smallestopener | The Princess Birthday Ball

The huge, white tent sprawls on the lawn beside the lake. It has been transfigured there for a very special occasion. A stone walkway leads from the bar to the tent - the pavements are wide enough that ladies' dresses won't trail on the ground as they make their way to the entrance. Over the draped curtains of the entrance way is a large banner which reads "Happy 7th Birthday, Ingress".

Once inside, the honored guests will be in the midst of an enchanted ballroom. There are balloons drifting in bunches from the circular tables lining the sides of the large dance floor. Floating candlabras glow with gentle light from above. There are trees in large ornamental pots interspersed throughout sparkling with fairy lights from real fairies.

One long banquet table is positioned on along the side of the ballroom - there are treats of all description. Little finger sandwiches, chopped up fruit, cookies, cheese and crackers, and other child-friendly h'ors douerves are presented to make sure the dancers are sustained throughout the the party. There are large bowls of ice cream (kept cold with magic)and sundae fixings. Punch bowls of sherbet-flavored drinks await ladling into crystal goblets. But most impressive is the large birthday cake with blue, purple, and pink icing roses festooning it.

Ingress is busy greeting her guests in her gown - a birthday gift from Amy and Susan - but soon she'll be dancing to the music provided by the overlarge Gramophone in the corner, which is playing a wide array of dancing music from waltz standards to court music to pop hits of the 20th century.

Tom, who's pretty tired from the magical effort required to pull this off, is in the background making sure his little girl is having a perfect party, and Princess Amy is helping Ingress in her hostess duties.

Come in and enjoy the party!

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Aphelise raises his glass to Tom, smiling.

"Best wishes for a happy birthday to little Ingress, Tom."

Indy chuckles.

"Everythin's alright with you and yours though, I take it? Busy schedule aside."

"Still," says Amy, "it's a happy night, and I am sorry to have . . . alluded to anything that would make you unhappy."

"Hats are infinitely more practical," Cimorene agrees sagely, "Crowns are not generally worn by very sensible people on a regular basis. I barely wear mine at all, pretty though it is."

She takes it back from Ingress and puts it on.

"As you can see, I only bring it out for very special occasions."

"It is,"

He assures her,

"no fault of yours. All things shall be well."

*Meg blinks.*

Thirteen feet? That's - well, you could fit me more than twice in there, for a start, *she says, and shakes her head.* I think I'd almost rather have the ruff. Did you ever have to actually wear it?

"I am sure the Pigeon people will understand," Mary agrees, rather smugly, "when it is explained logically."

Clearly, if Mary had only been in charge, it would all have been sorted out.

"I've always hoped so," says Amy.

She tends to be an optimistic sort. Even after all this time in Milliways.

It's Mary's very first party, and, somewhat to her surprise, she's rather enjoying it - until she sees Mr. Aphelise.

"What are you doing here?" she demands, blazing up. "You ought not to be here."

Cimorene is wandering around near the tables of tasty treats and...ooh! Chocolate cupcakes!

---

Cimorene and her chocolate cupcake are wandering around near the tables of tasty treats.

Arithon is trying to learn to be. He smiles up at her again,

"Perhaps I shall see you for the dancing, Lady. For now, I should let you greet others."

He smiles down at her, slightly. "I am enjoying the party and my fruit punch."

"What are you doing here, other than causing a ruckus?"

"I hope so, sir. And do enjoy the party."

And with a curtsey, she's off to see to the music.

Amy nods. "Yes. For a ball. It was completely absurd. You cannot dance with thirteen feet of fabric following you around. You can barely walk. You have to have pages carry it around."

Amy raises an eyebrow. "The shawl was a gift from Tom and Door," she says, pulling the length of lavendar silk a little more tightly around her shoulders.

The dress, no matter what the icon looks like, is a pale, silvery grey. And not quite that . . . elaborate.

"And I'm enjoying myself a great deal. Are you?"

"They are at present. None of us are altogether pleased about Blodwen Rowlands return, but so far, so good."

He knocks on wood.

"But how have you been? I imagine as much as happened with you as has with me."

"She'll have a very good one. A very peaceful, happy one."

The tone of his voice indicates that he will allow nothing else.

"It's good to meet you, then. Are you new to Milliways, or have I just not been around enough to meet you there?"

She is far from the first, as it happens, but manages better than a great many have.

"Thank you," Moiraine says quietly. She runs one hand absently over a bit of the ruffled pink silk as she adds,

"It was a gift, of sorts. From Raven."

"It is - I'm quite pleased with how it's turned out. Ingress is having a smashing time."

"Well, it's lovely," says Cimorene.

"And I am enjoying myself. Very much. I finally got to meet Ingress, and she's absolutely adorable. She's our kind of princess, make no mistake."

You know. The good kind.

"That is good, very much." He nods... neutral and polite as always.

"It's a very difficult decision," says Cimorene, coming up behind him, "It's good that you're thinking it through with such thoroughness."

She grins.

"Not new, no. I simply keep to myself, most of the time."

Indy has somehow managed to avoid knowledge of Blodwen so far. The name doesn't even ring a bell, so he just lets it slide.

"Perhaps not quite as much, but there're stories to be told." He glances around shiftily and breaks out the hip flask. He recounts as he unscrews the cap. "Let's see. Delia and I broke up. I got unBound and went back to New York t'try and recover a powerful Egpytian artifact before the Nazis got their hands on it. Lilly came along with me and it all went swimmingly until the temple collapsed on us."

He selfishly takes a swig from the flask and sighs more happily.

"Lil took a shortcut back to the bar to get healed, and I subequently got captured by the Germans."

He offers the flask to Tom.

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The Princess Birthday Ball

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