In Between Dragons
By
ithinkadrianne
Disclaimer: The Enchanted Forest Chronicles are the property of Patricia C. Wrede. The plot and storyline are of my own devices. I have made no money off of their use. I just feel happy when I write. "Hey Soul Sister" is the property of Train.
Author's Note: This is basically my idea of what happens to everyone in the sixteen year gap between "Calling on Dragons" and "Talking to Dragons." I decided that since Telemain got the short end of a stick with the point of view narration, so this story will mainly center him. When it doesn't, it centers around Morwen.
Comments and reviews are totally accepted. Rated T for some strong language, adult themes, and violence at times. But it won't go overboard or be something that you wouldn't have expected.
Enjoy!
~ithinkadrianne
Chapter One: In Which There's a Surprise for Morwen
Telemain considered himself to be an intelligent man. As such, there were very few mistakes he would admit to in his life. The first was partaking of Gypsy Jack's homemade wine after he had clearly had too much mead on a rare trip to the tavern with his old friend and colleague. The two of them had woken up in a creek just out of reach of a particularly temperamental ogre's bridge. In the end, they were muddy, hungover, and bruised from the ogre. The other was he regretting breaking contact with Morwen after their schooling years.
So when he met with her again by chance through Cimorene and Mendanbar's adventure, he promised to do right by it. He quickly rebuilt contact with Morwen again. The witch and magician had become close and it wasn't unusual for one to mention the other in daily conversation. They spoke or corresponded on an almost daily basis.
When Morwen's thirtieth birthday was around the corner, Telemain took it upon himself to make sure it was special.
"The Atlantis Pub, on the shore of Coldwater Harbor," Amory had suggested when he had asked her to be the bait. "The food is excellent, they have great wine, and they always have music in the evenings. She'd love it."
Brandel would have agreed with Amory, but he was in no mood to help out Telemain. The fire witch held the magician personally responsible for introducing his favorite cousin to a certain Gypsy he did not approve of. Amory was taken with Jack instantly and he in turn. Telemain knew it wasn't his place to say, so he stayed clear of Brandel's rants. Besides, he had his own beefs with him, so to cause the man a little grief provided him with some amusement.
"The Atlantis Pub," Telemain repeated to himself. "Sounds interesting enough."
"I hear they have homemade cider," Brandel said.
"And it comes spiked if you want, so you can see why I like the place so much," Amory added with a wink. "We can get a table on the patio. On a midsummer night, it'll be perfect for a surprise party!"
"Done and done," Telemain agreed.
"You wouldn't be planning something extra special for her this year, would you?" she asked eyeing him over the top of her teacup.
Telemain raised his eyebrows. "You assume far too much about me Amory," he replied steadily. Amory shrugged her shoulders in response. It was then that he caught Brandel rolling his eyes from behind his own cup. Despite himself, Telemain had to suppress a smile.
Ultimately, the guest list ended up being small for the party.
Both of Morwen's sisters couldn't come due to distance and previous engagements. Being born the middle daughter in a family of witches, Morwen still kept close contact with Lydia and Roxette on a regular basis. Morwen clearly fit on the middle scale as far as tradition was concerned. Lydia was the eldest, with shoulder length black hair and a cat to match. If Telemain recalled correctly, it's name was Max. It was old too and he suspected that Lydia was using some spell to keep the poor beast alive. Roxette, on the other hand, looked nothing like either of her sisters, or a witch for that matter. She had short blonde hair and never wore the traditional black robes one would expect. If Arona Michaelear Grinogion Vamist had balked at Morwen's sense of living, he would've been out right sick over Roxette. To add to the fact, she was newly married to a carpenter and instead of a cat, they kept a golden retriever puppy named Albert.
The two of them sent a gift to pass on and a note of recognition to Telemain for taking the initiative.
Killer the rabbit sent a correspondence saying thank you, but he rarely left his clover patch after the events of the six years previous. Telemain was simply impressed the rabbit could send a returning letter at all.
