The Legend of Adalhard

They danced.

Once a month, by the bright moon’s light, they danced; spinning and gliding to a secret melody only their united heartbeats understood. With every elegant step, a pure, joyful bliss radiated through the air. Their laughter and their love were invigorating. It mingled with the night, breaking through the calm. It brought the very air around them to life.

Their dancing moved me.

As they glided and laughed, they moved me, and I would dance with them. I alone shared in these perfect moments between two kindred souls. There was something special, intimate, about the way they moved me. Every turn of the head, every dip, every step told a tale of affection and devotion that most people could only dream of. It was beautiful.

***

Adalhard was bathed in glittering gold. From the mansion to the town, autumn colours reigned. The streets were buzzing, and the mansion’s corridors were teeming as the preparations for the Harvest Ball were being finalised. By nightfall, waves of stunning ball gowns and neat suits washed over the town in a myriad of colours. People were bubbling with excitement.

Edwin took a deep breath. The bustling town square was lost to him. All he could hear was the trickling of the fountain and the pounding of his own heart. He looked up. She stood only a few feet away, but he was overwhelmed by her. Her bright smile and sparkling forest-green eyes drew him in like the gentle rush of a river. With a deep breath, Edwin took a small step forward.

His hands were folded loosely behind his back, and as he moved, a splash of colour stood stark against the black of his suit. The coolness of the green stems contended with the damp warmth of his palms. He looked up at Lira with a small smile as he presented her with the bouquet. Her face lit up as she accepted the six deep-red carnations. Their fingers brushed for a split second before she held the velvet petals to her delicate nose.

‘Thank you,’ she breathed.

Edwin released a breath he didn’t realise he was holding and grinned broadly. ‘You’re very welcome.’

He held out his arm to her and she rested her gloved hand on his bare one. They linked their arms together and joined the bustling crowd around them.

The walk to the mansion was a short one, the path bathed in a flickering stream of gold that flowed up to the great wooden doors of the front entrance. Arrangements of thin twisting twigs, autumn leaves, and red, orange, and yellow flowers greeted them as they walked up the marble steps and through the heavy doors.

Inside, ornate chandeliers guided the guests to an enormous ballroom where a herald stood on a small landing, ready to announce each person who crossed his path. Edwin and Lira paused by his side, and in a loud, clear voice, he called over the music, ‘Master Edwin Brook accompanied by Miss Lira Alvery.’

The couple descended the last few steps into the ballroom side by side, barely looking where they were going. Their wide-eyed gazes were fixed on the ocean of colour before them.

Smaller arrangements of twigs, leaves, and flowers adorned the beige tables that lined the walls. Banners of golden chiffon were draped across tiered displays that framed the doors and the balcony on which a large orchestra sat high above the jovial guests. Rich or poor, every guest was elegantly dressed. In the candlelight, they looked like sparkling shards of coloured crystals caught in the warm autumn sun.

As Edwin and Lira stood gazing about them, the music enveloped them like a gentle mist. Immediately, it seeped into their souls. As soon as their feet touched the dance floor, Edwin turned to face his partner. In a flamboyant gesture, he stooped into a low bow, eyes never leaving Lira’s, and held his hand out to her.

‘Shall we?’

‘Of course.’ Lira curtsied gracefully and took his hand with a warm smile.

Edwin twirled her deeper into the crowd, the emerald-green satin skirts of her dress flaring and flashing. Soon they had settled into the rhythm and were gliding across the floor, completely immersed in the flow of the music. Song after song, they danced, laughing brightly until their hearts were beating louder than the music. Out of breath, they abandoned the crowded room in favour of the spacious courtyard behind it.

A small bridge led them over a long, shallow pond with lilies and candles drifting lazily on the crystalline water. Fires were scattered across the yard, their flames casting a soft glow on the neat, lush lawns that lined the mansion walls. At the back of the courtyard, a sheer cliffside towered over them, tasked with sealing the garden away from the outside world.

Lira and Edwin crossed the cobblestone square to a fire beside a small statue, guarded by an angel and embraced by late blooms.

‘We’re finally here,’ Lira said softly. Her face lit up in a teasing smile as she nudged Edwin gently. ‘It took a while.’

