Chapter 8: The Final Dance [End]

The day seemed strangely gloomy for that day of celebration. Soldiers paraded into towns upon horses with their tired weapons stashed away into their hilts. Shouts and songs of celebration filled the air for weeks.

But in the town square there was a woman dancing alone, long after the parade had ended. There was no music and no shouts in glee but still she danced. The townspeople had begged her to rest but still she persisted.

The dancer had become weak, her feet began to show signs of wear and her body started to become unsteady. Soon it began to rain and the town retreated indoors leaving her alone.

The rain began to pour harder.

She danced in the rain, as if she were the lone person left in that world. She was worn but she wore a smile like she had found a dear treasure.

Then she spun until her feet gave away. She fell down…?

But she was upright as if she had never fallen in the first place. There was a warm grip around her waist.

Her chocolate eyes fluttered upward, eyelashes slightly damp from the rain.

“Milady,” said the voice softly. It was Reeves, with what seemed to be a mix of rain and tears upon his face.

Aristelle blinked slowly, processing the man in front of her. She steadied herself in his arms before reaching out to stroke his cheek.

She reached up to caress his cheek. She spoke in barely a whisper. “You’re back.”

“Milady, your feet are bloodied, you must rest,” said Reeves, eyes deeply furrowed as he tucked the loose strands of her hair behind her ear. But his words fell on deaf ears.

Aristelle grabbed his hand and looked at him with a steady gaze. “But I am living freely now, don’t you see Mister Reeves?”

He took a deep breath before pushing out words that had been prepared for that moment. “May I have this dance?”

“I thought you’d never ask,” said Aristelle, pulling him closer towards her. She danced like never before, she danced like she was a child again. She recalled running through halls against her father’s wishes, she recalled the endless chasing in the garden, all of it seemed to be alright in that moment.

She spun around Reeves who released her. As if it were planned, her hand was held by another.

“Lady Aristelle” This time it was Prince Aurelius, still dressed in all his royal garb with a parade of royal subjects nearby.

“Your highness,” said Aristelle, rather than being surprised by his presence, she seemed relieved.

“May I have this dance?”

“Gladly,” replied Aristelle.

Like a stage had been set out for them, the townspeople began to emerge to watch the spectacle. Musicians even began to bring out their instruments and singers began to chime in to all create a familiar song.

Finally when the dance was over, the prince held her hand to kiss before letting her go.

She spun again gracefully, letting the rain pelt her face. Eventually she found herself facing an old friend, who offered his hand towards her.

He bowed slightly too low as if he was apologizing. “Aris”

Aristelle held his hand and pulled him in, not batting an eye to think twice. “Dance with me Cassian.”

Cassian’s brows furrow with worry but he complies nonetheless.

It’s a quieter moment, a dance between old friends. It’s not grand, but it is nostalgic of another time in their lives. There was laughter shared amongst them, there were tears when they would fight, and the bittersweet memories of Soleil. The thoughts all flooded her mind.

Then Aristelle felt her knees buckle.

“Aris!”

Right on time, she was caught by the prince and Reeves, both with an arm on her back. They then slowly laid her down beside the center fountain.

“Aris?” Cassian fell to his knees, unable to continue. He looked in shock at the blood trail that seemed to follow her, only to soon be washed away by the rain.

Her eyes were no longer focused and her breathing became shallow. But there was a smile on her face nonetheless. “Perhaps I was a fool, Cassian. It was never you that I was running from, but myself. Now look at me, how could I forget to love something so wonderful?”

“Then we’re all fools,” said Prince Aurelius. “Desiring a woman solely because she knew how to live.”

Aristelle let out a weak laugh. “You’re forgiven.” She took a shaky breath. “Mister Reeves?”

Reeves responded quickly. “Yes?”

“Do you think I’ve lived?”

“I believe you always have,” replied Reeves, kissing the top of her head.

She smiled brightly like she had always done. She breathed what seemed to be her final words. “How daring it is to live with such passion.”

Slowly her breathing became shallower and shallower. Then finally her dainty fingers slipped to the ground. Finally the rain ceased.