It had saddened Telemain knowing that Mendabar was under his spell. Cimorene has been in hiding with their son since then. Each year their absence got to all of them more and more. Though she wouldn't admit it, he suspected the absence of Cimorene in Morwen's life bothered her. Telemain had hoped then that Kazul would be able to come in from the Mountains of Morning. But just a day after sending out the invitation, a formal scroll had come back addressed to him.
"Telemain,
I'm sorry to say I will not be able to attend the surprise party for Morwen. Sadly, I will be off to the north on a scheduled envoy (duties as King of Dragons, you understand). Please make sure that she receives this gift. I came across it in the treasure room the other day and thought she would find it interesting. Hope this finds you well! My best to everyone and I promise to visit soon out your way.
Kazul
PS Would they have enough room to seat a dragon, even on the patio?"
Telemain considered the post script carefully and chuckled to himself. Despite careful planning, he had never thought of Kazul's size should she attend. "Good point," he said to himself and left the matter at that. He took the small package that was sent and made sure to bring it along with the one from Morwen's sisters.
The last invite had gone out to Willin and it was never answered. Mendanbar's steward found solace with his family in the foothills of the Enchanted Forest. Very little had been heard from him since and Telemain suspected he felt shame over what had happened with the Society of Wizards. Willin had blamed himself severely for leaving Mendanbar to battle them all his own when Mendanbar had ordered him away. He only followed orders and as a result, it ate the elf up on the inside. When no answer had come back from Willin, Telemain thought it was a bit odd since the elf was the most organized being he had ever met. But he didn't think too much of a lost piece of mail or an emotional indulgence, so he quickly forgot about it.
With the guest list topped out at five, it would prove to be a nice night. Gypsy Jack arrived at Telemain's early to help take over gifts and set up. The pub wasn't very busy yet, but Telemain had to admit it was a comfortable atmosphere. A young lady met them at the door and introduced herself as Alyson, their host for the evening. She set them up on the patio with the requested table that was set with a deep blue table clothe, short candles, and a set of flowers. "Yellow roses as requested sir."
"Perfect," he replied. "Thank you."
The pair of them ordered the first bottle of cider for the night. Alyson quickly brought the bottle over with mugs. "Just to let you know, we have a band of Gypsy minstrels here tonight by the name of the Celestial Bandits. Good music for step dancing if you're interested."
"Thanks so much," Jack replied, and she left.
Telemain examined the bay and grinned. "Amory was right. This place is wonderful." He turned back and ran a hand through his hair. "I might start eating here more often if the food is as good as she says."
"Ya know, Amory thinks you're going to propose tonight," Jack said taking a seat.
Telemain opened the bottle of cider on the table and began pouring for the pair of them. "And as I told your beloved, she assumes far too much about me," he replied good naturedly. "Truth be told, I don't think Morwen's even thought of me in that way."
"But she still cares for you."
"We're best friends. It's kind of a given."
"So have you thought about her in that way?" Jack replied.
Telemain was silent for a long moment as he passed the cider over. He considered, then replied quietly, "no. But there are some conclusions I can easily draw."
"Yes?"
"I've never considered myself a marrying man, but if there was anyone, it would be her. She's lovelier than any princess I've ever laid eyes on, smarter than some of theorists I've had to converse with, she puts up with me on a daily basis, and there is no one who can cook better than she can." He stopped a moment in thought, then added, "and I don't mind the cats either."
"Huh." Jack leaned back in his chair and studied his friend for a long moment.
"What?"
"If Morwen heard you speak like this, she probably wouldn't get so frustrated with you when you go on and on with all the magical jargon!"
Telemain went to roll his eyes at him when he heard, "evening gents!" behind them. They both turned to find Brandel approaching, dressed and polished. In his arms, he carried a dozen long stemmed roses in various colors.
"Evening twit!" Jack replied in his usual greeting for the fire witch. "Nice bunch of flowers."
"Beautiful flowers for a beautiful lady," Brandel agreed.
Jack's eyes narrowed. "What are you playing at? This is a little much for you, isn't it?"
Brandel carefully set the roses in what he assumed would be Morwen's seat. "Well, I figured it was high time I do something," he replied casually, stowing his hands in his pockets.
Telemain listened to the exchange silently, but after a moment replied, "oh really?"
"I might declare my intentions to Morwen tonight."
