A/N: well, you know the routine. Read, and if you feel like it, review. Also - if you spot any error or you think some part needs fixing, please, tell me about it, so I can fix it as soon as possible.

By the way, the title was inspired by the title of movie 'Shall We Dance?'

Disclaimer: I own nothing, only this fic and Sindal are all my faults.

Shall We Play?

Once again they visited Sindal's theatre. And as always, there simply had to be some problems again.

"You can't be serious, Higgold. And you, too," said Sindal, pointing to one of the actors, to Samuel.

"I'm afraid that the actors will leave, if you won't do something with it," shrugged Higgold, though there was a bit worried expression on his face. Sindal sighed. There had been problems with the play's text again - now, only a few days before the premiere of it. Looking to her companions she said: "I'm sorry - but we will have to stay here for some time. I will have to take a look on the text changes and then we will have to practise it."

Most of them just nodded. They knew that this theatre meant something for their leader - after all, not everyone gets the chance of running such a place. Yet it was tiring - she had to made some changes in cast, in music, pay for cleric who would sanctify the whole place... And now it was the whole text editing business.

Sindal was left alone in her office with only a quill, ink-bottle and a pile of papers. Changing from her leathers to more comfortable clothing she sat down and started to read the text.

We shall open our play in the faraway land of Turmish, on the peaks of Aphrunn...

o.O.o

Rubbing her eyes she read the last line one more time. She was exhausted by all that reading, thinking over the changes and writing them down. And it still felt imperfect. How frustrating!

And then the idea almost kicked her off the chair she was sitting on. She can ask Tsujatha for his opinion! He read quite a lot of Shakespeare - and although the "Wizard's Curse" wasn't exactly the same style as Shakespearean play; he still could point her some errors and propose changes. Instantly standing she was almost running to the common room, hoping to find him there. To her relief he was still there, deep in one of his books.

"Tsujatha! You have to help me!"

He looked up, clearly startled. "My lady?"

She waved her hands. "I need your help about the script of the play. C'mon, Tsujatha, you're the only one who can help me."

He looked on her as if she got crazy. But to her great relief he stood up and followed her wordlessly to her office. Once there, she showed him the problematic places in the script. Both of them were so absorbed in the work, discussing the changes and talking about improvements of the text that they almost didn't notice the night passing by and the morning sun rising.

Tsujatha yawned. Sindal looked out of the window. "Oh my... sorry for keeping you awake the whole night, Tsujatha!" she said apologetically. Tsujatha smiled a bit. "Don't apologise, my lady - it has been quite... pleasant and illuminating night. Are you sure you don't need any more help with the script?"

Sindal nodded. "Yes, Tsujatha, I'm sure. I thank you for your help - I don't know I would do, if you already went to bed!"

He just chuckled. Sindal just watched him with her mouth opened slightly - it was quite unusual to see him even smile - chuckling was something she saw him doing only a few times. And every time of those was special in some way. Tsujatha didn't seem to notice that, since he bid her good "morning" and left her office in clear intention to get at least a short sleep.

She watched the closed doors for a short moment, then stood and went to lock it. No one needs to go here and wake her. The rest she was going to get was more than well deserved. Lying on the couch she had in the room (it was placed here most probably just for occasions like this) she closed her eyes, feeling content with the good work being finally done. Tomorrow she starts to practise with the actors with this new and excellent script.

o.O.o

"We have a big problem."

"What happened this time, Sindal?" asked Jaheira.

Sindal winced. "Well, something what can completely destroy the whole theatre - the actors who should play Velden and Karenina are ill! Zaren is almost unable to even get out of bed and Illtheia is almost in the same state!" She started to pace in front of the table where the rest of the group was sitting, clutching her fists. "So much money and time spent - and to nothing..."

"Sindal?" said Tsujatha suddenly. "I think that I... maybe have an idea how to solve the problem."

Sindal looked up on him. "Yes, Tsujatha?" she asked eagerly. "And that is?"

He coughed. "You know the play, don't you?"

She answered. "Yes, Tsujatha, I do. And?"

Tsujatha looked a bit unsure. "Well, then you can try to play Karenina."

Sindal watched him wordlessly for a moment. Then her face lit up. "Yes, that's true!" But then she bit her lip and added sadly: "But we still are missing Velden. None of the actors is able to learn the whole script in the last few hours before the opening. Unless..." Wide smile appeared on her lips. "Unless you will help me! Please, Tsujatha, say that you'll help us in this!" pleaded Sindal.

