Work Text:
The Dance Aslan Asked For
The sun was just slipping below the horizon as Yneari rode into Erlauf. He’d left the carriages in his dust several hours earlier in his push to get to Jeurgens and Grace tonight rather than tomorrow.
He was weary and ached from long hours and days in the saddle, but it would all be worth it to hold Grace in his arms, to breathe in the scent of her hair, to sleep in their bed in the manor. It didn’t feel like “home” the way his bed in Sideralis felt but was a very close second. For that matter any bed that held Grace curled up next to him was the best bed in the world. Just the thought had him leaning forward, urging Aronin to go just a bit faster. She didn’t need encouragement. Though still miles away, it was as if she too had a sense that a warm stable, good rub down, and food were close at hand.
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Grace stood on the third step up the wide staircase that swept down into the end of the ballroom, putting herself just a couple feet above the crowd of servants and villagers who all turned to face her.
“You’ve all worked hard to bring this place back to life, and I truly appreciate it. You’ve hosted a royal ball and conducted yourselves marvelously well with the highest levels of nobility here in Erlauf. You’ve cleaned and cooked and done a wonder on the gardens. You’ve put up with our Elvish language, and horses, and bits of magic here and there.”
She had to pause because of the cheers and laughter that went up from the crowd. When the noise died down a bit, she continued, “This party is for you – for us. It is my thanks to all of you for keeping this village and manor thriving when I am not here, and our celebration of the village and all the talent within it!” She finished with a sweeping gesture that encompassed Gustav and the other musicians, the long table weighed down with enough food for…well, for a village, and everyone in the room who had worked so hard to make it happen.
The crowd cheered again, and Grace nodded to the musicians. They began with a lively reel. Two men grabbed each of Grace’s hands as she descended the stairs and she laughed as one of them hooked his free arm around Mistress Leodie’s ample waist to make a foursome. They were quickly joined by others to create a full set, and just as the downbeat came, everyone stepped forward in unison as though it had been choreographed.
Grace let herself get lost in the music and the fun, spinning from one partner to another. Sometimes she registered who they were and who else was on the floor. Other times she would have been hard pressed to say who she was dancing with. At last, she pulled free of the dancing and stepped over to the refreshment table. It was still heavy with food, but she could see that inroads had been made as hungry musicians and dancers took breaks to grab a plate or get something to drink.
She poured herself a glass of punch and turned to watch the dancers as she sipped. Across the ballroom, the great glass doors to the patio reflected the dance, making the room seem twice as wide as it was. At this time of night, with the ballroom lit, it was difficult to see anything outside unless the doors were opened.
The musicians changed out, bringing a pause to the music. There was a break in the crowd, and she straightened suddenly. She thought she saw a figure she knew. The gap closed again and Grace relaxed and shook her head. Wishful thinking. She wasn’t expecting Yneari for another week. It was why she’d decided to have the village ball now. She sighed, then shook off the momentary wistfulness. Yneari was safe and well and coming back to her soon enough.
The new trio struck up another lively tune. She grinned at Sula and one of the other village girls as they openly flirted with two of the young men who had been serving as footmen before allowing themselves to be pulled into the dance with them. She tapped the beat against her thigh with her free hand as she sipped her punch and watched the dancers until the song ended.
She’d just taken the last sip of her punch when she felt someone approach on her right.
“May I have this dance?” came the smooth voice.
Grace’s eyes widened and she swallowed, but gamely said, “Oh sir, I am married, and it would never do.” She looked down, running a hand down the skirt of her dress. She’d chosen a style and cut similar to the village fashion, with a skirt both more full and shorter than what she had worn for the royal ball. It was heavy with embroidery, and she ran her fingers back and forth over the stitching.
The man raised an eyebrow, “But mistress, I have watched you for the past quarter hour, and you have danced with many men. Surely your husband,” and he made a show of looking around the room as he drew out the word, “could have no objection to one more.”
“Oh well,” Grace allowed herself to glance up at the man, “he can be terribly jealous, and I wouldn’t wish to upset him.”
“Hmm,” said her would be partner, “I don’t believe he’s here, or surely such a jealous man would have objected to all your other partners before now.”
“He wasn’t here. I was sure he wasn’t here. Except I think I just saw him over on the other side of the room a moment ago.”
“Ah, well that’s easy enough. There’s a huge crowd. I’ll just keep us on this side of the room, then.” With that, the man tugged Grace’s wrist, and she followed him to where the other couples were waiting for the music to begin.
“Oh, sir,” Grace said with a slight frown, “I’m afraid I may not know the steps to this dance. It has been so long.”
“Really? I had the impression these dances were very familiar to you, mistress. I was counting on you to help guide me through the steps, here.”
“Oh, were you?” Grace bit back a smile, “I must have been confused then. It is you who may need assistance with this dance. Perhaps we should wait and not do this.”
She took a step back toward the side of the room, only to have him catch her hand again and pull her to a stop. “No, no. I feel certain we should try it.” His right arm came up around her back so that her left arm rested along it. Grace couldn’t help the slight shiver that ran through her, or the slow blink of her eyes. She opened her eyes again to meet his half smile. He offered her his left hand – a mere formality now that he was holding her so securely in his other arm. He leaned his head down just slightly so that his lips were nearly to her ear, “I have a feeling,” he whispered.
