The lively music swelled through the ballroom as the many couples danced along, stepping to the rhythm and twirling round and round across the floor. The entire scene was alive with the myriad colors of the different dresses, each more lovely than the last.
It seemed everyone in the neighboring kingdoms had arrived for the ball, thrown by King Wizengarde of Sirelot. And Victor and Mia were no exception. They had arrived together, along with their friends Feral, Rose and Croak, and Mia had wasted no time in dragging her beastly escort to the dance floor. She was a vision in her aqua-green dress, which was accented by pale blue lace around the hem of the skirt. Victor himself had worn only a pair of trousers, a large white shirt and a dark blue jacket, all of which he found uncomfortably tight and uncomfortable, considering his large build and coat of fur underneath. But still he braved it all night long, for Mia’s sake, if nothing else.
The song ended with a flourish, and the dancers applauded loudly. Victor even caught himself smiling--a rare feat for him since becoming a werewolf. But then he saw her.
Princess Amarelle, the king’s only daughter, walked into the ballroom from the main entrance. He had met her only recently, and had spent just a short amount of time alone with her… but somehow just seeing her took his breath away now. Her long brown hair was down, as always, and she wore a purple dress and a golden necklace, and as Victor looked at her, her green eyes seemed to sparkle. She was accompanied, unsurprisingly, by Malevont the dragon, in his human form. True, Malevont had become much tamer as of late, since he met the princess of Sirelot, but it was still odd to see him here in the palace and not rampaging about like a monster on the hunt. Victor almost wondered why they would even allow a dragon to the ball, but he shook his head with a grin. They let him be here, and he was stuck in his wolf-like form all the time. At least Malevont looked human, despite his pale skin, yellow eyes, and his usual dark wardrobe.
“I thought she wasn’t going to show up,” Mia said, bringing Victor out of his thoughts. He looked at her and saw her smiling. “I’m glad Amarelle changed her mind. Let’s go say hello!” And before Victor could say anything Mia pulled him by the paw towards them. Not that Victor really minded.
---
Amarelle entered the ballroom on Malevont’s arm, and smiled. Her father had truly outdone himself this time! The room was so brilliantly lit by the candles, and their light glittered off of the silver and gold ornaments on the walls, as well as the bright clothing of the dancers. Suddenly, she found herself hoping Malevont wouldn’t be too out of place in his all-black attire. But then again, being a feared and hated dragon, he was a bit out of place, anyway.
“Are you certain you don’t mind being here?” she asked him.
Malevont shrugged his shoulders. “I’m not used to attending many human parties,” he replied, “but it’s nothing I cannot handle.” He managed a small grin, and Amarelle smiled in return.
But then, there on the dance floor, she noticed Victor. How odd, she thought, to see him so dressed up. She had only known him a short time, and in that time the most clothing she had ever seen the werewolf wear was a pair of torn-up pants. Now he looked like a prince, dressed for a fairy tale dance.
Of course, Amarelle found it hard not to laugh at herself, comparing a furry, wolf-like being to a fairy tale prince. And yet, somehow, it seemed to fit here. He was more prince-like than anyone she knew, anyway, at least when he wasn’t trying so hard to be tough and closed-off. Ellyn was kind and noble, but he was more the heroic, chivalrous type, more suited to knighthood. As for Malevont… he just wasn’t at all the prince type. But Victor was different. Somehow… he just seemed like a fairy tale come to life, despite his appearance.
But as she thought all this, Amarelle finally noticed Mia pulling Victor in her direction. She quickly shook her head to clear her mind, and offered them a smile as they approached.
“I’m glad to see you both made it,” Amarelle said to them, acting every bit the princess she was.
“We wouldn’t have missed it,” Mia replied with a warm smile. “We’ve had a wonderful time dancing.” Victor nodded in agreement.
Amarelle turned to him with a hint of surprise in her face. “I thought you couldn’t dance,” she said to him.
Victor just smiled. “I said I didn’t,” he corrected, “but I never said I couldn’t.”
Amarelle returned his smile.
“Attention, everyone!” The guests all turned to face King Wizengarde as he spoke from his throne, seated across the room. “I wish to thank you all for coming tonight, especially those of you who have traveled from afar. In order to make us all more acquainted, I would like the men to ask a lady he did not accompany this evening to dance.”
As the musicians began to play a light waltz, many of the men and women found new partners and began to dance, but Malevont, Amarelle, Mia and Victor seemed almost hesitant.
Finally, Malevont broke the silence and held out his hand to Mia, asking, “Would you care to dance?”
“Of course,” Mia replied with a smile, and took Malevont’s hand. Malevont led her to the dance floor, leaving Amarelle and Victor alone.
Victor turned to the princess, unsure about what his next step should be. But soon enough, he realized there was nothing to do but dance, so he held out his paw.
Amarelle paused a moment as well. She had never expected something like this. But, she had to admit, it wasn’t an unpleasant idea. Slowly, she placed her small, delicate hand in Victor’s paw, and as he closed his clawed fingers over her hand she was surprised at how gently he did so, as though he held a fragile flower.
The two made their way to the dance floor, and Victor carefully placed a hand around Amarelle’s waist, while Amarelle put her hand upon his shoulder. They began to move to the music, and their steps were so fluid it was almost like they were gliding.
“You dance very well,” said Amarelle, almost to quiet to hear. “Where did you learn?”
“I had instructors as a child,” Victor replied. “Growing up I had to attend many balls and parties.”
Amarelle was surprised at that. But, after all, Victor hadn’t always been a werewolf. He had once been a human, with a home and a family and a life. She wondered what he must have been like, and what it would have been like if she had met him then. If she hadn’t only known him for a short time, and had the chance to really know him. Suddenly, she felt very saddened by the thought that she hadn’t had more of a chance to get to know him. Before she realized it, Amarelle found herself moving closer to Victor. She felt his heart beating in his chest, and the fur beneath his shirt. It was very soft, just like the fur on his paw. She had never felt so warm in her life.

