Leaving Noriko to go meet up with the ladies at the laundry drying lines, I continue on up the stairs to the hallway that leads to the council chamber. I lean on a window sill to watch her greet the ladies. They scold her for me and she apologizes. It's enough if she'll set them straight. I'm a little surprised that it's enough for her to tell them that I've agreed to the formal wedding. They decide to forgive me instantly.
I have to sigh. I'm not sure but that isn't more payment from me. She's not understanding again just what it means. Really, she's never understood what she is. This world has been waiting for generations, particularly the last three or four, for the arrival of the Awakening. Because the Legend of Light was buried away, scoffed at, and never told to anyone outside of this city and a few rare individuals, most people are - or were until recently - very afraid of this time. It wasn't just me.
She's been very sheltered by me and by our friends who've shown her only a little of that fear, certainly not as much as they could have. They knew her as the simple girl before they knew she was the Awakening. That made them confused, and eventually was to our benefit because they were able to see how we fit the Legend of Light. If it had been the other way around they would have rejected her (and thus me) before even trying to learn who we really are.
Now that Ennemarna knows who we are, and has been helped by me and has helped me protect her, this is the only city we could hold a public wedding in. The rest of the world is relieved to know the Sky Demon chose the light, but they don't know the rest of the story. Many are still afraid of the Awakening. Some think I killed her. Some think she never really showed up since no one ever saw her but me after the seers said she arrived, so I therefore never was changed into Destruction.
To learn that the Sky Demon was marrying the Awakening might make some think I changed her instead, but most would be not only shocked but would try to actively prevent it. Just because I chose light recently wouldn't mean she couldn't change me into Destruction later, particularly if we're so close as marriage.
The Legend of Light will have to be spread far and wide before the world will settle and we could let everyone know what we are. I'd be surprised if that happens in her lifetime. Likely we'll keep it secret anyway, except from the heads of state who may need to know who we are. (The leaders here have asked me for at least that much. ...We'll see.)
As the ladies get into the details of the wedding planning - me listening in with half my attention so I can learn more about Noriko's world's traditions - I can only sigh and put my head on my arms.
"Izark?" Agol's steps and words are still soft and kind around me. Watching us these last several days has made his own pain rise to the surface and he wants to help me. I let him approach this time. Now is the time to practice being a friend and having friends. I do want them to be that, for all I don't know how to go about doing it.
I shift to the side, standing against the side of the window opening and fold my arms, to let him look out the window with me. His eyes find the ladies of our group rather quickly. "They're rather animated."
I nod but don't look at him. He looks at me and judges what he sees. "You're not very happy, though. Care to talk about it?"
I ponder what I want to say. It's likely to come out as randomly as my mental meanderings, except I don't like to talk that much. I finally sigh. "She asked for the formal wedding."
Agol stiffens fractionally. He puts a hand briefly on my arm, then removes it. He knows I don't really like the physical comfort, but I know others need to express their emotions that way sometimes. That was about right for both. "What is it?" he asks quietly.
"The world won't accept it," I say almost bitterly. "As long as they can't see us specifically to know who we are, we can escape being hunted down." I take a breath and look around the expanse of the inner fields of the city where they grow their crops, watered from the underground river. "Here it will be okay."
I look at him from the corner of my eye. "I'd rather not be locked into this as my prison for the rest of the time we're on the planet." Agol shakes his head, understanding both what the reaction of the world will be and what all of my concerns are. It's rather obvious (except to Noriko and those who've been pushing me).
Really, half of the push is coming from those who know she keeps me walking in the light. They know it's really the reverse of what the world fears. If we're not married, there's the possibility someday I could revert back into Destruction, not having my anchor of light here to help me prevent it. I don't think it could happen - not any more - but even I can't guarantee it, so I don't argue.
I suspect Agol falls under that category, but it doesn't bother me. I'd almost rather that be the case than the other. At least then I can know he supports us as we continue to try to walk the direction we want to go.
