Ayryn had not slept well that night. Groggily, she pushed back the covers and had forced herself out of bed. She had made herself a new gown since the cloth came in. She wore a simple gown of white with a green bodice and embroidered ribbon around the sleeves and the trim of the bodice. It fluffed at the sleeves and flowed gently as she walked down into the kitchen for a late breakfast.
Celena had lingered in the dining room a bit longer than usual that morning, sipping idly from her tea. She glanced up as Ayryn entered and smiled faintly. "Good morning," she greeted cordially. She was still coming to get used to the extra presence in the house. There were times when they seemed so similar they could have been sisters--other times, she simply wanted to wring the girl's neck.
Ayryn gave a kind, sincere smile and gladly took a seat next to her. "How are you this morning, Celena?" The tone in her voice suggested more sincerity than had ever been expressed to the other girl. Ayryn didn't notice, really, for she had come to think of Celena as her own sister.
Celena was a bit puzzled by her companion's tone, and unconsciously softened her own as well. "Oh, I'm fine. It looks like it's going to be a beautiful day outside--would you be persuaded to join me in the market?" She wasn't sure why she was offering so casually; but then, it might be nice to have some company in town, without having to worry about her brother's self-consciousness.
"I would love to! Shopping for the next few days' meals? Or - what?" she grinned, a sparkle in her eyes that she didn't think she would ever regain after the night before. "More fabric? I can assure you we have plenty."
Celena shrugged. "I hadn't given it much thought. Maybe we can pick out some jewelry to go with all those new dresses you've been working on." She smiled, somewhat affected by Ayryn's sudden enthusiasm. "There's a rumor that Princess Millerna will be holding a ball soon."
"Oh - that's right." Uh-oh, Ayryn thought. He's going to be hurt again if she doesn't stop it. She'll think of something soon. Now, though, they were to go to the market and enjoy the day. "Why, that sounds lovely. That gown I made you should come in handy then, right?"
"Yes--I think it'd be perfect. And the lavender one we bought for you earlier would be just fine, as well. But it wouldn't hurt to accessorize." She winked.
"You mean - I can go too?" She had an awkward smile on her face, one that pertained to amusement and delightful confusion. "I thought that sort of thing was only for knights and nobles and royalty?"
Celena smiled. "Oh, I'm sure we could come up with some excuse. Besides, Princess Millerna is a good friend of ours. I'm sure she wouldn't object." If anything, she would most likely be too caught up in the idea of meeting Allen to worry about one more guest. "That is, if you'd like to...?"
Princess Millerna...she had to keep herself from growling as she thought of the name and smiled at Celena. "I would love to. Thank you so much for letting me go."
"It's no problem at all. I'm sure Allen would like you to be there, too." She pushed back from the table. "Well, I'm going to find Misshel and have him prepare a carriage. Unless you'd like to ride..? It's been a while for me."
Ayryn's face lit up and she stood, almost jumping to her feet in her excitement. "I would love to ride! Oh, that would be wonderful! As long as we don't do any that side-saddle nonsense."
Celena laughed out loud. "Side saddle? Never." Still grinning she turned to leave. "I'll have the horses prepared. Come down as soon as you've finished eating."
Food....food is a good thing. With a sigh, Ayryn sat down again. Was she supposed to wait or call Mallie. She went to the kitchen, poking her head through the door and saw the cook. "Uh - Is there any breakfast left, Mallie?"
Mallie glanced up from her work at the stove. "'Course there is, 'love. I hope eggs will suit you well enough? I've got tea and biscuits, too, if you like."
"Please. I would be most grateful." She went back to the dining room. It wasn't before long that the eggs and biscuits disappeared from the plate just as Mallie set it in front of. The tea was nearly vacuumed out of it's cup before the cook could even reach the kitchen again. With a small hiccup of satisfaction, Ayryn stood and ran out, calling behind her, "Thanks, Mallie!"
Celena was waiting for her in the stables, having prepared the horses as promised. Misshel was seated nearby, smiling brightly, chatting about how excited he would have been to attend a royal ball. Celena giggled at his exaggerated speculations. She grinned as Ayryn entered. "Thank goodness, she's come to save me," she said with a wink toward the boy. "Are you ready?"
"I sure am! Which one's mine?" She asked, looking between the hazel-nut colored mare and the white one with a silver mane.
"The brown one," Celena answered with a nod toward it. "Her name's Falcon. I always ride Mystic." She swung up into the saddle and patted the beast affectionately.
"Right...I almost forgot." And that's the truth, Ayryn thought with a frown. She mounted Falcon and gave the animal a wary eye. "This isn't the same horse that threw your brother, is it?"
