Before dawn, Aalis lay on her bed roll, her eyes watching the inky blue of the sky as it began to lighten. In an hour, the sun would be up and everyone, even Giordi after being shaken several times, would rise, pack their belongings and their journey would continue. Aalis turned her head, seeing Judd on his bed roll across the embers that had been their fire. She tapped her teeth and stood up, taking her shawl and wrapping it around her shoulders.

She crept across the circle of sleeping bodies and put her hand gently on Judd’s shoulder. His eyes immediately flicked open but before he could cry out, she put her finger to his lips for silence then motioned for him to follow. He did so, stepping gingerly over Caste, creeping silently for a short way until they reached another, smaller clearing.

“Aalis,” Judd whispered, “what is it?”

“I…I feel terrible.”

“Are you unwell? What can I get you?”

“No,” she laughed softly then sobered, “I mean, I felt terrible last night…refusing to dance with you.”

“I could see it was making you uncomfortable,” Judd yawned then apologised, “sorry…”

“No, I am sorry.” Aalis insisted. “Judd, I think you are brave, modest, honest and compassionate and with all those qualities, I think you are knightlier than most knights,” he gave a pleased, albeit slightly embarrassed chuckle, “I would not change who you are at your core. However, I do not want to give the knights who mock your middle class rank and your ‘common’ manners, a foothold to criticise you.”

“Aalis…”

“And we both know that knights can be cruel and poke fun at unsuspecting individuals just for their own entertainment,” she continued hastily, “I would never want you to be without warning or preparation.”

Judd paused. “I don’t understand.”

Aalis licked her lips. “I am going to teach you to dance.” Judd’s expression froze. “Giordi told you how to stand, left hand in the small of your back?”

“Er…yes.” Judd did so and Aalis nodded.

“When you dance, you put your right in the small of your back, then hold your left at my shoulder height, slightly away from your body,” he did as he was instructed, “then I take your hand,” she took his hand, her palm resting against his, her fingers looped over the top of his hand, “and rather than your thumb sticking up like a flagpole, drop it to the top of my hand in a firm but gentle hold.”

Judd swallowed. He’d been closer to Aalis before but usually when she was being rescued or she was doing the rescuing. He’d even held her in the warm baths of Quarre to revive her from her frozen stupor. However, in the heat of the moment and the excuse of ‘necessary’ engagement, their closeness had not been so starkly obvious.

Now, in the delicate light of a new dawn, as flowers began to shiver and open and their pollen was almost visible, sparkles of light drifting around them, Judd was alarmingly aware of how close he was standing to Aalis. And yet it was not close enough.

“We need to be closer,” she said, her face blushing lightly, not unaware of the intimacy of the situation but doing her best to ignore it, “like this.”

Judd felt like he was holding his breath, only taking in the smallest sniffs to keep from passing out. “Is this…really appropriate?”

“Despite the closeness of our bodies,” she licked her lips, “only our hands are touching.” She breathed out a controlled breath. “Are you aware…”

Judd was aware of many things at that moment. He was aware of the lightest scattering of freckles on Aalis’ nose, the dark rim of navy around her pale blue eyes and the fullness of her lips. He was also alarmingly aware of his overwhelming attraction and physical reaction to being so close.

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“You said you knew how to dance the Turnabout.”

“Uh…yes, yes I do.” Judd tried to swallow but his wretched throat wouldn’t let him. “It’s a group dance…I’m forever spinning my partner off for the sake of a new one.”

“In a couple dance, the Turnabout means you keep the same partner.” Aalis explained. “Rather than spin me off, stay with me.” Judd almost blurted ‘always’ and was relieved he didn’t. “Shall we begin?”

“There’s no music.”

“The Turnabout is always set to a three/four rhythm,” she explained, “one, two, three. One, two, three…turnabout. One, two, three, one, two, three…turnabout…”

As she counted Judd tried to concentrate on the steps. When dancing in a group, he would normally take his dance partner’s hand and put his own on her waist. It was permissible because it was ever so brief. Here, the only touch he and Aalis were making was his left hand and her right but it was for a great deal longer.

He stepped forward and nearly bumped into her then tried to step back and yanked her forwards. “Sorry!” He gasped.