"She still doesn't understand," I say quietly. "I don't really want her to. I don't want her to know how much this world fears her. It would make her too sad." Likely sad enough to want to go home. I hang my head. Really there are so many reasons she should want to go home and most of them she doesn't even know ...and I selfishly can't tell her. I want her to be able to be here happily if she's determined to stay.
"She won't go back?" Agol asks. It's the other hope of those who fear her being here, that she'll just leave peacefully. Those would hound her mercilessly, trying to make her want to go back until she did and left our world in a non-thinking peace.
I shake my head. It brings back the painful fight of this morning, but he doesn't need to know about that. I think all of our friends understand by now that it's she that refuses to leave my side. Even Banadam had that pounded into him by her. He mopes and gives me glares still, but I think they're warning glares that I'd better take care of her properly since she won't let him do it.
"Hmm," Agol leans on the other side of the window frame and folds him arms, mirroring me. His eyes are also on the ladies, but he's thinking. His eyes go to one in particular. "The Duchess will make it into a formal noble affair, too." I can only groan slightly and he gives me a sympathetic look. Then he turns enough to really face me.
"You know, weddings are very stressful, but they're also very significant. That is, significant to the people being married. It's the time you're really letting your special someone know just how much they mean to you. To have the courage to do that publicly is to tell all those who witness it that, too.
"It's okay to want it to be small and quiet, but it's also okay to include in it what you want to remember into your future together. I'm going to assume that you're having it here not just because no one will kill you for doing it, but also because the people you care about are here." Agol's raised an eyebrow at me.
I give him a dark look for just saying the former outright, but have to agree with the latter. "Even she knows we'll all be going separate ways. It's not likely we'll all be together in one place again."
He gives a faint nod, his eyes going distant. "And I'll also assume you've told her you'll do it because you want to see her happy and it's a gift you can give her, even if it is difficult."
I don't answer, but the heat in my ears and neck answer that sufficiently. I'll assume every groom feels that way about weddings.
He looks back out the window to the ladies again. Softly he says, "You'll survive it and then do what you always do to keep moving forward. It's worth it, in the end, to see the expressions on her face that day, and then get to hold them with you forever after that."
I look away at that one. I would like that, to be able to hold her happy expressions of the wedding day for forever when I'll only get to hold her for as long as her life. To have my own emotions of gratitude and love for her, and knowing I was able to give her that gift to go along with them would be good. Certainly I've had to do far more embarrassing things in public for lesser reasons than that. Calco comes to mind, but it wasn't the worst.
I sigh. "I'll need constant reminders."
"Can do," he answers. He looks like he's remembering that he needed his own.
I face him, now. "What are you thinking of doing next?"
Agol shifts into a more comfortable position. "I'd like to keep helping. It worries me to drag Geena around with me as a child, but she always smiles and tells me she's just glad she can come with me. I had to leave her with my mother before and that made her miss me too much."
He looks away. "I took the job to come look for you two because I both needed to have her with me for it and because I could bring her. I couldn't take her with me out fighting before that." That makes sense.
After a bit of a pause, I say, "I'm glad it was you and not Keimos." He laughs a brief agreement. If Noriko had landed in Keimos' lap he would have killed Noriko before the bullies reached her. Then he would have killed the bullies for sport. It's not a good thought so I stop going that direction.
"Actually," Agol continues, turning a bit red and still not looking at me very much, "I'd like to keep helping you and Noriko. You're both patient with Geena, and I think you could use a dedicated seer. Not only to know where to go to help people while things are being put right again, but after. If the leaders of the nations need you, Geena would be there to tell you. I'll have to take care of her for all her life. If I could serve in your house for all of mine, I think that wouldn't be a bad thing." His eyes turn to look back into mine.