X

The day was beautiful, flowers seemed to drift from the skies coloring the world in rosy colors. It was supposed to be a dreary day but somehow everything seemed to be perfectly in place.

They seemed to prepare everything for her. But it was far too late for the very person to appreciate any of it.

The Philia family had done all they could for their beloved daughter. Roses filled not only the hall but had grown themselves everywhere on the fields. It was so beautiful that it seemed to be almost mocking the mourners.

“Reeves Erland,” said a calm voice.

He turned and bowed. “Your highness”

The prince gave him a hesitant smile. “We finally met, I’ve heard great things about you.”

“I’m honored,” replied Reeves.

“May I entertain the idea of inheritance?”

Reeves looked up. “I beg your pardon, your highness, inheritance of what?

“The kingdom,” said Prince Aurelius. “I shall be king soon, allies of the trusted sort are things a king would need.”

Reeves’s jaw dropped in shock. “Y-your highness, I’m nothing but a lowly son of a lord. I’m not even his son by blood…”

“Blood means nothing,” said the prince. “I’ve heard of your exploits, someone as sure and brave as yourself I believe will take good care of people. Don’t you think so?”

“Pardon by rudeness but how would you know if my bravery is not folly? Is it bravery or recklessness?”

Prince Aurelius shrugged. “Perhaps that is something only for you to understand. Is it brave or reckless to believe in something without understanding it completely?”

“I’m not sure, your highness,” replied Reeves.

“I like to see it as bravery,” continued Prince Aurelius. “To love as greatly as Lady Aristelle could, I want to believe in that sort of bravery.”

Reeves averted his gaze to the ground. “I dare I be compared to something of that caliber?”

The prince cups Reeves’ shoulder. “I suppose to each their own. I do hope you consider my words, Reeves Erland.”

X

The sun glimmered upon the droplets of the morning dew that had settled upon the field of wild grass and flowers. Two hills split the ocean of orange flowers. In between the hills was a lone traveler, frugally carrying a single bag and a cat in his other arm.

Under the shade of his hat, the whites of the traveler’s teeth could be seen escalating into a grin. “We’re here Princess.”

A low mrrph could be heard in response. The cat squirms from his grasp and leaps into the wild fields. Quickly it busied itself with a fluttering butterfly.

The traveler sighed. Of course, what has he to expect?

Then a bright ray of yellow filled his vision, flooding the world around him. Somehow there was a figure in the midst of that light.

Who was it?

Soon the light began to make its path with the figure slowly growing into focus. Then there was a hand.

The traveler could do nothing but stare in shock.

“May I have this dance?” Finally his vision cleared to reveal a woman, bright eyed, glimmering with child-like glee.

Finally the shock shifted into a belly-laughter. The traveler could no longer resist the offer. “Of course.”

The fields, bathed in all the sun and glory, continued to obscure his vision. There were tears, but he had already forgotten how they were there in the first place. Although she was a personification of joy and love, she faded to a mere memory. But the place of understanding outlived her. A choice to dance amongst flowers while the world cried upon graves. Truly, it was a time to be alive like never before.

The fields bathed in light, and tears continued to obscure his vision.

The daring love of the oddball princess and her joy in simply being, seemed to outlive her. It was never a complicated choice, a courage to dance amongst flowers or the foolishness of dancing with bloodied feet. She lived in both of them.

Rumors of her reappearance had been heard from everywhere. A daughter of clearly high class teaching the townspeople the joy of dancing. A girl of peasant upbringing stringing along children from all over the town to dance together. An inventing woman, decorating the town with instruments used to sing stories of the past. A loving woman, dancing with her beloved amongst fields of wheat. The Barefoot Princess lived everywhere ears could be heard.

She comes in springtime, sweeping her nimble fingers among the wild poppies. In springtime, her lover comes to dance with her. When they die, she returns to her slumber in hopes that spring will come again soon.

Still, the Barefoot Princess dances. Although her feet are delicate, she dances anywhere nonetheless. She dances to bring joy. She dances with hopes that she will no longer be alone in her courage to live as she pleases.