She was startled a moment before remembering her companion's abilities, and then laughed. "Oh, no, it's not. Falcon's one of our older mares--I wasn't sure how much experience you've had." Misshel ran to open the gate for them, and Celena guided her mount out of the stables. "She'll behave."
"Experience." She pushed her horse to follow Celena's, "I've had plenty of experience." She grinned and Celena and gave her horse a good kick, "Hya!" Off she went, leaving a trail of dust behind her as she galloped down the road.
"So I see," Celena murmured. A mischievous grin fit into her features, and she spurred Mystic after her. It wasn't difficult for the younger animal to catch up, where upon they matched paces on their way into the city. "Well, I guess I had nothing to worry about!" she called over the pounding hooves.
Ayryn was in crouched position on her horse, her head leaned down towards Falcon's neck and pressing her knees against the sides of the animal. She held reigns just under her. "Not a thing!" The raced on like that all the way to the city gates. By then, she had to slow down her horse and looked to Celena for instruction.
Celena gradually slowed Mystic to a trot, and glanced about to get her bearings. "This way," she said, leading the pair down the street to a small stable where they would be able to hitch their horses for the day. Expenses would be, she thought with a smile, attributed directly to the Schezar estate.
The horses taken care of, the girls went walking down the streets of Palas. The murmur of large crowds become louder as they went along. "Have you ever traveled on a gondola here, Celena? It seems like a lovely way to travel about the city. There's a city where I come from very similar to this one."
"No, I've never been on one." Celena smiled. "But I think that would be wonderful sometime. Are there many cities like this where you're from?"
"Just the one that I know of." She nudged Celena playfully and gave a mischievous glance. "Any handsome young men in your life?"
She laughed cheerfully. "Oh, a few, I guess. None that really suited me." She frowned slightly with the memory of at least one that had caught her heart, however foolishly. "Well....maybe there was one. But it was nothing."
"A knight." She said. "With dark brown hair and violet eyes. A dashing young samurai. Haven't you seen him lately?"
"I wish you wouldn't do that," Celena rebuked mildly, her frown deepening even as her cheeks flushed with the memory. "And no, I haven't seen him since...well, since the accident." Ayryn would know what she meant--she should, anyway.
"Do you blame him for what happened to your brother?" She asked in a sympathetic tone. They walked along the vast waterways of a more peaceful side of Palas.
"Sometimes," she admitted guiltily. "In the beginning, when Allen was so miserable. Later, I only blamed myself." She sighed. "I don't know who to blame anymore. But I regret...turning him away like I did."
"Denevive still hopes for your affection, Celena." stated Ayryn knowingly, "he's very lost right now and places blame on himself for Allen's injury. You should seek him for he desperately needs love. Just as your brother does as well."
"Ayryn, stop that." Celena looked away, frowning deeply. "You...you shouldn't say things like that. I don't need any more fate in my life."
With that, Ayryn kept quiet as they continued their peaceful stroll down the more quiet streets of the city. "Celena," she said after a moment, "is Allen still in need of aid to dress himself in the mornings?" Her tone was almost forcibly casual even if there was a reason behind the question aside from mere curiosity.
She glanced at her companion sharply. "No, he's been getting along just fine lately." There was terse note in her tone she didn't mean to be there, in the knowledge that her brother no longer needed her help in such matters.
"It's okay. It doesn't mean he doesn't want you around. Even if you always want to help him, you always will, but there are some things he has to do on his own. It gives him dignity. And right now, he needs all the self-esteem he can get. You understand, don't you?"
"Of course I understand," Celena replied instantly. "He's my brother, after all." She straightened somewhat. "I'll always take care of him."
"I know." She smiled at her. "Speaking of which, Allen's self-esteem and all. . . You think he's actually going to want to go to this ball?"
Celena shrugged a bit. "I don't think he'll want to at first. But I know he's been wondering about Princess Millerna lately, so I think he could be convinced. It will be good for him."
"Which part? The ball or the princess? And isn't she Queen now?"
"Oh, that's right." She shrugged again. "I guess I'm not used to calling her that. But yes, I think both will be good for him. I know he desperately wants to know what Millerna thinks....even if she will scorn him, which I don't think she will..." Celena wished then that she knew Millerna better, to judge what her reaction would be. "In any case, he needs to be seen if people are going to get used to him."
"Yes, you're right." She stopped walking a moment, Celena noticing and curiously gazing at her as she stopped as well. "I have to tell you something - about Millerna . . . you want to know what she thinks?"