“Lead with your hand,” Aalis said without resentment, “make sure your hand is leading me.”

Judd stepped forward, gently propelling her backwards then stepped back, drawing her forwards.

“One, two, three. One, two, three and turnabout…” He twirled her off as he was accustomed to doing in the group dance but instead of spinning away, Aalis spun back into his presence.

“Keep going.” She urged.

“Oh…one, two, three, one, two three and turnabout…”

Judd practiced his standard move over and over until they had a rhythm.

“Do you know the variations?”

“Well, yes…the better the variation, the greater the chance of talking to one of your dance partners afterwards, providing you haven’t landed her on her backside.”

Aalis laughed. “Try the variations.”

Judd swallowed. “Alright…one, two, three, one, two, three and…” On the turnabout he suddenly grasped Aalis about the waist and spun her around. She landed on her feet, a little dizzy. “Sorry!”

“That was good! Mix in more of those variations.”

“Won’t my partner object?”

“Not so long as long as you take the lead and responsibility for where the lead may go.” Aalis let go of his hand. “Right, approach me.”

“Do what?”

“Ask me to dance.” She bent and scooped a handful of fronds into her grasp and fanned herself with them. “Go on…”

Judd laughed and nodded. He put his left arm into the small of his back and strode towards Aalis. “My Lady,” he said, adopting some of Giordi’s dramatic flare now that there was no one else but Aalis watching, “you look remarkably well this evening.”

“You flatter me, Sir LaMogre.” She giggled lightly.

“To say that you are more beautiful than all the stars in the heavens would be flattery,” Judd winked, “but only just.” Aalis had to stifle a snort. “Too much?” He whispered.

“Oh no, I liked it…bold but charming. Have you been paying more attention to Giordi than you have been letting on?”

“Speak not of my minstrel,” Judd lamented grandly, “he only has to smile at a lady to have her fall into a faint at his feet. Though I am a knight, I am plain and unremarkable.”

“You give yourself far too little credit, Sir LaMogre,” Aalis fanned herself again, “I believe true handsomeness is a result of a pleasant exterior and a kind heart.”

“Who is flattering who, I wonder?” Judd asked then cleared his throat. “My Lady, perhaps if you are not otherwise engaged, may I have the pleasure of this dance?”

“I would be delighted.” Aalis nodded to his left hand and he offered it to her, slipping his right behind his back. She dipped into a ladylike curtsey, taking up the hem of her gown. She put her fingers into his grasp and he led her three feet onto their forest clearing dance floor. “The Turnabout?”

“What else?” Judd chuckled. “And a one, two, three, one, two, three…turnabout…”

They rehearsed their movements over and over until breathless and beams of sunlight were starting to filter through the trees.

“And…end.” Aalis curtseyed deeply as Judd bowed. “You did very well.”

“I told Giordi I knew how to dance,” Judd shrugged, “I admit, I would have made a complete fool of myself, dancing with a young lady, if not for your instruction. Thank you, Aalis.”

“It was nothing…” She taken aback as he took her hand impulsively and kissed the top of it.

“Thank you.” He said, his brown eyes fixed on hers.

Aalis’ was relieved she was still trying to catch her breath from the dancing. It covered up the way her heart had leapt into her throat, causing her to gasp at the strength of the flush it generated across her skin. The world seemed to stall, the air becoming soft and the pollen from the flowers drifted down in slow, lazy circles. For a moment, Judd could have sworn he could hear the grasses tremble as the shafts of light struck them, the leaves on the trees turning to face the sun.

Everything had slowed…time itself gave up its relentless march for just a moment…

“You…are welcome.” She managed to whisper.

Judd straightened, his eyes locked onto hers, his hand not yet relinquishing her fingers. She gazed at him, the blue of her eyes becoming a mesmerising blend with purple. Judd’s pupils were dilating with intent yet Aalis’ were retracting, almost retreating from the intensity in his.

“Aalis,” he said softly and her skin prickled with goose bumps, “I…”

“Are you already awake, Judd?” Caste yawned, stumbling about with eyes half open, probably looking for somewhere discreet to relieve himself.

“Yes…I am.” Judd closed his eyes as Aalis escaped his presence.