Of Royalty And Humility

On Nights Like These

The bonfire crackled, sending sparks into the air as Sehren and the masked man danced together. The music swelled around them, a lively tune that made the flames flicker with joy. The rhythm was infectious, pulling Sehren in, her body moving to the beat despite herself. His hand rested on the small of her back, guiding her through the dance with a gentle firmness that ignited a flutter of excitement deep in her stomach.

He leaned in, his breath warm in her ear, "Is it the magic of the festival, or are you simply a natural dancer?"

Where his hands touched her it burned like fire, but it wasn't unpleasant. Every brush of his fingers, every glance, seemed to crackle with energy, and yet the sensation wasn't purely physical—it stirred something emotional, something unexpected. Sehren drew back and turned her face away from him to hide the nerves. She had been in the presence of men before, so why was he affecting her like this?

Her heart pounded as he closed the space between them again, his touch light but insistent. She wondered if she alone felt this overwhelming tension. Surely he didn't share the same depth of feeling. Because how could he hold her in such a fastened glance otherwise.

He twirled her effortlessly, the world around them fading with each turn, until they were flush against one another in the heart of the dance. His scent—earth and wildflowers—mingled with the sweet aroma of the festival, wrapping around her senses.

"Tell me," he asked softly, "what did you love most about the festival?"

"I- I think the stories," she stammered, struggling to find her voice. She couldn't think. Her mind was a blur. How could she speak when the mere proximity of him made it hard to think?

"Which ones?"

"The black and white unicorns..." she mumbled, feeling ridiculous.

"Ah, the black and white unicorns! What would you wish for if you saw one?"

Her thoughts clouded, Sehren almost stumbled, but his arm tightened around her waist, steadying her. "I'd wish for... for... for a change..." she whispered. But even as she spoke, the weight of her reality crashed down on her. Father's sunken, lifeless face flashed across her eyes, and guilt struck her hard. For father to not die, she thought bitterly, the joyful spell of the night breaking.

Sensing her sudden shift, he spoke more softly. "Do you wish to go somewhere quieter, away from the crowd?"

She nodded, letting him guide her towards a split log bench near a smaller bonfire. There were people sitting there but they quickly dispersed as the couple approached. He sat down and motioned for her to do the same. She kept a modest space between them when she sat.

"You don't often come to these gatherings, do you?" His voice was quieter now, more thoughtful. "You gave me an earful about that horse, but now..." he trailed off. He looked away into the fire. A small pause became a comfortable silence as he watched the fire and Sehren took the chance to study him.

Blonde hair, intense blue eyes that seemed to pierce through the firelight, an angular jaw and a distinctive nose. A strong, striking profile. His clothes were fine, though not too showy, suggesting he was either a lesser noble or a prosperous merchant. He was refined, no doubt, but there was a casual elegance to the way he held himself.

Before he could catch her staring, she looked away. They sat in quiet silence for a while. She finally felt calm enough to observe the dancers in the square. Each couple exchanged their partner with the one next to them. This must be what square dancing was. She observed this yesterday and the day before too. It looked quite fun and Sehren wanted to join them but the movements were too complex to attempt by herself.