway.

 "I was wondering if I could call on you sometime?" The duke cut straight to the point.

    Clara was startled and she struggled to come up with an answer. "Perhaps you should ask my mother that question." She eventually said, "Now if you don't mind, I need to find my brother." She hurriedly excused herself, walking away from him quickly.

   She eventually found Sébastien with his friends, who she vaguely recognised from the rally, and AJ as well as the lady she met after the rally, Kaylin. Thankfully, Marcelin Enjolras was nowhere to be seen. 

   "Sébastien! There you are, I've been looking for you." Clara said as she came up to them.

  "Oh! Guys, this is my sister Clara. Clara these are my friends, Courfeyrac, Combeferre, Grantaire, Marius, Joly, Prouvaire, Feuilly, Bahorel, Bossuet, and Kaylin." Sébastien introduced them.

   "Pleasure to meet you all." Clara smiled. She looked at Kaylin and immediately knew that she was recognised.

  "It's you," Kaylin said slowly and quietly so that they weren't overheard, "the girl that was at the rally and who was with my brother afterwards." 

   "What?!" Sébastien looked at his sister in shock.

  Clara flushed a shade of pink. "It's a long story." Though to who she was saying it to was unknown.

   "You were at a rally?!" Sébastien hissed quietly. 

  "I wasn't exactly planning on going to one! I didn't realise it was a rally until I stayed to listen to a bit of it, then... I couldn't leave." Clara hissed back, equally as quiet, "I didn't tell anyone except AJ."

   "Clara -" Sébastien started but was cut off.

  "Look, you know where I stand. I've told you before. I agree with everything that was said at that rally!" Clara held her brother's gaze, not backing down.

  Sébastien looked at her before sighing. "You are impossible!" He exclaimed, but he was smiling. 

   "Hey Sébastien, man, don't mean to interrupt, but some of us would like some champagne." Grantaire grinned.

   Sébastien rolled his eyes. "Of course you do. Fine, come on, I'll show you." He lead the way as most of his friend group followed him. Combeferre, Courfeyrac, Marius, AJ and Kaylin remaining.

  "To introduce myself properly, I'm Kaylin, Kaylin Enjolras. Happy Birthday by the way." Kaylin stuck her hand out.

  "Clara. And thank you." Clara smiled as they shook hands.

 "Would you care to dance?" 

    They both looked towards Courfeyrac who had extended his hands to AJ.

  Blushing, and not trusting her voice, AJ nodded and accepted his hand as they made their way onto the dance floor.

  Clara leaned slightly towards Kaylin and asked, "Is that the boy that -"

"- AJ has a crush on? Yup! I've been trying to get her to tell him how she feels, but no luck." Kaylin sighed, but brightened up, "They're cute together aren't they?!" 

   "I agree!" Clara giggled.

 On the dance floor, AJ willed herself to try not to trip or step on his feet as they danced.

  "I've never seen you so dressed up before, it suits you in a way. You look , ummm, you look beautiful." Courfeyrac said bashfully.

   AJ blushed again. "Thank you, you don't scrub up too bad yourself." She giggled.

  "Why thank you!" Courfeyrac laughed as he spun her around.

  "Did Enjolras tell you about meeting a lady after the rally five days ago?" AJ asked. 

  Courfeyrac thought for a moment before shaking his head. "No, not really. Kaylin did mention something though. I'm guessing that 'lady' was Princess Clara, am I right?" He replied.

  AJ nodded, "It's a long story. You would not believe it!"

 "Try me." Courfeyrac smiled and she blushed a dark pink.

 'How am I suppose to survive?! I can't stop blushing! I'm going to be as red as can be.' AJ thought before launching into the story. 

  "Wow! Wait, she actually managed to get Enjolras to converse with her?" Courfeyrac asked after AJ finished.

  "Yup! I'm just as surprised as you are!" AJ said.

  "And she didn't know who he was, except that he was a revolutionary, until tonight?" Courfeyrac said.

   "No!" AJ laughed.

  "Well I must say, I'm impressed!" Courfeyrac laughed, "But anyway, how was Lyon? I never managed to ask you about that."

   "Lyon was great! It's nice to get out of Paris once in a while, but it always a happy moment when you return." AJ said.

   "Why, because you'll be seeing me?" Courfeyrac teased.

  AJ blushed. "No, Gavroche!" She laughed, "But also you and the others." 

