Gerudo Forest

Chapter 43

After the introductions were over the real work began. A few of the girls who had followed them in were not really there to dance but to play the music. They had an assortment of bongos, flutes, and something reminiscent of a sitar. The music they played had an ethnic feel to it.  

Hiba started the day off by getting the group to show her different dances and would tell her what they were used for. There were dances for ceremonies such as when they danced for a king's coronation or a dance for an occasional wedding which hardly ever happened. There were also dances to celebrate for when babies were born and dances for when a gerudo passed away. Then there were the dances that were purely to entertain the king.  

The gerudos who danced seemed familiar and well practiced with each one. Sometimes there was a leader in the dance in which the rest would follow and then sometimes everyone had their own part to play. They all seemed intricate and complicated. Melissa doubted she would be able to learn any of them.  

"Your turn." Hiba said letting the other girls practice on their own. "Let's see what you can do."  

The music started and Hiba began to show her step by step how one of the king's favorite dances went. It reminded her of a belly dance almost. Hiba's body moved almost like it was a snake looking graceful as she moved. Melissa tried to copy her but it wasn't as easy as the girl made it appear. 

Hiba eventually had to brake the dance into parts making it a little easier to follow when it was apparent that Melissa was getting confused. Melissa was unsure in her movements and Hiba would constantly get on to her.  

"You must show confidence when you dance. Keep your head up! Don't look at your feet." The girl kept telling her but all Melissa could feel was shame at how clumsy she looked compared to the others. 

She was aware of the other girls glancing her way now and then. Sometimes she would hear laughing which just made her want to give up on this whole crazy dance thing. They eventually got through the whole dance but Melissa was no where near ready to perform it.  

"Again!" Hiba instructed and the dance started over. 

Melissa was still doing just as poorly and she could see the frustration in her leader's face. Through it all though Hiba never gave up. She just drilled her and drilled her till she saw what she considered to be an improvement. Practice had been over for quite some time before Hiba actually let Melissa stop. 

All the other girls including Azazel had been gone for hours. Both of them were drenched in sweat. She still felt depressed about her performance even if Hiba said she had slight potential. Melissa knew she was just being polite trying not to hurt her feelings. How had she gotten suckered into this?  

"Whew! I'm soaked! I think we could both use a rinse." Hiba said pulling her hair back into ponytail.  

Melissa definitely wouldn't object to that.  

"Lead the way." Melissa said eager to have a bath before tonight.  

They ended up walking quite a ways.  

"How far is it?" Melissa asked curious as to where they were going. 

" Not far now." Hiba said stopping at a dark entrance with two torches at the side.  

Hiba grabbed one and handed the other to her.  

"Why is it so dark?" Melissa asked eying the tunnel.  

"It is because this goes through the rock face and cuts to the river. We won't need the torches as soon as we get there." Hiba explained.  

They entered and as soon as they rounded a bend she noted that at the end other lit torches hung at a wooden door.