Cunning Dancer

Disclaimer: I own all this, I've made all the characters, blah de blah. Yes. That's about it.
*blah* means a thought.
Overall, I hope you enjoy this, I like it well enough anyway :) *Mwah* do review if you would.

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The sweat slowly rolled down his cheek, idly cascading down onto the ground. His breathing was rigid and harsh as he looked up at the opponent facing him. Two bright green eyes smiled at him under the flowing black hair. He lunged for him, rushing in as fast as his leaden legs could take him. His sword hand lashed at his waist, the shattered hilt a viable weapon. His legs moved under him and he fell, the harsh stone floor coming to meet him.

His opponent stood over him, looking down with disgust. "Weak..." He turned and moved to the open door. "This session is over." His hand reached down and lifted the heavy cloak onto his shoulders. "Clean up before you come to dinner."

The doors slammed behind him.

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The crowd bustled and jostled around him as he made his way into the city, the air hot and putrid from the grime that clogged the streets. He slid past the front guard and moved towards the center of the castle deep within the rolling city. His black eyes moved over the front entrance surveying the multiple guards covering the door. He moved quickly and silently to one of the side doors, pulling the furs tightly about him. His hand rapped against it quickly, glancing around. He hadn't been noticed. *Thank God, this is humiliating* He quickly moved into the darkness of the opening as a woman opened the door for him.

"I suspect you're the new dancer by the look of it." She smiled and looked him up and down, "well, we best get those furs off ya and make a good look at those clothes." He grimaced as she pulled on them; a group of young girls was beginning to group around him, giggling and whispering to one another.

"Mam... couldn't we do this in a more... um, private place?" His warm handsome voice came from his throat in an imploring tone. "Please...?" She sighed.

"If ya must." She pulled him from the disrobing eyes of the ladies within the hall.

She pulled a small door shut behind them as they walked into a clogged small room, filled with different outfits, all covered with beautiful gems, bells and fur. A few were covered in lace alone he quickly noticed and then felt his stomach flip as he eyed what she was pulling out for him.

"Now, if I do say so myself, yur' about a size... 5 in women’s, so let's get this on and we'll see how it fits." She pulled the entire outfit into view and he felt a lump grow in his throat.

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The prince sat beside his father, smiling at the gentle ministrations of the women as they rubbed his shoulders and whispered in his ears of the night’s adventures to come. He grinned and then looked up at his father. "I need a new opponent; the one you sent me was too old." His expression sobered at the lost expression of his father. *He's getting old.* He let out a heave of exasperation. "Father, the one you sent today, he was too old."

The King looked down at his son, "Don't patronize me child!" His voice was raised and unnecessarily loud in the crowded hall. The people turned toward him and looked with startled eyes. "Go back to your foolishness." The King addressed the court with a resigned tone. The people turned slowly then melted back into the flow of the people. "I'll get you another, but this time, learn and don't just defeat." He leaned back in his chair. "Valice, you'll need to be as ready as ever when I pass." He looked ahead and stopped speaking, his cold blue eyes reflecting the court and its' darkness as well as its' lights.

Valice quietly turned his head, looking over the court as well, the lights began to dim quickly and they heard the beautiful sound of exotic music playing over the court, the dancers filed onto the floor, their bodies moving with the light, silver rings and laces playing over their bodies. The women danced and splayed over the floor, the music reaching a near climax and then the lights dimmed suddenly to a lower degree, and before the court stood a magnificent dancer, her body covered in gold, draped over her body in lace and silk, playing on her contours and her beautiful sandy brown hair short for a beautiful woman, but attractively lain. Valice watched her intrigued, feeling himself burning from within as he watched her. Her graceful movements played into his mind, moving over his body as if she were against him as all these women would be sooner than later.

The song ended and the women bowed, lastly the golden maiden in the center, as the court became enveloped in clapping from both sides. Valice stood and bowed to her, and she curtsied back. They exited and the lights came back up as the Prince seated himself. He quickly turned to one of his attendants and asked to have the golden woman in his room for tonight. He leaned back in his soft chair as he thought about it. His father seemed unaffected by the people around him. Valice turned to him and smiled softly, "Don't let my minor intrigues worry you father, I only pick the best for my bed."

