The world spun as Noah was flung around on the dance floor. He breathed in the spiced air and took in his partner’s face through the flickering light. Her ivory skin and sharp features revealed her heritage, though he would have known from the way she moved alone. She twirled him ‘round the floor with such grace that he started to believe he knew what he was doing. The tension built as the chant intensified, and he could feel the stomping in his bones. His legs moved like a blur, and a grin crept across his face as his partner laughed in glee. Then, with a final shout, the room went silent, and the dancers were left heaving for breath. His partner gave him a quick hug and left for the bar while the orcs were replaced by the elves.

  The elven singers began their song, a melody that plucked at his heart strings. It was slow and tense, a mix of bright notes and drawn-out minors. When the words came, it was all he could do to keep back the tears that pooled in the corners of his eyes. The words were sung slow and deliberate, with pauses between each line.

  “I’ve been waiting to see you…”

  Someone tapped lightly on his shoulder. He turned and found familiar eyes, vibrant green, pulling him in.

  “I wasn’t sure if the wind would draw you in…”

  She extended a hand, and he took it, following her back onto the dance floor.

  “Or perhaps it was the fire…”

  She began to sway, and he mirrored her, wrapping his hands around her waist as she draped hers along his shoulder blades.

  “Delivering your face to me again…”

  Her eyes met his, and the rest of the room faded away. The familiar sensation brought him back to his first elven dance.

  “Now I am filled with fresh desire…

  In a sudden movement, she pushed herself off of his chest with a single hand and spun away from his grasp. The departure left a void, and he began to chase after her. She turned and caught his hand and led him into a turn of his own before drawing close again.

  “The chase was always worth the wait…”

  She grinned wildly, and Noah’s breath caught as he braced for her next move. Despite the emotional turmoil that came from dancing with the elves, he found himself exhilarated and light. As the song began to end, he noticed several sets of eyes watching them. He noticed Ne’Ja, then Julie.

  He hugged his partner and thanked her for the dance before seeking another glass of jon’go. Ne’Ja found him then, two glasses in hand and a smile on her face.

  “That was quite the show,” she laughed. He took a long drink and sighed.

  “I thought so too,” he replied, grinning.

  “May I have the next one?” she asked. Before thinking about it, he nodded.

  “Absolutely,” he said. She smiled, and the two watched as the orcs traded places with the elves once again. As they waited, his mind caught up to reality, and he realized what was about to happen. Should I be nervous? He hadn’t been with his other partners, but now his hands were clammy. I’ve never danced with Ne’Ja. What if I mess it up? The thought was an unwelcome intrusion, and he pushed it aside. It was just a dance after all.

  When it became clear that the next song was about to start, the two made their way onto the floor. Unlike the elven music, the orcish songs were wild and untamed, and the dancers had to respond to the changing rhythm of the chant. He noticed Ta’Ku leading Me’Zin onto the floor as well and smiled at their grinning faces. The stomping began, followed by a low growl of a song, that was soon accompanied by a range of voices. Noah took a deep breath and locked eyes with Ne’Ja, taking in their blue-gray hue that contrasted her light red skin and near black hair. He was surprised by the catch he felt in his chest as he looked at her, and he realized that perhaps at some point his feelings had crossed that boundary line. He grabbed her hand in his and placed his right hand just above her head. Her lips turned up, and her free hand wrapped around his back, resting firmly on his spine.

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  He waited until he felt a sense of the beat and took the first step, leading with his shoulder to indicate his direction. She responded with perfect ease, stepping back as he moved forward and gliding as he pivoted in a quick half spin. He forced himself to take a deep breath as his heart began to race, but eventually allowed himself to get lost in the moment. Unlike traditional human dances, the orcs didn't follow the practice of having a single lead and would instead exchange the role at natural points throughout the dance. As he paused in between beats, her hands gripped him firmly and she took charge, moving him across the dance floor. Other couples moved aside as their leaders came charging through, not daring to interrupt Ne’Ja’s advance. She led him in a tense exchange, pivot step, twirl, jump, and flow. Noah laughed as he responded to her lead, taking moments to embellish the movements with his own flair.

  He felt a break in the chant and took the opportunity to steal back control. In a fluid motion, he stepped to the side as she began to move forward, grabbing her wrist and leading her into a quick spin. She grinned as they locked eyes for just a second, and he found himself laughing as he made his next move. She was gorgeous and wild, and his heart was beating faster than it had when he faced down the bear. The tempo increased, and their steps followed, and he knew that all too soon their dance would come to an end. As the final shout began, he drew her in and lifted her into a steep dip. They stared into each other’s eyes as he held her in his arms, and when the shout came to an end, he reluctantly set her on her feet. Ne’Ja stepped forward and embraced him, and he felt no hesitation as he wrapped her in his arms. After a moment, she brought her lips up to his ear and whispered.

  “She will want a dance next.” He wanted to protest at her words and began to shake his head, but she put a finger on his lips.

  “You may as well dance with her, I am curious to see what it looks like when you two share a moment,” she breathed. Noah sighed as she pulled away, making it clear that she was free to claim for the upcoming dance. His mind felt a little fuzzy as his heart worked to regain control.

  “May I?” Julie asked, hand outstretched. He nodded and took her hand, allowing her to lead him back into the center of the room. The elves were still getting ready, but it seemed like she wanted to step away from the crowd. Still holding his hand, she pulled him close and laid her head on his shoulder. They began to sway and Noah waited for whatever words she wanted to say.

  “Noah, do you love her?” she asked. Noah blinked.

  “What did you say?” he asked.

  “Do you love her?” she repeated. Noah took a deep breath in the least conspicuous way he could manage.

  “Perhaps. I am still figuring that out,” he responded. He wanted to say more, to question her intentions, but chose to let her lead the conversation. She stiffened briefly, but then took a deep breath as well, leaning into him again. The elves began their song, and Julie followed wordlessly as he led her in a gentle step.

  “Do you think coming here was a mistake?” she asked. Noah considered it but shook his head after a moment.

  “Why would you say that?” he replied.

  “I think I’ve stepped on some toes. Particularly hers,” she explained.

  “Ah,” he said.

  “I know we decided that we were too different to try for something more, and it's silly, but for some reason, I still wanted to act like we had something when I got here. But having you back, I realized that I wasn’t being fair. If anything, her claim on you far exceeds my own.” She paused, and he let the words sink in. They were odd to hear, and as far as he knew, there hadn’t been a spark between them since their first days together. He wondered if it was the dire situation that led to her heightened emotions, or perhaps she felt out of control.

  “I’m sorry, Noah,” she whispered. He gave her a gentle squeeze and held her at arm's length.

  “It’s alright. For the record, I am glad that you decided to come. The fate of the world is a heavy burden to bear alone,” he said with a wink. She smiled, and they finished their dance with a newfound peace between them. When the song ended, they exchanged a quick embrace and Noah found himself surrounded by others looking to add him to their dance card.