((A/N: I really feel no need to explain(I believe the title says it all) but just because I feel like it, I shall.
There are five variations of the 100 themes challenge. I intend to do all 500 X3 Yes, I do realize I'm insane.))
500 Themes to Insanity
#1 Introduction
Figures danced a waltz across the floor, none of their faces were memorable but their masks certainly were. The masquerade was going beautifully, the lights sparkled, the dancers were graceful, the music grand…
All was perfect.
From where he stood, above the ballroom floor and leaning over a banister, Fakir vaguely wished he would have been aloud to attend.
But no, he was a maid's son. Friend of the crown prince or not, it did not change his birth. It did not change what blood flowed through him.
Despite this he would be a knight once he grew old enough, and though he was sure he would never be able to waltz across the marble floor with the rest, he would at least be able to stand by his prince and guard him from harm.
The music struck a slow song and the eight year old boy almost let out a sound of disinterest and disgust at the dancers now changing from a waltz to something far more romantic.
Well, he thought determined, if he ever were to dance across that beautiful ballroom, he would be sure to avoid this song. There was no way he would dance to such a 'romantic' tune. It just didn't suit his character.
Though, despite his inner distaste, he could not help but admit that the masquerade still held its absolute perfection. The dancers mimicked each other grandly while the musicians matched each step with a melody.
It was really almost magical looking, like something straight from a fairy tale.
As he watched with melancholy eyes, he couldn't help but spot the imperfection in the absolute beauty.
There, under of the many grandly decorated tables, a table cloth rustled and a bright head of hair popped out briefly before hiding under once more in embarrassment.
An intruder? The boy was immediately on edge, narrowing his dark green eyes he attempted to spot the suspect once more. There, once more, the head came out, a little to left and this time looking about the room before hiding again.
It didn't take long for him to recognize them as a child. Confusion knit his brow, what was a child doing in the ballroom? Only the crown prince was aloud to be there despite being young and he had been restricted to stand by the throne throughout the ball.
It was obvious the girl didn't belong.
But how to abstract her without attracting the attention of the masses? He wasn't even supposed to be on the stairway!
The head hid under the table again and he awaited her next spy.
It didn't happen.
His eyebrows furrowed together further, where did the girl go—?
"Hi!" Fakir jumped, whirling around to face the sudden voice. Confusion was the first thing that came to him, how had the girl managed to sneak up all the stairs?
"You—"
"I saw you looking at the ballroom from up her and thought the view must be very nice! Oh! My names Ahiru! What's yours?"
Fakir blinked, taken aback by her abrupt statements and questions, who did this girl think she was? He looked at her clothing briefly; she was obviously a commoner, though she had managed to look semi presentable for the ball.
He should turn her in! She'd snuck into the castle, she could be a spy!
But… then they would find out he was at the ball… he glanced back at Ahiru, she couldn't be much younger than he was but her face shown with a youth that you didn't see often among the poor. She was either not really poor or… heaven forbid, an optimist.
"Hello? Are you even in there?" he jumped, only now noticing she had gotten within hands reach in the time he had spaced out. Darting out of her reach he glared.
"What are you doing here?!" he hissed out, sure to make himself look as tall and intimidating as he could.
She blinked at his cold attitude and shuffled her feet, "I wanted to see the ball…"
'So you risked going to jail for life?!' he didn't spit out this question however, instead he sent her one of his ever famous skeptical looks…
…well, famous in his mind. Someday he would become great at it. People would dread to see it!
Fakir, though he hadn't realized it, was a bit of a dreamer.
She frowned as his expression, her lower lip sticking out just the tiniest bit and she clenched her fists. Even though Fakir was not nearly as intimidating as he'd like to think, Ahiru was able to recognize the expression easily.
All she'd wanted to do was make friends with the boy! He didn't have to be so mean!
"You never told me your name."
Fakir blinked, surprised by her statement. Inwardly, he'd been preparing to fight her off; the expression on her face had expressed her wishes to hit him more than anything else could. Instead he'd received another invitation of friendship?
She was weird, he decided firmly.
"Why should I tell you?" he nearly hit his own head, he'd just avoided conflict and now he was riling her up again? And he'd thought she was stupid!
Though, somehow, he couldn't help it. Something in him, just at the sight of this girl, something in him screamed for him to be cruel as he could. She was setting him off balance, her and her little surprising nature too!
