Dancers twirled like exotic butterflies. Their silks and velvets whispered like contented lovers. Their jewels and glittering swords dazzled the onlookers with its variety of colours, how merrily they danced to the joyous tune created by instruments wielded by the talented musicians that remained hidden in the corner of the room. The merry laughter and loud voices enveloped Kel like a mothers embrace. She enjoyed it after so many years of fighting at the Scanran border with her fighting refugees. She loved the feeling of not having to worry and fear for her people. They, with her training had become better at looking after themselves and their home of New Hope. New Hope had finally been rebuilt and has become a lively and prosperous place where Kel ruled as Commander as she had done so five years earlier during the Scanran war.
Kel sighed happily sipping her fruit juice; alcohol did funny things to her. It nice to be served with respect instead of the mild contempt she faced after her ordeal. God knows it was entertaining to see her friends dance with giggling ladies while their mother's looked on, watching for any respectable husbands for their daughters. Looking at Owen she shook her head. He was a lost hope.He was terribly shy around girls, but attracted many like moths to a flame. He was always targeted by matchmakers and hounding mothers. His handsome face flushed, its scar on one of his cheeks turning white due to the stress of trying to remember his steps to the dance, while dancing with a mousy haired girl in a blue dress. Kel winced as Owen dressed in a deep purple tunic stepped on the poor girl's feet, she had to interrupt them soon or the girl would be in danger of losing feeling in both her feet.
Suddenly the tempo changed and people swapped partners for the tune of the Lonely Maiden. It was preferred by many due to its slower pace which gave couples time to breathe and get to know each other. Dancing to it was relaxing due to the scented candles of white roses and jasmine and the dimness of the lamps in the great hall. Romance just drifted in the air. "May I have this dance Lady Knight?" Queried a familiar voice to her left, breaking Kel's train of thought. Nervously but with a smile on her face, Kel turned and saw a dashingly good looking man with twinkling blues eyes and a mischievous smile. "Why Sergeant Domitian, I'll be happy to dance with you" she replied and thus was led on to the dance floor. Feeling the eyes of many people Kel looked at Dom's shoulder while they danced. The feeling of his arms around her waist was making her crazy with desire for him but dared not show it. She knew that feeling would not be returned in the same way. While dancing through the other dancers, Kel thought many things other than Dom's arm around her. For some time they danced in a companionable silence.
Suddenly, "You look amazing Kel" he whispered down to her.
"Th-Thanks" she replied and blushed, the compliment destroying her Yamani cool. She looked quickly at Dom through lowered eye lashes. What she saw made her stomach flutter and pulse increase. He was looking at her intently; something in his eyes made her suddenly uncomfortable and she tried to loosen his hold on her when inside she really wanted him to hold her tighter. As if figuring that, Dom held her tighter bringing them much closer than manners dictated. The song neared it's end.
"Dom" she whispered hesitantly when she saw her other friends looking at the curiously and people whispering. "Dom", she said a bit louder. "The songs finished" she moved away with force releasing his hold on her and hurried through to the royal garden for some badly needed fresh air. Dom just stood transfixed at her retreating back.
"What did you say to her Masbolle? Asked his cousin Neal angrily, he was Kel's best friend. His wife Yuki looked at Dom carefully, her Yamani fan flicking back and forth in front of her face in an attempt to cool her down and help her think at her friend's sudden disappearance.
" I told her she looked great, is that a wrong thing to do? Dom snapped at his meathead cousin.
"Complimenting a friend is one thing, but embarrassing her in front of many people is another thing" replied Yuki her voice cool and steady.
"You should have let go!" she closed her deadly fan with a decisive snap and headed off to find her friend in the royal garden, leaving the men to argue heatedly.
Kel leaned on the garden rails miserably, noticing the other couples carefully tried to conceal themselves as the kissed and whispering sweet nothings to each other through the queens rose bushes. Hearing a rustling behind her she saw her friend Yuki glowing in a dark blue kimono with white flowers decorating it.
"I needed some fresh air, it was getting stuffy in there" Kel said hurriedly as her friend came closer. The dress that Lalasa made of forest green for Kel shimmered as she leaned further on the railing.
"Right, drawled the curvy Yamani and it just happened that a certain gentleman held you a little bit longer than necessary after the last dance, or I don't know maybe I was seeing things like the rest of us" Yuki sat down on a bench beside arose bush and yawned elegantly, fanning herself as the summer heat trickled through the air. She waited for her friend to reveal all as she knew she would. Minutes later Kel couldn't stand it "He embarrassed himself Yuki and me in front of many of the court gossips, my parents, their majesties and the conservatives buffoons" moaned Kel.
"Maybe he did so because he was surprised at what he saw; it's not every day that you get dressed up this finely Kel, even though Lalasa, Shiko and me had to do most of the work." Yuki replied patiently, while watching a couple stumble their way from the inner gardens to the party their muffled laughter echoing slightly air.
"I love him Yuki, what am I to do?" Whispered Kel as tears slipped down her painted cheeks. Pity filled Yuki for her dear friend that held so many close to her heart but who couldn't find someone to be her other half. Well, she'd have to do something about that thought Yuki, and thought about it.