As always, I do not own Cirque du Freak, pretty please review!
Larten and Arra helped Darren and Elena get ready for the festival, taking them to the storerooms to find proper clothes for them to wear. Larten was shifting through old boxes, while Darren interrogated him about the Festival of the Undead.
"What happens at the Festival?"
"Challenges mostly,"
"Don't forget drinking copiously, singing raucously, and swapping tall tales until midday." Arra laughed.
"What kind of challenges?" Darren asked.
"Contests, fighting mostly." Arra said, pulling a dress suit out of one of the boxes. "I think this will fit you," She mused, holding it out in front of her and comparing it to Darren.
Darren made a face, "If everyone's going to be fighting why do I have to get dressed up?"
"Tradition," Arra shrugged, "Everyone wears their best clothes at the festival, your father and I will be dressed up as well. Besides, I don't expect you to be challenged a whole lot, you're young and you're only a half-vampire."
"Dad's always overdressed anyways." Darren grumbled.
His father shot a displeased look at him, "Careful, or I may end up challenging you myself."
Darren laughed, "Like you could take me old man," He teased.
Without warning, Mr. Crepsley growled and pounced, tackling Darren to the ground. The two rolled around on the floor wrestling. Elena jumped down from the crate she had been perched on, shaking her head, "Boys " She grumbled, and began helping Arra sort through more boxes while her father and brother continued their wrestling match on the floor.
When Seba came in, both were red in the face with sweat pouring off them, Larten with Darren in a chokehold on the ground. "Do you yield?" Larten asked.
Darren growled and tried to throw his father off of him, opening his mouth to sneer "Never," when Seba interrupted, "There will be plenty of time for that during the festival boys." Father and son glanced up, Darren escaping his father's grasp with a gasp when his hold loosened. "What were you two doing down here?" The old vampire continued.
"Arra and I picking out suitable attire for the children," Larten explained.
Seba raised an eyebrow, "Well it would seem she left you here by yourselves, no doubt after you two abandoned her in favour of horsing around, though it appears she was kind enough to leave your ensembles here." He laid a hand on a stack of dress clothes atop a barrel. Larten and Darren shifted guiltily, but Seba smiled. "Go on and get ready for the Festival, it is almost sundown."
"Of course," Larten said taking the clothes from his mentor and laying a hand on Darren's shoulder to guide him out the door. Seba shook his head and smiled fondly after the vampires he thought of as his son and grandson.
Larten and Darren eventually appeared in the older vampire's cell, where Arra was busy fixing Elena's hair into a complicated braided bun. A few stray orange curls escaped her mother's neat braids, framing her face. Still concentrating on her daughter's hair, Arra barely spared the two a glance, "I see you two have decided to act your ages." She noted.
"Hey, I'm a child!" Darren said, "You can't blame me."
Arra cast an amused glance over him, "Last I remembered you were twenty."
"Well I still look like a child." Darren mumbled.
Larten laughed, "There will be a time when you will wonder why you ever wanted to be older in the first place." He promised, handing Darren a set of dress clothes to change into.
"There." Arra said putting a final pin into place, "Finished."
Elena jumped down from the lid of her parents' coffin and kissed her mother's cheek, "Thanks." She took the dress her mother had laid out for her and followed her brother out of the room to get dressed.
Arra smiled and set about getting changed herself. "What do you think?" A voice behind her said. Turning around, Arra drew in a sharp intake of breath. Larten was wearing simple dark dress pants; he had cast away his normal red-cloak in favour of a silk dress shirt, the cuffs of which he was busy rolling up over thick forearms.
"Handsome, as ever." She replied with a smile.
He approached her cautiously, "Arra do think that maybe now we could discuss-"
"Shh." She said placing a finger on his lips, "We can talk about it after."
Elena appeared in the doorway, taking in the sight of her mother and father standing so close, obviously having been in the middle of something. She cleared her throat awkwardly, "Erm- Dad, I think you should help Darren with his tie, before he strangles himself with it."
"Of course," Mr. Crepsley said, hurrying out of the room without looking at his daughter, a blush quickly making its way up his neck and into his cheeks.
"What do you think?" Elena asked with a twirl. Arra had to keep herself from snorting at her daughter using the exact same phrase as her father.
"You look beautiful." Arra said, managing to keep a straight face. The green dress her daughter was wearing did indeed look wonderful on her. "It brings out your eyes," Arra frowned, "But I think Larten is going to have a heart attack when he sees how low cut it is."
"He just saw me." Elena reminded.