I fight the embarrassment down. I was going here. "I'd also like the additional sword at my back to watch Noriko. She's insisted she's going to keep walking my path with me. When we get to settle down, I expect to be wealthy enough to need help with the household. She's already begun earning enough that I won't have to work by the time the world's settled. We'll likely be a busy but quiet household. She wants to be at the university to teach, plus continue her research."
Agol's eyebrow raises at my claim that Noriko's going to support us, and at such a level, but I maintain an honest, sober face. I watched the ladies that day. If she's told even one other blacksmith about her other world technology, made him write up a contract, and had ladies that excited, she's not done. She's a better negotiator than I am. She didn't let the opportunity to earn coin pass her by.
Since Agol was already thinking it himself, he only nods to the rest. It fits with his personal preferences as well. Quiet stability after all the early chaos is over will be good for Geena, and she can help with what she can, even if it's to keep Noriko company while I have to be off in another country for my own work. I look out the window and we dicker briefly his salary as I watch the ladies again.
Noriko's smile is large and I can feel the happy she had to contain for me is becoming calmer as she shares it with the other ladies. It's good to be able to see her so happy finally.
-o-o-o-
"Here you are, Izark! Agol." Barago nods at Agol as he confronts me. "You keep escaping the council and the men of the city are disappointed."
I roll my eyes at him. "Like I need to be deified. I'm going to go with Noriko's firm claim. I'm just a wandering swordsman who happened to get an odd fortune at birth. Can't we leave it at that?"
Barago laughs at me, then leans over my shoulder, because he couldn't just look out the window between the two of us. "What is it?" It doesn't take his eyes very long. "Ah. Watching over her even when it's only laundry?" He knows why I do it. He was there at the house when Wazalotte's people showed up. I ignore the tease.
There's a pause, then he says, "What are they talking about? That looks like a serious meeting."
"It is," Agol answers. "Wedding planning committee meeting."
"Seriously?!" A heavy hand slams down on my shoulder a few times. "Congratulations! You managed to open your mouth did you?"
Once I'm not being jarred too much, I answer quietly, "She asked for it. ...But yes, I did." I take a breath and lightly sigh it out. "I haven't ever seen her happier."
That calms Barago down. I think sometimes he teases just because he wants to know I'm a living emotional being. Noriko's told me I hide emotions pretty deeply. Maybe he's trying to crack through the mask he sees. If I say it openly, maybe he'll tease less.
"Good, good," he nods. "It's good to make the Lady happy." Then he shivers slightly. "Especially that one. Angry Noriko isn't someone to trifle with."
I nod in sober agreement. His small scold pales in comparison to what I went through this morning. "Angry Noriko spills over into as many women happen to be around, just like happy Noriko," I warn him, looking down on the happy gathering. When he wants to know how I know, I don't answer.
Agol steps in to calm Barago down. They did that at the house, too. If Agol thinks Barago's overstepped his bounds he scolds. That's why I asked Agol first. I turn a look onto Agol. "What's Barago doing next?"
Barago's slightly offended I've ignored the fact he's standing there, but Agol gets his attention. "You've said you were thinking of continuing to help the work to reinstate good men back into office, but have you thought past that yet, Barago?"
Barago shifts to stand between us, but not too close. He rubs his chin, then folds his arms, and his eyes stare at me. I continue to pay attention but watch Noriko. She's listening to Niana's explanation of some of our world's wedding traditions, now that she's done talking about her world's traditions. "I've already decided to stay by Izark's side. He stole me away from a lucrative position. He can repay that."
"With what coin have I paid you to stay there?" I complain at him without turning around. "And with what pay will a wandering swordsman continue to pay you?" Agol can't help the secret smile but Barago doesn't know what I've told him yet.
"The coin you just stole from the Donya army," Barago won't let me get away with that. "You carried six bags full of gold out of there and could have taken more if you could swing a sword at the same time. That's enough to be wealthy for a long time. I would think you could share a few coin with me since I'm going to help you protect Noriko."
