Moonlight

Warm yellow light and music spilled out of the open doors of the entry hall and into the soft night air. The hall had - at least for this evening - been transformed into a ballroom and was filled to the brim with students eager to escape from their responsibilities at the officers academy for a few hours. Aureila leaned against the doorway, watching the whirl of the dancers and the subtle flow of conversation as she listened critically to the music. Typically ballroom fare to be sure, but she thought it sounded much better than the group that had played during her own student ball. Then again, they hadn’t had the heirs of three separate countries in her year either.
Or maybe it’s just my imagination, she thought, it’’s been how long after all? I don’t..
“What, you’re not going to join them?” a deep voice said behind her. She turned around, only to stop and stare for a good long moment.
“You’re wearing a shirt,” she said as Balthus came to stand beside her, “and that was not something I expected to see tonight...or any night.”
“What,” he chuckled, “disappointed? I mean, I don’t blame you. If you want I could always take something off. Special service just for my biggest fan.” The last was said so teasingly she just had to laugh.
“If you feel like it, go ahead,” she said and waved her hand, “it’s not like you need me as an excuse. And I wouldn’t be….unappreciative,” she said and cocked her head, “but you do look good like that.” She hadn’t seen the uniform he was wearing before, at least not this version of it. It was clearly based on the formal uniforms the rest of the students inside were wearing, but done in the pale and dark grey colors that seemed to have been handed to the students from the Abyss. “I didn’t even know you had a uniform like that.”
Balthus shrugged, “I didn’t either. Constance just….showed up with some for people in the Abyss and started bothering everyone into wearing them today. Figured going along with her scheme was easier than arguing with her about it.” He reached up and tugged at the collar, “I mean, I look good in anything but I forgot how long it’s been since I’ve actually tried to dress up all fancy.” he dropped his hand and then shook his head, “actually, I think the last time was when we had our ball here, you remember that?” He turned his head to look at her, the warm light from inside the room catching highlights in his hair and along his face for a moment. It made her catch her breath, and for a few seconds she was that uncertain little student at the ball again. Then the moment passed and she chuckled.
“Of course I remember,” she said, “and I also remember that you spent most of your time hanging around the food table. Did you even do any dancing?”
“Of course I did,” Balthus said, “I mean, why wouldn’t I? I had people lining up to dance with the young King of Grappling!”
The wording made her raise her eyebrow. “Then how many did you actually dance with?” “A few….I think. Maybe” Balthus rubbed the back of his neck and frowned a little, “but look, it doesn't matter, yeah?”
“So basically you don’t remember doing anything but eating,” Aurelia sighed dramatically, more than a bit amused. She wouldn’t exactly be…surprised by something like that? She didn’t think actually dancing had been a big priority for him back in their far-off days at the Academy. Even back then, he’d had little interest in the sort of political alliance games that the others had played. So he hadn’t been trying to curry favor or impress the other noble houses. Instead, he had just done whatever he felt like. It had been comforting in a way back then.
Then again, she had left the ball early, she remembered that. And Balthus had actually been fairly popular at the Academy. So, exaggeration aside, he might not have been lying. Which, even if that was true, made her wonder what he was doing here now.. “Please tell me you didn’t just come up here to raid the sideboard. Again.”
“Come on, you know me better than that!” Balthus sounded slightly put out, “I mean I might enjoy a free meal, but even I’m not that desperate...usually.”
“So you’re just here to….show off to this year’s students then?” she leaned back against the door frame, “awe them with awkward dancing? I can’t imagine that you've had much time to practice, what with being away from polite society for...how many years now?”
“Okay so maybe I haven’t actually done the whole practice thing. But it’s just dancing,right? You don’t forget something like that. I couldn’t even if I wanted too.” His voice dropped into a grumble at the last sentence, and she couldn’t help but smile a little. She imagined that whatever formal dance lessons he had been subjected to would have been a trial for someone like Balthus.
She pushed away from the doorway and walked the few steps closer to him.
“Well someone’s confident,” she said, “though I’m not sure that’s how it works. You really think you can actually manage to avoid stepping on anyone’s toes?”
Balthus gave her a look that was equal parts amused and slightly confused, “Of course! I am the ever graceful King of Grappling after all!”
She couldn’t help but laugh a little, “And that sounded almost convincing.”
“ ‘Almost?’ What, you don’t believe me? I’m hurt.”
“You could try proving it to me,” she said teasingly, “if you can that is. I would understand you not wanting to embarrass yourself though, even if it’s just me here….”
“Ah come on, why are you so focused on the idea that I, of all people, can’t dance?” He asked, “ But if you really want to dance with me that badly…”
He took a step back, and all at once, gave her an approximation of a courtly bow, “then I would be honored, my lady.”
