~Dancing In The Dark~

You can't start a fire, you can't start a fire without a spark
This gun's for hire even if we're just dancing in the dark
-Bruce Springsteen

She was placed on the window sill of her new room, looking out into the sun rise. The leaves were dancing to the whispering wind, the early morning birds chirping and creating a tune that was not all together unpleasant. A white, juvenile bird swooped down to where she was and settled herself warmly on her lap, cooing. She smiled and softly stroked his head with her finger.

From where she was, she was able to see the entire Kingdom. King Orion Black had made sure that his towers were higher than the tallest tree. She looked down and her eyes met the large lake, that was reflecting the orange and pink sky.

Just below her room, was a bed of Irises. Irises of all sorts of colours, ranging from pure white to royal purple. She was glad that they were there. If by coincidence or if the staff had planted them to please and welcome her, she did not know.

For Iris was also her name.

Iris had been told that her mother and father had died before she could even walk. She was bought by an old merchant who with his wife, brought her up nicely, giving her an education and lots of love. Mr and Mrs Jagger had never failed to make her happy.

She had also been told that she was named after the flower, Iris because they were her mother's favourite flowers. Her middle name was Teresa, her mother's name and her last name was Hewson, her father's last name.

It was told to her that she had inherited her mother's good looks. Iris had hair as black as coal, that went past her shoulders, reaching just until above her chest. Accompanying her hair, she had a flick that rested on her forehead smoothly. She was as pale and white as snow, absolutely no colour in her cheeks. She had chocolate brown eyes that were framed with thick eye lashes, and her body was slim. She had absolutely no curves, and that was considered a very big disadvantage in the times they were in, since curves were what gets the men going.

Iris sighed and pushed back her hair, watching two butter flies flutter all over the massive garden and over the stables. After Mr Jagger passed away, Iris was forced to get a job. After hearing that the Royal Staff of King Orion were looking for a maid, she applied immediately and got her answer in a few days.

She was going to be the maid of their youngest son and heir to the throne, Sirius Black. It was rumored that all maids ran away after just a week because he was very hard to put up with. But Iris was sure she would survive. Any way, she had to. Mrs Jagger needed the money.

Iris looked around her room. It was quite fancy and grand for a maid's room but she was told that this tower was originally used for the guests. But then Orion Black was showered with money and he built grander and better towers, rooms and courts for him and his guests. So this very tower was given to the slaves.

The ceiling had been painted. The artist had painted the sky and many angels, who looked like the God Of Love, Cupid, for they carried arrows and had wings. The sky was orange, pink and red which meant that the artist must have imagined a sun rise or a sun set.

In the corner of the room, there was her bed. It was a queen sized bed, with soft bedding and fluffy pillows. It was a beautiful change from the floor she used to sleep on with just a thin blanket, back at the Jagger's hut. There was a desk in the corner, with a quill, a pot of ink and a few pieces of parchment. There was a fire place and an armchair next to it, with a small shelf for her tattered and old collection of books. On the side, was her wardrobe. And in that wardrobe, there were five dresses of exactly the same kind. They were her uniform.

She had the room at the top of the tower, and obviously that had great advantages. She could see the entire Kingdom and she had her own personal balcony. But there was also the massive disadvantage of having to climb one hundred and three steps every day.

But for all of it, she was grateful. Even if she was a slave in the Castle of the Great King, Orion Black, she was living the life of a queen compared to the life she lived at the Jagger's and on the streets.

As soon as the clock strikes six A. M, Iris rose from her window sill, cupping her hands which still held the juvenile, white bird in them. She held her hands out of the window and the bird flew away, cooing happily. She wished that she was a bird like it. Such freedom, such a carefree manner...life would be so much easier.

Iris smiled and went back into her room. Opening the wooden cupboard, she took out one of the dresses. She slipped out of her white, flimsy night gown and covered her body with the black dress. The hem of the dress reached her knees, and her sleeves reached her elbows. The collar and cuffs were made of black silk and so was the bow that fastened the dress. She pulled on the black, net stockings and the black shoes. Maids were not allowed to have their hair open in front of any one so she pulled her hair back into a pony tail. The flick on her forehead remained where it was, for it was useless trying to get it pinned to her head.

Iris looked at her reflection in the mirror. She looked exactly like those posh maids that King's and Noble Men had in their houses. She chuckled at herself and plunged her hands into the pockets of her black apron and went downstairs to the Slave's lounge, where they were to meet Marlene, head of the servants.