"Haven't you gotten your own coin from that already?" I say back. I've already told them about asking the council for coin from the army coffers.
"Well, yeah, but I'm talking about for after we leave here. That much paid me for following you around before now."
I roll my eyes and let Agol take back over the negotiations. I want to know how good a negotiator he is, although I think it's reasonable. He never overspent when he went into town while we were at the house. When that negotiation is done, I add in at the end, "...and it's for life, Barago. You've chosen it, it will stand."
He blinks in surprise, and turns to Agol to complain, but Agol interrupts him with a raised hand and explains. By the time he's done Barago is content, like I already knew he would be. Barago turns back to me. "Are you going to bring anyone else in?"
"No. We don't need more than the two of you. It will be a simple enough life. I'm expecting she'll go between universities, actually, so we'll likely leave the two of you on this side to see to the house. She won't leave Doctor Clairgeeta's side over there. I'm planning on asking him if we can stay with him when we're there."
I give them a sly look. "He won't refuse. We've been his research for his whole life, after all." They both laugh at that. It won't bother me. He's a calm person full of light and can keep me company when she gets lost in her research. "We'll want Geena on this side then anyway so Noriko can make sure her projects on this side stay going well while we're there."
Barago's brow furrows. "Have you actually talked to her yet about all of this?"
"In summary," I admit. "We still need to talk about the details, but I've watched her this whole time. She already has large plans since she's decided to stay. I'll have to hold her back and hold her down. She wants to move fast for this world."
I look at them both soberly. "Her world is far more advanced than this one and she can't keep her mouth closed. She insists she was still only a student below the level of university, but our universities can't touch what she knows."
Their eyes go wide. "And ...she wants to teach it?" Agol finally asks. He's understood.
Barago gives a low whistle. "If she sold that, you would be wealthy." I agree silently again. They both look out the window at her more soberly. "She could be more dangerous in ways no one understands."
I sigh. "Thus why I'm not happy to have a large wedding." Well, one of the reasons.
"And why you'd send her home," Barago points out. It's irritating that like Noriko he can always understand things too easily, and says them out loud. I don't answer him, though. It's rather obvious. He looks at Agol, who shakes his head, telling him I've already said she won't go. Barago sighs. "Well, I guess it's good to know your woman won't leave your side. Don't have to worry about ever being jealous."
I snort a laugh. "Like that stops anyone?"
Agol tries to get me to forgive Banadam again, but I shake my head at him. "It happened frequently. I had to chase them off in every village we went to, and the farmer's son never forgave me, even though she and I slept in the same room in his own house every night." Their eyes go wide and Barago laughs for a long time.
Now that I know what it is, I think it's because they could see the World of Light in her and it drew them. That's actually a good thing, I suppose. It meant they were decent enough people themselves - and they were and are - it was just annoying.
The ladies are getting into the details now. "So, help me plan. She's going to ask what I want soon. I've never been in a wedding, only been used to make other's jealous enough to get them to finally ask." Agol smiles a small smile and Barago is humored yet again, but they help me so that when Noriko does ask I have things I can tell her.
-o-o-o-
There's one important thing to do before we get too far into the wedding planning. Once they've helped me come up with what to tell Noriko, I send Agol and Barago to the council chamber. Agol to talk to the mayor and Barago to find the men who've been part of our journey to this place.
I soak up Noriko's peace and contentment while alone for a while, then make my slow way to the council chamber. Barago meets me along the way to let me know the men are gathered. He walks in behind me in his place as guard and retainer.
It's interesting to me that I can still remember my lessons as a child in my parent's manor home for proper lordship. I never thought I'd use them after I left there, but I expect I'll use them a lot with people saying I'm going to be facing kings. I did have to use them on the servant's side in my wandering swordsman work, but this is what I was born to - to be the noble. I hope I can stay a minor noble. That would be fine.
