by Morgana Shee
Part 10
Terzian looked up as Morgana neared the table, "That was a very handsome young man you were dancing with, Morgana." Terzian sounded like an excited schoolgirl, but Morgana knew anything got Terzian excited, "Cadal and Aurin were glaring at him."
Morgana couldn't help but laugh. Most of her uneasiness had melted away. Morgana noticed that Celeste was gone. Morgana looked around the dance floor and saw her dancing with who appeared to be Signor Pacelli's son. From the look on the young man's face, Morgana could tell he was fully enraptured with Celeste. Celeste herself was giggling and holding herself a little close to the young man. Morgana wondered if she had had a little too much to drink.
Aurin and Cadal noticed Morgana's return and came over to interrogate her about Damon. She told them about what he had said. Cadal was not happy.
"Who the hell was that man?!" Morgana tried to quiet him, but he was enraged, "How should he know that the Florentines are talking about us. That's just common talk. What Signor Gallura and I do is not wrong. It's just science!"
"Yes," said Morgana, "but not all of them understand science, Cadal. Even if you did nothing wrong, they would still try to get you. They would persecute you for things that even they don't understand."
Aurin had been listening intently, "I think it's just a lot of talk to try to get us to leave Florence. Don't worry about it, Morgana, Cadal. It's probably nothing."
Morgana was about to go on when Aurin pulled her out of her chair so abruptly, she almost fell into his arms. She scowled up at him.
He laughed and said, "You have not bestowed upon me the honor of dancing with you this evening, Morgana. I would like to do so now." He whirled her around and they headed for the dance floor.
Morgana laughed as Aurin spun her before they settled into place. Aurin's silver eyes were sparkling and Morgana suddenly felt hot in her red gown. He was looking at her with such love and admiration. Morgana looked at her shoes.
Aurin took her hand and put his other hand at her waist and they started dancing. Morgana had had practice that evening and was becoming very good fast. She didn't think dancing was so bad, but it was also very intimate. If you didn't look at your partner, it was considered rude. If you stared at your partner, it was inappropriate. And Morgana knew she would be staring at Aurin's sheer beauty if she looked up at him. They were so close.
Aurin changed the pressure of his hand on her waist and Morgana looked up at him. He was still looking down at her, This time, Morgana could take her eyes off him. With just that look she was thrown back into reverie. Aurin and her on the picnic at Talia's field. The feel of Aurin's hair between her fingers. The night in the courtyard when Aurin had held Morgana weeping in his arms. And the kiss. That silvery kiss that made Morgana wonder about her feelings for Aurin. Were they really all just friendly feelings she had for him? Or was there something deeper?
Morgana pulled herself a hair closer to Aurin. His eyes brightened and she smiled at him. Yes, there was something there, but there was someone else Morgana loved with her whole being and—
Morgana pulled away from Aurin, "I'm feeling a bit warm. Can we sit down?"
"Of course," said Aurin with gentle courtesy, but a twinge of reluctance.
Morgana saw as they approached the table that no one was there. Terzian and Cadal were dancing and Celeste was no where to be found. Gallura was no doubt still mingling with the upper-crust of Florentine society.
Aurin held out Morgana's chair and she plopped down into it, smiling up at Aurin. He planted himself in a chair beside her and they watched the dancers until the waltz was over.
Morgana felt a tad better. Dancing with Aurin was wonderful, but captivating as well. She didn't want to be Aurin's captive. She wanted be in control of herself and being that close to Aurin made her melt. No, no more dancing with Aurin.
The waltz ended and the Florentine's cleared the floor. The announcer from the hallway was standing in the middle of the floor, pounding his staff on the marble, "Ladies and gentlemen, this will be the last dance of this evening. If you will please find your partners, we will begin." He turned to the maestro and nodded. The music began.
Morgana looked around the room furiously looking for Cadal. She hadn't danced with him all evening. She spotted him looking about the room. He was no doubt looking for Celeste. She was anywhere in sight. He sighed and then his eyes came to rest on Morgana, he smiled and beckoned her to come to him. Morgana did so without hesitation.
