He was standing in a relaxed form of attention. Hands behind his back, feet slightly apart. Hair perfectly tamed. It flattered his face. His hussar military jacket was navy blue. It's gold piping matched the ranking pens over his breast pocket. Pressed breeches were of the same crisp color, double piped lines down the outward seams. They were tucked into flawless knee high riding boots. The black polished leather shined from the square toes and up.
He had his gentle smile on, green eyes focused on whom ever he was speaking to.
Anxiety quickened her heart.
Crowd quickly made him disappear as she and Gledora keeping moving on towards their designated table. They were stopped several times by ambassadors and councilmen. Making shallow conversation eased the anxiety in her gut. She enjoyed the distraction.
The elven king and his human queen where already in deep conversation with the newly wed Elven Minister and his husband when they arrived at their seats. The new couple were obviously in their honey moon phase of bliss. The man, with clean cut brown hair and beard, was playful twirling a finger through the long night blue hair that hung over his husband's shoulder. The Minister's grin was playful as he affectionately looked at him from time to time. She took note that the Hybrid Prince's wife was absent. He sat alone next to his mother. They were greeted with nods and smiles. She settled herself into her chair and arranged her dress.
“Shall I retrieve some food for you?” Gledora asked in her ear so she could hear her above the hubbub.
“Not now, I will wait until you return.”
“Very well.”
Placing her hands in her lap, she tuned into the conversation taking place. All of them were quickly exchanging commentary in Ku'Vat.
“…it is performed in five quarter time.”
“Which is reasonably uncommon in popular music…”
“But the curious part is that it is followed by five bars in the more often used three quarter time.”
“Then it ends on a guitar style based on the five quarter bar, but in six quarter time...”
“So what precisely would the song be?”
“A flamenco.” She finally contributed.
The Minister's husband turned his head to smile widely at her. His brown eyes were alight.
“Correct! They have being going in circles trying to guess the answer to my question for nearly ten minutes.” He laughed.
All eyes then shifted to her. She let out a soft laugh of pride as she shrugged. A coy grin ran along her lips.
“Where did you learn such information of human music?” The Minister asked.
“It is a miscellaneous fact I must have gathered over the years.” She replied.
The Minister laughed, “Gathered sounds as if you chanced upon it. I doubt this is something you chanced upon.”
She shrugged again and her giggles joined their laughter. Gledora's return cued her to venture out to find a table with hors d'oeuvres. Gliding through, she stopped by the bar. A human bartender quickly had a glass of wine in her hand. She raised it to him with a nod of thanks. He winked as she smiled. Glass balanced in one hand, she skillfully used her free one to acquire a plate and pick at the foods. All of it was familiar. There was nothing new to be found. She quickly found her favorites.
When she picked up her plate, content with what she had, she found green eyes set on her. He was looking at her from the far end of the table. His gentle smile was directed at her. He seemed to be in the middle of loading up his plate as well.
Heart skipped a beat. Body froze.
She was at a loss of what to do. Would it be best to acknowledge him or ignore?
Knowing the latter would be rude, she flashed a quick smile at him. With a start, she darted swiftly into the crowd. Quietly begging Lady Fate that he wouldn't follow her, she made haste to her table. Feeling the cushion of her chair again did nothing to relax. Instead she found herself flicking her eyes in all directions over the rim of her glass as she drank from her wine.
“It seems as if you found a spirit that agrees with you.” Gledora commented.
She realized she'd set down an empty glass. With a weak nod, she blankly stared at her food.
“Yes, the bartender was attentive to my preferences.” She quietly replied.
Gledora looked her over before she went back to eating. She picked at what she had. Slowly she chewed. The Minister's husband was offering trivia again. Her plate gradually emptied as the alcohol worked it's suppressive magic. She chimed in with the answers she knew. The polite call for attention from the podium with a sound amplifier interrupted their game. A welcome speech presented by King Tovlo echoed across the room. A round of applause when he joyfully ended his speech with a warm welcome. Their trivia game continued. Contently she rested her chin in her hand, back to throwing in her lot. At last she let her guard down.
That's when the green eyes appeared once again. He was heading towards their table with that gentle focus from before. He was cutting through the crowd with ease. There was almost an air of determination about him. Deep tingles rippled up her chest. In near panic she gripped Gledora's wrist.
