The Masquerade

The Masquerade1

The music flows ever so softly in the background, as I walk past the paper faces. This masked ball has been everything to me in the month countdown to it. Long flowing dresses and great colored masks filled this grand room. Birds and tigers were displayed on almost every glance, but there were still the other creatures that were displayed. The attendants danced the "Mazenderan", a famous style that, with it's name hinting, gives you a maze from the circles and twists the dance gives you. My costume flowed and swirled when the tall man in the white mask took hold of my hand and led me to the dance. The music, filling my heart and head, led my feet to every step of the Mazenderan. Staring into my dance partner's eyes, I saw that they shone like the moon and stars above our very heads. I felt a small recognition in them, but failed to match the eyes to a name. Who was this man who has now stolen my heart? I now have time to look closer at his features and they are astonishing. He is a very tall man, in his twenties I would give the guess, and his hair was black as the night, and his eyes enchanted me. We made our way, interrupting the numerous dancers and made our way to the balcony, which seemed a room itself. The music was faint, yes, but sounded as though we danced in between the violinist and the cellist. How do I wish this night to never end, to never stop this wondrous dance with this beautiful man. My partner in this mysterious dance, stopped and I stood in front of him, head bent nearly all the way back as he moved closer in. He in his black tuxedo and me in my long white dress our masks in the opposite colors, we looked like a perfect match. My heart was pounding to get free of my chest as he looked at me with those gray blue eyes. Reaching for his mask he asked in a deep, magnificent voice, and familiarity ran through my heart, “Do you wish it? For I would give my life to you if you said you wished it so. The most radiant woman in this celebration, in this kingdom, even in this world.” Feeling my cheeks color, I tried to hide them by looking down, but I felt his fingers under my chin and lift my face to the heavens of his face. The mask was in his opposite hand, and a face that was recognized was shown to me. My betrothed was standing there, smiling and staring into my astonished eyes. Holding me close to him, I took my mask off and he laid his gentle kiss upon my lips and in that moment I never wanted this night to end. The attendants, who we interrupted in their winding dance, watched the enchanting scene as the moon shone bright and the stars twinkled a thousand times over these lovers. 2