The Girl in the gilded cage (A Tom Hiddleston story)

Master of speaking and a fairy princess

*Malina*
The show is about to start and I walk into the area just outside the ring, where the artists stand ready to enter, when it is their time to shine in front of the audience. I spot Joe talking to a man I have never seen before, he don't look like he belongs in the circus, he looks more like a hero in a romance, tall, almost aristocratic and very handsome.
I wonder what he is doing here talking to Joe. Watching how his long arms and big hands move as he speaks, like he is painting the words rather than speeking them, there is something very enthusiastic and passionate about him, something that compels me to watch him.
He is clad in black jeans and a dark blue T-shirt, he looks slim but not brawny like Ioan, he seems to smile a lot and he has a beautiful smile, it is infectious. He has a very heavy stubble, boardering on being a beard and his sandy-ginger hair threatens to go into fluffy curls if it gets just a tad longer.
"Hey Melina baby, here to see me make my debut as the ringmaster ?" Ioan asks as he slithers up beside me. He looks kind of ridiculous in the red jacket and the top hat, I mean more than he usually does, which says a lot.
I might have rolled my eyes a bit. I know he is interested in me, but he is just so.. well so stupid and self absorbed and I find him more laughable than attractive. I also think it is a huge mistake letting him cover for Joe. "Yeah I wouldn't miss that".
"Thank you darling, you know you and me should get to know each other better". He says, my sarcasm clearly lost on him.
I shake my head, walking a bit away from him. "I told you before Ioan, I am flattered but I simply don't have time for things like that".
The music starts playing and Ioan grabs the microphone, walking into the ring, smiling broadly and then he just freezes, standing there looking like the big bafoon he is when the music stops. Time drags out and people starts whispering.
I see Joe is about to run in there, but the tall guy he was talking to stops him and walks in there with long strides, grabbing the microphone from Ioan. "Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girl, welcome to circus Arly, to a world of magic and wonders, of strength, curage and bravery, of fun and laughter. Are you ready to be amazed ?"
The audience is hanging by his every word, he is drawing you in when he talks, and he get a roaring answer to his question. "Ready to be wow'ed, to be scared, to be thrilled, to be entertained beyond your believes ?" He gets another roaring yes.
Who is this man ? He is clearly used to speaking publicly, to entertain, he seems to be totally at easy out there, even though it is a totally new area for him I am guessing. He is mesmerising and charming, he seems made for this.
"Well then make some noise and welcome the first act this afternoon and have a wonderful show". He finish, tossing the microphone back to Ioan with a smile. Ioan on the other hand looks like he would happily rip of his arms and beat him to death with them.
Joe shakes his hand and claps him on the back and he just shakes his head smiling, seemingly waiving of the praise and thanks. Then he leaves and I walk over to Joe. "Who was that man Joe ?"
"Oh that was Tom Hiddleston, he is an actor. He did really good out there didn't he ?" Joe says with a smile. I always liked Joe, he is a bit weird and flamboyant but nice.
I nod, smiling at the memory. "Yes, he was very good, we should have someone like that covering for you, not that brainless beef out there".

*Tom*
"What was that about ?" Sophie looks a me, when I join her and the kids at our seats.
I sit down, shrugging slightly. "He froze up, it is his first show filling in for Joe and I thought he just needed a hand getting started".
"You are crazy Tom, totally crazy. You were amazing. But hey I would have expected no less from you. Give you a microphone and a stage and you are like a fish in water". She says smiling at me.
We watch the show, most of it is amazing and Christopher sit with big eyes, poiting and squeling. When the dogs come on he try to tell me about petting them.
Ioan presents the different acts, but honestly the man lacks both charm and showmanship, and mostly sounds like he is reading from a list. When he is do in the ring Joe takes over shortly to present him, keeping his voice down, but what a difference, the man knows how to talk to an audience.
Ioan is doing his knife show, and I have to give him that he is good. He throws the knifes with great accuracy and his assistant seems to trust him. But when she is on the spinning wheel he keeps to placing the knives out on the sides, he is not trying the throw he practised earlier.
Malina comes in with her sister and brother and do their trapez act. They are good, really good actually. The sister looks a lot like her, just much taller and a bit more voluptuous. She is beautiful too, but she lacks that air of fairy-tale there is about Malina.
Later Ioan is back with his tigers, and I don't like it, the animals seems stressed and agressive, they don't look like they like what they do and I get a feelings they haven't been trained with positive methods.
At last Ioan presents Melina, she comes into the ring and climbs gracefully to the small platform near the top of the tent. The audience is deadly quiet and the orchestra is playing swanlake. I hold my breath as I watch her step out on the line with infinite gracefulness.
Instinctively I lower my gaze to see what is below her. There is her brother and a couple of circus workers and then her father in his wheelchair. Ready to try and catch her should she fall, but there is no net. I hold my breath, my eyes glued to her.
I am hypnotised by this tiny woman, who seems to glide through the air, supported by nothing. She is so far up, that it is almost impossible to see the line beneath her feet. It looks like she is floating in the air, dancing and she is smiling, like she loves what she is doing.
The line jumps once and the audience gasps, but she keeps her balance with no trouble. Then she turns, moving back and then forward again. I feel nauseated. I can't take the excitement of her taking such a great risk. It is easy to see why she is the star. She truly deserves her applause for her act. It seems like she is up there forever as the tension builds. I get chills but I can't rip my eyes from her.
Then finally with one last graceful jump she lands on the platform on the other side. It is not much bigger than her tiny feet and the audience explodes in in a thunderous applause. She grabs a loop on the rope, gliding down trouble free, landing and giving an elegant bow. The audience gets to their feet, giving her a thunderous standing ovation. She had risked her live for them and they saw it as entertainment.
I realise I am shaking slightly. I have never seen anything this terrifying in my life. She leaves the tent, followed by her brother and father ending the show.