As the days went by, the castle became more chaotic. Slaves were worked overtime to decorate the castle walls and ceilings. Some slaves had already begun harvesting food, preparing it for the fateful day. Some bunnies could be seen motioning in carriages stocked with food and drinks from other places around the land. Bucks and does alike could be seen nervously asking each other out. Bucks from the village would ask the princess or does also from the village. And Princes and Princess' would be asking rabbits from the village, although some could be seen writing parchments to the different kingdoms and fiefs attending this years Feast.
Nick was in the kitchen. It was the only task he could do with his leg being as it is. He was busy chopping carrots, radishes and many other vegetables, some of them foreign to Nick. As he was chopping a large carrot, he looked up at the water clock standing on a little shelf. Almost choking, he realised he was late. Grabbing his wooden crutch he hobbled as fast as he could, manoeuvring around the many mammals preparing food. Ignoring the old head chef yelling after him, the fox moved as fast as he could, out of the kitchen, into the many winding hallways and turning the corner. At the corner, Nick's stride faltered. His breathing increased as he felt panic rise into his throat. Closing his eyes he took in deep breaths.
'If an attack happens, close your eyes, breath deep and think of something warm, comforting. Something to hold you to reality.'
Clawhauser's voice echoed in his head. Nick listened to the advice and took a deep breath in.
Purple
He breathed out.
Grey
Breath in
Purple
Breath out
Grey
The mental image of something purple and grey mixed together, until Nick opened his eyes. The panic seemed to slowly go down. Gulping for good measure Nick then quickly hobbled to the tower doorway. Opening it he was greeted to the normal brush of cold air. Walking up the stairs, he felt his stomach knot in nervousness. Finally, he was at the usual door. The bland wooden door that he walked through every day without second thoughts. But now he stood there, uncertain and nervous. The knot in his stomach started to hurt the longer he stood there. Extended his dark velvet paws he gripped the cold iron ring. Breathing in Nick started pushing the bland door. The thing beyond the door anything but bland.
Judy had been waiting for almost thirty minutes now. Doubt and fear started to creep into her mind that something has happened to Nick. But before any more dark thoughts could corrupt her, Judy could hear the soft and uneven sound of thudding wood. Smiling slightly, she lightly dusted her clothes. The thudding got closer until she could hear it right outside the door, where the noise stopped. Listening closely, she heard a deep breath, then the door slowly swinging open. The red russet fox looked at the grey bunny. And Judy had to suppress a smile, she crossed her arms.
"You're late." She said, a grin already spreading on her face. Nick warmly smiled back and walked towards his bed, sitting down and letting the crutch fall onto the wall.
"Sorry Carrots. Was a bit busy chopping… Carrots." Nick explained, his own little grin spreading on his face. Judy couldn't keep up the serious facade anymore and broke out giggling.
"Well my next call is half an hours time away, so let's get started shall we?" She outstretched her paw. Nick nodded and bent over to reach under his bed. Finally finding it he brought it out. It was two long wooden sticks, with iron strapped along it. The two sticks joined together by a circular mechanic. The same was repeated, with two other wooden sticks with the same mechanic. With instructions from the bubbly cheetah, he had guided the local blacksmith to cook something up. Each stick had a belt-like strap on it, connecting to the other sticks. At the top of the device was wood that turned into an arc shape. Carefully putting on the device and tightening the belts. Nick tested them by giving them a little wiggle. Satisfied he moved to the next pair of sticks, strapping those too on his leg. Then the wooden arc. It was cushioned by a large, thin pillow. He positioned that on his waist and did up the belt around his whole waist, coming back to the wood and fastening the strap. Nick would usually wear clothes over this, but he had no time to get changed, and as well as a certain bunny in the room.
Standing up on his right foot, Nick gently let his left foot touch the ground. And he stood. A smile broke out like every time he'd put in on. He tested walking, slowly at first then faster until he was in a stride. His movement was still lanky and limping, but he was walking none-the-less. Actually walking. Then he turned to the bunny, a smile still on his face he outstretched his paw as well. Judy gently rested her paw on his. His heartbeat getting faster he enclosed his paw dark velvet paw over her light grey one. Nick placed his other paw on her hip. Because of Judy's height, she just settled with his arm.
"So do you remember the last lesson?" Judy asked as they stood there. Nick nodded, the knot in his stomach coming back. Then they started.
Slowly and carefully, they danced across the room, Judy mumbling One two three One two three in rhythm with their steps. Nick nearly tripped about five times, better than his eight from yesterday. The fox almost stood on Judy as well and they had lost rhythm four times now. Nick's cheeks burned in embarrassment, but also something else he couldn't place. When they finally got into the rhythm, and no more tripping or stumbling, Judy cleared her throat.
"So Nick, have any idea on who you're gonna dance with?" She asked, avoiding eye contact. Also clearing his throat in embarrassment Nick replied the best he could.
