Chapter 16 ~ Dancing in the Moonlight
Precisely one week after the above-mentioned events, Kari and Duncan rode their horses into Palas Asturia. The day was young, and the breeze was slowly passing through the streets.
"Ah, home sweet home." Duncan said as they slowly rode into the city.
Yukari was silent.
"Kari, what's wrong?" Duncan asked.
"Nothing, I hope my brother will be back soon, and then we can end this." She said slowly.
"Ok, listen, we're ahead of schedule, and that woman won't give your mother back. She said she'll contact you, so just relax ok?" he told her smiling.
"If you were me, could you relax? I don't even know if she's alive anymore. I hope my father's ok." Kari sighed watching the landscape.
"They're all ok. As soon as we get to the castle, you can send a secret messenger to Allen, asking him how things are there. Then, when that woman contacts you, you go give her the pendants." Duncan said calmly.
"I don't think she'll give me back my mother." Kari told him.
"We'll see. Don't worry, we'll make it, I mean, we got this far." Duncan smiled at her.
"I guess." Kari looked up. "Hmm, I could be mean and ask him what's it to him, but I don't want to spoil the mood. Let's see what's gonna happen." Kari thought.
"Follow me." Duncan told her.
"Where are we going?" Kari asked.
"Come on, I got a treat for you before we go to the palace. After all, you did save my life." He smiled at her.
"Will you drop that? I didn't save anyone's life. It was necessary!" Kari blushed.
"Come on, just follow me!" Duncan smiled at her.
They went down to the market, and stopped at one of the famous Asturian cocoa shops.
"Two icy cocoas, plus two pieces of your best homemade fudge, and is there anything else you'd like?" Duncan asked Kari.
"No, that's all right with me." She answered him.
They sat down at a table, and dug into the goodies.
"So this was your treat. I must say, I haven't had chocolate in a while." She told him.
"I'm glad you like it. Kari, I…" Duncan said in a soft voice. Her heart missed a beat, as he leaned closer to her… just then three loud teens came into the cocoa shop. "… thank you for everything." Duncan said quickly. He then drew away and sipped his cocoa.
"That's not what he wanted to say." Kari thought. "Why do I want to know what he wanted to say?" she asked herself.
"Hey, Duncan! Who's the broad?" One of the three young men turned around and walked towards them.
Kari's eyes narrowed dangerously. She looked straight into the brown eyes of the boy in front of her. He had a dangerous grin on his lips.
"She's…" Duncan wanted to say the princess of Fanelia, so watch your mouth, but Kari's foot painfully stepped on his silencing him. He then remembered that the Fanelian council had forbidden the kids to leave the country, and had put a reward out, to anyone that notified them of their whereabouts. "… a friend." He finished.
"Haha, a friend. Nice friend you've got here Duncan. I thought you didn't date village girls, you were only into princesses." The boy sat down uninvited. He sat beside Kari, trying to squeeze into her. His companions also came and sat down at the table.
"Rhombur, Lester, Vincent, what are you all doing here?" Duncan asked the boys.
"Well, we're here for the royal banquet, in honor of your sister's engagement, and we just went to take a tour through the village. Fancy running into you here. Your mother said you were on some voyage." Rhombur, the first to sit down said.
"I was, I guess I'm right in time for a party." Duncan sighed.
"Looks like you've been partying all the time. Nice job fooling you mom!" Lester, a blond headed boy told him.
"You make me sick!" Duncan told them.
"Aww, don't be shy, share with us!" Vincent told him.
"Yeah, how'd you find her?" Rhombur asked pointing at Kari. "Oh, come here little Lady, don't be afraid of Rhombur over here." He tried to touch her hair, when Kari's hand flashed up from the table and twisted his.
"Don't touch me, scum bag!" she hissed.
"Ooh, a spunky one!" Vincent laughed. The other boys started laughing too.
Duncan was looking at them disapprovingly. Kari's eyes narrowed, as she watched them. "Let them think I'm just some village girl. I'll teach all of them! Morons! Duncan doesn't seem happy about this, but they're his friends. Let him stand them. I'm getting out of here first chance I get. God they smell! Haven't they ever heard of soap?" she thought angrily.
"Guys, leave her alone!" Duncan interfered.
"Aww come on, can't we have a little fun? Or is she more to you? Is she your girlfriend?" Lester asked mockingly. Raucous laughter passed over the boys once again.