"No. No, I don't want to know," Celena lied. But she didn't want to hear it from her--it was eerie, knowing that Ayryn had such power. "That's not the way it's supposed to work." She smiled. "We have to live our own lives and make our own mistakes, after all."
"Even if your brother will be hurt in the aftermath?" She asked matter-of-factly, cocking her head to the side and regarding the taller girl studiously.
Celena bit her lip. "If...if he's going to be hurt, he needs to get there by himself. Knowing about it won't help." She dropped her head slightly, her eyes thinning. "If we'd known about what was going to happen, without having the power to change it...I don't think I could have stood that. No, Ayryn, it's all right." She took in a deep breath. "Thank you. But I think it's better this way."
"If you say so. But you can always change the future, no matter what." She took Celena's hand with a wide smile, hoping she'll forget about such matters on such a beautiful day. "Come on, I think the Market's down this way." She started leading them closer to the cacophony of large crowds and music.
Celena smiled, relieved that they'd moved off the topic as she happily followed Ayryn into the market. There were people everywhere, attracted--as they had been--by the favorable weather. They nearly had to push their way through the crowds. "I don't know how much we're going to get done in this!" she declared, laughing.
"Swim, Celena!" She declared, laughing as well. She held on tight to the other girl's hand and led them dubiously through the ocean of people. "I don't see a jewelry stand - oh, wait! There's one!"
"Where?" Celena giggled, trying to push past a group of chattering beast-men, following her companion just barely. At last she spotted the stand, and was able to make her way over. "Whew! What a crowd."
"No kidding...now, let's see. What do we have here? Rings?" She pointed to the appropriate cases, "Bracelets, earrings....necklaces... or the penny-basket?"
"I think I could use a good necklace," she said, inspecting the wares. "Oh, aren't they all lovely? And I'm sure this would look wondering on Allen." She indicated a group of small lapel pins and hair ties. "To go with that new coat."
"Gold then, since I embroidered with gold colored thread on the collar." She looked over the necklaces herself and spotted something rather peculiar, "Goodness..." she saw a necklace made of a short string of pearls with a piece made of silver. The silver piece of a large oval, large enough to be a cameo brooch but had a pinkish rose holding a small pearl in its center. She held up the necklace, "Isn't this lovely?" I have one just like it, she thought wryly.
"Yes, it is," Celena affirmed, admiring the craftsmanship. She sifted through the piles of rings and brooches. "I'll never decide at this rate. There's just too much1"
"Well, for Allen. There's a nice pair of cuff links with gold ivy leaves that would suit him nicely. We'll get a black ribbon for his hair. Sapphires for you, if that helps. Mounted on silver to match the trim on your dress. As for me..." She looked at the necklace she held, then to the penny basket, "Could I have four coppers?"
"Of course. You've done such good work lately, and I suppose I owe you that much." Celena gladly offered the sum. "Besides, this will be a royal ball. You'll need to look your best."
She grinned at Celena. "Four coppers isn't much but I thank you. This necklace costs about 2 gold pieces. But don't worry." She winked, gathering four pieces from the penny basket to successfully hide the pearl necklace in her palm. "Uh - merchant. Four pieces from the penny-basket. How much do I owe you?" She saw the merchant was busy negotiating with a hard-bargaining customer and patiently waited for response.
Celena stared at her, realizing what was going on. At last the clerk turned to accept Ayryn's payment. Well, as a knight, Celena wasn't about to let her friend get away with thievery: while the pair was involved in their exchange she carefully set the necessary gold pieces on the table, masking the action by seeming to inspect a diamond necklace. The clerk would find the payment later, when he settled his accounts, which was good enough. Neither had to know. She straightened as the exchanged ended.
"A job well done, if I say so myself." She grinned, completely oblivious. "Haven't you chosen anything for your dress yet?" She gave the case a once-over glance. "Perhaps our luck has been spent at this booth anyway. We could move on and find another with better jewelry. Come along, then. We still have to find some things for Allen too." She took Celena's hand without a second thought and pulled her once again through the crowds.
Celena allowed herself to be dragged through the crowds, grinning smugly to herself. She didn't respond until they'd reached the next booth, which was mostly necklaces, to her delight. "Hello there," she greeted the clerk pleasantly. "I'd like to buy a necklace. But watch out for my friend here, she has an eye and a hand for mischief." When he regarded her with bewilderment, she laughed and poured over the items for sale.
Ayryn didn't bother commenting on Celena's ruse but pretended to be interested in the merchandise. "Celena," she asked in a curious tone, "How is the state of your brother's bedroom mirror?" Why was she asking this? Too late, already asked.
