Well, I certainly got a unanimous response for that last chapter… but I'm sorry, things may not be able to go as smoothly as it was, because Mia still has one obstacle to go over before she can be happy with Isaac wholeheartedly. A lot of deep thinking on Garet's part in this chapter (finally) and basically examination of the inner self. It might be boring... but oh well. Live with it. One or two more chapters to go... or maybe more, if I decide so.
And this title... at first I thought it would be the last chapter, but then I changed my mind. So, here you go! New chapter, after... what, one or two months?
Nivuin: *squawk!*
Kadevi: *sighs emphatically* I'm not being mean... Things just have to be this w- *gets cut off when phoenix blows fire all around the room*
Alex: Yes… homework would be one reason why I haven't been able to get to do what I want, which is writing *glares at homework*. Anyway, there will be a little more sadness to go, so prepare yourselves!
Kraken173: *starts running in the opposite direction* HEEELP MEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Midnight C: Well, you'll find out what Mia does soon enough.
Snoopy6458: You and your intuition… good thinking though. And about that Garet/Mia... well, there's a little of that here. *glances nervously at Isaac/Mia fans* No, it's not going to change anything! As you'll see soon enough.
Triad Orion: What else can I say but thanks?
Saiyagal: As I said before, you'll see what she does…
10 – Luna's Light
"If you would only say yes, I would never again be unhappy. This is only a promise of what is to come, but will you become my betrothed, and later, when we are both ready, become my wife?"
Mia could hardly breathe. The very words she'd been hoping for, ever since she knew that she loved Isaac…
How could she say no?
How can you say yes?! Her mind shouted. Alex just about told you that he might very well never see you again, and he's letting you off the hook to boot. It would be heartless just to accept when Alex is so miserable, and you know it! You know that right now you're still in shock over what happened with him. You still love Alex! It wouldn't be fair to you or Isaac if you accepted when you are in such a state! She berated herself.
The hope in Isaac's eyes almost made her say yes, when she blinked slowly and opened her eyes. But she knew that it wouldn't be fair. And Isaac deserved all of her, heart and soul, not just half.
There was no way she could possibly refuse and not hurt him.
"I – I'm sorry, Isaac!" It broke her heart once to see the power her apology inflicted upon Isaac. She could almost see the gears in his mind working, predicting her answer before even he himself had truly comprehended the meaning of apology.
"I can't accept your proposal…" She whispered painfully. As soon as the words left her mouth, Isaac's face became a painting of sorrow and hurt. That shattered her. She couldn't stand to watch him break... because of her. Mia burst into tears and ran from the clearing, leaving behind a bewildered and heartbroken Isaac.
Garet walked sleepily back to his house, every limb feeling like a noodle that had been overcooked. Twice. I need to drink some tea. Or something hot, that will warm me up again, loosen me up. So… tired… never knew Jenna could dance like that.
When he exited again, he was about to walk down the stairs and leave, but he paused at the sound of… something. It was very quiet, but muffled, as if a layer of thick cloth or something had covered it. He stood still and closed his eyes to listen more closely.
Crying? Why would someone be crying? And up here?
Garet narrowed his eyes and peered around the area, when he spotted a huddled figure sitting behind a tree. He'd not have spotted whoever it was, if their robes hadn't drifted out from behind the shadows. Walking over quietly so the person wouldn't hear him, he glanced around the tree…
Only to see Mia's tear-streaked face, turning around to see who it was that had walked up behind her. A flash of fear came, but disappeared when he spoke.
"Mia?" He cried.
"Garet!" She sniffled and attempted to dry her face. He stopped her and did the task himself, pulling a red handkerchief from his pockets.
"Why are you crying, Mia? What happened?" He asked, concerned. No longer the group jester, his face was now anxious on her behalf.
She threw herself at him and renewed her sobbing, gasping, and sniffling.
"Isaac asked me to marry him!"
Garet paused to absorb the information. "That's wonderful, Mia!"
It took him a moment more to realize that she didn't look, nor sound, as happy as his words had come out.
"Then what's the matter?"
"I said no!"
Garet paused again, and opened his mouth to speak. His mouth opened, then shut again decisively. Then finally the words made their meaning clear (as if it hadn't been so before) and his jaw dropped.
