Denomenate

1: Escape

“You look beautiful tonight, Lady Alastríona,” he murmured in a low voice, his breath brushing my neck as he spoke into my ear. “Without a doubt the most ravishing elf here this evening.”

This was the part where I was supposed to get goosebumps, shiver delicately and fall into bed with him. Instead, I leaned away slightly and smiled at him while hoping this stupid ball would be over soon.

“Lord Sullivan, I trust you know what the word ravishing means – it would be completely improper for a woman of my status to be ravishing before her wedding day.” He smiled impishly at my comment but refrained from replying. The dress that spun around my legs when we moved was completely devoid of velvet, lace and underwire. The ladies of nobility had fought hard for over a year to pass a petition to embrace the more current fashions of the upper world and finally, we had won. The men wore simple suits with whatever embellishments they desired and the women wore more conservative yet modern evening gowns.

As the dance wore on, I tried asking about his land and his people but he seemed uninterested in speaking about either. It was an effort to remain polite as he threw complement after compliment at me – he spoke of how my hair flowed like a river, how my eyes shone like stars, how my lips looked so soft royalty could sleep on them (I had to swallow a snort at that one). I felt a small amount of panic rise in me as he leant forward again – I knew whatever he said next would be dreadful.

“Your pale skin in so flawless, so luminous – you look like the Goddess of the Moon embodied,” he said softly, looking deep into my eyes.

“Lord Sullivan, you are a shameless flirt,” I replied. My voice was a little higher than usual due to the laugh blocking my throat. I looked down in an effort to hide the grin that was struggling to break free. I hoped the red tinge to my face looked more like a blush at his compliment.

At that moment, the music stopped and I quickly released his hand. I curtsied formally, still keeping my face lowered even as I thanked him for the dance. I looked up quickly and he winked slyly at me. Looking away immediately, I turned and walked slowly into the crowd, only increasing my pace once I could see the doors leading outside. I saw a familiar arm and grabbed it, yanking Lady Kara with me, already feeling the giggles hitch in my chest.

“What in the Dark’s name-” she half-yelled, causing the only other couple there to look at us curiously. I tugged her with me further from the doors and through a small archway.

“You won’t believe what just happened,” I said, trying to keep my face straight. But Kara knew me too well and began to smile. Her red eyes looked like part of the fire reflected in them from the nearby lanterns.

“What?”she asked eagerly. There weren’t many things Kara loved more than a good story.                 

“So, I was dancing with Lord Sullivan and then he looks deep into my eyes,” I say, imitating him, “and says – of all the ridiculous things – “You look like the Goddess of the Moon.””

We both collapse into hysterical laughter.

“I can’t-” Kara said, through giggles. “I can’t breathe.”

“I can’t believe he said that,” I reply and we both laugh harder. “Ok, ok, ok. Calm down.”

“Impossible!” she squeaked and we were off again, snorting and giggling.

“Stop it,” I pleaded, wiping my eyes. “He’s,” I gasped. “He’s such a retard!” Our combined laughter seemed to fill the night.

Suddenly, a familiar tall form appeared under the arch, causing me to cough on the chuckle I was trying to swallow. My eyes watered slightly as I struggled to keep quiet. I immediately straightened up and elbowed Kara in the side to shut her up before he noticed us and saw how we were acting.