Chapter One - Autumn's Shadow

The days had grown lengthy and the cool desert breezes flowed more often. Some of the Sun Folk had taken to wearing their over-garments early this year, Arysia noticed, as she sat against the retreating rays of the setting sun atop the roof of her hut. The warming light felt delicious against her cloaked back. It was as a soothing lullaby or the gentle touch of lover's hand, something she could only yearn for, for she knew that she would never know the delights of such pleasures. Someone to love her. …someone just for her…

"Arysia?" a voice called, one that she knew all too well.

"Yuunen. I'm, here." she replied, cheerfully.

She heard the clack of a ladder hit against the roofing of her abode followed by his nimble footsteps ascending the device. In an instant, his dark head appeared over the expanse of the hut's covering, a frown creasing his gentle features.

"Arysia, do you know what it does to my heart to see you up here?" he asked, his voice laced with concern.

She smiled at him, the same sweet smile she always gave to him as she answered, "Forgive me, my friend. But, it is not my intent to cause you panic. I simply…do not wish to be forced to live a sheltered life because of my… impairment. " She fell silent for a moment, her large onyx eyes cast downward at her upturned palms, studying them, reading them. "I know," she said at last. "I know that I am not like everyone else. I know that there are some things that I simply cannot do." Her eyes suddenly returned to his awaiting gaze, full and bright with all of life's fire. "But, enjoying my life is not one of them."

Yuunen sighed, heavily, as he cleared the remaining rungs of the ladder and joined her on the enclosure's surface. "Dearest," he began, as he lowered himself at her side. "…it is not that I want to limit or shelter you. In fact, that is the farthest thing from my desires. But, what I do want and what I must ask as that you be careful. You mean so much to me that I-"

"Yuunen," she interjected. "…even if I were to fall, Leetah is only a heartbeat away."

"Ah, then our dear healer is to blame for your reckless abandon?"

The icy glare she cast at him was enough to tear the very seams of his soul.

"I'm sorry." he said. "I did not mean to be so terse. It's just that the thought of anything forsaken befalling you worries me." he admitted, as he gently touched the skin of her soft, chestnut colored leg, absently caressing its velvety expanse. He traced its contour downward, coming quickly upon her knee where his gentle fingers glided over the joint and back under to the placidity of her under leg. He had known her for what felt like an eternity, yet she still remained a wonder to him. She was a remarkable maiden, one unlike any other the village had to boast. Even without the lower portions of both her legs, she still managed to live a life that was just as full as any other, perhaps even more so. Nothing stopped her. She would not allow anything to do so. She was full of life's spirit and determination and lived each and every one of her days with mirth and delight. In every way she was as free and limitless as any of the other Sun Folk except, that is, for the limitations she, to his regret, imposed upon herself.

"Yuunen, I th-"

"Why do you refuse to join with anyone, Arysia?" he interrupted, his attention still focused on massaging her malformed limb. He felt her stiffen under his touch and knew that she was not going to make the discussion an easy one.

"I do not join with anyone because I do not choose to join with anyone." she replied, indignantly.

"That's not really an answer." he responded, continuing his ministrations. Suddenly, she jerked her leg away from him and turned herself about so that his view of her included a tumble of her earthen-colored locks and the soft, silken fabric that hugged her shapely posterior. It took the bulk of his will to draw himself away from fanciful thoughts of pleasuring her to the halted conversation at hand. Valiantly, he found his voice and continued.

"Why is it that you are so averse to joining with any of the lads of the village? I know you've been courted by many of them, yet you refuse their invitations. Why won't you allow anyone the chance to be more than just your friend?"

"Because," she growled. "I know what manner of thoughts fill their clouded minds." She turned to face him, her dark eyes blazing into his light, golden-colored ones. "It is not me that they desire. It is the experience of being with a malformed maiden that draws their tastes. To them, I am no more than a conquest, a trophy to their prowess and a means to satisfy their curiosity. None of them would have me for more than the moment. …they would never have me as their lifemate. …and I cannot blame them." she sighed, dejectedly.

"That's nonsense, Arysia." Yuunen announced as he grasped her shoulders and spun her about to face him. "There are many who would have you as their lifemate. …and I would, too. If only you would have me I-"

"No, Yuunen." she said, silencing him with a warm brush of her fingertips against his supple lips. "You are too dear to me to allow you to suffer through my curse."

"Arysia-"

"The light of recognition will never shine on me." she continued. "It is said that the High Ones grant such a blessing on the best and most desirable of our kind. Clearly," she said, making a sweeping gesture of her legs. "I do not number among the likes of such."

"Arysia" he whispered, cupping her delicate visage between his capable hands.

"It's alright." she chirped, as she laid her hands atop his. "I am happy as I am. But, you are much too dear to me deny you the opportunity that was denied to me. You are beautiful and strong and I know that the High Ones will smile fondly upon you someday. And when they do, I, too, will smile fondly for you and the maiden whose heart you will fill."

He wasn't prepared for such an explanation. He was prepared for the depth of her response of the revelation of just how much she truly cared for him. His heart swelled all the more for her, this maiden he cared for so very much.

"My dear Arysia…" he whispered against her soft skin as he pulled her lithe form against the contours of his hard, taut body. "Your heart is so big and full. I only hope that one day, you will not be afraid to allow someone to share its wondrous spaces. …I hope that you will let me share your heart."

Silently, she listened to the steady song his heart played against the sturdy frame of his torso. How she dreamed of being in the arms of one who would love her always, just as she was in this moment. …but with this elfin lad? No. He was a treasure to her, much too precious to indulge her selfish whims. She would not allow him to sacrifice his life in this way. …but, perhaps for a moment, just this moment, she could forget what she was and think of nothing more than the warmth of his embrace and the love he proclaimed to have in his heart.

"Scent Maker! Scent Maker!" a panicked villager shouted from below Arysia's hut. The fear in his voice was more than enough to pull Arysia from her thoughts.

Quickly, she and Yuunen scrambled to the hut's edge and peered over. "Adja?" she called down, recognizing the villager. "What's wrong? Why are you so alarmed?"

"It's Shasa!" Adja replied. "Something is terribly wrong…"