The walkway that led up to the castle was well lit. Every lamp held a laurel of colorful, exotic flowers. Flower petals decorated on the ground leading up to the castle that would inevitably be stomped on pushed aside as more and more people entered the castle for the event. A well dressed crowed, filled with well dressed couples, flowed up the stairs and into the castle, the same as them. Yarro couldn’t help but notice many of them wore capes of varying length.
Yarro’s heart began to race nervously as they came closer to the castle and saw how many more Capes there were. He feared they would start judging him and making whispers behind his back. He wasn’t used to this. His mother was a former Peacekeeper, and he was posted at a mining town before all hell broke loose. He held no status compared to the folks that usually arrived at the ball. Yarro began to go over his outfit again, making sure everything was in place and secured tightly.
Kael then wrapped his arm around Yarro’s own arm. He looked over to the other, who had put on a smile on his face. “It’ll be fine. I’ll be with you the entire time, I promise,” Kael said. It wasn’t what he was worried about, but it was the thought that counted. Yarro smiled back at him and they continued on.
They arrived at the entrance. A number of Capes mingled in the foyer, divided into small little groups. Past the entrance, Yarro could see even more people in the ballroom. Sparkling ball gowns, flowing capes, and music streamed in from the stage. People behind them began to push past, glaring as they walked by. As if to say “How dare you stand in my way?” Only a few of them noticed the seal they both possessed, and rushed away once they saw.
“Excuse me, gentlemen?” A man came up to them in formal royal guard attire. “Queen Illa has requested your appearance the moment you two arrive. If you will follow me, gentlemen.” With a swift turn, he guided them into a back entrance to the ballroom, where a number of servants were running around. Some with food and some with cleaning supplies. The Queen herself was there, still trying to get ready at the last minute with the help of her attendants. “The Deities’ Champion have arrived, Your Majesty.”
Queen Illa looked over at the mention of them. “Oh good. Finally,” she said. The Queen turned around as best as she could. Her dress was a dull sky blue color, with a Queen Anne collar lined with gold. Pinned to her shoulders with golden antlers was a long and wide cape, draped across the floor. It was the same color as her dress with a white underside and lined with gold. It shone and sparkled like the sun, and was probably the most extravagant cape he had seen so far. The sleeves were butterfly style and sheer, but it sparkled white closer to the ends. Sitting on her waist was a white sash, and draping down from it was a sheer white layer over the blue dress, with a gradient of sparkles to match her sleeves. An attendant was currently attempting to pin her curly red hair into a high and loose bun.
“Here’s the plan. I go in first, make a speech, blah blah blah. Then I will introduce you two. Heroic feats and yadda yadda. Then you come in, take a bow, and the ball goes on as usual.” Queen Illa seemed unimpressed with the whole situation.
“We don’t make a speech?” Kael asked.
“Do you want to?”
“No!” Yarro yelped out. Everyone looked over to him. He cleared his throat to lower his volume and continued, “I mean, we really don’t need to.”
“That’s what I thought. You boys just stay here until it’s time.” The attendants finally managed to pin the bun. After which, the crown was placed on top. Gold, with 3 sapphire gems to match the dress. Queen Illa stood up and took a peak at the crowd. Yarro followed her gaze to see a larger crown than he saw before.
He gulped. He wasn’t one for stage fright, but he also hasn’t been in front of such a large crowd before. They all seemed to be having a good time, with plenty of chatter and laughter. Drinks in some hands, small slices of food in others. The Queen seemed to be waiting for more people, as she stepped away and began to pick at her outfit. Making sure everything was in place and folded in certain areas.
King Wen arrived shortly after, and placed a swift kiss on the Queen’s cheek. He wore a double breasted square jacket in a matching dull sky blue, buttoned up and accented with white buttons. A tall white collar peaked from the jacket. The King also wore a matching cape, similar to the Queen’s except not as decorative or sparkling. This one also covered his shoulders, and wasn’t nearly as long. it reached his ankles, and didn't trail like the Queen's cape. Hanging from his shoulder was a golden scarf, kept in place with a white sash wrapped over it and around his waist. He wore straight legged pants the same color as his jacket.
