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used the prompt "a last dance" for 2024WXTTPXDPR0M

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The ballroom beneath me was covered in a sea of bright colors and fluttering fabrics. Gowns swirled across the dance floor and men in gorgeous suits led them in a classic dance, twirling their partners around then gently tugging them back into their arms.

The orchestra was playing in the far corner, winding down with the current song and moving onto one much more lively. Couples on the floor joined and left as the next dance started, some people now politely cheering for those still parading around the floor.

I leaned against the banister, holding a glass of wine that a server had handed to me out of sheer politeness. I'd been hiding on the second level for the entirety of the ball, unable to bring myself to step down amongst the guests.

I couldn't bear wandering alone.

Mother would be disappointed, wanting me to move on as quickly as possible, but Father understood a broken heart. Shattered beyond repair and never able to heal again, at least not to how it had been before.

I could hear him laughing, if I tried, but I didn't wish to. An ache in my heart was starting to grow as I saw every reminder of him that shouldn't have been so obvious but oh how easy it was to see him everywhere I looked.

I could see his eyes in a foreign visitor's, his favorite clothes in a duke's deep blue suit, his soft hair in the curls of a dame. I felt tears pricking at my eyes as I heard a clear, ringing laugh from one of the guests.

It was just like his.

I downed my glass of wine in one go, setting the empty flute onto the banister. It was getting harder to breath as time went on, my body caving in on itself without its other half to support it properly.

He had promised me forever under the previous month's eclipse but, as always, there was an end to forever. No more days of tomorrows.

I shed a tear, letting it roll down my cheek and leave a cool track in its wake, but it was not for him. It was for our lost times that should've extended into eternity, never to break and never to cease. I gripped the banister and leaned my weight against it, letting the singular tear drop below onto wherever it was destined.

I could see the guests finishing up yet another song as I finally composed myself, having spotted my mother firmly yet politely working her way towards the stairs to chide me. I could see it on her face and, just as easily, I could make out my father following closely behind her. His own face was full of years-old sorrow, masked behind a faked joy, only seen within his eyes. Eyes that have witnessed far too much.

"Mother," I greeted her, before she could say anything. "I assume you have a suitor for me to meet?"

Her eyes flashed, wondering what my intent was, but she nodded happily anyway. "Yes, darling, he's such a wonderful young man. He comes from the neighboring kingdom and their wealth far surpasses ours, it'd be a splendid marriage."

"Dear, she hasn't yet met him. You shouldn't speak of marriage." Father intervened. He was always standing up for him and I, since he knew the pain all too well. He, however, held little power against my mother, the true heir to the crown and real blooded royalty, and did what little he could.

"I suppose." Mother breathed out, exasperated, and waved him off with a flick of her fingers. "Come, Valoris, darling, you'll adore him, just as much as I do!" She took ahold of my elbow and guided me down the stairs, her long gowns sweeping along the steps as guests turned and watched as the ghost of the towers descended into their midst.

I hadn't seen this many people up close for a month and that was all it took to forget how to act around them. Dukes and duchesses, princes and princesses, lords and ladies flocked to us and greeted me with soft air kisses and gentle squeezes from their hands to mine. Their politeness was covering something else, however, because they hurried away with excuses as soon as manners allowed.

Their eyes showed me uncertainty.

They didn't know what to think of it all and I had to live with it, following my mother through the guests as she set her sights on the man she wished for me to meet. He came into view and, immediately, he didn't seem like much.

His rich red suit fit illy, as if he'd recently inherited it without tailoring it to fit, but his eyes were a bright and curious green, as if to make up for the rest of his lacking appearance. He dipped into a deep bow at our approach and stood back up, holding out his hand for mine. "Valoris."

"Sir." I dipped into a curtsy, placing my hand in his. "It's a pleasure to meet you."

"Darling, this is Fane." Mother introduced before fluttering away into the crowd.

I smiled and he returned the look, giving my hand a small squeeze before gesturing to the dance floor. "Care to dance?"

I hesitated, subtly leaning away, because I could not imagine dancing with another. Not now, not ever. Especially not with Fane, whose smile froze for a second too long and held too tightly to my hand with his icy grip.

I let my gaze slide away, watching the guests around him when someone passed directly behind Fane. I did a quick double take, knowing I was being anything but subtle, and lifted onto my toes to peer over Fane's shoulder to try and catch another glimpse of the guest.

I stepped around him and pulled away from his hand, giving his shoulder a soft squeeze as I passed him. "It would be an honor, but I just saw a lord I have to talk to. For my Father." Fane nodded and stepped aside so I could wander off into the crowd.

