Guardian Elves

Mereneth rolled her eyes. "How did I know you were going to ask that?" she laughed. "No. We didn't. He just brought the food to me, chatted a little bit about some things, and left."

"What things?" Monique's brown eyes pleaded in curiosity: "Like Alexander, or what happened yesterday---or falling in love?"

Mereneth stared at her sister blankly, then laughed. "Monique!! Just...stuff! Like, how he didn't eat, how he hopes I get better, that stuff!" She left out the other part on purpose and swallowed hard. I am not telling her....

Monique eyed her as Merineth glided in:
"Alrighht Monique! Leave Mereneth ALONE!"
She rolled her eyes:
"YOU FIRST, Merineth! Or did you forget that YOU pushed him up here last night?"
Merineth looked stunned, and pretended not to know what she's talking about.
"Breakfast is ready, Mereneth--do you want someone to bring up breakfast, or are you feeling well enough to come down and eat with us?"

Mereneth sighed. "I'll come down and eat. I'm feeling better." she got up. "If you'll excuse me. I'm going to change in more proper clothes." she laughed and looked down at her pajamas.

Monique grinned:
"I bet Shoun would think your PJ's are cuuuute."

Mereneth's eyes widened and she pushed both of her sister's out of the room. "I'll see you down there!" she yelled as she shut the door. She sighed and went over to her closet, opening it up and getting out a peach-colored dress, changing, and pulling her hair up, then going out into the corridoor.

Merineth, and Monique giggled madly as they went down the hall; consquently they ran into Shoun.
"Good morning," He smiled, and bowed to both of them.
"Good morning!" They chirped back in union, and promptly started giggling.
"What?"
"Ask Mereneth when she comes to breakfast," Monique winked, and Merineth punched her in the shoulder.
Shoun eyed them suspiciously as they all came to the banquet hall.
"Good morning!" Rowen beamed as Shoun, Monique, and Merineth took their seats. Boaz entered the room, and almost sat down, when he noticed Mereneth wasn't there.
"Where's Mereneth? Is she eating in bed again?"

Mereneth walked in and smiled. "I'm here!" she laughed and sat down next to her sisters. "I'm feeling a lot better."

Shoun smiled.
"I'm glad...is there anything I can do for you?"

Mereneth smiled and shook her head. "Not that I can think of." she laughed a little, then added, "But thank you."

Monique drank some juice as she muttered, giggling:
"You COULD give Mereneth a kiss; then she'd be cured!"

Mereneth's eyes widened and she kicked Monique under the table, trying to keep a straight face, and hoping Shoun didn't hear a word of what her sister said. She coughed. "Right..." she picked up her fork and started to eat.

Shoun hoped his face didn't show his embarrassment (or secret hope of being able to kiss Mereneth someday)...
"So," He cleared his throat, trying to make conversation: "Mereneth...are you up to starting dance lessons?"
He was hoping that she could, but was highly doubtful.

Mereneth laughed a little. "Sure!" she took a drink of orange juice. "But I've never given lessons so, please forgive me if I mess up a little." she laughed again.

"As long as I'm with you; I don't care HOW much you mess up at teaching," Shoun's heart sighed...
Boaz, Rowen, Merineth, and Monique watched Mereneth, and Shoun closely, and secretly exchanged smiles...
They could very easily see a wedding in their future.
"Well," Rowen began; hoping her matchmaker's skills wouldn't become obvious: "Why don't you start as soon as your finished eating? I mean, Boaz and I have to go to Oiho to make a peace treaty between our kingdoms (we should be back in a few days--two weeks would be the longest we expect), and Merineth has to help Monique study, so-"
"It works out!" Monique chirped, and then muttered: "And they'll be alone most of the time--while dancing--how romantiiiiiic."

Mereneth blushed a little and finished eating. "Um...I'll be in the ballroom." she laughed and walked out of the place where they were eating and into the corridoor. Mereneth sighed and giggled a little, then walked about halfway down and opened the big, oak doors that led to the huge ballroom. She went inside and sighed of amazmement. "Wow..." It was lit up by the chamberliens, plus the light that shone in through the ceiling-high windows.

When he finished eating, Monique guided Shoun to the ballroom...
Despite all appearances; Shoun's head was spinning, his heart was pounding, and he was struggling to breathe easily...
He just couldn't believe that he was feeling this deeply about Mereneth, he couldn't believe that he was going to be ALONE with her, and he REALLY couldn't believe that he was going to try to DANCE with her (he had two left feet).
Monique beamed as the servants opened the doors for them:
"Have fun!"
Shoun smiled, and replied calmly:
"I'm sure we will."
Monique giggled and sprinted off to work on her studies.

Mereneth turned and smiled. "Okay...." she laughed a little, feeling way nervous. "What kind of dance do you want to learn?"

"I don't even know the names of a lot of dances," Shoun chuckled, his face turning bright red. Wow, this was going to get awkward....

Mereneth laughed nervously. "Right...we...we could start out with the waltz...if you want..."

Shoun swallowed.
"Alright..." He took her hand, and silently gasped; it was so soft and warm. Her grasp caused his hand to tingle , and his heart to melt: "Mind showing me how it's done?"

Merenth laughed a little. "R-right..." she felt her face going red and she held up the hand he was holding, then put her other hand on his shoulder. "Now...you...er....you put your arm, around my waist." 

Shoun gulped quietly--AROUND her WAIST?!
Slowly, but surely he wrapped his arm around her waist--and drew her closer to him.
Hey, personally boundaries don't really apply in dancing; he might as well get used to it now, and not later.
"So..." He spoke up finally after more awkward silence--until the orchestra began to play: "Umm...what now?"

Mereneth laughed and led him through the dance steps a couple times, trying not to step on his feet. Slowly her nervousness began to fade away and she laughed, looking up at him. "You got the dance down? Or do we need to do it a couple more times?"