Ariadne's POV

"Ardeen!" called Bell. "Father wants you!"

I sighed, setting down the younger girls' toys I had been cleaning up, and went to the grand hall where I found father.

"You called?" I asked.

"Yes, could you help find Eileithyia, I'm afraid she's run off with her books again."

"Yes, I'll go." I curtsied and turned to leave.

"And," he interrupted my escape. "Afterwards, I expect you back here to give a full reporting of your duties as the future queen."

"Of course, father," I replied, and with a wave of his hand I left, going to look in El's common quiet spots.

I couldn't find her in her room, the common room's closet, by her favorite cherry tree, or in her favorite spot in the library. I sighed after checking all the bookshelves next to her favorite spot. Where could she be? Then a thought popped into my head. A spot I had found her two years ago was still unchecked. I ran to the farthest section of the library, where I had found her when she did not want to meet our great aunt that we had all heard many terrible things about.

"El." I sighed in relief when I saw her huddled frame next to piles of books stacked as tall as her sitting figure was. "I've been looking everywhere for you. Come, we need to get you ready-"

"I'm not going."

"But Eileithyia," she grimaced at her full name. "Tonight's been planned just for you and-"

"I don't care," she said, her eyes only on the book in her hands.

I sighed and sat down next to her, to be fair I didn't want the night to end either. It was my last night of freedom.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

Tears welled up in her beautiful hazel eyes and she threw her arms around me.

"It's okay, it's okay," I repeated over and over as I stroked her beautiful hair.

After a minute she calmed down enough to talk and she pulled away. "Last year. My first ball... there was... a boy who didn't win... and he... he said..." El burst into tears again.

"It's alright," I said pulling her against me again. "What did the boy say?"

She wiped her eyes. "He said I was ugly... and he... he threatened me if I didn't pick him this year," El buried her face in my shoulder and I pulled her in tight.

How could someone say that to sweet Eileithyia?

"I'm sure he didn't mean it," I said. "He probably just let his emotions get the better of him. But just in case, I'll tell father, okay?"

El nodded and I helped her stand up and we walked to her room where my other sisters and two maids were waiting to get her ready for tonight. She looked at me and I smiled. She smiled back and then I quietly left and ran to go find father. I looked in the ballroom but he wasn't there. I groaned, he must be in his study. I ran back upstairs and went into his study. "Father, I need to talk to you," I said gasping for air.

"Oh, Ariadne, just the person I needed."

"Father!" I said impatiently. "Someone threatened El at her last ball and it's worrying her. I think we should do something."

He thought for a moment. "I'll have the guards watch her more closely tonight."

"But-"

"That's all I can do," he said exasperated then sat down and motioned for me to sit next to him. "Now, what do you think of Prince Wilson?"

I was confused by his question but tried not to let it show. "He's handsome."

"Is that it?"

"Well," I said carefully. "He was very kind when we first met, but I hardly think I have known him long enough to form a proper opinion of him."

"Alright," he said jotting something down. "You may leave now. Oh, and if you see a man waiting outside, send him in." I raised my eyebrows. "It's royal business."

Sometimes father worked too hard, always having people who could help our kingdom coming in.

I walked out, and there was a man standing there. He looked by the way he was dressed like a King's advisor. "You may go in," I said, to which he bowed then walked in.

I walked back through the upstairs living room and went into the common room to see if El was doing alright, happy that father had forgotten my reporting.

I opened the door and found a flurry of people getting El ready, and I just stared. She was beautiful; dressed in a pink gown with butterfly-like wings that she could put her arms through and I was amazed at its magnificence and simplicity. Then one of the maids put a matching pink butterfly mask on her face, bringing out her best features. Her ball was always a masquerade, as she was named after the childbirth and we couldn't think of anything to do with that. So, we went by her love for books and costumes.

"El, you're breathtaking," I said and hugged her.

She smiled. "You really think so? Will you escort me down?"

I nodded. "But I have to get dressed first."

"Alright," she said and I hurried and got dressed in a simple light orange dress with a black mask and then went and found Eileithyia and we walked down the staircase. As we walked into the ballroom, everyone stared at El and I could tell she was self-conscious with all the attention, but I reassured her and we kept going, passing many masked faces.