'How could anyone not help you when you are asking like this?' "Of course, Sindal. I will."

She smiled. Holding her hand towards Tsujatha she said: "Then come, Tsujatha - we have much to do."

None of them noticed the pair of dark brown eyes which followed them closely. Their owner was clutching his fists tightly, wishing he knew the texts - so it could be him who would be playing Velden. Alas, the gods wished otherwise.

o.O.o

"Oh my..." Marcus, peeking behind the curtain let a surprised whistle escape him. "The theatre is completely full!"

Sindal rubbed her suddenly cold hands together. 'Well, at least one part of my body really feels like Karenina in the snow storm.'

"Cold, my lady?" asked Tsujatha by her side. She looked up and smiled a bit. He really didn't need to change his clothing too much to look like Velden. "Uhm… yes. I suppose I'm pretty nervous - we both haven't have enough time to really practise all the scenes and I'm quite scared it will show during the performance. Not that I'm saying you won't be able to play it as good as you can," she added hastily.

Tsujatha allowed himself to smile a bit. "Don't worry, my lady. You're bard by nature and I - well, let's see what comes from it, hm?"

Bing!

"And now comes the time of our premiere," said Sindal, turning to the actors. "You all know what to do - so do it and until the very end of the play - good luck!"

The audience fell silent. The whole auditorium darkened. During the initial darkness Marcus went to sit on the edge of the stage and started to speak slowly:

"We shall start our play in the faraway land of Turmish, in the highest tops of Aphrunn, where the nearest city is far-off..."

The scene behind Marcus changed a bit, as Sindal guessed from the surprised exhalation of the crowd. The mages she hired for doing the "tricks" were doing decent job it seemed.

"Dark, long forlorn castle is hidden between the snow-drifts... silent witness of history enfolding inside of it. And in this castle my lord lives." To the silhouette of the castle a silhouette of a mage appeared, proud and solid as was his castle. "Wizard, who doesn't sense the running time - his thoughts is full of arcane knowledge. Yet, his heart breaks down and rots."

Marcus stood up, looked over the people and bowed down towards the wizard's silhouette. "My lord taught me many spells and incantation; however, I've learned much more when the winter ended..."

Another silhouette appeared - profile of young woman. Marcus explained: "With disappearing snow a naive young woman of name Karenina appeared. And both of them, my lord and she, paid..."

The scene fell dark. Illusion of the castle was set on the stage, Sindal as Karenina was stumbling through the snowstorm, summoned by the mages, to the castle.

Shielding her face before the snow, she knocked on the door. "Please, if anyone is inside, open the door!" No one was opening. She leaned on the closed doors, tears coming out of her eyes. "Deserted... Is it here, where I should die? All alone?"

The doors opened suddenly. Karenina felt herself being caught by pair of strong hands. Looking up she found herself gazing into the pair of silver eyes. She winced quickly when the person who caught her spoke:

"You won't die here, woman from the land under the mountains. I've seen you coming against the wind and the snow. And even if I haven't wished for you coming here, you came." The man helped her rise. "Come here, woman. I'll call for my servant - he'll be here within seconds - to help you. However, as soon as you'll get better, you'll have to leave."

The servant, Marcus appeared as well, went to the still trembling Karenina and led her from the wizard to the burning fire in the hall. The wizard was about to leave, when Karenina called to him: "Please, wait, good lord! What have you meant by that?"

Wizard turned to face her. "Don't ask."

Karenina stuttered: "But... but my lord... have you no name? Is my saviour just a delusion?"

He pierced her with his silver gaze. "I'm a wizard of the name Velden." Seeing no reaction from her he asked: "Are you not scared by the sound of my name?"

Karenina shook her head. "Nay, my lord - I don't know the name. But my name is Karenina."

Velden just nodded in acknowledging and left the room, leaving Karenina and Marcus alone.

The scenes changed as the play continued. Velden firstly tried to avoid Karenina's presence at all costs - but soon they started to speak to each other. And soon, they were attracted to each other. However, Velden was afraid of her, of his feeling towards her and tried to push her away.

