Ma'el watched the sun disappeared behind the trees and sighed. It was late and Amalthea had not arrived. What could have happened to her? She knew she would be completely recovered by now, physically... and mentally healed.
He blushed blue and sat on the grass with his legs crossed. Yes, she was completely healed... from the pain he had selfishly inflicted upon her. He shook his head and looked intently at the metal cylinder he held in his hands. It was what remained from Amalthea's sword, the hilt, now it was shinning and decorated with the same green stone he had first given her... But it was so much more than that. It was the final proof he would give to Amalthea, the final proof of his complete acceptance of what she was.
He smiled... and what a wonderful and precious being she was... And late. Where was she? Soon there would be no light and the temperature was quickly descending.
As if answering his thoughts he suddenly heard someone approaching. Feeling strangely nervous, he rose and turned... and lost his disguise. Amalthea was standing there, but he had never seen her like that... so beautiful. She was wearing a long pale-green dress; her red hair was loose, softly waving with the wind.
She stiffened slightly, but then smiled and approached him.
He sparkled brighter and just as it had happened the first time he had met her, he found himself lost in her deep green stare... but now, he did not see annoyance in them... just love.
"I am sorry," she apologized. "But Leila, Kala and Nell insisted in... Well... dressing me up," she explained shyly, lowering her eyes and nervously smoothing her dress.
He shook himself and recovered his human appearance. "I am glad you are here and... You... look beautiful," he said, gesturing with his free hand.
She flushed and was about to say something, but a cold wind blew and she shivered instead. He took off his robe and gently placed it over her shoulders. "It is cold for you," he noted, concerned. "We must go inside."
"Inside?" she asked, puzzled, holding the warm robe tightly around herself.
He smiled enigmatically and walked to his rock-like ship.
Amalthea followed him and, to her disbelief, at a wave of his hand, the rock turned into... into... a...
"What's that? she asked, beyond curiosity.
Amused by her surprise, his grin widened. "You already know I am from a faraway world. This is how I arrived to your world. This is my vehicle, my ship. Come with me."
At another gracious movement of his hand, a hidden door opened. "Come with me," he insisted, taking her hand.
When they entered, the door closed behind them and Amalthea opened her eyes wide. she had never seen anything like that. Its walls were so smooth and slightly glowing, the seats so soft... and the floor... and the windows...
"May I... look around?" she asked with a childish expression on her face.
"Of course," he said, delighted by her amazement. He spent the next two hours showing her his Taelon ship.
"It is wonderful!" she exclaimed and then tilted her head. "This was the reason you wanted to see me?" she asked, a little bit disappointed and nervously running a hand through her hair.
He shook his head, her disappointment not lost to him. "Oh, no. I... I have something for you," he said softly, offering her the hilt.
She looked at him, startled, and after a little hesitation, she took it. When she realized it was her own hilt, now decorated with the green jewel, she just gave him her best puzzled glance.
"Be careful and hold it tightly," Ma'el instructed her.
She did so and stared in disbelief how a sparkling blade appeared. "It is beautiful," she whispered in awe. "But... Why?"
He smiled tenderly and blushed blue. "I know there will be... others. I just want you to be safe," he said.
Amalthea bit her lip and unconsciously loosened the grip on the hilt, causing the blade to disappear. Unbidden tears slid down her cheek. Unable to say a word, she threw her arms around his neck and laid her head on his chest.
"I am so sorry," he said worriedly, deeply confused by her reaction. "It was not my intention to upset you. I--"
"No. It's all right," she interrupted him, pulling herself back and meeting his blue eyes. "It's just that ... I never thought..."
Her voice broke, but Ma'el understood what she was trying to say. Gently, he swept her tears away. "Yesterday, when you shared your mind with mine, I realized how wrong I have been. Your kindness and generosity reached to me, showing me the precious being you are. You must forget Bethan's words, you deserve to be loved... and I...." he suddenly stopped and blushed in a deep blue. "I... love you," he finally whispered.
