A Grim Fairy Tale

Chapter Eighty-Seven

After seeing that Vagatha could more than handle herself around Prince Anthony, she set off to look for the one she wanted to be her partner all evening. Just then, a man stepped forward and bowed to her.

"Beautiful maiden, will you honor me with the first dance?"

She smiled at him. He was tall, with long black hair, not the most handsome man in the kingdom but definitely charming. However she didn't really want to dance with anyone else. She didn't want a repeat of what took place at her stepmother's ball, where every man danced with her in hopes of gaining her favor despite not knowing a thing about her. She wanted tonight to be special, to dance with someone special.

Looking past the young man, she could finally see him. She spotted Alastor hiding in the shadows, watching them intently, his eyes never straying from her. He looked so sad though. Why?

"Thank you for the wonderful offer, good sir." She said with a curtsy. "But I am spoken for."

"A thousand apologies then, dear lady. I shall bother you no more."

"Thank you noble sir, but please, allow me to recommended that you dance with my associate over there. She is very lovely and without a partner."

Charlotte directed his attention over to Cherri and his smile grew wide, clearly pleased with the offer. Charlotte then approached Alastor, for a second she thought she saw his face had gone pale. Was he feeling alright?

"Interesting fellow you met back there." He said. "Did he ask you to dance?"

"He did but I turned him down."

"Why? Was he nice?"

"Yes but I was hoping to dance with you tonight."

"Oh? Were you?"

"Yes. Also I wanted to thank you for the roses."

"How do you know they're from me?"

"Because apart from Vagatha, no one else could possibly know that white roses were my favorites."

Alastor's expression softened at her words, a flicker of warmth igniting in his eyes.

"I'm glad you liked them." He admitted, his voice low and sincere.

Charlotte felt a flutter of excitement in her chest.

"Moxxie and Miilie have been very excited about this performance." Alastor said. "They even chose to play one of their special love songs for tonight."

"Do you know it well?"

"Yes, I grew up hearing Moxxie serenade Millie with it many times."

Charlotte's heart raced at the thought of dancing to a song filled with love and memories. She had always admired the bond between Moxxie and Millie; it was a testament to the kind of love she longed for.

Before long, the alps had set up everything for their performance and Moxxie stepped forward with his instrument, a beautifully crafted gittern that glimmered under the soft lanterns of the festival. Blitzo was at the organ built into the wagon, Millie was on the drum, and some other performers had been kind enough to lend in their lute and vielle playing.

"Well folks, it's that time of night." Moxxie announced. "That time where I must ask all gentlemen to invite the ladies of their hearts to dance a romantic waltz to a very special song. I wrote this song long ago, sang it to my wife, it was the only way I could get my feelings out to her. So I hope that if any of you have any problems speaking your heart to someone, this song might help you."

Alastor and Charlotte watched as all the villagers coupled up before the song began. The two of them just stood there alone, feeling terribly shy. Finally Alastor's nerve got a hold of him and he bowed, extending his hand out to Charlotte.