The Last Dance (34)

Here it is at last, the one you've all been waiting for, and I'm sorry to have kept you waiting for so long. This hasn't been edited yet so sorry if there are a lot of mistakes. Just the epilogue left and I have an awesome music video I'm making for it as a Grande finale to the book.

Thanks to all my fans and especially those who've been with me since the beginning and kept me going.

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Cheers,

xo.

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Chapter 34 - Second Chances

{The High Ball, Day 5}

Celia's POV

"I can't go"

I knew immediately from their stares they understood what I was talking about, but felt the need to say it again anyway.

"I can't go to the dance."

I tossed the dress aside, hardly even able to look at it. There was no way I could go.

Not today.

No one said a word to convince me otherwise and I was grateful for that, since my control over breaking down was tenuous at best.

Even without going I could picture the dance, over and over in my head like a nightmare. Behind my eyes the once swirling couples moved with exaggerated slowness to a sombre marriage march, as if mocking me.

From every corner, leering faces gloated behind dark masks; stared with laughing eyes; shook their heads in pity...

And yet those thoughts were nothing compared to the searing image of John etched in my mind the way I pictured him to be; standing tall for the audience, head bent to the floor, eyes averted.

From me.

It would be far too painful seeing him again and knowing there could only be one way this day could end.

With him picking a bride.

One who wasn't me.

And there was no way I could be around when that happened. I wanted to be a hundred miles away, gone to the farthest reaches of our Kingdom, and still it wouldn't be far enough. I'd never be able to escape it.

At least, for a little while I'd be spared knowing the identity of my replacement. I was sure I would hate her no matter who she was just for the fact that she could have him when I couldn't.

Lily and Mira continued moving around the room adjusting clothes, and trying on jewellery.

I tried not to be envious of the fact that just a few nights ago that had been me... until everything went so badly wrong.

Seeing them go through the motions of getting ready I felt oddly detached. After the anger, sadness and hopelessness I'd somehow moved on to numb.

It felt as though I was sitting outside a window, watching everything happen around me as just an observer.

It felt like the first two nights of the ball, so perfect had been only a dream, and the second two, completely the opposite, a nightmare. Either way, none of it had seemed real, not until tonight.

There was nothing dreamlike about what was happening tonight.

Lily headed towards the door, glancing back once with a worried look on her face. I arranged my face into a smile that didn't feel natural and kept it in place until she stepped out the door.

Mira was next, pausing at the doorway as if to say something.

Knowing her the way I did, I could almost see her thoughts forming, and then being tossed aside as she changed her mind about asking.

"What will you do now?"

Good question. What would I do now, now that I couldn't have him, now that we weren't even friends anymore?

I didn't have any answers, but I knew that wasn't what she was asking, even if the implication was there.

"I'll just... stay here."

It seemed as good a plan as any since there was nowhere in the castle or town I could escape notice or talk of the ball.

She nodded once, the same worried look Lily had worn mirrored on her face.

I tried another reassuring smile until she left the room again.

I felt guilty for making them worry, especially since I felt bad enough for all of us combined.

Besides, they knew me well enough to know I would be fine, just fine.

I always was.

At least, I hope so.

Petunia's POV

I twirled around once more, admiring the effect of the scarlet dress as it whirled around my feet.

Now this, this was a dress that simply begged to be noticed.

I was a little disappointed by the higher neckline of the dress and the more modest fit, but the paneled skirt had a long slit up the side that my legs peeked out of when I walked for a touch of appeal.

Actually, the more I thought about it, the better this was; I could go for the more demure innocent look that Johnathan seemed to like so much in that excuse for a Lady.

I took a deep breath and let it out again slowly.

Yesterday hadn't gone quite as planned but today would, it had too. I didn't doubt my ability to snatch the Prince up for myself, but that girl and her friends had gotten in my way one too many times.

Maybe I'd underestimated her appeal just a tad, but I wouldn't be making that mistake again.

Obviously I'd been using the wrong technique to win him over. While the girl didn't match me in looks she still had a certain charm, but there was one thing I had that she most certainly did not.

I had the training to be a Queen.

While she must have spent her childhood waving around a ridiculous stick I was learning how to be the Lady of a realm; someone fit to be the wife of a Prince.

All I had to do was make him realize how much he needed me and it would be all over for the Lady Knight.

I picked up a jewelled handbag from my dresser and slipped the thin gold crown into it, for hope, for luck, for whatever it might inspire, and smiled to myself.

By the end of the night, he would be mine, just like it was obviously meant to be.

John's POV

She wasn't here. Maybe it shouldn't have surprised me, especially considering what was happening tonight, but still...

I hated this. Why did it always have to be so complicated?

