Chapter 2
He awoke the next morning to find her eating some fruit silently, her eyes dazed. She looked up at him and he sat up groggily, rubbing his head with a fist full of hair in his hand while yawning. Frowning at him, she looked outside and then back at him and pursed her lips before taking another bite out of the apple she was eating. He wondered if she was guessing the time of day from the position of the sun. This woman was most curious indeed…
He sat hunched over, letting his eyes adjust to the light and he noticed that she was wearing the gown that he had given her. The tone of the blue was light enough to highlight her skin, making her even more attractive. Her hair was up in an unusual style, four spiked tufts of hair at the top and bottom corners of her head giving her a rather unladylike appearance, despite the dress. Nonetheless, he wasn't one to judge. All that mattered was that he was going home today.
He winced as his bare feet touched the floor and he waddled stiffly over to the table where she was eating and sat down in a chair next to the table. She watched him and seemed to be amused by the fact that he was not a morning person. He grabbed and apple from the bowl and slouched in the chair as he took a bite. Her eyes not moving from him, she slid a piece of paper to him and he groaned as he leaned foreword to read it, ignored the amused grin on her face. Ah well, it was better than that smirk he had seen earlier. And it was a lot prettier too…
The note was from the Queen, asking for his audience as soon as he was dressed. After audience with her he was free to leave. So, he decided to pack his things, have them being loaded while he was seeing the Queen, and by the time he got to his mare, everything would be set to go. He could take the woman with him to meet the Queen, it's not like she could understand them anyway and it would prevent her from running away.
He stood up and grabbed his riding clothes and changed quickly in the bathroom. The woman was eating another apple and he noticed that she took each bite leisurely, as if she had never had one in her life until now. This made him all the more eager to get home, he could find out where she was from.
He began to pack his clothes and she seemed to understand. She helped him put books away and the box of trinkets he had acquired while in court. She then handed him her own clothes and he packed them away carefully. He felt a tap on his shoulder as he finished closing the bags and he saw she was holding the blanket Ino had made for him on his 18th birthday. The blanket was brown and it held the scenery of a forest, two gray wolves here in the back behind two trees, one in each corner. In the middle and the center of the blanket was a grey horse that was thundering through the forest. She pointed to the horse then herself and then at he.
He frowned for a moment and then she repeated the motion. Ah, he understood now. He nodded and she smiled broadly and for a moment, he thought his heart stopped but brushed that notion aside quickly. She apparently liked horses and remained excited at the notion that they were traveling on horseback. She remained outside the hall while he went into audience. It was of no real importance, just to pay him and wish him luck in his findings with the woman and that if he needed anything, don't hesitate to seek her out. The Queen was also going to lend him one of her older horses for the woman to ride upon. They moved quickly to the stables after that and he saw the horses were ready. His own grey mare, Avalon, was ready and waiting for him. The other horse was a white stallion named Briton and both horses bore the small luggage that he had. He didn't even need to explain how to ride to the woman, she had walked up to the horse and whispered a few words in its ear, and mounted, looking at him with an impatient expression. He mounted Avalon and stroked her neck and she whined. He said a word of thanks to the stable boy and they were off.
It was a few days journey back to his small estate, Caer Carmel, and was rather difficult for him. With her dress, she could pass easily for a slave but not with her hair. After half an hour of trying to tell her that she couldn't go into an inn with her hair like that, she had refused to comply. His temper flared then out of frustration. He couldn't let her go in there without people assuming she was his slave. That way, men would stay away from her and it wouldn't cause suspicion. It took another half hour of arguing with her to get her to do as he asked. He was perturbed though. Within his frustration, he had mentioned something about being a slave or appearing as a slave and she had suddenly gotten quiet. She pulled her hair out slowly and reluctantly and pulled her hair into a bun, her head lowered. He could not figure out what was wrong with her though but shrugged it off hoping that she would be back to normal in the morning, or at least what he thought normal for her to be.
The next day however, she awoke the same as she had gone to sleep the night before. On the road she was not curious at the surroundings but kept silent and rode slightly behind him. As the horses walked through the gates of Caer Carmel, she seemed to perk up a bit. He led Avalon to the stables and she dismounted as well. He unpacked the horses and fed them and then grabbed a few bags and indicated for her to take a few as well. She followed him, now obviously confused. They walked up a short path to the small palace that he lived in. He heard her footsteps stop behind him and he turned to see her shocked and astounded. He didn't understand why. It was a different architecture but it was one he had seen in the books he was working on translating and with magic, renovated his house. He liked it better, the open hallways with the round doorways and the spacious rooms with the wind teasing the sheer fabric that hung from the ceiling. It was like walking in a dream for him and it gave him the room and space to think. But as to her reaction, why would she… wait, perhaps that was it…
"Master!"
