Soft music filled the room, bouncing through the air from the ball room across the hall. Delilah stared down at herself in the mirror, running her hands down the fitted bodice and tracing the floral gold trim. Skirt flowing out from around her hips, slightly longer at the back and whispering around her ankles at the front, falling in cascading ruffled layers of crimson. The deep, rich fabric complimented her lilac skin and raven hair nicely, gold trim setting her bright eyes ablaze.

Liesel and Rose had fussed over her, braiding her hair into a loose bun. She sighed, there had been no sign of Mavrik all afternoon. Having left the strawberries unwrapped on top of the witch hunter's book he had been so engrossed in recently, not trusting Lachlan enough to eat them.

Lunar appeared in the mirror next to her, wearing a simple long sleeves, midnight blue gown.

"It's weird isn't it?"

"The dress? No. But the thought of dancing to music? Very." Lunar replied with a shrug, lightly adjusting the bunched sleeves of the red dress that hung over Delilah's upper arms.

"Rose didn't seem to think it was weird" the tiefling mused.

"Rose leads a very different life to us" Lunar countered, holding an arm out for Delilah to take.

"Well, no point in hiding in here" letting the feline woman pull her into the ballroom. Gazing around in wonder at the huge ballroom that they stepped into. True to Rose's word her eyes landed on the familiar faces of Trevor, Desmond, Alec and Liesel. A few other staff and members of the Manor sipped at delicate glasses of sparkling wine and chatted amongst themselves.

The room was an impressive sight in itself, leaving Delilah to only imagine what a grand affair filled with people would look like. Twirling and mingling in their bright ruffled attire.

Liesel and Rose wandering over to the two girls, pulling Trevor and Alec in tow.

"You two clean up well."

Delilah spluttered in amusement at Liesel's bluntness, both ladies dressed in magnificent frilled gowns.

"And you two look very.... proper" Lunar retorted as the four burst into giggles.

"Have you seen Mavrik yet?" Rose flashed her trademark mischievous look, clearly loving to tease.

"And you call me nosey" Liesel didn't miss a beat.

Delilah shook her head "No, I haven't. Though, I doubt he'd be caught dead at such an event" she mused.

One of the members of the Manor who had been playing a ambient melody on his violin began an upbeat tune. Liesel catching Trevor's hand, causing him to sigh, rolling her eyes in return. "Enough complaining, you promised you'd dance with me." He relented, taking her hand and guiding her toward the empty dance floor, Alec and Rose following after them.

Delilah laughed as she watched the four twirl and sway around the empty space.

"They look so happy."

Lunar nodded "I envy them, I can't dance."

She looked at her in surprise, recalling the elegant footing she had seen during their fight with the arch mage.

"I think you could be a very good dancer."

The tabaxi shrugged "dancing is not something they teach in my order."

Her mind made up, Delilah grabbed her arm and dragged her forward "come on, dance with me. I'm not great, but Nadia taught me a bit."

Lunar looked amused, following after her as they placed their arms lightly around each other.

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"I wasn't sure of you at first."

Delilah blinked, titling her head slightly as she waited for Lunar to continue.

"I'd met some tieflings in my time, but you're not them. I'm sorry I judged you" her eyes were cast down in shame.

The tiefling shook her head "It's fine, I don't hold it against you."

Lunar looked relieved as the two continued to dance with simple foot work that Delilah led.

"Where are you going next?" She asked the silver furred woman.

"That depends once I've reported back to the order."

A thought occurred to her "does your order investigate murders?"

"Sometimes, particularly if it was caused by a monster or fiend. Why?"

"Will you look into something for me?" She swallowed "A woman called Nadia Hatcher was murdered in Crowview."

Lunar's ears swivelled slightly as she drew to a soft halt "I will," arms falling from Delilah. "Thank you for the dance lesson. I really must take my leave. Besides" she tilted her head slightly as she looked past Delilah over her shoulder "I think you judged too quickly too."