Edwin laughed; a single huff of breath that came from deep within his chest as the years of waiting flashed through his mind. ‘It did, I suppose. I was just never able to muster enough courage to ask you to accompany me to any event.’ He met her gaze, watched the vibrant colours in her eyes flicker, and smiled. ‘I’m glad I finally did.’

‘As am I.’

Their fingers intertwined as they stood huddled together in the fire’s warmth. Orange, yellow, and blue flames were dancing happily to their own rhythm. Edwin and Lira stood mesmerised as they watched the fervent movement. The colourful ballet was reflected off their clothes, their skin, their eyes, imprinting itself into their very being.

‘I absolutely adore dancing,’ Lira breathed. ‘I truly wish balls were hosted more often.’

‘Why wait for balls to dance?’ Edwin asked, shifting his gaze away from the fiery dancers to the kind, fervent spirit beside him.

‘Where else would I dance? There certainly isn’t enough space in my father’s house.’

‘Who said one can only dance indoors?’

There was a hint of mischief in Edwin’s voice that made Lira turn to him slowly, brows furrowed and head slightly tilted. ‘You have something else in mind?’

‘I do.’ Edwin’s eyes were shining as he slid his arm around her waist and turned her to look back at the mansion, but he was seeing straight through it. ‘After the road exits the valley through the pass, it ascends briefly before making a sharp turn to the right. You must have seen it before.’

He looked at her. She nodded and he continued, ‘The road by the turn is broader to allow carts to pass without colliding and great care is taken to keep it even and flat to prevent carts from slipping. It’s an ideal dancefloor.’

‘In the middle of a busy road in the woods?’ Lira glanced sidelong back at him, barely able to contain her amusement.

‘It’s not busy at night,’ Edwin countered with a sly grin and a satisfied toss of his head. ‘During a full moon, the area is perfectly lit while the trees keep it entirely isolated.’

‘It is an intriguing idea, but unrealistic. I have no qualms about challenging societal norms, but this may be a bit too unprecedented. It could never really work, could it?’

‘I believe it could work perfectly. Life needs some spontaneity at times. Without it, you and I wouldn’t be standing here at this moment….’

Lira opened her mouth but closed it again. She returned her gaze to the fire; the music from the ballroom drifted towards them on a breeze. Could it be worth it to try this strange idea?

‘You don’t need to decide tonight. Just consider it. If you feel the desire to dance for no reason, with no one watching and judging, the offer will still stand,’ Edwin said softly, slipping his hand into hers and pressing it gently to his lips.

‘I’ll consider it,’ Lira promised.

‘Perfect! In the meantime, would you like to return to the festivities?’

‘I would love to.’

They re-entered the vibrant room and before long, the euphoria had swept them up once more. Within minutes, Edwin’s strange proposal was starting to fade from their minds. Before the end of the night, it had been forgotten. It was only by the following morning that Lira remembered it, but she laughed it off as a foolish, wishful notion.

However, as the week passed and the dullness of everyday life left her yearning to dance again, the idea crept its way back into her thoughts. By the end of the week, she was restless, and she could tell Edwin was feeling it too.

‘There’s a full moon within three nights….’ Lira kept her eyes on the fountain, watching as the late light of the sun set the rivulets and pools ablaze. She didn’t meet his gaze, but she could tell there was a broad, satisfied grin firmly on his lips.

‘Ready to try the unprecedented?’

‘I am,’ she answered, finally facing him with her head held high and her heartbeat racing.

‘Then meet me where the road exits the valley just before moonrise,’ he said, nodding vaguely in the direction as he took both of her hands in his.

‘I’ll see you there.’

The following three days dragged on surprisingly quickly. Before they knew it, it was sunset on the night of the full moon. They sat up and waited until everyone in their houses was peaceful. When all was quiet, they snuck out and made their way to the meeting place. Just before moonrise, they found each other in the cloaking shadow of one of the great mountains that enclosed the valley.

Hand-in-hand, they walked through the short pass and up the slope on the other side. The road evened out once they reached the top and twisted to disappear behind the hall of trees. The moon wasn’t high enough to reach over the evergreen tips yet, but the small lantern they had brought with them provided enough light to illuminate the clearing in a milky glow.

