Chapter 2: Recovery.
I follow Komali and Quill into our residence and wait as they prepare Link for the bed. Komali exits the room and, without looking at me, climbs the slope to his room. Quill follows and takes me aside, and his eyes are serious, "Medli... do not forget you are engaged to Prince Komali. You are his, and he is yours. Do not break this off for the boy."
I know his words are true, but resentment crawls into my gaze as I watch him climb the slope to his chambers. I glare after his receding back and storm through to Link.
He is propped up against pillows, pale and weak. He makes a faint smile as I enter, and the action splits his cracked lips. Blood trickles down his chin. Alarmed, I run over and wipe the blood away with my thumb. He meets my gaze and deliberately tickles the tip of my thumb with his tongue, like silk to a pebble.
He tries to sit up further, but sinks back with a pant of pain. Pity wells up in my eyes. I have neglected to take my thumb from his mouth, and my fingers brush his cheek. He sighs, this time in contentment, and makes to pull me closer. I sit on the bed and rest my other hand on his shoulder. I can visualise clearly what will happen, and endeavour to wrench myself away.
Our gazes meet, and with our eyes locked in this hopeless situation, our heads tilt in opposite directions and our lips touch.
***
I am divided: half of me wants, yearns for the kiss of this Rito-beauty. The other half is appalled by what I am doing. The pain I once felt ebbs away in the presence of her, and had I known how stunning she would become I would never have left Dragon Roost Island.
Simultaneously, we pull away, gasping at the horror of what we were about to do. Although only a kiss, I have seen the identical necklaces she and Komali wear, and I do not want to cause her shame and break her and Komali.
She still sits on the bed, and I strain my ears. I can make out the sounds of heavy breathing from all parts of this place, and I know we will not be disturbed. I tug gently on her hand again with a small smile, trying vainly to form words.
She looks into my eyes with such an expression! Sorrow, longing, desire, pity, love all mingle in her dark red eyes that flicker like candles themselves in the light. The storm outside has lessened slightly, but the rain still sluices down outside the small window. The crashing of the sea has all but faded. The wind has dropped and the thunder growls a retreat.
I gather myself and force words from my bleeding and broken lips, "Medli, I love you. I can deny it no longer. Yet I know you and Komali are together, and it is not my place to intervene." This effort is costing me, and a cold sweat of pain breaks out across my brow, and I pant briefly. She takes the soft cloth of her sleeve and wipes my face. Her fingers trace the line of my jaw.
Suddenly, our mouths are entwined. Her hands massage my face and run across my neck, whilst mine are entangled in her long silky hair, so warm to my cold fingers, her beak so firm and smooth, her taste and scent so sweet... so sweet...
***
His fingers work my hair, gentle as a summer breeze. His taste in my mouth drives me near mad, and I put my entire being into this kiss of secret love.
Eventually we part, and I run my tongue over my mouth to savour his scent. He presses his hands to his cheeks to feel the blush that is creeping from his neck. I get up to go, but he leans and catches my hand; the movement causes him to tense in agony, "Don't go... With you near the pain is more bearable, please..."
"Link... I'm afraid of what will happen..."
"So am I," he replies quietly, his eyes lowering, so deep green as to be almost black. His light hair falls across his face, and he brushes it aside with long trembling fingers. I pull away and draw a chair closer. He brightens immediately and falls back onto the cushions.
"I can't stay long," I whisper.
"It doesn't matter," he responds, "Medli, what are we going to do?"
"I don't know," my voice is quiet with sorrow and thought. I do not love Komali anymore - this I am sure of. I look down and notice the hand that holds mine wears a ring on the third finger.
He notices my gaze and sighs quietly, "Tetra. I thought I loved her. Now I am not so sure."
Silently, our eyes fill with tears of hopelessness. We weep in each other's arms as the moon sinks and the sun raises her head.
***
((R&R please!))
I follow Komali and Quill into our residence and wait as they prepare Link for the bed. Komali exits the room and, without looking at me, climbs the slope to his room. Quill follows and takes me aside, and his eyes are serious, "Medli... do not forget you are engaged to Prince Komali. You are his, and he is yours. Do not break this off for the boy."
I know his words are true, but resentment crawls into my gaze as I watch him climb the slope to his chambers. I glare after his receding back and storm through to Link.
He is propped up against pillows, pale and weak. He makes a faint smile as I enter, and the action splits his cracked lips. Blood trickles down his chin. Alarmed, I run over and wipe the blood away with my thumb. He meets my gaze and deliberately tickles the tip of my thumb with his tongue, like silk to a pebble.
He tries to sit up further, but sinks back with a pant of pain. Pity wells up in my eyes. I have neglected to take my thumb from his mouth, and my fingers brush his cheek. He sighs, this time in contentment, and makes to pull me closer. I sit on the bed and rest my other hand on his shoulder. I can visualise clearly what will happen, and endeavour to wrench myself away.
Our gazes meet, and with our eyes locked in this hopeless situation, our heads tilt in opposite directions and our lips touch.
***
I am divided: half of me wants, yearns for the kiss of this Rito-beauty. The other half is appalled by what I am doing. The pain I once felt ebbs away in the presence of her, and had I known how stunning she would become I would never have left Dragon Roost Island.
Simultaneously, we pull away, gasping at the horror of what we were about to do. Although only a kiss, I have seen the identical necklaces she and Komali wear, and I do not want to cause her shame and break her and Komali.
She still sits on the bed, and I strain my ears. I can make out the sounds of heavy breathing from all parts of this place, and I know we will not be disturbed. I tug gently on her hand again with a small smile, trying vainly to form words.
She looks into my eyes with such an expression! Sorrow, longing, desire, pity, love all mingle in her dark red eyes that flicker like candles themselves in the light. The storm outside has lessened slightly, but the rain still sluices down outside the small window. The crashing of the sea has all but faded. The wind has dropped and the thunder growls a retreat.
I gather myself and force words from my bleeding and broken lips, "Medli, I love you. I can deny it no longer. Yet I know you and Komali are together, and it is not my place to intervene." This effort is costing me, and a cold sweat of pain breaks out across my brow, and I pant briefly. She takes the soft cloth of her sleeve and wipes my face. Her fingers trace the line of my jaw.
Suddenly, our mouths are entwined. Her hands massage my face and run across my neck, whilst mine are entangled in her long silky hair, so warm to my cold fingers, her beak so firm and smooth, her taste and scent so sweet... so sweet...
***
His fingers work my hair, gentle as a summer breeze. His taste in my mouth drives me near mad, and I put my entire being into this kiss of secret love.
Eventually we part, and I run my tongue over my mouth to savour his scent. He presses his hands to his cheeks to feel the blush that is creeping from his neck. I get up to go, but he leans and catches my hand; the movement causes him to tense in agony, "Don't go... With you near the pain is more bearable, please..."
"Link... I'm afraid of what will happen..."
"So am I," he replies quietly, his eyes lowering, so deep green as to be almost black. His light hair falls across his face, and he brushes it aside with long trembling fingers. I pull away and draw a chair closer. He brightens immediately and falls back onto the cushions.
"I can't stay long," I whisper.
"It doesn't matter," he responds, "Medli, what are we going to do?"
"I don't know," my voice is quiet with sorrow and thought. I do not love Komali anymore - this I am sure of. I look down and notice the hand that holds mine wears a ring on the third finger.
He notices my gaze and sighs quietly, "Tetra. I thought I loved her. Now I am not so sure."
Silently, our eyes fill with tears of hopelessness. We weep in each other's arms as the moon sinks and the sun raises her head.
***
((R&R please!))