Midnight Dance

By Vitora

 

Five back paws pounded the table wildly, accompanied by the hollow thunk of a wooden leg.  Beladad, Karia, and Validan linked paws, their eyes twinkling merrily in the torchlight.  The three otters jerked backwards wildly, each dancing dangerously near to the edge of the table but keeping his or her balance perfectly amidst the wild applause that followed.

 

The trio pranced inward again and released paws.  The male otters pulled out and jigged in a circle, leaving Karia to perform her own magic in the middle.  Waving her paw mysteriously, Karia bent down to present a single sunflower to a baby mole.  The youngsters crowded around the table clapped loudly and screeched her name.

 

Karia curtsied to them, her silvery dress shimmering, before somersaulting backwards onto the shoulders of the waiting Beladad.

 

The powerful male otter grinned easily and waltzed in a circle, Karia doing the same on his back.  They continued the dance, laughing happily and blowing kisses to the crowd.

 

Validan eased himself off the table and sat heavily on the bench, stretching out his left leg and watching Beladad with obvious envy.

 

“Validan?”

 

The dark-furred otter absently waved his paw.  “Arilla, now is not t’ time.”  He faced the newcomer with a pained expression.  “I don’t want sympathy any more ‘n you want a wasp in your ear.”

 

Arilla smiled sadly, curling her bushy tail around her legs as she slid down beside Validan.  “Does it always ache?” she inquired softly, pointing to the wooden stump.

 

The otter turned unfathomable green eyes on her pretty face.  “Not as much as ‘ere,” he confessed, touching his brawny chest.  The squirrelmaid gave him a puzzled look.  “Karia.”

 

“Ah…love,” Arilla murmured, her gaze shifting to the ottermaid, happily whirling on the dance table above them.  “Has Beladad asked her yet?”

 

“No, and that’s my only ‘ope,” Validan groaned, hiding his face in black-tipped paws.  “But why would she ever want me?”

 

The twin bells of Redwall tolled out thrice.  Arilla pointed to the center of the lawn towards the tables sagging with food.  “Friar Lomer outdid himself tonight.  He says that the Midnight Dance should be the most memorable feast of the season, something the Recorder can put down in his old dusty books.  Personally, all I want is to be able to stuff myself.”  The squirrel sucked in her stomach and grinned.  “See?  I’m starved.  You coming?”

 

“Eventually.”

 

Arilla gave him a sympathetic pat on the back and sauntered off towards the tables.  Validan watched her go and began to stand up.

 

“Hungry, Dan?”

 

The gentle, melodious voice froze the dark-furred otter in his tracks.  He turned slowly and blinked down into Karia’s face, embarrassed.  She laughed quietly and shoved a plate into his paws.

 

“Come on, mate.  We’ll find a quiet spot t’ enjoy this, away from those freakish terrors they call Dibbuns.”

 

Karia took his paw in hers and bounded off towards the stairway that led to the walltop.  The otters found a spot overlooking the festivities below and sat side by side, nibbling at the plateful of delicacies.

 

The female otter licked pear juice off her chin and took another bite of the perfectly ripe fruit.  “Mmmmm, this is delicious!  How’s the potato soup?”

 

Validan licked the last of the thick stew from the wooden bowl and smacked his lips.  “Wonderful!”

 

The laughter of Dibbuns and elders alike drifted up to them from the lawn.  Karia smiled and leaned her head on her companion’s shoulder.  “It’s so ‘appy ‘ere.  I wish this night could go on forever, don’t you, Dan?”

 

Surprised and rather embarrassed, Validan blushed and turned away.  “Eh, yeah, mate.”

 

Strains of delicate flute music trailed off and was replaced by the robust notes of a fiddle.  Karia tapped her paw on the stone and stood up decisively, her silver dress fluttering in the light breeze.  “Cummon, shipmate!  It’s the Midnight Dance!”

 

Validan was dragged down the stairs at triple the normal speed, his left leg pumping to keep up.  “Karia, I—I can’t,” he protested.  The light-furred otter jerked to a halt and faced her companion.

 

“Why not?”

 

Validan didn’t answer with words, simply pointing at his wooden leg instead.  Karia frowned for a moment, but her face brightened up almost instantly.

 

“We’ll only dance the slow parts.  Please?”

 

Her gray eyes stared pleadingly up into his.  The male otter shrugged in agreement and was dragged off immediately.  Secretly, he couldn’t have wanted more.

 

They skipped into the dance circle and were about to begin when a heavy paw tapped Validan rudely.  The male otter glanced at the newcomer and his spirits dropped.

 

Beladad stood, arms folded across his chest, glaring daggers at him.  Dejectedly, Validan stepped aside and made room for the other to take Karia into the dance.  As he began to walk away, he chanced a glance at his fellow dancer and saw that the other otter was grinning broadly and rather wickedly.

 

“Wait just a minute.”

 

Karia’s melodic voice, raised a notch, froze Validan mid-step.  He turned slowly to meet the female otter’s fiery gaze.

 

“Validan, you promised me a dance.  I intend t’ hold you t’ that promise.”  She whirled on Beladad.  “If you don’t mind…”

 

Beladad was completely taken aback.  His jaw slackened and his eyes widened.  “I—I—”

 

Karia raised one eyebrow.

 

“I—I’ll be going.”  He turned and walked mechanically back to the tables.  Karia nodded in satisfaction and took Validan’s paw again.

 

The dark otter stood firm.  “Karia, I’ve got one question.”

 

She turned around and cocked her head questioningly.  “Yes?”

 

“Why me?  Why didn’t you choose Beladad?  ‘E’s stronger, faster, smar—”

 

And her arms were around his neck, hugging him tightly.  Validan’s eyes popped open in surprise, but after a split second he hugged her back.  Karia soft voice sounded quietly in his ear.

 

“Why do you think?”

 

The fiddle was more vigorous now, and the two otters broke away and began to dance, their smiles lighting up the summer night.