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Gabe put on his most elegant white shirt and quickly buttoned up. He only wore it once, for last year’s Navidad but given that it was his fanciest one, it was an easy choice. He slipped on a turtleneck sweater, made sure it covered the shirt, and flung his backpack over his shoulder. He looked in the mirror one last time and left his room.
“Mamá, papá, I’m leaving!” Gabe called from the corridor, quickly pulling on his shoes. If he’s lucky, his parents are attending to some client now and he will just-
“Have fun on your camping trip, Gabriel.” Said Roberto, coming out from behind a curtain separating the shop from the living part of their house.
“And be careful,” Blanca added, standing next to her husband. “Are you sure it’s not too late to go into the jungle? It’s almost evening.”
“Come on, Blanca, Gabriel’s fifteen, he’s almost an adult at this point, I’m sure he and his friend have planned this through,” Roberto assured his wife before Gabe could.
“Of course we did, mamá. And we’re not going that far.” I hope. He added in his thoughts, but outside just smiled.
“See? He’s a responsible boy, he wouldn’t go on this trip if it was dangerous in any way.” Gabriel really hoped his smile was as believable as he needed it to be.
But Roberto luckily didn’t pay much attention to him and continued.
“I myself would go camping with my olaball team all the time when I was his age, these woods are completely safe.”
If only we were really going camping…
“I suppose you’re both right.” Blanca sighed and kissed Gabe on top of his head. “Have a fun weekend mijo.”
Gabriel swallowed the lump in his throat but kept his fake smile up.
“Thanks, mamá. I’ll see you both on Sunday evening.” He finally opened the door and left, not looking back in fear that he might change his mind and reveal the true intent of this trip. He just hoped he didn’t lie to them just now.
Gabe made his way towards Ángel’s house, a familiar route he made at least every week. He knew that after their graduation in just a few months, their paths will probably go in different directions, so he wanted to use every opportunity he had to spend some time with his best friend. He realized that it was probably the main reason why he agreed to this in the first place. But before he could start to reconsider Ángel’s crazy idea, he reached his house.
“There you are, man!” Ángel exclaimed and closed him in a strong bear hug. “I knew you wouldn’t let me down!”
He was waiting in front of his house, also with a big backpack and, as Gabe realized with relief, also wearing a silly sweater.
“Yeah, I just hope I won’t regret it,” Gabe answered and they started to walk towards the edge of the jungle. Luckily, Ángel lived in the suburbs, so it wasn’t long before they reached the first trees. It was getting late, the sun had started to set some time ago so when they entered the jungle, they immediately delved into the twilight. Gabe felt a shiver down his spine. He had a feeling something would happen on this trip. He just hoped it’ll be something good.
When they went deep enough to not be seen from the houses, Ángel took out a map from his pocket in a dramatic gesture and started to head south-east from the city.
"Regret it?" Ángel picked up their conversation from before. "Come one, when did any of my ideas get you into trouble?"
"Just last week. Except then, we only broke the school rules and now we'll be breaking the actual law." Gabe lowered his voice to a whisper for the last part.
Ángel dismissed his worries with a loose gesture.
"Oh like you care about the law so much. I mean wasn’t it you who ‘just last week,’" He mocked his words. “Helped a gang of fourteen juvenile criminals escape from the pursuit of guards enforcing royal orders?”
“Oh come on, you know it was nothing like that!” Gabe felt his blood boil on the sheer mention of that day. “It was just a bunch of kids playing hopscotch and singing some silly rhyme, and this guard wanted to beat them up as if they would, I don’t know, actually have committed any crime!”
Ángel nodded.
“So instead you have beaten up that guard.”
“Well, I’m not proud of that, but he deserved that,” Gabe muttered.
“Not proud? Gabe, I bet he still has a print of your fist on his stupid face, I’d brag about it for months if I was you!”
“I don’t like beating people, you know that,” Gabe rubbed his right fist. Luckily his parents didn’t ask him about these bruises but he was sure they'd noticed. “Anyway let’s just not talk about it, okay?”
Ángel raised his hands in capitulation and changed the topic to school, the girl he had a crush on, and the latest gossip he overheard when he visited mercado with his dad in the morning.
Under the thick ceiling of branches, the jungle had already sunk into the evening’s dimness. They have been walking for a few hours now and Ángel has checked the map only two times. With the night drawing near and their destination still unknown, Gabe was starting to worry.
