16 Festivities and Oops
The air smells amazing as we approach the large crowd, villagers bowing slightly as we pass before going back to whatever it was they were doing.
My mind is buzzing, my limbs so charged up that walking just isn't an option. Every normal thought and worry is banished, there is simply no room for it with all the excitement in my mind.
I take a deep breath.
This is my moment from reality.
I looked around and my eyes immediately landed on the many tables.
Table tops were layered with the most delicious foods, delicacies capable of making one's mouth water.
A whole roast deer with sprigs of rosemary threaded through its antlers and stuffed with boar and rye bread sat at the center on the main table.
Surrounding the deer was pheasants, grilled trout, sausage-links and goose. Outlining the meats were mounds of fragrant wild rice, potatoes, diced pumpkin and spices cooking on hot stones along with roasted root vegetables.
I almost fainted at the sight before me before a set of hands grabbed my shoulders.
Looking up I saw Cuyler looking down at me, a grin creeping across his face.
"You alright Noir," he questioned as he led to a bench.
When I nodded, he disappeared for a moment only to come back and plop two mugs down on the table, sloshing some of their contents over their sides.
Just looking at drinks made my fingers tingle right up my knuckles. Even before I picked up my mug, I got a taste of the giddiness to come, as if my brain couldn't wait for the fuzz of intoxication to begin.
"You should wait for Alistair before you start drinking," River scolded.
"Hush," I retorted as I turned up the mug, the smooth bitter liquid making my stomach warm as it hit.
"I can already see where this is going to end up," Cuyler spoke, as he too finished his mug before taking both and putting them aside.
"Eat before you decide to go too far."
Laughing, I reached over and began to pile a variety of meats and vegetables onto my plate then sat back down.
Before eating, I looked behind me and around the table. That's when I noticed Triaa had disappeared and Alister was nowhere to be seen.
At some point while I was looking around, our mugs had been refilled much to my delight.
"Where is Alistair," I questioned Cuyler as I began eating.
Cuyler shrugged. "I don't know," he spoke into his mug before turning up the contents.
"But I'm sure he is very close."
I just stared at him.
That's not cryptic at all.
It didn't take neither me nor Cuyler to finish our plates and another 8 mugs of mead before I stood up and stumbled backwards.
When I did, Cuyler didn't grab my arm in time as I backed into someone. Looking up, I sighed.
"Alistair," I cooed, turning to face him.
Alistair blinked then shot me a quick glare before his expression turned to that of sheer amusement.
"Noir," I heard Cuyler growl but I simply shrugged him off as I looked at Alistair in all his glory.
He wore a long brown tunic and it was loosely tied at his chest, exposing flesh. Around his waist was a wide leather belt that wrapped around the outside of his long shirt and his breeches were a dark tan that contoured perfectly with his boots. I hummed in approval.
"Noir," River snapped.
"What is it now," I slurred.
"That's not—," River's growl vanished as Alistair took my hand.
Leaning down, Alistair whispered, "want to dance?"
I looked back at Cuyler and froze for a moment when I saw his eyes were growing blue and his canines exposed.
"Don't look at your Alpha that way," Alistair scolded before dragging me off through the crowd.
Before we could reach the massive bond fire, I could hear villagers screaming with joy and could feel their feet disturbing the ground around me.
Without looking, their smiles extended towards me, attempting to turn my face from what, from who, I was focused on. Their bodies moved together as they celebrated, rhythmically breaking into shapes and colours that tickled my heart.
Alistair pulled me towards them but stopped, grabbing two more mugs of mead. He emptied his mug in mere seconds before I followed suit. This continued two more times before we broke through the crowd.
To dance was freedom, to dance was to become an opening flower or a bird aloft. To feel the movement was a new breath for my body and nourishment for a soul so tired. I could dance until the sweat dripped to the grassy earth below and my reflection showed pink cheeks.
There was the briefest pause before someone began strumming their lute once more and the clapping began, both in perfect sync. With Alistair standing in front of me, I couldn't help but to grab him by the hand. As I did, he began to sing in perfect harmony with the music.
"All our friend's say she's got a halo but I knew that right from the get-go.
But if there's something tucked beneath her floorboards,
Well that's quite alright, that's quite alright, it's alright.
She blew in like a warm winter gust
Knocked me right off of my dusty high horse.
Had to check my heart right there at her front door.
Well that's quite alright, that's quite alright, it's alright."
His voice was smooth and clear and yet powerful. Soothing, in a way. I know you don't really call a man's voice beautiful but his was. It was beautiful.
"Hey, Hey, girl you're alright and you don't have to try
Don't have to try.
Hey, hey you're a welcome surprise
You're the butterflies dancing on my insides
Oh my, oh my.
Let me feast my eyes on you girl cause you're alright
Want a guided tour behind her scenes,
Want a one way ticket for a front row seat
And even if I spot every puppet string
Well that's quite alright, that's quite alright, it's alright."
The music spun around us, lifting away gravity. I couldn't possibly count how many times I had stepped on Alistair's foot in my inebriated state. Still, he smiled brightly as our feet drifted over the dusty floor. He watched as I spun out and bounced more with each move and beat.
This was perfect.
This was dancing and freedom coming to life. Strong pointed moves didn't matter here. All that mattered was the person in front of you and in this case, it was Alistair.
"All our friend's say she's got a halo but I knew that right from the get-go.
Well that's quite alright.
Oh, that's quite alright.
Yeah, you're quite alright.
Yeah, you're quite alright.
Oh, you're quite alright.
Alright."
When the music stopped, I felt like a small bird that learned how to fly, flailing around and finally taking off with outstretched wings and wind swept feathers then landing happily. But even in my blissful state, adrenaline coursed through me, making a more primal desire push against my bones.
"Noir, where are you," a voice boomed in my head.
"With... you, y-you dumbass," I stammered when I recognized Alistair's voice.
I could hear him growl before there was a short pause and a "don't move," then silence.
Blinking, I looked up at Alistair confused.
"Why are you mindlinking me when I'm right here in front of you," I questioned as he shot me a sinister grin.
Alistair leaned down and whispered, "because, my dear, I'm not Alistair."
When I took a step back, he just laughed before tilting his head to the side playfully.
I stared back at him mortified as my back collided with someone, sending sparks through my entire body.
Tilting my head back, I saw Alistair.
"Gavrill."
