“Cain keeps seeing you up at the training grounds before dawn and you always look as if you’ve been there for a while. "You could again if you're still there in the morning instead of getting up at an ungodly hour,” Nanna said, trying in vain not to sound as if she were scolding him. It's been a while since I've seen you so happy." "It's not spoiling if you deserve it." Leif hesitated a moment before sliding his hand further along her waist, leaving little space between them.
Everything else you're doing is just spoiling me." Nanna placed her hand back to his shoulder, closer in than before. "But I didn't want to let you down when you were looking forward to tonight so much." I didn't expect you'd take an interest in dancing." She nudged his knee with hers to make him start moving again, leading them back into the dance. "I'm fine." Nanna lifted her head to prove she was and warn him not to make a fuss over this. She twirled a little too fast, grabbing onto his sash to steady herself as she clumsily came out of it. He'd certainly gotten over his nerves as he took his hand off her back, lifting the hand holding hers to let her twirl under them. Leif looked as if he was enjoying himself to, small smile returned as he held her gaze, all his attention on her. Her mother's love of dancing made even more sense now, the feeling of gliding around the room, her skirt swirling and brushing against her ankles with every turn, Leif's hand gentle and steady against her back far eclipsing anything she'd imagined. But by their first turn, he'd caught on and adjusted them, both of their steps becoming smoother and lighter but always staying together. They started a step behind everyone else and Leif's steps were a bit too wide for Nanna to follow comfortably at first. Some of his tension left Leif at her assurance of trust in him but before he could respond, the next song's first note pierced the air and the dancing resumed. This was their first time dancing together, she wasn't going to spend it staring at the floor. "I can follow you," Nanna cut him off as she placed her hand on his shoulder.
Leif took the opportunity to lead Nanna onto the floor, stopping in a clearer space and placing his free hand on the small of her back. The music slowly faded as the orchestra reached the end of their song, pausing a moment before beginning their next.
"Nor can I." A week of lessons with Linoan wasn’t enough for Nanna to be confident in her skills but she at least had a good idea what she should do. "I'm afraid I can't promise not to step on your feet." Leif looked down at it, giving a soft laugh before accepting. "I'd need a partner to join." Nanna held out her hand for him to take. He offered her a small smile, unease fading at the familiar sight. "Do you want to join them or just keep watching?" Leif's question drew her attention away from the dance floor.
It was still hard to believe as she watched all the waltzing couples before her move in perfect tandem to the orchestra's tune. But that was all she thought of it as, that world of luxury too distant from a life on the run to think it could be anything more than that. Imagining herself as part of something so happy and beautiful gave her a brief reprieve from the bleaker world around her. She'd fall asleep hoping to dream of elegantly dressed lords and ladies dancing the night away, and when she could find time alone, she'd twirl around, pretending her movements were steps of a dance. Nanna had been captivated by her tales of beautiful cities selling rare goods, grand feasts of the finest foods, and especially the balls. Before she’d left for Isaach, Nanna’s mother would tell her stories every night about what life had been like before the Empire.