Queen Illa smiled back, and wordlessly they held their hands and heads up high as they walked on stage. Instantly Yarro heard the cheers and applause. Did they never see the Queen? Yarro rolled his eyes at such obvious pandering. Queen Illa then greeted everyone with a wave of her hand, which swiftly calmed them all down long enough for her to make a small speech.
“Thank you all for coming here to the wonderful Midsummer Ball. I thank you all for coming today for our yearly tradition. I look forward to speaking with each of you. Now, I’m sure you’ve all heard the rumors. And yes, they’re true! Tonight, I would like to introduce you to my two Honored guests, the Deities’ Champions. The Deities themselves personally descended in my throne room, and gave them a special quest. One that would greatly enrich our kingdom. Of which, I am personally overseeing the changes needed to make such a request. Allow me to present them. Yarro, and Kael.”
Queen Illa extended her hand towards the curtain, which Yarro took as the sign. Some speech that was. He stepped up first, then Kael a beat slower. They were met with applause, though of course, not as loud as the Queen’s applause. Kael took Yarro’s hand in his and they bowed before the crowd. The Capes, from what little that Yarro could see on the stage, were not as impressed as it seemed like. Regardless, they politely clapped. Beside them, one on each side, the Queen and King were also lightly clapping.
Once it all calmed down, the King held out his hand for the Queen, which she took. He led her to the ballroom floor, as the crowd cleared a space for the first dance. Yarro and Kael took the moment to leave the stage while eyes were off them. The King and Queen wrapped their arms around each other and the music began.
As custom, the first song was a rather upbeat and energetic tempo. The capes they both wore flourished up and spread out as they twirled around the dance floor. The royal couple smiled and laughed together. All eyes were on them, but to the two of them they might as well have been the only two people in the world. It was quite romantic. A small glance to Kael saw that he was also looking at the couple. It will never happen, he told himself.
The music concluded and the dancing stopped. Both were completely out of breath as they bowed first to each other and then the crowd. The crowd applauded once more before dispersing. Some for dancing, others for food and drink, and others for socializing. The music began again, a normal pace this time.
He overhead whispers of how the Royal Couple looked completely smitten with each other. "They'd have to, since they must be trying for another heir," one whispered.
"Those twins of her would have never been heir anyways," another muttered.
“Get ready.” Yarro raised an eyebrow at Kael. “The Capes will have plenty of questions for us. They’ll be hounding us all night,” Kael said.
As if on cue, two ladies in mid-chest length capes came up to them, giggling. The one on the left was tall, a brunette, and wearing a flowing midnight blue dress down to mid-calf. The dress had the Queen Anne style collar just like the Queen, and a transparent mesh for the long sleeves. The other lady was wearing her black hair in a side braid, and her dress was a sleeveless red sparkling dress that flowed down to her ankles. Each wore a cape draping from their back in their family colors down. Kael nodded to each of them. “Ladies,” he greeted each. The two of them nodded to him, and only one of which gave Yarro a small smile, though he could tell how forced it was. “To what do we owe the pleasure?” Kael asked.
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“So it was you who defeated the corruption the Deities warned us about?” the taller one asked. That wasn’t in the speech. How did they know? They weren't even looking at him. Whatever their information source was, how could they get half the information wrong?
“Not me, ladies. With help from Queen Illa, Yarro was able to successfully find and punish what the Deities considered a threat to our country,” Kael said with swift ease and a small nod to him. Yarro couldn’t help but gawk at how easy and professional he made the two of them look.
The two ladies glanced at him, then each other, and giggled. "Oh my, Sir Kael. To think you were so humble," one lady said. It occurred to Yarro that they seemed to have thought it was Kael who was the Deities’ Champion. The nerve.
"Humble and funny. But you mustn't give your commoner companion such courtesy," the other lady lectured. "They don't deserve it."
Kael forced out a grin. He must have noticed that Yarro was more or less being ignored. He placed a hand on his shoulders. “I couldn’t have done it without him, though. The Deities' quest went to him, not me.”