She just remained silent as if not fully believing what he had just said. "You... love me?" she managed to ask with wide opened eyes.
"Yes, Al'thelan," he answered softly.
She flushed and grinned. "Al'thelan?" she asked. "This is not the first time you have called me that. What does it mean?"
He smiled tenderly. "Do you still not know what it means? In my native language it means... beloved."
"Al'thelan," she whispered, and pulling him closer... she kissed him.
This time, Ma'el lost his façade and sparkled furiously in delight. During his whole long life he had never experienced anything like this... so... so--
As her kiss deepened, his powerful, scientific, Taelon mind lost all coherent thought...
******
The next morning, just before dawn, a sparkling Ma'el tenderly watched a sleeping Amalthea. She had her head lying on his chest and a mischievous grin on her face. He mentally smiled and gently ran a hand through her hair, fascinated by its softness and color. Unbidden, his mind began to wonder about the recent events that had taken place in his life. His departure from his homeworld and his separation from the Commonality, especially from his child; his long journey to Earth, his experiences and his relationship with its inhabitants and finally, the most important event of all: his complete and overwhelming joining with Amalthea, his wonderful and very special Al'thelan.
He tilted his head. What would his fellow Taelons think of that union? Then, another upsetting question arose. What would they think of his beloved's immortality? What would they do to her and to the humans if they finally arrived? Horrified by the answers that came to his mind, he unconsciously embraced her, as if protecting her from his own people. He knew how ruthless and cruel they could be. He sparkled brighter as an idea occurred to him. He simply would not allow that! He would not let them come. He would send a message, instructing them not to come to Earth under any circumstances, in that way, his precious Amalthea and all the others inhabitants of this world would be safe.
He held her tightly. He would--
"I am an Immortal, but I do need to breathe," a sleepy and amused voice suddenly said, interrupting his thoughts.
Startled, Ma'el recovered his disguise and loosened the embrace. He smiled and met her green, loving eyes.
"What is it, Al'thelan?" she asked softly, raising her head.
He lost his façade again at that word and glowed brighter in delight.
"Are you all right?" she insisted, now worriedly looking at him with wide opened eyes.
"I am fine," he soothed her, relaxing. "I was just watching you sleep and thinking."
"Thinking?" she asked as she lay her head on his sparkling shoulder.
"Yes. Of how much I care for you and for our friends. That is why I have made a decision," he said, stroking her hand. "I will send a message to my people."
"A message?" she repeated, slightly trembling by their contact.
He turned serious and nodded. "Yes. I will instruct them not to come here, never."
"But why? I thought you were happy here," she said, unable to hide her disappointment.
"I am, especially now that... we are together," he quickly replied. "That is the reason my people must never come. They... do not share my opinions about other sentient beings. They would... conquer this world and enslave humanity... and your kind... You would be forced to fight our wars, the perfect soldiers that cannot die..." he paused for a moment to calm himself and continued. "Such a thing must never happen. I will not allow it!"
Amalthea remained in silence for a long while, just staring at him. Finally she sighed and closed her eyes. "If you do that, you would never see your child again... or your home. I am... so sorry," she whispered, feeling incredibly guilty.
"No, my home will always be where you are, beloved," he said softly, taking his hand to her cheek. He was rewarded with her sweet smile. He continued. "Besides, my child, Da'an, does not share my ideas. He will be better without me. He thinks I am weak and mistaken. He does not respect me. I... I have failed in raising him," he finished sadly.
"You are so wrong," she said tenderly, kissing his hand. "If there is a bit of you within your child, he already is a wonderful being, just as you are, Al'thelan," she added and before he could say a word, she kissed him.
As Ma'el returned the kiss, he knew he had made the right decision...
******
Three hundred years passed and Amalthea and Ma'el remained together. Shortly after their... joining, the Taelon moved his ship to a cave and there he established his laboratory and his home with his Al'thelan.
