MAERAD woke to the sound of water running in a fountain, and spring birds singing outside her window. In their haste to get to Innail, she had completely forgotten that the season was changing so rapidly. She flicked back the heavy blankets that surrounded her and went to the window. There, in the courtyard, she saw that the water in the fountain had broken through the ice that had in cased it, and the only signs of its once frozen nature were the large chunks of ice that floated in the basin. The bare trees now had new buds on their limbs, and a few sparrows picked at the thawing ground, hopping from side to side.
With a smile, Maerad withdrew, and exchanged her gown for a crimson dress that hung in the dresser – it was a little big through her waist and bust, but it was nothing a few hearty meals wouldn't fix. She combed out her hair, which felt soft and smooth after weeks of no washing, and was about to put on the new pair of soft leather boots someone had left her when there was a knock on her door. "Come in!" she said, and sat down on the bed to put on her shoes.
Cadvan opened the door and smiled at her – a warm, brilliant smile, with a hint of something else behind it. Something, she was sure, that was only for her.
"I was hoping you were up. Sylvia has made us a feast of a breakfast, and I didn't want you to miss it!" He came and took her hands, pulling her to her feet and wrapping his arms around her waist. "You need some meat on your bones before I take you on the road again, my dear."
"Why are you so happy this morning?" she asked with a smile, and he beamed down at her, and then pressed his lips to hers once. She remembered the night before, when they had walked along the streets of Innail, and he had kissed her until she couldn't breathe.
"What is there not to be happy about?" he asked dismissively when he pulled away, and let her go, releasing everything but her hand. "Now, let's not keep Sylvia waiting!"
Cadvan pulled Maerad down the hall, and she allowed herself to be pulled, taking in the sweet early light around them. They reached the dining hall, which was fragrant with the smell of warm food. Hem, Saliman, Malgorn, and Nelac were already seated, and talking about something easy. Irc was sitting on Hem's shoulder, preening his feathers.
"Good morning!" Sylvia said, coming and hugging Maerad tightly, making Cadvan release her hand. "Don't look at me like that, Cadvan! You will have to learn to share! Did you sleep well?"
"Oh, wonderfully, as always." She took the seat beside Cadvan, and he possessively took her hand again. "I'm afraid my dress is a bit loose, though."
Sylvia regarded her with a glance before sitting down, and then leaned over the table to fix her plate with roasted potatoes and meat pies. Cadvan filled her plate from the other side, with sweetened berries, toast with jam, and fried eggs, until she told both of them that she had had enough.
Hekibel was the last one to enter, and took her seat beside Saliman and squeezed his hand. She looked extremely beautiful in the morning light, filling out her dress perfectly, and Maerad took the extra helping of eggs that Cadvan pressed her to eat.
The subject arose about their departure, and Maerad felt a pang of hurt: they had all just arrived. Yet the thought that they would be traveling without danger did make her feel a little better.
"I would like to get back to Turbansk to see what can be done," Saliman said. "I have received word the damage is bad, but not beyond repair."
"But surely you can stay a little longer?" Maerad asked hopefully, and glanced at Hem. It was evident that he would be traveling to Turbansk, too.
"Of course we can. I have yet to get my fill of Sylvia's wonderful hospitality."
Sylvia smiled, and asked, "What about you two? You may stay as long as you wish, you know!"
The look in her eyes made Maerad's heart pang again. She knew that Sylvia wanted her to make Innail her home.
"I wanted to take Maerad to see Lirigon," said Cadvan, for her. "It's a pity she hasn't seen it before. From there, it's her decision."
Sylvia pushed the sad look away from her face. "Well, you all must stay for the Spring Turn at least. There is no working or studying on that day, and everyone feasts with their family and friends. It is a wonderful day indeed. And you should all wait to journey until the weather is warmer, anyway." She had pushed some more potatoes onto Maerad's plate as she spoke, and Maerad pushed them on Cadvan's plate when he wasn't looking. She felt that she might bust with her breakfast already.
