Jack insisted to walk all the way to the Ball by foot.
In reverent silence.
And when he and Jeb finally stood at the couryard in front of the Ballroom, Jack knelt, bowed, kissed the pavement, lifted his hands to the sky and proclaimed:
"The end of my pilgrimage! Let's head inside. Oh, I'm so excited!"
Jeb didn't budge: "The end of your pilgrimage is - a Ball?"
Jack: "Not just any Ball. It's the Queen's Enchantment under the Sea Ball!" Jeb still didn't move, he actually looked a little pale.
Jack hurried to explain before Jeb blacked out: "I know this might seem a little - eh . . . weird, but I wasn't always the cheerful me you got to know, maybe I tell you one day when I'm able to revisit these memories of mine. I come from a dark place, Jeb. And watching the Queen brought light into my life. Her advice and encouragement guided my path, the path that led me - us - here today. The Queen is holy to me. Come now, hm?"
And here Jeb thought Francine had urged Jack to watch the Royal Channel with her and gifted him the photo of the Queen Jack displayed on his boat. The boat - Gods, even the 'Regina Noctis' (= Queen of the Night in latin) was named after the Queen . . .
The signs were there all the time!
Being a border triangle of three rivaling Kingdoms, the ball committee had to ensure the evening - where guests of all these three Kingdoms and beyond attended - would remain peaceful and a joy for all.
Masks and glamour that hid their real appearance were mandatory, even for the Queen.
After stepping through the portals at the entrance, everyone was a stranger.
Sure, this was for the safety and well-being of everyone, nevertheless it drove Chancellor Lunvik insane.
But surprisingly for him, he found a very pleasant partner to dance and spend the evening with. The man followed his lead obediently and engaged him into a lively conversation - him who hated meaningless small talk and interacting with people for no vocational reason more than anything.
Chancellor Lunvik wished the Queen would take a cue on subjects like this gentle man. Nothing ever was easy with her and her demeanor, and he had all hands full dealing with her antics.
He must have stiffeded while thinking about her, because his partner - so tenderly it was almost unnoticable - started massaging the shoulder his hand lay on softly, slowly wandering towards his neck:
"Is everything ok?" the man asked in a calm, slightly worried tone.
In the world outside of this realm, the Chancellor would never allow such indecencies, but this man neither knew who he was nor they'd ever meet again, so he allowed himself to just let it happen for once and leaned in, and they danced another round.
The magic of the enchanted Ball.
Jeb felt lost and insecure at first, he wanted Jack to stay near him, but excited and enlightened as the pup that he obviously was, he ran off as soon as they stepped through the portal, to make the most of this once-in-a lifetime spiritual experience.
And soon Jeb too was engaged in a funny conversation with a guest who didn't wear a mask, but obviously some kind of glamor.
As hard as he tried, he couldn't see the features of his face.
Also his magic abilities seemed to be kind of deactivated here, and he sensed all kinds of emotions but didn't know where they came from or who caused them.
Eventually he even got asked to dance. He wished he could see who it was. Jeb's dance partner also was a pleasure to dance and chat with, and they almost spend the whole evening together.
Jack and jeb just moved here not long ago and Jeb barely knew anyone from around here, but the man in his arms seemed utterly familiar.
Maybe this was part of the enchantment?
To make the guests feel safe, and to ensure they had a nice time tonight, aside from the quarrels and animosities happening between them in the world outside of the Ballroom.
Meanwhile Jack held court and chatted with the two brightest appearances of the whole Ball. Even their masks and glamors couldn't hide their sparkling auras. This was the best day of his whole life.
(Saiwa in the back hahaha)
He told them how thrilled he was to be here and about his pilgrimage, and how he'd do just about anything for his beloved Queen.
One of the Lovely Ladies asked: "Really anything?"
Jack: "Yes. I owe her my life."
Lovely Lady: "That's good to hear - and good to know she has such loyal followers."
And then he kept on rambling about how wonderful the Queen was.
Soon the Grand Waltz commenced, each attendant had their determined position and partner. And every new citizen of one of the three kingdoms was granted the opportunity to waltz with the Queen tonight. So Jeb, Jack and Vlad found themselves on the dancefloor, knowing their friends must be near without being able to see them.