I slumped lower in my seat, not even worried about what everyone would think anymore. At least they had gotten the hint to leave me alone. That was one thing to be grateful for.

Perhaps the only thing.

The ballroom seemed especially crowded tonight, presumably because it was the last, so maybe I just hadn't seen her.

It seemed unlikely though since I knew deep down she wouldn't be coming.

Oddly, it didn't make the announcement I'd have to make tonight any easier. If anything it was worse because now it felt like I was going through with this behind her back.

A commotion at the door caught my attention, and I turned my eyes towards the foot of the stairs, grateful for anything that might prove a distraction.

A tall girl in a deep scarlet dress stepped into the hall and for a moment I felt like I had stepped back in time to the night Annabelle had been presented; the first and last time I had attended the High Ball with Celia before this year.

It brought back dozens of memories of that night, none of them good. I had to wonder, if I knew then how I would feel about her now, would I have acted differently? Would it have made a difference?

That night changed everything.

It was the night Cece decided to be a Lady Knight; it was when our routine teasing had turned into a powerful enmity...

There were definitely things I wish I could change about that night, even all these years later. If only I'd been a gentlemen like my father told me and said she looked nice...

The too-big dress actually had looked cute on her, and maybe if I'd said that instead I wouldn't be in this position today.

The girl in red had moved away from the door, smiling around at people and chatting as she went. They seemed to like her well enough and for a moment I found myself curious, until she turned around and I caught sight of her face.

I could feel my mouth drop open in shock; it was Lady Petunia.

I barely recognized her as the girl who'd harassed me so much the last two nights; she was completely transformed.

Although her appearance was significantly altered in a simple dress, it was her sudden change in attitude that surprised me most. Whereas before she'd passed other guests by as if they were beneath her, now she seemed determined to meet them all.

While something still seemed insincere about her, I couldn't help but feel inclined to be polite when she made her way over.

She curtsied quickly and looked up at me with a small smile.

"Prince Johnathan" She murmured.

"Lady Petunia?"

She blushed slightly "I... came to apologize; I realize I may have come on a little strong the last few nights."

"That's... quite all right" I said with a nod.

Mason's POV

This was not good.

I looked over at John talking to that Lady Petunia who'd been on his heels the last two nights.

She seemed normal for once, and even more shocking was that they seemed to be getting along.

I didn't trust her.

No one could just change like that overnight.

But even in the little time I'd known the Prince it was obvious he was trying to distract himself from thinking of Celia.

This may have been easier for him since she was evidently not here. I looked around the room hoping to find her but after the first few times I knew it was pointless.

Not that I could blame the girl, she hadn't wanted to attend in the first place, and now, after all that had happened... well, it was a wonder she'd even come last night.

My thoughts turned back to the same ones I'd been having since yesterday.

There had to be some way to fix this. Anyone, even a near stranger like myself,  could see they were crazy about each other, perfect for each other... they just needed time to see it for themselves.

And that was the key of course.

They needed more time.

Only how could I give it to them? Only once person could, and he seemed even more oblivious than his son about what had been going on the last few days.

I looked over at the King and Queen, sharing a dance off to the side of the dance floor. Having what they did it seemed impossible that they could accept anything less for their son. There had to be something I could do.

I waited until the dance was over and quickly made my way over, bowing when I faced the King. Though I didn't know him as well as John's other friends, I was the only one to overhear his last confrontation with this man.

"Squire Mason, what a pleasant surprise."

"Hello Sire, I was wondering if... I could have a word alone?"

His brow crinkled in confusion but he nodded all the same and I followed him out of the ballroom towards a chamber off to the right.

I wrung my hands together, wondering how to say this, but when he turned to face me, the words blurted out on their own.

"You can't do this to him."

"Do what to whom?" He asked curiously.

"John. You can't force this marriage on him."

The Kings face lit in understanding, and immediately became troubled.

"I know this isn't easy on him but--"

"Isn't easy? This can't go on; can't you see what it's doing to him?"

"I've hardly even seen him the last few nights, he keeps disappearing off somewhere or another" He said with a frown.

I shook my head, half smiling and half grimacing at the memories of the last four nights.

"The Ball this year has probably been the best and worst days of his life." And I would know, I'd been a few steps behind him nearly all the time.

The King brought his fingers to his eyes as if hoping this problem could go away.

Well, that's what I wanted too.

"Johnathan hasn't mentioned any of this to me."

"Well of course not, he needs her to accept on her own terms."

"Her?" His eyebrows knit together in confusion "I'm afraid you've lost me Squire."

"Celia, he's in love with Celia."