Celena glanced up at her carefully. Doubtlessly this was another of Ayryn's little mysticisms, and that made her wary. "I don't see why it would be anything other than fine," she replied, returning her attention to the jewelry.
The shorter girl hummed to herself in contemplation. Uh-oh, she thought. I think it's supposed to happen today... "Uh, Celena - it might be a good idea to finish up the shopping and get home soon."
"Oh? And why's that?" I'm not going to let her intimidate me, Celena thought deftly. She wasn't interested in knowing the future. What would come would come. At least, she continued to tell herself that as she selected a necklace from the stand to purchase: diamonds and sapphires.
"My, my. Don't we have pricey tastes." She commented with a grin. "Quickly. Purchase the necklace. I have a bad feeling that something's wrong at home."
Celena did pay for the necklace, though she did so in the most calm and collected manner possible. "Don't try to scare me, Ayryn," she said, even as she was feeling a bit anxious now. "But if you think it's that important, we'll leave."
The girls rode full speed, side by side as they raced back to the house. Ayryn hopped off her horse just as she reached the front steps of the manor, running inside and upstairs to Allen's room. "Allen!" She called, not even stopping to wait for Celena. She opened the door to his room, "Allen, are you here?"
Her voice echoed without response as she discovered the room empty, his mirror intact. Well, at least he didn't go in a rage... She couldn't help running back downstairs to the study where he seems to be spending so much time. She opened the door and still no one was there. Her face contorted in confusion. "Mallie!" she called, going into the kitchen and finding the cook there, working readily on lunch for that day. "Mallie, have you seen Allen?"
"Master Allen? Why, he's been gone all morning," Mallie replied pleasantly. "Is it urgent? He said he'd be out by the ocean."
Ayryn spared no more time and briefly thanked the cook before running out the back door. All this running certainly tired her out and she ended up walking the rest of the way, letting her nose lead her to the smell of the ocean. Celena must have been looking everywhere else in the house. At last, she broke through the dense trees and saw the large blue expanse of water, her feet digging into the sandy beach. "Allen?"
Allen was seated on a rocky outcropping at the sea's edge, his boots and socks strewn behind him, his feet dangling in the water childishly. He glanced up as Ayryn approached, and sighed. He should have known she would come looking for him. He turned his gaze back to the ocean as he awaited her to come nearer.
She regarded him curiously as she stepped closer and eventually took a seat next to him. "Hey." She said softly, nudging him a little with a small smile. "Are you okay?"
"Yes. I just came here...to think a bit." He wasn't sure how to respond to her, after the night before. For a moment he envied her clairvoyance; he wished he knew what she was thinking. "Are you?"
"Yes." Affectionately, she brushed a hand through his hair. "What did you come here to think about?"
Allen pulled away from her slightly. "Things," he replied evasively. Had she given up? Or was she still determined to hold on to him? He wasn't sure what he'd do if it was the latter.
"Things, he says." she mocked with good humor and wasn't hurt that he shied away from her touch. "I can't read minds, Allen. What kinds of things?"
"Just things. Everything." He raised his head slightly, watching the waves that crested against the harbor rocks. "Myself, mostly."
She looked down into the water. It was clear blue and she could see the sandy shallow floor below. The weather made it tempting to go for a swim. "Yourself? What about yourself?"
Allen sighed in exasperation. "Just, things," he repeated, growing somewhat annoyed. He hadn't intended on company today. He tried to make his voice lighter. "You don't have to know everything, do you Ayryn?" he asked with a bit of a smile.
"No, I suppose I don't." She was very tempted to push him in. He was just sitting there, not expecting it, dangling his feet in the water. It looked warm enough so that cold wouldn't be a shock - she had to force herself to be good. "Do you want me to leave?"
He wanted to tell her to go. It would be easier for him, if she did. But he had so little company these days, he couldn't say it was unpleasant to have her there. "No, it's...all right. I don't mind."
"Then please tell me the thoughts plaguing you so, Allen." She prodded gently. "I know I might not be very good company but - I wish you would trust me."
He snorted. "Do I have a choice? You already know everything about me." He stopped when he realized how bitter he sounded. "No--I'm sorry, Ayryn. I'm not really mad. Just a bit distraught at the moment."
"About last night? Or is it something more?"
How could she speak of it so openly? He wondered if she was even more quick to heal than he'd thought. "Yes, actually. Both. And more."
"You're such a clam! Why won't you tell me? It kills me that you can't even talk to me after something like that, after last night. Don't you think it hurts me too?" She sighed in frustration before shoving off the rock and landing in the warm ocean with a splash.
