Supper

Prince Geoffrey finally fell back and just watched the other four contenders pulled each other back from advancing in mid-air towards Queen Theeya.

As he relaxed he found himself floating even higher to the point where he levitated way higher than the other contenders. Surprised, he figured out the trick and continued to remain calm. He effortlessly made his way towards the main podium and made a huge exaggerated bow at the Queen.

"Your Majesty, can I please have the honor to have this dance with Your Majesty?" Jeff gave a familiar wink as he grinned at Theeya.

"My pleasure," Theeya reached out and placed her hands into Prince Geoffrey's outstretched hands as they swirled around as they danced to the music.

The other four contenders stopped fighting, all of them had looks of shock, bewildered at how one of them managed to get past everyone and became the first to dance with Queen Theeya.

The giant hourglass clock that appeared beside the fairy, Aurelia, was running out of sand as time passed by. The four contenders looked restless as the sand trickled down, there was not much time left.

They would lose precious points if they did not have that dance with the Queen.

Duke Zaccheus suddenly broke the silence between the four defeated men.

"We need to help each other. There is enough time for all of us to have that dance with Queen Theeya if we cooperate!" he exclaimed, his light brown eyes looked earnestly at his fellow contenders.

Curious as to what Zaccheus had to suggest, they were all ears as they huddled together to listen over the loud blaring music.

As the song came to an end it seemed that there were only time for one more song.

After Queen Theeya and Prince Geoffrey gave each other a final bow, suddenly Queen Theeya found herself surrounded by the four contenders who held hands, forming a circle as they levitated on her level.

"Can we have the honour of a dance with Your Majesty as a group?" Duke Zaccheus spoke on behalf of the men.

Theeya gave a chuckle as she nodded, "Yes, this is interesting but I have no idea how this will work."

"Let us lead the way," Duke Zaccheus broke his hold from Prince Vincent's left arm and extended his right hand to Theeya which she willingly took.

She found herself in the circle as they moved in unison to the music. As the music picked up the tempo, she was laughing as they swapped positions within the circle so each man could individually dance one move with her. Within minutes she managed to face each men and had equal time with each one of them. This idea was brilliant!

At the end of the song, the Time was up and the giant Sand timer disappeared. Aurelia the fairy slowly decreased the magical field as everyone descended slowly to the floor.

It took everyone a few seconds to stabilize themselves on their feet again as they got used to the gravity.

Amidst laughter and smiles, the biggest winner of this challenge appeared not to be Prince Geoffrey but Duke Zaccheus for his wit and out of the box thinking which included a peaceful solution for everyone involved.

"Please follow the magical trail to have our supper!" Aurelia the fairy sprinkled fairy dust that formed a trail for the guests to follow out from the ballroom. Fairy dust of red, blue, yellow, orange and a spectrum of rainbow illuminated the hallway that led the guests out to the gardens where supper was to be served. The sky was clear with a a thousand stars and a full moon. The gardens were set up in tables and chairs adorned in white and gold, with a touch of baby pink in the fine details of the skirting of the tables and chairs. Baby breaths and pink roses added the accent to the entire set up as the torches were painted in white and gold as well.

"Enjoy a magical supper, everyone!" Aurelia chimed as fireworks illuminated the sky.

Food were not served from the kitchen but just magically appeared on the tables right in front of the guests.

"Nitreil's magic sure surprises us each and every time."

"It had been awhile since I had a magical meal. I am so glad I attended tonight's supper."

"The last time I had such a magical meal was during the late Queen's Coming of Age's Ball! 19 years sure had passed by so quickly!"

"I can die happily now that I had this magical meal."

The contenders sat at the same round table facing each other with the Queen.

Minister Albus and his wife Hilda said to the right of Queen Theeya while Sereni sat to her left. Fairy Aurelia sat next to Sereni as she looked at Prince Geoffrey intently.

"You already love the Queen, don't you?" Fairies are not well known for their subtlety.

Theeya choked on the piece of potato that she had in her mouth at that question and coughed violently as she tried to dislodge that piece of food from her airway.

"Your Majesty, are you alright?" Sereni patted Theeya's back with firm force. Theeya motioned for the five contenders to stay put at their seats and they did.

Finally Theeya spat out that piece of potato, but not before her make up was destroyed as her eyes were red with tears streaming down her face.

"I would not want to marry me if I see my face right now," Theeya muttered under her breath.

"I would. And yes I already fell in love with Queen Theeya since I first laid my eyes on her two years ago," Prince Geoffrey said confidently.