Warnings: Allusions and complete meanness.
Chapter Twenty-One: The Music of the Night
I stood at my mirror, looking at myself. The flickering candle added golden tones to my hair and a gossamer sheen to my dress, making both sparkle as if with unseen diamonds.
I reached up a hand to touch my face, watching the girl in the mirror do the same. Her face sparkled as well, but it was not with those unseen diamonds. Tears glossed her cheeks and blurred her eyes. I wiped them away for her, wishing her to be happy.
"Sisters, sisters," I heard Evadne call softly from the hall. "Sisters, sisters, come to dance. Sisters, sisters, one last chance." Her footsteps padded closer and closer, and she chanted softly in time with her steps.
"Dance," The word was whispered, exultant in its simplicity. "Dance. We go to dance!" The softy sashay of silks and satins on the carpeted floor whispered the word as well, excitedly spinning and gossiping with one another. Slippers, new from the day, padded along, pressing gently into the floor and leaving only the slightest hint of passing.
I opened my own door and stepped into the flow of my sisters. I took my place at the end of the line, as the youngest. Our dresses threw off sharp strokes of light as they were caught in the light of Evadne's lone candle. We crept through the halls, Evadne leading us all like a gaggle of geese.
"We dance," said she, resplendent in her emerald satin gown. Her hair fell loose, rippling like a waterfall spun of sunlight, from the diadem that clung to her head. She smiled, her blue eyes twinkling merrily at all of us, urging us silently to keep up.
Alyssa found me, relinquishing her spot in the line to walk with me, and she was like a silvery shadow floating beside me. Her hand slipped into mine, comforting in its strength even as it was delicate and fragile.
"We will dance," She murmured, "You and I. We will show all of them how to run through the steps; we will show them how the patterns are made." She smiled, an echo of Evadne's smile lingering in her features.
"Silver and shadow, mincing across the floor; that is what we shall be." I returned.
She touched the sleeve of the black gown that I wore. "Why so dark, my sister?" She frowned slightly. "This is not a color of celebration and joy."
I agreed with her, "No, it is not. But then again, am I a happy person?"
"These days, no," She responded, a touch of sadness coloring her voice. "You will be, Elensar. After tonight, you will cast of your muted colors and don the cheer that you wore before so naturally." She dimpled in the flagging candlelight. "You will see, Elensar."
I twisted my skirts up in my hand and prepared to descend the staircase that Evadne had uncovered. " Perhaps." I turned to her, "It has been so long since I have had a proper dance, Alyssa."
"I know, sweet sister, I know." Alyssa looked up at me as we continued our descent. "Tonight will change all of that!"
I smiled, finally catching on to her joy. "That it will." I stepped off the last stair and into a radiant forest, laughing at the sheer beauty of it all. The leaves were spangled with silver, and the muted light of the candle cast patterns of reflected light across our faces.
We passed into a wood where the trees were sprinkled with gold. The glistening powder spiraled down, caught in the wind of our passing. It landed on noses and eyelashes, creating swirling arches of gold as we laughed and talked with one another.
In the forest of the diamond-strewn leaves, the meager candlelight was suddenly refracted a thousand times over, and kaleidoscopes of light played across our faces. Rainbow prisms danced over our faces, flitting away as soon as they had touched fair skin.
Even I could not repress my joy at being back in the familiar woods once more. I laughed and spun around in happy circles, shedding golden motes as I twirled.
"Elensar!" Alyssa grabbed my hands and joined my happy little dance. "Save your energy, dear sister! Save it for the real dance!"
"Why?" I grinned, "This is fun as well!"
She conceded with a giggle as we fell, laughing out of the diamond-strewn leaves and onto the bank of a crystalline lake.
"Welcome, my ladies." Twelve Princes bowed in concert to us. I smiled demurely and sought the eyes of my Prince, Johan. A smile lit his simple features when our eyes met, and he rushed to take my hand.
"Elensar, how I have missed you!" He tenderly brushed his lips across my fingers. "You return to our duet after a long time of performing solo." He escorted me away from Alyssa and into an elegantly crafted boat.
"It's good to be back, Johan," I replied to him softly. I remembered what he had been like when I first met him and claimed him as my own. He had been the youngest son of King Ileac, traveling to Meridian to seek his fortune. He had disappeared from our courts one night as he sought the secret of the Princesses. I had brought him with me to the dance, and he had stayed ever since.
A stray wisp of thought crossed my mind that I should have waited for Adrian, but I pushed it aside when I realized that I much preferred him possessed of his own wit and will.
"Milady, you are not attentive tonight," I looked up, startled, as Johan held out his hand to me. "Come, the music awaits its dancers!"
I grinned, pushing all thoughts of Adrian aside, and took his hand. "Then let us oblige it and dance."
The soft strains of an orchestra caressed our ears as we walked closer and closer to the large castle that towered over us. It was a gavotte, fast paced and intriguing. I could feel the rhythms thrumming through me, and I remembered the steps as if it had been only yesterday that I had danced with Johan.
We came through the arch and took our places on the floor, waiting until the unseen orchestra gave us our entrance.
A slight pause, and then the down beat that swept us away in a whirl of sounds, lifts and steps. Right, left, and lift; spin twice then step. Hand in hand dancing round. Step, step, step.
Johan's white-blonde hair caught the light and it shivered like gold in the breeze of our movement as we circled each other. Step, step, step. His gloved palm rested on my cheek for the slightest of moments before we spun off again. My skirts swirled around me, a constant tide of cloth around my ankles that ebbed and flowed with each step I took. Step, step, step.