"Then what do you want from me?" Allen demanded. "To spill all my secrets for you, so you can spin even more complex webs for me, a more complicated dance?" He wondered if she even realized that he had rejected her last night. She didn't seem to. And that worried him.
"How am I suppose to answer that?" She growled, "Come in and swim with me. Maybe it'll help calm you down. It's warm water." She didn't have to fight very hard against the gentle currents near the shore and had no trouble swimming about the clear water.
"I don't want to swim," Allen replied stubbornly, frowning at her. She was ruining a perfectly good outfit that way, as far was he was concerned.
She grabbing the edge of the outcrop of rock where he sat and pulled herself up next to him. Water drained from her dress and stuck to her skin. "I'm sorry you think your life is miserable."
Again he snorted indignantly. "And who made it that way?" he retorted. He knew he was being cruel, but all his frustrations were beginning to mount.
"Okay, now your just being mean and I resent that. I already explained it to you and as near as I could tell, you've already forgiven me." She studied his face, long and hard before speaking again. "Allen, do you honestly think you're not attractive?"
"And what has that to do with anything?" he retorted, bewildered. "And I never said I didn't."
"It's a common thought that goes with amputations. I thought it might've been on your mind." She shrugged, sighing and resorting to dangling her feet in the water as he was doing.
"A common thought? Is that to say, you're quite knowledgeable in the subject?"
"I had to research it. It doesn't make any sense to write about something you know nothing about."
Allen glanced away, refusing to admit that she was right. "No, I don't think I'm unattractive," he said after a moment, a bit too quickly. Perhaps now undesirable, but not unattractive. Some things he would never lose confidence in.
"You always did have a healthier state of mind than most." She said with a smile. "You've a strong spirit and you're quite charming, when you want to be," she muttered the last, "How could they pass you up?"
"Well, I don't know." There. Would she be satisfied? She was such an odd girl--he could never tell what she was thinking. "Is that all?"
"Is what all?"
"Are you finished interrogating me?"
"No, if you put it that way. Do you hate me now?" She asked worriedly. The last thing she had wanted to do was turn him away completely. Now it seems that he's not even willing to share a friendship with her.
Did he? He frowned, realizing that he couldn't answer yes. He didn't hate her--he didn't even blame her that much, not any more. So how did he feel? "No, I don't hate you," he answered at last. "Though I'm not quite sure what to do with you."
"Am I burden, then? Not quite sure what to do with me, indeed. It sounds as if you're debating whether to hang me up on a hook or throw me into a waste basket!"
"Well, I just might!" Allen declared, though with good humor. "And what would you do then, hmm? Could you interrogate me like that?"
This was certainly an odd change. Was he - joking? "I suppose not." She said warily, "Is that what you've been trying to get me to do all along? Make me stop asking questions?"
"Perhaps," he admitted evasively. "You certain are full of enough of them."
"It's called active conversation. It's what makes you keep talking to another person instead of sitting there like a lump. You've been a great lump so far." She grinned a bit at him and hoped he wouldn't take it the wrong way.
Allen made a face at her. "Maybe I'll ask about you, then," he declared suddenly. "About the family you abandoned on the Mystic Moon, your friends and your life. How about that?"
"Go ahead and ask if you're really interested..." She said, unscuffed.
"Don't you miss your world at all?" he asked, somewhat disappointed in her lack of response.
"Sometimes." She admitted quietly, "But not so much that would make me want to go back. It wasn't just my life there, which mind you was going no where, but in general it's not that great of a place. Resources are drying up, we're polluting the air and littering and making it a very unpleasant place with a booming technology."
Like Zaibach, Allen thought with a frown. "Isn't there anyone there wondering about you?" he prodded gently. "You're such a lively girl, I can't imagine you being quite lonely."
"No. No one. I had a boyfriend but," she shuddered, "he was ugly as sin and I don't know why I dated him. Scrawny as a stick, thick black hair. Ick, he had hair all over his body! And he hardly brushed his teeth or bathed. The only reason he dated me was to get in bed with me. So that relationship ended. Then the only friend I had left was a machine. That friend I told you about - I would communicate with her over a machine. Life didn't go anywhere passed that. So you can see why I'd want to stay."
"That friend of yours...would she not worry?" he persisted. "How can you be so lively and independent here, and not in your own world?"
"It's difficult in my world." she said with a sigh, "Here there aren't as many pressures. I can make a livelihood of sewing easily, which I love to do and couldn't dream about doing back home. The air is clean and fresh, I know the people here, I know my way around, and you're forced to be more active. At home, there are bills to pay, taxes, you need a car to get anywhere and I didn't have one. Too expensive and not enough money...it's a whole list of problems that I would prefer to forget about."