They lived a simple but happy life, alternating their visits to Shareb -that was now a small town, where they were more than welcome and treated with respect- with long journeys to faraway lands. They traveled a lot, but always returned to their home. Those precious moments when they were alone, was what they enjoyed the most. At nights she would ask him to show her his world in the sky, and Ma'el would tell her that it was too far. Then she would ask him if he regretted his decision to stay with her... and he would answer her with... a kiss.
Through the years, just as Sheri had warned her, they also had to face some problems. To Ma'el's horror, Amalthea was challenged by other Immortals several times, but, to his relief, she always won. Amalthea herself had to deal with the death of her friends, especially the one of her dear -and old- Nell, but Ma'el was always there for her and Amalthea finally recovered.
They too had to face a strange and lethal disease that threatened all Shareb's inhabitants -and the ones of another villages- and it took the scientist more than thirty years to find a cure.
Yes, years went by and, in spite of everything that became over them, they were extremely happy. In fact, Amalthea was so happy, that sometimes she believed she was living... a dream...
Unfortunately, dreams don't last forever...
One afternoon, while Amalthea was in Shareb, Ma'el was working in his lab in a very special and important project. He knew how much she wished to have a child of their own and how much it saddened her not being able to do so. However, after years of secret analysis and experiments, he believed he had found the way. He had not told her anything so not to give her false hopes, but now, he was ready. He smiled, already picturing her delighted expression in his mind. She would--
Suddenly, as a strange and unwanted presence reached to him, Ma'el froze and abruptly rose from his seat. He shook his head. No! It was impossible!
He forced himself to calm down and focused on that long feared presence again, hoping against hope to be mistaken. To his absolute despair, the presence became stronger. Losing his façade, he left his lab and the cave and stood outside, his gaze fixed on the sky. Then, he saw it, a shooting star descending from the sky. He knew better though, that was not a meteor, that was... his mortal enemy... but that could not be! They did not have the technology! However, it was there...
"Jaridians," he whispered, as an irrational fear began to rise within him. Trembling, he fell to his knees. He remained on the ground a couple of minutes and then rose and took both hands to his chest. He knew he had not much time left now. His enemy would soon find him... and send him to the Void. He sparkled brighter; Amalthea was in danger too! She would not be able to fight the Jaridian and he would not be able to protect her, all that he could do now was leave and draw the creature away from her and their home. He hurried to his ship to get some things and went out again. However, once outside, he realized it was too late... Glowing, menacing palms were waiting for him...
******
Amalthea contently walked her way to her home under the beautiful trees. She had spent a great day in Shareb with Patrick -Nell's descendant- and his family, but now, she wished to be with her Al'thelan. Smiling, she walked faster.
Suddenly, the strongest fear she had ever experienced came to her. Trembling uncontrollably, with her heart beating crazily and her eyes closed, she had to lean on a tree for support. With a cold feeling, she realized the source of that terrible emotion was her beloved Ma'el. Holding her sword tightly, she ran home. "Al'thelan!" she yelled, desperate.
******
Ma'el looked in disbelief, petrified, at the tall Jaridian standing in front of him. The Taelon presumed he was a low ranked soldier on an exploring mission. Only a dark fate and a really unexpected event must had taken him there, to Earth... to ruin his happiness. "How?" Was all that Ma'el managed to ask in Eunoia.
The Jaridian laughed harshly and his eyes glowed. "We captured one of your ships in a battle. However, the pilot willed himself to die before telling us his secrets... and damaging the interdimensional engine," he explained in the same language. A smile spread on his face. "But our scientist could make it work for two or three times and I volunteered to be the new pilot. I was flying and, when I turned on the interdimensional mode, a cosmic storm hit me and sent me to this forgotten system. Imagine my surprise... and disgust when I felt a Taelon. Now I have only one chance to return home, but first... I will take care of you." He finished darkly, his palms glowing brighter.
Ma'el relaxed as a wave of resignation flooded his body. He had been taught not to fear death and there was nothing he could do to avoid it... but he could not help the deep sadness his imminent separation from Amalthea caused him. If only he could see her one more time... but that was too dangerous.