I waited impatiently for the shock to pass over him and couldn't help feeling slightly annoyed that John's own father couldn't see what everyone else in his Kingdom had managed to figure out.

"Johnathan... my son... is in love?" He asked in wonder.

I nodded tersely, knowing any second John could do something to make all this effort go to waste.

He was desperate by this point, he must have been to be tolerating Lady Petunia's presence, and desperate men did stupid things.

His face broke into a huge grin. "Well, that's wonderful, I told him all along to snap her up. What's the problem then?"

I looked at him in exasperation. I'd only known Celia for a week and even I could have anticipated her response.

"The problem is its John and Celia" I said simply, as if that explained everything, and judging by his expression it did.

"And what do you propose we do?" He said with a slight smile, as if waiting for his own idea to be confirmed.

"Call the council here, convince them. It's really just postponing the inevitable."

Without any hesitation he called to the doorman, who entered with a deep bow.

"My Lord?"

"Send a message for the council members to meet in the throne room immediately, and tell Sir Dimitri to join me here."

With another bow he was gone.

I shifted restlessly from foot to foot, anxious for a decision to be made.

The King turned back to me with a wry smile.

"Go find John and tell him the good news."

I felt my eyebrows rise in surprise. "But Sire, you haven't even met with the council yet."

He winked conspiratorially. "As you said, I'll convince them, my boy's in love."

With a surge of relief I ran out of the room and turned my steps to the ballroom. I couldn't wait to see John's reaction.

John's POV

I couldn't help but be interested in what Petunia was saying. The way she talked about her Fief, it was amazing what she knew.

I always knew we had a great number of commoners at the Ball, farmers and merchants, tradeswomen and housewives, but it never occurred to me that the owners of the lands would be so involved in the running of their fiefs.

Clearly I'd misjudged a great deal of people over the past few years. They certainly knew more about their lands than I knew about our Kingdom.

"John!"

I looked around in surprise, not having noticed Mason come up to me. I looked at him curiously, wondering why he looked so out of breath, as if he'd run all the way here from across the room.

"Something wrong Mase?"

His face broke into a wide grin. "Actually, something's right for a change."

I couldn't help a bemused smile in return at his good mood. "What is it?"

He opened his mouth to say something, and I could tell he was bursting to tell me, but his eyes shot to Petunia first and he hesitated.

I glanced at her quickly and noticed she had her eyes fixed across the room, but it was obvious she was still listening intently.

Shifting slightly in my seat to block us from view I nodded at him to continue.

"You're off the hook!"

His voice was lowered but still came out louder than he probably meant, but I still didn't understand what was going on.

"What hook? Have you been in the champagne Squire?" I joked.

He only looked exasperated and rolled his eyes.

"The marriage deadline John. It's off."

"It's... no way" I breathed.

I could barely process his words even though the meaning was obvious. It was off. This was too good to be true.

Where was the catch?

How did this even happen?

Belatedly I realized Mason was laughing at my expression.

"Well, what are you still doing here? Go find her."

I jumped up from my seat without any hesitation causing a startled gasp from Petunia. I'd already forgotten she was there.

I was already half way down the throne dais when she called out my name, and with extreme impatience I turned back around.

She slipped her hand inside a handbag and brought it back out with my crown. I felt my eyes widening in surprise. Where had she even gotten that?

"Umm, thank you" I put my hand out to take it, but she held back.

"Wait, can't you see!" She said, her voice rising slightly in hysteria.

"We're meant to be, this Kingdom needs me, what could you possibly want with her!?" She finished, her voice rising in a near yell.

I glanced around and, as I'd feared, saw a lot of people looking this way.

Great, a scene. Just what I needed.

"Look, I'm really sorry" I whispered quietly, "But she's everything to me, and this Kingdom, this crown..." I said, taking it gently from her fingers "...means nothing to me without her."

With another quick apology I turned around and left, and though I was genuinely sorry for leaving her so upset, there was someone I needed to see.

Everything that had happened before this moment didn't even matter anymore.

I was getting a second chance.

We were getting a second chance, and nothing could stand in the way of that anymore.

I ran out into the hallway, heading directly for her room, it seemed the obvious place to look.

It was only when I stood outside that the nervousness started.

What would I even say?

I shifted from foot to foot and ran a hand though my hair, immediately trying to pat it back down into order. I'd started straightening out my clothes when I realized how stupid I was being.

I knocked once... then twice... and still no answer.

"Celia?"

I tried the doorknob and slowly opened the door, more nervous now than I'd even been with her.

"Celia?"

The room was empty and I couldn't help the wash of disappointment that came over me.

Where could she be?

Celia's POV

I walked along the castle wall unsure of where to go. After only minutes my room had felt like a prison and I'd had to get out, only now... I had nowhere to go.