“He is coming to the table!” She leaned over to hiss in her ear.
“Who?”
“The Prince!” She squeaked.
Gledora chuckled, “Remain calm, L'Lea. He may have a different goal in mind.”
“He does not! He was eyeing me earlier!”
“Then it seems you will have to utilize the opportunity that has presented itself.”
Her lack of sympathy had anxiety rushing. Brain faltered with any ideas of how to escape. Even if she'd come up with something, it would've been too late. Already he was circling the table. She watched him from the corner of her eye. Clasping her hands into her lap, the wait for him to approach became unbearable.
“Excuse me, Elder Willowheart.” Came that comforting rich voice over her shoulder.
She shoved down the urge to rub her sternum. It felt like her heart was hurting. Feeling the jitters wash over like a wave, she turned to force a sweet smile at him. His gentle one grew.
“May I have the honor of this dance?” He asked.
Sticky swallow down her throat. Quick glance at Gledora showed her a smirking smile. Eyes back to him as she slowly nodded.
“It would be a pleasure.” She stuttered.
He held out his hand. She vividly recalled how it felt the first time she'd laid her hand in it. So it was the same this time. The breadth of it engulfed her fingers. With gentle ease, he pulled her to her feet. Her hand was laid at his elbow. She fell in step with his strides. She kept her gaze strictly ahead. Due to his stature, he easily made a path for them through the crowd.
“I apologize if I interrupted anything of importance.” He said.
She shook her head, keeping an eye on the rapidly approaching dance floor.
“No, only debate over musical pieces composed in the One hundred sixteenth Era of our Lady Fate.” She quietly replied.
“You'e musically inclined?”
“No, but the Minister's husband is.”
“Ambassador Sunheart?”
“Yes.”
The ballroom floor was under her feet too soon. Couples were already dancing. Joyful piece of the orchestra made them all look like beautiful dandelion seeds floating in a gentle breeze. If it had been under any other circumstance, she would have admired the scene. Instead she was fully aware they had stopped. He took her hand from his elbow. He was already bringing it to his lips when she looked at him. With all the will power she had, she tried to keep her smile stable.
There was no time to brace herself. Veil fluttered over her eyes before the kiss even made contact.
She was thrown off kilter into a vibrantly colored scene. Rich with beings, smells, and sounds. It was the Market of Thelmneas. Crowded street with dozens of tents. Boasting of foods, trinkets, and craftwork. It all paled in comparison to the way he was looking at her. Gentle smile radiating in his green eyes. It was showing through a thick beard that was tickling her skin as the kiss landed on her knuckles.
Red glittering flashed from a finger. Her ring finger to be precise. As the kiss ended, there was a mimicking flash from his hand as well.
The emotions that followed hit her like a shooting star burning up in the atmosphere. Unbridled happiness. Joyous elation. Excitement for what was, and what was to come. A deep longing for him that both hurt and soothed her soul. The rush was so over taxing, it felt like she was choking.
Veil dissolved by analyzing eyes. The look on his face wasn't completely serious. A slightly lifted brow suggested he was both satisfied and curious. The disorientation of being dragged between his two faces left her in a moment of dizziness. A tight grip on her fingers. The pressure bleed a point of orientation into her body.
“Are you well, Elder Willowheart?” Came his comforting voice.
Several blinks before she could fully get herself under control. It still wasn't enough the block out the images still showing up on the back of her eyelids.
“Y…yes. I apologize,” Her lips fumbled, “I may have had one too many glasses of wine.”
His smile returned as it tipped up in the corner.
“Don't apologize, I've had a couple glasses of my favorite spirits myself.” He replied as he shifted her hand.
It fell into his palm as she felt his other hand settle into the small of her back. A soft coaxing and he had them joining the choreography of floating couples. His guiding movement helped bring her back completely. Which meant the nervousness and apprehension returned as well. His intent gaze made it hard to keep eye contact. She kept stealing glances, desperately trying surpress the images from both visions he had now given her.
“I saw them bringing relics into the main hall.” He at last said.
“Yes.” She quietly replied.
“So, I'm going to assume…?”
“Yes, I will be performing my duties tomorrow.”
