Hello and welcome to the start of my first writing project! Ranger's Apprentice was my favourite book series since I was twelve, and now I'm finally making my very own fanfiction!
I intend to combine the story with my greatest passion, which is folk dancing, so get ready for detailed descriptions of dances and steps, slightly altered to fit into John Flanagan's universe (like he did with Europe's geography). There will also be action and adventure, of course! This first chapter is like a pilot, getting acquainted with my OC before the real story starts. Warning: I'm a sloooow writer, this took me 3 weeks. Hopefully, it gets better with practice.
Please read, enjoy and review, and if it isn't your cup of honeyed coffee, you're welcome to write your own stuff.
I did my best to spellcheck and use proper grammar, but English isn't my first language. Sorry for any mistakes or weird sentences. Let's make it a game and guess my native language ;)
Disclaimer: I do not own Ranger's Apprentice, just want to expand John Flanagan's universe.
Chapter 0: Preparing Cassandra's first ball
It was a beautiful spring day in castle Araluen. Though the morning dew was frozen, the bright sunrays made quick work of melting and evaporating the brilliant droplets. The castle's white walls shone as polished mirrors, while the colorful flags that adorned the many towers swayed gently in the breeze. After a week of constant rain and heavy winds, it was as if the weather gods themselves wanted to make sure king Duncan had a perfect birthday.
And perfect was the goal of everyone involved in the preparations. For days on end, the place was bustling with merchants, maids, cooks, pages, soldiers and couriers, stocking the cellars with meat, fruit, cheese, bread, mead and wine, cleaning every corner, escorting guests to their chambers and decorating every hall and every room.
In one of the distant halls in the east wing, away from all the hassle, the Royal Dance master, Maevis, was instructing an eager, yet somewhat clumsy, crown princess.
"Start with your right foot, Cassandra, the lady always starts with the right foot."
The princess resumed her previous position, her left hand on Maevis' shoulder and her right hand on the Dance Master's outstretched hand.
"Do I have to stretch my arm that far? I feel like a coat hanger."
Maevis chuckled slightly at the remark.
"You're dancing the Merry Baron's Waltz at the royal ball, not a village fair. An occasion like this requires poise and sophistication, and that means stretching your limbs and keeping your back straight. Don't look at your feet, it's the gentleman's rather than the lady's task to not step on your toes. Look your partner in the eyes, it makes for an overall more pleasant experience. Now, don't forget to count to three. Music, please!"
On her sign, the three musicians in the corner started playing a courtly tune in a moderate tempo. the smoothly flowing tones of the harp and flute were accompanied by the tinkling thuds of a tambourine, marking the signature three beats of a waltz, the first one slightly heavier than the other two. Maevis and Cassandra started the dance, turning half a round with every three steps. They circled the floor, an occasional correction whispered by the Dance Master.
"Eyes up. Back straight. More tension in your arms, I have to drag you around now. That's more like it. Lean back a little, I've got you. Ready for the second figure? Right foot."
With a smile, Maevis noticed Cassandra's growing confidence. Without hesitation she followed when Maevis lifted her arm to turn the girl around, "She's got it, at last," Maevis thought, "the princess is ready for her first ball. Just a little more confidence, but that'll come with experience."
Right at that moment, Cassandra missed a beat and struggled to keep up. "A lot of experience..." Maevis sighed internally.
"Relax, Cassandra, pick up at the right time... And... Right, two, three, left, two, three!"
They continued the dance until the figure was finished. The older woman then paused to give the thirteen-year-old princess some advice:
"If you mess up a step tonight, just wait for the right moment to continue and smile as if nothing happened."
The princess nodded, but still had some doubts.
"But what if it happens all the time? What if I'm completely lost and step on some baron's foot? Everyone will laugh at me!"
"No, they won't. You'll do great, and the only thing they'll see is a young princess enjoying her first ball. If anyone bothers you, just give me a sign and I'll make them sing a different tune."
Cassandra's eyes went wide with amazement.
"Will you really? How?" She asked eagerly.
"I have my ways," the Dance Master winked.
"Can you teach me?"
"Hmmm, maybe when you're older and can do a whole dance without hesitating. But for now, let's repeat what we've practiced so far!"
Maevis motioned to the musicians, who started the waltz from the beginning.
This time, Cassandra didn't falter. Maevis barely had to correct her and she had to hold back a grin when she saw rather than heard her lips mutter "right two three, left, two three" when the princess was unsure. They ended the dance as Maevis taught her, with a curtsy from the "lady" and a bow from the "gentleman". After a "thank you", Maevis offered her arm to her pupil and they strolled to the side of the chamber, where two cups of water awaited.
"Do you have any more advice for tonight?"
Cassandra asked while taking a sip. Maevis took a moment to drink and think, before she eventually answered.
"Have fun. The lessons I taught you are important to remember, but they won't do you any good if you're not enjoying the evening. Besides, I won't have a job when my future queen decides that dancing is boring and stupid."
They both laughed at the thought.
"Don't worry, Maevis, I could never take your job away. If not for the balls, the performances you and your students give each year are way too spectacular!" Flustered by the praise, the Dance Master replied:
"Well thank you, your Highness, we do our best."
Even after being a Dance Master for over five years - and an excellent one at that- Maevis still felt uncomfortable receiving compliments. Luckily, Cassandra's young mind was already occupied with other matters, which resulted in a new round of questions.
"Maevis, have you ever been to a village fair? How do people dance there? Can I go with you next time?"
Relieved with the change of topic, Maevis happily responded.
"Of course I've been to a fair. One might say I've had my fair share of them. Most dances are roughly the same as in court, though the dancers jump and hop more, and they bump into each other. It's a rather wild experience, I may warn you."
Cassandra's eyes grew so big they nearly popped out of their sockets.
