Work Text:
“Dorothea?” Petra knocked on the door to Dorothea’s room, which was left slightly open. “I am having a hard time understanding the dances you are teaching to me. Can you be showing me the steps again?”
Dorothea came to her door and opened it fully. “Now? It’s pretty late, isn’t it Petra?”
“Yes.” Petra said, bowing her head slightly. “I am sorry. I just did not want to let down you or the rest of our house. This contest is being held to ease our burdens from the war, so I am wanting to perform as well as I can do. May I come in?”
Dorothea sighed, stepping aside to let Petra in. She closed the door behind her. “If you’re gonna be thinking about it anyway, I’ll help you practice. Just don’t focus so much on easing other people’s burdens that you add to your own.” She clapped her hands and smiled. “Now, which part are you having trouble with?”
Petra’s eyes lit up. “Oh, thank you! I am having difficulty matching my movements to the music, and I believe my motions are stiffer than when you showed them to me. Are you able to fix this?”
“Hmm…” Dorothea stroked her chin. “Let me see you run through the dance once first.”
Petra nodded and assumed her dancing position, holding her arms at awkward angles in front of her. Dorothea started the music, and Petra began to dance. The actual dance steps were coming along nicely, and Dorothea could tell she had been practicing. Still, the problems Petra had identified were apparent.
“What are you thinking about while you’re dancing?” Dorothea asked when Petra had finished the routine.
“I am thinking about the dance steps and the order I am to be performing them.” Petra looked at Dorothea. “Should I be thinking of something else?”
Dorothea walked up to Petra. “Take your starting position.”
Petra obliged, and Dorothea walked around her, examining her posture.
“Instead of thinking about the dance steps, I want you to imagine you have a dance partner.” Dorothea raised Petra’s elbow slightly, then continued. “The dance should be a communication between yourself and your partner. Express your feelings to them without speaking.”
“I am having trouble understanding this. Who is my dance partner?” Petra dropped her arms and turned to face Dorothea. “How am I to picture someone who is not existing?”
Dorothea’s heart pounded in her chest. “I’ll dance with you so you can get a good idea.” She took Petra’s hands in her own. Petra’s hands were calloused from years of hunting and archery, but her grip was delicate.
“Are we not needing the music?” Petra asked, a puzzled look in her eye.
Dorothea blushed. “Oh, yes that would help wouldn’t it?” She laughed and started the music, then returned to Petra. “Follow my lead.
They danced in Dorothea’s room, late at night, with the door closed. At first, Dorothea corrected Petra’s stance, helping her relax and flow with the music. Before she realized it though, she was no longer teaching her friend how to dance.
Dorothea smiled as the dance continued. She felt Petra’s body pressed against hers, felt the curves in their bodies melding as they became more comfortable. They twirled and glided around the room, pulling closer and closer to each other.
By the time the song was over, Dorothea found herself breathing heavily, staring into Petra’s eyes. They were so close, she could feel Petra’s breath tickling her lips. She held one of Petra’s hands in her own, while her other hand was wrapped around Petra’s waist, pulling her close.
“I think I am understanding better now.” Petra said softly. “I was not realizing the dances here could be so… intimate.”
Dorothea nodded, unable to grasp the right words to say.
Petra smiled and closed the distance, hugging Dorothea tightly. “Thank you, Dorothea! Now I believe I will be able to improve and not be disappointing our friends.”
As Petra started to pull away, Dorothea wrapped her other arm around Petra’s waist. “Would you like another lesson?” She whispered, as if speaking too loud would ruin the moment.
Petra looked earnestly into Dorothea’s eyes and responded with an equally quiet voice. “What kind of lesson are you to be teaching me?”
Dorothea leaned in slowly, glancing between Petra’s eyes and her lips, which were open just slightly. She hesitated. Does she want this? Am I getting too carried away?
Petra answered her unvoiced concerns by closing the distance between them, pressing her lips softly but firmly against Dorothea’s. Their lips and tongues repeated the dance their bodies had just performed, and they began to improvise new steps. Dorothea led Petra to the bed, and they continued their intimate lessons long into the night.
The next day, Dorothea woke up face to face with Petra, who was smiling at her.
“Good morning.” Petra said. She kissed Dorothea softly on the lips.
Dorothea smiled. “Good morning. I trust your lessons were helpful?”
Petra looked thoughtful. “I am not sure. I think I will be needing more lessons. I hope you can continue teaching me even after the festivities have concluded?”
Dorothea laughed and kissed Petra. “Of course. I have a lot of lessons to teach you, and I’m sure there are many lessons you could teach to me as well.”
Petra pulled Dorothea closer and kissed her cheek, then they lay together for several hours before getting up to start their day.