Perhaps that's what Noriko saw when she said I was the Fairy King on the ship. I was being like that to the ship's captain, I guess. I sigh at myself. I'm the one who said he wanted to become the Fairy King, and I guess here I am finally. It makes my insides squirm just a little. I also didn't really expect to get here, even if I did want to be able to walk next to Noriko's fanciful Fairy Queen. It was as much role playing for me as her at the time.
How is it that such things eventually become reality? I understood the part where inside we become it, but how that affects others on the outside of us was something I hadn't properly considered. I'll have to do that next.
The men I've called are already standing near the Mayor with Agol. "Is there anything else you wanted to add?" Noriko asks me.
I tell her everything else is fine as I approach the Mayor to bow to him slightly. "According to the traditions of our world, I would like to properly announce my engagement now that I'm in a place where I can." I sent Agol in to stand in the stead of my father. He's already made his statement.
"Please call for the bride," the Mayor requests. He's trying to hide his delight. We will make Ennemarna a place of history yet again.
"Come here," I request Noriko.
"Where are you?" she asks.
"In the council chamber." She should just be able to follow our connection, but her mind is full of other things, and when she's relaxed she doesn't remember anyway, just like at the farming village. I don't mind. It's a simple thing to say and I'm glad she can be relaxed. I think she might not be for very long, unless she's a lot stronger than I am when it comes to being in the public eye. Sometimes she is.
"Okay. Be there in a bit. I'm on my way." She's not so calm suddenly, but Niana, Gaya, and Zena are with her to explain.
I turn to face the door to the council chamber when Noriko's close. The room has been whispering in confusion since I didn't send anyone out to fetch Noriko to answer Mayor Mardwoog's request.
Noriko walks into the room with a flower crown on her head, followed by Gaya and Niana and the other ladies in procession. She unknowingly gave them the positions of mother and head lady in waiting when she turned to them to understand the wedding traditions.
They're both pleased, and good choices for it, in my opinion. When Noriko looks at me with a question on her face, I can only smile. I'm very proud of her. She continues to move forward with courage and grace.
I hold out my hand for hers. When we're holding hands I turn us to face the Mayor and bow slightly again. She bows with me, following my lead. "Mayor Mardwoog, please accept our announcement of intention to marry. We would like to complete the wedding while we're still surrounded by friends and those who support us. May we have your permission?"
Mayor Mardwoog smiles. "I'm sure the citizens of Ennemarna would be happy to host it, Izark and Noriko. Thank you for allowing us to participate in such an auspicious event. Surely all other cities will be supremely jealous that the City of Light was fortunate enough to see the Sky Dragon and Awakening joined in marriage."
Noriko is as gracious as ever when she plays the Fairy Queen, "What better place than the one that has always been the location of those who love the light? We already can't repay you and Ennemarna for the service you've given to us. To ask more and have it received so kindly...thank you."
Mayor Mardwoog's eyes sparkle, "We'll consider being able to host your wedding as payment enough. Have you chosen your specific requirements yet?"
Noriko turns to the ladies behind her. "Please work with Grand Duchess Niana. She'll handle the details as the coordinator, with the assistance of Gaya."
Noriko is swimming in deep water, not knowing the traditions, so I pull her closer to me by tucking her hand in my arm so that Niana can properly face Mayor Mardwoog. I'm also just as happy to have Niana take over, and Agol. They've both already been married so know what they're doing, and they know what we want. That would be why I called for him before coming here. I'm also swimming in deep water.
-o-o-o-
The city has become very busy with wedding preparations. Agol keeps my schedule, and I've let him know I don't want to be standing around doing nothing. I'll have to panic if I have time to think. I've even been carrying heavy loads around to the protestations of many who don't want me to work for my own wedding.
I only smile and say I want to help those who are being so kind to Noriko and I. Then they can't complain quite so strenuously. Some of the older married men understand, and some merely laugh at me and shoo me off as soon as I've put my burden down. Still, I would rather do what I can to help. That would normally be my responsibility, after all.