Gypsy Jack was more shocked than Telemain as the man nearly jumped out of his seat and declared, "you little twit!" His face turned red.
"Jack settled down!" Telemain cut in, sounding amused. "I've had my fair time and maybe it's time Brandel had his turn. If he wants to start trouble and declare is intentions, let him." He sat back again and smiled at the fire witch.
"Thank you. Does that mean I have your blessing?"
"Oh, goodness no! I'm just going off the equation I have about mine and Morwen's friendship."
Brandel looked at him with misgiving. "And that is?"
"I annoy the living daylights out of her on a regular basis. Hence, if I asked, I don't think she would have me. So if we plugged you into the equation, exponentially, you'd have no chance. Ergo, I don't have to worry about you tonight and/or ever."
Jack barked out laughing. A bit of smoke singed off Brandel's hair. Telemain smirked again in triumph.
It was an uncomfortable silence for a few minutes, so Telemain let his mind wander. Despite the façade he was putting up, the thought of Brandel pursuing a relationship with Morwen unnerved him. Nothing about it made sense and it made him feel uneasy in his stomach. Part of him wanted to say outright that Morwen was his, but it was the most outrageous thing he could say. Morwen was her own and she was free to be with anyone she wished. It didn't necessarily have to be him, but he would feel better knowing that it wasn't Brandel.
She's not yours, he told himself. Get over it. He just liked to think of it that way at times. Telemain had never really sat back and let his mind wander to the prospect of being someone's husband. But he did know for sure that what he told Jack was truth. If he were to marry anyone, it would be Morwen. There was simply no one else in his eyes.
"Ooo!" A flash of red hair suddenly flew passed Telemain's eye sight as Amory swept onto the restaurant patio in a rush. She looked to Jack and asked, "is everything set?"
"Where's Morwen?" Telemain asked snapping out of his thoughts.
"I was able to tip off the hostess that she was the guest of honor. So she held Morwen back to make sure everything was set." Amory looked over her shoulder and signaled that everything was set. Then she leaned in close to Telemain and whispered, "and if you have doubts about proposing, they're about to be stomped out!"
Before Telemain could glare and ask, "what is that supposed to mean?" Morwen appeared in the doorway.
He had nearly forgot to yell out "surprise!" with everyone else. He couldn't remember when she had looked more beautiful. For the first time in years, her dark red hair was down, laying in a sheet just passed her shoulders. Amory must have convinced her to dress up because she wasn't in her usual black robes. Instead, she wore a with blouse under a black bodice and a crimson skirt fell to the floor, meeting black slippers.
Morwen clearly wasn't expecting anything. When everyone yelled, she jumped back through the door startled. She peeked around the corner a moment later as they all laughed in unison. Breathless, she held her heart and asked, "What on earth is going on here?"
Amory stepped forward giggling and replied, "it's your surprise birthday party!"
"My birthday? It's not for three weeks!"
"That's why it's a surprise Morwen! Now come out here!"
Morwen looked as if she could cry in gratitude. "Did you do this?" she asked Amory.
The fire witch shook her head and turned to Telemain. Morwen's face broke into a grand smile as she met his eyes. She stepped forward and threw her arms around him. "You always know how to make me feel special on my birthday, don't you?"
Telemain smiled back at her. "My thirtieth birthday wasn't all that enchanting from what I remember. I didn't want you to suffer the same fate."
"What did happen on your thirtieth?" Jack asked.
"Ogre, Jack. Ogre."
Morwen let go of Telemain laughing at the two of them and Jack came in to hug her. "You look beautiful tonight, love!"
"You can thank Amory for that," she replied amused. "I suddenly had a fire witch barging into my closet, saying we were going out and I didn't get to say no. She's demanding when she wants to be."
"Well," Amory said, taking a seat next to Jack, "I don't exactly hear you complaining now, do I?"
Morwen nodded in agreement and turned to find Brandel holding the roses. "Happy birthday Morwen!" he said a little too enthusiastically. Jack grinned in amusement. Telemain merely shook his head.
"Thank you," Morwen replied earnestly, taking the flowers in her arms. "They're beautiful."
