The banquet hall looked like never I had ever seen before. The decorations, the tables of food, the music was like something out of a fairytale. However, the atmosphere felt strange as there wasn't much chattering as I remembered Una's rule of no one really speaking, it was more about body language and dance.
As I entered, I noticed a few of the other costumed figures staring at me, there were all sorts of masks gazing at me. Foxes, lions, butterflies, swans, stags, wolves made from beautiful silks in all the colours you could imagine. And then there was me, top to toe in black, I didn't realise I would stand out from the crowd, it's the last thing I wanted but Una insisted that the black raven would be a good idea but now I wasn't so sure. I found my way to the nearest wall and put myself against it. I thought losing my identity would make me feel less self-conscious, but it felt worse.
It's then I noticed a man making his through the crowd towards me. He was dressed in a deep blue suit with white and gold trim, it was well tailored to his figure. He had some sort of cape attached too as the hood pulled over his head and all it would reveal was his gold mask, the mix of shimmering gold and his hood pulled up gave the illusion that he had no face. It was quite the haunting sight.
To my surprise, I then realised he was aiming his stride towards me as he came to a halt when he reached me and simply offered his gloved hand. I accepted and he guided me to the dance space. There was something about the mystery around him that had me holding my breath. He then pulled me close, very close in fact as we waited for the music to begin. His hold around me felt so strong, it made me feel secure, it made me feel safe. And at the same time, it made me feel weak.
If the music had begun than I hadn't of realised. The feel of this man around me made me feel like I would do anything at his will. He led me round the floor with such grace and confidence that he must have danced a hundred times before this, which led to a possible clue to his identity. He must have been one of the courtiers. I gazed at him intently looking for further clues but even up close, he had taken precious care to not reveal anything about him. The only thing I had was the way he held me.
The dance was then over, and it had felt like barely thirty seconds had gone past and then I notice I'm being led back to where he found me. He squeezes my hand and bows, and then I'm left against the wall wondering if I will ever feel like that again in my lifetime.
"Are you having fun?" whispered Una next to me, I was so lost in thought that I didn't even notice her peacock self-approach me.
"Yes" I breathed "It's truly something".
"Good" she replied in her sunny voice "Oh, look! Another dancer for you".
She than gave me a little encouraging push towards another masked figure, this time in green and what appeared to be the mask of a fox. He offered his hand to me, and I accepted. We made our way to the dance space, and I couldn't help but feel disappointed in the way that he held me. It was perfectly fine, but it could never match up to my last dance.
And it certainly didn't, this dancer was clumsy, I thought I was, but he didn't know the directions, my big toe was also suffering badly. I then felt a hand on my shoulder, and it was him again! He interrupted our dance and took over from my other partner. I didn't have time to feel bad for him as I was wrapped up once again in this man's spell over me.
Did I want to know his identity? Or would the illusion be ruined, and it wouldn't feel the same if I found out? Though I was certain I would feel the same way with just the way his hands were touching my body liked they had always belonged there.
The rest of the evening, he wouldn't let me go. We kept dancing like we were in tuned with each other. I wanted to reach up pull away his mask, I needed to know who he was. I wondered if he felt the same or this was just a game to him. Though I didn't feel like it was. This felt like something new.
The evening was drawing to a close, I could see the hall getting more and more empty by the minute but I didn't want this to end. Even though we hadn't spoken a single word to each other, I felt like we had been speaking all night and that we would do anything for each other.
He dropped our hold and I felt anxious, this is where our night was to end but I still didn't know who he was. He walked me over to the staircase and removed the glove from my hand. He took it up to his lips and placed a soft kiss upon it, I'd never forget the feel of those lips for the rest of my life. He then gave me low bow and turned away.
"Wait!" I called over to him, I had to speak, I couldn't let him go without knowing. He froze in steps as I continued "I must know who you are."
He shook his head deciding to keep his identity and simply left the hall. I felt as though I had been hit in the chest from the rejection. How could we spend such a night and never know who the other was? It felt like it could be the loss of my life.