Even before Vlad touched the hand of his dance partner, he felt the sparkles between their palms.
Vlad thought that the enchantment the ballroom was under must be very powerful.
He tried to make light conversation, but she never responded.
Though, she seemed interested in what he had to say, listened curiously, nodded and smiled along and reacted in her own silent way, but not a single word escaped her mouth.
Maybe she felt just as misplaced here as him?
While Vlad could not read the face of his Dance Partner, he somehow felt an anxiousness in her, a fear that reached far deeper than just being in a strange place among strange people. And he couldn't help but wondering what it was that frightened her so much.
And when the walz demanded to swing and bend her down, she held her breath, her grip on Vlad's shoulder and hand tightened and she clung on him as if her life depended on him alone.
As if he were the only one to reach out for - to keep her from drowning.
Vlad lifted her up immediately, not caring about the choreography.
And a voice that sounded an awful lot like his own he spoke to her, to bring her comfort and reassurance:
"I won't let you down. Never. Depend on me."
And she nodded and steadied.
Melting in his arms again to continue their dance.
After the dance he stayed around to make sure she was safe, even when she was occupied with someone else, and during all these hours, Vlad barely thought about Wesley and the pain that came with these thoughts.
When Jeb put his arms around his partner to pull her closer, he winced. The last time he'd held someone tight, it had been the Incubus in the night of the betrayal. And this here felt like having his lean body in his arms again. The memory caused a tear to roll down his cheek. Over the last weeks, Jack had been doing a good job distracting him from his misery, but now it was boiling up all over again.
Luckily, the guests couldn't see each other's faces, otherwise it would be utterly embarrassing.
Well, it became utterly embarrassing anyway, his Partner seemed to have to noticed and tenderly wiped the tear from his face.
Mysterious Dance Partner: "I can't stand seeing you so sad. Let my dry all of your tears, will you?"
Jeb just nodded, touched by the benevolence of the stranger.
Because if he dared to speak, he feared his voice would break and even more tears would follow. All the tears he desperately held back from falling since he lost Saiwa - to not drown in the fathomless ocean they'd fill.
Leander felt a bit lost here too, he just moved here a few days ago and didn't really know much about how to behave and what he was supposed to talk about as an ambassador.
On the other hand, nobody knew who he was anyway and his Dance Partner made it easy for him.
He was charming and witty and it seemed as if he belonged in an environment like this. He knew an awful lot about the surrounding Kingdoms, their society and politics.
Time just flew by, their conversation easy going.
Leander: "I feel like I could learn a lot from you."
His Dance Partner leaned in and whispered: "We could meet some time. I feel I could teach you a lot, too."
Leander blushed.
After Vlad let him down and refused to marry him, all hope to be with him was damped. This was the first time he saw a faint silver lining on the far, far horizon ahead.
Giving him hope to move on somehow.
It couldn't hurt to flirt a bit with this stunning man, just to get back in the saddle again.
The Queen in incognito was also in a flirty mood.
The ball was the one ocassion throughout the year where she was allowed to get lost in the crowd without being scrutinized from all sides.
Her dance partner was well chosen, as every year, he was strong and tall, muscles all over.
Dance Partner: "You chose snowflakes on your gown in the summer?"
The Queen: "I hoped for you to melt them."
Dance Partner: "I would have to be much closer to you to achieve this. That would be inappropriate on the dancefloor."
She whispered him the number of her room upstairs: "I hope you're up for a challenge."
Jack was very surprised to find himself set up for the Great Waltz.
And his dance partner was a surprise too.
Jack's eyes had followed him around for quite a while. And he'd noticed that many of the guests tried to flirt with him and catch his attention. Watching this made Jack feel very weird in his chest.
He wasn't the envious type of guy, so what was it? Jealousy? - Absurd.
It was also weird that it happened in a place where good looks did nothing and Jack wondered what it was about this man he attracted people like the moonlight a pack of wolves.