"I think he was preoccupied."
"What were you guys talking about before I came in?" Elena asked curiously, feigning innocence.
"Never you mind." Arra snapped suddenly.
Elena threw her hands up in surrender, "Alright! I was only asking!"
Arra softened, "Sorry. Do you mind helping me do this up?" She asked indicating the zipper on her dress."
"Of course." Elena said carefully zipping the velvet fabric. "It's red." She noted.
"Yes." Arra said.
"Dad's favourite colour." Elena said suggestively.
"Elena Crepsley, you will keep you nose out of other people's business." Arra chastised.
"You're my parents! Surely it's my business if you two decide to get back together. Officially I mean, you're already kind of together already."
Arra regarded her for a moment or two. "Alright," She relented, "I may have chosen a red dress to impress your father, but we haven't discussed anything yet, so do not get your hopes up."
"Fine." Elena said, "But he loves you too you know."
"Elena…"
"I'll keep my nose out of it."
"Good." Arra smiled and took her daughter's hand, "Now let's go have some fun, we all need a break from those damned trials."
Elena spotted her father and brother across the hall from where she and Arra stood gathered with the other vampires, waiting for the Princes to announce that the Festival of the Undead had officially began. Paris cleared his throat loudly and the hall quieted, Paris read out a list of all the vampires who had passed on since the last Festival, and then said, "That is the last piece of official business, let the Festival of the Undead commence!" The elderly prince clapped his hands together, and the vampire clan broke into a frenzy, each more eager than the next to reach the Halls of Sport first.
Elena even spotted her normally reserved father whooping and acting just as rambunctious as his peers. She squeezed through the crowd finding her brother and latching on to his hand for dear life. "Do not leave me." She demanded.
Darren laughed, pulling his sister along with him. The twins spent most of the time watching fights rather than participating. As their mother had predicted, not very many challenges were issued to the two half-vampires, though they accepted the ones that were, as was required. Elena had even won a fight against one of the other female vampiresses, and she was hoisted around on the shoulders of a group of drunken Generals until Gavner spotted them and asked what Larten would think. Arra was busy on her beloved bars, taking out competitor after competitor, laughing and twirling her staff in triumph, she waved to Darren and Elena as they passed by, and they grinned at her as another poor soul fell to the ground with a thud.
Eventually, they found their father, who was doing some type of martial arts, his hands moving at a blinding speed. Darren and Elena doubted that even a full vampire would be able to keep up with him. Leaving their father, they found Kurda and Gavner on the sidelines, each with a tankard of ale.
"Enjoying the festivities?" Gavner asked grinning, pulling a chair up beside him for the twins to join them.
"Yes." Darren said, "I've never seen dad look so," He paused.
The corners of Gavner's mouth twitched, "Unrestrained?" He asked teasingly. Darren nodded, and Gavner let out a loud barking laugh, "It's good for the old bat to hang loose a bit, if you ask me he's much too stuffy most of the time."
"Why aren't you two fighting?" Elena asked.
"I would be," Gavner said, "Except for this old thing," He patted his injured leg, wincing as he did so.
"How is it?" Darren asked.
"Better." Gavner said gruffly, "But I think I've pushed it as far as I can this evening. Besides! I want to dance when the ball starts!"
"What about you?" Darren asked Kurda, "Are you injured as well."
Kurda laughed, "No," He said, "I just don't like fighting, I'll accept a challenge if one comes my way, as is our custom, but I'd rather sit here and drink ale and watch my brethren revel in making fools of themselves."
"In other words, he's a bloody pacifist." Gavner joked, nudging Kurda's shoulder playfully. From the adjacent hall, music swelled. "Well Kurda, looks as though you've lucked out of receiving anymore challenges tonight, the dancing is about to begin!"
Arra and Larten made their way to the group. "Fare well on the bars?" Gavner asked Arra teasingly.
"Talk about stupid questions." She said rolling her eyes.
"I saw you fighting," Darren said to his father, "You were so fast! I could hardly keep up with it!"
Larten smiled, "They did not call me quicksilver for nothing." He finally caught proper sight of his daughter for the first time. "What are you wearing?" He demanded, looking at her dress, which already low-cut, had been torn further during some of her challenges.
"Mom picked it out." Elena said quickly, seeing the displeased look on her father's face.
"Arra what were you-"
"Oh hush Larten, she's twenty after all, and besides no one here is going to do anything to her or let anything happen to her, they know who they'll have after them if they try anything."
