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Post by Lazy Arwen on Jul 9, 2004 8:13:37 GMT -5
Sometime during this, a rather tall girl dressed in all grey traveler's clothes-- it was common for folk to enter in the middle of a meal --entered the Halls, then made her way towards the head of the table. Reaching Aricin, she dipped her head before him. They exchanged a few ever so softly spoken words with slight smiles.
After a few minutes of this, the seemingly mid-teenage girl sat gracefully down in Dima's seat. She turned to Aricin once more, spoke, and he pointed out onto the dance floor, just at Dima and Shieg. The girl nodded, thin lips curving into the slightest of smiles again as her off-center amaranthine eyes glittered in the light.
Dima did not notice her.
"Well, they may attempt to play a slower piece next-- but knowing the crowd here, they won't let them. The musicians tend to tire faster than the dancers!"
Completely on impulse, he pulled slightly closer as they neared the end of the song--music, piece, overture, whatever one would call it-- glanced down to concentrate on the movements of his feet a moment, and placed a quick peck of a kiss on her forehead before pulling away again. His feet had not missed a beat.
"There now-- you say no sorrows, yet you show them. You need not. Come, the piece is ending-- would you dance another with me, another man, or break?"
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Post by Tiire on Jul 9, 2004 11:14:15 GMT -5
Unlike Dima, Sheig had noticed the anorian enter the complex. She had no clue whome the girl was, but due to the fact she was sitting in Dima's seat she could only guess it was Akila.
These thoughts where helped by her innate intuition and the fact that while they where dancing she heard somone mutter the name.
Sheig looked as if she where contemplating Dima's words for a moment, then shrugged,
"Another dance, but I wouldent mind it with you. I swear, my friend, for somone who says hes out of practice we are one of the fleetest groups,"
she was carul not to say 'couples'
"on the dancefloor. Besides, Im enjoying your company much more, Im sure, than I would somone I did not pick up unconcious in the forest!"
Her laughter brought the attentions of a few, the nearest people, mostly. When she laughed it was so perfectly unique to her, it was as if that singular musical pitch in her voice had been created for her only, as there was nothing to compare it to.
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Post by Lazy Arwen on Jul 9, 2004 12:36:22 GMT -5
"Are you including another in that? Kalmyr, per chance? For last time I checked, a group was generally three or more. Two would be a pair or couple, nay? Or would you care to disagree?"
The music came to an end, and indeed, as he had guessed, a slow song was started up. And just as he had guessed, the musicians on harp, fife, fiddle, et cetera recieved arguments from the dancers.
A quick yell of "A throw dance!" from one, and the agreement of a few others, led them into an even more upbeat piece.
"Oh no," Dima muttered before turning to Shieg with a wicked expression, eyes twinkling. "I don't suppose Tiire taught you how to do these, no? Ah, just follow me, if you wish. Now-- I trust you, thus you must trust me in this matter, if you would accept the invitation?"
He practically gave her no time to reply before pulling into the step. Of course she could still answer-- despite that they were spinning in circles at a high enough rate of speed to make the weak at stomach lose their supper.
But not these Elves-- these elves were practically insane to the eyes of an outsider.
And Akila simply laughed as she watched Dima pull this other woman into the dance.
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Post by Tiire on Jul 9, 2004 13:07:36 GMT -5
Sheig's eyes glittered as she not only kept in step with Dima, but practically out did him in the movements that came to her so fluidly.
"You dont even need to ask, Dima! havent you ever seen a drow dance? they even use enchantments to make the steps so physically impossible..."
She just shook her head with a chuckle. But she had winced when he mentioned Tiires name. Gods but it still hurt.
"Is that Akila sitting in your chair up beside Aricin?"
She asked teasingly, glancing up at the table,
"My, shes pretty though..."
She said that with no mockingness in her voice, only sincerity. Akila had such an air of kindness around her it seemed, and Sheig admired the shade of her eyes. It was her favorite colour.
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Post by Lazy Arwen on Jul 9, 2004 13:54:09 GMT -5
"Indeed... I've told you that Tiire and Silas were wonderful on the dance floor," he said softly, sharing complete empathy with her in the fact that their names did indeed hurt.
"And... yes it is Akila. She is--"
He chuckled softly as their eyes met. The young woman's smile widened ever so slightly, eyes continuing to twinkle.