The inside of the castle was out of the question, and all my usual places reminded me of John.

Realizing I was about to round the corner to the back of the castle, I turned my steps away and found myself walking towards the stables.

If only it could be as easy as jumping on my horse and leaving all these problems in the dust.

If only.

The stable was unusually quiet when I entered, but comforting all the same. I made my way over to Coriolis, who swished her tail in greeting, and buried my face in her mane.

Without thinking my feet carried me to side where her saddle hung. It still smelled like the forest and suddenly I was overwhelmed with the memories of those weeks.

If only we could have held onto them for a little while longer...

A loud banging at the door startled me out of my trance, along with waking up some of the sleeping horses and causing a snort from Cori, but I barely noticed as John rushed inside, more recognizable by his mess of molten gold hair than the crown that was precariously on top.

He stared at me with bright eyes looking flushed and dishevelled and radiating a level of elation I could hardly process.

It took a moment for him to notice my hand on Coriolis, all saddled up and ready to go, though I didn't even remember doing it.

His expression faltered, to be quickly replaced with panic.

"Are you... leaving?"

A slight hitch in his voice betrayed how upset he was by this idea.

I felt my gaze softening immediately. "I could never leave John."

The words were out of my mouth before they could even be registered, but I knew they were true. If I'd had any ideas of not coming back, any doubts, they had fled instantly at the suggestion that he could be hurt by it.

The relief on his face was obvious, and despite the turmoil I'd felt earlier, I couldn't help a faint smile.

We stood there awkwardly facing each other, a state we'd grown all too familiar with these last few days.

It occurred to me that our meeting in the stables was too much of a coincidence. My eyes narrowed slightly in suspicion.

"Wait... are you leaving?"

He smiled ruefully and shook his head.

"Not this time... I'd be leaving too much behind."

I stared at him sceptically. This actually seemed like the right time for him to be running away.

"Like what?"

He took a step closer and stopped again.

"Well you for one and... well, just you" He mumbled, blushing slightly.

Again I found myself smiling, absurdly flattered, and took a few hesitant steps forward.

"Why are you here then?" I asked softly.

He shifted from foot to foot, not able to look me in the eyes as his face became serious and slightly pained.

"I just came to tell you... to ask... I mean..." He blew out a breath, running his hand absently through his hair as he struggled to find the right words.

Abruptly he turned to face me, only to drop his gaze to the floor.

"I love you."

The words, a whisper, resonated through my mind like a gale wind.

I felt my eyes widening, my whole body trembling in shock, and for a moment seemed to forget how to breathe.

Three words and they filled me with a kind of light that was at once wonderful and frightening; it scared me that he could feel that way and was even scarier to know I felt the same way back.

It seemed too good to be true, like this could only be a dream. But I knew it was real, could feel it so strongly I thought I would burst.

He glanced up for only a second to see my reaction and held up a hand when I opened my mouth to reply.

"You don't have to say anything... I just wanted to know... if maybe... I mean someday... do you think... could you ever love me?"

His words came out in a rush, filled with an uncertainty and vulnerability that I'd never seen in him before.

"I already do John" I whispered, blinking back tears of sheer delight.

"Please Cece, just give us a chance--wait... did you say..."

His jaw dropped open in shock as my words registered, his expression slowly changing from wonder to glee.

And then he was walking forward so fast the distance between us melted away.

His arms came around my waist and I felt myself being lifted up off the ground.

The room became a blur as he started spinning us around.

I felt myself laughing as I quickly threw my arms around his neck, even though I knew he would never let me fall.

It could have been seconds or hours before he put me down again and I never would have known. I refused to let go of him, still half worried this might all be some kind of dream.

But of course, I knew it could only be reality when my mind finally calmed down enough for rational thought to kick in.

Tonight was the last night of the ball.

His deadline.

I slackened my grip around his neck enough to lean back and see his face.

He was still grinning widely, completely at peace, obviously having forgotten everything before having come into the stable.

"John... what about..."

I hated putting the question into words, ruining the perfect moment we'd been having, but he seemed to understand where my thoughts were going.

"I don't have to. Not tonight at least."

He laughed at my shocked expression and pulled me into him once more, burying his face in my hair.

"I have all the time you need to convince you that being Queen won't be so bad. And if you think I'm ever taking no for an answer, well you're stuck with me anyway."

I laughed, letting myself relax fully into his embrace for the first time.

"I wouldn't have it any other way John."

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Soundtrack:

Retrace - Anberlin

Truly Madly Deeply - Savage Garden

How can I not Love You- Joy Enriquez

Hey You - Jonas Brothers