"Why? I thought you loved Isaac! And he loves you! He even told me something big was going to happen – perhaps tonight, he said – but I never dreamed – why?" He broke off confused. Now the surroundings were glowing faintly from Luna's light, a misty green instead of their usual lush jungle color. Mia sniffled and looked down, a faint smile on her face. They had positioned themselves so they sat next to each other at the base of the tree trunk, and his arm was around her shoulders in comradely friendship. Nothing more.
"I'll guess I'll make use of that promise you gave me. To – confide." That she did. Everything, from the moment Alex had arrived up until when she had seen him peer around the tree. All her feelings.
It was... sad.
I should probably be feeling angry that she could feel for someone else the same way Isaac loves her... but then again, was it not expected? Isaac isn't exactly... aggressive in pursuing his romances. Garet frowned slightly as he nodded, thinking of one particular time when Isaac had had a small crush on one of the town girls... but when Garet ever hinted at it, Isaac merely brushed it off, saying that it was just a silly infatuation and he'd get over it. Eventually, the blacksmith's nephew had snatched her up, and now those two were happily married with one baby girl, who'd been born while they had adventured all across Angara and Gondowan, sailed the seas to Lemuria, and back. He would never say anything. Mia too. She's so alike to him, nothing would happen if they were the only ones controlling their relationship!!
I wonder if I should interfere... is it my place to do so? I'm sure Isaac will be feeling quite horrible enough without my butting in, and from the looks of it, Mia is pretty drawn out too. He hugged Mia to him snugly, and unconsciously she rolled up a little more in her slight doze. If Isaac hadn't warmed up to her, I probably would have gone after her. Not that she would have paid the slightest attention to me in any way except friendship. We may banter with our jokes and laughs, with the occasional deep and serious talking in between, but her heart will forever belong to Isaac.
Garet paused in his deep thoughts, mentally traveling back to almost a year before. It had been after Mia joined them on their quest, and they were just topping one of the tallest mountains in the range. Enchanted with the view, as she had never stepped out of her town of Imil, Mia had run to the edge of the cliff, gasping in delight. Her face had been bathed in pleasure and rapture, clearly enchanted by the view. She had almost sparkled in the sunbathing light, and Garet could clearly recall the way her tied-up hair had flown behind her. It was the first time she had truly felt comfortable enough with her comrades to let herself show a little more emotion. It was also the first time Garet remembered seeing that particular look on Isaac's face... one of longing... perhaps of love also.
Garet, now that he thought of it, saw that what those two – Isaac and Mia – had was deeper than just love. Whenever they were around, and in the mood – not thinking about monsters who would ambush them, or skeletons, or warrior rats for that matter – he sensed an undercurrent of sorts, connecting them unbreakably.
What they have is special. I'd never intrude in that case, if I hadn't already decided not to because Isaac is my best friend.
And Mia... the first time he'd noticed that she probably shared Isaac's mutual feelings was that time at the beach. An expanse of glorious water lay before them, along with sparkling sands and a bright sun. They'd allowed themselves a mere day to rest and relax – too little at the time, and not enough to unwind themselves from the immense pressure upon their shoulders – and Garet had managed to drag Isaac with him into the water in their swim trunks. Ivan, who'd been using his powers all day searching for enemies, opted to stay with Mia in the shade of a lone oak tree a distance from the water's edge. He and Isaac had romped about like children they used to be, letting loose all the pent-up frustration and energy that had been withheld so far, caused only by the frustration of their seeming failure to retrieve Jenna and Kraden – and the other Stars – from Menardi, Felix, Saturos, and Alex. When he and Isaac had run back to where Mia and Ivan were, they found Ivan asleep against the tree trunk and Mia watching them from slitted eyes. As they drew closer, a new glimmer came into the depths of her cerulean eyes.
That... that was the first time Isaac wasn't the serious leader he had to be the rest of the time. Now that I think of it... Garet frowned again and his eyebrows snapped together. It was the first rest we'd had since starting out... excepting all the inns we stayed at, because we didn't rest there at all, just slept with tension lingering in our muscles, and excepting those times we had to shop for materials and conversed with villagers and such. No wonder she looked at Isaac that way – he was a serious, loyal, but still a warm person at heart. The Mars Adept's lips twisted into a wry smile. They really deserve each other. Both of them put their all into everything they do, with no doubts at all, and even if those do exist, they sweep them aside to think of another time.