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The attendants came forward grabbing him quickly around and telling him that the Prince would be honored to speak with him tonight in his bed quarters. His eyes widened. *Bed quarters...?* He gulped quickly and then nodded. "Of course I'll be there," he smiled and fluttered his eyes as if embarrassed. The women quickly left him, some scowling, others turning back to look him over once more, unconvinced of his womanly appearance.

He turned to the woman whom had first dressed him. She raised an eyebrow. "Need some help getting dressed I suppose?" She smirked and led him back into the dress room.

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Valice exited the dinner late and smiled to himself as the candles down the hall gave it an ominous look of beauty and danger. The dark red tapestries hung down beside the cold stone walls, but as he looked upon them and their destruction, his mind strayed to the dancer, and the gold playing on her slender hips and waist. His eyes burned with lust and the emerald darkened in his thoughts of play.

He stood in front of his room looking at the large carven oak doors. He pushed one aside and gently moved into the room, his air luminous on its own. As his eyes lifted he looked across the room to see the fireplace lit, and one warm red chair filled, the other empty and waiting for him. His smile quirked as he saw the golden dancer look up at him and take a sharp intake of breath that was quickly hidden.

Moments ago he had been looking deep into the fire without any idea what he was going to do about the situation when his concentration had slipped and he had heard the door open. His eyes turned and he looked at the man standing before him. He was startled momentarily and then quietly in awe. The dark prince was just that, his dark black cloak lay against his frame enticingly and was beautifully accustomed to the prince's long dark hair. As his eyes lifted from the ground to his face he had come across two beautiful parted pink lips and then his dark emerald eyes, mischief playing behind each glance. He gulped quietly and then leaned back into the chair looking back into the fire, and gestured at the seat beside him.

He stifled a jump as a hand moved over his shoulder and across his collarbone resting on the opposite shoulder. Warm minty breath brushed his ear as the gentle words slid into him. "Your performance tonight was lovely." His mouth brushed the bottom of his earlobe.

His breath was slightly hitched as he responded. "I do what I am paid." The moment he said the words his hand flew to his mouth and he grimaced. *I do what I am paid? Oh god...* The prince seemed to be having the same affect, and then laughed quietly.

"I don't mean to offend you, but if that's true, then how much may I offer you for a night beside me fair lady?" His mouth gently opened and his teeth nipped his jaw line.

His eyes opened widely and he looked over his shoulder at the leaning man. "My prince, you wouldn't have to pay anything." He let his eyes drop to a half crescent, and leaned up to him silently, snaking his tongue into the prince's mouth.

The prince smiled in the kiss then moved around to the front of the chair. His hands slid up the dancer's sides, moving to the small of his back. His hands slid down his thighs and began to move inward, but two hands stopped him. The dancer quickly pulled back from the Prince. "My Lord, would you wait to do this for when I am completely beneath you?" His dark eyes met the Prince's emerald ones. His dark eyebrow was raised.

"If it pleases you my fair one."

"It does my Lord." He smiled as he was raised into the man's arms and brought to the bed. His arms were stretched back behind him and the Prince grasped both hands with one of his own.

His breath coursed over his neck and collarbone. "What may I call you my fair one so that I may have something to say later?" His eyes lifted to the dark ones that lay beneath him.

"Maverick."

"Maverick...?" The Prince's eyes widened, "a strange name for a wom-"

The doors to his room slammed open, and two guards charged in their breath catching in their throats. "My Lord, we bring bad tidings. The King, he has passed this night. He was discovered not long ago in his bed chambers by his maid. You must come right away; pressing matters need to be attended."

The Prince stood, looking down at Maverick. "Don't let this one leave the room, I shall be there immediately." He turned and exited the room quickly. The oak doors slammed shut and Maverick sat up quickly smiling all along.