Duncan groaned. "You can be so immature sometimes. How many beers have you had? You smell of booze, and when was the last time you showered?" Duncan asked.
"Hey, we know we stink! It's just that we've been partying with the locals!" Rhombur said. "Come on toots, say something!" he begged Kari.
"Ok, drop dead!" she said.
"Rhombur, you've lost your touch!" Lester laughed. "My, you're a very pretty lady, and I…" he leaned closer to Kari, but then fell on the table unconscious.
Kari got up, intent on leaving, when Vincent grabbed her hand. "Come on, stay some more!" he begged, and then laughed again. "We'd love to teach you some things, won't we Duncan?"
"I'm sorry gentlemen, but a village girl like me can't stay to these kinds of things, I would suggest you let me leave, or else." She said calmly.
"What if we choose or else?" he laughed louder.
Kari's free hand went to the small dagger to her side. "I would suggest getting your paws off me, if you value your face. I'd fancy to leave you with quite a nasty scar!" she said dangerously.
Vincent's hands dropped off of her. "Hey Duncan, I see why you only go for princesses. These local girls are much too wild!" he said. As soon as he let go, Kari left the cocoa shop.
"I don't know, any woman's good for me. All I gotta do is sweet talk her, and she'll do anything." Rhombur said.
"You guys are the sorriest bunch of men I've ever seen!" Duncan said and got up to leave.
"Hey, how's it going with you and the princesses? I heard the Fanelian one's really pretty, but I guess you blew it with her, ever since that little incident!" Vincent asked.
"None of your business. See you when you're sober gentlemen!" he said and left.
"Yeah, go after your little girlfriend!" Rhombur yelled after him.
"Darn it!" Duncan swore as he went out of the cocoa shop. Why did things always turn out bad for him? He wanted to do something nice for Kari, to get her mind off the problems, and then the jackasses showed up and messed everything. She was probably mad at him for not defending her more, and letting that scumbag touch her. "Why does it always happen this way?" he mumbled and then got onto his horse. Kari was long gone, but he guessed she was at the palace.
~~~~
After leaving the coffee shop, Kari mounted her horse, and headed for the palace. She was mad at the way those stupid boys treated her, but she decided not to care. Hopefully, she'll never see them again. As for Duncan, he would probably apologise. "What am I thinking? He wouldn't apologise." Kari thought.
"I wish to speak to King Dryden." She said as she made it to the palace gates.
The guards let her pass without asking many questions. Kari entered the majestic gardens of the Asturian palace.
"Kari! Back already?" a voice came from behind her.
Kari turned around, and she saw Princess Marlene sitting on a bench behind her, lovely as ever.
"Marlene! Congratulations on your upcoming marriage!" Kari said graciously.
The blonde princess wrinkled her nose. "Yeah, I guess." She said sadly.
"What's wrong?" Kari asked. Even though Marlene was six years older than her, they had always been good friends, sharing whatever was on their soul. Kari could see that her good friend was unhappy about something. She dismounted her horse, and came to sit down beside her.
"Ah Kari, it's not fair, I hate being a princess." Marlene cried.
"Come on, what's bothering you? Are you nervous about the marriage?" Kari asked.
"It's not the marriage, as much as who I'm getting married to." Marlene said. "But it's not use troubling you. You have your own problems. Come on, I'll take you to the baths." She said and got up to show her the way.
"Listen, you've been my friend for a long time, and I think I deserve an explanation. Come on, we can talk while I clean up." Kari smiled at her friend. Marlene smiled back.
"So, what's troubling you?" Kari asked as she was sinking in a bubbly bath.
"Well, I know Remy, and he's a nice person, but I'm just not sure he's the love of my life. I mean, my marriage is more political than anything else. We're strengthening our relationships with Solaria, and that's it. But am I not ruining my life? What if we don't get along?" Marlene asked.
"You've got a point, but we both know that being royalty is not always what's cooked up to be. And the position of women here on Gaea is not all that great either. But, until things change, we gotta dance the dance." Kari said.
"I know, I'm just afraid." Marlene confessed.
"Relax. I've only seen Remy a few times at the Fanelian balls, but he seems like a nice guy. Who knows, over time, you may come to love him, since we both know the engagement can't be cancelled." Kari reasoned.
"Yeah, over time, I mean, look at my parents. They fell in love over time, and they get along great now. Yeah, time!" Marlene smiled at her friend. "Come on, we need to get you all dressed up. The ball starts in only a few hours!" Marlene dragged Kari out of her bath, and into her dressing room.
