Title: Dance with Fate

Summary: After dancing with a handsome stranger at a ball, Bella finds herself engaged to him. The thing is, she absolutely HATES the idea of marrying someone she just met. Oh, did I forget to mention that he's a Prince? AU

Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight, only the plot of this story.

Chapter One:
Dancing with Unknown Royalty

I can't believe my mother, my own mother, actually did this to me! How could she trick me into coming to this stupid ball? She knows how much I hate events like these! I grumbled under my breath as the footman pulled open the carriage door and offered his gloved hand. I chose to ignore it and simply stepped out of the carriage without his help. I walked primly towards the grand entrance doors of the Cullen Palace.

I hated events like these, I had no idea why other ladies made such a big fuss about them, what with all the squealing and throwing themselves at the feet of the hosts, hoping to catch the eye of a rich and worthy bachelor. It truly did sicken me, in fact, thinking of the company I would have to put up with this evening made me nauseous. I wondered if mother would buy the idea that I was sick and allow me to return home…

Who was I kidding? Knowing her she would simply ask me to turn around and march right back here again. Mothers do get the craziest ideas about love and marriage…

I approached the open intricately wrought iron doors and winced as I was announced to the other guests.

"Announcing the arrival of Lady Isabella Marie Swan, daughter of Sir Charles Swan."

I walked as steadily as I could down the red-carpeted stairs, trying my best to ignore the glares of the women around me as the men around them ogled at me. I hated the unwanted attention. At this very moment, I did agree with the age-old saying that beauty was indeed a curse. I wasn't saying that I was beautiful, but my gown was gorgeous and that made up for my lack of attractiveness in the physical department.

It was made of soft periwinkle blue silk material, which suited the warm weather just fine. The gown was sleeveless and off shouldered, with pretty white lace floral embroidering at the bottom of the hem that trailed all the way up to where the mid-calf should be. The gown hugged my figure from the chest all the way to the hips where it flared out into a train. Beautiful wasn't it? And certainly expensive too, a fact that I hated, yet could not deny.

I made my way to an empty table in the corner of the vast ballroom, blatantly ignoring the seething looks directed at me by the other women around me, and sat huffily in a chair.

Today was supposed to be a cheery day, and I had planned to loll on the bed at home whilst reading Jane Austen, but oh no, mother insisted that I be here. I rolled my eyes. What was the ball for again? Oh yes, the ball was organized to help the youngest Cullen Prince to find a suitable bride. I wasn't that familiar with the royal family so I had no clue how they looked like, all I knew was that their family was made up of, according to the maids, the most beautiful people to have ever walked the planet. Bah! They must be stuck up, much like all the other rich nobles around me.

I glanced around the ballroom, my gaze pausing at the couples that flooded the dance floor, waltzing to the soft music that was being played by the band. I sighed as I settled down, bored out of my mind already.

"Well, you seem to be rather bored." A soft melodious voice said next to me as I heard the chair on my right being dragged and sat upon.

"Well obviously or else I wouldn't be sitting here." I snapped back, not bothering to even look at the young man.

He simply chuckled quietly to himself.

"And I take it that these kind of events really aren't your cup of tea." He stated.

I rolled my eyes and huffed in reply.

"Then, pray do tell fair lady, what are you doing here?" From the tone of his voice, he sounded very curious.

"My mother tricked me to come here, so you could say that I'm here against my will."

"Ah, I see…"

I turned to look at him, and came face to face with a gleaming pair of emerald green eyes. I held back a gasp of astonishment at the sheer intense beauty of his face. He had naturally messy auburn hair and his face was structured in such a way that it made him look ruggedly, yet boyishly, good looking. He looked perhaps one year older than me, nineteen perhaps? At the moment, his face was pulled into an amused expression as he gazed steadily at me, as if to observe me.

"Then what would you be doing this very evening if you were not here?" He asked.

"I would be curled up at home reading a book, almost anything would be better then being here." I answered.

"You prefer the company of books to people, I suppose?"

I felt the ends of my lips lift into a smile.

"You supposed right."

He gave a crooked grin that made me lose my breath. I coughed, trying to cover up the blush that was rising upon my cheeks.

"Are you alright Miss Swan?" He asked, his brows puckering in concern. He reached to pat my back, trying to help rid me of my non-existent coughs.

"Err, yes, I'm quite fine now. Thank you for your concern."

I smiled at him and turned my gaze back to the dance floor. I sighed wistfully. If only I could dance just as gracefully as all of those ladies.

