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Tally brushed a final layer of mascara on her eyelashes and gave herself one last look in the mirror. Her auburn hair fell in loose ringlets over her shoulders and her golden-yellow dress accentuated each of her curves perfectly. She hadn’t been able to think straight all day. This was Beltane after all.
“C’mon Tal’ we’re going to be late,” Abigail called from the doorway.
Tally took a deep breath. “Now or never,” she whispered under her breath.
Abigail crossed the room and clasped Tally’s hand, “You look great. Now let’s go!”
Tally laughed nervously and followed her friend out the door into the warm evening glow. The entire fort was buzzing with the energy and excitement that Beltane brought. They made their way through the crowd where they found Raelle and paused when they reached a makeshift dance floor.
“When the music begins, let go, and let the reel guide you, And when it ends, know that you can trust it.”
Tally beamed with anticipation and squeezed Abigail and Raelle’s hands, pulling them into the crowd, “Let’s do this.”
Seconds later they were shoeless and dancing in a crowd. Abigail was quickly scooped up by two handsome men while Raelle danced with a blonde a few feet away. Tally scanned the crowd between spins; there was really only one person she was hoping to see.
One song became two and two became three, and with each passing beat Tally’s nervousness grew. What if she had been wrong? What if the connection was really all in her head and it had been truly severed? The sun began to drop below the horizon and dusk brought an amber glow to the dance floor. Tally lost sight of Abigail and Raelle so she went to the bar to grab a drink. Couples were pairing off faster and faster as the evening progressed. Tally knocked back a shot of whiskey and made a hissing sound at the burn.
“I wish I could say it doesn’t burn so badly after three hundred years, but in fact it does.”
The air in Tally’s lungs caught and she spun on her heels. There she stood, the cause of all her nervousness, General Sarah Alder. She wore a strapless dark red leather dress. Her hair was loose and curled and she wore a little more makeup than usual.
Finally , Tally thought to herself.
“I-I” Tally stuttered and blushed crimson.
Sarah only smiled, “Sorry I’m late,” she looked around to see more couples pairing off and disappearing into the surrounding forest, “it looks like everyone is having a good time.”
“Yeah,” Tally said tightly.
“And you,” Sarah asked, tilting her head to the side, curious as to why Tally was hiding at the bar.
“I um…” Tally paused before blurting, “Well I was kind of waiting for someone.”
Sarah’s eyebrows arched, “Ah, well I know what that’s like.”
Tally returned Sarah’s curious expression. It was difficult for her to imagine General Sarah Alder waiting on anyone for anything… ever.
“Were you…” Tally really didn’t want to finish the question, but she had to know, “Hoping to meet someone here tonight?”
Sarah took a half step forward, bringing her close enough to smell Tally’s soft perfume, “Yes.”
Tally’s stomach sank and she did her best to hide her disappointment, “Oh.”
Sarah watched as Tally’s posture fell in front of her. She tried to hide her smile and she extended her hand out to the redhead, “Dance with me, Craven.”
Tally’s gaze met Sarah’s outstretched hand before meeting her eyes. And there it was again, the stirring in her chest and buzzing in her head. The feeling she only got from General Sarah Alder. Her feet carried her forward of their own accord and she slipped her hand into the General’s.
Sarah didn’t try to hide her smile this time, she had waited for this moment all her life. She had finally met her match. Clasping Tally’s hand in her own she moved to the dance floor where only three couples remained. She stopped when they reached the center and released Tally’s hand, dropping into a deep bow.
Tally watched wide-eyed as the woman of her dreams bowed gracefully before her and reached for her hand again. She slid her right arm to Sarah’s bare shoulder and rested it there gently. Sarah pulled her close and started to lead her around the dance floor. Tally Craven had never classically danced a day in her life, but in Sarah’s arms, she floated flawlessly across the dancefloor. Time slipped by until the last of twilight had been replaced by the cool light of the full moon overhead.
Panting and breathless they abandoned the full dance moves for something far more simple, a couple of silhouettes swaying back and forth in the moonlight. Tally glanced around and noticed that she and Sarah were the only two left on the dancefloor. A nervous knot formed in her gut. “I guess your date didn’t show…”
“Who says,” Sarah asked softly.
“Oh,” Tally stopped dancing and let go, “Well you should go then.”
“Craven,” Sarah took Tally’s hands in her own. How can you not know?
Tally lost her breath at the depth in Sarah’s dark blue eyes. She knew this was too good to be true. There was no way General Sarah Alder would feel the same way for her. Dreams like this don’t come true.
“I have waited three hundred years for you, Tally Craven.” Sarah brushed her thumbs over the back of Tally’s hands and steadied herself as she laid her feelings bare. “Beltane or not, you’re my match.”
Tally’s brain short-circuited, this was somehow more than she had even hoped for. Her heart, which had felt like it was breaking only seconds before, now thundered in her ears.
Sarah swallowed hard as she watched Tally’s expression change from defeat to complete astonishment. Had she gone too far? Was it too much? Maybe Tally wasn’t ready yet?
Wordlessly, Tally rose up on her tiptoes and pressed her lips to Sarah’s. The whole world faded away from view as Sarah returned her kiss tenderly. She threw her arms around Sarah’s shoulders and every tense muscle in her body let go as she melted into the other woman.
Sarah slid her hands around Tally’s backside and lifted the younger woman, prompting Tally to wrap her legs around her waist.
There was only one thought in Tally Craven’s brain, home.
They kissed until they were both breathless and smiling. Foreheads resting together, Sarah gently released her grip on Tally and let the other woman stand of her own accord again.
Finding her legs somewhat unsteady, Tally giggled against Sarah’s chest.
“Easy there cadet,” Sarah teased softly.
Tally hugged Sarah to her tightly, breathing her in and listening to her steady heartbeat. Moments later she leaned back and was greeted by Sarah’s warm smile. She arched an eyebrow playfully and took a step back toward the treeline, pulling the taller woman along with her.
“We don’t have to,” Sarah said softly and tucked a stray strand of hair behind Tally’s ear.
“Oh yes we do,” Tally smiled warmly and tugged Sarah into the forest.
…
Sarah laid awake with Tally’s head on her chest, the younger woman sleeping soundly. She gazed up at the moon and let herself be in the moment.
Now I understand
Why I went through what I went through
All of it
Everything I did
It was all to get me here
The Goddess was always leading me to you
There’s never been a moment you weren’t there
You’ve been with me from my genesis
You are me
I am you
300 years into infinity
I am now and always will be, yours.
Sarah placed a soft kiss to the top of Tally’s head and let herself drift into dreams of the next 300 years.