The realization that she could be badly hurt lent courage to the Taelon. He had to prevent the Jaridian from discovering her... and there was only one way to achieve that.
Ma'el stood proud and met his enemy's eyes. "Do as you wish," he said simply.
"You are doomed, Taelon," the soldier said. He fired, hitting Ma'el on his chest.
The rude blast of energy threw the scientist away, painfully sending him to the ground. Satisfied, the Jaridian approached to finish his task...
Not far away from there, a pitiful scream echoed in the forest...
******
Amalthea screamed in pain and despair, bitter tears falling through her eyes, but she continued running. She knew something terrible had happened to Ma'el... She knew... felt he was dying. "IT'S NOT FAIR!" she yelled, cursing herself for having not being there to protect him.
When she arrived to her home, a terrible sight greeted her eyes. Ma'el was helplessly lying on the ground and a huge creature was bent over him, its hands were glowing.
"NO! STAY AWAY FROM HIM!" she shouted, beyond anger now, unconsciously speaking in Eunoia.
The being turned and looked at her with curiosity. "Do not interfere or you will be the next," he threatened her, raising his glowing hands.
"Stay away from him!" she repeated, still crying, but with a dangerous expression on her face. "NOW!"
He shook his head and his curious look turned into a glare. "You are one of their servants!" he exclaimed, disgusted. "If there is anything that we Jaridians hate more than the Taelons, those are their servants. Join your master!"
He fired.
Instinctively, Amalthea held her sword in front of her and blocked the blast of light. Then, taking advantage of the Jaridian's surprise, she attacked him. Unfortunately, he recovered quickly. He grabbed her arms and threw her away. She loosened her sword and rudely fell by Ma'el's side. She turned her head to look at him and when she saw the light fading from his beautiful eyes, she went crazy. She rose and jumped over the now startled Jaridian and, like a wild animal, she dug her nails into his face, causing dark blood to slide through his wounds.
With a scream, he violently pushed her away.
"I am not his servant!" she yelled, picking up her sword. "I am his Al'thelan!"
The Jaridian soldier took a hand to his wounds, looked at his own blood... and laughed. "I was mistaken," he mockingly apologized and then he turned serious. "My work here is finished. Stay with your... Al'thelan..." he added, speaking the last word with disgust, "...and watched him die." Without another word, he turned and walked away.
Shocked, Amalthea bit her lip. She wanted to chase him and kill him, but now, it was not the time. Ma'el needed her. Trying unsuccessfully to dry her eyes, she knelt by his side and tenderly held his hand, mentally sending him her love.
"I am so sorry," she whispered between tears. "I should have been here to protect you--"
Her voice broke. "Please don't leave me," she begged. I love you... You are my Al'thelan... I don't want my... immortality... if I have to... live alone... please..."
His inner glow was fading and a sparkling mist emanated from his body. He weakly turned his head to look at her. (I will... never... leave you) he tenderly thought to her, as he could not speak. (A part... of me... will... always... remain with you. I... promise... we will... meet again... Al'thelan)
Horrified and beyond grief, she felt his beloved and serene presence slipping away from her mind. "Stay with me," she insisted softly, not bothering herself in drying her eyes.
Making an extreme effort, Ma'el closed his hand over hers and slightly raised his head. "Forever," he whispered... and then, he slowly released her and leaned back.
Shaking, she closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around her chest. The sparkling mist surrounded her and she heard his soothing voice for the last time... (Al'thelan).
Amalthea collapsed by his side, she cried until she had no more tears and until the stars appeared in the sky. A part of her was dead too... forever.
Ma'el's death caused great grief and pain in Shareb. He was buried in a ceremonial tomb, with high honors. Amalthea painted his image in one of the walls and a big Monolith was placed not far away from the entrance, indicating that a very important and loved person was inside.
Once all the traditional ceremonies were over and Ma'el's body finally rested in peace, overwhelmed by the pain, Amalthea sealed their cave and former home, and without saying good bye, she just left one night, to never return...
*************************************************************************