Brandel looked to Telemain and gave a grin. The magician merely rolled his eyes, taking his seat on Morwen's other side.
As they all settled in, they ordered dinner and drinks, enjoying the night air and laughing through the evening. The group traded quips through the night, every once in a while Telemain and Morwen snarking at each other in their usual fashion. Two hours and three bottles of spiked cider later, everyone was more than jovial. Eventually, the conversation turned to past birthdays.
"Wasn't that horrid mirror in your study a birthday gift?" Amory asked.
Telemain cringed and Morwen laughed, clapping her hands together. "From Telemain! That was for my first birthday after we got back in contact."
"It wasn't that bad," Telemain protested.
"It's gaudy," Amory stated bluntly.
"And I told you that when you bought the dang thing from me," Jack pointed out.
Telemain looked to Brandel, but the fire witch shook his head. "Haven't seen it, so I can't judge."
He looked back to Morwen. "Alright. You're the one who has to live with it. What do you say?"
Morwen considered for a long moment, then through clenched teeth she replied quietly, "gaudy."
The table erupted into laughter again. After catching his breath, Telemain looked to Morwen at his side and asked, "why didn't you say anything?"
"Because it was still generous and thoughtful. That was enough to keep it. And you probably would've been stung and sulked for a week and a half if I had told you so back then."
"Well, it's quite obvious that you are not a fire witch," Amory stated.
"Why's that?"
"Because you have manners."
It was about that time that the group of them began passing over presents to Morwen. She was particularly fascinated with an herb encyclopedia from Jack and Amory. "I found this in a caravan not to far from this coast. I figured they would be a good reference for when you're spell casting."
"I looked it over myself," Brandel added. "It's not bad."
"Who's the author?" Morwen and Telemain asked at the same time.
"MacMillar."
"Oh he's good," Telemain said. "I've used his books a time or two myself."
Morwen blinked. "Herbal spell casting? You?"
"It happens from time to time."
Morwen's sisters sent along a beautiful hand made quilt that was checked with black and blue. Telemain nearly grabbed Kazul's gift out of Morwen's hand, he was so excited to see it. She opened a small red box to find a small crystal ball that was tinted in blue. It was no bigger than a tennis ball and didn't look like much, but that didn't stop him from making a fuss. "It's a ping catcher! I haven't seen one of these in years! And Kazul said it was just laying around her treasure room? Is she bloody mad?"
"What's a ping catcher?" Morwen asked.
"What's a ping for that matter?" Jack added.
"A ping is a universal tracking surveillance. When the caster has a medium in which he can take visual manifestation, upon receipt of the echo, they can morph the vision to comprehend-"
"Telemain!" the table protested.
"Sorry," he said, giving in to his usual vice. "What I mean is…a ping is visual tracking spell. Say I wanted to find Brandel who was lost in the deep woods."
Brandel lowered his wine glass and asked with raised eyebrows, "don't I get to decide who my rescuer is?"
"No," Jack mumbled under his breath. "Because no one else would bother to come find you. Twit."
"How's it work?" Morwen asked ignoring them.
Telemain took the ball in his hands and showed it to her. "You send the spell, also known as the ping, and it goes out and locates your target. Here's the beauty of it. Not only does it give you a heading, it gives you a setting."
"I don't understand," Amory said, slightly confused.
"He means mood. Memory. Surroundings. Emotion," Morwen replied in understanding.
Telemain nodded. "All of the above. And when the ping returns, you view them…"
"In the ping catcher," Morwen finished, taking the ball back from his hands.
"Correct."
Morwen opened Telemain's gift last. But as he handed the flat package over, he stated evenly, "this isn't just from me. This also comes from the Captain and mother."
"Your parents? Really?"
"They came across a couple of these a few months ago as mother was cleaning out the attic."
Morwen pulled away the brown paper wrapping and gasped as she looked down at three photos in a dark wood frame. The middle photo was the most recent. It had been taken at Cimorene and Mendanbar's wedding and both Morwen and Telemain were looking up and smiling. The photo to the left was of two children in their first year of academy. Morwen and Telemain had been holding hands, but that must have been after some coaxing from his mother. They were both easily five years old. There were shy faces under the heads of red and raven. The photo to the right was obviously graduation day, a good ten years later at least. Both of them were decked out in black robes with honor ribbons. Telemain was young enough that he still hadn't grown his goatee, but Morwen was old enough to have her glasses sitting across her nose.
