Rillien the Terrible Dancer

      His mother had said because it was a diplomatic thing. Princesses who danced with him and found him to be a good partner would trust him more. His father had laughed and made a remark about his mother's comments that had made the Uni blush. He’d left shortly after that feeling no better about being a bad dancer.

      He’d not been surprised to find himself outside the library doors. His youngest sister Violet spent hours in the library with her best friend Xander, when she wasn’t training with him or teasing their sister Rosaline. Violet was a lovely dancer. While Rosaline was by far, the best dancer in the family, turning to Violet who was a close second was less intimidating

     The Xweetok was the youngest of the royal siblings and had been adopted into their family. She worked harder than anyone he knew to excel in all things she tried. Like her brother, she’d often worried about being good enough for her title. He felt like she would be the only one who could understand him. Still, he hesitated before he opened the library doors and went in, greeted by the sound of lively music.

     Violet, and Xander were there as he had expected. Surprisingly, there were others with them, including the unlikely captain of the guard. The grim Gelert was dancing with a dark-haired bare pawed Kougra, while the others watched merrily. Rillien was pleased to find he recognized all members of the audience which also included a magma Xweetok and Darigan Poogle.

     “I didn’t know you were giving dancing lessons, Kookie,” Rillien joked as he crossed the room toward his sister to sit beside her on the chaise which she perched on.

     “Nyx is a wonderful dancer,” She answered, her ears flicking in his direction, but she did not turn to face him. They were solid white and unseeing, but her ears more than made up for it. “As wonderful as he is as a tracker. I may even let him lead.”

     “Hello, your highness,” Steel the Poogle greeted politely. Scarlet, the magma Xweetok, Violet’s sister and Steel’s adopted sister, followed suit. They were both well known in their respective fields as was the Kougra, another member of their blended family. “How nice of you to join us.”

     “Violet didn’t tell me you were coming,” Rillien replied as he took his seat.

     “Yes, well didn’t know we were,” Scarlet laughed. “But Kookie wanted to visit her good friend Nyx, so we decided to take a detour. We were just returning from a family vacation on Terror Mountain.” The captain and the dancer had struck up an unlikely friendship together after an unlikely adventure.

     “And of course I couldn’t pass up the chance to cook for your father, again, his majesty has fine tastes,” the Poogle answered. His father was rather fond of the Poogle chefs' many specialities, and the Poogle was fond of cooking for the king.

     “Tea your highness?” the Lupe scholar asked, jumping to his feet having been pulled out of his daydream. He’d been watching the dancers intently, having two left paws much like the prince himself.

     “Don’t trouble yourself truly,” Rillien laughed.

     “Are you sure, Steel brought a new blend he made himself,” Xander answered, having relaxed only slightly. “And Scarlet has been kind enough to keep the teapot warm.” The Xweetok winked at him, and he noticed she did indeed have a teapot cradled in her naturally warm paws. Her magma fur carried its own heat that could be at times uncontrollable.

     “Well, how can I turn that down,” He answered, his attention toward the dancers. “How long will the three of you be visiting?”

      “Oh please say you won’t be leaving too soon,” Violet interjected. “You will have to show me all your new maps and Steel, you know father will insist on you staying for the week at least!” The wheels in the Uni’s head were turning, a week was not long but he thought it might, after all, she was a professional.

      “I would like to map some more of the area,” Scarlet answered. “And to explore more of the castle, I haven’t had a proper chance.” She looked around the room with a mischievous look on her face. One he’d seen on Violet’s face many times. He had a feeling the sisters would get up to quite a bit of trouble while she was here, but at least she’d be safe with her fiery sibling. All the better, he hoped to be too busy to train with her.

      “Kookie, do you plan to stay the week too?” He asked the Kougra. Despite being blind, the Kougra was more than capable of finding her own way home to the far-off Mystery Island. Her eclectic blue Airax would be by her side of course.

      “Of course, Rosaline promised to teach me the newest moves she learned from dignitaries from Brightvale and Meridell,” Kookie answered as the song ended and she hugged her friend. “Thank you, Nyx.”

      “Thank you for the dance, Lady Kookie,” Nyx answered with a rare smile. The guard bowed to the prince and princess. “Your highnesses, I should excuse myself and return to my other duties.” Rillien nodded to the guard acknowledging his comment, but he wasn’t really listening. He watched as Kookie accepted a cup of tea from the anxious Lupe.

     ***

      Rillien hesitated but only for a moment before knocking on the door of the Kougra’s room. To his surprise she opened the door almost as soon as he finished.

      “I heard your approach,” Kookie told him, seeming to see his confused expression. “You have a distinct walk, your highness.”

      “Rillien, please,” He answered. “I didn’t know I had a walk.” He chuckled. Kookie smiled.

      “You walk very similarly to your father,” She answered. “Can I help you, Prince Rillien?”

      “I-uh,” He was starting to feel quite foolish. His nerve was shaken, not something the young prince was used to. He was fierce in battle but confronted with having to ask someone for dance lessons and he was as useful as a bowl of lemon jelly. “Would you- would you teach me how to dance?” He waited for her to laugh in his face.

      “Of course,” She replied, stepping aside to let him in her room. He just stared at her in surprise. “Or would you rather practice in the ballroom?”

      “No, no, please, if I am not intruding,” Rillien answered quickly. “Thank you.”

      “Not at all, actually I was practising some of the moves Rosaline taught me yesterday,” Kookie explained, moving aside to allow the prince into her room.

      Rillien looked around the room, curiously. The smell of wildflowers almost overwhelmed him. The room looked like all the other guest rooms with the same but lavish furniture all crafted to look like different plants decorated the room but someone, Kookie, he assumed, had pushed all the furniture to the side. A thin mat had been laid in the centre of the room. Beside it an odd music player sat next to it under the window. She had one of the best views in the castle, he thought amused.

