For DWC - "First Dance", author's choice of ship if you want! :)
Thank you for prompting me :D This is the first one I’ve managed to finish for @dadrunkwriting!
Gonna do this for… Alistair x Rora Surana – 656 words
Despite its remoteness,the inn the party stopped at that night proved a surprisingly lively place. Thecompanions were in the midst of dinner when musicians emerged as if fromnowhere and began to play a lively jig. Patrons clapped their hands in time tothe music, and others got up to dance. Zevran was enthralled.
“Some entertainment atlast!” he said. “I thought you Fereldans did not know the meaning of the word.We should join in. Rora, if I may?”
Rora, still in theprocess of drinking her soup, looked up in surprise at Zevran’s offered hand.She shook her head.
“No, thank you,” shesaid. “I can’t dance.”
“Anyone can dance,” saidZevran. Rora shrugged apologetically. “Really? No? Alistair, then!” He turnedto the tall man, who was seated next to Rora. “Dance with me, my good man.”
Alistair, who had beenchewing a bite of bread, swallowed so hard Rora feared he would choke. He, too,shook his head.
“No, no, absolutely not,”he said. “I am not dancing, much lesswith you.”
Zevran clicked histongue, and turned to the others, “Anyone else? No?” He sighed when he was metwith rejections all around. “Ah, you wound me. But, no matter. I’m sure someone will wish to dance with one ashandsome as I.”
With that, he swept offto look for a partner elsewhere in the inn. The others went back to their foodand conversations, but Rora caught Alistair’s eye.
“You really don’t want todance?” she said. “With anyone?”
Alistair reddened. He puthis bread down before meeting her eyes again.
“I’ve never done itbefore,” he said sheepishly. “No dancing in the Grey Wardens, much less inTemplar training. If I tried I’d embarrass myself.”
Instead of answering,Rora let her eyes wander to the dancers. Couples were spinning, whirling andstepping across the floor in time to the music. Zevran, too, danced with apartner—a dark eyed human man who’d been sitting in a corner by himself. Zevrandramatically spun and then dipped his taller partner as the music picked up,and he and the man laughed.
Rora turned back toAlistair.
“Looks fun,” she said.
“Hmm…”
The song came to an end.They watched as Zevran bowed to his partner, then walked over to a human woman,bowing to her as well and offering his hand. She giggled and took it. The bandbegan to play again, a slower, quieter song. A steady drum beat.
Making a decision, Rorapushed back her chair and stood up. She held out her hand to Alistair.
“Come on,” she said. “Ican’t dance either, so you don’t need to be embarrassed.”
Alistair stared at herhand, blinked. Then, he grinned. He stood up and took her small hand in his.
“Fine,” he said. He movedcloser, close enough that his body pressed against hers. His voice was a rumblejust above her head. “Just don’t get mad if I step on your toes.”
She giggled, pressing herface into his chest. Then, she stepped back and they walked hand in hand ontothe inn floor.
It wasn’t much of adance. As much more skilled couples wove and spun around them, she and Alistairsimply swayed in place, his hand on the small of her back. She didn’t care,though. All she was aware of was the warmth of his body against hers and thegentle way he held her. Looking up into his eyes, the music, the other couples,faded away. All that remained was the two of them.
When the song ended—it tookthem a moment to realize it had—they came apart, sheepish and shy once more.
“That was nice,” Alistairsaid, rubbing his head.
“Yes,” said Rora. She lookedup and smiled. “I think we need more practice, though.”
Alistair reached for herhand again, drawing her closer, and she giggled as his lips brushed the top ofher head.
“Good idea.”