They all took Sylvia's invitation, and then most of the party left, save Maerad, Cadvan, and Sylvia. Sylvia was stacking up empty plates, and Maerad jumped up to help.
"What are you going to do today?" she asked, taking the plates Maerad brought to her and stacking them with some others.
"I have no idea. I am suddenly not as busy as I have been for the past weeks!"
"Actually," said Cadvan, pulling his attention from the window he had been staring out, "I was going to collect some books for us to look over. Might as well get caught up on your Learning."
Maerad smiled. The thought of doing easy things like learning made her feel even more removed from the hard last few weeks of her life. "I like that idea," she told him, smiling down at him. He smiled back, then stood and took her arm.
"Thank you for the glorious breakfast, Sylvia. We will have Maerad as fat as a summer calf in a few days!"
"Very funny," Maerad said, and Cadvan once again towed her along out of the dining room and along the hall, then out the door into the cool spring morning.
There were people milling about the street, at their early morning talks, and as they passed they all regarded Maerad with the certain awe that they had earlier in the year. "I thought they were all over their shyness about the Maid of Innail," she said offhandedly to Cadvan, as a group of children stared at her in wonder from a street corner, to shy to wave.
"Yes, they are quite used to the Maid of Innail, but not so much the saver of Edil-Amarandh."
"Oh no," she quietly, biting her lip and looking over at Cadvan anxiously. "Is this how it is going to be everywhere, for all of my life?"
He laughed, and squeezed her hand. "Of all the things to be worried about, Maerad! But don't worry, dear – for where ever you will be, I will be there too, and you can push your awkwardness off on me."
"Oh, thanks," she said sarcastically, as they rounded the street that held the grand library. He smiled at her again, and they took the stairs to inside the library, where their eyes had to adjust to the subdued light that contrasted sharply with the brightness of the spring morning outside. Once they had their bearings, Cadvan pulled Maerad once again, this time to a shelf of books all bound in different colors of leather.
"A desperate attempt to keep the attention of youngsters while they learn – good thing we won't have to worry about that with you, though." He smiled at her, and handed her a book with a scene of foals in a bright meadow depicted on the front.
"A Brief History of the World," she read, and laughed. "What do foals have to do with history?"
He shrugged, handing her another book, this one a little less flashy. "As long as it keeps young Bards learning, right?"
She remembered the last time she had learned here – it had been with Dernhil. She looked behind her, and could see the closed door to his empty room. She wondered what he would think of her and Cadvan's love, and smiled despite herself. She was certain that he would approve, without any bit of jealously. He had had a great heart like that, she was sure.
Cadvan stirred her out of her thoughts by giving her a final book. "Now. I think we should find somewhere to study in the sun, and out of this dark library. Here, let me have those – they look as if they out weigh you." He took the books from her and led her back to Sylvia's, where they took advantage of an empty courtyard and its wrought iron table and chairs. It was warm, and out of the slight wind, and Maerad found she didn't even need her cloak.
"Now," said Cadvan, opening the book with the horses on it, "I know that you have sung the tragedy of Andomian and Beruldh, but have you ever read it?"
Maerad shook her head, staring at Cadvan's hands as he flipped through the thick book.
"Well . . . once I find it . . . ah, here is it! There is a great difference between singing and reading, my dear. So that is what we shall do this morning." He put the book in front of her, opened to a page that showed slumbering bears with snow gathered around their bodies. "Read," he told her. "And I'll listen."
"But surely you'll get bored!"
He took her left hand, the maimed one, and kissed it reassuringly. "I could never grow tired out your voice, sweet." She rolled her eyes. "Now read, and take your time."
She sighed, turning to the book, and began to read. She was a little unnerved at the beginning, as she was very out of practice, but the more she read, the faster the words came, and the better she could sound difficult words out. She read for three hours, finishing as soon as the midday bell rang. Cadvan listened the whole time without the slightest bit of boredom.