Allen frowned. He didn't quite understand, but was accepting. "In that case, I'm sorry," he said sincerely. "It may not be everything you hope for, but it is your world. This..." He glanced about, feeling the rough texture of the rocks beneath his hand, the salty aroma of the sea tickling his senses, and pushed the words through. "This world may be easier, but how long do you think you can stay? We...we aren't real, Ayryn. Do you really belong here?"
"You're real enough now." She smiled, "There was a series of books I read once about a special race. They had a gift to create worlds through their writing and travel to them when they were finished. In it, the main character contemplates later if they had created the worlds - or if they had created gateways to the worlds that already existed out in the universe. It's something to think about, isn't it?"
Allen pondered that a moment, trying not to get tangled in his own thoughts. "If...you say so. I suppose it's possible." He smiled faintly. "So, you are planning on living here indefinitely?" he asked, slightly toying.
"I personally don't see why not. It's nice here, as long as you don't get all crabby." She gave him a look, similar to something his sister might have done.
"I am not crabby," Allen protested, shifting on the rock. "I'm just . . . contemplative."
"Well, contemplate going swimming with me then. I'm starting to get dreadfully cold." She picked up her feet to remove the shoes she'd forgotten to remove before jumping into the water, peeling off her soppy stockings and letting them dry on the rock.
"Like this?" Allen said, bewildered. In full clothing? How ridiculous. "I don't feel like swimming."
"No. Wear your pants. Take off the shirt and coat. I don't care. I just want a swimming partner." She smiled as charmingly as she could and hoped for a positive response.
"But I like these pants..." All the same, he began to undress, frowning to himself all the while. He didn't really want to, but...it was better than nothing. He removed his shirt and followed Ayryn out into the water.
"Ah." She said, swimming around him. "Isn't it nice? I haven't felt water this warm since my visit to Mexico - five years ago..." She looked over to Allen to see how he fared. It was certainly different without his shirt on. She cringed as she watched his right stump moving about as he manipulated it - as if he still had the arm. It was weird but she didn't comment.
Allen shrugged. Though he'd lived near the ocean most of his life, he didn't swim much. It was nice, however, to be out of the heat. "Yes, it is nice."
"Come on over this way. There's a little island of rock over there. Maybe we can see a mermaid or something." She grabbed his hand and started for the place she'd mentioned.
Allen floundered a moment before tactfully retrieving his hand--with her holding him, he had no way of keeping his head well above water. "I've never seen a mermaid," he said, following. "But I suppose there must be some around."
"You okay, back there?" She called as she swam ahead. It wasn't very far but she had to wonder how hard it was to swim with one arm...
"I'm fine," he called after her, making his way slowly. It was difficult to manage with only one arm, but he was managing well enough. "I haven't swam in quite some time."
"I know." She said with a bit of a smile, pulling herself up onto the smooth boulder out in the ocean. She watched as Allen slowly made his way up to the rock as well and offered to help him up.
Allen gratefully accepted her help in climbing onto the rock, coughing a bit. "Thank you." He settled himself, though he did feel a bit proud. "I've never been out here," he said with a bit of surprise.
"And who'd have thought that your first time would be - well, now after everything that's happened." She indicated his arm, smiling at him but leaving it to that.
"Yes, you're right." He was surprised that her words didn't offend or upset him. It was, after all, the truth. "So...did you swim often? On your world?" he asked, searching for conversation.
"My dad liked to call me a fish." She grinned, pushing herself further onto the rock. "I wonder how to - oh, wait! I remember. You sing. Mermaid's like singing. That's why they befriend sirens all the time..."
"Sing?" he echoed, frowning. Though his sister had been gifted with a truly elegant voice, he had never attempted as such. "Perhaps I'll leave it up to you."
"Well, of course silly. Although I would have liked you to have a nice singing voice, you said yourself that you're tone deaf...Funny, I always try to make my favorite characters at least decent singers..." She shrugged.
Allen shifted uncomfortably, determined not to be undone. "I didn't say I was tone deaf," he said haughtily.
"Then sing!" She insisted, smiling widely now.
"All right, then!" Allen cleared his throat, and already was regretting it. "Um...what should I sing?" he asked sheepishly
"Do you know the Song of the Sea?" She asked with a curious gaze. "It's seems appropriate. Unless you have something else in mind?"
