A/N: Thank you to new reviewers fffan and TiaArmanati! Thanks also to Angelica and faithful review ElfineStarkadder for correcting my spelling and grammar. I admit that since I post these often late at night I often miss important things, and so I apologize for that. Please keep reviewing, I can really use a smile on my face right now and it's always appreciated! Enjoy this chapter! (Also may I say I love Cian. I want a big, cuddly white lion for myself. In case you haven't noticed, I like lions a lot.)
Chapter 9- A Luke-warm Welcome
I decided that I wasn't very comfortable in the trappings of the Shi'ran. They were more revealing than even my old underthings in Mortar had been, although I could appreciate the fact that the clothing was much easier to move in- especially since it was dry. I was still completely covered, but the soft, leather leggings I'd been given felt so different than wearing a dress. In Mortar, it was considered unacceptable for a woman to wear anything less than a dress that dragged on the ground, and it was best if all points of visible skin were covered. In even the summer's heat, most of my clothing had long sleeves, but the bodice I'd been given now cut off just past my shoulders, bearing my arms for all to see.
It laced up at the front, which at least helped it fit well, since Rhymka and I differed in both size and shape. Still, I was thankful she'd assisted me getting dressed, as leather wasn't a popular material for woman's clothing back home and I was unused to it.
"Leather's good to wear in the wilds. It keeps us warm and the insects from biting. It also offers us a little extra protection from some of the more dangerous things that exist out there. You'll need these as well," she continued, handing me some gloves, made of the same, soft brown leather.
"Gloves now? It's not winter yet." I wondered aloud, though I put them on despite my question.
"They will help you climb the ropes and trees in the village without hurting your hands. We've grown up with the exercise, but for you, it will be difficult. Chafed fingers will make it worse." Her explanation made sense, but it forced me to wonder about something else.
"But why would I be climbing in the village? I thought Cian had all but forbidden me to enter."
Rhymka glanced at the entrance to his cave and grinned.
"Did he tell you to leave just now?" she asked, though it was clear she already knew my answer.
"I guess not, but-" I began, though Rhymka quickly interrupted me.
"If he was at all serious about keeping you out of here, he would have told you so, wouldn't he have? To be honest, I think his decision was more about protecting you than isolating you. He was well aware that there are many in the village that aren't thrilled with your presence here, and the less you come in contact with them, the better off you'd be." I suppose I hadn't thought about that angle, but after my encounter with Elif it actually made quite a bit of sense. If he'd known that I'd be treated unkindly by the others in the village, perhaps he'd really been doing me a service- then again I could have been giving him too much credit.
"You might be right. I've already had enough unpleasant encounters here to last a lifetime- first with him and now Elif," I sighed exasperatedly. Rhymka's face scrunched together and she looked slightly pained.
"You met her?"
"Just after I'd finished bathing. She threatened to eat me actually, which can definitely count as a new experience for me." My friend looked a little upset at the idea, and so I assured her that I was alright, and I wouldn't hold one person's behavior as an accurate account of the whole village.
"Ever since we were children she's had her sights set on Cian. She used to hound after him day and night until he grew quite sick of her. She's lucky he's been patient, since if it were me I'd have told her exactly what I thought of her much sooner."
I had to admit that I was a little confused by Rhymka's words when she'd said Elif was pursuing Cian, since as far as I could tell unlike the rest of the Shi'ran he was a lion all of the time. Maybe that didn't make a difference to her emotionally, but I wasn't quite sure about how she would plan on pursuing a family with him. When I asked Rhymka about it she simply shrugged.
"I doubt she cares much for any sort of relationship with him. It's his standing and power that she'd like to have here. She could just desire to have the strongest member of the clan belong to her. There are woman like that in Mortar as well I'm sure."
I had to admit that there were. Leto had implied it was the fact that I didn't behave in such a manner that had drawn him to me to begin with. Like Cian he was in a powerful position, and I could understand why many women would desire him for marriage. The fact that he was very attractive also didn't harm his appeal. I guess that deep down though, I couldn't understand the girls who thought that way. My sisters certainly had, at least to a degree, but the idea of marrying someone for prestige never made any sense to me- granted the idea of marriage at all made no sense to me either.
