It was a quiet night in Moomin valley. The breeze from the ocean softly whistles through the trees and with not a soul was in sight to disrupt the peaceful sounds of the valley. The only sound at can heard echoing through the landscape was the sound of a distant orchestra blaring through the windows of a mansion hidden in the forest.
Inside the mansion was all of the residents of the valley dress in their best clothes, eating delicious treats, laughing and cheering together as dozens of couples danced together to the sound of the orchestra that hummed through the ballroom. The mansion was filled with all of people and creature from far and wide to enjoy the festivities and celebrate the spring season. Moominmamma and pappa were enjoying each other company as they watch Moomintroll and Snorkmaiden dancing together. Even Little My managed to convince or perhaps threaten Sniff to leave the dining table to dance with her.
meanwhile, the soft-spoken (Y/N) and free-spirited Snufkin were about to be reunited for a night that will change their relationship forever.
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I feel my hands shake ever so slightly as I stood frozen in place beside my older brother Richard. Lord Alred confidently with his head held as high walks over to greet us with a wide grin.
My brother steps forward giving each other a slight bow. "Good evening Lord Alfred. How are you finding the festivities so far?"
"Quite enjoyable. It is an immense pleasure to see you and your family here this evening" Alfred said shaking Richards hand before looking down at me "How do you do miss (Y/N)?"
I try to hide my discomfort by putting on a polite smile as I lift the hem of my dress to give a soft curtsy. "I'm doing very well, Thank you." My nerves progressively start to rise as I notice a large number of people in the crowd watching us talk from afar. Lord Alfred has a considerable reputation among the residents of Willow Hills for his wealth, popularity and powerful family.
Alfred notices me looking distracted. "Are you looking for someone Miss (Y/N)?" He questioned snapping me out of my thoughts.
"Its nothing, I was just admiring the general splendour of the ballroom." I chuckle nervously. I quickly notice the orchestra start to play the next dance.
"If that's the case, may I have this dance?" he said presenting his hand to me.
I make eye contact with my brother as he nods his head. I don't exactly have a choice anymore and might as well get it over with. "You may," I said as Alfred takes my hand and guides me to the centre of the ballroom with my brother watching us closely.
Other couples in the room pair up and gather around us. I even notice Moomin and Snorkmaiden amongst the crowd waiting for the next dance to start. Lord Alfred takes my hand and grips it very tightly before placing the other on my waist. The ballroom goes quite as the orchestra starts to play as everyone begins to dance.
I let Alfred take the lead as we gracefully dance in sync around the marble floor ballroom and begin to make small talk.
"I've heard that you recently moved to Moomin Valley at the start of spring. When will you be coming back to Willow Hills?" He asked
"Oh I-I'm not sure if I will be coming back. As a matter of fact, my wish is to live here for the rest of my life" I said timidly looking down to the floor watching my dress sway as my feet dance around the marble floors.
"How strange of a woman your age to be living alone in a place like Moomin Valley. Your poor brother must be very embarrassed on your behalf" He said looking down at me with a sly grin.
This is one of the things I highly disliked about Alfred, it is his tendency to being a gentleman around people he wants to impress but act very rudely when you are alone with him. Ever since we were children he would pull my hair and push me to the floor when the adults weren't looking. I was always a shy and timid as a child I never told anyone about how he treated me. Alfred took much pleasure in seeing me be uncomfortable even into our adulthood and I still continue to let it happen.
I don't want him to see me upset so I continue to wear a fake smile. "I'm sure he doesn't truly feel that way," I said with a shaky voice as my feet proceed to drift across the ballroom as the sound of the orchestra continues to serenade the other dancers.
"Perhaps but it would be hard not to be when everyone in Willow Hills is talking about you," He said spinning me in circles around the ballroom. "I'm just saying that perhaps you would be better off coming back and settling down. A sensible woman should stay home and start thinking about starting a family of her own."
His words were finally starting to get to me. Is it true that my family is being looked down upon because of me? I so desperately wanted this dance to end and get as far away from Lord Alfred as soon as possible but all I can do is endure it until the dance is over. Even if I wanted to simply walk away right now, his hands had a tight grip on my hand and waist and everyone in the room has their eyes on us. I don't want to cause a scene and embarrass my family more than I already have. Why do I feel like the walls of this giant ballroom are closing in on me?
I feel so. . . . . . .
Trapped.
