Elaina stood on the outskirts of the dancers watching her friends and acquaintances move to the music in a way she felt was much more graceful than her own awkward moves. She had tired from the quick pace of the music but the beat still held her captive. So she was standing on the edges, swaying and humming.
Elaina looked out over the crowd of faces at the ball. She saw Isabella, her little friend who always looked out for her; Tanner and Yasmine, the most engaging couple she had ever known; Nancy, dancing next to Eddie, a young man she had pointed out to Elaina earlier; and Nate Lewis, the handsome young man she had scarcely been able to take her thoughts and eyes away from all evening. Nate made eye contact from across the room and grinned. Her heart skipped a beat and her breath left her as she smiled back and laughed. He had caught her looking. He continued dancing with his friends and she continued her perusal of faces. Elaina's thoughts began to stray and she didn't notice the changing of songs.
A voice interrupted her musings; her vision returned to the present to see none other than Nate standing before her.
"My stars, he's so handsome in his dancing clothes," she thought.
"Would you like to dance?" he inquired.
Would she? Yes! Of course! Her spirits skyrocketed and she wasn't tired anymore. "Yes," she quietly replied with a sweet smile.
They started to walk closer to the other dancers. Then she began to worry; she had never danced with a young man before. She had danced with her sister many times, but Hannah, being littler, never knew all the dance dance moves she did. So Elaina always found herself leading and never following.
"Nate, I don't know how to dance.."
He laughed and smiled reassuringly, "You can do it."
He lifted his hands and held them out for her to step into. She found that she didn't know what to do, how close would be seemly to dance with a man. So she lifted her hands as well and held them out towards him. Nate smiled again, eyes twinkling, as he took both her hands in his. He placed her left hand on his shoulder and his right hand on her waist so lightly that she couldn't remember feeling it. His shoulder was warm and slightly damp from hours of dancing, but she didn't mind; it was nice for some reason.
Then, they started dancing. Step forwards, feet together. Step backwards, feet together. Back and forth, around and around. Elaina later remembered the stories young men stepping on the toes of young ladies at dances. But not once did Nate step on her little feet.
"Can you spin?" Nate inquired.
"I think so!" she replied.
He stepped backwards, holding out one hand, and she spun around, her dress swirling around her like a dark green cloud. Then they came back together. They did several more interesting steps Nate must have seen her do earlier while dancing with Nancy, for he didn't ask if she knew them, he just indicated with his movements what he planned to do next and Elaina recognized it.
Nate spun her a couple more times before the song ended.
Elaina felt so happy and full of joy, that she thought she could've kissed him on the cheek, right then and there. But she didn't give way to impulse tonight.
"Thank you for the dance, kind sir," Elaina said blithely, "You're the only one I have enjoyed dancing with all evening."
Nate laughed, "and I do believe that you are the most beautiful lady I have danced with all evening."
Then a strange look came into his eyes; a sort of seriousness that worried Elaina until she saw mischief also dancing there. While she wondered, Nate leaned forward, and so quickly that she almost missed the feeling, he kissed her cheek. Then he pulled back and moved away to dance with some other friends.
Elaina stood there for a moment, dazed, before she shook herself and moved off the dance floor, back to the sidelines. She wondered for a moment if anyone had seen, then realized that she didn't care if they had. She found herself a seat and sat down. The music no longer had any reign over her. She was in another place; in the world of moments before.
Monday, February 7, 2011
The Enchanted Hour
I wrote this a while back. Another moment-in-time. =]
She awoke before anyone else. The sun was just beginning to stretch over the horizon. What a beautiful world greeted her outside her window. Her bed was deep and warm, but she knew she could not go back to sleep. Not with these heavy thoughts weighing on her mind and heart. She slipped out of bed and grabbed her new Bible. As she descended the steps, she only made one sound; the bottom step creaked, but no one was awake to hear. Once in the living room, she sat in the chair she had occupied the night before, when games and laughter had rung throughout the house. All was still now. Not even the sound of the sleepers' breathing could be heard. Her mind strayed to thoughts and images of the handsome young man who held her heart captive. He was so quiet, it had taken her a long time to notice him, longer to notice how kindly he treated others and his quiet sense of humor, and longer still to discover that she was losing her heart to him. She was not the type of girl to give her affections away freely, not until a young man truly worthy enough came along. It seemed that he had come along and he had stolen her heart without even knowing it, despite the fierce struggle she had put up against it. But where was she now? Sitting in the living room, despairing over the fact that he would likely never love her in return. She looked down at her bible as she fought back tears. The pages of Psalms blurred in her vision as a tear slipped from her eye, down her cheek and onto her forearm. She stood and walked across the room in search of a tissue, but found none so she settled for a napkin. She grabbed a few more before sitting back down to again attempt to read the Psalms. Her luck was as good as before; tears wet her cheeks as she cried silently. Her heart felt sick and her chest was heavy as though being pressed by some invisible oppressor. She closed her eyes and quietly spoke the first words to be uttered in the house that morning, "Why, Lord? Why? Why must I care for him so deeply? Will you have him love me in return? You are Lord of all, you can do all things! Please... please soften his heart towards me, Lord! Please..." She continued on in that way until her tears subsided and she dried them. She sat in silence, just her, God, and the words of David for the next few moments. Then she heard movement from downstairs, the enchanted hour was over, the house was waking.
