Once the clapping has subsided, he says “Now, let’s celebrate with food, drink, and entertainment.” Signaling a servant standing at the edge of the room, he says “Let the celebration, begin.”
At that, the band strikes up a merry tune and doors begin to open as servants enter bearing trays laden with food. Roast pig, chickens, a veritable cornucopia of food begins to be laid upon the tables in front of the guests. Servants with pitchers begin passing among the tables as they fill everyone’s glass.
One comes and fills James’ with a sweet, smooth wine, reminiscent of the one he’d become plastered with back when he’d first met Miko in Bearn. Memories of the hangover he’d suffered through the following day makes him take only small sips during the meal.
Miko fills his plate to overflowing, much to the amusement of Nate, as he tries to eat some of everything placed before him.
During the dinner, entertainers come and perform within the open area surrounded by the tables. Acrobats, magicians, and dancers come and go as the meal progresses.
Once most of the guests have slowed down on their consumption of the bounty, the entertainers are cleared away and people begin moving toward the center of the floor as the band strikes up a waltz like tune and everyone begins to dance.
The dance is similar in nature to those James had seen in old movies of England, all structured and choreographed. All the dancers move in a pattern, weaving and bobbing in time to the music.
When the first dance had ended and the musicians were preparing to begin the next set, Miriam comes over to James and says, “Why don’t you ask Meliana to dance?”
He glances over to her and sees her looking eagerly over to him. He turns back to Miriam and says, “But I don’t know any of these dances.”
“Don’t be silly,” she tells him. “They’re not hard.”
He feels a nudge in the ribs and hears Jiron says, “Let’s go!” He grabs James arm as he propels him to the dance floor. Meliana sees him leaving his table and when she gets a nod from Miriam, says something to her father before getting up from the table. She makes her way toward him through the crowded dance floor.
When she reaches his side and gets into position to dance with him, he tells her, “I can’t dance!”
“Relax and just follow me,” she says to him. “It’s easy, I’ll show you what to do.”
He stands there nervous with Meliana standing in line across from him and Jiron in position to his right. When the music starts, he tries to follow Meliana’s lead and feels like he’s making a big spectacle of himself out in front of everyone.
But as he begins to learn the steps and the pattern of the dance, he’s able to relax and starts to enjoy himself. By the time the dance is over, he has the pattern figured out and found that he actually likes dancing. Of course, the fact he was dancing with as beautiful a girl as Meliana helped some too.
Once the dance is over, Meliana takes him over to her table where she sits with her family. “Momma,” she says to the woman sitting next to her father, “this is James.”
She gives him the critical once over all mothers give those their daughter’s have an interest in. Then she gives him a warm smile as she says, “Nice to meet you James.”
“You too ma’am,” he replies, blushing slightly under her stare.
“You dance well,” she tells him. “I just wish I could get my husband out there.”
Turning to her, her husband says, “You know I hurt my leg this morning!”
Nodding, she says, “Yes, dear.” She gives James a knowing look and continues, “He’ll do anything to get out of dancing.”
Meliana’s father just gives her an annoyed look and doesn’t take the bait.
The band is in the middle of another dance number and when they finish, Meliana takes James’ arm. With a quick farewell to her parents, she drags him back to the dance floor before the band has a chance to start up again.
They dance all evening, occasionally taking a break for drinks or just to talk. She doesn’t leave his side all night. At the end of one dance, her mother comes over to them and says, “We need to be leaving now.” She turns to James and says, “Would you be so kind as to escort Meliana home when she’s ready to leave?”
“Yes ma’am,” he assures her. “I’d be happy to.”
“Good,” she replies. Turning to her daughter, she says, “Your father’s leg is hurting, so we must leave. Don’t stay out all night, dear.”
“I won’t mother,” she assures her.
“Good evening, James,” she says to him. “It was good to meet you.”
“You too, ma’am,” he says.
Her mother returns to their table where she helps her father to his feet and they begin to leave the hall.
The rest of the evening is spent dancing and talking as they share past experiences. During one such break from the dance floor, James is amused when he sees Miriam has gotten Miko out on the dance floor. How she did it, he’d like to know. Miko looked positively frightened and lost out there. When the dance was over, he beat a retreat back to his seat next to Nate.
Miriam sees James watching and gives him a mischievous smile. He smiles back and then resumes talking with Meliana.
When most of the guests have left, James figures it’s about time to take her home. He goes over to Miko and says, “I’m taking Meliana home, would you like to come with us?”
Shaking his head, Miko replies, “I’m going to see Nate to his room and then stay there for a while before turning in.”
“Very well,” James says, disappointed. As much as he likes Meliana, he’s just a little scared of being alone with her. He sees Jiron over to the side of the dance floor talking to a couple girls and makes his way over to him.
When he asks if he’d like to go with them, he just says “No.”
“But what will her parents think if she’s with me all by herself?” he asks him.
“They wouldn’t have asked you to take her home if they were concerned about you,” he assures him.
“I suppose you’re right,” he admits. He looks over to where Meliana and Miriam are standing near the front doors, talking.
He leaves Jiron and makes his way over to where the girls are. They stop talking when they see him approaching. As he joins them, Miriam says, “Well, I better go and see how Nate’s doing.”
“Miko is going to see him to his room and stay with him for a while,” he tells her.
“I better check anyway,” she says. She gives Meliana a hug and says, “Goodbye, I’m glad you were able to come.”
Glancing briefly at James, she gives a little smile and says, “Me too.”
She slides her arm through James’ as they walk out into the warm summer evening. “Where do you live?” he asks, feeling good with her on his arm.
“Oh, it’s not too far from here,” she tells him. Pointing down the street to the right, she says, “It’s several blocks that way.”
Turning into the indicated direction, he slowly strolls along the street with her. There are other guests from the banquet walking along the street as well, while others are in carriages on their way home.
“It’s too bad you’re leaving in the morning,” Meliana says with disappointment as she lays her head on his shoulder.
“Yeah, I know,” he replies. “It’s been nice being here.”
“Maybe you could stay longer?” she asks hopefully.
“I wish I could, but I’m unable to,” he tells her. “I need to help get Jiron and Miko out of the Empire and back home.”
“I understand,” she says. “Maybe when things change, you could come back and visit?”
“Perhaps,” he says, “but that is highly unlikely.”
“I suppose you’re right,” she agrees.
Arm in arm, they walk down the street until they come to her house. A light is on in the front room. “Mother is waiting up for me, it looks like,” she says as they come to the front door.
“I guess this is where we say goodbye,” he says to her.
Suddenly, she embraces him and places her lips upon his, giving him a warm and eager kiss.
