Fallen

Chapter 4: A Man

I glided across the room past the whispering stares of the onlookers. I ignored them, the rumors and gossip. I only had my eyes on the young man. His eyes darted back and forth, as if debating whether it would be safer to slip into the crowd or meet me.

He didn't have a choice.

Stepped close to him, as casually as I could, I listened while some pompous nobleman talked about their estate. "Oh it was a tragedy!" Cried out one of the two men,his yellow mustache quivered indignantly, "My best horse, lame, I fired that little twerp who took care of my horses." "Rightly so" said the other man, his eyes casting a bored glance, "Those commoners need to be taught a lesson sometimes." The dark haired man said, his black eyes darted around the room and narrowed when they landed on me standing close to the young man who had said nothing and just listened to the noblemen whine and complain. The black eyed man turned to the blonde haired one and remarked "I think we should be going Terence." The blonde haired man looked over at me and snorted, "As always you are right Lucius." Then they both walked away, their coattails sashaying behind them.

The young man who had been standing beside me had a slightly confused expression on his face as the two men left. "Well why'd they up and do that?" Asked the young man somewhat retorically. Watching and listening had become some of my best qualities so I didn't respond. However I did study the young aristocrat beside me. He did seem very young for the court and his voice had a vague hint of country in it. Probably from the south. His hands were slightly calloused and he didn't seem too intimidated by the aristocracy around him, infact he seemed downright curious. His posture was also strange, not as uptight and arrogant as most of the men and women had been standing. Instead he slouched a little, his posture warm and welcoming.

"Well fair lady, do you speak or just stare?" He said, his eyes lighting up with amusement. Startled I realized he was talking to me. Cautiously I answered "I'm not mute." He grinned and I wondered how he didn't know who I was. Tentatively I asked him "Do you... um,  uh... know who I am?" My words fumbling around. I mostly just speak to myself and It had been long time since someone openly engaged in conversation with me.

The last time had been five years ago, before the war started and my father had withdrawn into a shell I hadn't realized he had. I was yanked out of my thoughts by the young man speaking yet again, still grinning. I realized the grin was natural and not faked like the most I had gotten. Was he mad? "How am I to know who you are if I don't know your name?" He asked, his eyes twinkling. Dear gods above, was he flirting with me?! Ser had a twisted sense of thinking, the goddess of love, of course, has to come here and mess up my life once again. His smile, however, erased all doubt from my mind, the goddess and of love was meddling, and he was absolutely insane. Courting the bastard princess? As if my life wasn't hard enough. Now I would be taunted and ridiculed after this party is over. Not to mention he was causing trouble for himself.

His hand reached for arm and I flinched involuntarily. It was slight but he still saw it. Confusion clouded his face again but it brightened up quickly enough. He grinned devilishly and I had a sudden fearful thought in my head that was quickly replaced by surprise. "M'lady, would you do me the honors of dancing with you?" Nearly everyone in the vicinity gasped. Sure they had heard our conversation and had thought nothing of it, but now? Everyone had their eyes on the insane young man. Surprising everyone, even myself, I said "Yes."