The Pledge
Cimarron and Lell fell asleep at their end of the beach . . . and woke up to the herd standing over them.
"Lell." Aljan rumbled. "Who is this?"
"This is Cimarron, brother, and he is one of us, one of the Ring," she replied.
"Oh really? Then why does he run with the Renegades?" Jan asked warily.
"Because his mother runs or ran with them."
"But then he is a Renegade, most definitely." The others were nodding.
"No! His mother and father were of the Ring, and his mother left while he was little and so he had to go! He is brother to Senna!" At the mention of Senna the herd hushed and stared at Cimarron. He was like nothing they had ever seen. Then recognition dawned on them as they saw the stars that spread over his back and haunches.
"He really is brother to Senna then, as we can all see from his markings. Cimarron, why do you keep your silence?" Jan asked.
"Because I had not been given the freedom to speak." Cimarron replied.
Lell smiled and some of the herd laughed as Jan was taken aback.
"Well then Brother-of-Senna you are to rejoin the Ring now, are you not?" Jan asked.
Lell froze, fright consuming her. She and Cim had not discussed their future.
Cimarron turned his head and looked at her. He saw her anger at him when he had left her the first time. He saw her anger expand when he left her the second time on the beach. He loved her too much to see that anger and hurt expand any more.
"Of course I have come to rejoin the Ring." he said.
Lell breathed out a long sigh of relief and collapsed against him. He turned his head to where Lell's lay against his side.
"I'm okay," she whispered as he touched her nose with his own. She dropped her head and he lay his neck over hers once again.
The herd left them alone to sleep most of the day. That night, though, Aljan and Tek renewed their pledge of love to each other by the Summer Sea, and Cimarron and Lell were there to watch. Within a few days though, it was their turn.
After exchanging vows of love and a loving nuzzle, the pair was bound together by the Summer Sea to love each other and be faithful.
The next night was the mating dance and all the unicorns, young and old, danced their hearts out to the music of the ocean waves of the Summer Sea, with Lell and Cimarron the happiest of all.