Swan Song ❂ Killian Jones [1]

163

"It's been so long since I've been to one of these things." Odette gave out a small sigh as the four of them stood on the edges of the dance floor, watching as the couples in the centre moved along to the gentle music. It truly seemed like an entirely different lifetime. "Although that's probably for the best. Even though I'm better at it now, David likes to claim that his toes are still bruised from the dance we shared at his and Snow's wedding."

The comment earned her laughs from all three surrounding her, and even commentary from Aramis. "Yes, you'd never been too good at the dancing part of a ball." The musketeer's quip earned him a small smack on the shoulder from Odette despite the fact that she herself was laughing at it.

"It was my teacher's fault, not mine." She tried to defend, earning herself a dubious look from not just Aramis but Killian and Emma as well as they found that hard to believe.

"Or you just refused to pay attention to gool old Mildred." Aramis pointed out knowingly. He'd seen enough of Odette's dancing lessons to know his version of events was much more accurate than hers. "All those poor suitors who endured injured toes for a chance to dance with the princess."

"Is that why you refused to help me even though you raved about your own talents as a dancer?" Odette raised an eyebrow at him questioningly. "Talents I still doubt exist."

"Well, it is my duty to prove you wrong on the matter." Aramis announced confidently before turning to Emma and extending a hand towards her. "My lady, would you do me the honour of proving Odette wrong?" Emma laughed in amusement at the squabbling duo, the amusement seeming to distract her from where her thoughts would have usually gone as she placed her hand within Aramis' and allowed him to whisk her away to the dance floor.

On any other occasion, Odette would have been annoyed by the thought of being proven wrong about anything. However, watching the methods being employed to do so in this instance, well... She was happy to accept defeat as she watched Aramis and Emma move in rhythm to the music as he spun her around and the blonde laughed as she enjoyed herself.

"And would you do me the honour of simply dancing with me?" Killian's voice beside her had Odette looking away from her goddaughter and Aramis and glancing down to the hand which appeared in front of her, smiling as she accepted the offer and let him move them through the crowd as well.

"Are you sure? It's alright if you don't know how to. Or just don't want to risk injury. I've been to plenty-" Odette tried to reassure him it wasn't necessary as they came to an empty spot among the dancing couples, her other hand coming to rest on his shoulder.

"I assure you, love, I'm quite the dancer." Killian announced with a proud smile as they began to move and that fact became apparently clear. "And a few aching toes are worth it."

"A pirate who knows how to waltz? That's a story you'll surely have to tell me one day." Odette smiled up at him in amusement as they followed the steps of the waltz, Killian leading much better than any of her dancing partners had in the past. As they danced, Odette gave out a small sigh, the smile on her face happy and content. "I've missed these. And the dancing itself. Even if I wasn't too good at it, I did always enjoy it."