I tried to find the guest again but, every time I saw them, they flitted away before I could get closer, like a butterfly in the breeze. I pressed through the crowd, looking for any hint of the guest, until I was able to spot them ascending the stairs on the far end of the ballroom.

I gave chase, following after them like a puppy. My skirts snagged on other guests' jewelry but I persisted, keeping my eyes firmly on them until I was directly below them on the stairs. They didn't seem to notice my approach but, when I stopped beside them, they turned away as if we were kids and they were giving me the cold shoulder.

"Excuse me, sir?" I asked, wishing they would just turn around already.

They didn't move but they did answer in a soft voice, one that was clearly forced. "Yes, Your Highness?"

"Which kingdom is your origin?" I made an attempt at small talk, just to keep standing behind them until they turned. I'd wait forever, if needed, just to see their face, even if it hurt too much. I knew I could stand behind him for eternity, simply waiting to see his face.

He tilted his head up. "This one, Your Highness. Why do you ask?" I could hear a bit of amusement in his voice, the softness dropping away into a familiar tone. One I had once believed I'd listen to for forever but now only brings back pain.

"Would you care to dance?" I blurted, dropping any sort of court manners and jumping into it. I was not supposed to dance with anyone except for the suitors Mother and Father approved but I couldn't help myself, anything to make him look at me.

"I would love to." He turned and my breath hitched, my heart stopping then going into overdrive at the sight of him. He extended a hand, now clearly amused by my reaction. "I thought you would never ask."

"Emmitt." I breathed, forcing the intake of air to keep myself from passing out, and reached for his hand.

He smiled, sadly, and pressed a kiss to my knuckles. "Valoris. Let us dance?"

I nodded eagerly and let him pull me back down the stairs, back into the din of the party. I was dazed as he pulled me closer and pressed a hand to my back, taking my other in his. He watched me closely, his eyes holding a deep sadness and sort of hollowness that had never been there before.

"How?" I demanded, my voice shaky and cracking from the sheer weight of the question. Tears were flooding my eyes and I couldn't see him clearly. I blinked them away quickly, wanting to see him perfectly without tears ruining what surely had to be my last view of him.

He shook his head and pulled me closer, resting his chin on my head. "Do not worry about that, for I cannot answer. I'm here now."

I pressed my face into his shoulder and let the tears fall against his suit, one that always smelled of honey and mint but held no such scent now. I turned with him as he led us in a slow dance. We stayed quiet as the song ended and another came up.

I could hear guests whispering.

I was unsure if any of them had ever seen Emmitt close up but that didn't matter. I was dancing with one man, who wasn't even a suitor, for one too many dances. I held tighter to him and he did the same, holding me closer than before.

"Valoris, I'll have to go soon." He whispered, his breath against my neck. I looked up to him and realized he'd donned a mask at some point, though he hadn't been holding one before. No one would recognize him except for me.

His eyes were the only defining feature visible underneath the feathered mask. I was unsure where it had come from but that didn't matter because his words were already shredding the little moment of peace I'd felt.

I swallowed. "Why? Why can't you just stay, like you were supposed to. It was supposed to be forever and yet you died, Emmitt. You weren't supposed to, there was supposed to be an infinite number of tomorrows but that's broken. Why are you here, now? Why can't you just leave?" I could hear the harshness in my own words but I couldn't stop. They were true. I wished he hadn't returned and that he'd simply left, once was enough.

Heartache could only happen so many times.

He didn't respond but I could see the hurt in his eyes. His emotions were always plainly presented on his sleeve and it was obvious he was thinking. He shook his head, though, and spun me around as the song came to a close. "I do love you, Valoris."

"Is it already time?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper as he dipped into a bow and kissed my hand again. He needn't answer because I already knew, something told me in the back of my mind, but but watching as he pulled away was far too much. I tried to grasp his hand, to keep him with me for even a moment longer, but his hand slid away as if it were made of water.

I chased after him as he moved off into the crowd of guests. They were all watching me as I raced past, Emmitt always just a bit too far out of my reach as I crashed through everyone just to get to him. Just once more.

I couldn't let him go again.

I screamed his name as he neared the doors leading outside, showing the dark night sky and shimmering stars beyond. My voice cracked and everything seemed to muffled, my own voice faint and too quiet to reach him, wherever he was going.

I collapsed to the floor, just shy of the door, because he had escaped me. He was gone, disappearing into the night before I could reach him. I heard the judgmental murmurings of the nobility behind me as I cried on the floor, wailing for my lost love.

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