“During Morning session?”
She shook her head.
“No, Afternoon session.”
He mildly frowned in thought.
“Did they tell you why the second?”
“No.”
“I suppose it doesn't matter when.” He lightly chuckled.
She wasn't sure how to respond. Thankfully he continued on, she dared to keep eye contact. That seemed to cause his smile to tip at the other corner.
“I was told you haven't been in Rivenguard since the two hundred fifty third Era of our Lady Fate.”
She nodded, “It has been sometime.”
“What do you think of it now?”
“I has changed immensely.”
“Do you think it's for the better?”
The directness of his question threw her. She thought for a moment as she searched his eyes.
“Do you…wish me to be frank?” She slowly asked.
“Of course. I wouldn't ask if I didn't want to hear the real answer.”
That response threw her again. She thought on her words, remembering the bit of the city she'd seen on the way to the Castle.
“I do see large improvements, but I feel there is some way to go in creating equality for all your citizens.” She truthfully replied.
His smile stayed.
“I'm glad to hear your honest opinion,” He geniunely replied, “Most only tell me what I want to hear.”
Those words were sprinkled onto the little seed inside her heart. They caught her attention. She wasn't entirely sure why. It gave her an impression of him being a honest man. Anxiety eased up.
“Truly?” She found herself asking.
“Yes, unfortunately.”
“I am sorry to hear.”
“Don't be. It comes with my title, I've grown accustomed to being appeased at the attempt of stroking my ego.”
“That is common for human royalty?”
“Yes. Doesn't the same happen for you? You are a the most powerful High Seer in the clan. Do beings not attempt niceties to gain favor?”
“Very rarely. I do not frequently interact with the other races.”
He chuckled and raised an eyebrow, “So it's only Humans, Dwarves, and Nissé that are guilty of flattery?”
She realized the misinterpretation of her words. Quickly she tried to remedy it.
“That is not what I was insinuating…”
“I'm aware. I know that's not what you meant.” He laughed.
That pulled a smile to her lips. She was about to expand when a voice interrupted her.
“Excuse me, Your Highness.”
His attention left her as he softly guided them to a stop. A butler held his gaze. She kept her attention on them both as her hand was released from his lead hand so he could face the butler. He bowed low before he spoke again.
“Your Father is requesting your presence.” The Butler said.
John nodded.
“Tell him I be there shortly,” His gentle smile refocused on her, “I'm going to return Elder Willowheart to her seat.”
The butler acknowledged him and went back to where he came. John's hand slipped from her back. It found hers, and it was again settled at his elbow.
“I apologize for such a short dance.” He said as he stepped forward.
“It is of no consequence.” She lightly replied.
It was the repeated ease of him parting the crowd. They were swiftly approaching her table. She couldn't help but keep stealing glances at him. His face was focused, that determination on it from earlier. She was reminded of how handsome he was. Tingling sprouted under her sternum. A feeling of being drawn to him.
Delicate manipulation of her hand as he pulled out her chair. He helped her gracefully sit into it. To her surprise he didn't kiss her hand. He bowed to her instead.
“It was an honor Elder Willowheart. Again, I apologize our dance was ended prematurely.” He said as he straightened again.
She was able to genuinely smile.
“It was a privilege as well. I very much enjoyed what little time we shared.”
His smile grew, “Enjoy your evening.”
“You as well.”
He turned. She let herself watch him melt into the scene. His height allowed her keep track of him until he was in the far part of the room. At last the bodies swallowed him. She slightly adjusted in her chair to see of she could catch sight of him again. Gledora's head blocked her view.
“If I interpret your smile correctly, the Prince left you in intrigued.” She playfully whispered.
She focused on her knowingly amused face. Heat instantly lit up her cheeks. Unable to hide the thoughts that transferred to her face she rested her elbow on the table, and put her chin in her hand. She examined her empty plate as she quietly spoke.
“Yes, he did. He…activated another vision.”
“A less shocking one?”
She recalled the affectionate look in his eyes, the brilliant smile on his lips, and all the things she felt for him.
“Yes. I would describe this one as far more…beautiful.” She almost swooned.
Gledora softly laughed, “I am sure I will hear about it later.”
She couldn't stop smiling.
“Yes, you will.”