"Actually, I do...." Allen murmured, though he wouldn't question how she knew it. But to sing like that....well, there was a first time for everything. "I won't have you laughing at me, by the way," he said seriously.
"I'm a singer. I'm not going to mock you if you try. It's unprofessional."
"Well...all right then." Allen cleared his throat again and attempted the first verse, and was pleasantly surprised when the first sound didn't send her tumbling, horror-struck, into the ocean. He wasn't used to it, and could not judge what the tone sounded like, but it was...fun. He smiled.
When he finished the song, she applauded enthusiastically. "Oh, that was lovely! Bravo! Encore! Encore!" She smiled at him and was pleased when the gesture was returned. "You're not a bad singer at all! You've a lovely voice!" She looked into the ocean. "No mermaids yet, though..."
Allen shrugged, though her praise did make him swell a bit with pride. "I'm sure they'd rather come to the lovely voice of a woman," he said pointedly.
"Is that a hint?" She grinned. "Well, what should I sing?"
"Well, I don't know any Mystic Moon songs," Allen said with a shrug. "Surprise us all."
"I know all the songs from here, Allen." She said in a cocky tone, "I even wrote one."
"Oh? Then...how about White Dove?" he suggested, smiling. Though it was a song usually sung by a man, he was eager to hear another interpretation.
"Hmm. White Dove...I know it." She took a deep breath, familiarizing herself of the lyrics. "Okay, here it goes." At first, it was a bit shaky. She had to switch octaves but when the chorus came, it wasn't so bad. Perhaps he'd dare to ask her to sing another song too and really show off her talents...not that she was trying to show off.
Allen grinned openly in appreciation of her ability, tapping his hand against his thigh in mock applause. "Simply lovely. Perhaps I'll convince Celena to sing a duet with you sometime."
"Aw, shucks. I'd really like that." She started humming another song. So many songs she could sing and she started with some jazzy blues by Billy Joel. "Some days I wanna give right into the blues, despite how I try - to keep fightin' it's a sure shot I'm gonna lose...And I'll tell you why. You'd think I'm crazy... It's such a sad composition. But can you blame me. What's causin' my bad disposition. Ain't nothin' new with my blue situation. And nothin's fine it's just a minor variation."
Allen listened intently, not ashamed to admit that he was somewhat captivated by the sound of her voice. It was such a unique song, too, and he was eager to hear more. "Your voice really is wonderful," he complimented. "I would love to hear more."
"Well, I have plenty more. Let's see..." She thought for a moment, thinking about the tune and went on to sing a sad song called Blue Eyes. Her voice was a bit deeper from the song's original artist, as she was used to a more Alto range but her vibrato was steady and pulled the tune off very nicely.
This song subdued him somewhat, as the words struck him in a way that was almost personal. He was silent for a moment once she'd finished. "It's beautiful."
"Thank you." She blushed. There was a giggle nearby, the source from a high pitched voice and she started suddenly, turning her gaze to Allen. "Did you just hear something?"
"Yes..." Allen glanced about curiously, trying to find the source. Could it have been....? "Do you think....?"
"I - don't know..." She crawled over to the other side of the boulder as its surface tilted upwards. At the edge, she looked down into the water. It was higher than it looked and just under her outcrop was a little concave alcove. She couldn't believe what she saw there, lounging in full view. A beautiful mermaid! She had blue and green fins and scales that seemed to shine of their own light. She gasped and tried to hide. The mermaid didn't seem to see her. "Allen..." She whispered, awestruck.
Allen scooted up to her, and ducked when he saw the mermaid. She was more lovely than he'd imagined, and he was quickly silenced. He'd never seen a mermaid before--had always hoped to, since he was a boy, but there simply had never been time to sit idly on the beach and sing. He grinned broadly.
Cupping a hand over his ear to whisper to him, she hissed, "Should we say something?"
"I don't know," he replied just as softly. "Would she swim away? I've never seen one."
"Neither have I. She must trust us if she came to listen to us sing..." She looked back down, scooting a little bit more to get a better look. Just a little more....She went too far and lost her grip, flipping over the edge of the rock and ending up in the mermaid's alcove. Ooh, that hurt...she rubbed a spot on her head that she hit before realizing what she had done. Curiously enough, the mermaid was still there, staring at her. "Um...hello..."
The mermaid flicked her hair back, watching Ayryn curiously. "I heard your signing," she declared. "Are you a siren? You seem to have caught yourself a handsome one."
"No - he won't come with me. He's a stubborn one." Maybe if she passed herself off as a siren, it won't scare the mermaid away. "Any suggestions, cousin?"