"Everyone line up, we're doing the King's dance," Sir Sneddon announced and all the ladies lined up on the right side of Sir Sneddon, with their partners across from them.

I lined up and dragged El along with me. Then the music started and everyone began the King's dance. During this dance you switch partners every few beats, so as to get to know more people; we don't know why it's called the King's dance, but we think it's perhaps for the princes to meet many ladies quickly.

The music ended and Sir Sneddon reminded everyone that the contest would begin in just a few moments. All the men then made sure they still looked good in their costumes and hoped that El would choose their outfit as the best; so they could win a dance with her. I looked at all the different outfits and wondered which one she would choose. I definitely would have picked the man in the pirate costume.

The next song ended and all the men lined up while the ladies went to sit down and talk, admiring and gossiping about all the varied outfits.

El walked passed all the men, taking in every detail. On her third time around, she stopped in front of a man dressed as Apollo, one of the heroes in her books, and asked him to dance. He bowed and escorted her to the center of the ballroom where I watched them dance with surprising grace. I tried to determine if I had met the young man before, but all I could tell was that he was strong and a very good dancer.

I was about to leave, assuming El would be alright when I saw her stumble. I stopped, El was an amazing dancer, and her partner had appeared to be as well. I wondered what could have caused her to lose her footing.

I kept watching, waiting for El to give me a signal to come and help her, but she didn't. I saw him lean in and it looked like he was whispering something to her, but I couldn't see her reaction with her mask on.

It felt like an eternity had passed by when the dance finally ended and I pulled her aside as quickly as I was able. 

Tears were running down her face.

"Are you alright?" I asked and she nodded. "Was it him?" She nodded again and closed her eyes.

"He knew that I liked Apollo. He knew I would pick him."

I pulled El into a hug and decided that that boy would never lay eyes on her again, not if I could help it.

After I calmed her down, I found Lord Tweedle and reluctantly gave El to him, telling him to make sure she didn't leave his sight. Then I went to go find my father, hoping he would listen to me this time.

I walked up to him on his throne and felt a surge of sadness run through me when I saw the empty seat next to him. "Father?"

"Yes, Ariadne?"

"The boy El just danced with, he was the one who threatened her earlier. And I think-"

"Well, it appears they are good friends now. I didn't see anything amiss happen on the floor," he said with a wary eye.

"Father, he made her stumble and-"

"Ariadne, I'm not going to kick a boy out because El lost her footing or for something he said a year ago. Did he say it again?"

"No," I said looking down.

"Did he harm our precious Eileithyia in any way?"

"No," I mumbled.

"Don't mutter, look at me and speak up, dear."

I looked at him. "No, he did not harm her."

"Then I don't see how there's anything I can do."

"But-"

"Excuse me, your highnesses," a voice said from behind me and I turned to see Peter and almost jumped in surprise. "I was wondering if I could speak to you, your Majesty?"

I just stared at Peter, wondering why he was here.

"Of course," my father replied. "Ariadne, if you'll excuse us?"

"Oh! Yes, of course," I said then curtsied, feeling the blood rush up to my face.

I smiled at both of them, then left to go find my little sister.

"Thank you so much for staying with her," I said to Lord Tweedle.

"The pleasure was all mine," he said and bowed.

"Come on El, we must be going," I said grabbing my sister's hand and leading her away.

"Alright," she said and we walked over to the refreshments. I spend a lot of time over here, I thought.

"Did the boy threaten you again?" I asked.

She thought a moment. "Not exactly. He told me that he remembered I liked Apollo from our last encounter and that he was thrilled when I picked him... But his voice," she shivered. "It... It made me feel... scared."

I nodded, thinking of the man in the strange kingdom. "I'm sorry," I said. "But father, he won't-"

"It's alright," she said defiantly. "I'm just going to try and enjoy the rest of the evening."

I smiled at her bravery and gave her a quick hug. "If you need anything, I'm right here," I said and she smiled.

"Thanks," she said then walked off and a man in a rabbit costume soon swept her away. I smiled as I watched her dance to the fast-paced song with a grin on her face.

I started to walk around the spacious room to find a couch, but they were all filled with lords and ladies of all ages. I sighed and decided to take a walk outside.

I stepped outside the door and ran straight into someone's chest. 

"I'm so sorry!"

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