Chapter 4: Six Years Later
Nadya sorted through the few dresses left for her to choose from and finally settled on a lively red. She paid four coins to Tsura and headed back to the caravan. It was completely empty when she arrived and she changed quickly into her new dress.
It hung off her shoulders and fit snug around her thin waist then flowed out in the traditional gypsy style down to just a little below her knees. She tied a jingling golden gypsy belt around her waist once and let the rest hang down. The dress was slightly tattered and ripped at the bottom but it would do. A golden ankle bracelet glittered on her left foot. The two bangles Esmeralda had given her so long ago still glowed on her right wrist and a large golden hoop hung from her ear.
When she was sure she was ready Nadya headed for the door of the caravan when it flung open and Esmeralda hurried in, calling over her shoulder.
"We'll be there! Don't worry!" Esme closed the door behind her and dropped the bundle she was carrying onto one of the cots.
"Who were you talking to?" Nadya asked settling down in a wooden chair while Esmeralda shifted through her jewelry on the cot.
"Marko." She said simply, finding the piece she was looking for and hurrying to match it against something in the bundle. When she was satisfied she turned to face Nadya, a giant smile on her face.
"He asked us to dance at the feast tonight!" Nadya stood up in surprise, a smile creeping onto her face.
"Really?" She asked hurrying toward Esmeralda and unrolling the bundle on the bed. Inside were two costumes for the show, their beautiful fabrics spread across the plain bed. Esmeralda nodded excitedly and clapped her hands together.
"We have to change fast and be down in the center before the feast starts so that we can make our entrance." Esmeralda said quickly grabbing the red costume and proceeded to change. Nadya pulled on the green and modeled for Esmeralda.
Her costume was the most elaborate outfit she'd ever worn, being a green and gold top emphasizing her breasts. Her stomach was left bare, flat and brown in between the top and the skirt which was a long flowing gypsy skirt with a long slit up the side. A large golden gypsy belt clung to waist of the skirt. It moved easily and flowed around her when she spun.
Esmeralda modeled her costume, which was exactly the same, except in red. Both girls smiled and painted each others eyes with black eye makeup. Then Esmeralda pinned up a side of her hair with a red flower. Nadya tied around her head a green piece of cloth and another golden gypsy belt that flowed down into her dark straight hair and jingled when she shook her head.
There was a loud knock on the door and Emilian let himself in. He stopped short and stared. Both girls grinned and Emilian shook his head and laughed.
"Marko told me, so don't bother explaining." He said heading toward the back of the caravan and sorting through a small pile of ragged clothes.
"Where's Djali?" Esmeralda asked Emilian who shrugged and replied, with Clopin. Djali was Esmeralda's beloved pet goat, a sixteenth birthday present from Nuri.
Emilian groaned guiltily and threw down another rag before turning to once again face the girls. He had grown into a tall, dark man. He had dark straight hair and was well built. All the girls in the Court thought he was handsome, charming and brave. Though he was always with Clopin and Marko he had many friends his own age as well. Though he had let the death of their father effect him more then Nadya had let it effect her, he had still grown well and strong.
Esmeralda marched up to him and slapped him softly across the face. Esmeralda alone of the gypsy girls could withstand Emilians charms.
"That's what you get for leaving Djali with Clopin. He's going to learn bad habits with him as an example."
"Come on Esme! I turned out fine." Emilian contradicted, rubbing his cheek. Esme rolled her eyes and motioned to Nadya that it was time to leave. Just as they reach the door it was thrown open and Clopin and Marko forced their way into the small room.
"Well Mademoiselles aren't you two looking purely…" Clopin started
"Seductive." Marko finished for him leaning in slightly to Nadya and cupping her face gently with his hand. Nadya laughed and pushed him lightly away. Clopin simply raised an eyebrow and didn't speak.
"Can we get a move on please?" Esmeralda asked rolling her eyes again.
"Well we were here to pick up Emilian, but I don't see why we can't take you with us." Marko said turning to face Esmeralda.
"We're old enough to go alone," Esmeralda said grabbing Nadya's hand and leading her from the caravan. They reach the rehearsal grounds and noticed many other girls dressed in costumes just like theirs. For this feast would decide who would dance in the show at the Feast of Fools the next year.
An older gypsy woman was handing out differently colored veils to match the color of the costumes. Esmeralda got a red and a green and they helped each other attach their veils. Soon every girl with the same colored costume looked almost identical.
They were instructed in what to do and then led to several caravans to wait for their entrance. The sounds of the feast could be heard clearly from where they were and Nadya and Esmeralda's faces glowed with anticipation. Finally the sounds of the music changed and the girls were ushered into there places in line. There queue sounded and they were off.
The show would begin with the girls dance. Then the men would enter and choose partners to dance with. Esmeralda was in front of the dance and as she preformed Nadya couldn't help but be amazing with the grace and beauty that Esmeralda could dance with.
Suddenly, the music stopped and every girl frozen, with an arm outstretched, waiting to be chosen by a partner. The tempo of the music picked up and the men entered. They were completely dressed in black, with black masks covering their faces and large sweeping black hats.
Nadya smiled under her veil, catching her breathe quickly and preparing to begin the next step of the dance. When a partner took her hand she looked up and saw shiny, dark eyes. The man grinned devilishly and she had a hidden suspicion of who he might be.