She awoke before anyone else. The sun was just beginning to stretch over the horizon. What a beautiful world greeted her outside her window. Her bed was deep and warm, but she knew she could not go back to sleep. Not with these heavy thoughts weighing on her mind and heart. She slipped out of bed and grabbed her new Bible. As she descended the steps, she only made one sound; the bottom step creaked, but no one was awake to hear. Once in the living room, she sat in the chair she had occupied the night before, when games and laughter had rung throughout the house. All was still now. Not even the sound of the sleepers' breathing could be heard. Her mind strayed to thoughts and images of the handsome young man who held her heart captive. He was so quiet, it had taken her a long time to notice him, longer to notice how kindly he treated others and his quiet sense of humor, and longer still to discover that she was losing her heart to him. She was not the type of girl to give her affections away freely, not until a young man truly worthy enough came along. It seemed that he had come along and he had stolen her heart without even knowing it, despite the fierce struggle she had put up against it. But where was she now? Sitting in the living room, despairing over the fact that he would likely never love her in return. She looked down at her bible as she fought back tears. The pages of Psalms blurred in her vision as a tear slipped from her eye, down her cheek and onto her forearm. She stood and walked across the room in search of a tissue, but found none so she settled for a napkin. She grabbed a few more before sitting back down to again attempt to read the Psalms. Her luck was as good as before; tears wet her cheeks as she cried silently. Her heart felt sick and her chest was heavy as though being pressed by some invisible oppressor. She closed her eyes and quietly spoke the first words to be uttered in the house that morning, "Why, Lord? Why? Why must I care for him so deeply? Will you have him love me in return? You are Lord of all, you can do all things! Please... please soften his heart towards me, Lord! Please..." She continued on in that way until her tears subsided and she dried them. She sat in silence, just her, God, and the words of David for the next few moments. Then she heard movement from downstairs, the enchanted hour was over, the house was waking.
Silence. Patience. Aim.
I wrote this moment-in-time piece for one of my best friends, Liyah, for Christmas. =]
Moonlight lit up the forest glade casting stark shadows. All but what was hiding in the darkness gleamed in the silvery light. A black and white world. Ancient, towering trees rose like endless columns to support the ceiling of sky. Countless stars stared down at the grassy floor.
Silence.
These were the woods that Eithne moved soundlessly through. With long, straight hair, lithe body, and pointed ears, her race was obvious. She stole through the forest, moving from shadow to shadow. Looking, searching, hunting.
Patience.
Then she saw it. A flicker of movement. A feeling slowly filled her. She had found what she was looking for. She noiselessly pulled an arrow from her quiver. Fully drawing back her bow, she sat in wait for the perfect opportunity. An opportunity that WOULD come. She breathed in and out slowly. Time slowed in the enchanted wood. Her heart beat. She watched. She waited.
Aim.
The target moved. It was time. One.. She breathed deep and held it. Two... She took perfect aim. Three... She let her arrow fly.
Moonlight lit up the forest glade casting stark shadows. All but what was hiding in the darkness gleamed in the silvery light. A black and white world. Ancient, towering trees rose like endless columns to support the ceiling of sky. Countless stars stared down at the grassy floor.
Silence.
These were the woods that Eithne moved soundlessly through. With long, straight hair, lithe body, and pointed ears, her race was obvious. She stole through the forest, moving from shadow to shadow. Looking, searching, hunting.
Patience.
Then she saw it. A flicker of movement. A feeling slowly filled her. She had found what she was looking for. She noiselessly pulled an arrow from her quiver. Fully drawing back her bow, she sat in wait for the perfect opportunity. An opportunity that WOULD come. She breathed in and out slowly. Time slowed in the enchanted wood. Her heart beat. She watched. She waited.
Aim.
The target moved. It was time. One.. She breathed deep and held it. Two... She took perfect aim. Three... She let her arrow fly.
