Chapter 20: Ballroom Background Characters (But It’s Special)

‘You two are going to miss the main event!’ Alouette told them loudly as they walked back to the ballroom. Lily gave a longing look to Thorne but he was facing forward and missed it.

The music poured back into Lily’s ears; it was louder this time. She shielded her eyes from the light, staring hard at the ground as she adjusted to it. The crowd was beginning to gather near a podium, they were talking more excitedly among each other. The host, Lily figured, was going to make a speech.

Alouette clenched her fists together in anticipation, her silk gloves threatening to rip. Jules was still by her side, now holding her arm. This time, his eyes didn’t meet the crowd or even Lily and Thorne. No, they were fixed on her.

Lily smiled to herself.

They joined the crowd, staying at the edge. There was a quick hush as the woman at the center podium had begun to speak.

‘Welcome, most-esteemed guests,’ she said, her low voice ringing out through the ballroom,

‘As you all know, today we celebrate the reappearance of the Chosen One.’

There was a murmur of applause and general agreement.

‘I am speaking here to remind you to continue lending aid and support,’ she continued,

‘And to remind you that our continued peace and co-operation is only ensured through the alliances you make with one another here, in these coming times.’

The room stood still as the words lingered, the woman let them hover in the air before taking another breath,

‘That said, may the celebrations now begin.’

The quiet lifted like morning frost under the sun and the crowd began to warm itself again. Lily let out a soft breath, she hadn’t the slightest clue what the woman had been talking about. Chosen ones came and went, Lily had never met one before. And she didn’t want to.

People chose to make their own small circles, careful not to leave enough room for the wrong person to enter the conversation. Lily watched as these nobles, young and ambitious, made bold claims and half-hearted jokes as they snaked their way into fragile relationships. She made a silent promise to herself, to never be like them.

Of course, she’d only noticed a small minority of the crowd. There were far more people that she’d missed, those that had stayed out by the balcony, those that had started to dance and those that had discovered love or lost it right there and then.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

‘I want to dance, too,’ she mumbled to Thorne.

‘Oh,’ he shook and she could’ve sworn he was blushing, ‘Naturally.’

He was stiff as he took her hands into the air but she felt his arms loosen, the tension leaving him as hers slipped into his.

The music was slow but it made her heart beat. Thorne moved quickly, that rigidity he’d always kept with him had disappeared completely. He was like water and she was the rain.

He stepped and she followed, falling into him as they let the sound carry them both. He really was quite the dancer—he took every mis-step she made, every clumsy move and mistake—and turned it into something so beautiful that she couldn’t even begin to describe it.

She looked back into his eyes, the hollow visor that had saved her time and time over looked back at her. Without question.

The music reached its crescendo and Thorne slowed their dance. It was the most heart-wrenching thing she’d ever felt, he pushed her so far away then pulled her so close she couldn’t breathe. She held onto him, unable to contain her feelings. She couldn’t tell where he ended and she began.

And he was human, he was human to her in ways that no human had ever been.

For that moment, things were perfect. And Lily didn’t want to let it end.

The song changed and she carried on, trying to mimic him in her own way. Her attempt was poor and flawed, but he didn’t laugh at her. Instead, he held her tighter and guided her forward.

He danced in-between the spaces she left behind her, and even in the spaces she hadn’t noticed.

‘I didn’t know you two were professionals,’ Alouette’s voice passed by. She was dancing with Jules; both were practically falling over one another; it was a miracle they were still on their feet. But she looked just as happy as Lily felt.

‘I’m not!’ Lily responded, breathless as Thorne took her away.

He cut through the ballroom, brushing against the other couples mindlessly. Lily smiled at him.

They were now at the very center, twirling and spinning. Lily felt the room fly around her; she saw multitudes of colours blur into a pastel rainbow of expensive silks. And yet, she never once bumped into someone. He’d made sure of that.

‘Gosh, Thorne,’ she panted, a bright red blush running along her face, ‘You’re- so, so good at this.’

Thorne shrugged, slowing their dance to allow her to catch her breath,

‘I was a royal knight after all.’

‘So you’re- telling me all you- knights can do this?’ Lily asked, taking in gulps of air.

Thorne looked around at the motionless royal knights,

‘Maybe not these ones.’

And she felt the cheeky smile in his voice. He was teasing.

‘Thorne?’ she looked up at him as they swayed.

‘Yes?’ he answered.

‘You still haven’t said my name before.’ she smiled at him.

‘Lily.’

She beamed.

It wasn’t a rainy day. It didn’t matter.

The music moved on and on, the band members blending each song so subtly into each other Lily couldn’t tell when one song ended and another began. She could’ve danced endlessly had her legs not began to weep.

They found a quiet piece of the ballroom and sat together at a decorated table. Lily eyed the flowers in the vase, they drooped at her like tired lovers.

‘Lily,’ he said again.

‘Yes?’ she looked back up at him, giggling.

‘Oh, it’s nothing,’ he breathed,

‘I just like the sound of… your name’

He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.

‘I like the way you say my name,’ she leaned forward, resting her chin against both her hands.

The night was still young. And she wasn’t going to let it go just yet.