Chapter 16: Dizzy

The ballroom lies past the large, carved double doors on one end of the main foyer that are always shut tight. Aesind pushes one of the doors open with an easy smile and a beckoning gesture. There's a half-moon dais just inside the doors and three broad steps leading down into the room itself. Emrys follows Aesind in and stops at the top of the steps to take it all in.

To say the ballroom is massive would be an understatement. The space is broad and long, extending over a hundred feet into the distance. Three enormous chandeliers hang from the vaulted ceiling. They gleam with gold and crystals that cast rainbows over the space thanks to the bright sunlight beaming in through the floor to ceiling windows along the right-hand side of the room. Two sets of glass doors lead out onto the patio at the back of the manor. The floors are tiled with gleaming, polished white tiles that are three feet square. Gray specks in the surface sparkle in the sun.

It's easy to imagine this room full of music and dancing and conversation. The voices of hundreds would echo over each other, but the room's construction would give excellent acoustics for any musical outfit positioned at the stage on the far side of the room. Music played from there could be heard from anywhere over any din.

"Well?" Aesind says, hands on his hips. He grins up at Emrys from a few tiny steps into the massive space. His voice echoes through the room. "Are you just going to stand up there, or are you coming down here with me?"

Emrys steps down and spreads his arms wide. "It's an impressive stage, to say the least. What's so incredible that you need this much space to show me?"

"Do you like music, Emrys?" Aesind asks as Emrys joins him. He does a dramatic spin, arms raised as though mimicking skirts twirling. "Dancing?"

"Music, yes," Emrys replies, smiling at Aesind's adorable twirl. "Dancing, not so much."

"No? You surprise me."

Emrys snorts. "Why is that surprising?"

"Dancing isn't so different from fighting," Aesind says. He makes another beckoning motion and walks further into the expansive ballroom. "I assumed you'd be pretty good at it."

Emrys raises an eyebrow. "That isn't why you invited me here, is it? If so, I'm afraid you'll be disappointed."

"Ah, no. Well." Aesind grins and does another spin, round and round on his toes. "Not entirely, anyways. If I get you to dance with me, it's something of a bonus. But no." He raises his arms out to either side and wiggles his fingers. A spray of tiny stars fall from his fingertips to dance along the floor before sputtering out. "I'd like to show you the kind of magic I like to do. And while I can do it anywhere, I have something of a flair for the dramatic."

"You don't say," Emrys says, watching the last of the sparkles bounce off the tiles. He raises a fond, expectant look to Aesind. "Go on, then. Show off. You have my full attention."

Aesind's smile purses into an almost flirtatious smirk that Emrys couldn't possibly read into. There's no reason to try. If Aesind's eyes sparkle like the stars in his hands, it's because of excitement, nothing more.

"Good," Aesind replies. He points one finger at Emrys. "Stay right there."

Emrys makes a show of tucking his hands into his pockets and staying right where he is. He follows with his eyes as Aesind wanders toward the middle of the cavernous ballroom. Aesind claps his hands and rubs them together, seemingly observing the way the sound bounces off the walls. He comes to a stop and throws a grin Emrys's way. Heart skipping, Emrys returns it with a go on jut of his chin.

"Ready?" Aesind says at regular volume, though it sounds much louder thanks to the room's construction.

"As I'll ever be," Emrys replies.

Aesind raises his hands and shuts his eyes. His left hand curls, palm up, off to one side. The other takes up an odd position that almost looks as though Aesind is holding onto something delicately. Aesind takes a deep breath, and his right hand moves.

A single, solitary note floats through the air -- a long, uninterrupted stroke of a bow against a violin's string. Aesind's arm draws downwards next, and the note changes. His left hand shifts, and Emrys realizes he's holding down invisible strings as a chord rings through the ballroom.

"Perfect tuning every time," Aesind says with a smile. He turns faintly glowing eyes on Emrys. "Any requests?"

Emrys's tongue feels fat and dry in his mouth. He's known Aesind has a talent for music, based on the room full of instruments upstairs that the man disappears into for hours at a time (when he can disappear, that is). To be able to recreate an instrument's sound perfectly, at will, is a rare talent.

"Uh," Emrys says intelligently. He fishes around for a song. Any song would do. Anything at all. "Your favorite?"

Ugh.

"My favorite, huh?" Aesind laughs. "Alright. Hold on tight."

"... What?"

Aesind laughs again, louder and longer, but he doesn't answer. Instead, he waves his arms back and forth, flexing his fingers. He raises his arms to his invisible violin again. This time, instead of a single note or chord, Aesind begins to play a lilting tune. It's an uptempo jig made for dancing. Not long after he starts, Aesind starts to move in time with the music. He wanders about the ballroom in a wide circle, stepping to the rhythm of his song.

It isn't a song Emrys knows, but he's been to enough parties to know how the dance ought to go. Pairs spin each other around until they're dizzy and laughing like they're drunk. Sometimes, there are specific moves, kicks and twirls and claps, but the point is revelry, not impressing anyone.

The song suits Aesind, Emrys thinks as he turns in place to keep him in view. He could see the pretty man and his handsome godkin mate spinning each other round and round this very ballroom. They'd be beautiful together. More beautiful than usual, anyways.

Aesind makes a sharp spin and meets Emrys's eyes again. He grins and draws his invisible bow along invisible strings with purpose. To Emrys's surprise and delight, a second violin's voice rises out of the ether to harmonize with the original tune. Aesind does another twirl, and this time, to the rhythm of his dancing footsteps, a drum begins to beat steadily beneath the song. Another, and the low, sultry tones of a cello join. Each spin and step and twirl brings a new voice to the ever-growing orchestra, summoned by the flick of fingers and graceful rolls of the wrist.

