A/N: Well, I find myself once again trapped in the clutches of a Chevy Suburban, doing 70 down the freeway on my way back to Tennessee =(
So why not write another chapter?
Insane Freak: Mushy bananas? ... Anyway, I'm glad you're still enjoying it =)
GoldenSunGeek: Yeah, college makes it difficult. Still though, it's possible. You just have to choose which classes don't deserve the time =P
ReadNoWrite: Glad to have you onboard! I'll try to finish this up ASAP.
XIV: The Sun
There sat Mia, and there lay Isaac, his head still in her lap. All through the night they lay in the heart of the great cone-shadow of Weyard, like two Pharaohs in one pyramid. Isaac slept and slept, and Mia sat there motionless, lest she should wake him and so betray him to his fear.
The moon rode high in the blue eternity, the very triumph of the glorious night. The river ran, babbling and murmuring in deep soft syllables, while the fountain kept rushing moon-ward. It would blossom momentarily to a great silvery flower, its petals forever falling like snow, but with a continuous musical clash into the bed of its exhaustion beneath.
The wind woke, ran through the trees, went back to sleep, and woke again. The daisies slept on their feet at hers, though she didn't know they were asleep. The roses seemed to be awake, for their scent filled the air all around her, but in truth they slept also, and the smell was that of their dreams. The oranges hung like golden lamps in the tree branches, and their silver flowers were the souls of their yet unembodied children. The scent of the acacia blooms filled the air like the very scent of the moon herself.
At last, not being used to the living air, and tired with sitting so still and so long, Mia grew drowsy. The air began to grow cool. It was nearing the time when she too was accustomed to sleep. Mia closed her eyes for just a moment as her head began to nod, and suddenly her eyes opened wide, for she had promised to watch.
In that moment a change had come. The moon had gotten round and was now in the west. Mia saw that her face was altered and had grown pale, as if she too was wrought with fear. It was as if from her lofty place she saw a coming terror. The light seemed to be dissolving out of her. She was going out! She was dying!
And yet, everything around her was becoming strangely clear--clearer than she had ever seen before. How was it that the moon was shedding more light when she herself had less? Ah, that was just it! Mia could see how faint she looked! Her light was abandoning her and spreading itself over the entire room. That was why she grew so thin and pale. She was giving up everything! She was melting away from the roof like a bit of sugar in water.
Mia was quickly becoming afraid, and she sought for refuge in the face on her lap. How beautiful the creature was! She didn't know what to call it; it had gotten angry when she called it a girl like Menardi called her. And, wonder upon wonder! Now, even in the cold change that was overtaking the great room, the color as of a red rose was rising in the pale cheek. What beautiful yellow hair it was that spread over her lap. What great huge breaths the creature took! And what were those curious things that it carried? Mia was sure that she had seen them in the drawings on her walls.
And so she talked to herself as the lamp grew paler and paler, and everything kept growing even more clear. What could it mean? The lamp was dying--going out into that other place the creature in her lap had spoken of, to be a sun! But why were things becoming so much more clear before it was yet a sun? That was the point. Was it because she was growing into a sun? Yes, yes! It was death approaching. Mia knew it, because she felt it coming on herself, too. What was she about to grow into? Would she be something beautiful, like the creature in her lap? Maybe. Regardless, it must be death. She could feel all her strength draining out of her, and all around it was growing so bright that she couldn't bear it! She would be blind soon? Which would come first? Blindness or death?
As the sun was rising behind her, Isaac woke up, lifted his head up from her lap, and jumped to his feet. His face was one radiant smile. His heart was full of daring--that of a hunter who will creep into the tiger's den. Mia gave a cry and covered her face with her hands, squeezing her eyes shut. She reached out blindly to Isaac, crying, "Oh, I'm so frightened! What is this? It must be death! I don't want to die yet! I love this room and the old lamp. I don't want to go to the other place! This is terrible. I want to hide. I want to get into the sweet, soft, dark hands of all the other creatures. Ah!"
"What is the matter with you, girl?" said Isaac with the unbefiting arrogance of a male who hasn't yet been taught by the other kind. He stood looking down at her over his bow. He examined the string and then continued, "There is nothing to be afraid of now, child. It is day. The sun is all but up. Look! He'll be above the brow of the hill in another moment. Goodbye, and thank you for the night's lodging. I'm off!" He looked down at her once more. "Don't be a goose. If there's ever anything I can do for you--and all that, you know!"
"Don't leave me! Oh, don't leave me!" cried Mia. "I am dying! I'm dying! I can't move. The light sucks all the strength out of me. Oh, I'm so frightened!"
But Isaac had already splashed his way across the river, holding his bow high over his head so that it wouldn't get wet. He rushed across the level plain and sprinted up the hill. Hearing no answer from him, Mia uncovered her eyes and looked up. Isaac had reached the top, and at the same moment the sunrays alighted on him. The glory of the the king of day crowded blazing upon the golden-haired youth. Radiant as the Knight of Judgment, he stood in mighty strength, a flashing shape in the midst of flame. He fitted a golden arrow to a gleaming bow. The arrow parted with a musical twang of the bowstring. Isaac let out a shout of joy and darted after it. Up shot the sun himself, and from his quiver scattered astonishment and exultation.
But poor Mia's brain was pierced through. She fell down in utter darkness. Everything around was a blazing furnace. In despair, weakness, and agony she crawled, feeling her way with doubt and difficulty but pushed onward by forced persistence, until at last she found her way back to her cell. When at last the friendly darkness of her chamber folded itself around her with its cooling and consoling arms, she threw herself on her bed and fell fast asleep.
And there she slept, a living creature in a tomb, while Isaac, relishing in the sun's glory, pursued the buffaloes on the lofty plain. Not once did he think of the one whose presence had been his refuge, her eyes and hands his guardians through the night, whom he had been so quick to abandon. He was in his glory and his pride, and the darkness and its disgrace had vanished for a time.
A/N: Well, there you have it. Isaac's worst moment. Don't worry, the story is about to get really, REALLY good. I can't wait to finish this one up for you guys =)
Once again, thank you for the encouraging reviews. I'll try to keep writing and hopefully finish this up in a week or two. Please review and peace out.
Pyro1588 Planet Weyard
01.07.06 4:20 PM 1351 words