Morwen teared up. "Telemain, this is the most thoughtful thing I've ever received," she whispered.
"I'm glad you like it."
"Look how young you were!" Amory squealed looking at their school picture as the frame was passed to her.
"Telemain," Brandel said looking over her shoulder. "Even as a child you looked like a nerd."
"Shut up twit," Telemain mumbled.
"I think I took that photo," Jack said pointing to the wedding reception picture.
"No, that one actually came from Willin," Telemain said. "Not too long after the wedding, I stopped by the castle to speak to Mendanbar on an experiment I was conducting. Before I could leave, he gave me a copy."
Morwen looked at him. "Has anyone heard from Willin lately?"
Telemain shrugged his shoulders. "I sent him an invitation, but I never heard back. I'm wondering if he's moved from his last address."
"Aw, Telemain, did you give her flowers that day?" Amory pointed to the graduation photo. In Morwen's right hand, she was clutching a small bunch of yellow roses.
He chuckled. "Those were actually from my mother. She started the tradition."
"What tradition is that?" Brandel asked, his eyes narrowing.
Morwen didn't notice. "Yellow roses are a sign of friendship. So whenever a special even comes around, yellow roses always show up." She moved aside the wrapping paper and examined the yellow flowers that sat in the vase next to the candles. "I'm guessing you specially requested those for tonight?"
Telemain shrugged his shoulders, then let his tongue slip. "Anything for my special lady."
He blanched.
Morwen didn't notice.
But Amory did. She grinned dramatically behind her glass. "Oh really?"
Brandel noticed too. He glared at the magician then turned to Morwen. "Morwen, did you ever finish that book I lent you?"
"The one about the war in the Everstats?"
After a moment, the two were deep in conversation. Telemain sat back and drank deeply from his mug of spiked cider. Amory leaned across Jack and whispered to him, "admit it. You love her. And I'm not just talking about your little slip. That was not a gift that 'just friends' give each other."
"And what of it Amory?" Telemain protested clearly getting annoyed. "It's not like she's exactly fawning over me. I'm telling you, you're reading way too much into our friendship."
"You might as well give up love," Jack said to Amory.
"Thank you Jack."
"Because the man is obviously in denial."
Telemain had to physically stop himself from banging his head on the table top in frustration. "Oh good heavens," he mumbled through gritted teeth. "I am not in denial."
"Yes you are and I can prove it," Jack replied evenly.
Telemain shook his head and closed his eyes, listening to the band inside the pub beginning to tune up. They would begin playing any minute. If anything, he would ignore them for the rest of the night and simply listen to the music. Shrugging his shoulders, he simply replied, "go ahead. Maybe at some point it'll begin to amuse me."
Jack scooted closer and Amory leaned in to hear better. "You claim you wouldn't care if the little twit suddenly declared his feelings for her."
"Correct," Telemain replied, still not opening his eyes. "Could you see it happening?"
"Alright. Fair enough. As for you two, I don't think I've ever seen you happier than dancing at that wedding a few shorts years ago."
"What's your point Jack? I'm a bit tired of it at this point."
"She's the only one you danced with that night, right?"
"Yes."
"And you're the only one she danced with?"
"So?"
Jack paused for a moment, simply for dramatic effect. He took a long drink from his mug and winked at Amory. He looked over to Morwen and Brandel. Brandel was far too animated in his conversation with her. Shaking his head, he leaned back towards Telemain and whispered, "I'd bet my life that it would kill you to see her dance with anyone else."
Just as the band struck up, Telemain's eyes shot open. Startled out of his wits, he nearly dropped the glass he had been holding and a look of terror came across his face. Good gods in the heavens! I do love her! He thought desperately.
"Told you," Jack said to no one in particular and leaned back in his seat, draining his glass. Amory looked at Telemain and smirked in agreement.
Telemain turned to Morwen and placed a hand on her shoulder. Without waiting for a break, she turned away from Brandel. "Yes?"