The conjured music fills the ballroom. Emrys feels it swell in his chest, threatening to sweep him along with it. Aesind's smile does the same. As the music has grown more complex, the glow in his eyes has gotten brighter and brighter. And yet, through all the focus this magic must be requiring, he's still laughing and stepping along to the song like it's nothing at all.

He comes to a stop in front of Emrys with a flourish. Grinning madly, he offers both of his hands. "Dance with me."

"Aesind, I don't --"

"Aw, come on," Aesind prods above the sound of magical music. He wiggles his fingers at Emrys. "Please? Just this once. You don't have to be any good."

Emrys gives a long-suffering sigh, and Aesind takes that as the surrender it is. Aesind whoops, grabbing at both of Emrys's hands to sweep him into a wide spin. It isn't graceful. But it makes Aesind laugh when Emrys trips over his own two feet trying to keep up with the ever-increasing tempo, and that's more than enough. The smile on Aesind's face is brighter than any Emrys has seen from him. It was lovely from afar, but up close, it's utterly enchanting -- a word Emrys never understood until now.

He'll blame it on the giddiness later. Emrys lets go of one of Aesind's hands so he can wrap it around Aesind's waist to tug him closer for a more proper dance form.

"So you can dance," Aesind says with a delighted cackle.

"Never said I couldn't," Emrys replies. His cheeks are starting to hurt from how wide he's smiling. "Just that I don't usually like it."

"Usually, huh?" Aesind squeezes his hand. The glow in his eyes shines bright. The music skips and speeds up again, and he drags Emrys into a tight, rapid spin.

All Emrys can do is laugh. He can't say that he only likes this because it's Aesind. That it's because of the feel of Aesind's hand in his and the way his fingers rest perfectly at the dip of Aesind's narrow waist. That it's because of the closeness.

Gods, the closeness. Inches separate their faces, filled with fizzing energy and music and magic. Emrys could just lean forward to see how sweet Aesind's smile tastes.

The room around them blurs into a smear of color. The rainbows cast by the crystals far above their heads expand and swirl and dance with them, bouncing along the floor in time and in tune with every plucked note and harmonious chord.

Emrys sees none of it. He has eyes only for the incredible, irresistible man in his arms as they laugh breathlessly in tune with the music.

All songs have to come to an end. This one offers a flourish and several halting notes for its dancers to pose to. As the final, trembling note plays, Aesind steps out of Emrys's hold and sweeps into a dramatic bow. Laughing and panting from more than the exertion, Emrys returns it with slightly less gusto.

"I see now why you needed the space," Emrys says as he straightens.

"Ha! Music sounds better in here." Aesind gestures to the ceiling. He's out of breath from all the rapid spinning, face flushed and full of mirth. The glow of magic is gone from his eyes, but they still sparkle. "Acoustics, and all. What do you think?"

"I've heard mages do one instrument. But a full outfit?" Emrys shakes his head. All of his mushy admiration is on full display, he knows. He does his best to spin it as friendly as possible. "I've never seen anything like it. You're incredible." Well, damn. Emrys clears his throat and tries again. "Where did you learn how to do that? The Academy?"

Aesind shakes his head. "No. I never had any formal schooling. I didn't have the opportunity, I'm afraid."

"You're self-taught, then," Emrys says with a whistle. "That's even more impressive."

"Thank you." Aesind ducks his head, but it can't hide the flattered curl of his smile. It also can't hide the way it falls slightly. "Not everyone thinks so. Being less fortunate is seen as a curse by many."

Emrys sets a hand on Aesind's shoulder before he can stop himself. Aesind's head whips up, eyes wide and wondering.

"Not me," Emrys says softly. "It's made you strong and resourceful. Just because some people can't see it doesn't mean you're not."

Pretty pink lips part in surprise. They bend into a smile that's almost shy.

Before he can say anything, the creaking of a door catches his and Emrys's attention. One of the ballroom doors swings open slightly, and a familiar head pokes around it. Mister Keyes peers into the ballroom.

Emrys drops his hand, but it's too late. He's been seen.

"Oh!" Keyes says, backing away. His eyes go wide. "Excuse me. I apologize for interrupting your time, sirs. Lord Consort, please, let me know when you are next free."

"After dinner, perhaps," Aesind calls back. He offers a grateful smile to Mister Keyes. "I appreciate your understanding."

"Well, I would hate for my own time to be cut short," Keyes replies, returning the smile with one of his own. He gives Emrys a respectful nod. "Good afternoon."

"Afternoon," Emrys mutters, watching how Keyes retreats and shuts the door behind himself without complaint. He glances at Aesind, eyes narrow. "So?"

"So what?"

"That's the second gentleman today who's thought I'm courting you, Aesind," Emrys says as dryly as he can despite the squeeze in his chest at the thought. "What's going on?"

Aesind's smile turns to a chagrined grimace. "Don't be angry."

"I'm not angry." Emrys crosses his arms (ignoring a renewed twitch of pain as he does; it was easier to forget while spinning himself dizzy with Aesind in his arms) and quirks an eyebrow. "Annoyed, perhaps, but not angry. Explain."

With a sigh, Aesind casts a look around the now-silent, cavernous space. He watches a pair of gardeners pass by on the terrace outside. When he looks back to Emrys, he says, "Not here. Let's have lunch brought up to my music room."

"And you'll tell me everything?"

Aesind hesitates. "I'll tell you what I can."

"Good enough." Emrys gestures toward the doors. "Lead the way."