The dance began again and her partner was a very skilled dancer. The moves seemed easy and light while she danced with him. When it was time to switch partners he kissed her hand gently before leaving and his place was taken by another man.
When the last dance arrived a tall well built man came to take her hand. His dark black eyes were sparkling and he laughed. Nadya shook her head, laughing as well and allowed Emilian to lead her out for the final dance. At last, the dance ended and the crowd of gypsies cheered.
"Well done!" Molish said clapping along with the crowd, which parted to let him through. "An entrancing performance, especially by this young woman right here."
He said putting a hand on Esmeralda's shoulder and smiling down at her.
"Now, on with the Feast!" He indicated for the music to start again and loud talking broke out.
Emilian removed his mask and taking Nadya's hand led her over to Esmeralda, who was being crowded by several young men. He pushed passed them and wrapped his arm around her shoulders, sneaking her off before any of the men even realized it had happened. Esmeralda turned back to see their shocked faces and laughed. Her face was slightly flushed but her smile was radiant.
"I really hope I get in." She said her eyes shifting toward Molish who was conversing with a young gypsy man. Nadya laughed and assured her friend that she would make it.
"I've never seen anyone dance like that. It was entrancing." Emilian added, leaning forward, toward Esmeralda's face. She laughed and pushed him away.
"Not a chance." She said grabbing Nadya's hand and leading her away. "One day you'll learn that Clopin and Marko's way of doing things doesn't attract girls like us."
Nadya looked back in time to see her brother shrug his shoulders and head in the direction of a small group of dancers, who giggled and swished their skirts as he approached.
Esmeralda led her threw the crowds and Nadya wondered where they were going until she spotted Marko. Esme led them directly up to him and he turned from the young girl he'd been flirting with. The girl slumped off in disappointment while Nadya watched her leave.
"You dance beautifully," Marko said smiling at Esmeralda. "Both of you." He redirected his smile to Nadya and she smiled back.
"Has Molish said anything?" Esme asked her face serious with anticipation. Marko's smile widened.
"You made it in." He said simply. Esmeralda's face broke into a dazzling smile and she wrapped her arms around Marko's neck in a quick hug, then she turned to hug Nadya.
Nadya congratulated her friend but a little bubble of disappointment curled in her stomach. Esmeralda spotted a friend in the crowd and rushed off to share the good news, leaving Nadya alone with Marko. Who took one look at Nadya's face and laughed loudly.
"That means you too, Nadya." He said gently, his blue eyes sparkling, for once not with mischief, but with something else. Shocked, at first Nadya couldn't speak. Then all at once it hit her and she wrapped her arms around Marko's neck, hugging him tightly. He laughed quietly and wrapped his arms around her, hugging her back.
It was unlike any hug she had ever gotten from Marko before. For the first time she was fully a wear of his body, pressed up against hers through the thin fabric of her costume. She was fully a wear that she was a young woman of seventeen, more then an age to be of an interest to the men at court. Embarrassed by her sudden revelation, she pulled herself gently away.
"You'll have to thank Clopin too; he was the one that recommended you." Marko said, freeing her from the hug. Nadya nodded, her smile still glued in place, happiness and confusion flowing through her, she headed off to find him.
Clopin was leaning against one of the stone pillars, around him stood three of the young dancers. Though as she thought about it, she shouldn't really be thinking of them as young. They were actually only a year younger then she was, probably around sixteen.
As she approached, one of the girls leaned up and kissed Clopin on the cheek. He grinned and leaned down toward her face. Nadya rolled her eyes and pushed her way through two of the girls. Who glared at her but said nothing. Clopin looked up from the girl, who turned to glare at Nadya as well.
As soon as he recognized her Clopin excused himself and led Nadya off to a more private area. The girls he left behind mumbling in annoyance to each other.
"Yes, Ma chérie, is there something I can do for you." He asked politely a half grin on his face. Nadya couldn't help but smile up at his dark black eyes, the same eyes that had grinned at her during the dance.
"You recommended me to Molish?" She asked. The emotion in his eyes flickered for just a moment but returned to there normal mischievous glint so quickly, she was not sure it had happened.
"Why of course! You dance beautifully and it would be regretful should no one see it at the feast." He said charmingly, slyly wrapping his arm around her shoulders.
"Well thank you, Clopin. It's something I've always wanted to do, but of course, you knew that." She said sliding out from under his arm, to clever to fall for his charms. He opened his mouth to respond, when a familiar voice called his name.
"Clopin!" Esmeralda said, appearing from the crowd and hugging her cousin.
"Yes, I've heard the news. Congratulations." He said "Molish could have found no finer dancers in all of Paris then the two of you." He flashed a wide smile and she chuckled quietly before reaching for Nadya.
"Come on, Nadya. Berenger wants to congratulate you." She winked at her and Nadya smiled slightly. Berenger had always shown interest in her, an interest she never returned. But she allowed Esmeralda to lead her away from Clopin. She could have sworn that as she disappeared into the crowd, that Clopin was watching her go with a look of regret. This though vanished as soon as she saw him return to the giggling group of girls, his seductive smile in place.
A/N: Hope you enjoyed this chapter. The next one will be up as soon as possible. Please Review!