"Do you want to dance?"
Morwen's eyes turned towards the inside of the pub and she instantly answered, "of course! Excuse me Brandel."
Before the fire witch could protest, Morwen rose up from her seat and joined Amory through the patio door. Telemain looked on as Jack followed them, then turned his attention back to Brandel. "You know Brandel, I think Amory's right. Maybe tonight would be a good night for a proposal."
Brandel's mouth fell agape. "You can't change your mind now!"
"Says who? And besides the fact, I had a brilliant revelation, thanks to Jack."
Brandel crossed his arms and scowled at the magician, loathing in his eyes. "And what's that?"
"Marriage is one thing, but I wouldn't be able to stand it if I had to watch her be with something else. Plus I have a secret weapon."
"Yes?"
"You can't dance." And before Brandel could retaliate, Telemain followed the rest of them inside the pub, catching the smell of smoke as he passed.
The crowd had become much thicker since they arrived. People were crowded around the bar top and tables and chairs had been moved aside to make a dance floor. The band of eight was picking up a heavier beat and the crowd gathered around clapping in time with them. Amory stood on her toes trying to see over the crowd. She looked back at them and shouted over the growing music, "c'mon! Let's try to get closer!" She grabbed Jack's hand and the four of them made their way through the crowd.
They made it to the edge of the dance floor and it nearly looked like chaos for a moment. Some of the younger crowd began step dancing in front of the band. People were cheering and cat calling over the music. It was a warm atmosphere and Telemain couldn't help seeing Morwen laugh and smile as she watched.
Amory turned to them and shouted over the music, "anybody know how to step dance?" When her three companions shook their heads, she replied, "see you later then!" She stepped onto the dance floor and began following along with the dancers in front of the band.
Telemain, Morwen, and Jack all cheered her on. "Did you know she could dance like that?" Morwen shouted to Jack.
Jack shrugged his shoulders laughing. "She surprises me everyday."
Telemain put his fingers to his lips and let out a whistle over the crowd as more people joined in. It was at about this time that a young man approached Amory. Although they couldn't hear what he was saying, the way he held out his hand and waited for Amory's only meant one thing.
Jack stepped onto the floor. "I think this is the point where I have to cut in."
"Are you going to be okay?"
"I'll probably break my neck in two minutes, but at least I'll die happy!" And with that, he went off to join Amory.
Telemain and Morwen looked on for another couple of minutes before the music took a different beat. Couples began filing out in pairs and he took her by the hand. This was only escalated because he could see Brandel over his shoulder making his way towards him.
"Ready?"
Morwen grinned. "I'll follow you."
Telemain felt like he was flashing back to their youth. They had always danced together. In fact, Telemain was pretty sure there was no other woman, save for his mother, that he had ever danced with. But she was easy to dance with. She fit in his arms perfectly and she always insisted that he lead. If anything, it was one of the most care free things he did with his life when he could find the time to do it.
Moments later, the music had slowed down and Morwen listened for a moment. "I don't think I know this one," she said.
Telemain smiled. "I do. I even know the words." On the inside, he thought of Morwen whenever he heard that song. But he would never admit it to her. He held out his hands and after a moment she took them.
"You lead?" she asked again.
"Always."
She didn't protest at all as he held her close and lead her in the dance. After a moment, she put her cheek to his and he could have sworn that she had closed her eyes. He wondered why she couldn't feel his heart beating like a rapid metronome in his chest. Despite it all, he had never felt so at peace in his life. Why hadn't he realized it before?
Without a second thought, he began to sing certain lyrics to her in her ear.
"You're sweet, moonbeam
The smell of you in every single dream I dream
I knew when we collided
You're the one I have decided
Who's one of my kind…"
He could tell she was smiling. She didn't even need to say anything. He could tell with the way she sighed. "This is perfect," she said.
"Happy birthday Morwen," he said into her ear.
"Thank you." And she gently kissed him on the cheek.
It wasn't the first time she had kissed him by any means. But it clearly was the first time that it had registered and meant something. Before he could embarrass himself by saying something stupid, he simply started singing again.
"And I'm always gonna wanna blow your mind!"
