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Feb. 13th, 2005 11:25 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
Delia lay awake in bed, curled around one of her pillows. She couldn’t sleep. Every time she began to dose off, another thought, another memory, came to the surface of her mind. With a muttered curse, the slender lady threw back her covers and stalked to the center of her room. Standing still, she composed herself and stared straight ahead. She was so bored. So utterly, completely, mind-numbingly bored. It hadn't been like this before. Surely not. Then...there was a point to it all. A point to the flirting and backstabbing, to the shocking and dancing... Catching hold of a memory of music and balls, Delia smiled slightly. She loved dancing. Really, it was the only thing where she didn't have to think -
Keeping that in mind, Delia sighed softly and began to dance. Slower then she would in truth, but this was only practise. Skip this way in a half circle, and then retrace your steps and then some…
Delia went through the steps, her eyes half-closed, remembering the few months when she had first come to court. She remembered being free and new. She remembered flirting with the heir to the Tortallan throne, while his friends watched on with jealousy.
As she moved back to bed, more asleep then awake, she remembered dancing with Prince Jonathan while Roger looked on with an amused smile…
…smoothly, she stepped away from the masked prince, laughing and breathless. She felt drunk and flushed, the heady air filled with the smell of scented candles, wine, and perfumed nobles. The masked ball was in full swing, with some of the candles dead on the iron chandeliers so the light was darker, redder, then it should be. Turning with the other dancers to face the dais, she curtsied deeply to the masked man on the single throne, spreading her crimsonrubygarnetblood red skirts wide and letting them fall back to her sides with a silken whisper.
Delia felt unbalanced by the heavy tiara on her head, and she had an urge to reach up and rip it off. But not here, not in this ball. She had to find Roger, to tell him that she knew his game and that he could…
Looking to the dais, she took a step back and bumped into someone in the now thick crowd. The masked man met her eyes and gave her an amused smile. Somehow, Delia knew those eyes would be a bright, bright blue.
Keeping that in mind, Delia sighed softly and began to dance. Slower then she would in truth, but this was only practise. Skip this way in a half circle, and then retrace your steps and then some…
Delia went through the steps, her eyes half-closed, remembering the few months when she had first come to court. She remembered being free and new. She remembered flirting with the heir to the Tortallan throne, while his friends watched on with jealousy.
As she moved back to bed, more asleep then awake, she remembered dancing with Prince Jonathan while Roger looked on with an amused smile…
…smoothly, she stepped away from the masked prince, laughing and breathless. She felt drunk and flushed, the heady air filled with the smell of scented candles, wine, and perfumed nobles. The masked ball was in full swing, with some of the candles dead on the iron chandeliers so the light was darker, redder, then it should be. Turning with the other dancers to face the dais, she curtsied deeply to the masked man on the single throne, spreading her crimsonrubygarnetblood red skirts wide and letting them fall back to her sides with a silken whisper.
Delia felt unbalanced by the heavy tiara on her head, and she had an urge to reach up and rip it off. But not here, not in this ball. She had to find Roger, to tell him that she knew his game and that he could…
Looking to the dais, she took a step back and bumped into someone in the now thick crowd. The masked man met her eyes and gave her an amused smile. Somehow, Delia knew those eyes would be a bright, bright blue.
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Date: 2005-01-04 07:35 pm (UTC)Alanna was not enjoying herself.
Tugging irritably at the silver mask hiding her features, Alanna scowled at the now empty tankard in her hands. Myles had found her a quarter hour earlier and had pressed the wine on her. It was rare for Myles to offer her wine. It seemed that he had joined the rest of her friends in their crusade to get her to socialize with the latest court beauties.
Traitor.
Alanna sighed deeply and resumed contemplating the myriad reasons she planned to leave Court as soon as she won her shield.
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Date: 2005-01-04 07:54 pm (UTC)The pair stopped as a girl in a red muslin dress curtseyed in front of them. Laughing, Jon stepped away from Delia and towards the other girl.
"Just one dance, Delia, then I'll be back." He said over his shoulder as he vanished into the crowd.
Her contempt turned to jealousy and she pursed her lips together. Bitch. Looking around, the girl caught sight of a short, red-haired figure hiding and smiled sweetly.
Delia had never been one to keep her misery to herself.
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Date: 2005-01-05 05:56 am (UTC)Alanna stomped her foot.
Another couple ducked behind a nearby curtain, giggling madly. Alanna rolled her eyes at the unmistakable kissing noises, nearly choking as she recognized the man's deep laugh. Gary?!? Muttering, Alanna turned back to the dancers and tried to forget how to hear.
Her eyes immediately found Jonathan with all the speed and skill of deep affection. Alanna was both surprised and gratified to see him leave Delia behind for the lady in red. Serves the vicious green-eyed flirt right, Alanna thought. Mildly bemused by her own vehemence, Alanna arched an eyebrow as Delia turned her way. Delia's sickly sweet smile sent shivers down her spine, but she had nowhere to run.
She briefly toyed with the idea of joining Gary and his lady love behind the curtain.
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Date: 2005-01-05 07:03 pm (UTC)Finally standing in front of Alanna, with her smile amused at the squire's expression, Delia tilted her head slightly.
"Squire Alan, I fear you have been avoiding me..."
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Date: 2005-01-05 09:46 pm (UTC)"Do not flatter yourself, Lady Delia. I avoid everyone at these things, not just you."
Casting an annoyed glance at Gary's boots, she straightened to her full height and watched Jonathan dance with his latest conquest. She had to admit; Delia was prettier.