~~~~
"Duncan! You're back!" his mother exclaimed as soon as she saw her son enter the palace.
"Yeah, we got the pendant. Is Folken back yet?" he asked her.
"No, I'm sorry, he hasn't returned." Millerna told him.
"Kari?" Duncan asked.
"Yes, she's with your sister. They're getting ready for the ball tonight." His mother told him.
"Great, mother, can you do me a favour and send a secret messenger to Fanelia, and tell them that one of the pendants had been recovered. Also, ask how King Van is doing, and ask someone trustworthy from there to come here so we can all plan our move?" Duncan asked.
"Sure, did Kari tell you to ask me this?" Millerna asked.
"She was going to ask dad, but I know you can do it much faster." Duncan smiled at his mother, and Millerna smiled at him. She admired her son's keen spirit of observation. He saw that she had her own personal informers, separate from the Asturian spies.
"Consider it done. You should go get ready, and wash this filth away. We all want to look the best for your sister's engagement party." She told him.
"You don't know what we had to go through to get this filth." Duncan told her.
"You can tell me another time. This is very important, and one day, when you'll be king, you're going to appreciate your sister's sacrifice in marrying the Prince of Solaria." His mother told him.
Duncan didn't argue with her. He turned around and left for his room. "One day when I'll be king." He thought to himself. "Hopefully that won't be in the near future." Duncan sighed, and opened the door to his chamber. As opposed to other princes he knew, that were planning the murders of their fathers to take the throne, Duncan didn't want the power, and the responsibility being king brought. Not yet anyway. First of all, he would be pestered by advisors, and surrounded by power hungry political figures that only wanted recognition. Second of all, as he was right now, he would probably inherit his father's relations, that will continue to work for him because of small debts of the past. Duncan didn't want that. That wasn't loyalty, that wasn't keeping a lid on the situation. Soon, maybe not during his reign, but during the reign of his children, the small foundation of trust would break, and Asturia would face a very ugly political war. He didn't want that. Not for beautiful Asturia. What he needed, were his own connections, won through things he did. However, that could only happen if he travelled through the world, establishing his own friends. He wasn't sure his parents would let him do that, but it was worth trying after the whole thing with Kari ended. Yeah, travelling through the world would not only help him make his own diplomatic connections, but it would also show him what the people need, and how they see things. To a future ruler, those were very important aspects. After Kari's business ended though. Duncan was bent on helping her; his raven haired angel. Duncan smiled, thinking that maybe they were indeed becoming better friends.
~~~~
"Oh come on Kari, you look positively wonderful!" Marlene said as she admired her friend in the mirror.
Kari was wearing a long-sleeved blue dress, that revealed her milky shoulders. The dress was simple, with a little modest embroidery at the low-cut V neckline, and at the shoulders. It then hung about her curves, hugging them gently, and it grew larger as it neared the feet. It was a modest dress for a princess of her position, and with all of Marlene's pleas, Kari still maintained her iron will. This dress was what she would wear at the feast. Her hair hung openly to her mid back, nothing preventing it from spilling in all directions, like a dark river. If any of her parents would have seen her, they would have said she looked a lot like Varie – her father's mother. However, a closer examination revealed some of her mother's soft features. The aqua-blue pendant hung by its golden thread on her neck. (Hitomi's pink pendant had disappeared once they came to Asturia and talked to Lady Celena. Kari guessed that woman had called it back to her)
"I still think you should have went with the red dress. It was big and fitting of your position. Everyone would have admired you." Marlene said.
"I don't want to attract attention. This is your engagement, you're supposed to attract attention." Kari smiled at the blonde princess who looked absolutely breathtaking. She was wearing a soft sleeveless orange dress. It also hung by her curves, but it was visibly fluffier than Kari's; Marlene looked very beautiful.
"Good luck, even if you'd wear pants you'd attract attention." Marlene whispered under her breath.
"Don't think I didn't hear that!" Kari laughed.
"It was meant for you to hear!" Marlene laughed along with her.
"Congratulations!" Kari said hugging her friend dearly.
"Thanks. Let's go now, we're late." She said.
Kari just nodded, and followed Marlene to the banquet hall.
Once they entered, all eyes were on them. Kari managed to slowly slip away, and make herself unnoticed, but Marlene was suddenly circled by many gentlemen in the room, and the party began.
