Chapter 3: Dance festival

The next few days Alyce spent trying to find her way home. She had a bit of help from Easton but really it didn't help, she looked around where Mabel said that she was found but there was nothing. There was no way that she could stay there forever but there was no way to leave. Alyce found she was lost. Sort of home sick, she missed her home and everything that came with it, though this place she was at was beautiful and very peaceful she didn't feel she fit in and Colleen really wasn't around she was exploring and was happy to be there. Alyce honestly thought it was strange how much Colleen liked that place and it had honestly seemed like eventually when she found her way out of this time mess, Alyce was going to have to leave Colleen behind.

The next day Colleen and Mabel got up early, they had gone dress shopping the day before since Mabel said there was going to be the annual Village dancing festival. Alyce woke up to loud banging and chattering from down in the living room, so she got up and went to go look at what was going on. Alyce got to the room and looked around she saw Mabel and Colleen grabbing out random dresses then going behind a curtain. "What the hell is going on?" Alyce said, rubbing her eyes. Easton looked over and smiled "Good morning, have a nice sleep M'lady," Easton said jokingly, Alyce raised an eyebrow and looked at Easton confused "Ok one don't ever say that again and two what are you doing here?" Alyce said looking at him just then Colleen and Mabel came out wearing fancy dresses. "He's here to help choose our dresses," Mabel said with a smile. Alyce looked at Colleen and Mabel then over at Easton and laughed.

"That's hilarious," Alyce said laughing, "Trust me it wasn't funny when they woke me up just as the sun showed itself" Easton sighed. "Now what do you think?" Colleen said. "Amazing again," Easton sighed and yawned, Alyce looked over at them and smiled "They really suit you both. I think you should stick with them," Alyce said with a smile. Colleen and Mabel smiled and nodded then went to change back into their normal clothes. "What's this all for anyway?" Alyce said, confused. "The dance festival tonight, it happens every year where everyone dresses up and dances until midnight, it's amazing when you actually have someone to dance with," Easton said, crossing his arms. "Oh, right weird, I'll probably just stay home then I'm not much of a dancer," Alyce said with a small sigh.

"What uh no I didn't buy you this dress for nothing, plus you and Easton are going together!" Colleen said, coming out behind the curtain. "Yeah, exactly so now you both won't be lonely" Mabel smiled coming out after Colleen. Alyce raised an eyebrow "and what makes you think I'm going to wear a dress that you picked out?" Alyce said crossing her arms "uh we are going to force it on... Now run along you love birds we have some other important things to do…" Colleen said with a smile. Alyce stood there confused trying to process everything that was going on. "It's way too early for this…" Alyce said, then grabbed Easton's arm and walked out the room and down to her bedroom "Woah where are we…Going?" Easton said, confused as they entered the room.

"My room. Now, what did you want to do in the last few hours of peace I have?" Alyce said, grabbing her cloak and putting it on. "Uh I don't know; well I mean now that I'm apparently going to the dance tonight I need something to wear…" Easton said awkwardly. Alyce smiled then nodded "Alright let's get going then." She spoke with a smile then walked out of her room and out the front door, Easton followed her with a brief smile. The two went down to the marketplace and tried a few shops to find something for Easton to wear for that evening.

"Yeah, they are together, it looks like they're heading to the marketplace," A guard said to Markus. "Ah right probably for the dance festival tonight, There's something off about that girl as well... I want you to continue spying on them to see if we can get any information on her." Markus said with a frown. "Yes Sir!" The guard said then walked off. Back in the marketplace, Easton was trying on some suits. "Oh my god no please no," Alyce said covering her eyes, Easton laughed gently "Oh come on I think this is nice," Easton said looking in the mirror.

"Please just change it before I throw up," Alyce said. "Alright alright..." Easton said then went in and changed. After 5 minutes he came out and looked in the mirror. "What do you think?" Easton asked looking over at Alyce. Alyce looked at him and smiled then got up walking over to him "I think this is the one" Alyce said with a smile "no wait hang on" Alyce said then looked him up and down, she smiled then unbuttoned the top two buttons and ruffled his hair. "There now you look perfect," Alyce said with a bright smile. Easton watched her for a moment, smiling back mesmerized by her eyes, after a few seconds he cleared his throat and looked away "Um thanks, I'll get changed again then uh go pay" Easton said then walked back behind the curtain to change back.

Alyce nodded and looked away awkwardly "Yep no problem I'll wait for you outside." She said then walked outside waiting for Easton. Easton eventually came out of the shop and smiled walking up to Alyce "I didn't keep you waiting too long, did I?" Easton asked gently, holding her hand. Alyce flinched then turned around "you scared the heck outta me," Alyce muttered with a slight frown. Easton laughed "My apologies," Easton said looking at her. Alyce rolled her eyes then moved back a bit "alright Mr. creepy, sorry to keep this lovely adventure with you short but I should go help the girls with getting ready." She explained with a sigh putting her hands on her hips. "Alright have fun I'll see you later on," Easton said letting go of her hand with a small sigh. "Oh yeah, I'll try not to die," Alyce said sarcastically "you do you!" Easton called out after her with a small laugh shaking his head.

