The Hero of Ages

her street side, the side that had been trained to be ruthless, for that, she thought, would give her the power to defend what she loved. Yet, Kelsier had shown her another way to be powerful. And, that power was connected with the nobility-with their intrigue, their beauty, and their clever schemes. Vin had taken almost immediately to life at court, and that had frightened her.

That's it, she thought, smiling at another curtsying young girl. That's why I always felt that this was wrong. I didn't have to work for it, so I couldn't believe that I deserved it.

She'd spent sixteen years on the streets-she'd earned that side of her. Yet, it had taken her barely a month to adapt to noble life. It had seemed impossible to her that something that came so easily could be as important a part of herself as the years spent on the streets.

But it was.

I had to confront this, she realized. Tindwyl tried to make me do it, two years ago, but I wasn't ready.

She needed to prove to herself not only that she could move among the nobility, but that she belonged with them. Because that proved something much more important: that the love she'd earned from Elend during those few early months wasn't based on a falsehood.

It's. . true, Vin thought. I can be both. Why did it take me so long to figure it out?

'Excuse me, ladies,' a voice said.

Vin smiled, turning as the women parted to make way for Elend. Several of the younger ones got dreamy expressions on their faces as they regarded Elend with his warrior's body, his rugged beard, and his white imperial uniform. Vin suppressed a huff of annoyance. She'd loved him long before he'd become dreamy.

'Ladies,' Elend said to the women, 'as Lady Vin herself will be quick to tell you, I'm rather ill-mannered. That, in itself, would be a very small sin. Unfortunately, I'm also quite unconcerned about my own disregard for propriety. So, therefore, I'm going to steal my wife away from you all and selfishly monopolize her time. I'd apologize, but that's not the sort of thing we barbarians do.'

With that, and with a smile, he held out his elbow to her. Vin smiled back, taking the arm and allowing him to lead her away from the pack of women.

'Thought you might want some room to breathe,' Elend said. 'I can only imagine how it must make you feel to be surrounded by a virtual army of puffballs.'

'I appreciate the rescue,' Vin said, though it wasn't actually true. How was Elend to know that she'd suddenly discovered that she fit in with those puffballs? Besides, just because they wore frills and makeup didn't mean they weren't dangerous-she'd learned that much easily her first few months. The thought distracted her such that she didn't notice where Elend was leading her until they were almost there.

When she did realize it, she stopped immediately, jerking Elend back. 'The dance floor?' she asked.

'Indeed,' he said.

'But, I haven't danced in almost four years!'

'Neither have I,' Elend said. He stepped closer. 'But, it would be terrible to miss the opportunity. After all, we never did get to dance.'

It was true. Luthadel had gone into revolt before they'd gotten an opportunity to dance together, and after that, there hadn't been time for balls or frivolity. She knew Elend understood how much she missed not having had the chance. He'd asked her to dance on the first night when they'd met, and she'd turned him down. She still felt as if she'd given up some unique opportunity on that first evening.

And so, she let him lead her up onto the slightly raised dance floor. Couples whispered, and as the song ended, everyone else furtively departed the dance floor, leaving Vin and Elend alone-a figure in lines of white, and another in curves of black. Elend put an arm at her waist, turning her toward him, and Vin found herself traitorously nervous.

This is it, she thought, flaring pewter to keep from shaking. It's finally happening. I finally get to dance with him!

At that moment-as the music began-Elend reached into his pocket and pulled out a book. He raised it with one hand, the other on her waist, and began to read.

Vin's jaw dropped, then she whacked him on the arm. 'What do you think you're doing?' she demanded as he shuffled through the dance steps, still holding his book. 'Elend! I'm trying to have a special moment here!'

He turned toward her, smiling with a terribly mischievous grin. 'Well, I want to make that special moment as authentic as possible. I mean, you are dancing with me, after all.'

'For the first time!'

'All the more important to be certain that I make the right impression, Miss Valette!'

'Oh, for. . Will you please just put the book away?'

Elend smiled more deeply, but slid the book back into his pocket, taking her hand and dancing with her in a more proper manner. Vin flushed as she saw the confused crowd standing around the dance floor. They obviously had no idea what to make of Elend's behavior.

'You are a barbarian,' Vin told him.

'A barbarian because I read books?' Elend said lightly. 'That's one that Ham will have a great time with.'

'Honestly,' Vin said, 'where did you even get a book here?'

'I had one of Yomen's servants fetch it for me,' Elend said. 'From the keep library. I knew they'd have it- Trials of Monument is a rather famous work.'

Vin frowned. 'Do I recognize that title?'

'It was the book that I was reading that night on the Venture balcony,' Elend said. 'The time we first met.'

'Why, Elend! That's almost romantic-in a twisted 'I'm going to make my wife want to kill me' sort of way.'

'I thought you'd appreciate it,' he said, turning lightly.

'You're in rare form tonight. I haven't seen you like this for quite some time.'

'I know,' he said, sighing. 'To be honest, Vin, I feel a bit guilty. I'm worried that I was too informal during my conversation with Yomen. He's so stiff that my old instincts-the ones that always made me respond to people like him with mockery-came out.'

Vin let him lead the dance, looking up at him. 'You're just acting like yourself. That's a good thing.'

'My old self didn't make a good king,' Elend said.

'The things you learned about kingship didn't have to do with your personality, Elend,' Vin said. 'They had to do with other things-about confidence, and about decisiveness. You can have those things and still be yourself.'

Elend shook his head. 'I'm not sure I can. Certainly, tonight, I should have been more formal. I allowed the setting to make me lax.'

'No,' Vin said firmly. 'No, I'm right about this, Elend. You've been doing the exact thing I have. You've been so determined to be a good king that you've let it squish who you really are. Our responsibilities shouldn't have to destroy us.'

'They haven't destroyed you,' he said, smiling behind his short beard.

'They nearly did,' Vin said. 'Elend, I had to realize that I could be both people-the Mistborn of the streets and the woman of the court. I had to acknowledge that the new person I'm becoming is a valid extension of who I am. But for you, it's opposite! You have to realize that who you were is still a valid part of you. That person makes silly comments, and does things just to provoke a reaction. But, he's also lovable and kindhearted. You can't lose those things just because you're emperor.'

He got that look in his face, the thoughtful one, the one that meant he was going to argue. Then, however, he hesitated.

'Coming to this place,' he said, looking at the beautiful windows and watching the nobility, 'it's reminded me of what I spent most of my life doing. Before I had to be a king. Even then, I was trying to do things my way-I went off and read during balls. But, I didn't do it away in the library, I did it in the ballroom. I didn't want to hide, I wanted to express discontent with my father, and reading was my way.'