We danced, and I loved it. I never wanted to leave, not ever again. The night wore on, never ceasing its immutable march as we danced. I felt the soles of my shoes slowly disintegrating and the cold marble of the floor rubbing against my skin. We spun around and around, in dizzying patterns and motions. We held one another close, moving with each other in perfect coordination. We danced apart, and then he drew me close again.
The night wore on, and we danced.
At last, as the cold light of false dawn stained the horizon, we sat down for banquet. We supped with our Princes, and then left as we had come; rowing first across the lake, then walking through the diamond-strewn forest, then the gold and finally the woods of the silver spangled leaves.
The night was over, and, as we picked our way up the stairs, I carried my destroyed shoes in my hands, so grateful to have danced once more.
"Elensar, 'twas a wonderful evening, don't you think?" Evadne's cool hand took possession of my shoulder as she spoke to me for the first time that night.
I smiled politely, "Oh, it was." I nodded subserviently to her, and continued, "I am so very glad that I got to dance."
"We were glad to have you in our midst again, dear sister." She smiled at me, and I hesitantly smiled back. "It was not the same while you were away, you know. We missed the twelfth dancer."
"I'm sure you did," I replied, suppressing the urge to accuse her outright of deporting me. "As I said, I miss dancing with you. The patterns in Delran just aren't the same, as are the partners different."
A smirk curved her perfect lips, "But you still enjoyed your stay, did you not?"
The awkward silence that followed was so full of tension that it was ready to snap. "Yes," I finally forced out. "Yes, I did enjoy my sojourn in Delran." My voice sounded strangled and I was twisting the fine fabric of my skirt around my fingers, focusing on the disappearing feeling rather than any memories that I may have had.
Evadne, my dear, dear sister, allowed her smirk to expand until it could almost have been a smile. She was satisfied, like a cat after cream, and she knew that she had unnerved me.
"Ah, Elensar, do not fret so!" She turned to face me, golden curls framing her ever perfect face. "I only speak in jest, dear sister."
"Of course," I returned, still uneasy.
"Evadne!" Maria rushed up to us, still intoxicated with the lingering effects of the dancing we had done. She fell into step beside Evadne, and I breathed a silent prayer of thanks. "Evadne, Johanna said that she someone tonight."
Evadne looked disdainfully at the younger Maria. "Of course she saw someone, there were twenty-four of us there!"
Maria, my elder by a year, twirled the ends of her flaxen hair around her hand. "No, not one of us or one of the Princes, someone else!" She insisted vehemently.
"Oh really?" Evadne raised one eyebrow skeptically.
Maria, never one to be intimidated, nodded, a frown creasing her brow. "She's sure. Johanna wouldn't lie about something like this, and neither would I, Evadne. You know that."
"Mm." Evadne nodded slightly, not actually conceding that Maria's claim was correct, but acknowledging that it might have merit. "I know you wouldn't give anything away, Maria, and neither would Johanna…" She trailed off and directed her gaze toward me.
Hostilely, I crossed my arms and slid away from my sisters' accusatory glares, hating how Evadne turned them against me. "I wouldn't either," I whispered, realizing that it was more to convince myself than to convince my sisters. "Would I?"
Author's Note: That was a bit short, I know. This chapter was written when I was rather struggling for something, anything to write. When it was done, I was quite happy. :oD Finally, our Winter Break is here! Granted, it's only a week and a day, but it's still a break! Yay!
Swim team is still taking up a lot of my time, but I have off (unlike the swimmers) for the entire break. There's no meets, and there's enough injured girls to do all of my work for me, so I'm home free as of this afternoon! Double Yay!
Everyone should absolutely want to glomp the next chapter- I think it's my favorite so far! I'll try not to keep you waiting too long.
Also, since littlelambug pointed out to me that I was using rather inappropriate language…I've been on a clean streak! (Sort of) Thank you very much for pointing that out; I wouldn't want to alienate anyone because of my language problems. :oD
Happy Reading, all!
Thanks to all of you who reviewed- you're all totally awesome!
An Aside:
Lilred-07: Adrian and Elensar forever! …or is it? You'll adore next chapter, I'm pretty sure. ;)
LindyLou78: Adrian…everyone loves Adrian! Haha…it's understandable too. :)
GoldenRose: Well…I don't seem to understand the concept of soon, but I did update!
Fell4adeadguy: One of my friends was going to see Ocean's Twelve…I think he agreed with you that it was boring. :oP I hope that Elensar managed to provide you with some excitement…
Cheekychik: We all love Adrian, even Elensar, so no worries…yet.
MegHarts: Thanks!
Lalaith: Swimming does indeed take over your life…and I don't even go all the time, like the true swimmers! I'm glad you like Elensar's rebellion within the system- I think it's stupid how so many Princesses are out there running around with swords and rejecting all things that might be considered girly. You're right again- it has become a stereotype. :oP
HalfBludPr1ncess: I know what you mean about the grammar stuff- sometimes it's nice to get a breath of fresh, grammatically correct stuff…(my English teachers have taught me well!:)
Mistyqueen: Ooh! You're in band? What instrument do you play? Our band finally had its winter concert- I'm so happy that all the extra practices are over until spring! I hope you did well on your quiz-math is evil! :)
Turwen: Thank you much!!
RulerOfTheDisenchantedForest: Thanks bunches! I'm glad you love Elensar- I love her too! XD
Miss Piratess: Protective…indeed. :oP. Poor Adrian; he really seems to be have public relations problems…
Eclipsa: Thank you for the review and all the compliments! I appreciate them :D.
Happy holidays! (In no particular order, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy New Year, Happy/Merry Whatever!)