"Why the long face Miss Swan?" Edward asked inquisitively.

"I wish that I could dance as well as those ladies."

"And why is it that you can't dance like them? I'm sure you could do just as well, maybe even better than them."

I laughed at his comment and turned to look at him.

"It's because I can't exactly walk gracefully across a flat surface without falling over nothing."

The handsome stranger chuckled.

"Well that wouldn't be much of a problem if you danced with me. After all, it's all in the leading." He replied confidently.

"Oh really?" I asked, amused, quirking an eyebrow at him, challenging him.

He smirked and stood up, offering his hand to me.

"Would the lady care to dance?"

I smirked back at him.

"I'd be delighted to."

I took his hand, secretly marveling at how warm it felt, and allowed him to lead me out to the dance floor. He took my left hand and placed it on his shoulder, he placed his right hand on my waist and soon, we were waltzing just like all the couples around us. After a while of almost effortless waltzing, I begun to realize that I was actually enjoying myself much more than I had thought that I would. I looked up, grinning at him, and he grinned back.

"So Miss Swan-"

"Bella, call me Bella." I interrupted.

He smiled.

"So Bella, why don't you like events like these?"

"Well…" I lowered the volume of my voice, so that the other ladies wouldn't hear me and be offended.

"I don't like the fact that the hosts of events like these seem to expect ladies to just drop at their feet, as if they were Gods. What irritates me the most is that the ladies do exactly that."

He gave me a very amused look and twirled me.

"Ah, I see…"

He drew me back, closer to his body than before. I bit my lower lip, trying to control the blush that was beginning to flood my cheeks.

I quickly glanced around the dance floor and noticed that some ladies were glaring at me with intense hatred and anger in their eyes. Oh dear, was I with waltzing with one of those most sought after bachelors? This was not good. I peered up at him curiously, realizing that he had never told me his name.

"Well, kind sir, you know my name, yet I have not an inkling of who you are. Would you care to tell me?"

The stranger looked at me with surprise in his eyes.

"So I was right, youdon't have any idea who I am. No wonder you're not acting like the other ladies around us."

I raised my eyebrows.

"Well obviously I have no idea who you are, so are you going to tell me who you are or not?" I demanded impatiently.

He grinned mischievously, looking straight into my eyes.

"You'll find out soon, I promise. Right now, I must be going."

He pulled away, bowing and took my right hand in his before placing a chaste kiss upon it.

"I'll see you later Bella."

He straightened up and walked away, leaving me fuming in the middle of the dance floor.

I should have known he was one of those rotten nobles, how could I go against my own belief and dance with him? I really should have known better.

Suddenly, the music ceased and silence overtook the room.

"If everyone would kindly take their seats, the King would like to make an announcement." A loud, sonorous voice sounded.

I sighed and made my way back to one of the empty corner tables, sitting down on the chair.

A man who looked to be in his late thirties stood in the middle of the platform.

"Good evening all esteemed guests. My family and I thank you for your presence on this wonderful occasion. As you all know, my youngest son, Edward, is going to choose a bride among all these wonderful young ladies present on this delightful evening. So without further a do, my son, would you kindly announce to us who it is that you have chosen to be your bride?"

The king moved aside as the prince stepped forward. I gasped in shock as the handsome stranger I had dance with took the king's previous spot on the platform.

He was Prince Edward?

I stared, gaping in shock. No wonder the ladies around me wouldn't stop glaring daggers when we were together on the dance floor.

"Thank you father." His voice resonated through the vast ballroom.

"I'd like to thank all of you wonderful ladies for coming tonight. Now, let me proclaim who shall be my bride."

All the ladies seemed to hold their breaths, crossing their fingers. I, on the other hand, simply gazed at him, awaiting his proclamation.

"The lady I choose to be my bride is Lady Isabella Marie Swan, the daughter of Sir Charles Swan."

WHAT?

Author's Note

Yay! I finally wrote something that I'm proud of! Clap for me please!

I'm sorry if there was anyone who was looking forward to reading chapter two of Timeless Love, but I've decided to discard that story, this one seems to be more interesting and more my style. Hahaha…

My major exams are finally over! Hoorah for me! Heh heh… Anyways, please review and tell me what you think, reviews are the only thing that motivate me to carry on writing.

Review and I'll give you a tasty peanut? I promise that I'll update faster if you review me. XP

Lots of Insane Love,
WinterSparks.