   Off to the side, Grantaire was sipping his champagne with a sly grin on his face. He was watching Courfeyrac and AJ dancing, laughing, giggling and a blush now and then. "Ooooohh! Courf's getting it now!" He grinned gleefully before he rushed to tell the others.

   "Guys, guys, they're flirting!" Grantaire announced, as he finally found them. 

 "Who's flirting?" Marius asked.

  "Courfeyrac and AJ! Look!" Grantaire exclaimed gesturing to the dance floor.

   And indeed, they were. AJ's face was as red as the jacket that Enjolras wears, and she and Courfeyrac were both laughing.

   "Awww!" Clara gushed.

  "Courf's so going to get teased!" Kaylin grinned.

  "A dance, mademoiselle?" Combeferre asked, offering his hand to her.

   "Why thank you, kind monsieur!" Kaylin laughed, taking his hand.

  Clara watched them both carefully as they took to the floor. A knowing smile spread across her face. 

   "What are you smiling about?" Grantaire asked, then corrected himself, "Pardon me, I meant, may I ask what has brought a smile to your face, your highness?"

    Clara laughed, "Oh! Please, no need for formalities. I like casualness and no titles." She explained.

  "Well then, what are you smiling about?" Grantaire questioned once again, nodding that he understood.

  "Oh, well... I've know AJ for a long time. She's told me of her crush, seeing her now... I'm just starting to plan how to set them up." Clara smiled, "And, I haven't known Kaylin for long, but I know something's up." 

  "If there is something up between Kaylin and Combeferre, don't mention it to her brother. He's very overprotective of his sister." Grantaire chuckled.

   "I won't." Clara promise, "It's not as if I plan on trying to talk to him anytime soon... now that I know who he is." 

  "Has something happened?" Grantaire asked.

 "Maybe..." Clara sighed, "It's a long story." She groaned.

    "Well, right now, I have all the time in the world." Grantaire downed his glass of chamagne, placed the empty glass on the tray of a passing servant and took another glass.

   "Well, two weeks ago. I snuck out of the palace and went into the city on my own. I being a princess, have hardly seen the world outside these palace walls. I was so taken up by what was going on around me in the streets, I didn't see where I was going and I bumped into someone. A man with curly blonde hair and a red jacket. I wasn't able to see his face or apologise because he continued on. Two days later, I saw him again. I was out giving food to the less fortunate and he was doing the same. I then got into a spot of trouble and he rescued me. Then five days ago, I came across the rally, he was speaking and I recognised him. The police then came and it was chaotic. Again, he saved me. We got talking once we were in a quieter street and he asked me about my views on the king. I told him truthfully what I thought, saying I agreed that the king wasn't doing anything to help his people and the country. Either times, I never got his name, or him mine. I never thought that I would ever see him here." Clara explained quietly so not to be heard.

   "Oh wow..." Grantaire's eyes were wide, "Wait, so he actually had a conversation with you?" 

  Clara nodded.

    "Mademoiselle, you are something else! Enjolras never takes any notice of women. The only ones he speaks to are his mother, his sister, AJ and Madame Houcheloupe. That's it. And you, a stranger to him at the time, managed to get him to talk to you? I don't know how you did it, but I am impressed!" Grantaire downed his champagne. 

  Clara laughed, "Why thank you, monsieur." 

 "No need for formalities when it comes to us lads." Grantaire told her.

    "Okay." Clara nodded.

    "If you'll excuse me, I'm going to get another glass and one of those dainty cakes." Grantaire bowed before leaving.

  Clara smiled as she stood to the side watching her best friend and her new friends dancing and chatting.

   "I believe we have met before, have we not, your highness?" A voice, one she knew well to recognise, said.

   Turning, Clara saw him. Marcelin Enjolras.

  "I believe we have, your grace." Clara did a little curtsy.

  Enjolras looked at her for a moment before he said, "May we converse somewhere more... private." He asked, looking around the busy ballroom.

   "Of course." Clara nodded politely, "We can go out onto the balcony where we can take stairs down to the garden." She said. Taking two glasses of champagne, she offered him one.

   He took it, nodding his thanks.

 Clara led the way out onto the balcony surrounding the ballroom, and then finally into the gardens. 

~|---|~*~|---|~

    There you are! The ball!!! Here's a picture of Clara's sash just in case: 

  But anyway, I hope you all enjoyed reading it and I'll see you all in the next chapter!! :) :) 

 Claire xxx ⚜