She went down the hundred steps merrily and skipped in to the lounge. All the servants were gathered together and were munching on their breakfast. Iris made her self a cup of tea and sipped it quietly, as she read a news paper article about Sirius Black.

"I was never really a fan of tea, myself," some one said behind her back. Iris turned her head and saw Will. She had made friends with him last night and she must say, she thought him an excellent chap. Full of wit and very modest...

"Really?" Iris asked, surprised, "I can't get myself out of bed without having a cuppa. It warms you on the inside, you know." She took a sip and smiled as the liquid made it's way through her body, warming it.

Will chuckled, "coffee does the same, you know. And it makes you alert. I think you'll need to be alert today, don't you? It's your first say after all! So, tell me...afraid or excited to meet the great Sirius Black?"

Iris bit her lip, "not sure. He can't be that bad, can he?"

"I've heard that mostly the maids run away because he's too charming and they're tempted by his good looks," Will told her, "and some say that it's because the Queen makes the maids try to make Sirius Black give in to marrying the Scottish rose. And if they fail, she says she'll cut their heads off."

"The Scottish Rose?" Iris asked, puzzled.

"Oh, dear, you haven't heard of her, have you?" Will asked, "well, when Sirius Black was born, a treaty was signed between Orion and the King of Scotland saying that Sirius and the Scottish King's daughter, Rose were to be married as soon as Sirius turned twenty one. Now, Sirius Black has grown up to be one hell of a disobedient son. He's done quite a lot of crazy things, mind you. And he's not signing the papers which will make his marriage to the Scottish Rose final. It's causing quite a lot of havoc in the house."

"Why doesn't he want to marry her, Will?" Iris asked curiously.

"I have no clue and I can't understand why he doesn't want to, for the Scottish Rose has been named the most beautiful woman on the planet," Will said importantly, "she's gorgeous. Lips as red as a rose, hair as brown as -"

"Maybe he's just looking for true love," Iris said as she finished her tea.

"Come off it!" Will laughed, "Oh, Iris! Do you really think men want true love? Only women go looking for it! All men like Sirius Black want is sex and a woman to have on his arm so he can show her off to the world."

"No, that -"

"Listen to me, all royal servants of Orion Black!" Marlene cried. All the slaves turned their heads towards her and she continued, "the Royal Family of Scotland, along with the Scottish Rose comes to meet Prince Sirius today. The Castle must be spotless and the gardens must be luscious. I trust that all of you will be able to make me proud! Now, go! Off to your work! And Iris, maid of Sirius Black, come before me!"

Iris got off her seat and smoothed her dress. Will gave her good luck and she thanked him before making his way towards Marlene, "okay, Iris, listen to me. Sirius Black is very reluctant to meet with the family of Scotland. It is up to you to get him dressed and to the court by twelve, do you hear me?"

"I - I have to get him d - dressed?" Iris stuttered. Marlene ignored her and glanced at her watch.

"It is seven o clock and it is your duty to wake him up as soon as the clock strikes eight! You must get him out of bed and make sure that he presents himself nicely in front of the Scottish family."

"B - but -" Iris was about to protest but Marlene walked away and out of the servant tower. Iris gulped and sank into the chair.

***

Iris stood in front of the grand door to Sirius Black's room. The door had interesting carvings etched on it, that Iris could just stare at all day long. But five minutes had already passed since the clock striked eight and if Marlene ever found out that she had wasted precious time just staring at a door, she would be furious with her.

Iris curled her fingers around the handle made out of pure gold and pushed the door open just a little. She squeezed into the dark room, and her eyes widened a bit and her lips parted in shock.

It was a huge, circular room. There were jewels on the walls and the ceiling was painted. It was much more imaginative than the ceiling in her own room. There were dragons and knights in armour and dungeons...all very creative and well painted. There was a large bed, with a canopy on top made out of some very special Italian red cloth. Half of the circular wall in the room was covered with shelves and shelves of books. There was a desk like hers, only grander and prettier, and the balcony had it's own pond and a small garden. It was a beautiful chamber.

Iris looked over at the bed and saw his body entangled with the sheets. She went over to the windows and drew back the curtains, allowing the crisp and fresh sunshine to enter the room. She walked back to the bed, careful not to make a noise.

