The Grand Marching Gala was next week and Vahl had called all her friends to help with the preparations, except for Nichole Price, as she and the Pride of Newark were part of the entertainment anyway. Alyssa was to be in charge of the food, Madisyn was to bring her songbirds, Cwryen Caster was to decorate and Tatum was to make everybody's dresses.
The four approached the palace gate and were let through, as the guards already knew them. Instead of Vahl they were greeted by her brother.
"Hello, girls," Mirrak Mora said. "We're so glad you could make it. Vahl and the others are already having dinner. They asked me to escort you."
Alyssa sighed in relief. "Thank goodness! I'm starved!"
Cwryen Caster bounced down the hallway. "I love having dinner with the prince and princesses!"
"You love having dinner with anybody, darling," Tatum chuckled.
In the dining hall, Auer sat at the head of the table, Vahl and Boise on her right, Harleen and Anna on her left. When she saw her friends, the Dark Elf forgot her manners for a moment, leaping out of her seat and attacking them with a hug.
"I'm so happy you're here!" she exclaimed. "I haven't seen you guys in weeks!"
"We're happy to be here," Alyssa declared. "Now how 'bout we chow down?!"
As they ate, the friends caught up with one another. Vahl told them about the new spells she had learned, Tatum talked about the dresses she had in mind for the Gala, Alyssa asked if the orphans could be invited to the event, and Cwryen babbled on about pudding. Madisyn politely listened to the conversations and nodded when necessary. Then Mirrak Mora and Anna had big news.
"Should I tell them?" the vampire asked her husband.
"I think you have the right," he replied with a wink.
She smiled at all of them. "We're having a baby!"
Everybody gasped.
"Wait a second!" Cwryen cried. Then she took a sip of water and spat it out. "You're having a baby?! Congratulations! I get to play with it, right?"
Anna laughed. "Of course, Cwryen."
Vahl clapped. "Yes! I'm going to be an aunt!"
"When are you due?" Tatum asked.
"7 months," answered Mirrak Mora.
"How wonderful," Madisyn complimented, speaking for the first time that evening.
"This calls for a toast!" Auer announced. He lifted his goblet. "Here's to the new prince or princess!"
The others lifted their goblets and cheered in agreement.
"Wait," Boise paused. "I'm not gonna be the one to change its diaper, am I?"
Everybody laughed. Madisyn only smiled softly. She was truly happy for the young couple, but for some reason, that happiness could not be reflected. Alyssa was the only one who noticed Madisyn's depression and stopped laughing. Her friend had been this way for quite a while now. While she engaged in social activities as much as possible, she never seemed to take pleasure in them. It bothered the cowgirl and she was determined to find out what was going on.
The next day, preparations for the Grand Marching Gala began. Cwryen Caster brought her party cannon into the ballroom and fired balloons and confetti all over the place. Prince Auer was sure the Gala was going to be less boring this year. Tatum called the girls in one by one to take measurements and ask their opinion on their dresses, though they knew to trust the human's vision and to not make too many suggestions.
