The Dance Of Fire

Chapter 5.

There was a strong knock on his door waking him up from sleep. With an angry growl, he stood up opening them.

-Why are you disturbing my rest?-he almost screamed at his second. There was fear in his face.

-Wolves. The patrols have informed us that wolves are attacking the princess. There are hundreds of them.-he informed him. Einar took a deep breath. His heart told him not to get involved. The wolves were never his problem.

-Did the messenger already informed them of my decision to refuse them from our door?-he asked angrily. The warrior bowed his head.

-Yes. They are now heading towards the world of shadows. The wolves attacked them while they were still in our territory,-he said. Einar growled again. How stupid were they? Now he had no choice but to defend them.

-Send your men. Get them here safely!-he ordered him going back to his chambers and putting on a fresh shirt. He washed his face again and tied his hair. Taking his weapons and a golden coat, he was ready to go out. He understood why the wolves would want them dead. But they should have waited for the escort to leave his territory first. He went downstairs to the lobby, not hiding how angry he felt. Stepping out in front of the main gate, he stared into the darkness. He had no intentions of going there and fighting for them. They have not deserved it. Just half an hour later, his men were returning. He noticed how small the escort was. Only ten people, not counting the teachers and the servants. Araphel had sent his daughter with an escort of ten warriors. He shook his head in disgust at the fact. How little did his own blood mean to him? No wonder Shana had to beg him for protection. They have arrived already. His men take the warriors to the other side of the compound. Servants took the back door to the fort. Now it was only the princess with her teacher in front of him. Her figure was hidden in a black uniform showing the symbols of her father's family. Her head was bowed in front of him. It was not humility he had expected.

-We thank you for your assistance this night.-her teacher had spoken. He was an older man. Thin, but it seemed that there was still power in him.

-Does the princess have a name?-he asked with arrogance in his voice. And that was the moment he will always remember. The moment he had seen her and he had knew. From that moment on, he was doomed. She lifted her head. Her long black hair spread like a curtain from her pale face. And those eyes. In the pure moonlight, they shone like two black orbs filled with all the stars in the sky. When she looked at him there was no hate. There was no anger. They were full of understanding and something else he could not have seen ever before. She had such grace and peace around her. It was as if she was water for the dying. He noticed his anger slipping away. His need for revenge disappearing. His heart filled with some sort of hope and longing. He could stare into those eyes for eternity.

-Nahara is my name. And thank you for sending your men to our help.-her voice was mild. Almost gentle. There was pride in it but no anger. No hate. She knew very well who stood in front of her. She could feel his hate from a mile away. Einar stood his ground. Still thinking, that he should accept them into his home or send them away to fight their own battles. Her teacher stepped forward.

-Our lady needs to have rest. Her travels have been long and tedious. We would be grateful if you could allow us to have a rest in your home. And as soon as she is better we will be on our way.-he pleaded. Einar still looked at her. She seemed young. Maybe not even 18. And the thing that surprised him even more was the fact that he didn’t know that Arapehl had a daughter. He had a son. Everyone knew about him. But a daughter. He had expected to see a small child. Not a young girl.

-Your mother has already informed me of your arrival.-he said, thinking about the letter. There was a small smile on her face.

-But you have still refused us.-she said with sadness in her voice. Turning to her teacher, she put the cloak back on her face. -Dillon please gather the escort again. We will have to continue during the night. There is nothing for us here.-she ordered aware of his rejection. Turning her back to him, she was stepping away. Einar felt as if his soul was parting from him with each new step that she was making. There was a pain in his heart that he didn’t recognize before.

-You are allowed to stay until your mother's army comes for you. I will not surrender you to the wolves, no matter whose daughter you are.-he said in a loud voice. She looked at him behind her shoulder. Even though her face was hidden, he was aware of her smile returning to her face.

-Thank you Lord Einar.-she whispered, passing him by to enter his home. He was stunned by the smell of roses and the wind. There was no darkness inside her. She was Araphels daughter but there was no darkness in that girl.

It had been mere days since her arrival at his home but there was no peace. Wherever he went her scent would disturb him. Follow him. Make him imagine things that could not be. Was this some kind of a joke? He the warrior that has been searching for his destined one for centuries to find it in a person he could not have? In a person, he did not want? In a person that would just end up rejecting him? She was the enemy. He had no right to ask anything from her. To expect anything. Climbing on top of the dancing arena he had seen there with her teacher. They were just standing. Nahara was dressed in a long and thick leather fur coat. She was looking around the stage as if searching for something. Her hair was falling on her shoulders. Her hands were hidden in her pockets. -It is just a dance.-he He has heard her melodic voice.

-It is a dance that had taken hundreds of lives. And it will take many more.-her teachers voice was serious and grave. She looked at him for a moment.

-How it all happen?-she wanted to know. The old man was in front of her. He was with her since she was a small girl. He had guided her. Thought her as if she was his. He was the only constant she had in her life.

