Chapter Two: The Raqs Sharqi Trolls
It was several months before she could put her plan into action. What with rebuilding everything that Barb had destroyed and diplomatic trips to all the other Genre Tribes.
Within that time, Poppy and Branch surprised everyone by deciding to get married. They figured since they had known each other all their lives, and the only thing that changed in their relationship when they started dating was the added romantic element, they didn't really see the point in waiting long to marry.
It was three weeks after their wedding when the leaders got around to visiting the Raqs Sharqi Trolls. And talk about a mind-blowing culture shock!
The Raqs Sharqi Trolls lived along a river in the middle of a desert-like location and were ruled by three sisters: Queen Taheya, Queen Samia, and Queen Nagwa. Their houses were short stone one- or two-story stone buildings that were constructed closely together surrounding a massive palace where the Queens resided, so the leaders had to weave their way through dirt streets crowded with Trolls to get to the Raqs Sharqi palace.
On almost every block, there was a different kind of party going on, each with their own singers, dancers, and live musicians playing accordions, percussions, and wind and stringed instruments. Branch nearly went into Panic Mode when he noticed four Trolls dancing with huge candelabras balanced on their heads. And where there wasn't a party, there were either coffee shops, cabarets, boutiques, or market stalls with vendors hassling them to buy whatever they were selling.
The Raqs Sharqi Trolls were different physically, as well as culturally. Their skin, hair, and eyes were all in various earth tones, contrasting sharply with the bright and colorful clothing and the metal accessories they wore. And they wore their hair hanging down their backs, rather than standing up.
It took almost an hour for the leaders to reach the front steps of the palace, where three women and two men were waiting. Judging from the gold jewelry and elaborate headdresses the three women wore, Poppy felt certain that these were the Queens of Raqs Sharqi.
The Queens all had the same caramel-colored skin and dark brown hair streaked with silver. They seemed to be around King Peppy's age. The one Poppy assumed was the oldest stepped forward with a kind smile.
"Welcome to Raqs Sharqi Village," she greeted in a thick accent. "I'm Queen Taheya, and these are my younger sisters, Queen Samia and Queen Nagwa, and their husbands, Farid and Ahmad."
The leader's went around introducing themselves before being led inside the palace (where they were introduced to the Queens' combined five daughters). They all sat down on cushions surrounding a low table and ate the local food as the Queens and princesses asked questions about each of the Genres' music type and cultures, which the leaders happily answered.
Suddenly, out of the blue, one of the princesses stood up and pulled off the scarf she was wearing in her hair and tied it around her hips. She signaled the musicians sitting in the corner to start up a lively tune, and she started to dance.
This was the leaders first real look at Raqs Sharqi dance, since they only had glimpses of it in the village. Quincy was right: Belly Dance was a sensual dance, and it involved the entire body. Trollzart, Trollex and Prince D were blushing all the way to their hairlines. Delta even smacked Hickory upside the head when he seemed to be getting a little too interested in the princesses' performance.
But for Poppy, it was confirmation that she wanted to go through with her plan.
After the princess ended her dance and everyone applauded, Branch shifted on his cushion to turn to the Queens.
"So, how did your ancestors come up with Raqs Sharqi dance?" he asked.
Taheya smiled, glad that someone was interested in her people's heritage, and not just the dancing itself.
"At first, it started with simple exercises to help women strengthen muscles they use in childbirth. As time went on, it developed into a dance, which later split into several Sub Genres of Belly Dance."
As Taheya continued to explain their history, the leaders were surprised to learn that there were Sub Genres within the Raqs Sharqi Sub Genre: Shamadan, Saidi, Cabaret…just to name a few. There were also two other Belly Dance Sub Genres that lived and interacted with Raqs Sharqi called Awalim and Ghawazee.
Poppy seized her chance when Branch excused himself to use the bathroom. She stood up from the cushion she was sitting on and approached the three Raqs Sharqi Queens.
"Uh, your majesties?"
"Yes?" Samia answered.
Poppy nervously licked her lips. "Um, Queen Essence said something about Belly Dance Trolls being willing to give foreigners dance lessons?"
They immediately lit up.
"Yes," Nagwa replied, "We'd be delighted to teach you, if that's what you're asking."
"Ooh," Barb chimed in with a wicked grin on her face. "Popsqueak wants to spice things up with her hubby!"
Poppy flushed red, realizing that all the leaders had heard her request.
"Can you guys not tell Branch about this?" she pleaded, "I want to surprise him."
The leaders each promised not to tell him, and Poppy was thankful that Cooper wasn't present; he would've spilt the beans as soon as Branch came back.
"Is there a deadline you would like to learn our dancing by?" Samia continued.
"Harvest Moon," Poppy replied, hoping that it wasn't too short notice.
Taheya hummed and nodded. "Three months. That shouldn't be a problem."
Poppy inwardly sighed in relief.
"But if you want to keep this a secret from your husband, then we should meet and train in a place where you can go without getting suspicious."
"And we should take you to a costume designer during your stay here so your outfit will be ready by then," Nagwa said.
"I go to Bergentown once a week to hang out with my friend, Queen Bridget. I'll have to ask her, but I'm sure she won't mind if we use that time and the castle for dance lessons."
"Perfect," Nagwa replied.
Branch reentered the room just then, and the leaders quickly pretended that they had been talking about something else as Poppy returned to her seat.
Poppy took a sip of her drink to hide her giddiness. She could not wait to start learning Raqs Sharqi.
Thankfully, Bridget and Gristle were more than happy to let Poppy have her dance lessons in the castle. When Poppy arrived at the Bergentown castle with the Queens, princesses, and their musicians in tow, Bridget even tried a few Raqs Sharqi dance moves herself before deciding it wasn't her thing and opted to watch instead.
The first thing Poppy learned about Raqs Sharqi dancing was that it was way harder than it looked.
She went to bed the night after her first class and woke up feeling pain in muscles she didn't even know she had. Nagwa said that was good; it meant she was doing it right and the more she worked those muscles, the less it would hurt.
"You think too much!" the youngest princess admonished during the second class.
Poppy's jaw dropped; she had been accused of many things throughout her life, but thinking too much had never been one of them.
"In belly dancing, a Troll's true personality comes to the surface and shines, and it plays into your personal style of belly dancing," the princess explained, "It can't do that if you are too focused on how you're moving your body. Just let the music move you and stop thinking!"
The three Queens backed the princess and used their own dancing to demonstrate. Taheya's style was sensual and earthy. Samia's was light and playful. Nagwa was a creative show woman.
Poppy took their advice to heart and began to improve and develop her own style. Her figure even began to trim up a tiny bit, and if Branch noticed, he never said anything.
Halfway through the lessons, and a week after she had to cancel a class to attend Barb and Riff's wedding, Poppy asked if she could start dancing with Props.
One thing was for sure: using snakes for dancing – real or fake – was definitely out of the question. Branch would freak out big time.
Same thing for shamadans, or any kind of prop that involved fire.
Poppy was worried she might actually hurt someone if she even tried dancing with swords.
The one time Poppy attempted Saidi dance, the cane slipped out of her hand and hit Bridget in the forehead, so that was out.
That left finger cymbals and veils, which Poppy was excited to discover she was a natural with.
The last lesson – and costume fitting – would be on the day of the Harvest Moon.