However, Karenina wasn't about to let him do that. She confronted him about this matter in his cabinet. Audience could watch the scene; Velden was sitting by his desk when Karenina entered the room. He turned to her and while Karenina was pacing in front of him, she was gesticulating furiously.

"Why are you casting me away, wizard Velden? Why are you so... so heartless towards me?"

Velden rubbed his eyes tiredly. "I'm living here for centuries... for ages... I've seen so much... You're just a flame of passion which is going to burn off soon." He looked up to her, his eyes shining with unshed tears. "I can't take you into my arms, Karenina. I can't do what you wish."

Karenina stopped in her pacing. "Why? I see no reason for it!" She waved her hand in a gesture involving the room around her. "Will you live here, in this empty room, without friend and without love?" Her voice broke. "Is that what you want? Is this going to be your life?"

She stepped closer to Velden and pleaded: "Please, Velden - accept my love! At least once accept warmth into your heart!"

Velden stood and leaned on the table, unable to face her. "If I accepted, Karenina, horrible thing I can't speak about would happen." Turning back to her, it was his turn to plead: "Please, Karenina, leave now. I beg you!"

However, Karenina seemed to make her mind. Stepping to him, so close that she could feel the warmth of his body she took his face into her palms and whispered: "Nay, my love. Don't be afraid of pain and start to live..." And before he could react, she kissed him. After a moment of surprise Velden's arms encircled her and pressed her to him.

The scene darkened. Karenina/Sindal still clung to Velden/Tsujatha, both of them oblivious to the happenings around them. Their kiss was ended by Marcus rushing around.

"Now goes the last scene. Sindal, change into next scene quickly!"

Sindal broke the kiss and blushed. She quickly waved her hands in the motions of Stone Skin spell and in role of Karenina again she arranged herself into a pose of a woman with her arms open and with a small smile on her lips. The illusion of Velden's cabinet was replaced by illusion of another room. A thunderbolt could be heard during the sudden flash of light.

Tsujatha followed his part of script, fell to his knees and hid his face into his palms.

"My lord??" asked pale Marcus, who re-appeared in the displaced doors. Spotting Karenina, he let out a startled gasp. "What happened to Karenina?"

Velden looked up in an unseeing manner. "The best and yet the worst what could ever happened to her, my faithful pupil. She's lost forever. Leave me now, please."

"L-lost? Are you saying she's... dead?"

Velden slowly stood up and traced lines of now-stony face of Karenina with the tips of his fingers. "She should have been immortal as I am - but I couldn't do that. And now she... my wife..."

Marcus' eyes were wide open when he heard the word "wife". "You're... married, my lord?"

Velden nodded with his eyes set on the face of Karenina. "Yes... I am and will be forever. And she, Karenina, will always be here, her eyes looking on me... the passing years won't change her, no pain will ever hurt her, nothing will ever make her cry... She's now changed into a stone..." Again, he looked at his pupil and servant. "Go now, my pupil... I want to be left alone with my stone bride. I want to touch her cold and stony face... Tonight, my heart dies. And dies slowly, by inches..."

The scene changed once more to Marcus sitting on the edge of the stage, playing harp.

"Running time couldn't change him - but love of a young woman could. And just when he found her, he lost her again. What a cruel fate..."

The scene darkened to the last time, the curtain went down. The mages quickly dispelled all the illusions and Sindal's Stone Skin and all of them went to hear the final opinion of the member of the Council. The whole theatre fell silent.

The Councillor stood up and spoke:

"Well, no matter what I think about the rest of the play - the acting of the two main characters was more than just good. They are both very talented, no, they are excellent and I sincerely hope to see more of them in the future." He paused, enjoying the tension he could feel amongst the actors. "I don't think I've ever seen the "Wizard's Curse" played as well as this time - and I've seen it many times already."

He looked around. "This playhouse is obviously excellent and remarkable... and I intend to recommend it to become the official theatre of Athkatla for the next year."

Everyone broke into cheering. The actors were bowing in sign of thanks over and over again before the audience finally left.

Sindal and Tsujatha were almost dragged into the cloakroom for the after premiere celebration. Everyone was laughing, drinking and cheering, only Zaren and Illtheia were a bit sad that the main praise wasn't directed on them - as Marcus noted mischievously.

But - the main stars were a bit absent-minded, both of them thinking about the kiss they shared during the play. Was the passion in it just a part of the acting? Or...?