Lost Legacies

Chapter 1

Music and laughter filled the air. It was the summer solstice, the one celebration on par with the great winter feast. The sun had just set, and in every village and town lanterns and flower garlands adorned the streets. Behind every door was an excited bustling as everyone hurried to get ready for the great dance. Shirts were buttoned, ribbons tied neatly into intricate hair styles and smiles plastered onto every face. Soon men, women and children were spilling out from every door. It was the sort of evening when the air is so sweet you swear you can taste honey as you breath, the kind of evening everything seems perfect.

In the small village of Ashpann the festivities were already in full flair. The town square had been lit with candles and lanterns, casting a warm light as the people of the village danced in time with the flames. The sound of flute, fiddle and stomping feet traveled between the houses, cheerful and inviting as more and more people joined the dancing pairs in the square. Asta pushed a sweaty stray lock of hair away from her face, laughing as she made sure to keep up with the young man in front of her guided her through the steps. Twirling around and around at a dizzying speed they danced. Light on her feet she landed back down on the ground after every jump, heels digging into the cobblestone with each sharp turn. She grinned as the music sped up, nearing it's climax. Skirts whipped and hair swiveled in a blur of colour as the tapping of feet grew more and more rapid until the song finally came to an end. Squealing in delight as she once again was swept off her feet, Asta shook her head teasingly at the young man, Mikkel, who grinned as he put her down and led her to the edge of the square.

"Someone's been practicing." Asta said with a smug grin. "I can remember last year when you could barely even avoid stepping on your own toes, let alone mine."

"Well that was only a problem because of your abnormally large feet. Any other partner and I would have been good enough to dance with royalty." He replied with a cheeky smile, earning a slap on the shoulder in return. The pair stayed quiet for a while, watching the people dancing and savoring the moment. Mikkel was the one to interrupt the comfortable silence between them.

"You know," He said with a small smile. "I can still remember when you were so small you could barely climb onto the chairs at home. Although I suppose not that much has changed on that front." Asta shot him a glare making him raise his hands in mock surrender. Smiling at Mikkel, Asta let herself get lost in thought. Ever since her arrival to the village many years ago, Mikkel had always been there to support her, always the first to try to cheer her up with well meant jokes and always willing to teach her things about the world. She had never been an easy student though, constantly wandering off and getting lost in the forest. He would always come searching, she recalled as she smiled to herself. Although he was barely two years older than herself he always took care of her.

"Lost in thought again, are we?" Mikkel interrupted her thoughts. "Be careful not to think too hard, bless that little head of yours." He said with feigned sweetness, which soon changed into shock as Asta stomped down hard on his foot. "Shit!" He exclaimed. "What was that for?"

"There was a bug." Asta replied sweetly, putting on the most innocent face she could muster.

"Mhm..." Mikkel muttered grudgingly from where he was sat dramatically cradling his foot. "Sure there was."

Asta extended a hand to help him up, almost falling over herself in the process. "How about another dance? Or will you be needing that seen to?" She teased and pointed at his foot.

"I think I'll live, thankfully you aren't as strong as you are aggressive." He smiled charmingly and extended his arm. Linking her arm in his Asta let him lead her to an empty spot at the square and slowly they fell into rhythm with the other dancers. As they danced and talked Asta allowed herself to wish that the moment would never end, that they could just keep dancing like this forever, her hand on his shoulder and his on her waist. She hadn't lied when she said that Mikkel had improved a lot over the last year. It hadn't only been at dancing though. She could feel that a lot had changed over the last year. They had both grown up a lot. She remembered the times as a kid when she had wished for nothing more than to grow up, but now when adulthood was just in front of her she wished she could turn back. She smiled up at Mikkel, suddenly set at enjoying the moment as much as she could so that she would never ever forget it. And as the evening passed into night they danced and talked and laughed until their feet were sore and their cheeks hurt. By the time came that they were getting ready to leave the festivities both were filled with the warmth of spiced cider and the happiness of hours spent in the best of company. Mikkel lead her home, his hand still resting on her waist and by the time they arrived at her door neither of them wanted to part. They had always been close, but tonight was special. Tonight something was different.