But as soon as they'd moved to their position, the man's attenion solely lay on Jack. He looked at no one else and Jack noticed the disappointed murmurs of the guests that had hoped to be in Jack's place to dance with the stunning man.
And Jack felt like a winner - despite it had never come to Jack's mind to flirt with someone, let alone imagining himself in a romantic relationship of sorts.
He saved all his love for the Queen and had no eyes for anyone else.
That's also what he told his Dance Partner when he started to flirt with him - even though it so was flattering for him he blushed.
But his Dance Partner wasn't repelled: "I would never ask of you to worship me. I'm even willing to share you with her - but no one else. Promise me that at least?"
Jack laughed. This was new to him.
Someone being interested in him just the crazy way he was.
And when Jack felt the stranger's thigh between his legs in the next move, he felt arousal for the first time is his life, which was a quite embarrassing experience. And frightening.
With this single touch, he awakened the beast inside Jack.
He needed distraction before it took overhand and he lost control.
Jack's dance Partner must have noticed it, even though there were no physical signs - Jack actually had more self-restraint than one would give him credit for - because he whispered in his ear: "You feel it too, don't you? There is something between us."
Luckily the choreography put an appropriate distance between them again.
Jack: "This is purely physical. My love for the Queen is pure and sacred and above these sensations!"
Dance Partner: "Good to know, because sacred and pure isn't what I'm striving for. I really want to explore these sensations of yours further, and see where they might lead us."
Jack was a bit overwhelmed and confused and said nothing for once, he wasn't even sure this man was serious.
Maybe this was just stuff the high society thought was fun and they thought nothing by it?
But the stunning man still only had eyes for him.
After the Great Waltz, the atmosphere was less formal, the beautiful being with the aura of a Princess stepped on the stage and looked a bit uncomfortable. Jeb was asked to play the piano and Jack the violin.
Jack was happy for the distraction and the distance between him and his confusing Partner.
Maybe Jeb would have felt not as anxious if he'd known Jack was there too, but there was no way to know and so he staggered to the piano stool. Whereas Jack was over the moon and beyond, because even though the glamor hid the Queen just like everyone else, he knew she was attending - it was her Ball after all - and now she would notice him playing!
He would so give it all so she'd remember him.
The first song was 'Earth Angel', Jack didn't know if this was also part of the enchantment, but the three of them played together as if they'd been an unit for years.
'Earth angel, earth angel, will you be mine?
My darling dear, love you all the time
I'm just a fool, a fool in love with you
Earth angel, earth angel, the one I adore
Love you forever and ever more
I'm just a fool, a fool in love with you
I fell for you and I knew, the vision of your love, loveliness
I hope and I pray that someday
I'll be the vision of your hap-happiness, oh, oh'
Earth Angel - The Penguins
They ended their performance with Johnny B. Goode
'Deep down in Louisiana close to New Orleans
Way back up in the woods among the evergreens
There stood a log cabin made of earth and wood
Where lived a country boy named Johnny B. Goode
Who never ever learned to read or write so well
But he could play a guitar just like a-ringin' a bell
Go, go
Go Johnny, go, go, Go Johnny, go, go
Go Johnny, go, go, Go Johnny, go, go
Johnny B. Goode
He used to carry his guitar in a gunny sack
Go sit beneath the tree by the railroad track
Oh, the engineers would see him sitting in the shade
Strumming with the rhythm that the drivers made
The people passing by they would stop and say
"Oh my what that little country boy could play"
Go, go
Go Johnny, go, go, Go Johnny, go, go
Go Johnny, go, go, Go Johnny, go, go
Johnny B. Goode
His mother told him "someday you will be a man
And you will be the leader of a big old band
Many people coming from miles around
To hear you play your music when the sun go down
Maybe someday your name will be in lights
Saying "Johnny B. Goode tonight"'
Johnny B. Goode - Chuck Berry
And not only the Queen was watching, three other guests were also utterly enchanted by their performance and couldn't take their eyes of them <3
TMI: The name for the Ball is inspired by the Enchantment under the Sea Ball from Back to the Future.
Where Marty McFly played Earth Angel - and Johnny B. Goode.
They weren't ready yet ;)
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