Short Story: Naive =]
Spring was in full bloom in the woods of Álainn. Different shades of vibrant green were accented by the colors of countless flowers. Male cardinals and jays flew to and fro displaying their brilliant colors and executing flawless acrobatic flight in hopes of impressing a female. Warmth emanated throughout the wood. Light shone down through the trees in such a way that you could see each ray of sunlight stretching down to meet with the thriving earth. A slight breeze lifted leaves and debris to float through the sunbeams and create sparkling shadows. The green of moss and lichen looked so inviting; it made one want to lie down upon it and stretch out for a soft, cozy nap. Deer grazed quietly upon the sweet grass while squirrels scampered around in the trees and across the forest floor. A bubbling stream could be heard as the water moved over the stones and small ledges to slash into the next tier below.
Liyah and Standin strolled through this seemingly enchanted wood quietly, not speaking a word. Just soaking in the beauty of God's artistry displayed so magnificently. How could such wonderful complexities not have been created or planned? The thought that it wasn't had never crossed the couple's mind.
They had grown up simply. Best friends from their childhood in a little village. They were still best friends. Such blessed innocents! They knew nothing of a tarnished world. At least they had not before this journey. A quest of sorts. Their world had been turned upside down and inside out and that was what had instigated the quest. Though not far from their minds, this was not what was at the forefront of their minds at the moment. Something strange and new and possibly exciting had started to happen between them. But in their naivety, they didn't understand. It was confusing why they felt such an enormous joy inside when around the other. So much so that they feel they might burst with the pressure of it!
"Liyah, we are far ahead of the others. Let's stop and rest," Standin suggested. They took a seat at the bottom of an enormous tree to rest. Liyah pulled off her shoes and stockings to wiggle her toes and stretch her feet out in the cool grass.
"Ohhh, that feels marvelous! Like cool sheets on a summer evening," Liyah sighed. Standin laughed and began to follow suit.
"Indeed! You are right," he smiled. Liyah stood and took a few steps across the carpet of green in her bare feet.
"Ouch!" she exclaimed. A pinecone was lying in the grass and she had stepped on it. Standin laughed again.
"Oh, Liyah! You need to watch where you're walking!"
"Maybe the pinecone needs to watch where it's lying! Doesn't it know it's dangerous to hide in deceptively soft grass?" Standin stood, still laughing, and traversed the distance between him and Liyah, his eyes twinkling mischievously.
"Maybe you should know it's dangerous to walk through 'deceptively soft grass' without shoes on."
Liyah smiled, but ignored his comment and danced away, treading more lightly this time. He shook his head at her with a smile upon his face as he watched her twirl and leap around the trees. Not paying attention to how she was dancing, she almost collided with Standin but he stepped aside and caught her in time to keep her from running into the tree behind him.
"My lady," he said with practiced stuffiness, "May I have the honor of this dance?"
"Yes," she replied in kind. They bowed and curtseyed in turn before dancing together with their noses upturned in mock snobbery. They lasted but a few minutes before laughing at being so ridiculous.
"If you will sing," Standin declared, "I shall dance a jig with you."
"Hmmm... I don't much feel like dancing a jig at the moment. I'm rather tired..." Standin's face was the picture of exaggerated dejectedness. "...but, you could sing a ballad. That requires much less energy for dancing."
"Do I look like a bard to you?" Standin winked. "Who dances to ballads anyway? Ballads are for campfires..." Now it was Liyah's turn to mimic dejectedness. "...but I will compose a melody on the spot to hum as we dance."
Liyah clapped her hands and smiled widely. Standin extended his hand and this time, he asked her to dance with sincerity in his voice,
"Beautiful lady, may I have the pleasure of the next dance?" Liyah inclined her head as she replied, "You may."
They joined hands and began to dance as he started to sing. It was a beautiful song and Liyah loved the melody. Liyah's dress swirled around her as they stepped in time to the inspired dance.
Standin lifted Liyah into the air with his hands on her waist. Spinning her around, he stepped on another pinecone. He yelled, lost his balance and fell, bringing Liyah down with him, but the grass cushioned their fall.
"Oh, Standin! You should watch where you're walking!" Liyah laughed as she repeated Standin's earlier chide and rolled on the grass. He grinned and grabbed a handful of grass to throw at her. She sat up and pushed him, rolling him over.
Liyah sighed and fell backwards into the grass, laughing while staring up at the canopy of trees. Her hair was a crazy mess and it was all over her face, but she didn't care. Ah, it felt so good to lie down and rest. She closed her eyes and sighed again. Standin sat up and moved closer, intending to tickle Liyah, but when he looked down at her, he was stunned for a moment at how pretty she looked. She smiled with her eyes closed and she had grass in her hair.