An ancient oak stood in the bend of their strange dancefloor, its immense roots knotted to form a shelter big enough for two. Edwin set the lantern down in a nook within the shelter, and the two of them settled down beside it.

For a moment, they sat quietly listening as the sounds of the night merged with their own breathing. Crickets were chirping; leaves were rustling in a gentle breeze; birds of the night were singing in a slow, serene chorus. The sounds floated around them and met in an enchanting melody that echoed through the fresh forest air.

‘Listen,’ Lira whispered, ‘the night is giving us music.’

‘Let’s not waste the moment then.’

Edwin placed a soft kiss on her hairline before getting up and holding out his hand. She took it and let him pull her off the ground. They stood facing each other for a moment, raggedly breathing in the cool night air before Edwin placed one hand on Lira’s waist. She rested hers on his shoulder, a shiver running up her spine as she looked into his ocean-blue eyes.

With their gaze locked and hearts racing, they took one step. Then another. And another. Edwin spun Lira into his arms, and suddenly, the rhythm of the night washed over them. Soon, they were moving in harmony with each echoing note.

They danced for hours. After a while, they began to improvise on the rhythm that had been gifted to them, dancing to a beat only their synchronized hearts could hear. They danced until the night was fully bathed in murky silver, and they could barely stand. Overflowing with joy and laughter, they made their way back to the village, promising to do this again as soon as they could.

And they did. When the next full moon arrived, they found themselves leaving the village behind again in favour of the broad, sheltered road. Once again, they danced for hours, first to the rhythm of the night, then to the melody of their own beating hearts.

Month after month, they returned to the clearing. Nothing could keep them from their moonlight meetings. It became precious to them; a chance to get away from the chaos of daily life and the gossip of their neighbours.

Of course, gossip could easily follow them into the woods should any of the more righteous residents of their small village happen to see them wandering off alone at night. So, they took to sneaking about, careful to avoid the pious and harbouring their secret like a sacred jewel.

***

Secrecy.

Secrecy was woven into their every move. These moments were theirs alone, and they were determined to keep it that way. I helped them protect it. I gave them my soft, white blanket to hide them from the rest of the world.

When they weren’t dancing, they were talking. They would sit nestled in each other’s arms within the embrace of an ancient oak’s roots and quietly talk. Whispers about their hopes and dreams, about what their future together would be.

I preferred it when they danced, but I respected their hushed conversations and kept guard while they poured their hearts out to each other. Nothing could disturb the serenity of those nights. It was peaceful.

***

The midday sun turned the fountain’s rivulets into liquid gems. The water sparkled like diamonds and sapphires cascading into pools of ice. The season was turning, but the last of winter’s chill was still clinging to each day, challenging the sun’s warmth.

Lira pulled her shawl closer around her shoulders and nestled into the arm Edwin had draped over her shoulder. Any person who passed and sneered at their closeness was met with Lira’s cool gaze as she held her head high and flashed them a bright smile. The judgment would quickly turn into shock, and the person would hustle on without a word.

Edwin chuckled as another pair of scorned elderly women walked past them with a huff, whispering to each other. ‘You have no mercy, do you?’

‘I have plenty of mercy for those who deserve it. These tittering old ladies do not qualify. What is it to them that we enjoy each other’s close company, in public.’

‘Not always in public, though.’

The corner of Lira’s lips twitched into a smile. ‘True, but that they really don’t need to know about. We’ve behaved. For the most part, at least.’

‘Hmm, yes. You’ve had very little mercy on me in that matter. I think we should remedy that.’

‘How do you propose we do that?’

Edwin grinned and got up from beside her. ‘Funny, your choice of words.’

He knelt on the ground before her and pulled a beautifully carved little wooden case from his pocket. With a click, he flicked the lid open. Lira’s eyes grew wide as she looked down at a silver ring with a single, small diamond that flashed brightly in the noon sun.

‘My remedy is exactly that – a proposal. For the past few months, you’ve shown me love, kindness, and adventure I never could have imagined. Spending time with you is my favourite part of every day, and I’d like to make it a constant in each day we have left. Lira Alvery, will you become my dance partner for life?’