When Mia stirred beside him, Garet shook her gently.
"You should be going now. The others might be worried about you."
Her lip trembled. "Isaac probably won't be. He's most likely thinking about how I rejected him... I didn't want to, but how could I say yes when I'm such a contradiction in myself? How could I say yes to him while I love Alex also? No. It's either love him wholeheartedly... or not at all," Mia said waveringly, blinking back the source of her blurry vision. That was when he knew how to make herself see the truth that only she knew.
Garet shook her gently again. "You're being selfish. Isaac would hear only a yes from you. He loves you. And you love him. What you two have is special. Don't throw that away. Look deeply inside yourself. Do you really want to throw away this chance at happiness at last? After what we've been through, I suppose you'll find that no one quite understands what you endured during this past year." Garet shrugged sadly. "Everyone regards you as a hero...
"Do you love Isaac?" Garet asked suddenly.
Mia sniffled and nodded her response, then added a tearful "Yes" to it.
"If being willing to die for him is love, then yes. If willing to do anything for him is love, then yes. What we have between us... I've sensed more than once that it's not anything in the usual."
"Then why?" He asked gently, in that rough voice of his. Mia's face crumpled as she finally realized what she had been stalling.
"I didn't want to lose him like I lost everyone else I loved," she whispered. "It is all I had known until you three entered my lives. First my parents. Then betrayed by Alex. I didn't want to get too close." Mia stared up at Luna, allowing her signs of weakness to roll down her cheeks even as she bathed her face in its calming glow. It seemed, for a fleeting moment at least, that if Luna's light hadn't been there, the very mythical goddess of her own Mercury powers, Mia might have snapped from all her stress and inner pain. "I didn't want to lose him too."
To Garet's surprise, Mia opted to stay with him and talk about trivial things when he asked if she wanted to head back to the inn and rest.
"Besides," she defended, "There will be too much revelry in and around the area for me to rest. I'm sure I'll hear gossip from below even with the window closed, a pillow about my head, and repetitive chanting of 'Garet has a thick skull.'" Their usual teasing of each other commenced at that, and very soon both were in high spirits and quiet laughter filled the vicinity.
Of course, like all good things and happy times, their relaxing conversation had to end. Mia stared calmly up at Luna, still contemplating many things in her mind while Garet watched her almost absentmindedly while he, as well, relaxed.
This might be the last time I talk to Mia like this in a while. I mean, things will most likely be uncomfortable between Isaac and Mia, and that will cause something of a rift between us. And Mia does have to get back to Imil eventually... didn't she have pupils there? Justice and Miriam... no... Jus... tin? Justin, that was young boy... and Megan!! Yes, Justin and Megan. She has her apprentices, and they were expecting her back a long time ago. She doesn't have many things to pack, so probably a week at most remains her stay here?
And then there is Ivan and Sheba. They will most likely head back to Kalay to stay. (Hey, that rhymes! Garet thought bemusedly, before moving on.) They won't need any help getting back by themselves, especially since both are such good mages, with so much more experience and power after our adventure. Mia will need only to travel about a week or two with Isaac and I coming along to make sure no harm or ill comes to her. And then we'll all be separated again.
I have to interfere somehow! No way should Mia and Isaac be separated. Hell's fires, they belong together!
"Anyway, I'd better get going, Garet. I'm sorry for taking up so much of your time," Mia murmured, as she rose bonelessly from the ground. Garet scrambled up and shook his head.
"No need for apologies, Mia! We're good buddies, remember?"
She smiled and ducked her head. "Still. Thank you for hearing me out and making me feel better. Come on, Hail." One lone Djinn hopped down from the tree and onto Mia's shoulder, and Garet watched them until they disappeared down the slope. He beckoned to Ember, who came down from the same branch, which caused him to pause. Then, shaking his head at the strange thoughts of Djinn courting, then marrying each other, he followed Mia's footsteps down to the inn. I should get back to the celebration, anyway. Jenna will probably roar off my ear when she finds me.
"Maybe I'll be lucky enough to avoid her wrath all evening, eh, Ember?" Garet laughed lightly, making his way slowly and deliberately down the stairs carved into t he side of the cliff. It hopped up and landed on his head, messing up his hair. After moving around some, Ember curled up and Garet figured that it had fallen asleep.
"I'll take that as a yes."