"Are you sure we're going in the right direction? Do you even know where this whole… thing's supposed to be?" He gestured vaguely in the air.
"Of course I know, Gabe, why else do you think I'd have a map?” Ángel answered, confidence clear in his voice. “And this whole ‘thing’ is a secret concert, should I remind you."
"That's why I said ‘thing.’” Gabe sighed. “If you keep talking out loud about how secret it is we'll get arrested before we even arrive."
"We won't be arrested, stop worrying so much. These people have organized tons of concerts and dances, and all kinds of forbidden festivals, they're professionals."
"Uh-uh, then why haven't I ever heard about them?" Gabe raised his eyebrows, even though Áangel couldn’t see his face, since he walked before him.
"Because they're professionals, duh. I mean, what kind of secret organization would they be if you, a normal uninitiated citizen, knew about them?"
"Then I suppose you're initiated?"
"Wellll…” Ángel combed his hair with his hand like he always did when he felt awkward. “My dad is? That counts right?"
"You mean we're not supposed to be there?” Gabe stopped in his tracks. He knew that Ángel sometimes acted without thinking everything through, but endangering themselves to some secret, who knows how lethal organization, was too much even for him.
“Not only are we risking getting arrested by the royal guards, but also getting on the bad side of the resistance group?!"
"Don't panic, Gabe, they're not a real resistance group, they won't do anything to us. They're...” Ángel looked for the best words. ”Just a bunch of people setting up secret meetings for people who aren't partial to the queen."
"Sounds like a resistance group to me."
“Nah, you’re overreacting.” Ángel waved his hand, ignoring his friend’s worries.
They walked for another while in silence and Gabe felt worry mixing with anger inside him. This whole trip was supposed to be safe and fun. Sure, he knew that they were going to a concert, which were, of course, illegal in Avalor, but he thought he meant a private concert, like if one of Ángel’s friends could play kazoo or something. Just as he was about to voice his objection and tell Áangel to turn back home, he noticed that the jungle was getting scarcer, and they were walking through a young woodlet now. Ángel spoke up first.
"Anyway, we're almost there, so you can see for yourself." He said, scrambling through the last bushes and moving aside so Gabe could stand next to him.
"I swear Ángel, if you’ve dragged me into some shady…" Gabe’s words died out half way out of his mouth.
They came out of the jungle on a big heel and now he could clearly see the whole landscape before him. At first he thought they came into another forest, because the slope of the heel was full of dark, swaying objects. But soon enough he realized that what he mistook in the dusk light for short trees, were actually people. Tens of tens of people, coming from all around them and all heading into the bay, hidden behind this one and other neighbouring hills.
It was too dark for him to recognize any faces, but Gabe noticed how diverse these people were. There were families with children. Elderly people coming alone or in pairs. Lone wanderers, varying in ages from not older than them to their parents’ age. But they all were dressed very festively, elegantly, they all looked like they were going to a very important event.
Gabe suddenly felt ashamed of his turtleneck sweater and quickly took it off and smoothed out his shirt. He noticed that Ángel also took off his jacket, which as he correctly assumed, also served to hide his elegant outfit. They looked around, not sure what to do or where to go now.
"Hey kids!” They both turned around towards the voice. A tall man was calling out to them and gesturing at them to come closer. Not having any better idea, they complied.
“Leave your stuff under here,” the man continued, pointing at the pile of dark tarp. “If everyone brought such bundles, we'd never fit onto the ship."
"The ship?" Ángel asked, obediently hiding his backpack.
"First time I see? Come on, I'll walk with you." The man laughed, put his arms around their backs and led them towards the shore.
When they escaped the most dense crowd, Gabe could finally see the bay, and when he did, he couldn’t stop himself from gasping. A long, one-decked ship swayed gently on the low waves. Its deck was being lightened up by tons of people hanging lanterns on the masts. Lots of people went from and onto the ship, loading stuff he couldn’t see over their bodies. He didn’t even have much time to think about it, as his attention was quickly taken by the impromptu stage set up at the stern. Multiple musicians were pitching their instruments and after such a long time since Gabe had heard any music, these random strummings seemed like the sweetest melody to him.
All the time he was taking in all the beautiful chaos of this place, the man was talking.
