Disclaimer: Are any characters you recognize mine? No. The plot? All mine! Yay!

A/N- Very fluffy. You were warned.

He knew it was his chance to impress her.

He would come gallantly to her side, asking for the first dance. She would accept, of course, and they would dance away the night, swaying with the beat. Nearing the midnight hour she would confess her un-dying love for him, and him to her. He would complement her dress, her brown curls, the stormy seas in her eyes: anything!

At least, that was the way Perin the clerk saw things about the ball celebrating Midwinter the very next evening. And the lady on his arms would be the very own Wildmage.

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The Wildmage, more commonly known as Daine, was tired. The entire past week she had thrust herself in the preparation of Midwinter, for lack of anything else to do. The toll of her help had taken her place on her body. Alanna and Thayet, for her help, had decided to reward her with their taste in clothes. Both women had helped Daine pick out certain things she wanted in her dress. They both had said that every spare moment they had they would help Daine get ready with more gleam in their eyes than necessary. Apparently, they thought they owed Daine for something. Probably for saving their lives numerous times, Daine had decided.

She was leaning against the wall, waiting for Thayet to come back with her dress. They had it specially made by Kuri Tailor, the woman who had showed Daine her first pair of breeches. Alanna was sitting in a chair nearby, half asleep, with her short hair all over her face. A sudden opening of the door startled her awake. Alanna's fiery red hair went tucked behind her ears.

A woman came in, and a very beautiful one at that. With her midnight hair and gleaming eyes, she was the picture of perfect feminine beauty. Alanna glared at her for interrupting her sleep.

Thayet walked over to Daine, and dumped a rather large package into her hands. Daine read her mind perfectly.

Daine sighed. She walked behind a screen, and undid the many strings. In the end, she took out an emerald dress. It was low cut, with gold embroidery at every seam and edge. It was long enough so that her ankles would not be seen. Daine was surprised however, to see that the sleeves went only up to her elbows.

Probably for movement, she thought wryly. Or less cloth to ruin

She stepped out from behind the curtains to a round of applause from Alanna and Thayet. She became suddenly shy, and blushed, to laughter from the older women.

"If you've got it, flaunt it!" Thayet said. If she wasn't the queen, Daine would have whacked her with a pillow. But that didn't stop Alanna.

Thayet yelped, and in retaliation got a pillow and hit Alanna back. Daine, not wanting to miss out, took her own pillow and thrust herself in the quarrel.

Several torn pillows and many wallops later, the women all fell down laughing. They were laughing so hard they didn't even here the door open.

Jon stepped into a room full of feathers from ripped pillows, and three hysterical women laughing their heads off. Alanna was the first to see him.

She stood up, brushed herself off and ever so politely said,

"How may I serve your important Majesty?" And with that, Alanna once again burst out laughing and fell to the ground. Thayet and Daine, noticing Jon, also laughed harder.

The king shook his head, and went back into the hall. He just hoped none of the visiting earls would find them, nearly dying of laughter.

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It was the day of the ball. Daine had spent the last hour with Thayet over her, putting random cosmetics on her hair and face. Her hair was down at her shoulders, loose. It felt nice to be beautiful, something she rarely felt she was.

Thinking of the ball, adrenaline rushed through her. Numair, the previous evening, had asked her to be his escort. Daine happily agreed, seeing as no one else would ever want to go with her. Daine blushed at thinking of Numair. After his first proposal, he hadn't said anything about it at all, which Daine silently thanked him for.

She was lying on her bed, staring at the ceiling. She was counting…what was she counting? She was just going up in numbers in her head, to keep her occupied. She sat up, and went to the window, watching the many snowflakes drift down.

When Alanna politely knocked and told her it was time for the ball, Daine felt like vomiting.

As Alanna led her through the many halls, Daine was nervous. She didn't know why; maybe she might trip and fall or anything!

"It will all be alright," a soft voice whispered into her ear. It was Numair! She was just outside the room where the ball would take place. How did she get here? Alanna either walked very quickly, or Daine had been to preoccupied to notice her surroundings. She was about to say something when all of a sudden, the doors opened and the heralds called them both.

"Smile," Numair whispered. Daine did as she was told.

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Nothing could have prepared her for the unusual amount of clapping that followed. She smiled sweetly and began to descend the staircase. The cheering pursued. She was almost glad when the cheering stopped and other nobles were called.