Delilah frowned at her in confusion as she watched the Tabaxi turn on heel and make her way off the dance floor. Violin melting into a soft, slow melody, turning around and understanding Lunar's words.

Mavrik stood before her, wearing a crisp white cotton shirt with the collar undone. Black waist coat slid over the top and firmly fastened tying the look together, accenting his broad shoulders.

He held a hand out for her to take "I didn't realise we were dressing up so formal." He rumbled.

Delilah placed her hand in his, thoughts in a daze as she tried to make sense of his words. Unsure why she suddenly found it so difficult to breathe, let alone speak.

He pulled her closer, resting a firm hand just above her hip as she placed her hand lightly on his chest, other hand still sheltered in his free hand. He tilted his head, leaning in slightly closer to her as she felt his warm breath on her cheek.

"Are you alright?"

She could see the concern in his gaze, snapping her out of the dizzying spell he had placed on her.

"Is the dress too much?"

As if trying to decide, he released her waist and gently twirled her. Pulling her back to him, holding her just as close "Not at all. You look lovely."

She could feel the blush burning across the bridge of her nose and cheeks "I didn't think you'd know how to dance, let alone ball room dance."

His grip tightened slightly on her waist "I've attended many balls" he revealed softly.

Sensing his apprehension, she raised her hand to lightly touch his jaw with her finger tips, drawing his distant gaze back to her.

"Well that explains why you clean up so well" she teased, earning the smile she had been seeking as it eased back onto his lips, darkness that clouded his eyes dispelling.

The pair continued to twirl and dance, his eyes staying on hers. She felt weightless on her feet, floating and swaying, feeling electricity under her skin. The song drew to an end as Mavrik led them to a tentative stop, his chest rose and fell softly under her hand.

She searched his gaze, sensing something was unspoken between them until he drew back.

"Thank you for the dance" he offered, hesitating as a conflicted expression crossed his features. Releasing her hand after giving it a gentle squeeze, she watched him make his way over to where Desmond was serving drinks.

She could still feel the burn of his touch etched into her skin, as the young woman watched him with a heavy sigh, returning to the prying eyes of Rose and Liesel who watched her over the brim of their glasses.

"No kiss??" Liesel whined playfully.

"It's not like that.." She murmured, unsure if she was trying to convince them or herself.

"That's not what it looked like from over here, I wish Trevor would look at me like that" Liesel huffed, shooting a look at Trevor who raised an eyebrow at her and rolled his eyes.

"Maybe I'll just dance with Delilah instead then" he retorted. Liesel threw her head back with a laugh "be my guest! You can step on her feet instead."

Accepting Trevor's hand with a side ways look at Liesel as Trevor twirled her, "you two are an odd pair" she giggled at the thought of their antics.

"She certainly keeps me on my toes" Trevor agreed as they continued to dance with a casual playfulness for a few more moments, his eyes regularly snatching glances at Liesel as she critiqued his foot work.

Own eyes surveying the room for Mavrik, no longer able to find him. She shrugged lightly, attention taken, by Rose when she snatched her away for a dance.

"I get the feeling you two will be moving on soon" Rose wrapped her arms around the smaller woman "just know you're always welcome here any time you find yourselves in Soldeen."

Delilah smiled kindly, she knew Rose was right. The two likely would have already left had all the events with Lachlan not taken place.

She firmly hugged the woman back "Thank you."

"Now! Let's get stuck into that cake!" Alec cheered making the two women laugh as they stepped out of their embrace.

*******

Delilah stepped inside the quiet home, noticing the strawberries had vanished from where she had left them.

"Mavrik?" knocking on his door before gently pushing it open after a moment of silence, his back was turned to her. Stretched out on the bed, breathing soft.

A soft smile tugged on her lips, not wanting to disturb him as she carefully drew the door closed once she stepped out. Making her way to her room, Rose had told her to keep the dress 'you might need it on your travels or to get Mavrik to dance with you again' teasing the flustered woman with the second half of her statement.

Shaking away the thoughts, she changed and turned out the light.