"If it's really your first time, you should know a few things. First” he said when he was sure he had their attention. “When you come back home, you can't speak of this meeting. Ever. Not with your friends, not with your parents, not even with each other. It might seem like innocent fun, but what we're doing here is legally forbidden, if you can't keep your mouths shut, you better leave now.”
He shot them a long glance until they both promised to keep the secret and continued.
“And second - there's no names here. We're here to sing and dance, not talk, if you have to, use nicknames, but never tell anyone your true name. If you need any more help, just ask for Paredes."
He waited for the boys to nod and a smile came back on his face.
“Great! If that’s all clear, have fun amigos!” Paredes slapped them on their backs and disappeared into the crowd.
Gabe and Ángel looked at each other and couldn’t help but smile too. They raced onto the ship, plunging themselves into the colorful, chattering sea of people.
Soon the ship set sail, Gabe looked over the broadside at the dark line of land disappearing on the horizon, replaced by the glistening sea, reflecting the last lights of the day. When the land completely disappeared from his eyes, Gabe turned towards the deck. He slowly traversed it, dazed by the crowd and the atmosphere of excitement… and anticipation. He quickly found himself falling for it too and now he was looking around, wondering was else can happen in such a place.
And then, the music started.
It was just a quick prelude by two young guitarists, but Gabe literally froze in place and looked at them with his eyes and mouth wide open. A simple, folk tune ended after only a few minutes and the crowd started to clap. Gabe snapped out of his amazement and clapped too, louder and more enthusiastically than he ever did.
After this one, there were many more performances, singers and musicians showed off their skills, entertaining the crowd until the sky was full of stars and the air full of laughter. Gabe watched from the edge of the makeshift dance floor. He cheered, clapped to the rhythm and looked with admiration at the dancing pairs and singing groups, but he didn’t dare to dance or sing himself. He had only ever learned a few easy steps and he could count the songs he knew on the fingers of his one hand. Compared to how talented all the people here were, he felt a little out of place.
Suddenly the crow burst out into even louder cheering than before. Gabe shook off his negative thoughts and looked towards the stage.
There a tall, redheaded woman started to play a quick, lively song on her fiddle. She moved the bow faster than he could follow and she managed to tap her foot to the rhythm at the same time. Gabe felt his mouth fall open again.
“Wow… Hey, who’s that-” He started, but realised Ángel hadn’t been by his side for some time now. He shrugged - it’s not like he can get lost on a ship - and turned towards the closest person to him
“Excuse me, who’s that woman playing the fiddle?”
“She goes by Red, a Norbergian.” The person explained. “You’re lucky to hear her play, you know. The rumour says she’s leaving soon.”
Gabe nodded and looked back at the stage. The first tune ended and Red started to play another one, which he recognized as a vals criollo. He moved out of the centre of the deck to make way for the dancers, but then he felt a poke on his arm.
“Hey, are you free?”
He turned towards the voice and noticed a short girl, probably a few years younger than him. She was obviously not from Avalor, not only because she had a strong accent, but obviously because she looked different. She had fair, almost white skin, blue eyes, and blond hair, cut into a short, uneven bob.
“I mean, do you want to dance? With me?” She asked again.
“Oh, of course. Though I’m probably not good at it, I haven’t danced in a long time.” Gabe answered, rubbing his neck sheepishly.
The girl just shrugged.
“Like everyone here.”
“Yeah…” Gabe whispered. She was right. None of these people would have learned how to dance or sing professionally, there were no music schools in Avalor after all. And that means they all danced because they wanted to, because they loved to do so.
Gabe took the girl’s hand and they went to the dance floor. The song started and they started to dance. Gabe never has actually danced before and yet now, with this unknown girl, in this strange place, he knew exactly what to do. It’s like he had it in his blood.
The song picked up the pace and he shoved all the thoughts to the side. He was dancing now, and he wanted to enjoy this moment as much as he could. Even more, since his partner was truly amazing. They’d spin, traverse the whole length of the ship, split up, and come back into the frame, all without a single word, their gazes communicating enough. Finally though, like all good things, the song came to an end and the deck exploded into catatonic applause, shouts, and whistles.
Gabe could feel the blood flaring in his veins and raving in his ears. He was panting, tired from the dance but feeling the strong desire to dance even more, so long until he dropped on the floor from exhaustion.
“Woohooo!” He joined the crowd and whistled on his fingers. He shouted to his partner, so she could hear him over all the cheering. “She’s amazing!”
