The night was indeed getting later, and when they had gotten inside, the king called Alek over. "Attention ladies and gentlemen, the prince shall now choose his lucky guest to join him in the final dance!" The king shouts joyously. Alek whispers to his father. "Oh! This is great news! He has already chosen his lady!" Alek motions for monarch to join him.

She looks confused and before she can, someone grabs her wrist and yanks her back, covering her mouth so she couldn't scream.
Alek can't find her anywhere.

Alek's smile falls. "My dear monarch...?" He stares at where she just was. "I-I suppose she... I suppose she left." The king's smile faults. "Well then... second choice!" Alek sighs. He returns to his previous cold emotional state. "Elise, Florist of Alcor." He did not want to dance anymore. But he must.

L: (My aleky boi and my darling Bridgette)

L: (And now he dances with that flower girl)

L: (I don't know if I should keep going)

L: (Me snuffulupagus accepts your apology)

A: (NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO)

Monarch shakes her head and her words are muffled as Timber yanks her away from the ball. "Now that you are away my dear~" he pulls her against him and whispers against her ear, "You will stay silent... you wouldn't want to alert your prince now..." she gulps and nods faintly, her heart racing with fear. Timber chuckles "Good girl~" he slowly removes his hand from her mouth and there is a slight silence before she calls out. "ALE-!" Timber covers her mouth again and growls, her yelp filling the castle.

Alek hears, stopping the dance. Others had started dancing, so no one would notice he left. He bows and apologizes to the girl before running off to where he heard the voice, his sword already strapped to his waist.

L: (Alek would never go to a ball without his sword after last time)

A: (And I thought you didn't take swords to balls xD)

Timber is hidding with monarch tightly in his arms, her breathing quick and her mouth covered, her eyes wide with fear. Timber glances at Alek from his hiding spot and curses under his breath. He whispers to Monarch, his lips pressed against her "My dear you shall accompany me for the last dance... you will keep your mouth shut and dance with me..." he chuckles and she trembles "I'm sure you understand..." he pulls her back to the ball, and pulls her into dancing position.

Alek shakes his head. "I could have sworn I heard... no she's not..." Alek bites his cheek, seeming confused. "No, it couldn't be." He said, walking back in and standing by the musicians, watching the last dance, still disappointed.

Monarch dances with Timber, her dancing now fearful and her expression worried. Timber simply smiles "Clever trick... but I recognize your father's necklace." He nods to the small white orb that is Monarchs necklace, a tiny silver phoenix wrapped around it. She gulps and stays silent.

Alek catches a glimpse of Monarch in the crowd, the spinning people hiding her from view. "Is she still here?"

She continues and he holds her closer to him. He whispers in her ear "After this.... you're mine..." he smirks and she whimpers softly.

Alek slips back into the dance, hoping to find the mysterious girl again.

He finds her dancing the last dance with that stranger from before.

Alek studies the stranger, skillfully switching partners in a way that seemed natural. He tries to get closer.

Timber dances with much skill, yet Monarch seems to be afraid.

Alek switches again, now close enough to see the fear in her movements. He narrows his eyes through the mask. Alek skillfully takes his partner, waltzing over (quite literally). He waits a moment until the timing is right and moves, switching the partners while following the dance pattern. He winks as he pulls Monarch away.

Timber growls as she is pulled from him and Monarch looks up at Alek. She gasps and smiles. "Oh my prince thank you!" 

Alek doesn't look at her for a moment, his eyes on the stranger. He looks down at her with a straight face. "Who was that man?"

L: (He's got a sneaking suspicion)

"N..." she hesitates and looks away "It was no one." She pulls away from him and curtsys "Thank you for the dance, my Lord, but I really must be going now."

"Please allow me to escort you out of the castle, dear Monarch..." his mind was set, curious about Timber's whereabouts. It didn't help that this Monarch reminded him of Bridgette.

"..." she sighs and shakes her head, looking away "You must dance with your queen before the ball ends... and I must leave. So this is goodbye."

"I had chosen you my, dear monarch." Alek holds lightly to her, a smile twitching on the corners of his mouth. "Is there any way I can get you to stay?"

Her eyes widen and she stares into his. "... You... you choose me to be your queen...?" She shakes her head as if snapping from a daze. She tries to pull away from him, but her hesitant movements tell him she doesnt want him to let her go. "I-im sorry my Lord, but I can not be your queen. You only just met me!"

"I've only just met all of these women." The prince smiles lightly. "You're my favorite."

Her cheek burn pink and she shakes her head "My Lord, I can not. The kingdom would never approve, no one would! A-and you can't possibly have me as your favorite." Her eyes dart behind him and she spots Timber slipping through the crowd, his eyes fixed on her. She turns pale and quickly pulls away from Alek, running out of the castle as fast as she can.

Alek noticed her terrified change and he turns to where she was looking, he sees the man from before. He steps in front of him, crossing his arms. "Excuse me sir, if you don't mind I'm going to ask you a few things."

The man growls and looks after Monarch "Not now your highness," he shoves past Alek and continues his stride after the girl.

Alek studies the man. He felt uneasy and didn't trust him following her. He waited until the man had gone quite a bit away before following.

The man stops outside, looking around for the girl who had disappeared. He growls and let's out a raged shout. He turns and walks back to the ball, looking livid.

 Alek turns quickly to someone next to him and pretended to have been talking to them. The person was confused but played along.

A: (Person: ... it's the kings son sooooo score)

L: (Lol really though)

Timber passes them without notice and back into the ball.

Alek notices from the corner of his eye. He bows to the person. "Thank you. You're quite the good improviser!" He winks and moves to where the man had been standing, searching for any sign of the girl.

She is no where to be found.

*******

A/N: HEHEHE TIMBER ALWAYS GETS HIS PRIZE! Oh! And another song

Within You - David Bowie

(Lol it's Timber) 

L/N: Or even better, 

I found- Amber Run

(Lol kill me, It's Timber)