"No idea might meet someone there that's keen. How about you?" He asked back, looked down at the bunny, who still looked away.
"Yeah yeah same, if someone is keen…" Judy then looked up at the fox. Their eyes locked. Both of them knew that when they said someone, they were talking about each other. They both looked away with cheeks on fire. The dancing a little bit tenser than it was before. After a while of the dancing, the two mammals split apart, Nicks paw lingering on her's, before letting go somewhat reluctantly.
"Good job Nick, a great improvement from last time. Same time tomorrow?" She asked, picking up her books for her many classes. Nick nodded mutely, already missing the pressure on his paw. With a smile, she hopped to the door and continued on down the tower stairs.
"Bye Judy." He muttered, already knowing she couldn't hear him. Coming out of his haze he then walked to his bed, taking off the contraption and grabbing his wooden crutch. Already missing the sensation of walking he hobbled out of the room as well. Heading towards the main hall.
=-.-=
Nick was known by the supervisors to have somewhat of a keen eye to detail. Something the fox had picked up after years of being on the run. So now he was tasked to scan over everything in the castle and instruct fellow predators to fix up little mishaps. He had already spotted many errors. For example, some of the silk hanging from the ceiling would be too high or low, or the massive flags leaning slightly. Now the tod was in the main hall. The long oak tables took up most of the hall, with a more elegant table at the end, which would host the royals and high nobles. Nick was currently looking carefully at the silver cutlery, the plates and dishes and the little decorations here and there. Spotting an uneven space between cutlery Nick quickly and lightly moved a silver fork closer to the knife. Satisfied he moved to the next set. This went on, Nick noticed little imperfections and easily fixing them. This went on and on until he'd reached the royal table. All the other tables were vertical, but this table was horizontal to them. It was covered with a lush red and gold table cloth. On it was gold cutlery and more gold accessories. Everything on the table seemed all neat and in order. Nodding Nick then left the hall and made it towards the assembly hall. Walking in the massive hall, the ceiling reached upwards were silk and decorations hung. The hall was now empty, the opposite of what it was like a couple of days ago. There were a few slaves scattered around the hall as well as the normal supervisor. The middle of the hall was empty, it was reserved for the dancing that would take place late after the introductions and feast. The knot in his stomach came back as he thought about the dance. Most rabbits here didn't know it but in Nicks culture, dancing was more than just a mere way to pass the time or entertainment. Dancing was more romantic, intimate. Dancing with someone was like going up to them and shouting 'I LOVE YOU!' Nick had never danced in his life. The male foxes were the one to usually start the dance, and he never has in his life. He used to watch his parents dance all the time in his castles main hall in such events. The love in their eyes as they spun and looked at each other. Practice dancing, of course, was just that, practice. Nothing more, nothing less. Yeah, just practice. Shaking out of his haze, he looked at the details of the hall. The benches at the side of sitting mammals if they were too tired, or alone. There were some smaller tables as well, most likely for drinks of all sorts.
Looking over the flags and clothes of the hall, he looked closely at one of the flags. Then calling over another predator, a large wolf, instructed him to move the flag slightly to the right. Then Nick stepped back and blinked.
Purple
Shaking it off he realized he let the wolf move it too much to the right and made him slightly move it left.
Grey
Shaking his head Nick slapped himself a few times. Finally getting the flag in perfect shape, and satisfied with the hall he reported to the small plump old hare who was one of the many supervisors. With the hare shooing him off Nick hobbled towards his next task, making his way to the cellars of the castle.
"Are you… William?" A middle-aged deer asked, looking up from a parchment. Nodding the deer mumbled a few words and quickly scribbled on the paper.
"Right so I need you, William, to count for me the number of barrels we have. We have mead barrels, whisky barrels, vodka barrels and most importantly the number of ale barrels. Those somehow seem to disappear right under our noses." The deer explained, seeming quite annoyed. Nick had a little suspicion on who might be stealing those.
As Nick started counting the barrels, he heard the deer leave, going up the stone steps. Once the fox heard the door close, he quickly counted up the rest and then stood in an empty space in the dark room. Making sure no one was around, Nick started to move slowly. With the difficulty of not having his new device, his movements were jarred and unstable. But soon Nick got into the rhythm. Muttering a little tune he used to hear from his parents Nick started to practice his dancing. Caught up in his own little tune Nick couldn't hear hoofsteps coming down the stairs until-
"What in the name of sanity are you doing?" Nick whirled around, almost falling over on his crutch. The deer stood there, dumbfounded while Nicks' cheeks burned.
"Uhhh. I was just…. Counting." Nick said feebly.
"Counting?"
"Yes."
The deer looked on in confusion for a little while before raising his eyebrows and left, leaving an embarrassed fox in the cold dark cellars.