She set her right hand in his left and swallowed without speaking. Her eyes flashed up to his. His half smile widened slightly, and he tugged her closer to him than was strictly proper. “A feeling about this dance,” he continued, as though she had asked him a question. “It seems meant to be danced by two special people. Two people who have a connection.”
The musicians had been playing an introduction; laying out a beat as the dancers took positions around the floor. Grace caught sight of Relke and Thomas standing nearby, and came back to herself a bit. “Oh. No. I don’t think…”
“Don’t think,” he breathed, beginning to sway to the music. Her body matched his easily. He might be right about the connection.
“My husband,” she began.
He cut in smoothly, “Should never have gone off and left you alone for weeks on end.” The melody began and he stepped out with the music, sweeping her up with him, and for a few beats she gave herself over to the joy of the music and of moving to it with such an accomplished partner. There was no worry he might step on her feet; no concern about what step might be coming next. Grace found she could let go of all her thoughts and just relax into the music and the beauty of moving so perfectly to it. She could close her eyes and trust her partner to keep her safe from other dancers and the random tables scattered along the edges of the room. Or she could open them and watch the lights and colors blur around her as she and her partner whirled about to the music. As they danced, he pulled her closer yet until the right side of her body was flush with his and she could feel him breathing as they moved.
The music slowed and he slowed them with it, and she knew suddenly why he’d asked her to dance this particular song with its tempo change midway through. She remembered what he’d said about her husband just before sweeping her into the dance and pulled back a little to gaze at him seriously.
“Yes, you’re right. He never should have left me alone like that.” She felt herself smile; a secret feminine smile full of mystery and moonlight; saw how his eyes flared and felt his hand flex once on her back. He swallowed and her smile deepened. “I guess he’ll have to live with me dancing with whichever partners come my way tonight,” she said.
“So he will,” her partner’s voice was gruff but tender as he brought their joined hands in to his chest. Grace laid her head against his shoulder, tucking it just a bit so she could nestle under his chin. He kept them moving gently, swaying and turning. Then he lifted his left arm and sent her turning out underneath it. She felt the air against her arms and goosebumps rose even though it was warm from all the people in the enclosed room. She’d only been dancing with him for moments and already it felt strange to move on her own without him. Her legs felt shaky as a newborn colt’s, but she did her best to glide gracefully out and around, holding her head high and her free arm out.
The brief pain of separation was worth it for the glory of returning to his arms. He’d timed it perfectly so that she came back to him just as the music picked up tempo again, and they were immediately off in a whirl of graceful skimming steps that took them circling and swooping down the far side of the ballroom floor. Grace couldn’t help it. She threw back her head and laughed for the joy of moving this way. Her partner laughed with her and led her through a complicated series of turns and flourishes before bringing her in and sweeping her into a low dip just as the music came to its dramatic close. She went with it, trusting him implicitly, allowing him to hold her there a long moment as scattered applause broke out around them and then grew in volume as more people turned to see who it was for. He brought her back up to her feet and spun her out to curtsy to the onlookers as if they had danced a performance. She laughed and blushed, but curtsied deeply to the villagers, who cheered and stomped their feet as they realized she’d given them the curtsy usually reserved for royalty.
Then he spun her back to him, caught her upper arms and kissed her directly on the mouth. Her startled yelp was swallowed by his lips over hers and she felt herself relax and press against him, though she could feel the heat in her ears and the back of her neck as the cheers of the crowd grew even louder. His kiss was deep and passionate. She forgot about the villagers watching and clung to him. Her knees felt weak. He released her slowly, and gazed into her eyes a moment. “Ah, Gracie. It has been too long.”
She blinked twice. “Oh,” she said breathily, “it’s you!” This startled a great laugh out of Yneari, which made many of the villager watching them start laughing too, even if they didn’t know why. Grace grinned up at him and he rested his forehead against hers.
“It would appear so.” He had the audacity to wink at her. “And it seems I have returned just in time! Just look at the way you were willing to dance with a stranger.”
“Insufferable brat,” she muttered in Elvish, but she was grinning at him.
“Careful,” he responded in the same language. “You’re going to have these fine people thinking those words are an Elvish endearment.” He raised his face and his voice and switching back over to Continental said, “I hope everyone continues to eat and dance and enjoy your evening as long as you wish. Her ladyship and I will be retiring. He raised Grace’s hand to his mouth and touched his lips to it courteously, as though he hadn’t just been kissing her openly in front of everyone present. The crowd all laughed and cheered some more before the musicians struck up another lively reel and they began to form new sets.
Yneari turned to Grace, “I suppose that was rather high handed of me,” he began. “If you would rather stay…”
“I think you got us both free of the party rather nicely, and our guests might wonder about us if I stayed after…all that.” She gestured generally, encompassing the ballroom as she turned to walk with him.
“I’ll confess I’m relieved. I pressed hard to get here early. I’m sorry I’ve interrupted your village fete. I’d forgotten you mentioned doing this today. I would stay, but I am exhausted and need to sleep.”
“Sleep is not what anyone in this crowd thinks you are planning after that show you just put on.”
Yneari laughed. “Well, we did establish that I have left you alone for entirely too long. Imagine you not knowing it was your own husband asking you to dance.”
Grace tilted her head and half smiled, “yes, imagine that.”
Out of the corner of her eye she noticed Sula, near the exit, leaning over to whisper to Marin. Grace caught “sooo handsome” just before she and Yneari cleared the room.