"Beautiful... Some, again, would speak differently on the matter... But I suppose you must keep with the saying-- What is it? Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder?"
He smiled slightly, then his eyes widened almost in surprise as the music sped up. He pulled her suddenly closer, took her by the waist, and hefted her up into the air, putting a little spin to it, then catching her and dipping as his brows lifted expectantly.
"Well then," he said as the music slowed ever so slightly again. "Where were we? Ah yes... When she first came into the citadel and I saw her the first time, just speaking to her had me thinking her beautiful. Some are beautiful in different ways. You for instance-- have quite a beautiful personality as well. And-- well..." He cleared his throat a bit, continuing to speed along the dance, turning to Akila as they spun in that direction again, and smiling. "Some are beautiful in other ways as well. And she can be beautiful at times if you look at her in certain ways. To others..."
Again, he was rambling. Ah, but it didn't really matter.
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Post by Tiire on Jul 9, 2004 14:04:23 GMT -5
Sheig nodded, smiling as she too glanced up at Akila, offering a slight, quick wave in her direction and a smile,
"She is very beautiful. Her eyes... my favorite color, you know. And I know what you mean, many view beauty as a physical aspect, but thats not the real meaning at all. Beauty is the representation of how you connect and feel for a person, how you treat others and react to situations around you.
The physical part of it is a very small aspect on the whole. You yourself are one of the most beautiful people Ive ever met."
((I was gonna say handsome but it didnt fit with the topic))
The dance ended almost as abruptly as it had started, the musitions gently rubbing at aching joints from keeping up such a fast tune.
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Post by Lazy Arwen on Jul 9, 2004 14:16:11 GMT -5
After all the throws, twists and turns of the dance-- over half of the dancers had dropped out of it before it was even half way over, and now only a very few couples were still on the floor-- Dima was breathing with difficulty. Indeed, he took her words in, but he certainly didn't seem to be listening.
He staggered back to the table, pulling her along by the hand, and leaned over it a moment before pouring himself some of the rum into a tankard. He tipped it to take a long few sips before sinking down into the chair beside Akila, who moved over to accompany him into his chair. And it was obvious-- if it had not been before when he finished two glasses the wine in the time that most would take for one-- that he loved his drinks. But it didn't seem to affect him much-- as alcohol doesn't really affect elves.
The girl-- now having the looks of being no older than 16, as compared to Dima's mid-twenties appearance, though she was actually older than the Lord Aricin--was still smiling brightly and began to laugh her trademark light, bell-like laugh, lips parted slightly, which made her already overlong face appear even longer.
"Having fun, you two? Akila-- Shieg, correct?" she introduced herself, standing now and holding out her hand to Shieg as she gazed at her with those deep lavendar eyes.
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Post by Tiire on Jul 9, 2004 14:22:10 GMT -5
Sheig drained a cup of water, and nodded to Akila, shaking her hand lightly before taking residence in Dima's old seat, as the two where occupying hers. Besides, she didnt mind sitting beside Aricin, he was very kind and she liked him.
"Yes, Sheyliyah Cutspur. Dima's told me about you."
She said, catching her breath finully, but after a minute they exotic beauty turned her head from the two lovers, chimes tinkling softly in her hair. She faced Aricin,
"Begging your pardon, Lord Aricin, but... would you join me in the next slow dance? I only ask for one dance... please?"
her tone was slightly hopful, but she new the chances of him declining where severly higher than him accepting.
The orchestra was still resting, but they where to start up a song in a moment, a slower one for those who still had not recovered from the swing dance.
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Post by Lazy Arwen on Jul 9, 2004 14:42:18 GMT -5
"You told her what about me, my lord?" Akila asked Dima, turning. Now how had she ended up in the seat beside Dima's?
She sat down next to Dima again, thus causing them to be shoulder to shoulder.
"Nothing you wouldn't wish revealed," Dima replied cooly.
Akila rolled her eyes irritatedly.
"That you were beautiful," Dima said as he took the hint.
Akila suddenly steeled over, turning to him. "Don't mock me, Elf," she hissed, glaring at him a moment.
"Akila, that is not at all what I meant," he argued, his own eyes narrowing. "And you know that full well. Now you had best not lose your temper with me, Anor!"