The words caught in her throat as she took in the image of this incredible man on his knees before her, asking her to share their lives. A sound that was meant to be a yes, but likely sounded more like a squeak, escaped from her lips. Lira sank to her knees before Edwin and kissed him deeply.

Somewhere in the distance, she heard people gasping and shouting, but their protests only made her smile more as she leaned her forehead against Edwin’s. Let them be scandalised one last time. It didn’t matter anymore. No one else mattered. It was them alone.

But only for a little while.

Before the end of the day, every dog, cat, and mouse had heard the news. The announcement had been long awaited, and everyone was eager for the wedding. Any excuse to break their daily routines and celebrate something had the villagers chittering like chicks.

Preparations soon dominated Lira and Edwin’s lives. They could no longer complain about their days being dull. Instead, each day became a whirlwind of activity. They barely had time to breathe as they were showered with well-wishes, menu discussions, fittings, decorative decisions, menu changes, numbers without end, and more stern discussions about how things were supposed to look.

The only thing they knew with certainty was the where. The church and the mansion. There was only one church in the village and the mansion was the only place the tiny town had that was big enough to host any grand-scale event. And it would be a grand-scale event. As with every wedding or funeral, the whole town was expected to be there.

The day finally arrived. Excitement filled the valley to the brim. Edwin felt it deep in his core. His closest friends were laughing and joking with him as he prepared. There was a tremor in his muscles and his breath was a little shaky, but he couldn’t stop grinning.

It was normal, people said, the nerves. Edwin didn’t mind it, though. He still felt less nervous now than he had when he had asked Lira to the ball. This moment, this day – it was the beginning of a new life he had been eagerly waiting for. It belonged to him and to Lira, and no one could take that away from them.

Only one person wasn’t bubbling and buzzing. Lira was slightly terrified, and it left her hollow and silent. She was excited – no, overjoyed – but she wished she had been able to convince her parents to keep this a small, intimate gathering. She hated large crowds with their attention fixed on her.

It was easy enough to challenge people when they were judging her, but did she really have to share this special event with those very people? It was intrusive that the entire town had to be there to watch her promise herself to the man she loved. She barely knew most of them, and she doubted that many of them truly cared about her or Edwin.

But there was nothing she could do about it. So, she clenched her jaw, smiled politely at the group of women fussing over her, and giggled with the few friends she knew.

The church was bursting, in truth too small to actually host the population of just over a thousand. Arrangements of white and red carnations and pink roses stood by the door and by the altar. Lengths of fine white drapery adorned the pews alongside the aisle, blocking it and forcing people to shuffle in from the far sides.

It took a while for everyone to get seated, but once the guests had settled, the wedding march started. Edwin, dressed in a neat suit with a crimson carnation as a boutonniere, stood by the altar, heart racing and eyes fixed on the doors. When they finally opened, the rest of the world fell away.

She was stunning. Her snowy dress was plain but elegant, and it suited her beautifully. She looked like an angel with tiny red and white daisies woven into her hair, and a part of him began to worry that she would fly away. He could see that she was anxious. Her eyes darted from side to side, and her cheeks grew increasingly red.

Edwin smiled broadly at her, willing her from across the church to focus on him alone. Their eyes locked and relief washed over her. She returned his smile and walked forward until she finally reached the altar. She bid her father farewell and took her new place beside her groom.

‘Good afternoon,’ she whispered with a sidelong glance at Edwin.

‘Very much, yes,’ he answered brightly.

She laughed softly, took a deep breath, and relaxed. Their hands reached for each other, and they let their fingers intertwine.

The priest began talking and silence settled over them and everyone present. Soon, they were exchanging their vows amidst tender laughter and tears of happiness. They had saved the truly intimate promises for their dances beneath the full moon, but as Edwin and Lira kept their gazes locked, they saw each word they had left unspoken reflected there.

Once the promises were made, the priest declared them as one, and they sealed their union passionately. The cheers and shouts from the crowd fell away as they held each other close. Arms locked together tightly, they turned to face their guests as husband and wife.