I just want to go back to my cottage, where I feel safe and can be myself. I want to be free like Snufkin. I would love to hear some of his sweet words of wisdom and reassurance right now. I wish she was here. I wish he was the one I was dancing with right now. Ever since I first meet Snufkin he was the first to make me feel like my dreams were validated and that I am strong enough to chase after them. I wish I could tell him how much he has helped me to become a more confident person and how happy he makes me feel.
And that. . . . .
I think I'm falling for him.
When I'm with him it feels like there is nothing in this world that can hold me back and I could truly be free.
But right now.. at this moment... I'm not.
'If only Snufkin was here, what would he do?' I thought as I start to feel my eyes well up with tears as I avert my face away from Alfred, hoping he doesn't notice.
I know exactly what he would do. Whenever Snufkin feels trapped or inclosed he would honestly just leave.
As I look around the ballroom thought the crowd of people and dazzling lights I see a glass door that opens up to the garden. I can see the forest in the distance illuminated by the moon outside. I don't want to feel caged in anymore. It feels like the forest outside is faintly calling for me.
For a moment I lose focus and stop dancing.
"(Y/N)! What are you doing? The dance is not over yet!" He whispers loudly as his grips my hand painfully tight trying to pull me closer to him. "What would your brother say if I told him how disrespectful you were to me? You should be grateful that I'm even dancing with someone like you." he quietly scoffed in my ear.
The pain from his grip shoots through my body.
I am not the scared helpless child that I once was and I don't have to be treated like this anymore.
I push him away from me and immediately start to walk towards the doors that exit to the garden. I didn't say a word or look back but as I weave through the crowd of couples that were still dancing I could hear Alfred's boots quickly stomping closer towards me. Lord Alfred angrily grabs my wrist once again with a furious look in his eyes.
His grip is so agonising tight that I couldn't help but let out a small yelp as my face winces in pain.
"Wait until I tell everyone here how disobedient of a BITCH you are!" He snapped yelling in my face.
A few people dancing around us stopped dancing as they looked us with shock.
Alfred covers his mouth with one hand in fear as he noticed what he just did.
Finally, everyone was seeing Lord Alfred's true colours.
I take in a small breath and look straight into his eyes. "You can tell them whatever you want but I have not an ounce of desire to be in your presence for a moment longer" I spoke calmly but still firm trying to hold back my tears. I refuse to lose my composure in front of everybody.
Alfred looks around the room at everyone watching and whispering as they witnessing our dispute in the middle of the ballroom.
He looks away in shame as he slowly lets go of my wrist. I turn around and start to walk away through the crowd of people looking down at me. I try to pay no mind to them as I exit through the tall glass doors to the garden as my shaking hands gently close them behind me muffling the sound of the orchestra and talking inside.
I felt the cool breeze from the wind in the trees gently touch my bare skin. I can finally hear my heart beating quickly through my chest. I quickly scan the mansions perfectly maintained garden to see that there was not a single soul and that I was finally alone.
I let out a quiet sob as tears start to spill down my soft cheeks. I don't look back and decide to walk away from the ballroom deeper into the garden with tears blurring my vision. I decide the best thing to do was to get as far from the mansion as I could by walking into the forest at the back of the garden.
As I joylessly walked further away from the mansion the sound of the orchestra slowly faded away. All that could be heard was the sound of the wind blowing through the trees, crickets chirping and my feet walking through the wet grass below. I was dark but thankfully the full moon was able to guide me through the forest with nothing but the sound of nature around me.
Lord Alfred's words replay in my mind as I wipe my tears with my sleeve from my face. 'Have I really brought shame to my family?' I thought as I looked down at the hem of my dress trying to hold back my quiet sobs in the back of my throat.
How can I face my brother and sister-in-law after tonight? They are the only family I have left. My mother and father worked so hard to give us a comfortable life. What would they think if they saw me now? I thought as the sound of my quiet sobs begins to disrupt the peaceful sounds of the forest as wipe away more salty tears from my face.
"(Y/n)?"
I slowly raise my head to see a familiar figure standing a few feet away from me.
"Snufkin?"
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Authors Note:
Hey everyone just wanted to give an update on why I haven't been able to post as many chapters as I use to. I started writing this story back in June because had more free time to pursue new hobbies because at the time I was studying from home due to the pandemic. Where I live in Australia COVID-19 cases have been very low for a few months now and thankfully life has been slowly going back to normal. A few months ago I returned to studying at Uni most days and working at my job most nights. Ive tried my best to keep up with chapters as best I can but obviously I need to prioritise stuff in my personal life.
Have no fear, I still intend to finish this story becuase we are getting close to a satisfying ending but chapters be uploaded as often as they use to.
I hope you are all doing well and thank you soooo much for your support/patience!!