The title was given with a barely restrained laugh. The courtly bow was obviously rusty and would have made any proper tutor faint in horror. But it was still the last thing she had expected from Balthus. She could only stared for a moment, before a smile made its way onto her face and she laughed, “well, look who actually has manners for once,” she couldn’t help teasing him as she took a step forward
“‘For once? I’m a flawless example of manners!” But Balthus was grinning as she reached out to take the hand he still offered her.
“Sure you are,” she said amiably, “and I supposed if I asked the rest of the Ashen Wolves would they agree with that?” His hand felt very warm around hers in the cool night air, and she could feel the heat of the palm resting on her waist even through the thick cloth of her clothes. It caused her to shiver slightly, both because of the contract and nerves which barely made any sense. She was a grown woman. A knight, who had important duties of her own. Balls and formal parties were a standard part of noble life, despite her own feelings on the matter.
Yet somehow this was making her feel like an awkward teenager again.
“Ah, could you not bring it up to them?”
She couldn’t help but giggle as they took the first steps into the dance. And then promptly stepped into each other. Balthus’ barely avoided stepping on her feet, and it was his turn to laugh, “and here you were going at me for not being able to dance.”
She felt the heat raise in her cheeks but she looked up at him despite that. “Says the man who started trying to dance in the middle of a beat.”
“Says the woman who went along with it.”
Lia couldn’t deny the truth of that, and she had the sinking feeling that wasn’t the only reason why. Even though she had been teasing him about it, she hadn’t had a chance to attend any real formal events recently either, and she had been an average dancer at best. She hoped that she was able to keep up enough that Balthus wouldn’t be able to tease her.
“I was just going along with you. Let’s just...try on three then?” She suggested.
At least that got agreement, and the next time they took a step they were in sync. She found herself waltzing gently, the faint echoes of the music just enough for them to hear and at least try to match with.
“Well look at that, you can actually dance,” she said teasingly as they slowly turned, “you’re actually...much better than a chunk of other people I’ve danced with. You haven’t stepped on my toes even once.”
“See? Told you that you shouldn’t doubt me,” he said proudly, “even the dance tutor my dad hired way-back-when said I was one of the best pupils he’d ever had.”
“So the celebrated king of grappling is also the king of dancing? Well, color me impressed. I had no idea you were so multi talented.” She couldn't help chucking.
They had waltzed away from the open door into the hall now, and the music was really only a faint echo of what it could be. Yet, she found she really didn’t care. Out here, with the cool yard painted silver with moonlight was somehow more inviting than the heat and light inside. Besides, there was something...delicate between them right now. She didn’t see a reason why she should interrupt that.
“Of course I am,” Balthus always seemed like he was having fun boasting about himself, “I’m all about the fight remember. And dancing? Pretty much the same thing, yeah?”
That made her pause, but then she nodded slowly, “maybe?,” she said, “At least the great sages, countless bards, and half the current popular stories agree with you.” And both did involve a certain sense of balance. Which was probably why she hadn’t really been surprised Balthus was this good of a dancer. He’d always been very light on his feet for a man of his size, and she didn’t think you could ever call him clumsy - at least in a physical sense.
“And yet you were doubting me,” he said
“Not doubt exactly,” she corrected him, “I just thought that fancy formal dancing wasn’t….very you? I wasn’t sure you would be interested enough to keep up with the practice.” She grinned a little, “I do remember you disappearing from Academy classes sometimes, so you can’t really blame me.”
“Not all the time!” Balthus protested, “and besides, dancing is different. Some of the forms are kind of formal and maybe not the most interesting things in the world. But at least you get to move around. Besides…” Lia gave an undignified little squeak as he pulled her close and dipped her without any hint of a warning, “dancing means I get to spend time with all sorts of women. Can’t go wrong with that.”
“That wasn’t part of the dance,” she said laughing breathlessly as he pulled her upright, the faint beat of the song moving on without them. Balthus didn’t look like he cared at all, “but you know, for some reason women being the only reason that you learned to dance makes a scary amount of sense.”
“Come on, you know that wouldn’t be the only reason,” Balthus shrugged, “son of a baron, yeah? I had to learn some social graces. It’s why I’m such a gentleman.”
“A gentleman?” she said, “I supposed I could call you that. In some ways. Sometimes.” “Sometimes? I’m always a gentleman! Well, except when you don’t want me to be,“ the smile he gave her held more than a bit of promise in it.
She took a step nearer to him, almost pressed up against him. “And just what do you mean by that?” she purred her voice dropping.
He pulled her flush against him, leaning over a bit to mutter in her hear. “I mean, if we can find somewhere a little quieter, I could show you how I really dance.”
She chuckled a little as she reached up to slide her arms around his neck, “I can’t tell if that pick up line is very good or very bad.”
She felt his laugh, “Depends on whether it worked or not?”
She smiled and whispered, “I guess I’ll call it good for now, “ just before their lips met.