The celebration moved to a reception at the mansion. A white banner with the newlyweds’ names declared the event from where it was draped over the large wooden doorframe. Alongside the door stood more carnations and roses, enveloping the main entrance in red, white, and pink.

Once inside and past the hall, tiered arrangements of gold and white drapery stood by the ballroom doors, adorned with red carnations and pink roses. All tables had been moved into the great hall beside the ballroom with more red and white flowers arranged among the candles and cutlery.

The room was turbulent for a while as everyone settled down. Small formalities passed in a blur. Edwin and Lira sat at the front of the room, waiting for the music to start with barely contained eagerness. It seemed an eternity, but at last, the modest orchestra began playing and everyone moved once again to watch the couple’s first dance as husband and wife.

‘Presenting the new Mr and Mrs Edwin Brook,’ the herald announced.

For the first time since the day had begun, the crowd didn’t bother Lira. As the music grew louder, and she and Edwin began dancing, everyone and everything else fell away. It was just the two of them, and if she closed her eyes, they were back at the bend outside the village, dancing to their hearts’ content beneath the full moon.

The reception ended a while later, and Adalhard settled back into its usual routine. The newlywed Brook couple moved into their apartment and spent their first intimate night together, tangled in each other’s arms. The night passed peacefully, and a few hours later, dawn broke on the first day of their new lives.

***

They were one. And I was their guardian.

Every month, they returned to my little corner of the world, content to break free from the responsibilities of everyday life for a little while. I alone had the privilege to share in the most cherished moments of their union. I alone allowed them the privacy to be themselves as they danced beneath their silver spotlight.

Every night was their wedding night as I adorned them in fine satins and lace of soft white. Only I could protect them from a world that would not understand. They had trusted me with their secrets for months before, and I would not let them down with their future. I would carry each moment away with me when the sun rose. I would take it with me into the fading day and hide it somewhere no one would ever find it. It was precious.

***

It was a simple life, but Lira wouldn’t change a thing about it. Each year passed with small steps forward. Soon, Edwin was responsible for ensuring the smooth cultivation of half the orchards on the Brook farm.

It was a modest piece of land, but the Brook family had owned it for generations. The valley itself belonged to the Adalhard family, but they were content to lease out the fertile fields to any family who could prove they would turn a profit. The Brooks had never disappointed. It was a knowledge that hung over Edwin like a blade.

By the time winter arrived again, Edwin was silently relieved to have a few months without worrying about his crops. The earth needed time to rest, and so did he.

The first snow was falling outside, creating a gradually growing layer of delicate crystal on every surface. Edwin watched the flakes cascade down in flurries, grateful for the heat of the fire beside him. Lira sat in an armchair a short distance away, fingers swiftly threading her needle through the latest gown she was making.

Like Edwin, her responsibilities at the seamstress’s shop had increased. She had her own loyal customers now with whom she could work directly, keeping most of the profit. Being one of the few girls in town with somewhat of an education had proved to help her more in her career than she ever could have imagined.

Ten-year-old Lira had shocked the entire village when she had decided to become one of the few girls brave enough to learn during a time when it wasn’t exactly encouraged. Her family wasn’t poor, but Lira believed she could make more of herself than her family’s money dictated. She wanted more than to just run a household and cater to her husband’s every whim.

So, she had found herself in the hidden backroom where a handful of women were willing to teach a handful of girls how to read, and write, and make something of themselves. It was the first time she had ever done something for herself, the first time she had defied society’s standards and expectations, and she had revelled in the sense of power it had given her.

Now, so many years later, she could still smile at herself and hold her head high knowing what she had accomplished, she had accomplished by her own means.

The cotton of the gown felt soft beneath her fingers as she threaded and secured the last stitch. She held it up before her, inspecting it closely in the flickering firelight. With an absent nod, she got up and set it aside on the dining room table. She glanced over at Edwin where he was lazing on his chair, gaze still fixed on the snow outside.

Lira smiled and walked over to him. She was about to rest her hand on his shoulder when an itch in her nose gave her pause. Taking a deep breath, she turned aside as the sneeze ripped through her body.

‘Excuse me,’ she said, turning back to a startled Edwin with a laugh. ‘That came out of nowhere.’