Akila was about to protest when Aricin caused them pause with a heavy glare. "Enough, you two. Akila, please don't let these arguments burst forth. You can't be letting your shift take over all the time, girl. Both of you-- apologize." Almost paternal, nay? And for good reason--
"I'm sorry," Akila managed, leaning back against him again. Thus, there was no need for Dima to apologize.
Aricin turned to Shieg not a moment's pause later. "Shieg, my dear. I would love to dance with you, but I simply cannot. Do you know what kind of position that would put me in? I have not danced in years-- and if I suddenly began, I would be swooped over all night every night with plees!"
This was obviously, to Dima at least, for he knew the man like a father, said only out of a knack for being polite. And he was hoping to be humourous. But only Dima would know. To anyone outside Dima, Erados, and a few others, he was speaking in full humour, with that slight, sly smile and the twinkle in his grey eyes.
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Post by Tiire on Jul 9, 2004 14:47:38 GMT -5
Sheigs face fell slightly, she nodded, not trusting the look on his face though, and accepting the (what she thought to be) only half-true explanation.
"I understand. Well,"
She perked up with a smile that could brighten the loneliest of days,
"If you wont join me, would you mind if I joined you here? Im sure you dont get swmped with requests to be sat beside."
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Post by Lazy Arwen on Jul 9, 2004 14:56:36 GMT -5
"It appears you already have," he replied in humour, smile widening ever so slightly.
But Dima suddenly stood from sitting alongside Akila and moved around behind Aricin. Leaning down, he whispered something inaudible to any others into his ear.
Aricin allowed a curious expression, then leaned forward, elbows on the table, chin resting on closed fists.
Dima pulled back again, sat beside Akila once more, taking back his half of the chair. "My Lord?" he inquired, lifting his brows as he gazed piercingly at Aricin.
The man winced. By all that was holy he hated that title. 'My lord...'. It held far too many memories.
"Ah-- If you don't mind a very... And I mean very rusty dance partner, I supose we might join eachother in this next slower dance, Shieg," he finally spoke. But he never once looked at Shieg, only maintained eye contact with Dima.
Dima nodded slightly with the words, then turned back to his rum rather cooly.
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Post by Tiire on Jul 9, 2004 15:05:17 GMT -5
Sheig's eyes lit up to match her smile when Aricin accepted her invitation. The orchestra where just about to start up the next song, but before she stood the perceptive girl gave Aricin a loose, short hug.
"Thank-you, it means alot to me."
She murmured, standing gracefully, in wait for the elf lord to do the same. Her chimes tinkled musically, coloured glass shards catching the light and shimmering lightly.
Im so happy now. I wonder why his simple acceptance of a trivial dance would make me feel so elated? well, perhaps not so trivial...
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Post by Arwen on Jul 9, 2004 15:15:11 GMT -5
What was this? A hug from the child? So sweet was she... Such a kind, well mannered girl. If only they were all like that...
He pushed his chair back and stood, brushed at his crimson robes a moment, then bowed-- who knew if it was just for show or out of politeness? Then offered his arm in that same mannerism, leading onto the dance floor.
"And you would watch him dance, but not offer me one?" Akila asked in amusement.
"Well then, would m'lady like a dance?" Dima offered after a moment, just as the music started up.
There were already murmers going about the crowd at how Aricin was dancing-- for the first time in half a centery. And how many would attack him after this was over with offers?
Dima led his Lady onto the dance floor just nearby Aricin and Shieg.
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Post by Tiire on Jul 9, 2004 15:26:44 GMT -5
Sheig noted which dance this was with great pleasure-it was one of her favorites. She slipped her left hand into his and placed the other on his shoulder, her curvulus body close to that of the elf-lord. Her head was placed in the crook of Aricin's neck as they moved in the slow steps of the dance.
She was carful, though, not to stand to intimatly close to the elf-lord. It wouldent have been considered decent, she was sure, as they had only just met.
Her clingling outfit swirled gently around her, chimes tinkling softly in her multi-million braid hair.
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Post by Arwen on Jul 9, 2004 15:36:06 GMT -5
The girl was too close to him-- too close, and too young. Altogether too close and young. And he was going to pull back, until he caught Dima's gaze.