Morwen pulled away from his cheek, only due to the fact that she began to laugh loudly and she didn't want to do it directly into his ear. Telemain could not honestly remember the last time either of them seemed to be in such high spirits.
I'll do it, he decided. He looked passed her and just happened to notice Jack and Amory cornering Brandel so he wouldn't attempt to interrupt. Obviously, there had been an attempt because while Amory sat at the bar top, she kept a firm hold on her cousin's collar. Brandel's red hair was smoking.
"Care to get some air?" Telemain asked Morwen.
"Let's go back to the patio," she replied over the crowd. "I can use something to drink too."
They cut their way through the crowd and welcomed the cool air that greeted them when they made it back outside. Morwen walked over to the railing that separated the patio from the harbor and looked on into the night. Telemain took a moment and poured out a good measure of cider and joined her. When he handed the mug to her, there was something in her "thank you" that didn't sound quite right. He considered her for a moment, then stated bluntly, "something's on your mind."
"Huh?"
She turned to him, trying to act surprised, but he shook his head at her. "Don't do that. You know I can always tell when you're lying to me. What is it?"
Morwen took a long sip of cider then passed the mug back to him. "Just worried about Lydia."
Telemain's eyebrows rose. "Your sister? What's wrong?"
"Received a call on the mirror just before Amory arrived that she broke her leg pretty severely. She's staying with Roxette and Dante for the next month since she can't even move properly for the moment. I was about to rush out to meet with them, but they insisted I'd stay in the Enchanted Forest. I guess that should have been a clue that something was up tonight." She glanced over at Telemain and he couldn't help keeping a smug grin.
She hesitated for a moment and looked down at her hands. "Telemain, do you believe…never mind."
"What?"
"No. You'd think I'd sound like an ass."
Telemain chuckled. "That would certainly turn the table for once, wouldn't it?"
Morwen shook her head.
"You can tell me anything. You know that."
She looked out into the harbor again and her eyes became glassy. "Do you believe that dreams can predict the future?"
It was a bit of an offhanded question. Morwen was usually all fact and as far as he was concerned with his own studies, if there was nothing to measure, there was no means of forming a thesis.
"That depends," he said taking a drink of cider. "What did you dream?"
Morwen held her hand out and he passed the mug over. Before taking a slow, careful drink, she replied, "I dreamt that we had failed them."
Telemain raised an eyebrow. "Love, you are going to have to be a little more specific with the who we are failing if anything."
"Cimorene and Mendanbar," she snapped suddenly. She went white knuckled as she gripped the mug, which was now nearly empty.
Telemain decided she had enough spiked cider in her system for one evening, so he took it aside and pulled up two of their chairs, making Morwen sit in one so she wouldn't start pacing. As he took a seat looking out into the starry water, he said, "alright. Let it out. Tell me about it."
Morwen took a deep breath and leaned back, rubbing her face. "Telemain, the dream was just so real! The boy had died, the castle collapsed, Kazul lied dead on the ground with blisters from dragons bane all around her mouth…it was just so intense and I woke up in an absolute cold sweat! I can't remember ever feeling that way and I don't like it!"
Telemain listened and let her rant and explain for a few moments more. "It was a dream Morwen. Nothing more. Try and relax a bit."
"I sure hope it was because what happened to you in the dream…"
Telemain started to laugh earnestly. "Oh, so now the truth comes out! I've been branded!"
"It's not funny."
"What happened to me?" he asked folding his hands behind his head.
"Truth be told, you nearly got your arm sliced off by a broadsword."
"Yikes."
"It's not funny Telemain! I saw you laying on the floor, blood coming out of your heart. It was quite the nightmare!"
"I agree with you! It's not funny! I rather like my arm where it is thank you!"
Morwen snorted in spite of herself. She knew this tactic. He would become so annoying when she was being serious that she simply had no choice but to laugh. Oddly enough, whenever Telemain used this tactic on her, it worked.
When she paused for breath, he asked, "was Antorell there?"
Morwen thought for a moment then shook her head. "No, but Zemenar was."
"Now you see, this dream could not possibly come true! Zemenar's dead. Kazul ate him."