She felt her breath hitch in her throat as she saw him for the very first time.

She could have sworn that a face like that would have been carved out by every single angel in heaven. Such beauty she had never come across, in her entire life. His black hair fell into his eyes with a sort of casual elegance, his lips were perfectly curved, matching each other greatly. His complexion was pale and his skin was smooth, his jaw pronounced. His eye lids were closed and she had no way to know what the colour of his eyes were.

With such a face...forget the Scottish Rose, even an angel carved out by the Lord's hands himself would fall at his feet! Her mouth had suddenly become dry and she swallowed. She began to scold herself for thinking inappropriately about her master.

She cleared her throat, "Sire?"

He didn't respond but grabbed a pillow and placed it over his head, shielding his face from the world. Iris couldn't see his angel like face any more and that seemed to greatly disturb her. She could just stare at his face for days and not get bored.

"Your Highness, you need to get dressed and join your parents and brother for breakfast," Iris said, her voice soft and weak. Sirius groaned and mumbled something that Iris had difficulty understanding.

"Please wake up, Sire," Iris said in a frustrated tone. He groaned and lifted the pillow off his face. Pushing down on the bed, he sat up and rubbed his shoulder. Iris bowed but he said irritably:

"I beg you to not bow before me for I am no greater than any other man on this planet."

Iris was taken aback. The Great Sirius Black wasn't supposed to ask slaves to not bow before him! He was supposed to be arrogant and selfish...so why was he so different from all the stories that roamed the town?

When he looked up, Iris saw that he had gorgeous, gray eyes to die for. They were like pools of silver that she could have drowned in, and wouldn't have complained. Sirius stared back at her and asked, "are you new?"

"First day today, your highness," Iris gave him his robe. Sirius smiled at her and Iris couldn't have believed that there was anything more beautiful than his face melting into a smile like that. Happiness on a face like his, made him seem radiant. Better than the shining sun.

"My name is Sirius, not your highness. So please refrain from calling me anything but Sirius," he said as he stood up and slipped his arms into the robe that Iris was helping him into. When he turned around, he was surprised by the look on her face.

"I am nothing but a poor servant, Sire. I have no right to address you in such an informal way," Iris smiled sadly.

Sirius smiled warmly, "I am no better than you. Just because I was born into an insufferable family, it doesn't mean you can't address me by my first name."

Iris said nothing as she made his bed. Sirius went into the grand bathroom and came out, dressed in black trousers and a loose, white shirt whose sleeves were rolled up. He was wearing riding boots, and his hair was a mess. Iris bit her lip. How was she supposed to tell him to comb it for the Scottish rose?

"What is your name, madam?" Sirius asked as she smoothed out the covers. He rolled up the sleeves of his shirt carefully, watching Iris with curious eyes that melted her heart.

Iris chewed down on her lip, "I am not sure if I am allowed to tell you, Sire."

Sirius began to laugh, "my name is Sirius. And you can tell me."

Iris smiled, "well, if you must know, my name is Iris. Iris Hewson."

"Iris," a slow smile spread across his face as he said her name. He offered his hand and when Iris slipped her hand in to his, she felt a jolt of electricity that went all the way through her veins and made her heart beat furiously, "I'm glad to meet you."

"I'm glad to meet you as well, sire," Iris smiled.

Sirius sighed, "my name is Sirius."

"Forgive me," Iris bit her lip.

"No need to apologize!" Sirius said quickly. He bent down and brushed her hand with his lips like a gentleman and walked out of his chamber. Iris stared after him and then back at her own pale, white hand. She brushed it with her fingers, wondering if she had imagined the last part.

How in the name of all that's Holy could any one call him arrogant and selfish when his personality and manners were as beautiful as his angel like face?

Yes, a NEW story. LOL. My mind is sort of buzzing these days and I really felt like writing a sappy, full of fluff, proper story set back in the 19th century. I hope you enjoy the first chapter and I promise that the story gets far better as we go forward.

I assure you that I will NOT forget When The Stars Go Blue, or November Rain. For those who are in the dark, those are the names of my other stories.

May I get five reviews before I update? I have no idea why I'm being so proper. Maybe it's because of the story. LOL. My parents want to know whats wrong with me.

SO! Five reviews, please? And PLEASE keep on reading! The story gets much better as we go along. I promise!

-XSiriusIsTheBestX