"Well, give it time, sister. The most beautiful ones are hard to catch." The mermaid smiled at Allen appreciatively, who was watching the scene with considerable amusement. "Perhaps something a bit more lively?"
"You think that would work?" She gazed at the mermaid curiously, amazed by the exchange of words occurring at that moment. "He is rather full of energy." She grinned up at Allen and hoped he didn't take any of this the wrong way.
"Oh, yes, certainly. He looks like he could use a bit of excitement."
"I thank you for your help, cousin. Would you like to hear a song before we part ways?" She couldn't help getting completely into character now, her eyes glistening with excitement as she waited for the mermaid's response.
She smiled brightly. "Why, yes, I think that would be lovely. I would be honored."
With a bit of a hum as she thought of another tune, she took a breath and began to sing a song called Into the Light. A lovely, bouncy ballad that happened to be one of Ayryn's favorites. Again her voice was lower than the original singer and her Japanese was a bit hesitant but the song came out lovely nonetheless. She smiled at the mermaid when she finished. "You've yet to tell me your name, sister."
"Uyla," the mermaid replied, her appreciation of her companion's talents showing in her face. "And you, sister?"
"Ayryn." She said happily. "Perhaps we shall see each other again in the future. But until then," She kissed the palm of her hand and held it up, waiting for Uyla to do the same, "Be well." Thank goodness she remembered the parting custom between sirens and mermaids or Uyla might have realized she wasn't what she thought she was.
Uyla repeated the gesture and touched their hands together. "And you," she said happily. And with a flick of her tail and a shimmer of iridescent light, she had vanished once more beneath the waves.
With a sigh of astonishment, she managed to grasp the edge from where she had fallen. Vainly, she tried to pull herself up, grunting and managing a small, "Help." to the wide-eyed youth above her.
Allen shook himself from his own admiration, helping Ayryn climb up onto the rock once more. "That was amazing!" he declared, his features alight with a wide grin. "I can't believe you actually met one. They're very rare, you know."
"Are they?" She gasped, laying herself down after the struggle to climb. "Well, what do you know? Celena's going to go insane with jealousy." She laughed a bit, "She actually thought I was a siren..."
"It's a good thing she didn't find out," Allen said, nodding thoughtfully. "Mermaids have been known to eat those that insult or displease them...."
"Liar." She stuck out her tongue at him.
Well, it had been worth a shot. He smirked, and tapped her forehead. "That's very rude," he said pointedly.
"Ow...watch where you poke." She rubbed ruefully at the bump she got on her head. She looked down at her hands and suddenly felt a stinging in her kneecap as well. "Well, I'm just scratched and bleeding all over the place. And salt water's gotten in them..." She held back a grimace.
"You should have thought of that before you went tumbling down the rock," he replied smartly. "And I can't exactly carry you back through the water. Why don't we wait here a while?"
"I can swim just fine. I'm not an invalid..." She regretting saying those words the moment she spoke them. "They're just cuts after all."
Allen lifted an eyebrow, ignoring her slip. It wouldn't do either of them good to become temperamental now. Besides, he had just met a mermaid--nothing else seemed relevant at the moment "It's going to hurt a lot."
"Oh, well." She said apathetically, "Grin and bear it is all I can do. Come on." She limped down to the edge where they had been lounging and serenading each other earlier. There she quickly dove into the water and managed to scream underwater when the pain hit. At least, she didn't think he would hear her. Gritting her teeth, she tread above the surface and started back towards the make-shift jetty.
Allen sighed at her boldness, and followed. He would have helped her along, were he able to given his condition, but was reduced to merely treading alongside, casting her sympathetic glances. "We'll get you cleaned up back at the manor," he promised.
"Yeah, okay." She managed through clenched teeth. For some reason, she suddenly manifested a fear that she only felt when being chased by a very malevolent thing and she felt a rush of adrenaline. It didn't matter if there was real reason to have fear but she thought she would ask nonetheless. "Allen, sharks aren't common here, are they?"
"Not this close to shore," he replied shortly. Not that he really knew. He wasn't concerned with the workings of the sea or its children. If any of this uncertainty affected him, he didn't show it.
Either way, she began to swim much faster than normal, fear driving her even if for no reason. "I don't want to stay and find out otherwise. They can smell blood from miles away!" She got to the jetty and climbed up as if the water was burning her. There she lay panting. "I don't like things with sharp, pointy teeth..."
"Neither do I." Allen climbed out of the water and began to squeeze the water out of his hair. It would take forever to dry, he thought with a frown. He wiped his face and tasted salt. "Ah, but what an amazing day. Thank you, for forcing me out there."
