Sorry that I haven't updated in a while.  I've been busy with other stories, been to New Orleans, and been doing all kinds of things!  Not to mention that I have serious WRITER'S BLOCK with this story!  Oiy!  It's been horrible!  But, hopefully, things are better now!  Here's the story!

Learning to Love

--Chapter 18

The Past, part 1

Eerie silence covered the surroundings of a deserted kingdom.  Charred remnants of buildings and homes littered the ground.  The only standing building was a once magnificent castle now half-burned.  The other half was black from soot and only had one window.  In this window stood a creature with scales and slit eyes.  He stood still and stared out into the distance.  A door opened and a woman walked in.  "Talik," she said.  "The troops are in position."

Talik didn't answer.

"Talik?" the woman asked.

"She is becoming even more powerful," he said quietly.

"What do you mean?" the woman inquired.  "She couldn't possibly-"

"She is realizing the pendants full potential," Talik interrupted.  "It is only a matter of time before she comes to full power."

"She is still no match for you," the woman said proudly, "even with the fallen god's power."

"She could become the next Eternian," Talik said, turning.  "That is if she could learn to control it."

The woman walked up to him and stood a foot away.  "Then we'll have to make certain that will not happen."

Talik hissed in amusement.  "Just what did you have in mind?"

The woman smirked.  "Evil."

*****

Hitomi roused slowly.  Her body felt as if it were made of liquid.  She groaned slightly.  Opening her eyes, she took in her surroundings.  Where was she?  The room she was in was made out of rock.  There was a fireplace in a part of the rock.  It casted a warm glow around the room.  There was a desk and chair made out of wood in the room.  Hitomi sat up.  She was lying on a soft bed.  The curtain that was the door parted and a wolf-woman with white hair walked in.  She had a bowl in her fur covered hands.

"Oh, finally," the woman smiled.  "You're awake."

The wolf-woman laid the bowl on the desk and walked over to Hitomi.

"Where am I?" Hitomi asked.

"You are in Welku," the woman answered.  "My name is Cora.  I am Ginoz's wife."

"Where is my husband?" Hitomi asked.

"Lord Van?" Cora asked in reply.  "He's in the square with the others.  Fidgeting, I might add."  She looked at Hitomi.  "He must love you very much to worry so."

Hitomi gave a small smile.  "That sounds like Van.  He would rather be pacing the room then just sitting around worrying."

Cora gave a small laugh.  "Ginoz is the exact opposite.  He takes everything as it comes, then just sits there like a rock."

Hitomi grinned. 

"Well," Cora said while walking back to the desk and picking up the bowl, "this concoction will help with the lightheaded feeling and the nausea that is sure to come with your condition."

Hitomi scrunched her forehead.  "Condition?"

Cora looked at her.  "You really don't know what I'm talking about, do you?"

Hitomi shook her head.

Cora sat on the bed beside her.  "My dear, you are with child."

Hitomi became deadly still.  "What?" she whispered.

Cora smiled sympathetically at her.  "Yes."

Hitomi put her hand on her stomach.  "I'm pregnant?" she asked.  It was like she was talking with herself.

Cora stood and handed her the drink.  "Drink this."

Hitomi numbly did as she was told and grimaced at the taste.  "Have you told anyone else?" she asked.

"I thought all of you knew," Cora replied.  "You are about seven weeks along after all."

"Seven weeks?" Hitomi said.  She put a hand to her head and groaned.  "Van is going to kill me."

"Is there anything I can get for you?" Cora asked, laying a furry-clawed hand on the human woman's shoulder.

Hitomi's head came up.  "Merle," she answered.  "Could you get Merle for me?  But please don't tell anyone I'm awake yet, not even Merle.  Just ask her to come.  Please."

Cora nodded.  "Very well.  I shall be back."  She started for the door.

"Cora," Hitomi called her back.

Cora turned.

"Thank you," Hitomi said sincerely.

Cora nodded and smiled.  "Things will be all right, you shall see."  She opened the blanket and walked out.

Hitomi lay down on the bed.  "I'm pregnant."  She covered her face with her hands.  "Van is going to kill me!"

*****

A short time later, the blanket parted and Merle was ushered inside.  She looked at the bed and saw Hitomi sitting up.  "Hitomi!"  She ran to her and gave her a hug.

Hitomi hugged her tightly.  "I'm all right, Merle," Hitomi reassured the cat-woman when she began to look Hitomi over for injuries.  "But I do have a… situation that I need help with."

"Situation?" Merle questioned.

Hitomi nodded.  "I'm pregnant, Merle."