The ladies looked at Yarro and smiled, forcefully but politely. They probably thought Kael was lying about it and was trying to be nice to his plus one. “Would you like to come to the after party? It’ll be much more entertaining than this snooze-fest.”
The other woman laughed at the insult, then added "You can leave this man here too. We have a much more fun selection of companions for you, should you be in need." She handed him a small card, which he glared at then stuffed in his jacket.
“Thank you. We’ll be there.” Kael nodded to the two women and they left with a returned nod. Yarro looked over at him. Once they were far enough away, Kael turned and smiled back with a twinkle in his eyes. “The Midsummer Ball is...fun. But too traditional for most folks here. All the most prominent Capes have after parties."
A servant passed by with a tray of drinks. Kael swiped two of them rather rapidly as they passed by. It was some sort of wine. After a few sips, the two wandered to a higher area that held a more complete view of the ballroom.
The entire floor was filled with Capes dancing to the energetic music flowed through the castles. Various observers that surrounded the dance floor, and the Queen and King had retired to their thrones, sitting atop of it all. Gowns glittered and jewelry reflected from the many chandeliers and displayed a multitude of rainbows onto the reflective surface below. It was a beautiful sight for someone who had never been to such an extravagant ball, much less one attended to by the Queen and King.
Over the course of the rest of the song, a few more people of various statures came up to the Kael to chat, and invite him to various after parties. They would tell jokes and laugh. Make subtle comments about the validity of his companion. Offer rare trinkets and favors. Some older capes even had the audacity to mention their children in the hopes of marriage. By the end, Yarro was not only thoroughly annoyed, but also jealous. He couldn't get a word in with these people, and Kael had grown tired of trying to redirect their attention. They both had grown quieter as a result. Yarro couldn't tell what he was thinking anymore.
Was he enjoying the attention? He looked like it. Whenever he laughed in turn his eyes squinted and the edges crinkled into wrinkles. A slight dimple at each curve of the lip. His hands were tucked behind him. His thumb going over each digit when someone new came up to him. Yarro had no choice but to stay silent and observe him. No one else was paying attention to him so he might as well look all he could. The music had all but been tuned out to him.
Until one moment, Kael set down his half drunk glass and extended his hand to him with a twinkle in his eye and a sly grin spread upon his face. By now Yarro could tell he was up to something, but not what. "May I have this next dance?"
Yarro stared at his hand and back up to those inviting eyes. He did want to dance with Kael. He was tired of "chatting" with nobles of self-importance. It was quite lonely, being ignored by everyone at the event so far. Yarro sighed with a half smile, took Kael’s hand in his other, and sat his own glass down with one hand. Kael guided him down the stairs and into the ballroom floor, their hands raised high to indicate they were about to dance. This seemed to stop the oncoming barrage of invitations. Crowds parted and eager eyes watched as they got into position.
It seemed brighter down here and Yarro had to squint until his eyes had adjusted. The two positioned themselves so they were parallel to each other, in anticipation of a fast song, same as before. But the song that began wasn’t fast at all. Yarro scrambled to get closer as the slow tempo picked up in volume. They clasped hands on one side, and Kael wrapped his arm around Yarro’s waist and pulled him close. He took a deep breath and placed a hand on Kael’s shoulder, hoping the closeness didn’t reveal how nervous he looked.
In one swift motion, Kael took the lead for the dance. They twirled and moved in circles, slowly, to the beat of the waltz. Kael yanked him close during one of the twists, chest touching chest. He smiled with his brown, sparkling eyes downcast at Yarro. From here he could see every pore, sweat drop, and vague stubble. Yarro averted his own eyes. He couldn’t keep staring. He had to look away. How is it that Kael was just so mesmerizing?
“They’re talking to me because I have a Cape. Please don’t stress about it,” Kael whispered into his ear. His breath tickled his ear, his voice at a volume just barely above the music. He glance up showed his face had shifted into pure concern. Yarro looked away away again. So he did care.
He scoffed. “Sounds more like I should be offended. I helped too, Cape or no Cape.”