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Date: 2005-01-05 09:54 pm (UTC)"Of course...we have all noticed this, and gossiped about it most extensivly." The smile is innocent. "Do you care to prove me wrong, and accept a dance?"
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Date: 2005-01-05 10:48 pm (UTC)"You know very well that you leave me no choice."
Her face impassive, Alanna held out her hand and waited.
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Date: 2005-01-05 10:57 pm (UTC)Alanna whirls her onto the dance floor, and as Delia turns around to face her partner, she realizes that they are the only ones out on the dance floor. Everyone else is watching.
Locking her eyes with Alanna's, the young lady goes into a curtsey to start the dance.
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Date: 2005-01-06 05:59 pm (UTC)It was then that she realized they were alone on the floor.
Eyes narrowed, Alanna quickly found Jon in the crowd. She couldn't make out his features, but his shoulders were shaking with obvious mirth. Fine, let him have his fun. Smiling pleasantly, Alanna bowed low to Delia and waited the allotted amount of time before beginning the dance. No one else could see how tightly she clenched her teeth. Chin high, she raised both arms to the right and clapped sharply, the noise echoing through the eerily quiet ballroom.
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Date: 2005-01-06 06:21 pm (UTC)"This so bad, Squire Alan?" She asked softly as they spun around again, laughter in her throaty voice.
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Date: 2005-01-06 07:13 pm (UTC)"I would rather muck out every stall in the Royal Stables with a spoon then be here right now," she hissed.
The dance did not come easily to Alanna. Muttering under her breath, she concentrated on the movements but watched Delia carefully. She did not want the assembled knights, nobles and ladies thinking Squire Alan was afraid of a sharp-tongued, green-eyed flirt.
Still, she breathed a sigh of relief when the dance called for them to skip a step in opposite directions.
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Date: 2005-01-06 07:18 pm (UTC)"Harsh," she murmered as they passed each other, continuing when she stood with her back to Alanna. "Very harsh." Delia had her hand on her hip, and glancing at Alanna with amusment. Would the squire or wouldn't the squire?
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Date: 2005-01-06 09:44 pm (UTC)"Perhaps it was a bit harsh, but it was certainly true," she muttered.
Feeling like a complete idiot, Alanna gently nudged the taller girl forward. They skipped to the side in unison. Alanna counted the steps under her breath as they switched hands and skipped back.
Having learned her lesson, Alanna leaned back as Delia turned, taking the time to admire the tiara in her hair.
"It must have taken you hours to twist your hair around that way."
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Date: 2005-01-06 09:50 pm (UTC)Hardly know why, her mind spinning in the heady air, Delia moved forward and kissed her on the lips. In full view of the entire court.
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Date: 2005-01-06 10:24 pm (UTC)"Goddess, Delia! Everyone saw that," She hissed. "What were you thinking? Mad. You are absolutely bloody mad."
Furious, Alanna lifted her hands toward Delia's face in the final move of the dance. Her face had long since turned a deep crimson. She inclined her head, turned on her heel and stalked off the dance floor.
A deep chortle rose from the crowd behind her. Alanna was fairly certain Jon was to blame.
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Date: 2005-01-06 10:29 pm (UTC)Straight towards the long table heaped with food. And wine. A lot of winte. Pouring herself a glass, Delia took another deep breath. A memory of soft lips against her own, and she drained half the glass.
But elegantly, of course. Never said that Delia of Eldorne, even when she was blushing and in mild shock, was inelegant.
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Date: 2005-01-07 03:56 pm (UTC)Frowning, Alanna looked around and realized that her feet had carried her outside. The fresh air felt lovely after the stale scents and oppressive heat of the ballroom. Alanna tilted her head back as she continued down a gravel path, letting the cool breeze wash across her neck. Deep in the garden, she paused beside a dead rose bush and wondered how she was going to face the other boys after tonight's debacle.
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Date: 2005-01-07 04:05 pm (UTC)The green-eyed girl caught up with Alanna by the rose bushes, and her breath caught again. The moonlight fell on the squire, making the silver trim and mask glow. Beautiful, mysterious...
Delia just stood there, watching with eyes hidden by her mask and wondering what in the name of the Mother was she doing...
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Date: 2005-01-09 10:51 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-01-09 11:38 pm (UTC)She doesn't move forward, just stand there, watching, waiting, with moonlight reflecting off her old silver tiara.
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Date: 2005-01-11 08:16 pm (UTC)"The gardeners will be more concerned with the number of empty tankards littering the King's lawn than with one small, worn patch of frozen ground." She paused, slowly walking toward Delia. "Why are you here? Did you not humiliate me enough inside?"
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Date: 2005-01-11 08:23 pm (UTC)"That said, cannot I also enjoy the cool air? Inside, I could not think." She shrugs, a noticable movement when her white skin reflected the moonlight so well. "You never know...I could even being apologizing to you."
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Date: 2005-01-11 08:35 pm (UTC)"My, someone thinks rather highly of herself, doesn't she?" Alanna's smirk faded. "Why would you apologize to me?
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Date: 2005-01-11 08:42 pm (UTC)To cover it, Delia gives Alanna a small, cheeky smile; very different from her normal ones. "For playing into your Prince's hands so much. I fear I have given him much to mock you for, and that was not my intent."
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Date: 2005-01-11 09:38 pm (UTC)"Jon would find something to mock me for with or without your intervention, Lady Delia." Her smile didn't quite reach her eyes. "But it is always friendly in nature. Do not fear."
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