Chapter Text
Two days later the ball invitation showed up at the Luthor household. Lena couldn’t help the grin that spread across her face when she checked the mail and found it sitting on top. She knew the invitation was a formality to get Lillian to let Lena attend, but Lena couldn’t care less when she saw the ornate piece of paper. Thoughts of Kara in a dress dancing around the grand hall filled her mind and she couldn’t wait for the night to come.
Suppressing her smile the best that she could Lena presented the mail to Lillian, who just huffed her acknowledgement and turned to leaf through it.
Usually Lena would have left by now, but she couldn’t help lingering at the back of Lillian’s sitting room, anxious for her reaction.
“Did you forgot how to walk you stupid girl?” Lillian asked with a bite in her voice after a few moments.
Lena looked down and fiddled her hands in her apron, “Oh um, no ma’am, I just was wondering if you saw the invitation from the palace. They are inviting the whole kingdom to the Harvest Ball.”
“So it seems. And why does this interest you?” Lillian asked still facing away from Lena in her chair.
“Well I just thought, since it’s for the whole Kingdom, that I would also be able to attend.” Lena said in a small voice as she kept her head down.
This prompted a laugh from Lillian. A laugh that shot Lena’s eyes wide open and could only described as a belly laugh as Lillian doubled over in her chair from the laughter.
Once Lillian had caught her breathe, she swiveled her chair around to face Lena, “Is THAT what you thought?”
Lena Shrugged, “Yeah, it says- “
“- You really think the royal family wants servants at their ball?” Lillian cut Lena off.
This struck a nerve in Lena because of course Kara wanted her there. Kara loved her, well she hoped she did, they hadn’t yet said it, but she at least liked her very much. Maybe she doesn’t though, maybe she doesn’t like Lena at all and has been hanging out with her out of pity. No, No, Kara wanted Lena there, she had said so herself.
Lena took a deep breath and gestured to the invitation, “It does say that everyone who has citizenship is welcome and that includes me.”
Lillian raised a perfect eyebrow before looking down at the card in her hand. “Hmm I guess it does.”
Lena rocked back on her heels expectantly, “So, may I attend?”
Lillian thought for a moment before speaking, “I suppose I cannot disobey palace orders. You may attend IF you finish all your chores before then on that day AND you find something suitable to wear.” She gave Lena a once over with a disgusted look on her face.
Lena was sure she was playing some kind of angle here, but she couldn’t quite figure it out just then.
Lena decided to take the win, “Thank you! Thank you, Mother. I shall find something I promise, and it won’t cost you a thing.”
Lillian swiveled her chair away once more, “See to it.” She called over her shoulder.
Lena again couldn’t help the smile that spread across her face as she left the study and ran up to her room. Once there she jumped around in a circle, thrilled to be able to attend the ball where she will dance with Kara all night long.
A dress wasn’t going to be a problem, Lena had just the one in the bottom of her trunk. It might not be very fancy, but it was a dress she had been able to keep from her birth mother. Excited about it Lena went to pull it out of the trunk, dusting it off and finding a hanger to hang it up on the outside of her wardrobe. There she could look at it and dream about wearing it in just a week and a few days.
The dress was beautiful, and she remembered her mom wearing it on special occasions. It was a light pink off the shoulder dress with ties on the shoulders and a synched waist. Lena thought that she could make a makeshift sash to tie around the middle from one of her old shirts and maybe find some jewelry lying around the house to adorn it with. Either way she knew Kara was going to love It.
Later that week Lena met Kara at their usual spot, Sun already setting as the days were getting shorter. When Lena arrived, Kara was already seated by the pond, knees pulled to her chest, deep in thought. Lena tied Sam up next to Mon-El and fed her an apple from Mon-El’s saddle bag before going to sit next to Kara.
“Fancy meeting you here.” Lena said as she sank down next to the blonde. “What are you thinking so hard about?”
Kara looked up and smiled at Lena, “You.” She said softly before leaning forward and kissing Lena quickly on the lips. “How was your week?” Kara asked.
Lena tried to hide her smile, “Oh you know the usual, chores and cooking. Oh, and I got permission to attend the ball…”
This shot Kara to attention as she uncurled her legs and turned to Lena, “Wait. What? Are you serious?”
Lena nodded with the biggest smile Kara had ever seen, “I even have my mother’s dress to wear.”
Kara pulled Lena in and kissed her once more, both of them smiling under the kiss. “I’m so happy.” Kara told her once she pulled back.
“Are you excited?” Kara asked brushing some of Lena’s raven hair behind her ear.
Lena nodded, “Nervous too. But excited mainly.”
“Nervous? Why are you nervous, Sweetheart?” Kara asked, a concerned crinkle showing between her eyes.
Lena shrugged, “Yeah, part of me can’t help but think that Lillian is playing at something here, but who knows, she hasn’t been too terrible since the plate incident. Plus…I can’t dance.”
Kara grabbed Lena’s hand and squeezed, “I promise I will not let Lillian ruin this for us.” She vowed as Lena nodded and kept her eyes down.
Kara hooked a finger under Lena’s chin and tilted so that they were looking at each other once more, “I promise. Okay?”
Lena nodded, “Okay.”
“Now for the dancing,” Kara said standing up and pulling Lena up with her, “I can help with that.”
Lena laughed as Kara pulled her into a waltz stance, “There isn’t any music Kara.”
Kara shrugged, “So? We can still dance! Now just relax and let me lead. If you get comfortable you can try leading later.”
Lena just nodded before Kara took off in a practiced waltz.
They spent the rest of their time together that day dancing around the lake and next to the horses. Both breathless by the time it was time to part and both content in the fact that they will be seeing each other very soon.