“Oh, she sure is.” Gabe turned to her, intrigued. She didn't say it like normal praise, is it possible that she knew something he didn't?
“I’ll tell you something, but you have to keep it a secret…” Gabe nodded, and the girl came closer, whispering to his ear. “She’s my mom.”
Gabe felt his mouth fall open. He looked at the girl with wide eyes and she nodded, no sign of a joke on her face. And even if she was just pranking him, after such a dance, he'd believed her. He felt like on this ship, at this moment, everything was possible, and if she said she was a daughter of Red the fiddler, she had to be.
He opened his mouth to ask her more, to say how fantastic that was, but before he got to, a man came into the makeshift stage and spoke up, his voice resonating over the deck and hushing all the conversations.
“This next song was written twenty years ago. Its author cannot be with us today… and we all know who is to blame for that.” A wave of angry murmurs went through the crowd. Gabe looked around, not sure if he understood, but the man's next words resolved his doubts.
“Let’s sing together, Avalorans. Let’s sing and never forget what this witch did to him, to our kingdom, and to all of us!”
The audience erupted into cheers once again, more militant now than before. He caught a few different mottos and slogans, mixing with each other in a powerful roar. "Down with the witch!" was over shouted by "All hail Castillos!" but both were dominated by "Viva Avalor!" which Gabe found himself shouting too.
Gradually though the chanting blew over as the man started to strum a melody in his guitar. When the first words resonated through the air, everyone was quiet.
“L'avi Siset em parlava
De bon matí al portal…”
The singer's voice was quiet, the words felt unfinished. But with each line, it became stronger, each word carrying more emotion than the last, so when the refrain came, and he struck a sharp chord on his guitar, they fully resounded, their message loud and clear.
“Si estirem tots, ella caurà
I molt de temps no pot durar:
Segur que tomba, tomba, tomba!
I ens podrem alliberar.”
A few people joined the singer for the refrain, adding might to the chorus, but leaving the stave to the singer. And when the next refrain came, Gabriel sang too, the words coming naturally for him, even though he never learned them.
"Segur que tomba, tomba, tomba
I ens podrem alliberar."
The crowd now turned into a choir, voices young and old, male and female, clearer or not, united into one powerful song. And Gabe felt this song travel through the sea, he felt it reach Avalor, lost somewhere over the dark waters, and in this very moment, Gabe felt truly Avaloran. He felt a hand catch his own. He didn't have to even look to know that it was the girl, with whom he danced. He returned the squeeze and they sang together.
Finally, the song ended. The singer hummed the refrain one last time, alone, delicately strumming his guitar and the deck fell into silence. The singer stood up and bowed. That was like a sign for the audience to clap.
The crowd burst into applause once more. This time there were no shouts, no whistling, even the militant slogans from before were nowhere to be heard. A few people sniffed, many didn't hold back and openly cried. Gabe looked to his right and saw that the girl's eyes were glistening with tears. He raised his hand to jail cheek and realized that he was crying too.
Slowly the applause died down, though it continued long after the singer left the stage. The exalted atmosphere gave way to a much calmer but more homely one. People started to chat, here and there burst out a hearty laughter. Somewhere on the bow, two people intonated a traditional Avaloran sea shanty and a few people picked up.
A girl, not a lot older than Gabe, came upon the stage and started strumming a simple melody on her guitar. Not energetic enough to dance too, but nonetheless catchy enough to dispel the previous feeling of melancholy and bring back the joyful mood.
Someone must’ve also brought two big barrels, which were now taken out of the hold and cracked open. A liquid of impossible to determine in the scarce lighting color was deftly poured into wooden mugs and handed out to the crowd. An elderly woman carrying four mugs in each hand quickly eyed Gabe and the girl and content with her judgement, handed them two from her right hand, before disappearing back into the crowd.
Gabe quaffed half of his drink at once. Cold water in his hoarse from singing throat felt better than any drink he ever tried. When he satisfied his thirst he looked at the girl again. She caught his gaze and motioned her head towards the gunwale. Gabe nodded and squeezing through the masses they reached the edge of the ship, for the first time in long escaping the crowd. The air was much colder here and the moonless night felt much darker. And when they finally had some space around them, Gabe realized that they were still holding hands. At first, he wanted to let go, thinking the girl might get uncomfortable, now that there’s no emotional song connecting them but didn’t act on this idea. The girl looked out at the dark sky, woven with sparkling, silver stars. Gabe relaxed and followed her gaze, taking in the most beautiful night in his life. After all, she caught his hand first.