Kari just sat quietly on the side, not wanting to dance. She just kept thinking about her family, and she hoped her brother would return soon. There was not much time left. A few days were all that remained of the month that woman gave them. "Look at him partying." She thought. "What does he care? Not one look towards me. It's just like old times. I guess we had nothing. And I showed him my wings, I hope he keeps his mouth shut!" Kari thought from a dark corner, as she watched Duncan dance with one of the noble girls.
"Kari, you can stop starring at him so much!" a voice came from behind her.
She jumped startled, as she felt the furry paws of a cat woman on her shoulder. "Myral! What are you doing here?" she asked her old cat companion.
"Is that any way to greet your friend?" Merle's daughter asked loudly. "You'd think as the princess of Fanelia, you'd have more manners!" she continued.
"Ssh, Fanelian council members might be here!" Kari jumped.
"No, mom and dad arranged it so that we were the Fanelian family that attended this ball." Myral told her.
"Aunt Merle and Uncle Gaddes are here?" Kari asked surprised.
"Yes, along with my annoying brother. But yeah, they came when they got the letter saying you came back. They want to talk to you tomorrow. Now's not the time." Myral told her, and was about to leave.
"Wait, how's my father!" Kari asked, still scanning the crowd for Merle and Gaddes.
"He's fine. His condition hasn't changed ever since you and Folken left. It's been awful quiet in Fanelia without you. And for the last time, stop staring at him so!" Myral laughed knowingly.
"Stare at who?" Kari asked.
"A certain Asturian Prince, that you've been all over ever since you were twelve." She smiled in the dark.
"Don't be silly! I was looking for aunt Merle. I have no business with that dirty rat!" Kari denied, as she felt herself blush in the dark.
"I can see you blushing. You DO like him! Oh my god!" Myral exclaimed putting a shocked paw on her mouth.
"Myral! I DO NOT like him ok? Grr, and I wasn't blushing!" Kari told her rapidly.
"Sure, whatever you say, but I know better. Why don't you tell him? I can see he likes you too! Just by the way he's starring at you now!" Myral told her.
"He is?" Kari asked and turned around. She saw Duncan dancing with another girl. However, he appeared that he wasn't paying attention to the dance, but rather… "Stop this!" she ordered her imagination.
"Good luck lover girl!" Myral said and left.
Kari just looked after her friend, and sighed. "There's nothing between us. There never was, there never will be." She whispered.
After a few more moments, Kari felt the need to sneak away from all the confusion. She quietly walked through the garden, looking up at the starry sky, and sighing. The night was peaceful, a cool breeze blowing through the land. The moon was almost full, and the shadow of the Phantom Moon more pronounced than ever. They almost looked like two perfectly aligned circles. It was all very eerie, with the music softly echoing from the distance. Kari's steps were muffled by the soft grass. She passed bushes full of flowers, and stopped by the gigantic fountain in the middle of the garden. Yukari stopped there for a moment, admiring the magical fall of the crisp water.
"Hmm… what could the beautiful Fanelian princess be doing here at this late hour of night?" Someone asked.
"Who's there?" Kari asked alarmed.
"I'm ashamed you wouldn't recognise the voice of your old companion. I'm ashamed of you, Yukari Alia de Fanel." Duncan's silhouette contoured out of the shadows.
"Duncan, don't scare me like that!" Kari told him.
"I thought you didn't know fear." He said slowly.
"Why are you here?" she asked bluntly.
"I was just wondering what you were doing. You didn't seem to enjoy the party very much." He said and came closer to her.
"This is not a time to party." She said slowly.
"Hmm… I told you to take it easy. Everything tends to work out." He said and sat down beside her.
"You seem to know a lot about this." She told him.
"It doesn't matter. What bothers me is that you're here, and not enjoying yourself." He said.
"I don't feel like partying. I like it out here, it's so quiet… aaah," Kari said and crunched her body in pain.
*~*~*~*~*~*
"Now that you've retrieved both pendants, await the return of your brother, and come to Parnassus Mountain, a day after he arrives. There, find the Cave of Drakhs, and bring the pendants. Very well done little girl, I didn't expect you to do so well. With the "evil eye" complete, I shall finally have supreme power. Bring the pendants, if you want to see your family alive, ever again!" Evil cackling filled the darkness Kari had plunged into. She grabbed her ears and fell to the floor in pain.
"Have strength darling." A soft voice came to her from the nothingness.