"I know."
"And I'm guessing two days after the battle, she belched up his bones and she used them to pick her teeth."
Morwen snorted again. "Telemain?"
"Yes Morwen."
"You're an ass." She began to laugh openly and appeared to be loosening up again.
"Better?"
"A bit," she admitted. "Actually, speaking of asses, what is with Brandel tonight? It seems like he keeps trying to stay by my side. He's driving me a bit crazy. More so than you in fact!"
Telemain sat upright and smile played across his face. "He hasn't told you?"
"Told me what?" she asked, her face falling.
The sly grin on Telemain's face reminded Morwen of any one of her cats. "This is priceless," he said to himself.
"Telemain, if you don't tell me what's going on…"
"Brandel told me and Jack earlier tonight that he was going to, and I quote, 'declare his intentions to you.'"
Morwen blanched. "He what?"
Telemain nodded and Morwen bowed her head in her hands, closing her eyes in blatant frustration.
"Morwen, it may be the dim light out here, but you're face looks like it's turning a nice shade a puce."
"That's because I can't decide whether I want to be embarrassed or sick," she moaned.
Telemain reached out and pulled her chin up gently so she could look at him. She did so reluctantly. "You know, you don't have to marry him." He thought for a moment, then asked carefully, "you don't want to, do you?"
She tilted her head to the side and replied, "Telemain, I don't say this often, but hell no!"
"Good. Because seeing you as the new Mrs. Twit would probably kill me." Telemain suddenly realized his slip and he would have loved to still be holding the mug of cider in his hands. Not so much to drink away the awkwardness of what he suddenly said, but just to be able to look at something that wasn't the ground beneath him.
Oddly enough, Morwen spared him and shocked him in return. "Telemain, you know you're the only man in my life."
Hardly daring to believe his luck, he swallowed and asked steadily as he could, "I am?"
Morwen glanced over and stated evenly, "no one's treated me as good as you have. Not since my father died anyways."
Wait a minute, he thought quickly, trying to do dissect the grammar in his head. Did she just say that she loves me? Or am I reading too much into this? As if she knew he was waiting for an answer, she leaned over and put her head on his shoulder.
It was then that he allowed himself to look down at his hands where seven silver bands had sat for as long as he could remember. He carefully slipped off the smallest one, so she wouldn't notice right away.
"Well," he said, once again trying to keep his voice steady, "maybe I should ask you-"
"Excuse me, Mr. Telemain?"
The pair of them jumped and turned around. Alyson, the hostess, was at the patio door and she had a most frazzled look upon her face.
"I'm sorry sir. I don't mean to disturb you, but there is an elf at the front door who is demanding to see you or Miss Morwen right away. He keeps claiming there's an emergency, so the doorman is reluctant to let him in."
Telemain and Morwen exchanged a look of confusion. When she got up and followed Alyson, Telemain decided that the perfect moment had definitely passed. He just hoped he would get another chance before Brandel decided to make an idiot out of himself. As they passed through the main room, he could see him arguing with Amory at the bar top. Not only was his hair now smoking, but hers was as well. She was just a lot more accomplished at keeping her composure. Telemain made a mental note to thank her when the night was over.
As they made it to the front door, the room behind them became much quieter. As a result, they were able to hear their messenger making a ruckus at the front door man.
"Don't you understand? It's an emergency!" said the familiar voice.
"I don't care if it is!" the doorman retorted. "I can't let you in with you shouting like that! You'll cause a panic."
"If I could just speak to the witch Morwen or Telemain the magician-"
"We're here!" Morwen shouted rounding the corner to the front door. "Now who's asking for us?"
As Telemain followed her, he was shocked to see Willin looking up at the doorman with his fists balled, ready to throw punches if he were brave enough. The elf looked like a weight had been temporarily lifted from his shoulders as Morwen and he looked down at him.
"Willin!" Morwen exclaimed, surprise on her face. "What's going on? What's the emergency?"
"It's gone!" he shouted, his face white with panic, forgetting his usual formalness that surrounded him.
"What's gone?" Telemain asked, clearly confused.
"The sword! It's gone!"
...to be continued. Comments are welcome!