The Soldiers' Feast II

We join with the other men, standing at the center and gaining quite a few stares. Qin Luo chuckles and comes to whisper in my ear -I can't deny that I feel a bit jealous, but it's not like I can act up now can I?- -Definetly no- I elbow him -It's just men staring, doesn't bother me. If they try to touch tho... That's a different topic and I could break and arm or two- -Oh I know you could-

Wei comes dancing toward me and pushes a small improvised pastry in my hand -Eat something and join the fun! At least for tonight c'mon!!!- I take the delicacy to my mouth and savour it, it's not actually sweet since we lack sugar or honey here but it's still good enough... I seems to taste some mild herbs in it and probably flowers -How is it?- -Mhn, it's good- I nod covering my mouth and he smiles -Yay!- he jumps and claps his hands.

Some louds screams catch out attention and we turn around to see some men grouped together as they enjoy a typical dance from the south wester regions, they wear metal pieces on their ankles and hit the feet on the ground loudly to make them twinkle. They also clap their hand with each scream and dance in a circle -That looks so fun to do!- smiles Kasuo -I wanna try too- he says and joins them, hitting some comrades on their shoulders with a big smile.

-Oohh!? Look at that! They're gonna challenge them- points Shun to one side, where some men from a nearby region display a similar dance while mocking the others -Now that is something worth to see-

One group hits their chests as they dance and show their tongue to the other, the other reply by hitting their feet louder and screaming. The 2nd group sends a few men forward that alternate a crouch-stand up motion as they dance while the other screams at them before sending forth some men. The 1st group's men lock their arms together and do a back flip alternatively. Wei start laughing once his eyes meets Kasuo, standing in the back and staring like a lost deer, clapping his hands and laughing.

-Having fun Miss Ying?- a voice comes to me and I turn to find myself face to face with Dong Hu, I tilt my head wanting to reply but end up shaking it -No fighting for tonight, they prohibited me- I point toward the guys in front of me before pushing Dong Hu away -Go and dance somewhere away from me, enjoy your night!- Qin Luo turns his head back and looks at me with a frown eyebrow as he notices Dong Hu walking away -It's all good, don't worry Ge. I'll beheave for tonight- he turns completely, placing and hand on the side of my arm and still staring at him -If...-

But before he can say anything more, Wei and Shun are grabbing me by my wirst and dragging me away -It's our region's dance, let's go!- exults Wei, throwing me in the center of the newly formed group -Wait but I...!- -It's gonna be alright, you know this dance- he laughs and rises his arms up jumping around, I follow his movements and join the dance. First the arms go up and twists around eachother, then they go down almost till the ground and we back walk, only to speed forward after and jump with a yell. We turn face to face with eachother and grabs eachother's hands, one steps to one side then we switch arms and repeat. Changing partners every 2 moves, untill the circle is done, and we all lock arms meanwhile kicking the air with the legs.

Qin Luo watches us from the side with a found smile, clapping his hands in rhythm with the music.

...

After the dance is done I leave the dance circle while Wei begs me to stay some more -So the incredible Ying ChangLai also knows the folk's dances uh?- mocks me Qin Luo -Yeah yeah, very funny... It's not like I only ever sneaked outside to practice, I used to go to town with my brother as a kid- -Is that so?- he smirks

-Oh, Ying TongJun! Come come!- a voice calls me from the side, Nan and some of my men are waving their hands, calling me forth -No guys really...- I try to say but Qin Luo already pushed me in their direction, laughing behind me. I almost lose balance and turn to face him, he shrugs his shoulders and smile.

Nan's Regional dance is much more tranquil than the others, it almost looks like a dance from the Nobles class. It's all about moving the arms, the you spin on yourself and clap.

...

Throughout the evening many different dances take place.

Some men, probably professional dancers, begins a Dragon dance at the center to entertain everyone. Some others attempt a sword dance and the older ones starts a very chill dance all together... We all drink and eat together, chatting with one another and forgetting the war momentarily. I get the chance to talk with many men I wouldn't have met other way, uncle Zao Lao comes to congratulate me on my recent promotion in a more private way than back them in the front of the Generals.

I hear many different stories, men who travelled the country, men who lost everything, men who learnt what was really precious and forgot about vanity since coming to war, men who fought with my father and even men who wanted to marry me... During the whole evening I can feel Qin Luo's eyes on me, whenever I turn around his smile is always the first thing I see.

At one point of the feast, Zhou comes besides me and starts offering me some liqueur, enough to make me feel light headed but not to slow me down. He asks me to join him for one more dance -Actually I was about to head back...- -Last one, please Shifu- -Ah fine- I allow him to show me the way, the music is much more slower and the amount of peoples grouped up now is crazy -What kind of dance is this anyway... Zhou'Ge?- but once I turn around he's completely disappeared.

-Ge? Zhou'Ge?- I ask again, moving a few steps but still not finding him. As I am about to leave the crowd a voice stops me -Lai'Er?- Qin Luo calls for me -They left you here alone too?- he asks -Yeah, those guys probably played a prank on me... First they made me drink m them left me here alone- -Same with me- he says coming closer to me, a man hits him and pushes him against me -Sorry... You alright?- -Mhn- I nod, beginning to understand what prank they might have planned. -Well we might just dance since we're already here and then head to sleep- he offers me his hand and I sigh, accepting it -I guess-.

He takes me back into the crowd, the dance is very slow paced and you never leave your partner. The alcohol starts to play his role too and makes it all spin around, forcing me to hold onto him with each required dance move... The peoples around seems to fade away in an innatural way and my head aches -Lai'Er? Are you alright? You're looking a bit too pale- -I'm fine- I say and force a smile. "I think they messed up my drink or something... I've drunk much more before and this isn't how it's supposed to be"

Qin Luo's own face starts to distort, his lips seems to turn into a spiral and his hands are unreachable no matter how much I grasp for them. His arms come to grab me steadily -Lai'Er, I think we should stop now- -No, I'm fine- I say, feeling all the peoples pushing against me and suffocating me... It's all a mix of moving shadows, coming down on me and stealing my breath away. By each minute they twist and blends more with eachother...

Qin Luo's body pressed against me, or so it seems to me, and I hold onto him while the colours of everything around me lights up... "I think I'm about to faint" is my thought upon feeling the ground slipping from under my feeth -I'll go seat down and grab some water... All this spinning mixed with the wine isn't doing me any good- I tell him and leave him there, almost running away...