Back at the house, Alyce was helping Mabel get into her dress. "So, Colleens not home yet?" Alyce asked, "No she hasn't. I think she went out to get herself a hairpiece or something" Mabel spoke softly. Alyce nodded gently "Oh um I never really got to properly thank you but uh thank you so much for helping us that day, well, and also allowing us to stay here with you." Alyce mentioned with a smile. Mabel laughed and nodded "It's no problem, besides it's nice to have people around," she said with a smile. Alyce nodded and helped Mabel do her hair.

Colleen finally came back and had already started to get ready in her dress excitedly. "Ok so I got us all a cute little hairpin each, they are different flowers," Colleen Exclaimed with a smile helping Mabel put it in her hair. Mabel and Colleen then looked over at Alyce and smirked "Your turn!" Colleen said happily. "Wait uh do I get a say in this?" Alyce asked the other two girls, laughed and both shook their heads. Alyce sighed gently "alright let's get this over with then," Alyce said before being dragged away and Colleen and Mabel started getting Alyce ready.

After half an hour they were finished and told Alyce to go look in the mirror. Alyce went and looked in the mirror then smiled "Wow you actually did a good job" Alyce smiled gently looking over at Colleen and Mabel. The three did a few finishing touches before starting to head out towards the village center where the dance was being held. Once they got there Mabel and Colleen searched around for a bit before seeing Easton talking to a few other girls, the two scoffed and frowned then dragged Alyce over and pushed her into Easton who caught her. "Woah are you ok," Easton said, helping her back to her feet. "Yeah, I'm fine thanks, sorry about that" Alyce said looking up at Easton. Easton looked at her, his cheeks a slight pink.

Easton then cleared his throat and smiled "falling for me already?" Easton commented jokingly, as he moved some of her hair out of her face and behind her ear. Alyce smiled gently "don't flatter yourself too much pretty boy," she said than sighed and unbuttoned the top two buttons of his suit "It looks better with the buttons undone," Alyce mumbled with a smile, Easton laughed "Right right sorry," Easton spoke then looked around a bit seeing that the music had started, and people had started dancing. "Did you want to go dance?" Easton asked, looking at her. Alyce looked up at him then looked around unsure.

"I don't really know how to dance..." Alyce questioned awkwardly, looking at him. Easton smiled at her for a moment, then took her hand gently "that's alright, I'll teach you" Easton whispered in a soft tone then walked her over to the dance floor. Easton then pulled her in close and then placed a hand gently on her hip "Just trust me, ok?" He said looking at her. Alyce took a deep breath then nodded "Don't be so tense and just have a bit of fun..." Easton spoke then laughed and with his free hand he held her hand gently and with that the two started dancing along to the music.

The music suddenly became slower, and Colleen came out of nowhere she came up and moved both Easton's hands to Alyce' hips and then Alyce' hands around Easton's neck. "You'll thank me later," Colleen said and winked at them. Alyce blushed then looked up at Easton, Easton was already looking down at Alyce with a smile now gazing into her eyes. The two stood like that for a moment, looking into each other's eyes not taking any note on what was going on around them, Before Mabel came up to them "alright love birds dancing time" she said with a giggle. Alyce blinked a few times then smiled awkwardly "right..." She then pulled Easton a little closer nervously "Just relax ok please just enjoy the moment," Easton muttered placing a hand on her cheek.

Alyce looked at him and smiled "Sorry..." She mumbled. "You don't need to apologize" Easton smiled then moved down closer to her face being only an inch away from each other's lips. "Easton! My dear nephew" Markus exclaimed standing next to them. The two jumped and moved away from each other "Oh sorry did I just ruin your little moment" Markus said with a small laugh. Easton sighed gently "What do you want?" Easton asked "Ah right yes I was wondering if well, actually I have two things. One I was wondering if you're coming to my coronation this week Easton, oh and two I was hoping I could steal your lovely Lady to have a talk." Markus asked sweetly. Easton frowned "No to both" Easton said Alyce frowned "Yeah no thanks I think I'm good here..." Alyce grumbled holding Easton's hand, Markus smiled agitatedly "Alright fine then it's not a problem I'll see you both around then." Markus says with a small frown then walked off.

Alyce sighed gently and looked around, "did you just wanna go for a walk around a bit honestly that spud has put me off..." Alyce said looking at him Easton smiled and nodded "Of course let's go," He said then started to walk away from the festival. The two spent the rest of the evening together walking around and chatting happily, though they both couldn't stop thinking about the moment they had shared whilst dancing, neither of the pair spoke up about it making it seem like it almost never happened.