You’re in my arms, and all he world is calm. The music playing on, for only two…
So close together, and when I’m with you, so close to feeling alive…

Amarelle’s actions were not lost on Victor, however. He was surprised to feel her draw closer to him, and feel his chest against his. He, too, breathed in her scent, and as his sense of smell was so heightened he could almost read her like a book from smell alone. All the soaps and perfumes she used when she bathed, a common scent for royalty. But what was unique about her was a natural scent, like that of trees and flowers. She had obviously spent a lot of time outdoors. And there was a smell that reminded him of old books, which told him she enjoyed reading. The smell was not unpleasant at all, but very unique for a princess. Not that he’d ever met another princess before. And then there was the faintest smoky scent about her, almost like brimstone, or something of the kind. Obviously that was from Malevont. For some reason the thought that the dragon had been so close to her irritated Victor, and he pushed it from his mind. Now he concentrated on Amarelle, as their eyes met.

A life goes by, Romantic dreams must die. So I bid mine goodbye and never knew…
So close was waiting, waiting here with you. And now forever I know…
All that I wanted to hold you… so close…

Amarelle felt a blush come over her face as she looked into Victor’s eyes. They were yellow, like Malevont’s, and yet so different. They weren’t as human as Malevont’s were in his human form, but there was something about them that captivated her. She wondered if Mia had ever noticed it.
But somehow the thought of Mia seemed unpleasant at this moment. Amarelle didn’t want to think of her, or Malevont, or anyone else. She just wanted to concentrate on Victor. And as they danced, she realized he wanted nothing other than to concentrate on her.
They twirled and turned around and around the room, soon attracting the attention of many of the other dancers who were surprised at how gracefully they moved.

So close to reaching that famous happy end. Almost believing this was not pretend…

They drew even closer now, and they both new neither of them was pretending any longer. They knew something was happening, and, while they danced at least, they couldn’t care less about stopping it.
Amarelle could swear her feet never touched the ground as she danced, and now she and Victor were so close that they were cheek-to-cheek. She was getting lost in the moment, the dancing and swaying, and the strange exhilaration of Victor’s heart beating so close to hers. She wanted desperately to say something before it was over, to not waste the moment by remaining in silence, but what was there to say.
Fortunately, Victor found the words she couldn’t, and sang along softly to the song, “Now you’re beside me, and look how far we’ve come… so far… we are… so close…”
Amarelle smiled, even as tears formed in her eyes. She rested her head on his shoulder as they continued to dance, the entire world now completely forgotten. For that moment, only they existed.
But then, Victor felt a hand on his shoulder, and both he and Amarelle jumped in surprise. It was like being awoken out of a pleasant dream you didn’t want to leave. They turned and saw Malevont and Mia standing there.
“May I cut in?” Malevont asked. Whether he had realized what just went on, Victor couldn’t tell.
Victor paused a moment and turned to Amarelle one more time. “Of course,” he said at last. He stepped aside as Malevont took Amarelle’s hand and led her away. Amarelle turned back only once, a small frown on her lips, before she turned to Malevont and began to dance again.
Mia moved closer to Victor and gently touched his arm, looking up at him with concern as he watched Amarelle go. “Are you alright?” she asked.
Victor finally turned away from Amarelle and faced Mia. Somehow, looking at her now caused a pang of guilt to rise in his heart, and he shook his head. “I’m fine,” he replied. “I think I’ve had my fill of dancing for the night, though.”
Mia just nodded. Maybe somewhere in her heart she guessed that something had happened, but if so then she didn’t say so. She just put her arm in Victor’s and together they walked toward  the door.

How could I face the faceless days, if I should lose you now…?

As she danced with Malevont, Amarelle felt a strange void. Malevont felt so different from Victor. He was warm, but in an untouchable way, like fire. And he was gentle, but not as gentle as Victor. Perhaps that was because Malevont had always been a dragon, destructive by nature, while Victor was more human than wolf.
As they turned, Amarelle noticed Victor and Mia leaving. She wanted to call to him, to ask him to stay, but she knew he couldn’t. Not if they wanted to avoid hurting Malevont and Mia. Amarelle loved Malevont too much, and she knew Victor cared for Mia. Maybe it was best to let their moment together fade into just another memory…
They had come so close… but they were still too far from each other.

We’re so close to reaching that famous happy end, almost believing this was not pretend.
Let’s go on dreaming, for we know we are…
So close… So close
And still so far…

The End