He pushed the hair out of her face and moved away as Liyah opened her eyes. He stood and walked over to the tree where they had left their packs and shoes. Liyah sat up and followed. They sat back down at the base of the tree and enjoyed their quiet rest until the others arrived to find them sleeping, exhausted from a long day and fun play.
Liyah and Standin strolled through this seemingly enchanted wood quietly, not speaking a word. Just soaking in the beauty of God's artistry displayed so magnificently. How could such wonderful complexities not have been created or planned? The thought that it wasn't had never crossed the couple's mind.
They had grown up simply. Best friends from their childhood in a little village. They were still best friends. Such blessed innocents! They knew nothing of a tarnished world. At least they had not before this journey. A quest of sorts. Their world had been turned upside down and inside out and that was what had instigated the quest. Though not far from their minds, this was not what was at the forefront of their minds at the moment. Something strange and new and possibly exciting had started to happen between them. But in their naivety, they didn't understand. It was confusing why they felt such an enormous joy inside when around the other. So much so that they feel they might burst with the pressure of it!
"Liyah, we are far ahead of the others. Let's stop and rest," Standin suggested. They took a seat at the bottom of an enormous tree to rest. Liyah pulled off her shoes and stockings to wiggle her toes and stretch her feet out in the cool grass.
"Ohhh, that feels marvelous! Like cool sheets on a summer evening," Liyah sighed. Standin laughed and began to follow suit.
"Indeed! You are right," he smiled. Liyah stood and took a few steps across the carpet of green in her bare feet.
"Ouch!" she exclaimed. A pinecone was lying in the grass and she had stepped on it. Standin laughed again.
"Oh, Liyah! You need to watch where you're walking!"
"Maybe the pinecone needs to watch where it's lying! Doesn't it know it's dangerous to hide in deceptively soft grass?" Standin stood, still laughing, and traversed the distance between him and Liyah, his eyes twinkling mischievously.
"Maybe you should know it's dangerous to walk through 'deceptively soft grass' without shoes on."
Liyah smiled, but ignored his comment and danced away, treading more lightly this time. He shook his head at her with a smile upon his face as he watched her twirl and leap around the trees. Not paying attention to how she was dancing, she almost collided with Standin but he stepped aside and caught her in time to keep her from running into the tree behind him.
"My lady," he said with practiced stuffiness, "May I have the honor of this dance?"
"Yes," she replied in kind. They bowed and curtseyed in turn before dancing together with their noses upturned in mock snobbery. They lasted but a few minutes before laughing at being so ridiculous.
"If you will sing," Standin declared, "I shall dance a jig with you."
"Hmmm... I don't much feel like dancing a jig at the moment. I'm rather tired..." Standin's face was the picture of exaggerated dejectedness. "...but, you could sing a ballad. That requires much less energy for dancing."
"Do I look like a bard to you?" Standin winked. "Who dances to ballads anyway? Ballads are for campfires..." Now it was Liyah's turn to mimic dejectedness. "...but I will compose a melody on the spot to hum as we dance."
Liyah clapped her hands and smiled widely. Standin extended his hand and this time, he asked her to dance with sincerity in his voice,
"Beautiful lady, may I have the pleasure of the next dance?" Liyah inclined her head as she replied, "You may."
They joined hands and began to dance as he started to sing. It was a beautiful song and Liyah loved the melody. Liyah's dress swirled around her as they stepped in time to the inspired dance.
Standin lifted Liyah into the air with his hands on her waist. Spinning her around, he stepped on another pinecone. He yelled, lost his balance and fell, bringing Liyah down with him, but the grass cushioned their fall.
"Oh, Standin! You should watch where you're walking!" Liyah laughed as she repeated Standin's earlier chide and rolled on the grass. He grinned and grabbed a handful of grass to throw at her. She sat up and pushed him, rolling him over.
Liyah sighed and fell backwards into the grass, laughing while staring up at the canopy of trees. Her hair was a crazy mess and it was all over her face, but she didn't care. Ah, it felt so good to lie down and rest. She closed her eyes and sighed again. Standin sat up and moved closer, intending to tickle Liyah, but when he looked down at her, he was stunned for a moment at how pretty she looked. She smiled with her eyes closed and she had grass in her hair.
He pushed the hair out of her face and moved away as Liyah opened her eyes. He stood and walked over to the tree where they had left their packs and shoes. Liyah sat up and followed. They sat back down at the base of the tree and enjoyed their quiet rest until the others arrived to find them sleeping, exhausted from a long day and fun play.
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