Masquerade

Talked All Night Part 1

I have been very good in writing this as I just wanted to work on my new lion King/Tangled cross over, and made myself sit down and write this because I need to finish at least one WIP before I start another.

The ball was supposed to all be one chapter but it keeps getting chopped up because it goes through a range of emotional changes and it feels like each one need a chapter change.. I don't know... let's see how it goes.

Talked All Night Part 1

"My lady?"

Cassandra jumped; she'd been thinking about the crowd of menacing masks, chastising herself for her panic. She turned to see the man in the golden leaf mask, he held out a glass of water to her. She was disgusted at herself when she noticed her hand trembling as she took it.

"Thank you."

"Are you okay?" The man asked sounding concerned. She took a deep drink and shook her head plastering on a fake smile, she was used to the act these days.

"I'm sorry, it's just as you said, wine, dancing, crowds of people. It's easy to feel disorientated."

"Is that why you fell?"

Cassandra nodded. She didn't feel she could explain what had happened, didn't even know how to describe the menace of the masked dancers who had closed in on her, and even if she could she didn't know whose side the young man in front of her would be on.

"I hope you haven't hurt yourself."

"No, just my pride."

"I'm sure everybody has fallen over in front of people at some point in their life."

"Not me." She downed the rest of the water. "All I wanted was to spend the night with my friends, have a good time, share something other than just letters and memories for once."

The man frowned slightly below his mask.

"Of course you would want that."

She was puzzled at his strange tone and was going to ask if he was alright when the frown turned back to a smile.

"And of course you deserve it. "He held his arm out to her. "If I may escort you back to your friends, you are a guest of the Princess and Prince Consort, yes?"

"Yes." Cassandra said hesitating as she took his arm, she had to remind herself that she was at a party full of polite society, so she had to at least act like a lady. It felt terribly refining to have to follow the prescribed gender roles after so many years when she could just be herself.

She felt her nerves rising as the man walked her into the hall, but as she looked around she couldn't see any of the masked people that had insulted her. That didn't mean that they weren't there though, there were a lot of people in the hall, and masks could easily be swapped. She saw the King and Queen of hearts sat at a table to the side and pointed them out to the man besides her. He nodded and guided her over to them, dropping her arm as he did so.

"Hey! You're here!" Eugene said shocked as he looked between Cassandra and the masked stranger.

"We were just outside, getting some fresh air." The man next to her answered for her. He bowed to Rapunzel and Eugene, before turning back to Cassandra.

"Well, I have delivered you into safe hands. So, I'll let you make your memories."

"What was that about?" Rapunzel said as the man walked off. "I thought he would stay around for a little bit, especially when he arrived so late."

"Never mind him." Cassandra said. "I think I was promised a dance."

Eugene stood up and bowed to her.