The Dance (ch1)
It started with a dance, or maybe it didn't; maybe it had been a long time coming, and this was just when it fronted. The kingdom of Llamaia had been under stress, to say the least. A girl had inherited the throne, slightly older than me. She was an upstart, always sneaking out, teasing the townsfolk, and just generally not emotionally mature enough for her new position. So of course the new girl was told to watch her. I had technically started knighting many years prior, and I had been informed that I would become her personal guard, assuming I was alive when that time came. But nonetheless, she was always rebellious, and I don't think she knew what a consequence was. Anyways- a fest was organized to celebrate her recent crowning. They had just finished eating and the guards stood positioned in the corners inside and out, I was simply watching her dance with some stuck up man who she would probably forget the second her hand left his. Suddenly I lost sight of her. I looked around the room; my heart jumped around. I thought I might implode from the anxiety of losing the only job I ever thought I might be good for, and then—a tap on my shoulder. I whirled around, ready to kill whoever might have snuck up here. And there she was, Pandora. I stepped back, trying to pretend I wasn't as scared as I was.
"Come down with me!"
"What—? No."
"Oh come onnnn, why not??" "My job. I stay up here and watch YOU to make sure you don't die. Kind of important." "Oh, come on! Just one dance!" "Oh, you've really sold me now; I love dancing."
"YAY!!! Let's go!!"
She grabbed my hand; my heart went back to jumping. I pretended it didn't and pulled my hand away.
"Hey! I was being sarcastic!" She looked hurt for just a split second, which was almost enough to make me go down to the dance floor with her. Then, she raised her eyebrows and smirked,
"Would one dance really kill you?"
I stopped feeling so bad.
"It might, might kill you too; that's why I'm here. Dressed like this."
I gestured to my armor suit and sheathed dagger.
"Oh..."
For a second I thought she understood, and then she held out her hand again,
"I'll risk it."
I thought she might be trying to get herself killed, or maybe kill me. She grabbed my hand again, and this time I let her pull me away. Minutes later we were hand in hand, except classical dancing was not part of my knight training, and I was NOT a natural. She danced beautifully her hair shimmered under the thousands of lights, and I stood starstruck until she twirled me around. She was stronger than I thought she would be.
"Come on! Dec! Dance floors are for dancing!"
"Oh, shocker."
I rolled my eyes. She looked at me.
"Wait a second..."
She was clearly scheming something.
"You don't know how to dance... do you?!"
I paused.
"No."
She laughed, I smiled against my will. Unfortunately she had already seen,
"Oh my gosh! You can smile!"
I stopped smiling.
"No, I can't."
"No! Stop it! You totally were!" Before I could deny my ability to have fun any longer, a loud bang echoed; I grabbed Pandora's wrist and rushed her upstairs.