I had always enjoyed the feeling of being independent and free with the decisions about my life. My father had certainly never restricted me as some do, and my mother had passed away before she could ingrain in me the instructions for proper etiquette. I grew up believing I could do as I pleased with no repercussions, and although I'd acknowledged the fact that such an upbringing had led me to be needlessly reckless, I couldn't bring myself to change.
There must have been a strange look on my face, or I must have been silent for quite some time, since Rhymka patted my shoulder and laughed at my reaction to her words.
"Have you never really thought about such things? Cian told me that in Mortar, women are always thinking about who the richest and most powerful person to marry is. Was he wrong?"
I shook my head no.
"Most woman are. I guess I'm just an exception- as can probably been proven by my presence here right? Still Cian isn't exactly human, so I can't lie and say I understand how she can feel that way, although I feel bad for saying so."
Rhymka handed me some tall leather boots that laced up tightly from the front to keep them on my feet. They were a little large for me, but not so much that they would make it difficult for me to walk. Her face was pensive as she thought about what to say next. I hoped I hadn't offended her with my honesty. She cast another glace at the entrance to Cian's cave before speaking,as if she was making sure that he wasn't listening. Just in case, she lowered her voice to a whisper and grabbed my hand to lead me back towards the pasture.
"To tell you the truth Briar, I feel sorry for him. He thinks and feels like the rest of us, but he will never be like us. He can't have a family, a wife or children, but even though I've never asked him about it I can't help but think that he must want those things. If someone, even someone as awful as Elif, would at least keep him company, maybe it would help relieve his loneliness."
Her words made my heart ache a little bit, and I began to sympathize with the lion even more. They also made me even more curious as to how he ended up in such a situation in the first place. What had made him different than everyone else? I pondered on that thought as we walked back towards where Ouen was waiting with his sheep. I could see relief written all over his face as he saw me return, and I was touched that both he and Rhymka worried for my well being.
"Well you're still alive!" He teased as we were within earshot.
"I am. Thank you for sending Rhymka after me with the clothes. I feel much better now."
"And pleased I am to hear it. I've taken the liberty of watering your rose for you while you were gone, so you needn't worry about it for a while."
I thanked him profusely again, making him blush pink in response. I decided that for the remainder of the day I would help him in the fields. Rhymka left us for quite some time, as apparently it was her duty for the day to collect edible plants on the outskirts of the village. She told us that Cian hadn't wanted her to go back out into the wilds yet, but she'd told him to hush up and stop being overly-protective. Still, I could see where he had been coming from. All I could picture while she was absent was the poor little fox I'd tried so hard to save my first night in the wilds. My breathing finally relaxed when I saw her return as the sun was beginning to set. I hadn't even realized that it had been irregular.
We were all hungry by the time she returned, and I was surprised when I was invited to her home for dinner.
"My mother would like to meet you very much, and now that it doesn't seem as if Cian will protest, she asked if you would join us,"
"I'd love to!" I said, realizing that this might be my first chance to understand more about how the Shi'ran lived first hand. Rhymka seemed pleased at my excitement, and grabbed my hand to pull me off to where her home was.
I struggled climbing the rope ladder up into the trees for the first time. Rhymka made it look so simple, and I hoped that one day I'd be able to look as graceful as she did. I was extremely grateful for the gloves, since they prevented me from slipping while I climbed, though it took me over double the time it took my friend.
Rhymka's home was simple, and made entirely out of wood. There was a cooking oven that looked to be almost the same as the ones used in Mortar, though I was hopeless at cooking, and so I'd never been close enough to one to be a proper judge.
The fare was simple, fresh bread, vegetables, and a meat that I didn't recognize. Rhymka said it was venison, and although the taste was strange at first, I found that I liked it very much.
Her mother, Ainka, was a small but hearty woman, and I could just imagine her picking up a lion cub and thinking she'd raise it to listen to her. I couldn't imagine anyone disobeying her. But she was incredibly kind and hospitable- having more questions for me than I had for her. The more excited she got, the more her words got jumbled together, and she constantly apologized for herself. In all, the whole evening was extremely pleasant, and I secretly hoped that I'd be invited for dinner again soon.
