Never Forget

Entering the ball room she felt his hand slip out of hers. One look, was followed by a subtle nod and Corvin began weaving his way among the attendees. All dressed in celebratory attires, splashing the dark grey backdrop with a multitude of colours. Each bolder than the previous ones.

Maya smiled, as she made her way through the crowd to meet her halfway.

One look at her bandaged hand, and the smile fell, rather abruptly.

" I will be alright," She felt the need to comfort and ease her worries, with a gentle squeeze on her shoulder," All is well when it ends well," She felt the need to add with a robust pat on her shoulder.

The music began to swell in the hall, and everyone joined hands in a large circle, dancing in the most unusual way she had ever seen. The music was quite jaunty, and upbeat. As howls, and whistling soon began to echo in the room, almost drowning out the music.

Men and women danced and rejoiced while the children formed their own little circle in the middle, attempting to replicate what the adults did.

She settled for watching, while Corvin broke the circle and joined the lively dance. After a while, the music changed pace, and the circle separated, men on one side and women on the other side as they danced in one place to the rhythm of the music. It was beautiful and loud.

One man stood forward and began dancing in front of the women, moving his feet, and arms, and twisting his hips at an incredible speed.

Next followed a woman, as the man retreated into the line, as she also began to dance to the rhythm of the music. Only her moves were more suave, and slower.

" It's a courtship dance," Maya chimed in as another man stepped in the middle of the gap formed between woman and man. Interesting.

" What happens after the dance is over?" The children cheered loudly when the man dancing, did a back flip landing on his feet and carried on dancing. Their size didn't hinder their agility.

" The woman chooses whom she will spend the rest of the evening with," Maya replied when the rowdy crowd settled down just a notch.

And the cycle continued, as man and woman alternated showing their dancing skills. The only one that hadn't stepped forward was Corvin. The woman dancing opposite to him did. As she kept her eyes on him the entire time, dancing her way to him. Rage flashed briefly through her body, and she had to shake her body to rid herself of it. Jealousy.

" That is Khalida," Maya chimed in, as she carried on fixing the woman with her gaze. The music came to an end, and the women facing the men stepped forward to choose their elected partner for the evening. Some were fortunate enough to be chosen by more than one woman. Others not so much.

Khalida took no notice of the fact that Corvin didn't join in the courting dance,not fully and approached him as he turned around to leave. She grabbed his wrist and yanked him back towards her, smiling at him, demurely.

She was a beautiful woman. With long muddy blond tresses, lofty height and heavy build. A thinner version of Corvin, as he raised his eyes from the floor and looked at her while he waited for her to say something.

She finally spoke, and the deep frown that formed on his forehead made her think that he was inclined to take her offer.

Whatever he said was short, and brash considering Khalida's face contorted in anger at his response. Maya sighed, as she sipped on her glass of wine watching just as she did the exchange between the two.

One furtive glance in her direction before he disappeared into the crowd and her attention became captivated by someone else.

Dakran, walking along Edýia and her once arch enemy, Rom. She doubted that she would see Haren anytime soon.

" I truly apologise for Haren's behaviour," Dakran began as Edýia's gaze flitted across to Maya's and her expression. Maya mustered a smile as she took her place at Dakran's side, under his protective arm.

Edýia muttered something under her breath but she didn't quite catch on to it. To which Rom, pulled closer to his side, as his gaze trailed down to her growing belly.

" I hope this hasn't put a damper on your mood," Rom said, and his sudden concern for her well fare, was quite unnerving.

" No, not at all," She barely mustered to say that much. It didn't matter any longer. Pushing aside that little feeling that unfurled in her stomach, she took a deep breath and surveyed the crowd gathered in the ballroom.

" I'm glad to hear it, " He sullenly said as he nodded but mostly to himself.

" We are just glad that you have decided to join us for the celebrations, and...," Edýia took a deep breath and glanced at Rom who nodded, " We are grateful for giving us a chance to become a family," She let go of Rom's hand and opened her arms wide, and pulled her into her arms.

" We truly are grateful. Their child will be the first child born within these cold stone walls in a very long time," Dakran chimed in as Edýia pulled away from the embrace. The birth of a child was a joyous milestone in someone's life. A tinge of sorrow tainted the tender moment at the reminder that she had traded her own, in a moment of weakness. Something she would never forgive herself for.

" Thank you from the heart," Rom added in a soft voice. Grateful.

" Not at all," She stumbled on those three words, a tad overwhelmed.

" I'm glad I could help. It was in my way anyway," She tried to lighten the mood as the sisters remained silent but their soft grumbles, grated her ears, no less. It didn't matter. It had been done.

Dakran softly chuckled as he wrapped his other arm around Edýia's shoulders in a show of brotherly affection.

" We should enjoy the celebration. No more soppy talk. Let's drink, eat and enjoy ourselves. Who knows what the rising sun might bring," He cheerfully boomed making himself heard over the music.

Glasses were raised at his declaration followed by cheers, howls and roars of the people in the hall. Nothing like the parties she'd ever attended where everyone quietly chatted, drank, ate their food and schemed behind each other's back. It was refreshing, to see such unity, and accord among a handful of people.

Perhaps, Dakran would succeed in his endeavour to rebuild his ravaged lands, and bring about a new dawn of age. It remained to be seen. The sister's weave was intricate and at times devious and outright diabolical.