-The girl would start the dance following the music of the drums getting faster and faster as they went. There would be an archer standing right there.-he pointed to a place marked with a red color that was on the opposite side of the arena. -A warrior struck his blows at the golden mirrors the girl had to jump. There are three mirrors for three jumps. You are not allowed to jump sooner or later than the drums let you. Archer will strike you down if you miss. You have to touch each mirror with your hand.-he explained. Nahara observed the mirrors that were set at different heights. Starting from the lowest to the highest. The last one would be maybe impossible to reach.

-What happens if they miss the mirror?-her voice was serious. The teacher looked at her. Warning her to not even try.

-Dragon fire. That is why it is called the dance of fire.-Einar did not hesitate to speak this time. She raised her head to him as he was moving towards them.

-It is just a dance.-she repeated. -It should be taken as a dance. That is the only way it can be finished.-she added. There was a bitter smile on his face.

-Tell that to the girls who are foolish enough to try. Maybe they care more about riches and gold than about their own lives.-he reminded her. Her dark eyes showed sorrow. Compassion.

-It is said when the dance is completed the king will rise.-she said in a whisper getting a serious look from her teacher. Einar stood before her.

-It is also said that the girl who finishes the dance is my destined one. But that could not be you. It could never be you.-he said it out loud. Nahara took those words as a challenge.

-I would never humiliate myself by dancing for you my Lord. Dancing is something that needs to be felt and shown to the ones that care about us. Not to be wasted away in front of strangers.-her voice was not so mild anymore.

-Nahara!-her teacher said in warning. Einar raised his hand, telling him it was all right. She was proud. He could understand where her words were coming from.

-You can not do it even if you wanted to. To experience and finish the dance of fire, the person has to be born with a skill and a heart that knows no fear. And you, my Lady are drowning in it.-he could sense as much.

-Dillon, what part of the dance is the hardest one? Where would most girls fail?-her soft voice came back to her teacher. The old man was standing behind her now.

-The highest and the last mirror is impossible to reach my Lady. Not one girl has succeeded so far.-he said. Nahara nodded her head. -Leave me alone with Lord Einar for a couple of minutes. Do it now!-she gave him an order that he had no right to disobey. Once she was sure that he was out of her reach, she turned back to Einar.

-I am not doing this for you to regret your words, my Lord. I dance. I do it with all my heart and soul. And when I dance, I make things happen. I make things possible.-with each word she was taking off her thick fur coat. Einar silently observed when her figure showed in silver ribbons and pearls decorating her frail body. He could see each curve. He could smell her like he could smell the spring wind. Before he knew what was happening, she had started walking. Faster till her walk transformed into a run. She was getting closer to the last mirror. And as if a signal of her body making her feet depart the stone floor. She was flying like a bird free in the wind. Her black hair ran around her face. All the silver decorations on her dress sparkled and swayed in the weak light of a winter morning. He witnessed a miracle with his own eyes. The miracle of the fire dance. Her small hand touched the mirror. And touched it straight in the middle. Just a second later, she was already on the ground. One knee touches the floor. Her back turned to him. Einar released a breath he did not know he was holding. Before he could stop himself, he got closer to her. His hand closed around her wrist, making her stand up. Pushing her towards him. Her dark eyes were warning him not to take such liberties. She was not his. She will never be his. He felt ready to offer her everything he had just for her to stay with him. Be with him. But would he have the courage to say it? Would he have the courage to ask Araphel's daughter to stay with him? Just the thought of her family made his heart recoil. And she had seen it in his crystal emerald eyes that hid nothing from her.

-We are enemies.-he had said more to himself. Reminding. Always reminding. There was a sad smile on her face. She had expected it. But he challenged her with his words. She could not stay silent.

-I am never your enemy, Lord Einar.-Nahara whispered, pulling herself away from him. Stepping around him. Putting her coat back on. Pretending as if nothing had happened.

-What are you trying to prove? That only Araphel's daughter can finish the dance of fire? Is this why you were sent here in the first place? To show me all that I can not have!-Einar's rage was getting to the surface. She stood before him. There was no fear in her eyes.

-Tell me what you want and I will give it to you.-her answer was simple. Emerald eyes gazed at her. He wanted to tell her. He wanted to make her his. His destined one For him to have and nobody else. But he couldn’t. It was not in his right. He didn’t want to be connected to her father in any way. She saw that. And it had hurt her. He had hurt her badly. She was his destined one. There was no escaping it. But he would not accept her. They both knew it. The worst thing was she had already forgiven him. He could see it all in her dark eyes.

-It wasn’t supposed to be this way.-that was the only explanation he chose to give to her. She nodded her head. She understood better than anyone all the sins of her father. She was used to being rejected.

-Do not worry my Lord. Let your heart be at peace. I will not disturb you any longer with my presence. Soon we will leave and you shall not see me again. I will pray that fate sends you another. More worthy of you and this ancient home you are guarding.-she forced those words to exit her mouth. Because she wanted to say much more than that. She wanted to beg him to reconsider, but it would be in vain. The decision was already made in his heart. Einar stood before her, gazing in those dark eyes, seeing himself so little and weak. He couldn’t force himself to say it. He couldn’t force himself to reject her. She gave him a weak smile. As if saying that he doesn’t have to say anything. His silence was enough for her.

 -My Lady.-her teacher was back. Waiting for her. She nodded to Einar one more time before leaving him.