a.u.

Chapter Thirteen: Chivalry

Damian wasn't expecting the festivities to be quite so, well, festive. To clarify, he'd been to a post-dubbing party before--once, when he was still a squire--but that time he was a lot younger and he could barely keep up with the pace of the party. The ceremony back then was for a quite famous sort of fellow and Damian was under the impression that party was larger than most. This, however, seemed to be quite the same size. A part of him didn't quite think he deserved it, but he didn't dare say it out loud.

The ballroom was tall. He knew it was large, but he didn't get a chance to take in before how tall it was. It could've fit his own living quarters at least five times stacked on top of each other. The room was lined with gold, gold everything. It was weaved into the intricate tapestries and lining the columns among the ballroom's edges. Beautiful murals were carved into the walls, telling stories Damian had yet to hear. Even the floors were delicately painted to reveal complex patterns that repeated for what felt like miles. At the far end of the room, a handful of steps led up to a throne. One level down, a couple more seats sat at either side of the main throne. On the mirror opposite, a troupe of musicians were tuning their instruments.

The room was just beginning to fill with guests who were filtering in from the banquet hall. The banquet itself was quite a feast. Damian sat at the top table, just a few seats down from the Queen, Eldric on his other side. He spent most of the time trying to count the number of guests at the tables below, but he kept losing count. The guests were a number of noble families and other knights. Some came up to congratulate him, but most just seemed to come for the party. He ate more than he had ever recalled eating in his entire life. He drank enough to be merry.

Damian stood at the entrance of the ballroom now, watching the people filter in. In just a short while, the music began to play at a mezzo piano. Damian felt someone come up behind him and place a firm hand on his shoulder. He didn't have to turn around to know who it was.

"Aye, this is your celebration, lad," Eldric said low enough so just he could hear. "It would be uncouth of you to lay back here the whole night."

Damian couldn't help but smile. "I will dance," he said defensively. "I'm pacing myself. I did just eat an entire goose."

Eldric laughed and pat his shoulder a couple times. "Get out there, son, and enjoy what there is to enjoy. You see those young dames over there?" He outstretched his arm and pointed to a couple ladies standing against the far wall. "I'm sure they'd be delighted to dance with Sir Ryker. Go enact your chivalrous code and ask them to have this dance." He gave him a hearty shove forward.

Damian almost stumbled. He took a couple steps into the ballroom and looked back.

Eldric ushered him to keep going.

Damian rolled his eyes and began walking to the other side of the ballroom. He approached one of the ladies standing against the wall. She looked to be the daughter of a nobleman, light blonde hair done up in a fanciful updo and tied with ribbon. She wore a green satin dress finished off with lace along the edges.

Damian cleared his throat and bowed. When he stood back up, he extended a hand. "I couldn't help but notice you were alone," he said eagerly. "Would you give me the honor of having this dance?"

The lady smiled coyly and extended her hand.

Without further conversation, the two were whisked away in dance. Damian spent most of the time making sure his steps were right and that he wasn't stepping on any parts of the lady's dress. He didn't make much room for conversation. She didn't seem to mind, though, or at least, that's what he thought.

They shared a couple of songs before she made contact with another gentleman that swept her off her feet. Damian moved onto the next partner as well, and the trend continued throughout the night.