At that, all thoughts of pulling away from this girl that he'd shared but a few words with, were vanquished. He simply sighed through his nose, billowing back the smallest bit of Shieg's bead and shard-decorated hair, pondering how many would attack him when the dance was over with requests. His hand rested lightly on the waist of the shapely young woman, and his feet moved gracefully, though most every moment was spent recalling the steps.
Akila was leaning ever so slightly closer to him than she would to any other, but still, as Shieg was with Aricin, not intimately close.
And she, being taller than the average girl, was nearly as tall as her partner. So she simply bent her head down slightly so that her forehead rested on his shoulder. And when Dima wasn't gazing scrutinizingly at the Lord Aricin, he was resting his cheek against her head.
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Post by Tiire on Jul 9, 2004 15:47:06 GMT -5
Sheig sensed Aricins discomfort and sighed softly, complying to shift so that she was slightly farther from him, her head now only just barely brushing his shoulder.
Hes unconfortable with me near him... why? its just a dance... right?
even as she thought about it, she felt slightly uncomfortable in their light embrace as they danced, noting light twisting feelings of shy embarrasment in the pit of her stomach. She shrugged it off mentaly though,
she could almost hear Tiire chortling at her... 'oh good job, lion girleen, your falling for Aricin! aricin for creeps sakes! I swear you never cease to fall for the wrong people. Well, I guess this would be the first time you actually connected with somone...'
and then in that oh so teasing voice...
'sheigs found her fairy prince, sheigs found her fairy prince... waiting for him to whisk you away fairy princess?'
Sheig's eyes filled with tears at the memory of Tiires friendly banter.
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Post by Arwen on Jul 9, 2004 15:55:38 GMT -5
Aricin felt her shift in his arms. But for some reason, it made him no more comfortable.
Dima watched ever-scrutinizingly.
But now Aricin didn't notice. Instead, he was paying complete attention to the fact that his dance partner-- the first one he'd had in ages--seemed to be crying.
He lifted her chin, removing his hand from her waist, and gazed at her curiously.
"Shieg... Shieg, what is it, dear? Come child... It is not last night's events, is it? Come, dear... No need to cry."
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Post by Tiire on Jul 9, 2004 16:00:41 GMT -5
"No.. it... its nothing, nothing for you to be concerned about..."
She said in a cracked whisper, wanting to wipe the tears from her face but almost utterly unwilling to break the older mans touch.
"I just... gods it was only a day or two ago but I... I already miss her so much..."
She closed her beautiful golden eyes, filled with pain,
"Do you know what its like to be the one to bury the dearest person in your life? to watch their lifeless eyes stare back at you blankly when you cannot help but remember the emotion they once held I.... its so hard to bear..."
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Post by Arwen on Jul 9, 2004 16:09:31 GMT -5
"I do," he said gruffly, his only reply for a long few moments.
In that long pause, he allowed his hand to move from under her chin to behind her head, pulling her gently closer and holding her cheek to his chest, searching for some paternally comforting part of himself for her.
When he finally spoke again, it was sadly.
"I sat by as my Lady Efion died, my dear Shieg. And it was very hard-- unbearable. And I knew full well what those eyes had held, for not but a few moments before hand, I bore her pain with her-- and her love."
His lips pursed, chin resting gently over her head as he continued to hold her to him in the dance, though his right hand remained in her left.
"I was left with an even clearer emotion than most... For I managed to catch it right as she died. And-- My dear Shieg, if you thing that it's hard to simply bury a good friend-- It is even harder to bury one you saw the last expression of. Both stay with you forever-- the emotion just before death, and the completely blank expression of death."
Thus, her eyes flashed before him-- so helpless, so pleading... and yet, holding some odd peace... And so loving... So completely full of love that they shone, though the lights were dimmed and she was wracked with the pain and weakness of having just gone through the stillbirth of her daughter...
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Post by Tiire on Jul 9, 2004 16:16:47 GMT -5
"Im being stupid... I have no right to cry when you have suffered so..."
she murmured, pulling back slightly even as the song struck its last chords. She curtsied gracefully to him, even now regretting the loss of the warmth of the mans body against hers.
What was wrong with her?
I shouldent feel this way about somone I have just met... he is much older than I, but still...
"I... Im sorry. I think Im going to go out for some.. fresh air... excuse me..."
She turned from him and proceded out in the direction of the balcony.
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