As she made her way to Cadal, she spotted Terzian dancing with Signor Gallura. Terzian smiled at her. Then Morgana saw Aurin and...Celeste. So he's found her, Morgana thought, good.
She reached Cadal who was offering her his hand. She accepted it and they joined the fray. Morgana felt lighter than air when Cadal put his hand on her lower back and whirled her about. She looked into his steely grey eyes with all the love she could muster.
Cadal was looking at her just as intently. She knew he thought her beautiful that evening. Maybe it was the wine. Maybe it was the music. Morgana didn't care. She was in love with Cadal and nothing would spoil the moment.
Morgana didn't notice earlier, but Cadal was spinning her to the farthest corner of the room, out of the way of the others. She was so lost in his eyes, she could have cared less.
But it was darker here than out in the huge ballroom. They could still hear the music, but it was a bit muffled by a great velvet curtain. Morgana's pulse quickened.
"Cadal...where are we?" Morgana's voice shook a little.
"Shh..."Cadal whispered and brought his lips to hers.
Morgana was taken by complete surprise. She let out a gasp. What was he doing? He was kissing her! What was happening? All these thoughts raced through Morgana's mind, but under them all was a purely triumphant feeling.
He loves me. He really loves me.
Morgana could barely contain herself. She was thrilled beyond belief. She broke the kiss for a couple seconds to reposition herself and in that instant she heard it.
The whisper was so soft that she barely heard it, but she had.
"Celeste..." Cadal whispered against her lips, "I love you."
Morgana pulled completely away from him. She was breathing quickly. Not from passion, but from pure astonishment...and anger.
Cadal stared at her with eyes that were all but swimming with wine. Morgana should have smelled all the wine on his breath. Even tasted it, but she was too preoccupied with the moment.
Morgana could feel a lump in her throat. She didn't want to stand there staring at Cadal. She just wanted to go home.
Cadal stood where he was, a grin on his face. He had no idea what he had just said. Cadal had never drunk wine before. It was no wonder he was drunk. The Gallura's didn't have wine sitting their table everyday even though they were rich enough. Gallura had said that alcohol clouded the mind. Morgana fully agreed now.
She turned away quickly and wandered toward the table. Aurin was already seated there...without Celeste. Morgana looked at him quizzically. He shrugged.
"Drunk," he said quietly, "She was drunk. I don't know where she is now, but she ran off."
"I know," said Morgana softly, "Cadal's drunk too." She left out the part about the kiss intentionally. Aurin would have been outraged.
With that, the waltz ended and the dancers and guests applauded as the string quartet bowed. Morgana clapped slowly and then yawned. She hadn't known that the ball would have been so tiring. Aurin draped his cloak around her and they headed for the door, neither stopping to look for Cadal or Celeste. Gallura was no where in sight so they told the footman that they would walk home.
Aurin took Morgana's arm as they began to stroll down the streets of Florence. It was such a beautiful night. The stars twinkled above them and the streets glittered like gold from the torches. Morgana admired everything with heavy lidded eyes.
Beside her, Aurin was looking drowsy as well. His curling silver hair was tousled a bit and his silver eyes had a glassy look to them.
Neither of them spoke as they walked to the mansion. Neither of them had to say a word to know what the other felt. They were homesick. Irenahl was dazzling for a couple of days, but nothing like the splendor of Findahl. Every night in Findahl glittered with a billion fireflies and every sunset was a vivid pink. In Irenahl in varied. One night might have been cloudy or rainy. And one sunset might just fizzle and another might be a muted orange.
Morgana's spirits sank. The streets all of a sudden had a tarnished color to them and the stars above them looked cold and dark. Everything was uglier, it seemed.
Finally, the two of them reached the gates of the Gallura mansion. The same guard from the day they had arrived opened the gate. He stared at them as they entered and did not ask where the rest of their party was.
Suzette opened the huge door of the mansion for them and took the cape Morgana had around her shoulders. She was then ushered upstairs to get ready for bed. Aurin watched her go up the stair.
Once in her room, Suzette undress Morgana quickly and helped her into her nightclothes. Morgana wrapped her velvet robe around herself tightly as Suzette brushed out her hair. Morgana didn't speak to Suzette until she closed the door after the girl was in the hall.