We were interrupted from our after dinner conversation however, when we heard the sound of wooden flutes and drums from outside. Rhymka jumped from the dinner table in excitement and looked out the window, exclaiming.
"He's really done it! I can't believe he's done it!"
Her mother looked at her daughter with a chiding smile.
"Settle down girl. But I admit your brother is full of surprises," she said, casting a curious glance at me. I was a little more than confused.
"What's going on?" I wondered, standing myself now to look outside the window of the home. A little way in the distance I saw large bonfires being ignited, and the shadows of people gathering around them. Ainka put her hands on my shoulders with a big smile.
"Cian is welcoming you here child. The gathering outside is for you, and you should go."
"Aren't you going to come mother?" Rhymka wondered.
"I will in time. You to go on without me," she said, beginning to clean up from our meal. It didn't take Rhymka any time to join the festivities below, and in but a few moments she was waiting impatiently for me at the bottom of the rope ladder. I felt bad for my sloth, but it would be a long time before I could swing down very easily.
When, much to my relief, I touched the ground with my feet, I ran after her towards where the music and fires were. I hadn't been to that particular part of the village yet, but it seemed to be similar to the town squares in Mortar, where the people would all gather for the Duke's announcements and proclamations. In the fading light, everything around me was cast in an orange glow, making the fire look even more beautiful against the sky. For the first time I felt like I was truly a part of something, though it was clear that the people around us hadn't noticed me yet. I wanted to take the opportunity to take in as much of the experience as I could while being right in the middle of things.
From the direction of his cave, I saw Cian approach the fires, his silver coat reflecting the fading sun's rays so that it almost looked pink. The eyes of the Shi'ran followed him as he went, and it was evident that they respected him. The cheerful music dimmed as he appeared ready to speak, and the whole gathering, which had to consist of at least twice a hundred people, fell silent in anticipation of his words.
"I've called you all here, for I would speak with you about the Stone Dweller who lives amongst us. I know you all fear her kind, and for good reason. They have given us all much to hate in the past, and I am just as guilty as the rest of you for fearing those we do not understand. But this girl was brought to us by the wilds to restore the balance, and if she is to respect and understand our way of life as the balance demands, then we must do the same for her." His voice was deep and rumbling- full of authority. But no matter how much they respected him, it was clear that the Shi'ran had trouble agreeing with him about what to do with me. To be honest, I wondered if he even believed what he was saying. I didn't think I'd done overly much to earn his trust of late. In fact, I'd even run away. So I couldn't understand why he would have changed his mind about me.
"How can we do that? What if she brings more here to destroy us? To finish what they started to our ancestors!" An older man cried out, earning similar protestations from other members in the crowd. I slunk behind Rhymka, praying I wasn't noticed.
"Trust me when I say her journey here was unplanned and reckless, and her father knows better than to return. Whether you all choose to accept her or not, I have called this celebration to welcome her here, but most of all, to ask that you follow my decision to do her no harm. She must complete the task she was brought here to do without hindrance."
I could tell that most of the people in attendance weren't happy with the decision, and despite the fact that I really didn't want to, Rhymka pushed me up beside Cian- who hardly looked surprised at my appearance. Even though I didn't look any different then the Shi'ran in human form, to them there must have been something so off-putting about my countenance that they backed away from me unconsciously.
"Say something," Cian mumbled into my ear, his whiskers tickling me uncomfortably. I had no idea what he wished me to say to calm the masses, who were obviously outraged by my presence, but I thought the best thing to do was tell the truth.
"My name is Briar Mills. I only came here to rescue my father, and I'm only staying now to correct the balance that I've disturbed when I arrived. I admit, I know little to nothing about your people, or the history that has brought you here. But even if you think I've no right to say so, I'm sorry for your suffering, and also that I truly mean you no harm."
The crowd quieted down at my words, and I wished that I could read their minds so that I'd know what they were thinking. I felt hundreds of eyes on Cian and I. If only I could have stood as confident and resolute as he was about his decision.
