Another Love
Disclaimer: I don't own Roxane, The Black Prince, Dustfinger, Cloud-Dancer, Capricorn or any other characters.
Chapter 1:
The First Meeting
A woman swirled around and around dancing to the music of the strolling players. She stomped her feet in rhythm of the drums. Her raven colored hair flew wildly around her head, and her brightly colored skirt swung around her legs. The music swelled up around her getting faster and faster. She could see all of the on lookers watching her intently as she swirled and stomped. The music halted and she stopped along with it.
The crowd went wild as they threw coins into a wooden bowl by her feet. The clinking of coins falling onto other coins made her smile. She bowed a deep curtsy, and smiled to the crowd. She bent over to gather her money, when a voice spoke behind her. "Look what we have here. I didn't know Capricorn let you go?" The woman turned around to see Basta looking at her with an evil and wicked grin.
"No one wants you to ruin the festivities Basta." The woman spoke the words with no fear in her voice. She turned back around and gathered her money.
As she stood up, Basta was leering into her face. "Going somewhere? Capricorn really wants you back." His breath reeked of peppermint, making the woman gag.
"Leave her alone Basta. No one wants you here. Today is a day of celebration, not war." Basta looked at the man with a look of fear in his eyes. The man's large bear growled at him as he melted into the crowds.
The woman turned around to look at her rescuer and was awed by his looks. The man's black skin looked even blacker against his black hair. He stood and carried himself like a born leader. He wore a black shirt that was open and showed his muscled body. He had three long bladed in his belt and wore a slight smile on his serious face. "Thank you," said Roxane, "for getting rid of Basta. He has always given me trouble."
The black man just smiled and held out his hand. "I am the Black Prince, leader of the Motley Crew. You must be new to the kingdom."
The woman smiled shyly at the Prince and said, "I am Roxane. I have traveled from the Castle of Night. I use to work and perform for the Adderhead." Roxane said thanks one last time, and prepared to head to the castle gates.
As she turned to leave, the Prince reached out his hand and grabbed hers. He swung her around and asked her a question. Her skirt swung around her legs as she turned to look at the Prince. "I was wondering if you…um… Are staying anywhere, you know like a camp of some kind, or are you staying alone?" The Prince's awkwardness made Roxane laugh.
"Would you like me to travel with your company?" Roxane looked at the Prince with a sideways glance.
"Yes. Yes I would." Roxane smiled at the Prince one last time before she disappeared into the crowd.