He turned at the sound of a gleeful young voice and sure enough, Kiki was running towards him, nearly tripping in her yellow gown. The gown could not hide her grey bushy tail nor the grey ears that poked out of the black of her hair. He set the items in his arms down and smiled and she jumped into his arms.
"Master, I've missed you! Nana and Yaya and I were having a tea party! You're right on time!" She exclaimed cheerily, small fangs glinting in the sunlight.
"More like a week early."
"Yes, I agree. But welcome home Master all the same."
He looked up to see the twins Nana, in a white dress and Yaya in a black one, smiles on both of their faces. Nana and Yaya had no tail sticking out but it was obvious that they were similar to Kiki because of the grey ears poking out of their black hair. Their bodies were that of grown women but their smile hid their sharp teeth and their black eyes, enhanced for the dead of night.
He smiled at them, and they moved towards him. Nana picked up the bags he was carrying and Yaya went over to the woman who backed away, nervous. He watched them stare at each other, black on black, their eyes melding together like ink slowly being mixed when the woman slowly handed her bags to Yaya. Yaya smiled and bowed to her and the woman stood up straight and tall, her pride returning to her. As Nana and Yaya left, Kiki motioned for them to follow her. She had already prepared a room for the woman and he furrowed his brow, wondering how they had known about the woman. They were animal spirits, not soothsayers.
He had no servants in his small palace, magic took care of household needs and there was always his wolf pack to help take care of things. His family for many generations had been akin to the deer and wolves that lived in the Great Forest of Arden. It was unknown how exactly the wolves of the forest had come to serve his family or why the deer were the keepers of his family's graves but it was rather useful. The wolves and deer knew ancient magic that was passed on down through his family's generations. Seeing into the future was not one of their traits, unless it was something that was kept from him. He was sure the wolves and deer had kept their deepest secrets to themselves, which was fine but this was something he had never seen or heard of before. Even his Father, the strongest mage of all, had told him neither group had the ability to see into the future.
The twins stopped and gestured for them to enter. The room was one of his favorite guest rooms. The canopy bed and the low furniture gave a peace feeling to the room, more so than the others. This was also because the room overlooked the palace gardens, and the trickling of the fountain could be heard and was notorious for seducing one into a restful slumber. They gestured to the woman, indicating this was to be her room. She gracefully walked into the middle of the room and rotated in a circle, taking in everything. Nana and Yaya had begun to take her things and put them in the appropriate places and he felt a tug on his hand. He looked down and saw Kiki grinning at him.
"Come Master! You need rest. You can join our tea party later."
He allowed her to take him away to his own room which was similar to the guest room except that it overlooked the forest. Books were usually scattered about and his bed unmade however due to his absence, his room had been tidied up. On the balcony was his favorite chair, which he enjoyed taking naps and lying leisurely in. He changed out of his riding attire into a comfortable pair of pants and blouse that hung loosely about him. He laid down, one his legs hanging over one of the open edges, his hands tucked behind his head and was about to fall asleep when he head the clicking nails come towards him. He opened one eye to see Kousuke, the eldest of the wolf siblings that lived in his house. He was in wolf from, the large body was shown through his shadow.
The young man turned and laid on his side, one hand supporting his head. The wolf bowed low to him and then sat down, his large gray tail curling up next to his feet.
"Master."
"Kousuke."
"I am happy to see you home safely."
"I am pleased to see you as well. What's the latest news?"
"Nothing new really. We have been more in the forest lately with Mother and Father. One of us usually stayed though to keep and eye on the house and to make sure the house was being kept properly. I-" the wolf look down and he raised and eyebrow curiously –I have found a mate and she is willing to change."
He smiled. It was about time Kousuke had settled down. The fact that his mate wished to be changed was a good sign as well. Changed wolves were wolves that were enabled to posses a human form but it could not be done if the wolf was expecting a litter. It was easier to change the mother. She would remain in her changed form for a week so she would have time to adjust to the new magic inside of her and then revert to her original form and the mating could commence. The mother would conceive and then pass the ability to change down to her children, but still give birth in the natural way for the mother. It was an exhausting process but it would be worth it. Kousuke would still be able to help run the house and his children would also help serve the household. It always made him happy to see the new cubs scampering about throughout the palace in either form, it added some life and happiness to the sometimes lonely halls.
"I am pleased to hear that. Is there anything else that is dire or can I sleep?"
"The rest can wait for later Master." The wolf bowed and turned, leaving silently. The young man rolled back over and drifted off into sleep.