‘Well, bless you,’ Edwin answered, chuckling. He pulled her close, and she settled onto his lap, resting her forehead on his.

‘It’s the full moon tomorrow,’ she whispered, ‘will we be going out dancing?’

Edwin shifted his gaze back towards the window. ‘I guess that will depend on the snow. The mist every night we can handle, but I don’t think we’ll be doing much dancing if we’re freezing.’

‘It would be sad to miss it, though.’

‘Well, we have enough space for ourselves now,’ Edwin pointed out, nodding his head towards the floor in front of the fireplace. ‘There’s no need to go out into the frigid cold anymore.’

‘I know, but we can’t see the full moon in here, and it’s become such a big part of our monthly dances.’

‘What about the porch, then?’

Lira looked absently at the front door. ‘Perhaps…’ she said slowly. ‘But part of what makes these nights so special is the privacy we can get outside of town. I know we don’t need to sneak about anymore, but at least out there we know no one will disturb us.’

‘You’ve really come to love our unprecedented dancefloor, haven’t you?’ Edwin smirked at her and pulled her closer as she scoffed.

‘Well, yes, it may have become somewhat irreplaceable. But can we just remember whose suggestion it was to begin with?’

Edwin’s smirk softened. ‘I remember. And I also love going out there where it’s just the two of us in the mist beneath the moonlight. But we do have to be practical. The nights are getting colder again. We didn’t go out quite a few nights over the past few years during winter.’

Lira nuzzled against Edwin’s chest with a sigh. ‘I know. I just can’t believe that time of the year has come so soon again. It doesn’t feel cold enough yet to forsake our little tradition.’

‘We’ll see how the weather looks tomorrow before we decide.’

‘Agreed.’

But the snow didn’t let up the following day, and Lira found her head spinning as she delivered the finished gown to her customer. By the time she reached home, her vision was swimming. Her arm trembled as she reached to open the front door, and it took a few tries for her to manage to fully twist the doorknob.

Finally, the door swung open, and Lira stumbled into her home. Shivers ran up and down her spine, and her breath came out in shaky torrents. She stumbled the few steps toward the living room but before she could sink onto an armchair, a coughing fit wracked through her body. When the fit was over, she found she was sitting in a pile on the ground, unable to get up.

Edwin found her there later in the evening when he came back from his workshop. He dropped the pile of wood he was carrying on the floor and huddled over his shivering wife. She was fast asleep, her breath shaky, and he carried her to bed.

Weeks passed and Lira didn’t get better. She was unable to leave bed, utterly drained from the strain of constant coughing. She was starving but could barely eat more than a few bites at a time. Each time the doctor came around to look in on his patient, he left looking paler and paler.

Finally, he couldn’t deny it any longer.

The house was full. It had been a struggle to keep mothers and sisters out of the room while he examined Lira, and as soon as he opened the door, they filed back in. The remaining people in the room were deathly quiet. Most were standing or sitting about, all but one barely moving.

Edwin was pacing like a madman, eyeing the door to his and Lira’s bedroom and praying, begging, silently. There was a taloned fist around his heart, and it would not ease its grip. When he saw the doctor’s grim face and sorrowful eyes, it took all his strength to remain standing.

People’s cries rang out around him as the doctor announced Lira’s fate, but Edwin was quiet. He hadn’t experienced such silence in days. The wailing and words of condolence blew past him and dissolved into the stifling air. He went into the condemned room and found a phantom in their bed.

Tears had pooled in her eyes and created rivulets down her cheeks, but she made no sound. She had a crimson carnation pressed against her nose. The colour stood stark against the sickly white of her skin. When she saw him, she smiled weakly, rested the carnation on her heart, and held her hand out to him. He took it and took a seat beside her. He kissed her clammy forehead, and she pressed his hand gently to her lips before drifting off to sleep.

***

She was ill.

It was undeniable. Her usually radiant skin was pale, her glossy dark hair framed her face in sad rags, and her beautiful curves and blushing cheeks were sunken. She was nothing but a barely breathing phantom floating around in the murky dark.