      “Wake up you lazy thing,” Kookie had moved over to the armchair which was crafted to look like an old tree stump. She shook the blue striped lump that occupied it. He saw when the creature unfurled itself he saw it was Airax. “Come on Aviator.”

      “Cute,” Rillien said politely, trying to hide his wariness of the bird-like pet. He had not had good experiences with Airax in the past, they tended to be nippy.

      “He’s a nuisance but he helps me fly,” Kookie responded. “He also likes to pick the music. Would you prefer formal or fun?”

      “Formal, I think,” Rillien replied, watching as the Airax jumped down from the chair and waddled over to the music player. The room was filled with beautiful but definitely not formal music.

      “Aviator,” Kookie scolded the pet. “Are you trying to play music for the whole castle? He asked for formal. Find something else and turn the music down, please.” He squawked indignantly but pecked the box again and a softer melody filled the room.

      “Thank you,” the Kougra said. She stood in the middle of the room on the mat for a few moments before turning to the prince. “Alright, join me on the mat and take my paws.” She held them out to him.

      Rillien nervously joined the Kougra on the mat and took both her paws. Her ears swivelled around the room and they both stood there silently for a moment. Then she moved one of his hands to her waist and put her now free hand on his shoulder. He was glad she could not see how red his normally pale face had become.

      “Follow my lead,” She said. “I’ll tap your feet with one of mine when it is time to back up and pull you forward if I want to go forward. Keep your head up, don’t watch your feet. Then you will lead.”

     ***

      “I really am, truly sorry,” Rillien apologized again as the Kougra sat in the armchair icing her sore feet. The first part had gone alright with her tapping his feet but when he led, it was disastrous. He did not think princesses would find him very trustworthy if he broke their toes.

      “Please, stop apologizing, it is alright,” She laughed. “Same time tomorrow?”

      “Sorry, did you say tomorrow?” He asked, in surprise.

      “Yes, you still want to learn don’t you,” She answered. “Nyx tells me there will be a ball very soon.”

      “But your- feet,” Rillien motioned toward her feet forgetting she couldn’t see him doing it. To his surprise, she just laughed at him.

      “I’m sorry, Prince Rillien, but I have had worse,” She said as she composed herself. “Dancing was not my first ambition. Don’t worry about my feet. I do need to rest them for now, but I will be in fine shape tomorrow.”

     ***

      “Listen to the music and let it guide you, and don’t count aloud,” Kookie laughed as Rillien practiced leading. He’d be uttering the steps under his breath.

      “Sorry,” He blushed again, thankful for her unseeing eyes. The uni had improved but it was still difficult. He at least had managed not to step on her feet, yet.

      “You are doing well, but you need to relax, you are very stiff,” Kookie said. “Tell me what do you do in your free time when you are not doing your princely duties?”

      “Uh-” That was a hard question, what did he do? And how was he supposed to talk about it and dance at the same time? “I guess I train with Violet?”

      “Princess Violet has mentioned that to me before, she greatly enjoys it,” Kookie responded. “What else? Do you take advantage of the library?” Rillien made a face.

      “I’m not much of a reader, I don’t hate reading, but I much prefer being active,” He answered. His voice lifted with happiness as he thought about the things he enjoyed. “I love flying and running. When I am moving I feel free and strong.”

      “And confident?”

      “Very, those parts of being a prince I do well,” Rillien answered. “I am charming enough I suppose and do well talking to other royals, when we’re not dancing of course.”

      “Really? You are doing just fine talking to me while you dance and you are doing splendidly,” Kookie replied. Rillien looked down and almost tripped on his own feet crashing into the Kougra who managed to stay on her feet.

      “Woah,” he said, amazed as he collected himself. “Sorry, I, did I?”

      “Dance?” Kookie laughed. “Yes, yes you did. Now is the hardest part, you have to dance with an audience and with a different partner.” Rillien let go of the Kougra’s paw and waist and backed up.

      “Wait, I’m not ready for that, I nearly tackled you to the floor!” He protested holding his hand up.

      “Oh yes you are, and your dance partner will be Prince Rosaline, she is a wonderful partner,” Kookie told him.

      “Now hold on, can’t I dance with Violet?” Rillien asked. “She’s more forgiving and she won’t care if I step on her toes if she wears her training boots!”

      “That is why it has to Princess Rosaline,” Kookie insisted. “Just talk to her as you lead, ask her questions. You are a much better dancer when you feel confident, just like most people.”

     ****

      “How exciting!” The young, duchess, countess, princess (?) said. Rillien couldn’t remember who she was or where she was from to be honest, but the Ixi seemed completely enamored with the prince.

      “Yes well, Miniglen can be a very exciting place, if you know where to look,” Rillien winked which made the green Ixi’s bright red. “We aren’t just crafters you know.” She giggled at this.

      “You must tell me more,” she insisted, as the song ended. “Please!”

      “I’m sorry but I must mingle, but you dance lovely,” He smiled. “But I will save you the last dance.” The Ixi just about melted at his offer. Rillien bowed to her and sought out his next partner, a dark haired, ddark-hairedark furred Kougra.

     ***

      “Can I cut in?” Rillien asked the eventide Gelert. The Gelert smirked at the prince, very unlike the captain of the guard but passed the Kougra’s paw to the prince. “I just wanted to say thank you.”

      “You’ve done well,” Kookie smiled at her pupil. “And I think I have made the other girls here jealous. You will have a busy night. Now you will have to learn to remember all their names.” Rillien blushed for what must have been the hundredth time since asking her to teach him. She may have been blind but she saw everything, but at least she turned him into Crown Prince Rillien of Mini Glen, prince, warrior, and wonderful dancer.