Betrothed To Your Enemy

Takes Two To Tango

Forgot to mention that it had taken a month for Cassandra to travel to the dark kingdom, so she really only has one month to get to know Varian before they're married.

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It had been a week since Cassandra's arrival.  So far it had been rather uneventful, other than Varian accidentally causing a small fire that she put out with the pitcher of water she happened to be standing by.  Of course that led to an argument.  They were getting along pretty well, at least giving each other a fair chance.  That didn't exactly mean that they were free of hiccups.  Most of their time was spent preparing for the wedding, though.

"I don't know why they're having us practice the bride and groom dance.  You know it by heart, I know it by heart.  Shouldn't we spend our time somewhere else?"  Cassandra grumbled.

"Honestly, I'm surprised you know it.  It's a Dark Kingdom dance, not from Corona." Varian pointed out as they glided across the floor with ease.

"My mother had me start learning half a year-oh.  She was planning it all the way back then and didn't have the faith that I'd learn the dance flawlessly in a month."

"Don't know why she's concerned.  You dance beautifully.  Especially for a girl who is all about the swords and stuff.  No offense."

"That was a complement as I took it.  I'd technically put it in flattery, but we'll let pass."

"Because you know you like it when I talk smooth on you," he chuckled.

"No, I find you a dork.  It's amusing to watch you embarrass yourself, and the fact that you think you're smooth."

"Well, sure do know how to crush a guy's heart," he joked.

"This is boring."

"Sorry, what do you want to talk about?"

"No, I meant the dance," Cassandra clarified.

"Oh," he said.  Cassandra wasn't certain if she liked the mischievous smile that came on his face.  "Then let's shake it up a bit!"

He swung her back, catching her before she fell.  She gasped, slightly panicked until she realized that she wasn't falling.  "May I have this dance, m'lady?"  His eyes sparked with mischief as he challenged her.  His tone spoke what his words didn't.

"Flirt."  She smirked, accepting his challenge to tango.  Standing strait up, the dance began.

They took large strides together across the room.  He spun Cassandra around, but she spun right back in.  Varian spun out and copying her move by spinning back in.  "Not bad," she admitted.

The dance continued with them pulling as hard of dance stunts they could pull.  It ended with Cassandra running up to him and Varian lifted her up, slowly going in a circle with her still in the air.  His back was to the doorway when he stopped, both of them panting.

"What on earth!"

"Shoot!" Varian muttered under his breath as he put Cassandra back down.  He turned to the doorway to see his tudor had returned from his break.

"I leave you for five minutes to practice your dance and I come back to find you doing whatever that was!"

"Technically it was fifteen minutes," Varian said, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Don't test me further boy!"  The man pointed an accusing at Varian.

"Oh, lay it off!"  Cassandra snapped.  "We know the dance and you only told us to keep dancing."

"Hold your tongue, girl!"

"Mr. Croix!  You're not being fair to Cassandra!" Varian protested.

"That's Dr. Croix to you young man and it shall remain so!"  The man spat.

Varian glared at him, but said nothing.  Cassandra stepped in between them, giving the tudor a look of death.  "You want to pick on someone, pick on someone your own size, coward!"

"Miss Cassandra, it is very unbecoming of a lady to-"

"You can tell me what's becoming or not after you've given me a reason to care a dime what you say!"

"You both are excused, and I will inform the higher ups about both of yours' behavior."

"Fine.  Really don't care," Cassandra hissed.  She grabbed Varian by the arm, marching him out of the room.