Daine stood and watched as others began to descend. As she did, she couldn't help but notice a youth slowly edge toward her. He looked familiar, until finally, a named popped into her head. Perin! He had been her first kiss. Was he looking for a dance? She hoped not. Numair was the only man that she had feelings for. Besides, she had already promised Numair the first dance.

After all of the names were introduced, the musicians started up their introduction to the waltz.

Before she could get to Numair, Perin came up to her. He was strutting like a peacock. He bowed low, so low his back was below 180 degrees. His black hair looked like it had run afoul of honey, to slick it back. For some strange reason, Daine wished for her bow to whack him with.

"May I have the first dance, milady?" he asked as if he was sure he would get her.

How could I have ever liked you? She silently asked herself. I'd rather go out with a chicken!

"I'm sorry, I already am taken for the first dance. I am free for the second however," she said, trying to sound as cocky as she could. Whatever it took to get him away from her, she would try it!

He looked about to spontaneously-combust until he recovered and said,

"Of course, milady."

Daine tried to walk away as fast as she could to Numair to get away from Perin.

"What was that about?" Numair asked, taking her hand and leading her onto the floor. "Already double-timing me?"

"Of course not! He wanted the first dance."

"What!"

"Yes! And he wasn't even talking to my face. He was talking to a place lower than my chin!"

Numair raised his eyebrows.

"I can turn him into a tree," he said, actually with truth in his voice.

"I'm not sure Thayet would be too happy. I bet leaves clash with the color scheme."

Numair laughed. They danced conservatively for the song, nothing over the line. It was a simple dance, but more fun then she had had in a long time. Eventually the song finished.

Daine was about to start the second dance when a strong hand grasped her shoulder.

"Remember?" Perin asked.

Daine wanted to slap him. Badly. Instead she turned to Numair.

"Excuse me. I seem to have forgotten I promised Perin here the second dance.

"Of course," Numair said dryly. He gave her an if-he-puts-his-hand-anywhere-wear-it's-not-supposed-to-be looks. Daine nodded in response.

Perin put his hand on her waist, a little lower than where Numair had put his, and grasped her hand. They began to dance.

Although onlookers wouldn't really call it dancing. Perin had obviously never danced before, and kept stepping on Daine's feet. He never apologized.

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Watching this, Numair had drunk three glasses of wine. He was starting the fourth when a hand grabbed his elbow, forcing his arm down. It was Alanna. Numair put the glass down. He looked at Alanna.

"He doesn't know about…about you and Daine, does he," she whispered extremely quietly.

All of the wine he had yet to swallow came out of his mouth.

"And you do!"

"Quite obvious really. Either way, it's quite amusing. Jon, Thayet, Buri, Raoul and I have all been watching in amusement."

She pointed over to a corner, where the people she had just listed smiled and waved sweetly at him.

Numair started towards them when Alanna stopped him.

"No killing them please. Especially not decapitation."

Numair, seeing what Alanna was telling him, sighed. If he went over to them, he would only explode and yell at them for not telling him that they all knew.

"Since the entire court knows about you two, with the exception of Peacock over there, you mine as well the make the next dance a good one. Beside, Peacock needs to be informed."

Numair nodded. Finally the music ended. He walked right into Perin the Peacock asked for Daine.

"Of course," Perin said.

"They know," whispered Numair into Daine's ear as the music started up. "The court knows about us. With the exception of the Peacock."

"This will be an interesting dance, most inevitably then," Daine said. Numair chuckled.

One by one the couples dropped out of the floor to watch from the sidelines. Daine turned into an emerald blur as she and Numair danced across the floor at breakneck speeds. Cheering started as soon as they were the only couple left.

When the music stopped, Numair threw Daine into the lowest dip anyone there had ever seen in a long time, went down with her and planted his lips on hers.

The cheering erupted into a roar.

Daine stood up with Numair and curtsied. Perin stood with his jaw wide open. Daine shrugged when she caught his eye. She noticed a girl, who also looked like a peacock come up to Perin. She stood beside him, and Daine noticed how he took her hand.

Looks like everybody is happy, Daine thought. That's strange. That only happens in books.

Maybe I was wrong.

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A/N- How was it? Please review.