Dancing With Lions by Anne Brooke
Smashwords Edition
Copyright 2010 by Untreed Reads Publishing, LLC
Cover Art Copyright 2010, Created by Dara England
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Dancing With Lions
I never knew how much love could destroy you or how seeking it could make it turn to hate. For love is like a lion. Beautiful and dangerous.
I should not have allowed myself ever to love, but all who looked on David wanted him. Even my brother, Jonathan, although for him perhaps it lasted longer than such things should. For David was dark, with limbs like honey taken fresh from the bee, and eyes which flashed with unknown fire.
I first saw him after the slaying of the Philistines when the women were dancing his victory, although I had already heard of his deeds. Who had not? Being considered too young for the sight of a man, my sister, Merab, and I were watching from a part of the house where my father couldn't see us, giggling at the people's antics.
'Look,' she whispered as the procession neared where we stood at the upper window. 'Look at how angry our father is.'
I stared at Saul's grim features. 'Why isn't he smiling? The Philistines are beaten, aren't they?'
'Silly girl,' Merab pinched me but I didn't slap her. I wanted to hear her explanation. 'Don't you listen to court gossip? David, the boy our father bought to play the lyre for him, killed Goliath while Saul just looked on. Come on, let's go and see.'
Before I could stop her, Merab had darted away like a slave girl from her master. Heart pounding, I followed her, frightened that people might see us. If my father found out, he would beat her, and me too. He hated such behaviour, especially in a king's daughters. In the street, the singing and the hot stench of horses were overwhelming. My sister was already two houses along and pushing her way through the laughing crowds.
'Merab!' She didn't hear me. My voice was lost in the songs. Only Paltiel, Laish's son, glanced in my direction and smiled. Ignoring him, I ran after Merab. I kept glimpsing her royal robe, but I only caught up when she was level with my father's horse.
That was when I heard her scream.
Peering between dogs and beggar women, I saw the stallion of the man behind Saul rear up, snorting its anger onto the dusty wind, wild hooves flailing as Merab screamed again. My father turned round, and David - for it was he - pulled his horse away from my sister and rode between her and the king. Pushing nearer, I could see Saul's face crimson with the beginning of one of his rages.
'Who dares disturb our victory procession?' he said.
'No-one, my king. Just a simple beggar girl,' David replied and then gave my sister a gentle push. 'Go!'
As he looked up, his eyes caught mine, and something in my world shifted. The next second Merab grabbed my hand and the two of us ran like the deer runs from the hunter. Away from the dancing crowds and danger, and back into the safety of the court.
That was how I, Michal daughter of Saul, fell in love.
*****
He filled all my dreams. If I could have him, I thought, then I would be happy. I wouldn't care about his background. I loved him. And if I could be married, then I would not have to live with my father, whose powerful touch destroyed all.
Merab, of course, laughed at my desires, which she teased out of me one day as we sat in the courtyard at our weaving. 'He is no nobleman, not like Laish. Just a shepherd boy from the Bethlehem hills. Though he is brave, how can you look at him? Our father would never allow it! Besides, you are too young to take a husband.'
Indeed, it was nearer her time for mating than mine. But I could not stop my dreams. So I bent my head over my work, losing myself in the flow of the threads and the sun's dazzle, and ignored her cruelty.
But soon Merab was laughing no longer.
*****
'Do you hear? Great Saul will give his eldest daughter to David. As long as he wins the king's battles, he will become his son-in-law.'
When I heard these things spoken, my heart shrivelled and I ran to my sister as a moth flies to flame.
'What are you doing?' I asked her when I found her combing her hair and chattering with a slave-girl. 'Planning your wedding feast?'
Merab stared at me. 'Court gossip has reached you then.'
'How long have you known? Why didn't you tell me?'
'I've known for three days and I haven't told you because I knew you would be foolish about it.'
'But you hate him. How can you have him as husband when I … I …'
'… love him?' Merab laughed and grabbed my hands so I was unable to wipe away my hot tears. 'What does that matter? We are women, we go where we are sent, no matter who we are. Besides, you should consider yourself blessed that you are not to be given to a man who smells of the fields at dawn. You are blessed not to marry someone you despise, Michal.'
When she let me go, I slapped her and pushed her to the floor, screaming until the slave girls pulled us apart.
After that, we never spoke again, my sister and I.
*****
Merab was not given to David as wife. My father's judgement shifted with the wind, or perhaps David's humble objections to such an honour changed his mind. For the bridegroom-to-be had proclaimed everywhere that the beautiful Merab was a prize too lofty for him. It made me laugh to hear such words. Beautiful? Merab was never that. But in the end my sister was given to Adriel the Meholathite, an old man who could often be found muttering on street corners but whose family my father needed to appease. Again, I laughed. Because the man I loved was not to be my brother and I was free to dream again.