Noriko and the girls were busy with their own preparations yesterday. Today I know they'll surface at some point to shop, so I'm keeping a light connection to Noriko open, mostly on the emotional level since that's where she's the least controlled still, and other than keeping my thoughts to myself, it's where I still need practice.
I know she's come outside because the burdens pressing down on her lift. She goes to surprise, seeing for the first time what the city is turning into. Then it's slight frustration, then fear.
I stop what I'm doing. I think I might know what it is, but that combination in the past has always presaged bad things for us, so I don't want to just assume. Agol wants to know what it is. I tell him, "Noriko's calling. I'll return later." He nods. He knows she comes before any work to be done.
Noriko's emotions are roiling and fear and panic are the strongest. They pull at me and my own that I've been burying very tightly as far down as I can get them. I run to her quickly, jumping over things in my way if I need to, until I can see her hunched down over her knees. Glocia is sitting on the ground in front of her, as if she were pushed. Noriko looks very much like she wants to throw up, actually. The panic inside is rather like that, too.
I wrap Noriko in my arms, sending her comfort and the surety of my love for her, trying to help her. She turns to me and sobs into my jacket. "What is it?" I ask, concerned now that it's been something between her and Glocia, who's sitting puzzled and concerned in front of me. "What happened?"
"Ah...," Anita isn't sure what to say.
"Izark," Glocia says concerned, "it's too much. She's overwhelmed. She wasn't expecting it to be so big." I reach out my hand to Glocia and give her the support to rise up from her undignified position. It's as I thought. "She's asked if the ceremony can at least be practiced so she knows what to expect." Glocia frowns a little. "It's a reasonable request, actually, since she doesn't know."
I'm suddenly glad Noriko has her own solution that will help me, too. I brush her head with my hand. "It's the fear of the unknown, then?" I've understood. "Alright. I'll set it up with Niana and the mayor."
"How can you be so calm about it?" It comes across more bitter than she intended and she sends an immediate apology.
I'm not offended. She's been too busy to consider anything other than herself and her tasks. I allow her to peek at the emotions I'm hiding. Because they're the same as hers, I block them back up quickly. We don't need to be overwhelmed by them.
"Actually, I'm glad you've pushed for the practice. I'd rather not trip over my feet either. My legs are longer so I'm more likely to do it than you. And...they expect me to know it, too, for some reason. It will be easier to say it's because you come from another world."
"Yeah, I don't mind being the reason. Even you need to uphold your reputation." That embarrasses me, that she should think I would want to show everyone a proud face, but she's firm in her insistence that if the wedding will be this formal, then we should meet the expectations about what the Sky Demon is. "Thanks, Izark," she says as she finally calms down.
I kiss the top of her head, a little surprised at how lonely I'm suddenly feeling. We've been separated by our tasks and she doesn't visit with me during the day when she's so focused. I haven't wanted to interrupt her, either, since I don't want to be a distraction from important things. "You'll make up with Glocia?"
"Yes."
"Okay." I stand, bringing her with me.
Noriko wipes her eyes and face. "I'm sorry, Glocia. Thank you."
Glocia looks away and shrugs, uncomfortable, "Well, we should try to remember, but it's hard sometimes when you look like you've got it all under control most of the time."
Noriko sighs. "Well..., I'll try not to pretend I'm okay when I'm not, then, so you can know sooner."
I shake my head at her. That's not what it is, and she should be honest with her friends. She's unable to face them, or perhaps it's the truth she'd rather not face, but I think this is important. It's also more like her to want to be honest with them. Perhaps she doesn't see it.
"Noriko's always been afraid, Glocia, since she got here, but has never been able to be anything but strong. It will be easier if you just assume all the time that she's afraid, then be wrong when she's not.