Kael's mouth twisted, an attempt to hold back laughter. An attempt that failed. “I wouldn’t blame you. These Capes are ruthless, and only out for themselves and their status. Talking to me, even though I’m just the helper, makes themselves look better more than talking to you does.”
“Maybe I should get a Cape when this is all over.” Yarrow grinned and lifted his eyes a bit so their eyes met for just a moment. He immediately looked away again. Why can't he keep eye contact? And why was he getting so hot?
“Maybe you will after we actually investigate the real corruption.” Kael spun Yarro around. He had a clear view of the crowd. Despite some of them dancing, many more eyes were still on them. Scrutinizing their every sway and step. Some had looks of disgust, while others looked almost devilishly amused. It was unnerving.
“Kael,” Yarro began once he was enveloped in Kael’s arms again, “they’re staring.”
Kael grinned as he pulled Yarro in. His grip tightened around Yarro’s waist, but his other hand holding Yarro’s loosened, almost delicate. Yarro’s whole world was spinning. They were so close to each other. The smell of the bath soaps and lotions Kael used before coming to the Ball wafted up to his nose the more they danced. Beads of sweat dripped down Kael's temple under the lights.
Another quick glance towards the crowed showed a number of ladies in capes had sprouted the looks of jealousy. He couldn't help but smirk at it. Couldn't help but feel proud. Kael was his, not theirs. Kael would never be theirs. He would have Kael all to himself and no amount of giggling and invitations would draw him over to them.
That's when the tempo sped up and so did Kael. Though, it was still a slow song. He leaned into Yarro’s ear once more and whispered, “Let’s give them a show. Look at me with dreamy eyes and smile like you’ve met the stars.”
Yarro was curious as to why, but pulled back anyways and did as Kael asked. Met the stars was a phrase used to indicate someone being completely and wholly in love with another. It wasn’t exactly hard to do. He was sure he had been looking exactly like that all night in between all the glares at the other people purposefully ignoring him. Kael smiled in response, as if to say, “Just like that.” Yarro was slightly disappointed. Not exactly the reaction he was hoping for, for some reason.
They continued to dance mere centimeters from each other’s faces whilst inhaling each other’s breaths. Each observing the other’s face for any hint of meaning in the dance as the outside world became but a blur to them. Kael looked relaxed compared to how Yarro felt. Butterflies in his stomach from being so close to him, and yet here was Kael, not only leading the dance but also putting on some show for the gawkers. He studied Yarro, watching his every move and adjusting the dance to account for any mistakes he made. No one had ever looked at him this close before. No one had ever seen him before.
The song ended too quickly and the two of them stopped with heavy breaths, exhausted and sweaty. Still staring into each other’s eyes. They paused, still holding on to the other, only for a thunderous applause to ripple through the crowd. The whole room had watched and their applause was a direct reaction to their acting. Was it really acting? Yarro wasn't too sure anymore. Deep inside he knew his actual feelings was already well beyond developed. More than lust or a mere crush.
He was just lying to himself by now. Feigning ignorance. Because confronting the truth would hurt. Kael would only be here for this short little mission. Then, he would be gone forever. It would be better to keep these feelings locked inside, deep within, than risk ruining everything. It would be better to pretend this wasn't happening so he wouldn't despair when it was all over and Kael was out of his life for good.
The two turned to the Queen and King, and bowed with their hands held. Their bow was met with another round of applause. His and Kael’s chests rose and fell heavily, desperately trying to catch their breaths. Kael himself held on to Yarro’s hand tightly, sweat mixing with sweat. Their legs wobbly. The king applauded as well, all to pleased with the display of comradery and loyalty to the crown.
However, Yarro was looking for the Queen’s approval. Hers was the one that mattered. She didn’t clap, but instead opted for a small nod. Yarro and Kael bowed once more, and moved out of the ballroom floor and towards the back. Only now did Yarro notice that the dance floor had emptied at some point during their dance. A new rush of people flooded the ballroom floor the moment they left. The eyes of the Capes parted ways and luckily the music picked up once more so their attention naturally shifted.