"She still looks thirteen!" Larten defended, "And besides, she'll-"
"Larten no one here is interested in a thirteen year-old." Kurda said gently, "I know she'll always be a child to you," Elena huffed and folded her arms across her chest at this, "But Arra is right, there are a whole host of vampires that would defend her if something happened. And the dress really isn't that bad."
"Fine," Larten snarled. "I shall let it go." He stormed off, Arra following behind him casting an apologetic look back at her daughter.
Elena breathed out a sigh of relief and Gavner clapped her on the back. "Don't mind him, Lena" He said, "He just-"
"Sees me as a permanent pre-teen?"
"Ah, he's just protective, come on, you can dance with me, he won't be mad at that."
Elena followed Gavner to the dance floor. She spotted her parents in the crowd, Larten twirling Arra around on his arm, his bad mood seemed forgotten, a smile plastered on his face as he watched his ex-mate spin beside him on the dance floor.
"Do you think they'll mate again?" Elena asked Gavner, they were swaying from side to side, Gavner couldn't properly dance on his ankle, and Elena suspected he was too clumsy to dance properly in any case.
He looked over his shoulder and caught sight of Larten and Arra and smiled, "Aye." He said, "Though they'll probably wait til after you two complete your trials."
Darren sat on the side next to Seba, watching the vampires dance, "Do you know that these fools actually take pride in their dancing skills." Seba said to Darren.
"Really?" Darren said, "But they're not very good."
"No," Seba agreed, "But they are far too drunk to notice!"
Darren laughed, accepting a mug of ale as Seba poured one up for him.
When the first song ended, the vampires clapped wholeheartedly, Elena helped Gavner sit down next to Seba and Darren, his face slightly drained of colour. "Thanks." He said, "I think I've had enough dancing, I'll drown my pain in ale instead!"
Thomas, one of Seba's assistants approached the group. "Hello Thomas," Seba greeted, "Are you enjoying yourself?"
"Seba, Gavner, Darren." He replied. He turned to Elena, "Might I dance with you, Elena?"
"I'd be careful if I were you Thomas," Gavner chuckled, "Larten just about had a fit earlier."
Elena jabbed him in the stomach with her elbow and shot him a steely glare, "I'd be honoured," She took his extended hand and let him lead her onto the dance floor.
The group watched the pair moving gracefully around the dance floor. Harkat soon joined them. "Where…is…Elena Darren?" He asked.
Darren nodded in her direction, "Dancing."
Gavner leaned over so that only Darren and Harkat could hear, "Bet you a tenner that Larten is going to lose his mind when he finds out."
"Only…Ten?" Harkat asked slyly, and Darren roared with laughter.
Larten and Arra joined the group, "What's so funny?" Arra asked.
"Nothing," Gavner quickly said.
Larten's eyes narrowed as he glanced around, "Gavner Purl, where is my daughter?"
"She is perfectly fine Larten," Seba said; his apprentice's shoulders relaxed, "She is dancing with one of my assistants." He chortled as Larten's eyes widened and he whipped around to see Elena waltzing with the young vampire, who, compared to most of his brethren, was almost handsome by human standards.
Arra put a hand on his shoulder, drawing him back before he could go and tell them off, "Oh no you don't."
"But-"
"Larten, do not be foolish." Seba warned. "They are only dancing after all."
As Larten began arguing with Seba and Gavner, Arra took Darren's hand and lead him into the centre of the room with the other vampires. "Your father is far too overprotective sometimes." She sighed.
Darren grinned at her, as they spun on the dance floor, "At least he cares."
Arra mocked a look of hurt, "Are you saying I don't?"
"No!" Darren said quickly, "I-" He stopped when Arra started laughing, "You were joking!"
"Of course I was," She grinned, and then said seriously, "Of course I care, how could I not? You are my children." She glanced over as Elena and Thomas danced past them with wide smiles, "Your father's fears are simply misplaced."
"Are you two going to mate again?" Darren asked.
Arra groaned, "Not you too!"
Darren laughed, "Okay, I'll drop it. But you should reconsider waiting until after our trials, one of us might not make it to the wedding."
"Vampires don't have weddings, and you shouldn't joke about failing your trials."
"Okay, Okay." Darren surrendered. He danced with Arra until the music stopped the next morning, Mr. Crepsley eventually taking Elena out of Thomas' hands when he and Seba had ceased arguing.