"Her world is so different...there really is no comparison. It has countryside, cities, and towns; families love each other; and nations war or have peace, but that's all that's the same. Everything else is different." I pause, then reach for Noriko, my heart feeling compassion. She's still looking down at the ground, a bit pink in the ear that I've said it so openly - what she hides behind all of the parts she plays.
I brush the hair back from her cheek, just a little touch to comfort her. "That's the reason I thought to send you back, Noriko. This place is not home for you. It's more foreign than just moving from one country to another."
She can only agree, but she looks up at me, the Teacher to explain her courage: "That's true, but there's a thing about humans. ...They're the most adaptable species in the world and the universes. ...And the young adapt the fastest. I'll take longer than a five or six year old would to adapt to this world, but I will adapt.
"Each new experience teaches me, and I have you and Glocia and the others to protect me so that the experiences don't kill me. Some year, it will be home. ...Of that, I have no doubt." Her calm courage surrounds me. I can finally only sigh and let my sorrow for her go. She still will not leave me, even so.
I squeeze her hand and let it go. "Where were you ladies going?" I turn the topic away from Noriko so she and I can recover properly. I need the distraction.
"Shopping!" Anita is happy for the conversation to change.
"Sounds like fun," I smile to further lighten the mood. I think I'd better stay with them. Not because Noriko is going to run into trouble in this city (although she might - there are other visitors here) but because I need to be near her for a while. Plus, I like watching her shop. It's fun to watch her out-negotiate wizened merchants who give in to her because they like her.
It becomes a more interesting shopping trip than I thought it would be. The merchants work hard not to sell her things (and me since I'm along) but to gift things. I watch her work hard to refuse to accept gifts. If she wants something she becomes careful how she words her desires and requests, and she always pays a reasonable price for it.
After she's practiced for a while she asks me if I've been watching long enough now to understand what she's learned. (I've practiced saying, "No, thank you. I'm just along as the companion today.") "It looks like it's rather difficult, actually. I would have caved more than once when you didn't," I say.
She puts down the item she was looking at as if disinterested now that she's looked at it closer, and scans the other things in the display. "It is. It's going to take a long time to really learn it. It would be nice if we only have to deal with it here, not at the other cities and towns we go to later."
"Even then, it would be good to learn that kind of restraint. We don't know what will happen in the future." I'm still thinking of the future and I have to tease. "If you become president of a university, you'll need to know it, most likely."
"Hmm...maybe." She's too distracted by the shopping to rise to the tease, but it's enough to be with her today. I'm still learning good things.
When the girls whisper-scold Noriko, I pretend not to hear, but it's true I'd forgotten about the wedding present I'd ordered. This would be a good time to see how it's coming along. While she has companions with her I can do it and we're close to the place. I wander off to do that and she respectfully doesn't pay attention.
I'm pleased with the result. Now that I've watched Noriko in the market, I know not to take the low price the artisan charges me. Instead I just hand over what he should have asked for, thanking him kindly for his efforts.
Shortly after I return to Noriko, the other girls give their excuses. I've heard enough of those to know that they want to let us have "date" time, and have other ulterior motives. I don't complain. I'm happy to have the excuse for once.
Noriko takes me back to a jeweler's stand we passed before, and explains on the way that she wants to get gifts for each of the girls and for Niana, Gaya, and Zena who are working so hard in our behalf. That sounds like a good thing to me. I should also get something small for the men while we're there.
Noriko dances from foot to foot before we approach the merchant. I wonder if she's unsure she can buy that much and not allow for the larger discount. I'll have to work hard to not have my coin pinching habit win out. When she finally asks me if she can be allowed to spend a lot since she wants to buy them nice enough pieces to really express our gratitude properly, I'm reminded that she usually buys the least expensive thing she can.
I haven't told her yet how much I earned from the Donya army, I realize. She's also used to us not having very much and watching what we do have. Today she doesn't have to worry. We can spend to buy our friends good gifts.
