"You have no idea how to dance do you?" she asked, a small smile spreading across her face. A reward from the King in the form of a dance with the Princess. But the Princess and David were not dancing; they were standing in the middle of the cleared floor. It was his standing there like a lost puppy that urged her to ask.
With a deep breath David let it all out quickly, with the same thinking of ripping off a Band Aid. "Not even a little bit." What compelled him to ask for a dance with the Princess was beyond even his own comprehension. The suit was getting too tight in the collar and the room seemed unbearably hot now, or was that just because he didn't want to embarrass himself further? "You know, this really seemed like a great idea a minute ago."
With any other man she might be tempted to bring him down a peg or two. But there was something special about this David Shepherd, beyond the obvious fact that he had saved her brother. Maybe his honesty and sincerity compelled her to feel sorry for him. "There are a lot of people watching you right now. You know that?"
Michelle's words hit him like a bullet. His mouth felt dry now and in vain he attempted to swallow. The result was little more than a nervous bobbing of his Adam's apple. "Now, yes," he said with complete candor, marveling at the fact that his voice didn't tremble. "Very, very clear."
It was not hard for Michelle to see that David had just realized that he was being watched by some of the most powerful and influential people in the country. And on of those men was her father. In any other situation she would have laughed, but instead she felt pity. "Follow my lead," she whispered to him, saving him further awkwardness.
David felt the Princess' petite hand tighten its grip on his shoulder. As he felt her left leg move away from his he fell in to being led around the dance floor. Maybe this night wouldn't end with a mortifying accident after all. It was only too easy to imagine committing a faux pas in this austere palace. The clothing of any one of these people would be more than enough to buy his family's farm and turn it in to a chain restaurant.
"Um, I'm sorry about before. I took my bad day out on you." She had baited him earlier, and gotten a taste of her own medicine. She should know better than to let personal things slip out in public, even if in that room alone with David hadn't felt public.
"Princessing is hard work, huh?" David smiled, wondering what it was that could give a Princess a bad day. Was her tea served to her cold, or something else? He had no idea what went on here but how could it be? Would it be anywhere near what he had been through? He doubted as much.
"Health reform actually. I showed them a way to help people and got told it was inconvenient. Trying to get a six year old a new heart." Her father had told her once to act professional when presenting a case at court. How could he say something like that when he uses his pet name of 'puppy' in front of the entire court? He didn't even listen to her proposal before dismissing her. "What?" she asked, wondering at the odd look on his face.
David hadn't expected something so self-sacrificing from the Princess. This was something he never would have imagined in any day dream he'd conjured up in his boyhood days back on the farm. She was different, not just from anyone he'd even met before but from most of the people here as well. "I never would have pegged you for a benevolent."
Michelle looked at him for a moment, surprised by this farm boy turned soldier turned hero for the second time today. And she laughed; a genuine laugh that went a long way to erasing her bad day. "I won't live that down will I?" she questioned, still chuckling.
"No, I don't think so Princess," David said, marveling at the mirth in her expressive eyes. Those eyes had clued him in to how seriously she took the health care reforms that had been shot down. They also keyed him in to the fact that she was not as hostile as she appeared earlier in the evening.
"Michelle," she told him simply, continuing to lead him in the dance. "I would not have pegged you as a masochist. Or do you always volunteer to do things you have no knowledge of?"
David laughed at his own expense. Asking for a dance with no ability what so ever to dance was not the most brilliant idea. Neither was standing up to face the Goliath, but maybe both events would have serendipitous effects on his life. "David," he replied, still smiling.
Alright I added a good deal to this scene. But all we have to go on is David and Michelle talking and laughing as Silas looks on. And I realized that I didn't say 'pegged' when Michelle says that to David in the first chapter. These things happen. I am amazing with two chapters in one night! And already one review! Amazing! I intend to continue, hope everyone enjoys this as much as I do.