He wasn’t much better off: eyes red and puffy, a creased brow, and soul-wrenching sorrow deep in his gaze. I could feel their pain and devastation flooding me. I longed to give them the comfort they so desperately needed, but my soft, white blanket could never keep them warm.

Silently, I watched. I watched as she leaned into him, and he began swaying with her in his arms. Tears were streaming down their bloodless cheeks. They stayed like that for a while, swaying to their secret melody; swaying to a harmony that spoke of love, longing, and devotion. All the while I guarded them and hid their hurt from the world.

Her legs gave out beneath her. He caught her and scooped her up in his arms. Gently, he carried her to their wooden haven and settled them into it.

Woefully, I listened. I listened as they whispered their goodbyes. I listened as they poured their hearts out to each other one last time. I took each and every word and made it my own, vowing to keep it safe for the eternity they could not have.

Softly, they cried, and as they did, they held each other tighter, as if that single embrace could keep them from being ripped apart. But it was in vain. An eerie calm settled over her. He felt it instantly; so did I.

Absolute silence reigned over us. He called her name, but the ghostly dark swallowed it whole. It was gone, lost in the gloomy night.

He wept.

***

The sun rose the following morning, fighting to chase away the mournful mist that had cast a veil over the chilly night. But stubbornly it clung to an ancient tree, filling the hollow created by its massive, knotted roots like a solemn ghost.

As the sun’s rays brightened the soft brown of the road, hoofbeats and creaking wheels echoed through the forest. A merchant turned his cart around a broad, evenly scraped bend and shivered. The night had been long and freezing and he was looking forward to the warm drinks that awaited him in Adalhard. As he passed the enormous oak to his right, his eyes wandered to the white nest at its feet.

Instantly, he reined his horse. His eyes were saucers as his head snapped to where just a few feet away the mist seemed to be coiling like a serpent protecting its young. A split second later, he spurred his horse on and rushed at full speed into the valley and the village within it, cold all over again despite his racing heart. He reached the tavern and burst through the doors.

‘Help! I need help! Out beyond the pass. Hurry!’

Men rushed to their horses and a few women followed. The merchant led them back to the bend at the top of the hill and paused by the oak, pointing. The mist was still rearing and shifting, but it was weak and fading rapidly. Everyone could clearly see what had upset the wide-eyed merchant.

‘It’s Mr and Mrs Brook.’

‘Yes, Lira and Edwin; I see them.’

‘Why are we merely standing here? We must get them to the infirmary!’

‘I fear it’s too late.’

A man stepped closer and raised two fingers to Lira’s neck, then to Edwin’s. ‘Yes; too late indeed,’ he breathed.

Whispers floated about the onlookers, each one seemingly terrified to break the peace of the sleeping couple. For it truly looked as if they were only asleep. Edwin was leaning against the tree, Lira in his arms, his ash-blond hair hanging carelessly in his face as his head rested on Lira’s dark brown locks. Both were white as snow, and cold as it as well.

After a few moments of silence, the couple was lifted from the ground and taken back to the village. Mourning bells knelled in loud, solemn beats that reverberated through the valley. Bystanders on the street paused as the carriage crept past, barely daring to breathe. The only sounds audible through the thick silence were the bitter weeping of those who had known the couple within.

Through the tears, their families agreed that they would be buried together. As the arrangements were being made, a few close friends returned to the fateful spot and carved a cross and heart into the ageless, brittle bark. A set of initials was placed in the centre of the carving before the hollow was left behind in peace.

Many speculations arose after the funeral. Everyone knew Lira was fated, but the death of Edwin came as a shock. He was in perfect health, according to the doctor. The realists said that he had frozen to death staying out in the icy night with her. The romantics said that when her heart had failed, his had refused to go on without her and failed as well.

Whichever way, their memory quickly became a legend, and whenever someone would pass by the ancient oak, their thoughts would drift to Adalhard’s dancing couple in the moonlit mist.

***

They are gone; faded away into a memory.

They’re not gone; their spirits live on in the night.

They can no longer dance to the secret melody in their hearts.

Two figures can be seen dancing in the mist where they used to meet.

They are gone; now, I dance for them.

Written: July 2021, Revised: July 2024