October 25, 1491

The day of the party approached quickly. Klaus and Elijah prepared for days, calling on chefs and decorators from all around Europe to make it one of the most exquisite parties anyone had ever been to.
I wondered how the two brothers did it all, and so quickly too. They managed to get the invitations out so quickly, and have so many people ready to do what they needed.
I didn't question it though. The excitement was enough to mostly keep those thoughts out of my head. In the past few days, I had been fitted for a gown and tasted nearly ten different kinds of wine.
It was more exciting than anything I'd ever done in Bulgaria.
The day of the party was more flustered than any of the days before it. Everyone was rushing around, and I hadn't spotted either of the brothers all day.
Maids that worked at the house were always whisking me off to my chambers to get a new stitch sewn into my dress or to see if a certain pearl necklace complimented my skin tone.
The day flew by, and I had barely noticed the sun had dipped behind the mountains when I was suddenly brought back upstairs again, this time to change into my dress and jewelry and makeup for real.
When the maids were finished, they bowed their heads and left the room, leaving me enthralled by my appearance.
I was wearing a dark red, velvet dress, with pearls around my neck and adorning my wrists. My hair was up slightly, a bit of it trailing down onto the low cut back of the dress. My lips were painted a dark red as well, and my eyes looked more vibrant with the dark color now on my eyes.
This was a reflection I had never seen before. I loved it.
I truly looked beautiful.
There was a knock of the door and I was pulled out of my trance.
"Yes?" I responded to the knocking.
Katerina entered the room.
She looked just as lovely, in her light purple dress and long hair falling down her back. Yet I couldn't help but notice the bump in her stomach, and wondered if others would too.
"The party's starting. The maids suggested we come down together." she said stiffly. 
I nodded and followed her out of the room.
"Where's Klaus?" she asked me in a whisper as we walked the winding of hallways of the Mikaelson estate.
I shook my head. I hadn't seen either of the brothers all day.
"I will not show up without a date." she said, looking defiant.
"I'm sure they'll show up, Katerina." I said softly.
They always did.
And as if on cue, both brothers stepped out of a doorway, adorned in their party wear.
"How do you two always know the right time to be here?" Katerina said, laughing lightly.
Klaus grinned and kissed Katerina's hand, making her smirk.
But before he took her arm to lead her downstairs, he took my hand to kiss it as well.
"If Elijah here ever bores you, be sure to just come dance with me." he said, chuckling.
I blushed, and watched Klaus take Katerina's arm and whisk her off to the party.
"Ana?"
I turned, to see Elijah. He looked extremely handsome in his party wear. He normally wore such simple clothes, so it was really a surprise to see him wearing such elegance.
It looked like he was just seeing me for the first time too.
For the first time since I had met him, soft spoken Elijah was speechless as he looked at me.
"Elijah?" I responded, and he blinked, shaking his head.
"You look absolutely lovely." he said.
I smiled at him.
"And you look quite handsome."
He offered his hand to me, and I took it.
As soon as our hands touched, I felt a shiver run up my spine.
We walked down the stairs together, towards the entrance to the ballroom.
"I hope you enjoy your first party." Elijah said to me.
And the butlers opened the door.
It was like nothing I had ever seen before. The ballroom was decorated from floor to ceiling with red and purple velvet banners. Maids and butlers walked around carrying trays of fine foods and wine. The crystal chandelier was lit, as well as every candle in the large room. Music played from almost every corner of the room, the orchestra providing it decked out in their finest. And the people were some of the grandest I had ever seen. They all walked and danced as if they were kings and queens, and because of them, the room pulsed with a regal, exciting energy.
Elijah noticed my thrill at the sight, and nudged me to move on, and out of the way of newcomers.
"How?"
Was the only word I could get out, and Elijah chuckled.
"We just know many people, Ana."
I shook my head in utter amazement.
"Now come on," he teased.
"If you stop gawking, we can actually dance."
I found myself laughing as Elijah swept me away onto the dance floor.
The next few hours were full of laughing, talking, and dancing.
I was finding out more about Elijah than I had in the month or so that we had been here, and I was truly enjoying learning about him.
And I was truly enjoying being with him.
But after hours of dancing, I was becoming rather tired, and out of breath.
I had never found myself moving this much.
Elijah noticed my exhaustion and gestured to me, leading me out into the cool air of the courtyard.
I had been out here before, but never at night. It was quieter at night, more peaceful.
"Enjoying the party?" Elijah asked, his hand resting on my back. My pulse sped up as his fingers traced the seam of my dress.
"It's been amazing, Elijah. Thank you." I said, the words only coming out in a whisper.
He moved closer and I could feel his breath on my ear, the rush of the wind over the trees echoing the buzzing sensation that lit through my body.
He suddenly turned me to face him, laying one hand on my cheek.
All my senses seemed to zero in at that moment: the wind on my face, the throb of blood in my veins, the thrill that traveled directly from Elijah's fingertips into my body.
He leaned in closer, and I was ready to close my eyes and feel his lips connect with mine, but the sound of footsteps interrupted, and Elijah pulled away.
Katerina and Klaus stood there, both looking very angry.
Klaus gestured at Elijah angrily, and Elijah looked down, as if he couldn't believe what had just happened.
"Ana, I shall see you later." he said, and then followed his brother, the two of them already speaking in hushed tones as the left the courtyard.
That left Katerina and I standing there alone.
"What the hell were you doing?" Katerina said, walking over to me.
"I was going to kiss Elijah, but then you ruined it." I muttered.
"You know I like Elijah." she said, crossing her arms over her chest.
"You can't like two men at once, Katerina. You're playing with their emotions." I replied, looking at her pointedly.
"Watch me like two men at once, Ana. Just watch me. The Mikaelson brothers are mine." she said, leaning in close to my face.
"You cannot dictate who I can and cannot like." I said.
I wasn't letting Katerina scare me with her words, not this time.
Looking shocked, Katerina backed off of me.
Shaking her head, she turned and ran off in the same direction the brothers had left in, leaving me standing in the dark.