She grit her teeth and Fakir resisted gulping, he'd spent enough time outside the castle to know that village girls tended to get violent(one girl, Rue, had slugged him for scoffing at her).
"Well, Nameless-san, would you like to dance with me?"
Fakir blinked, it took him awhile to digest 'Nameless-san' and when he finally did he was able to register her question.
She wanted to dance with him?!
Seeing his expression of the greatest distaste, she sighed and looked to the ground forlornly, "You wouldn't be my first choice to dance with…" this much was obvious, "But…"
Fakir's eyes widened when he caught her eyes twinkling with the distinct shade of tears.
"But…" she bit her lip to resist tears, "I-I really wanted to dance a-and…" she gulped, her voice was cracking. Why did her voice have to crack in front of him?! He was going to laugh at her, she was sure!
She had more to say but she didn't dare speak nor did she look up from the carpeted ground. She'd always liked the ledge between stairs, it was empty most of the time, yes, but it had its charms. And this one certainly did with its beautiful carpet and lovely paintings.
She heard a sigh and flinched, this was it. He was going to start laughing and then call the guards on her. She'd thought he'd looked so lonely standing on the stairs, viewing the perfect scene below. She knew already that she had been completely wrong about his personality but now she pondered whether or not he'd truly looked lonely, perhaps he was just anti-social.
Suddenly, ripping her from her thoughts, a hand took its place on her waist, another resting gently on her shoulder. Her gaze shot up to meet his but she did not meet his eyes, his eyes were directed anywhere but the village girl before him and if she had dared to look at his face longer she might have caught the red cheeks that matched her own.
She didn't say anything, she knew that anything she said could ruin it and she was so close to being able to dance at a ball that she would not risk her blabber mouth ruining it all.
The previous song ended and he began to move elegantly just as the orchestra struck up a new one. Ahiru found herself doing her very best to simply avoid landing on his feet(she didn't dare look at his face after all), she did not know how to dance well. While under the tables, she had memorized many steps but she had never practiced.
The boy had obviously had lessons before, his skillful movements saved her from many falls that she was sure her clumsiness would have otherwise permitted. Though, as the song progressed, she found herself growing used to the movements, the music and even found herself able to look up from her feet.
Still though, she refused to look at his face. She felt as if a wonderful spell that had been cast would be broken if she looked at her partners face. She did not want the dance to end, she did not want the song to end, and she most certainly wished that even when they inevitably did, the boy would take no notice.
He was kind enough to dance with her, this much was true, but she was also sure that he was likely irritable at having such a horrible partner.
A sudden jerking motion later and she was spinning, it took her only a moment to realize that it was part of the dance. Worries pushed aside she smiled widely, resisting the joyful laugh building in her throat.
It might break the spell.
They danced without a thought for so long that Ahiru had entirely forgotten that it must end inevitably, and as she heard the familiar cords of the song they danced to ending she could not resist turning her eyes to face the nameless boy.
Deep green eyes met a clear blue.
His face was flushed, likely from the exertion of dancing; his eyes were twinkling and his expression somewhere between surprised and happy.
Her own flushed face brightened, an embarrassed feeling rushing through her. It made her want to run from the room hurriedly but at the same time made her want nothing more than to remain.
But, as most children tend to, she followed her first instinct. Jumping away from the contact as if she'd been burned she gave a wobbly curtsy. Gulping, she spoke, "Th-thank you for dancing with me..." She wouldn't make the mistake of looking at his face again; she was going to memorize the pattern of the carpet.
Fakir, feeling the urge to be mean once more, restrained it in favor of the etiquette he had been learning since he could speak, "It was my pleasure." He thanked the lord his voice didn't express how nervous he was feeling.
"I-I have to go! I'm ex-expected home! Good-bye!" before Fakir could even get a word in edgewise, she was already rushing off. Tempted to call after her, he decided against it.
He was a man of action after all.
She only made a few yards before his hand gripped her wrist.
"Fakir."
She blinked in surprise.
"My name is Fakir."
Slowly, a shy smile crawled onto her lips. Taking her wrist from his lightened grip, she spoke softly to the ground.
"It's nice to meet you…"
((Ending Notes: Am I the only one that thought that was cutest thing ever? X3
Now! Heed my warning! Listen to this absolutely shameless advertising and read 'Schwert und Feder' by RenkonNairu:3 it is absolutely delicious(and cryptic)! Very much worth the read! Heed my shameless advertising!
-Muse-chan eating pizza!))