Brushing her hair back from her ear, I lean down and whisper in her ear just how much I took from the army of Donya. I want to tease her romantically, so I've said it that way. I get an unexpected reaction. Instead of a blush, she desperately whispers, "Don't move."
"Why?" I whisper back, wondering what I've done.
"I'll explode if you do. That was a very dangerous combination and I'm not holding on too well."
I silently laugh at her. This is a very good reaction. "Breathe." I whisper one more time, making the word breathe on her ear on purpose. I really did get a very good reaction. She's immediately rising, faster than she should. I can't help but laugh, but at the same time this is as dangerous as she warned.
I grab her up and leap for the roof of a nearby stable, then over the edge into a quiet alleyway. Noriko manages to hold on until we get there, but she's filling up very quickly. I hold her tightly and she buries her head in my chest so that when it comes it's at least somewhat muffled for the both of us.
"Really, Noriko," I lean down and complain quietly in her ear, a few tears leaking from my eyes in physical reaction to her reaction. "That was rather violent." I think I'll have to reserve that sort of thing for rare times.
"I'm sorry, Izark," Noriko says humbly. "May I recommend you not do that again? To tell a woman your value monetarily at the same time as she is feeling your other values is rather overwhelming, when both are as highly rare as you are. Most particularly, don't ever do that to another woman than me. I'll have to hide you and your treasure in my cave and never let you out."
I wipe my eye. This can happen for other women than her? But then I remember and know it. It's what makes a woman look at a man greedily - if she thinks he is both beautiful and wealthy. I'm a little surprised it worked so well on her. I have to tease her again. "You're finally admitting you're a dragon, too?"
"Finally?" She raises her eyebrow at me. "When did I become a dragon?"
"This whole time?" She's confused. "Remember I said I wondered what kind of creature I had taken from the Sea of Trees, when you were giving me my first lecture?" She remembers. "I've decided it was a dragon. What little you've told me of them, it fits." She doesn't see it. I try again. "Mm. Do you remember when you ran away, on the way to Gaya's?"
"That's when I first saw your dragon," she says.
"But it's also when I first saw the dragon in you, I think. You said to me that I would be back, and you looked at me with eyes that said that I was yours and there was nothing I could do about it. You would keep me as yours no matter what came.
"When you came to brush my hair the next morning, having you braid my hair and put the bandanna on me - it felt like you were putting the chain and collar on me, even though you were letting me walk away. Every time you protected me, you had that look, too, and the fierceness behind it."
Noriko considers it, then agrees. "Yes, I can see it. Those would all be very dragon-like moments." She teases me back, sliding her arms around me and holding me tightly as if to not ever let me go. "You are mine. My very precious treasure. Don't go too far away, and always come back. Stay safe for me."
Yes, she is a dragon, and she owns me, because she won't let me go. One that I love and don't want to let leave me. As I lean down to steal a kiss, she adds, "And keep the gold safe for me, too. I can't earn it like you can."
That's only true at the moment, but if my gold is hers because she owns me... I steal my kiss first. "You won't spend it all, will you?" I want to know.
"No. I want to lie on it and run my fingers through it and save it forever." Noriko runs her fingers into my hair, as if she would love to run her fingers through the gold just as much. It feels almost the same, just more greedy. I tickle her to get her to stop feeling that way and she laughs at me, enjoying her tease.
I relent with a sigh. "No, I know you do," I say, kissing her cheek. "You're already a better bargainer than I am. I don't mind sharing my treasure with you...my most precious treasure." And that is why. Because I am the dragon that owns her and will never let her go, even though she steal my gold away. If it were to disappear, I would still be content if she were by my side.
Ah, it's been too long and we've been too close, dragons too long in this time and place. She's the one with the strength to separate us by distance, pulling away. I'm reluctant, even still, but she has shopping she wants to finish first. I finally relent - just enough for that much. I think I will steal her away to my cave once that much is done - as my payment.
