Prince | phan (COMPLETE)

VI

I arrived at the ball on time. It was not at the palace today but rather the private garden centre in our town. I didn't leave the palace often so I enjoyed the trip to the gardens. It was late at night so not many people were around and the scenic route was apparently much nicer than the route the villagers would take - not that I would know. I had never been into the town itself, I had only met villagers in the palace and I always had security. As I looked through the carriage windows I wondered what it would be like to just be free.

I got to the ball, the building was large and grand. It was very pristine looking and was, in general, a place fit for a king (or prince in this case.) As I stepped inside, I was instantly bombarded by girls in puffy dresses, each begging me to dance with them. I looked for Ella but did not see her anywhere, I had left William a note last night asking for him to call her but alas it appeared he had not got the message nor made the call. Or maybe Ella had changed her mind.

I softly declined the girls around me and made my way over to a girl who seems disinterested in me and my status.
The other girls watched in jealousy as I took her hand.
"Would you like to dance?"
"Okay," she replied sweetly and I led her to the dance floor.
"What's your name?" I asked as I led the dance.
"Belle." Her voice was quiet and she looked down at her feet, it looked like she would rather be anywhere but here.
"What's wrong?"
"My parents forced me here." She bit her lip and looked anywhere but at me.
"Tell me about it." I rolled my eyes. It appeared that I was not the only one who had controlling parents. "I'm sorry if this dancing is making you uncomfortable."
"No no. Not at all." Finally, she looked at me, she appeared to be judging my character. Reading me like the pages of a book before she spoke, "I just like another. I thought you should know."
"Very well," I replied, I guess that had worked out for the best anyway. I looked at the others, who were waiting for their turn to dance with me. They were dancing with others at that moment but I saw the glances they kept throwing in my direction. "But may I still dance with you? As a friend."
"Sure."

We danced for a little while before I was interrupted by a familiar voice.  
"Hello, sir. Would you like a sausage?" I looked away from Belle and saw Dan standing before me in a waiter's outfit, holding out to me at a plate of food. "Cocktail sausage that is." He winked provocatively.  It sent shivers down my spine but I managed to hold my ground.
"No, I'm fine, thank you." Just then the song ended.
"Thank you for the dance Prince Philip," Belle told me politely.
"It was my pleasure." I smiled at her and she returned it before she left the dance floor.
I could hear mummers of desperate would-be princesses and the clatter of heels making their way over.

"Ladies, ladies. Prince Philip needs to talk to the kitchen staff. He'll be back shortly," Dan told the crowd of girls.  I was about to protest when he whispered in my ear. "You want to get out of here for a minute?"
I looked at the girls, I imagined dancing with them all. The constant tap of my shoes against wood, the drone of the dated music. It made my head spin.
I nodded and Dan led me away.

I didn't know where he was taking me, but I didn't ask. We went beyond the kitchen and he opened another door.
It led outside to the actual gardens. They were beautiful. Large trees engulfed us both but the moon still shone through the tops of them,  bathing us both in magnificent lighting. Rosebuds bloomed up from the soil, making the floor look as though it were coloured crimson. It felt like only Dan and I had seen them, even though many had walked this same path before us.  
A stream of water fell from a waterfall in the centre, moss travelled up the walls and a statue of a dove lay on top. It pumped out the water which glistened in the light. I sat down on the fountain and let the water run through my fingers, it was ice cold but somehow I couldn't pull my hand away.
The water dripping down so freely looked magical. I had one of these at the palace but in the day they are so dull, it appears that only at night the true form shows.

I looked up at the sky.  In the centre of the gardens, the trees were not so overgrown and I could see the cluster of stars in the sky. The darkness of night suddenly became softer amongst the stars that brought light. 
"Beautiful," Dan whispered in awe.
I looked over at him and noticed he wasn't looking at the stars but his eyes rested upon me. I didn't comment on it and instead looked back to the sky. 

AN: More Phan adventures in the next chapter! 
Quick shout out to danonfire who is a really lovely person and has a great vampie phan fic on her account called 'Child of the night' :) Check it, 10/10 recommend it. 
- Rach x