"Wonderful!" he said, when she was done. "Like a true reciter, if I do say so myself."
She laughed sarcastically. "I'm just happy I kept you awake." She leaned over, putting her head on his shoulder, and closed her eyes. "Reading can certainly tire you out."
He held her close for a moment, and kissed her hair. "How about I go get us something to eat, and you stay here and rest, then?"
She nodded and lifted her head, watching Cadvan go inside. She thought that she had never seen his so happy and carefree.
A chirp came from above, and Maerad looked up to see Irc peering at her from a dogwood. He swooped down, and landed gracefully on the table before her.
What is that?
It's a book that I am trying to learn to read.
Irc fluffed his feathers. I do not understand why you humans do that. Why not just tell each other what you want instead of writing it down?
Maerad smiled. She had wondered the same thing a few times herself. Well, she finally answered, if you write it down, it can last for many years.
Irc shook his head. I still do not understand. Where is your mate?
At this, Maerad laughed out loud. She had thought of many possible names for her and Cadvan, but had never considered mate. Inside, getting food.
Food? Is it time to eat again already? I must find Hem – he will make sure I get my share!
Irc pecked her hand in farewell, and flew off to find Hem. Maerad watched him go, and then continued to watch the birds in the sky, content to think about nothing at all.
When Cadvan came back with food – a roasted chicken breast and rice, seasoned to be salty and filling – she told him of Irc's name for them. Cadvan laughed as well, and said, "It's better than anything I have came up with."
Maerad pushed the rice around her plate, biting her lip. "So exactly do you think we are?" she asked, looking up at him. His blue eyes were staring back at her in earnest.
"Actually, I wanted to speak to you about that. There are many possibilities for what we can do about – us. But, I was hoping, in a little part of my heart," he smiled at her, and she smiled back, "that you might consider making an honest man out of me, and marrying me."
Maerad spit out the rice she was eating.
"Or . . . not, if you would like."
She shook her head urgently, taking a sip of the wine he had brought her. "No! It's not that! You just – you surprised me, is all. I'm sorry for reacting like that."
They sat for a long moment in silence, and then he asked, very quietly, "So you wouldn't like to get married?"
Maerad had gone back to pushing her rice around her plate. The more she thought about it, the more she warmed up to the idea. A husband. She almost laughed at the thought. "Why would you like to marry me?" she asked, looking back up at him.
He smiled, a bit sadly, and sighed. "Well, I have thought long and hard on this. Even before I realized what I felt for you, and that you returned those feelings. I think of – of the people I have loved before, and how now, that I am older, I wish I had done them right." She knew he was speaking of Ceredin, and almost looked away, but he grabbed her hands and held her gaze even more earnestly than before. "And I love you, more than anything else, and I want to do you right by being your true husband, not just . . . a lover, or what have you. It is my truest desire."
Maerad smiled, and he smiled back, and pressed his lips to hers. She put her hands on either side of his face and held him there, kissing him gently. After a few long minutes, she pulled her lips away, and rested her forehead on his, staring into his eyes, which were the color of the sky on a cloudless day.
"I'll have to think about it."
"Oh, but don't keep me waiting for ever, please Maerad! My heart already aches . . ."
She released his face, and took his hand. "I'll give you an answer in the next few days, then."
He smiled, and kissed her cheek. "And just think – we can make a wedding trip out of our journey!"
She laughed, and hung onto his arm. She would have to speak with Sylvia very, very soon.
*****So, I know that it might seem like a little too soon for them to get married, but I'm doing it all for a reason I swear! Anyways, thanks for reading, and please review. Even if it is just a "good" or a ":)" or even a period. I want to have 5 reviews before I post the next chapter. (Oh, and this chapter is brought to you by Death Cab for Cutie. Thanks Benjamin Gibbard. You're the !)