He walked towards his dining hall rubbing his face smugly. Apparently, the best way for Nana and Yaya to wake him for supper was to give him kisses all over his face. The two wolves trotted at his side pleased at their endeavor. He walked through a doorway that led to a room with a low table and cushions for sitting on. He wasn't in the real dining hall, the table was too long for only himself, and came to the room he had created when he renovated his house. It was a homely place to eat and he could sit close with his friends instead of having them down at the long end of a table. He noticed the woman was there and sat down in the spot opposite of her. He looked up at her and he was caught by her appearance. Her hair was in its usual style, but her clothing was different. She wore deep blue pants with and a same color top that covered her upper chest and her shoulders. Her belly was covered with a deep blue fabric that was tied at on of her shoulders.
He blushed, embarrassed for staring at her. Dinner came to them and they ate in silence. There was an awkward feeling about the room and determined to break it he caught her attention and pointed to the food and then gave her a thumbs up questioningly. She looked at him and spoke for the first time. He was shocked by the odd language she spoke. He had never heard such eloquent and graceful sounding words in all his years of learning. He was so entranced by her words that he jumped when he heard Yaya's voice next to him.
"She says supper is wonderful and she thanks you for your hospitality and kindness."
He looked down at Yaya and then at Nana. Why were these two wolves so- so- troublesome!?
"Yaya, Nana. How and since when were you able to translate other people's languages?" He asked sternly.
"Always Master." Nana replied simply and Yaya completed their answer "It has never been necessary to do so before now."
He paused, and then sighed. "Tell her she is welcome and I only wish to see her home safely."
Yaya raised her head and looked into the woman's eyes. There was a pause between them and then the woman spoke again.
"She thanks you fervently, Master. I also told her you would attend to any of her needs."
"Of course." He responded as he finished off his drink. Dinner was quiet after that but the tension had dropped. When she was finished, Nana and Yaya escorted her to her room and he went to his study.
His study was open spaced as well but books were everywhere, on the shelves, desks, and floor. Here was his magic workroom and his library, the heart to the palace. He found his purchases laying on his large desk, the books were in a stack and the other knickknacks were placed neatly on the wood. He took the milky white stone in his hands and found the box that he had bought at his first merchants hour. He opened it and the three other stones glistened in the candlelight. He placed the white stone up at the top center of the box and slowly ran his fingers down to the left where a blue stone tingled his fingers. He continued down to the bottom of the box and directly in line with the white stone was a brownish green one. His fingers traveled up to the last stone, a red one, and the stone sent surging warmth throughout his body, more so than the others.
He pulled his hand away, and closed the gold lid gently and there was a knock on his door.
"Enter."
The door opened slowly and Nana, Yaya, Kiki, and Kousuke entered with the woman following them gingerly. As soon as they were settled, Kiki curled up in his lap, Nana and Yaya lying down next to the woman who removed some books to sit down in, and Kousuke sitting in front of his desk, Kousuke spoke.
"Master, the Lady wishes an audience with you but I asked her to wait until you are finished with us."
"That is fine." She cold not understand him without the wolves help so he asked what had been nagging at his side. "How did you know that I was coming home early with this woman?"
The older wolf snorted and Nana and Yaya's snouts curled into amused smiles. "A bird Master." He finally managed to say.
"A bird." He said flatly to his wolf.
Kousuke sighed. "At least, we thought it was a bird when we first saw it. We are not at liberty to say however. We are bound by a magic oath."
"Good. What is it that the woman wishes to tell me?"
Nana and Yaya looked up at the woman and she stood and walked towards him confidently, the blue sash ruffling at her movement. She walked up to his desk and took a piece of paper from a stack nearby and a feather with ink and began to write. He couldn't concentrate on her hand however, her proximity was overwhelming him. Fragrances wafted into his nose and her face captured his eyes. What was wrong with him? Why couldn't he-
His thoughts were interrupted by her body straightening. She pointed to the paper and he stared at it in shock. Her writing was the same as the books he had gotten from the merchant! That meant that she was from that country, the reason why she was astounded at the architecture of his home was because that was what her homes looked like! What a discovery!
She pointed to flowing arcs and curves of the writing, then at herself and said firmly "Temari."
"Temari." He breathed and she nodded firmly.
He took the same piece of paper and wrote the straight lines and angular characters that made up his name. When he finished, he swiveled the paper around so she could see it.
"Shikamaru." He said pointing at it, then at himself.
"Shikamaru." She said slowly, letting the long name roll on her tongue. How much more elegant it sounded!
"Shikamaru." She said again firmly pointing at him.
He pointed at her and said "Temari."
She grinned broadly and he felt his heart skip a beat.
