Spirit of Aspiration (Fan Work) {Start 9/21/2014}

(Story Starts Here!)

"O-ouch!" Aislynn yipped as she tripped on her own foot. The only reason she did not have an intimate encounter with the floor was Raina's quick catch around her waist. "S-sorry."

"You're improving!" Raina gave an encouraging smile. They had spent the last few hours after dinner going over basic dances. They had arrived on the next stop in the journey just after lunch, though this haven was much smaller than the one previous. Only one inn. "You keep looking at your feet though, try not to."

Aislynn pouted, rubbing the fresh bruise on her knee. Learning to dance was hard, she kept second guessing herself with the steps and directions. She'd have to learn to do this well while people were all around and watching her. A little intimidating. With a sigh, she brushed her skirt smooth and looked around at all the deep red wood this suite had in it, most of it carved with images of birds of prey.

"Zalgus!" Raina turned on her brother, who for the entire lesson had been on the window seat, completely absorbed in his book.

"Hm?" He rested his fingertips under the line he was on and looked over. The sun was setting behind him, casting a gold sheen on his red hair.

"Come and assist me," Raina said. She gestured to the cleared out space in the center of the room. All the furniture had been relocated to the walls, mostly by a few sturdy laborers who were glad for the extra coin for easy work.

"What? Me?"

"It is difficult to correct her when I am the one dancing with her," Raina answered. She put her hands on her hips, giving her brother an intense stare.

"But--"

"You already know you're going to lose this argument, so come here and help me!"

Zalgus snapped his book shut, sighed, and gave up his comfortable seat in soft sunlight to stand with Aislynn. She just came up to his nose in terms of height. Not incompatible for dance partners.

"You do realize the agreement was I teach her reading and you court manners?"

"You do realize that I am still the one teaching, you are just being a convenient learning tool," Raina replied happily, stepping away so she could observe.

Aislynn muffled her giggle at the bickering, her head bowed. Still, the intimidation in her stomach grew, filling her chest and shoulders as Zalgus relented and turned to face her.

"Very well, let's start with proper posture again," Raina said. "Back straight, head level or turned toward your partner... Aislynn, dear, you're slouching again."

"You most certainly are shy at the most unforeseeable of times," Zalgus commented.

"Nothing is unforeseeable to you," Raina mumbled, shaking her head as he ignored her.

Zalgus moved his hand from Aislynn's hip to her back, pressing on it to force her to straighten. Her head bowed a bit more, and she felt red filling her cheeks.

"S-sorry," she mumbled, one hand on Zalgus' shoulder, and the other cradled in his palm. Never grasped.

"Okay, well, for now Zalgus keep your hand there then," Raina said with a shrug. Her body would naturally begin to maintain the posture on its own. Eventually. "Aislynn lift your head."

"But what if I step on his feet?"

"With how often he reminds us he can see things coming, if you step on his foot he deserves it."

"Excuse me!" Zalgus protested.

"Not excused, stay right where you are." Raina took the book her brother had been reading and set it on Aislynn's head. "If you keep your head straight, the book won't fall to the floor and lose Zalgus' place."

"Eep..." Aislynn swallowed. It was hard to suppress the natural instinct to run away and hide. She knew the first step to becoming good at something was to make mistakes, but typically she didn't do it with an audience.

"I will be quite cross if you lose my place," Zalgus warned. He wondered if there was a way to balance the book open so he could continue reading. The thought went by the wayside when he felt her breathing pattern through her back. It was shallow and rapid.

It was taking all her courage to remain in her spot. He remembered the constellations of her past, and close contact was not her forte. Still, it was something she had to overcome.

He squeezed her hand.

"Just breathe, I know everything will turn out well." He watched as she continued to avoid looking at him. "Learning to dance is quite tedious," he then lamented rather loudly, "but I suppose another reading lesson right after would make it more bearable."

Aislynn relaxed somewhat, reminding herself that these were her friends. Her spirit peeked over her shoulder, cooing in a supportive manner in her ear.

"For now," Raina said, "Zalgus will lead."

Zalgus stepped, and Aislynn followed. He moved forward, and she back. He turned and she rotated. Her movements were still hesitated, and it was clear she was thinking far too much on each step, but there were no crunched toes.

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