- - - - -
Chapter Three: Songs and Lessons
- - - - -
-Two Years Later -
The evening sky was ablaze with deep reds and purples spreading out from the setting sun. The majestic colors slowly deepened and darkened as the sun slipped behind the horizon. The final rays of light reflected brightly off the Lisk as the river-turned-brook flowed past the cottage on its way to the sea.
The cottage itself stood proudly against the dark, lamplight shining in the windows as a beacon of hope and warmth, friendly and inviting. The cool fall night reflected the same atmosphere, one without fear or danger for those out in it. As if to fill the quietness of the night, from the partly-open window came the light, airy sound of a flute, and a child's voice singing.
"O! Come out you little people with your flowing glossy hair,
With your shining rows of pearls, with your skin so pure and fair.
O! Come out you little people, you who dress in silver-grey,
You who live among the spruces and who know the færie way."
Iris twirled around the wooden floors of the cottage's main room in an impromptu dance as she sang. Despite her blindness, she was surprisingly graceful and coordinated as she moved. She traveled about the room with an unerring sense of position, not once even coming close to hitting a piece of furniture. Only someone aware of her handicap would ever realize that she was blind; her manner did nothing to reveal it.
Miki smiled to herself as she played the flute accompaniment to Iris song. Iris constantly exceeded all the wildest dreams she had ever held for her child.
"You are golden, you are silver, you are mixing of the light.
Of the World behind the sunrise, yet epitome of night.
Are you stars? Are you færies? Mayhap something in between?
For you sail the skies at twilight, and you know the Færie Queene."
As the song reached the last line, Iris returned to the center of the floor. She stood uncharacteristically still as she sang the final words, her hands clasped in front of her and her face upturned in childish ecstasy.
The last strains of the duet faded away, to be replaced by the enthusiastic applause of Aran. "Wonderful!" he exclaimed, beaming proudly at his two girls. Iris giggled and curtsied, and Miki nodded in return, returning the flute to its case.
"I'm glad you liked it, Papa," Iris said, skipping over to him. He picked her and placed her in his lap, where she snuggled down comfortably.
"So, what else has your mother been teaching you while I was gone? More songs and dancing?"
"Whatever she wants, as always," Miki said with fond smile. "Why don't you recite your latest lesson, Iris?"
Iris nodded, and closed her eyes in concentration.
"When the Creator first made the world, he created the Fae and the Humans. Humans were gifted with physical strength and adaptability, and Fae were children of the five elements in the world: Air, Water, Fire, Earth, and Nature. These races of Fae were given the names of Sylph, Ondine, Hirei, Tienchi, and Dryad. Each Fae tribe lived where their element was most common, with the Human race living in settlements across the continent, often with the Fae tribes.
"The Fae and the Humans lived together in harmony. The Fae tribes were united in an empire, and the Humans had their own capital and Kingdom. There were no wars. Then, still so long ago that no one remembers, a disagreement between the two races' leaders drove them apart. Humans abandoned their settlements among the Fae, and gathered in a single place on the continent. Since that time, Human civilization has spread, and towns and places like our house almost like they once were.
"However, Fae and Human relations have never gone beyond an uneasy truce. The people are taught lies about the other race, and live in fear or hatred of them. Only the leaders know the truth, but they use the lies to stay in power. War is brewing, from both sides, and everyone either doesn't know how or doesn't want to stop it..."
Iris slowly trailed off into silence, her rhythmic breathing indicating that she had fallen asleep. Taking care not to disturb her, Aran carried her into the back of the house and tucked her beneath the covers of her bed. When he returned Miki sat on the couch staring at the crackling fire in the fireplace. After blowing out the lamps he joined her there, and for a while they sat together in a comfortable silence.
"It's good to have you home, Aran," Miki said finally. "We both miss you when you're gone."
"I wish I could be home more often, but we can't risk falling behind in what's going on in the world."
"I know. Do you think we'll manage to succeed, though?"
"Iris is a smart girl. Even if she's only six now, maybe in another ten years she'll be able to do what we couldn't before. She'll know the truth, and will want to make it right."
"But will she be able to, Aran? She has a wonderful heart, but she's so isolated here. How will she manage to survive in the world long enough to change it, with no experience?"
Aran sighed and took one of Miki's hands in his own.
"As for that... we can only hope that she'll find help. We can't risk going back. If someone were to recognize one of us..."
"You're right, but I still wish we could do more. Our last—the entire world's last— hope for the future rests with her, and all we can do is trust in our abilities to train her up right."
"Which is why your time with her is so important, so that she knows the true Fae and Human lore. Then she can teach others the truth as well. Someday she'll know the importance of what we're teaching her, even the songs. However," Aran added with a slight smile, "at the moment I'd like to get some sleep tonight before being abruptly awakened by an overly energetic young girl in the morning."
Miki laughed, and together the couple retired for the night.
Outside, the moon shone softly on the quiet landscape. The land rested, waiting as only a romantically personified entity could wait for when times would change for the better.
- - - - -
AN: Hey, some story exposition! And an actual leap forward in time, even. Someday I might even reach the point in time when everyone meets everyone else. But that'll be a while. You have to put up with my journey through the girls' childhood. ::hehehe::
Credit for Iris' song in this chapter goes to Ele, who is officially Fae's muse. And beta reader. And the one who actually bugs me to write. Thank you, Elette! This one's for you! ::Hugs::.
I hope to update again by next weekend, but I can't promise anything. ::mumbles something indistinct about too many classes:: Still, reviews inspire me to write faster!
- - - - -
Reviewer thanks:
Gwfreak315: Thanks! Yeah, Fae is extremely un-fanfic-like, but hey, I like it that way. :)
DragonAngel3: Yes, Iris is Serena, and Ayslin is Mina. Sorry that the generals are hard to guess, but there is a good reason for it. They'll be more recognizable next time you see them, I hope.
Denial: Bravo! ::applause:: And, indeed, Kayamé is Rei, Dyani is Lita, and Tarai is Ami. I'm glad you like it!
PyroChic: Ooh, I've got a "fabulous"! Thanks ever-so much!
- - - - -
I'd give all of you wonderful readers a sneak preview, but there's nothing written to preview, alas. -.- I'll just try to update soon instead.
See you next time!
Ocianne
- - - - -