*~*~*~*~*~*
"Kari! Kari! Are you ok?" she heard Duncan's worried voice as she returned to reality.
Kari didn't say anything, but groaned in pain. She slowly realised that she was in his arms, and they were both sitting on the grass beside the stony ledge of the fountain.
"What happened?" she asked.
"You yelled in pain, and then fell to the floor. Are you hurt?" Duncan asked alarmed.
"No… that woman. She contacted me." Kari told him as she rubbed her forehead.
"What did she say?" Duncan asked tightening his grip around her shoulders.
"She said that a day after my brother comes, I should go to Parnassus Mountain, the Cave of Drakhs and give her the pendants. She needs them to complete some "evil eye" I think." She groaned.
"Are you hurt?" Duncan asked her.
"No, I just have an extremely large headache." Kari confessed.
The soft tunes of a waltz could be heard in the distance. It signaled the final dance of the night, the longest and most beautiful melody. Kari closed her eyes, and she let the music sink into her soul. Duncan slowly took her hand, and got her on her feet.
"Dance with me." He said.
Kari just looked at him surprised. "Well, this is new." She observed. Duncan didn't wait for an answer. He just pulled her closely, and they began to glide across the grassy ground, in tune with the gentle violin notes. None of them said a word for the duration of the waltz. All they did was stare into each other's eyes, and try to express in looks that which their hearts couldn't admit.
Kari looked into Duncan's blue eyes, and what she saw in them, frightened and delighted her at the same time. She saw a sparkling fire never before let loose. It brightened his eyes like never before. They looked like two shining stars in a sea of eternal blue. Kari wondered if the night made him make so much more different than before, or if it was her tormented heart that only now saw who he really was. As she looked into his sparkling eyes, Kari thought of how little she knew about the boy that stood in the light of yonder moon so different from the rest. It was like he stood out and touched her heart, making it yearn to learn more. To see who he really was deep inside. She saw the smile that crept into lips, for a moment covering the flame burning into his eyes. Kari felt compelled to smile too. He was there. He had always been there, only she had been too proud to notice. Now, when she was gliding in his arms, she was grateful for all he had done for her.
Duncan looked into Kari's chocolate eyes. The moonlight was reflecting in them, giving them an even more mysterious feel. Her hair was slowly molding in the playful caress of the breeze, making her seem unearthly. She looked like a goddess. For a heartbeat, in that still moment, as they were spinning on the grass, Duncan felt the essence of her soul. He felt the fire, passion, and pain swirling inside her, and he looked at the dark eyed girl differently. She was not whom he thought her to be, nor he who she thought him to be. Even though they had known each other for their whole life, only now, in the light of the young moon did they actually see themselves as they truly were. No masks, no games, no tricks. Just their essences; their flames of life.
The last strokes of the sad violin echoed on the wings of the wind, and made their way to the two dancing figures. With the moon generously bathing them in its silver light, Duncan leaned over and kissed Kari, just as the last lyrics of the song slipped off the musician's violin.
Duncan felt the fire of the kiss slowly spreading through the whole of his being, followed by an aftershock of short circuits. His head was spinning, and his sensed were shocked, as he felt Kari's mouth against his. He felt as though he was kissing the sweetest fire ever. She wasn't drawing back from the kiss, but only savouring it. Duncan hugged her tighter, slowly tracing the curves of her slender back. She put her hands against his neck, drawing him in closer. Kari felt as though she was on fire. Nothing in the world had ever felt more right than this first true kiss. She felt her stomach turn and churn in anxiety, as the sweet fire of the kiss was spreading through her.
When they finally drew apart, they stood for a second and just looked at the other. Both of their eyes were sparkling, and soon, they both turned crimson red.
"Umm… I gotta go!" Kari said and spun on her heals running away from the garden at full speed.
Duncan watched her disappear into the night. He sat back down besides the water, and looked at his wavering reflection.
"That was nothing, just the influence of the moon." He whispered.
"Nothing, that meant nothing. It was the moon, and the dance, and that lady. Just the influence of a mysterious summer night." Kari said as she leaned beside a stone column in the palace.
*Author's Note*
Well, I promised fluff, and here is. Hehe, I hope you liked that. Ne how, what's this whole "evil eye" thing? Well you'll see. Thanks a lot for all the support, I appreciate it, and I promise you, I will NOT dissapoint you. Hehe, I hope you like all this fluff. I'm certainly having fun writing it. Review and tell me what you think!!!!
