Daniel observes this all with a curious gaze. I find I am unable to meet
his eyes. We sit for a time, silence reigning as they regain some control
over what is going on. Parn looks from me to Daniel but I shake my head to
him and he seems to understand. Eventually we are led back into the main
temple. Parn sits at a table laden with delicacies and the others sit as
he invites them to eat. I excuse myself and walk through the temple
outside. I observe Nina sitting quietly basking in the evening suns glow
talking to Tark. She makes to accompany me as I make my way down the
temple steps but I shake my head and tell her to wait for me. Pushing back
the feeling of wanting to run as I had when I was a child, I climb the hill
behind the temple to the lake. He follows me; I can feel him even from a
distance. I am afraid to face him, a feeling I have not had in quite some
time. I can communicate with him, for I know his language, but he does not
know mine, he has not gained the understanding we were trying to give him.
He is still a stranger.
"Rani"
My name still sounds strange coming from him. As if it is another name and not my own, I stand and gaze down at the lake. The mid day sun has gone and the evening sun causes the lake to glow darkly. It's light is not reflected. I know if I turn I will see the light the midday sun causes and yet I am now the reluctant one. I feel suffocated by my own feelings and fight to calm my mind. There is a lack of understanding on my part. He is different but I do not know how. I sensed it during the ritual, but even then, I could not determine what it was. He seemed to know what was going on, what we meant to do. But if he did why did he not want to partake in the ritual. I run my hands over my temples and shake my head. Trying to shake away the unanswerable questions. The answers were right by me but I was at a loss to talk to him. I felt like an invader knowing all about him, about his people, and yet he knew nothing of myself. I could tell him but he will not feel our emotions, a vital part of communication by my people. The evening sun sets before us, it's light replaced by the first moon rising behind us.
"You live in a very beautiful place Rani"
I nod in agreement. Sometimes all my feelings, my innerself, are lost in its beauty.
"Rani"
I turn to Nina who is stood behind us, the dark light casting eerie shadows behind her over the temple gardens. Tark standing by her side, as she waits to accompany me home.
"Parn feloyah. Polna mi retenah renna trent mi tolayah?"
It seemed uncomfortable to speak in our language knowing Daniel could not understand when we had the means to communicate. I eventually turn to him.
"Parn is now meditating, Nina wishes to return home and prepare the evening meal"
I nod to Nina but she seems reluctant to leave me alone once more. Only I was not alone. I was with Daniel. Part of her reluctance was due to the fact he had not been part of the ritual.
"Go Nina, escort the others and make them comfortable. I will follow in good time."
She turns to leave, glancing over to Tark. I smiled at the warm emotions between them as Nina stopped to bid farewell.
"Tark, su gartah retenah?"
Tark has always been a quiet man, and accepted my invitation to join our evening meal with a nod. I watched as they walked away together hand in hand.
"We should return back to the village, the cold sets in fast once the moon has risen to it's highest."
"Rani"
My name still sounds strange coming from him. As if it is another name and not my own, I stand and gaze down at the lake. The mid day sun has gone and the evening sun causes the lake to glow darkly. It's light is not reflected. I know if I turn I will see the light the midday sun causes and yet I am now the reluctant one. I feel suffocated by my own feelings and fight to calm my mind. There is a lack of understanding on my part. He is different but I do not know how. I sensed it during the ritual, but even then, I could not determine what it was. He seemed to know what was going on, what we meant to do. But if he did why did he not want to partake in the ritual. I run my hands over my temples and shake my head. Trying to shake away the unanswerable questions. The answers were right by me but I was at a loss to talk to him. I felt like an invader knowing all about him, about his people, and yet he knew nothing of myself. I could tell him but he will not feel our emotions, a vital part of communication by my people. The evening sun sets before us, it's light replaced by the first moon rising behind us.
"You live in a very beautiful place Rani"
I nod in agreement. Sometimes all my feelings, my innerself, are lost in its beauty.
"Rani"
I turn to Nina who is stood behind us, the dark light casting eerie shadows behind her over the temple gardens. Tark standing by her side, as she waits to accompany me home.
"Parn feloyah. Polna mi retenah renna trent mi tolayah?"
It seemed uncomfortable to speak in our language knowing Daniel could not understand when we had the means to communicate. I eventually turn to him.
"Parn is now meditating, Nina wishes to return home and prepare the evening meal"
I nod to Nina but she seems reluctant to leave me alone once more. Only I was not alone. I was with Daniel. Part of her reluctance was due to the fact he had not been part of the ritual.
"Go Nina, escort the others and make them comfortable. I will follow in good time."
She turns to leave, glancing over to Tark. I smiled at the warm emotions between them as Nina stopped to bid farewell.
"Tark, su gartah retenah?"
Tark has always been a quiet man, and accepted my invitation to join our evening meal with a nod. I watched as they walked away together hand in hand.
"We should return back to the village, the cold sets in fast once the moon has risen to it's highest."