"Good night, Suzette," Morgana said sleepily.
Suzette turned around, surprised, "Good night, mam'selle." She curtsied.
Morgana shut the door and leaned against it. She was so tired she didn't know if she could sleep. She climbed into bed anyway. She had just blown out her candle when she heard a gentle rap at her door.
"Come in," Morgana said groggily. She expected it to Suzette so she stayed in bed and didn't put on her robe. She rolled over onto her side.
A figure and a candle entered the room. Only after the door was closed did the figure speak, "Morgana, are you asleep?"
It was Aurin. Morgana's hands flew to her robe by her nightstand. She got out of the bed and pulled it on quickly. Aurin was patiently waiting by the door. He was in his robe also.
"Are you all right, Aurin?" Morgana asked sleepily.
He nodded. Morgana noticed how the candle made his eyes and hair a fiery orange. It made Aurin look like a candle flame himself. Morgana motioned toward the bed.
Aurin sat on the bed and put the candle on the nightstand. Morgana climbed into the bed and leaned against the headboard, clasping her legs with her hands.
"The rest of the house isn't home yet," said Aurin quietly.
"They're no doubt squeezing every last moment out of the evening," said Morgana laughing.
Aurin laughed too, but not as jovially. He sobered in a matter of seconds, "Morgana, do you want to go back to Findahl as much as I do?"
"More," said Morgana, "I miss everyone so much. Vulpecula is no doubt lonely and I haven't seen Luna in so long. I even miss Elwyn."
"So do I," said Aurin, "I never thought I would miss Findahl enough to say I miss Elwyn." He laughed shortly again, "When are you planning to return?"
"The day after tomorrow. Signor Pacelli's dinner is tomorrow evening. I said I would attend and I will keep my promise. But after that, I'm gone." Morgana yawned and rubbed her eyes.
Aurin got off the bed and pulled the covers away so Morgana could slide under them. Aurin was being a perfect gentleman. Morgana didn't even bother to take of her robe. She was cold as it was.
When Morgana was all nestled in, Aurin knelt by the bed and looked into Morgana's eyes. He looked sleepy and he had a lazy smile on his lips. He reached out and stroked the hair away from her temples. Morgana closed her eyes.
"Will you miss Irenahl, Aurin?" Morgana asked with closed eyes.
"For a while," said Aurin softly, still stroking her hair, "But I'm ready to go home to Findahl."
"Me too," Morgana yawned again and opened her eyes. Aurin was still looking at her lazily. She smiled and so did he.
Ever so slowly, Aurin leaned towards her. He put his forehead against Morgana's and closed his eyes. Morgana leaned her head up slowly.
The kiss was very soft and very slow. It felt nice to Morgana. She could love Aurin and she was just now opening her heart of the idea. He had changed from the arrogant Quislai he once was in a matter of weeks. Morgana could hardly believe it. He had become a caring and gentle man, worthy of her love. Morgana leaned closer to Aurin and he took her in his arms.
For a while they just held each other, kissing lightly every so often. Morgana's head was resting on Aurin's chest. She could hear his heart beating and his gentle breathing. Right then and there she knew she loved him fully. She loved Cadal, of course, but he was too far out of her reach. Here was a man who loved her already. All he needed was for her to love him back.
"I love you, Aurin," Morgana said softly.
He had heard her, "I love you too, Morgana." Reluctantly, he released her and she nestled back into the bed. Aurin rose and picked up his candle. They looked at each other for a couple of minutes and then Aurin bent to kiss her on the forehead.
"Good night, Morgana," he said.
"Good night, Aurin," said Morgana. With that she closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep. She knew Aurin had watched her doze for a little while and then go back to his room. Morgana felt safe knowing Aurin was just down the hall. She loved that security.
All through the night, Morgana had dreams about what she and Aurin would do when they returned to Findahl. It was such a peaceful slumber. But in the morning Morgana would find out what had happened while she had been sleeping.
|The Meadow|Quislai Circles|The Solstice|The Thicket|Woodland Creatures|
|Return to the Lair|