The next night of the festival was much the same, with drinking and challenges in abundance. Vampires lined up to test themselves against Harkat, the little person had strength enough to outmatch most vampires. Vanez was doing fairly well for himself, even with one eye, overtaking several vampires at once, and still managing to wave at Darren and Elena when they passed by. Once again, Kurda ended up talking to Darren and Elena from the sidelines, happy enough to stay out of the action. At least until a familiar voice challenged him, "Kurda Smahlt!" Arra shouted from her bars, twirling her staff fast and hard.
Kurda sighed and approached the bars, "Yes Arra?"
"I challenge you. Come on Kurda, even a pacifist like you can't refuse a challenge during the festival."
"Fine." Kurda sighed. Vampires from all over the hall gathered to watch the fight. Champion of the bars against the diplomatic soon-to-be prince. Vanez and Larten stood behind Darren and Elena.
"This should be interesting," Vanez muttered.
Like her previous fight with Elena, Arra wasted no time in jabbing her staff at Kurda's torso. He dodged swiftly, regarding the vampiress with an air of caution. "Fight," Arra growled, "You cannot simply keep moving out of the way."
Kurda's eyes narrowed and he struck her staff with his. The fight after that turned nasty, both vampires swinging their staffs at speeds far too fast for a half-vampire to comprehend. What no one in the hall expected, even those who could follow the fight, was for Kurda's staff to catch Arra across the torso, sweeping her off her beloved bars. A collective gasp sounded across the hall.
Kurda leaped from the bars, extending his hand out to Arra, "Are you alright?" He asked, genuinely concerned.
"Don't touch me!" She snapped, getting to her feet.
Kurda held a hand out for her to shake, Arra looked at it almost fearfully, "I can't," She said miserably, "I'm sorry Kurda, you fought well, but I cannot take your hand."
He reached out his hand to grasp her shoulder, "I understand." He said gently, but before he could Arra had turned and fled from the hall.
Darren and Elena started after her, but Vanez held them back, while Larten ran after her. "Wait until later." He said, "She's just suffered her first defeat in twelve years, in front of her children no less, and she considers herself shameful for not taking Kurda's hand."
Larten found Arra in their children's chambers, sitting on Darren's hammock, staring blankly into space, tears streaming. Larten carefully sat beside her, allowing her to rest her head on his should while she sobbed. "I've been shamed." She moaned, "Why couldn't I have just taken Kurda's hand?"
"Because you did not feel right about it." Larten said gently, "You have always been rather prideful."
"My children are going to think their mother is a failure." She said bitterly, her voice muffled by Larten's shirt.
"They will not." Larten said forcefully. "Arra most vampires in that hall still do not see you as a failure, you are being far too hard on yourself. Even if you were Darren and Elena would still love you."
Arra had stopped crying, and lifted her head to look at him, "What do you think of me?"
Larten swallowed thickly, "I think that a strong and honourable vampiress suffered an admirable defeat, though she could work on losing more gracefully."
Arra laughed, "Vampires have never been gracious losers." She said, leaning forward to kiss him softly.
Surprised, but pleased, Larten's arms circled around her, and he fell deeper into the kiss. Pulling away, he said, "Do you wish to return to the festival."
Arra grimaced, "No, I don't think I could face everyone tonight, besides" She purred, running a hand down his chest, "We have some catching up to do yet." She kissed him again, stood and took his hand, leading him to their own chamber.
The last night of the festival was slightly less raucous than the first, after the challenges, the vampires gathered in the main hall for singing and stories. Retelling the clan's history far into the next day. "Are you okay?" Elena asked her mother when her parents joined them that evening.
Arra smiled and tucked a stray curl behind her ear. "Yes. I should not have stormed out the way I did, it was shameful."
Darren shrugged, "You couldn't stay undefeated forever, we still love you promise."
Larten raised his eyebrow at Arra as if to say 'I told you so.' Arra rolled her eyes at him, "Let's go join everyone hmm?" She said, leading her children away.
Larten, Gavner, and Vanez fell behind them. "So is the mating contract back on then?" Vanez asked.
Larten stared at him, "What in Charna's guts gave you that idea?"
Vanez clapped his shoulder, striding ahead, "You've got a couple of love bites on your neck mate." He and Gavner roared with laughter as Larten clapped his hand to his neck, scowling at the Games Master.
The songs and storytelling were by far Darren and Elena's favourite part of the festival, and they would have stayed there all night if their parents had not forced them into bed. "Back to reality tomorrow," Arra said sadly, "You need to start thinking about your trials again." She kissed both of her children and left the room, Larten trailing behind. Darren and Elena both drifted off to sleep, the music from the halls crept into the room, a soft lullaby telling the story of all the vampires that came before them.