Eventually, the melodious streaming on the guitar ended and the air was filled with familiar sounds of the violin and cheers of the people. The same singer as before now joined Red in a duet and called out the title and invitation to sing along. The crowd cheered even louder and started to clap in the rhythm of the prelude.
Gabe turned to his partner, feeling his heartbeat quickening to match the rhythm and a smile blooming on his face.
“Will you dance with me?”
“On one condition.” The girl answered, answering his smile with a smirk of her own. “You won’t sing again.”
“You don’t like this song?” Gabe asked in confusion.
“Oh no, no, it’s fantastic. I just don’t like to listen to off-key screeching.”
“Why you, little…” Gabe gasped and pretended to jump at her, but she dodged and laughing loudly pulled him back into the crowd and onto the dancefloor.
They started to spin and jump to the brisk melody. And when the words started, Gabe joined in, sending his partner a wild smile. The girl made an overly wincing face to him but sang as well.
And when the song ended, another began and they danced again. And after that, one more and another one. They danced, they sang, they laughed, and cheered with the crowd. For the rest of the night, they hadn't once left the dancefloor and when the morning came, and the little ship moored in the hidden bay, they were still finishing their last dance.
Finally, though, the secret concert-cruise ended and people started to leave the ship, with their faces bright and still humming the melodies. Gabe saw Ángel come ashore a while ago now, but still, he stayed aboard as one of the last ones. He looked at his partner and by her look, he realised she wasn’t going ashore.
“Will we ever meet again?” He asked, feeling a pang in his heart. “I… I think I really like you, you know.”
The girl finally let go of his hand and let her gaze fall to the ground.
“...I like you too but,” She shrugged. “Since we can’t know each other’s names, I don’t think that’s possible.”
Gabe felt as if a giant weight had been dropped into his stomach. He just met this girl but already felt like she was his best friend, he can’t just lose her now.
“No.”
The girl looked up at him, furrowing her brows in confusion.
“No?”
“I will find you.” Gabe continued, a firm resolution forming in his heart. “Just wait and I promise you, I will find you and we’ll dance again.”
A wide smile appeared on the girl’s face and she jumped into Gabe’s arms, squeezing him tightly.
“Okay, I’ll be waiting.”
***
Naomi furrowed her brows and crossed her arms. Three ships have already gone missing and it’s not even noon! And yet, the princess prefers to chat with some merchant instead of acting. She huffed in frustration. It looks like she’ll have to keep an eye on the port herself. She turned to join her father but made only a few steps before freezing.
Someone was humming. Naomi relaxed. Music was not illegal after all but it looks like some habits die hard. Still, she hadn't heard that particular melody in over three years and it held some really dear memories to her.
“That song…” She started turning around to find the person who could be the source of this sound. Her gaze immediately fell to the royal guard that came with the princess and apparently stayed to look after the younger one. He was staring at her.
A red flag popped up in her head and she was about to ask him what his problem was, when she noticed his eyes. Warm, brown eyes. Oddly familiar. And his smile, a confident, boyish grin. Everything about him, even the way he butchered the melody while humming, seemed very, very familiar. And then it clicked.
"Is that really you?” She asked, not able to fight a smile that was lighting up her face.
“Only if that’s really you.” The moment the guard spoke up, Naomi was sure it was him.
She ran to him, wrapping her arms around his neck and hugging him tightly. The guard laughed and hugged her back.
“See? I told you I’ll find you.” He whispered.
“I suppose I can finally tell you.” She said as they parted from the hug. “My name’s Naomi.”
The guard’s smile widened even more.
“It’s nice to meet you, Naomi, I’m Gabriel, but my friends call me Gabe.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Gabe.”
For a while more they just stood there, facing each other, not able to believe their luck, their hands, and gazes locked in each other’s. Eventually, though their moment was broken, when Naomi’s dad called out to her.
“I have to go.” She sighed, letting go of his hands and turning away. But after a few steps, she turned around and reminded him.
“Remember you promised me a dance!”
“I do! Tonight at the ball!” Gabe called out after her silhouette, disappearing in the crowd.