"That sounds amazing! Can you take me to the fair? Please?"
Maevis raised an eyebrow to the enthousiastic crown princess. She had a wild side, this girl, something that both pleased and frightened Maevis.
"The fair is no place for a princess your age. It's too dangerous."
Cassandra, however, was in a stubborn mood. She crossed her arms, stomped her foot and cried.
"As your crown princess, I order you to take me to the fair!"
"And as your father and King, I forbid you to go!"
Maevis jumped at the loud, stern voice. When she turned to face the intruder, she hurriedly curtsied without her usual grace, for none other than king Duncan himself was walking towards her and his daughter.
"Cassie," he spoke in a fierce tone, "you know you can't leave the castle unsupervised. We've talked about this."
"But daddy, I won't be unsupervised at all! Maevis will make sure I'm alright, won't you Maevis?"
The Dance Master had no ambition to come between the angry king and his equally as agitated daughter.
"Your highness, you know I wouldn't let any harm come to you. Which is why I won't take you."
In truth, the prospect of taking the princess to the fair filled her with excitement. She would love the atmosphere there and feel free, released from protocol and stiff manners and straightened backs.
The spontaneous and loose ambiance is what attracted Maevis the most. She enjoyed sharing that feeling with all her pupils, including Cassandra. The main reason why she refused the girl's pleas was because she knew the king, as any parent, would heavily object. Only this parent had the power to incarcerate or banish her. But the Dance Master suspected that doom and tarnation couldn't stop the thirteen-year-old from pursuing her wish, and that she would miraculously show up at the next village fair. Meanwhile, said thirteen year old was fuming and pleading with her father. King Duncan, who grew tired of the argument, shut her up with a decisive voice.
"Cassandra, you're not changing my mind on this. Now go to your chambers, you're late for dressing."
Hearing him call her full name, Cassandra knew her father was serious. She regained her composure, greeted the people in the room and left. The musicians, who assumed the lesson was over, started to pack their instruments. Duncan, however, motioned for them to pause their actions.
"Hold on, please. Maevis, I was wondering if you could help me brush up my steps." The Dance Master gave him a warm smile.
"Of course, Your Majesty, I'm at your service."
"Please, call me Duncan."
She felt uneasy addressing the king with his first name, but she couldn't refuse him.
"So, uh, Duncan, what would you like to rehearse? The Minstrel's Contra? The Gleeful Foursome?"
Those were common dances, not too complex, except for one or two details. But the king shook his head.
"I was thinking, perhaps, Primroses and Petunias? It has been a while."
Maevis did not expect that dance. It had a lovely romantic tune and a series of challenging steps, concluded by a lift where the gentleman had to hold the lady in the air for two whole measures, while turning around. This made it a popular dance on weddings and one of Maevis' favorites. She tried to conceal her excitement in vain, a heavy blush spreading across her cheeks.
"Excellent choice, my king, uh, Duncan. Let's start with the first figure."
Duncan proved to be on excellent dance partner. His grip was firm and reassuring, his stance straight and proud, and he quickly followed Maevis' instructions. When she reminded him to look up instead of at his feet, she suddenly felt nervous by the intensity of his gaze. Unwillingly, she blushed again, while fighting a battle with her eyes to not look away. Locked in gaze and hold, the pair floated across the room. The last figure was played, and they prepared for the lift.
"Put your hands a little bit higher on my waist," Maevis instructed, "for better leverage."
Duncan obeyed at once. The Dance Master took a breath, jumped and tensed the muscles in her arms as she gripped her partner's shoulders. With ease, she felt her body rise. She leaned slightly forward and locked her elbows, and when she looked down, Duncan's piercing green eyes gleamed at her. Her dress almost smothered his face, but he didn't seem to mind. In eight quick steps he turned one complete round and, to her surprise, kept her in the air until the last harp accord had faded. Finally, he put her down, and they lingered in the near embrace, his hands holding her waist and her hands on his shoulders.
Suddenly, Maevis felt warm. Very warm. She realised just what had happened and who it happened with. The king also seemed to become aware of the situation. He let go of her waist and took a step back, putting his hands behind his back. An awkward silence filled the room. Then, the harpist started tuning his strings, startling the dancers who were still holding eye contact. Maevis couldn't hold it any longer and shyly glanced down.
"Uh, happy birthday Your Majesty... Duncan! Happy birthday, Duncan."
Green eyes looked at her with a mixture of amusement and pity.
"Thank you, Maevis, I've been really enjoying my day so far."
The Dance Master kept stammering, even though her mind was begging her to stop talking and get away from this situation, away from this room, this ~gorgeous~ king who just danced with her and held her waist and captured her gaze, these musicians who must have trouble not to roll over the floor laughing by now... But her mouth kept moving, and she heard herself blurt out:
"I don't even have a present for you, I mean, I've been meaning to, but what do you give a king who can get everything he desires with a wave of his hand? But I can't come empty handed either, well now I do, I'm so sorr..."
A warm hand touched her arm and stopped the flood of words.
"Don't worry, I didn't expect a present from you. I do, however, desire to ask you something."
He moved his arm to scratch an imaginary itch at the back of his head, the first sign of nervousness. Maevis gave him a questioning look, her eyebrows arched.
"Will you do me the honor of reserving the first dance for me?"
She didn't know why she had to blush at the request, and hurried to reply.
"Of course, Your Ma... Duncan. The first, the second, the last... You can have any dance you like, I'll be happy to oblige."
His smile sent shivers down her spine, as did his words.
"Then this will be the happiest birthday of my life."
So, what do you think about Maevis? She's an OC based on what I hope I would be like in ten years. And I thought it would be cute to let Duncan fall for her, he deserves some love.
Please review, it means a lot to me!
May you always get the key in the lock on the first time!