"What is the meaning of this!?" Baron Marius cried, striding forth through the crowd with the Duke in tow. Beren forgot the Duke's name, but he was understandably busy at the moment so he forgive himself forgetting at the moment. The brutes held Beren by the arms and waist, and one even had a leg, however all of them including Beren had stopped struggling when the nobles approached. With no answer forthcoming, he reiterated with: "I asked a question!" 

"These men are attacking me, my lord." Beren said. 

"This'n attacked the lady Rachel!" One of the thugs exclaimed. 

"I didn't!" 

"Where is Jocasta?" The Baron asked, and when one man opened his mouth to speak, he gave the man a cutting glare. 

"She went on the balcony. I don't know sir, I was going after her when these guys jumped me. This girl here-" 

"Lady..." the Baron reminded him. The woman had gotten up now, her cheeks flushed and her eyes looking nervously from side to side, downcast though they were. Beren couldn't guess her game or her problem, but she was attempting to do something to get him in trouble. He would find out at some point, but right now his priority was finding Jocasta. 

"My lady here asked me for a dance, I said no and stepped past her, and she fell over somehow. I didn't touch her." Beren expressed. 

"I can vouche, sir," Alberad stated with a courtly poise, striding around the buffet table to present himself before the leading nobles. He stepped like a dancer, and his eyes, though kind, were as sharp as knives. The Duke, a stately man in a dress of loud colors, gave a smile to the dignitary. 

"None of us would dare question elven eyes, sir." He stated diplomatically, and looked to the men. "Let the man go about his business. It seems to have been a misunderstanding. Do it, now." 

Slowly, Beren felt arms leaving his body and he was able to stretch again. He was just about to step away, before he remembered his manners and gave a bow to the elf, the baron, and the duke. "My lords, I appreciate it. If you'll excuse me." 

"Go on," The Baron said. 

Beren didn't wait for a second invitation. He jogged away, weaving around the dancers and servers and opening the curtain to the balcony to see Jocasta there, lounging above the balustrade, leaning with her arms and looked down into the lights of the street below. Beren started to announce his presence, but he paused and simply looked at her. This was nerve wracking, he realized. Ok, this is big but you can handle it. 

"Hey," he said. Jocasta turned and looked at him, her eyes wide like saucers. Her lips moved, but no words were forthcoming and he held his hands up. "Hold on, let me speak. Uh... ok, I should think before I do that, probably. Ok, so... I don't know what's wrong. I know something is bothering you, but I was planning on..." Beren fished into his pockets, getting it wrong the first time but finding the other pocket held what he sought. "-giving you something..." 

"Beren..." 

He pulled out a small black case, small enough to fit in her palm. He walked up to the balcony's edge with the container in his hands, and her eyes bugged out when she saw it. "What are you doing?" She asked, aghast. 

"Uh, well... look, I really like you. And, yesterday when you were back at the manor I went around and found something I thought you might like. I wanted tonight to kind of be special, but so far it's been strange. But stuff is only as awkward or weird as you decide to make it. I bought this for you, because... I realized over the last month or two, I have a big crush on you, and I wanted to get you this so..." 

He placed it in her hands, and when she opened it, inside were two earrings of gilded bronze. They were carved into the likeness of a dragonfly, split down the middle. Each one had an eye of sapphire, and there were small grooves on the outer edges that looked as if they fit together like a small puzzle. A bit of parchment stuck out of the top of the case, and within was a small note that read: 

[center]Rose are red 
I'll give this a shot 
My poetry sucks 
But I think you're pretty hot.[/center]