Just then, from the front of the crowd, a single child took a step towards me. I could see the same light of curiosity in the boy's eyes that mine still possessed. His gaze was wide-eyed as he approached, as if he wanted to take in all of me at once in an effort to learn how I was so different than he was. His mother reached for him, but he had already gone too far from her to be caught, and she was afraid to get close to me.
Slowly, I knelt down beside him and smiled kindly. I didn't speak, lest I frighten him off, and I allowed him to touch my hair, as he assessed what exactly was wrong with me. When he had clearly made his decision he turned to address his mother and the crowd.
"Mother why are you frightened? She's just the same as you," he said in a tiny voice that seemed to echo through the crowd.
Cian chuffed a laugh and placed a large paw on the boys head before guiding the boy back to his eager mother.
"Children are so much wiser than we give them credit for. We should take example from this child's words, and welcome Briar to our village with the hospitality I know you all possess."
Although they were tentative at first, the musicians began to play again, their tunes mirthful and sweet. I could see Rhymka in the crowd as she made her way to where Ouen had gathered nearer to the back. She took his hands and began to dance in a pattern quite unlike anything I'd ever seen in Mortar. Their movements were wild and free, and in their eyes I could sense something that I hadn't recognized before. They were in love. I couldn't believe I hadn't noticed earlier, but maybe something in the dance had allowed them to show their feelings for one another more clearly. I smiled cheerfully as I watched them continue, and slowly, more and more couples began to join in- either accepting or ignoring the fact that this event was for a Stone Dweller. Soon, everyone was dancing, even me, though I didn't know the steps.
My first partner was Ouen, and then, to my delight, the little boy who had accepted me without hesitation. I realized as I whirled and clapped, that I was truly enjoying myself. It seemed that everyone was- that is until I saw Cian sitting alone and watching the crowd.
I couldn't help but remember Rhymka's words from earlier. He looked as noble as a leader, but he also looked lonely. Despite the fact that we didn't get along very well I still pitied him, and couldn't bare the sight. So saying thank you to my current partner I approached him with as much confidence as I could.
"Don't you dance?" I wondered naturally, though I earned a slight glare in response.
"For reasons that should be obvious, no."
"There are no reasons I see that would prevent you, unless you simply want to be perpetually imposing here all by yourself," I answered, giving little care to his cold response. "In case you've forgotten, I'm the outsider here, not you. I think you should join me. After all, all of this is your doing in the first place," I explained while gesturing to the activity all around us.
"I'm afraid I would just lumber around without the grace of the others, so I'd rather save myself the embarrassment."
"I do not know the steps, but still I make an effort. I think your people would like it if you joined them. A ruler can't always sit on his pedestal alone. He must share in the joy of his people as well."
Cian's blue eyes smoldered in the firelight. It was apparent that he didn't understand my motivations for insisting he accompany me, but how could he when I didn't really understand them either.
"I was not expecting such profound things from you Briar. You continue to surprise me, but I fear I still will be unable to join you. I don't wish to make a fool of myself."
"If you are with me, then perhaps the other Shi'ran will trust me more. You said yourself you take responsibility for my well being, so you ought to take it now. Please? I won't ask you again."
I thought he groaned at first, but the sound he made could also have been a sigh of defeat, and getting to his feet, he walked towards the festivities with me. At first, he practically just stood there, almost completely still. Yet as I moved around him with as much grace as I could, he began to sway with the music, getting as lost in its dulcet tones as I was. The Shi'ran around us were shocked, having never seen their leader participate before, and their stares made him nervous in the beginning, but soon he grew used to them and began to enjoy himself.
For the briefest of moments he looked entirely at peace, and the loneliness in his eyes had begun to abate. I felt as though I'd accomplished something unexpected, and was quite pleased with myself until all of a sudden a large, black bird came barreling through the sky, turning into a man about half-way through his descent to Cian's side.
"There is a stranger in the forest, another Stone Dweller I should think. He brings a great deal of fire with him, and he's angering the wilds. It won't be long before it retaliates."
Cian looked at me abruptly, his eyes narrowed and a little angry.
"Who would it be?" He demanded.
"I- I have no idea," I stammered back honestly. What man of Mortar would willingly enter the wilds unprotected and at night? Surely not someone looking for me.