Merle stared at her.  "Pregnant?"  Then she squealed in excitement.  "I'm going to be an aunt!"  She gave Hitomi a hug, then backed up and looked at her stomach.  "Hello, little baby," she cooed.  "I'm your Aunt Merle."

Hitomi laughed.  "Merle!"

"What?" Merle said.  "I'm going to spoil this baby rot-"  A thought hit her.  "Hitomi Fanel!" she exclaimed.  "You're pregnant, and you have been fighting, using that—that magic, and-"

"That's the problem, Merle," Hitomi interrupted.  "I didn't know--until Cora told me--that I was pregnant.  If Van finds out, then there is no way he is going to let me finish this."

"You are absolutely right," Merle said and began to march out the blanket-made-door to find her brother.

Hitomi grabbed her arm.  "Wait, Merle.  Please."  She took a deep breath and let it out.  "I need to explain something to you."  She guided her sister-in-law to the bed and they sat down.  "All my life, I have never felt as if I were doing what I was meant to be doing.  Like there was something out there that I didn't know about, but I was supposed to know.  This is it, Merle.  This is my destiny, my fate.  I have to finish this so that this child growing inside of me can one day have peace and love for his or her surroundings not hate and fear and sorrow.  That's how Collin and I grew up.  We grew up without knowing what the world could truly be like because we were taught to fear it.  I can make the difference, Merle.  And if not, at least I could say I tried."  She looked at Merle.  "I don't know how to make you understand.  I need to do this.  Not for me, though.  But now more than ever, for the future generations that I'm going to help to be."

Merle sighed.  "Oh, Hitomi I do understand.  More than you think.  When I was young, humans burned my village because they were afraid of us.  They slaughtered my family.  All accept my two sisters and I.  My sisters escaped with me, but they couldn't run forever.  So they put me on the river and prayed to the water goddess for my safety and for me to be loved.  The river carried me to an orphanage on the outskirts of Freid.  One day, as I was gathering berries on the roadside, a carriage happened to pass by me.  It stopped and Lady Varie and Lord Goau stepped out.  Lord Goau stepped forward and offered me a ride because my berry basket was full and heavy.  Lady Varie placed a hand on my forehead, and I felt a peace inside of me that I had never felt before in my life.  They adopted me and took me back to Fanelia. 

So I do know what you are talking about, Hitomi.  I've feared the world most of my life because of what I am.  And I've learned over time and through hardships that what I am has nothing to do with it, but how I live.  I want that peace Hitomi.  The peace that I've only felt once, but never got to grow up with.  But are you willing to sacrifice yourself and the life of another to achieve it?"

"Oh, Merle, I had no idea," Hitomi said.  She wrapped an arm around her sister-in-law and gave her a hug.  "I would give anything for you to have peace, Merle, even my life.  But I do not want to give the life of my baby.  And I won't.  I will be extra cautious.  I promise.  Just please give me your word that you will keep this a secret until all of this is over, and I will tell Van.  Please?"

Merle sighed.  "Van is going to kill us both, you know that don't you?"

Hitomi grinned.  "Of course."

Merle nodded.  "All right, but your word that you won't do anything extra that will cause me to worry."

"Done," Hitomi agreed.

Merle hugged her.  "Now while that is settled, I need to ask you something."

Hitomi smiled.  "You're fidgeting, Merle.  What is it?"

"Well," Merle said.  She took a deep breath.  "Collin asked me to marry him when this is all over with, and I said yes."

"Good," Hitomi said.  "Maybe the two of you can stay out of trouble if you have each other to talk to."

"You knew about it?"

"I suspected.  When Collin loves, it's with his whole heart.  All I ask is that you make each other happy."

Merle smiled in relief.  "We will."

"Has Collin asked Van yet?"

"No, not yet.  He said he was going to when he felt the time was right."

Hitomi snorted.  "Knowing Collin it will be after your first child."

Merle grinned, looking for the world like her species.  "That's what I'm hoping."

"Merle!"

*****

Yellow eyes stared at Hitomi and Merle as they walked down the semi-street with two Welkuian guards.  Hitomi thought back to the conversation with Merle before they had walked outside--

"What's happened while I was asleep?" Hitomi asked while she looked over the suit Cora had brought in a moment before.

"Well," Merle replied.  "We've found out that not all of Welku likes humans or believes in the prophecy."

"They don't?"

"No, only a certain few.  Those include the town elders and their families."

"What about Ginoz?"

"Well, he's one of the youngest town elders, so of course he was telling the truth about wanting to help us."

Hitomi slipped on the pants and tied them at the side.  Then she pulled on the shirt and cloak.  "Who else is there?"

"Well, there's Oktu, he's like the leader of the Elders and the oldest one.  Then there is Ulei.  She's the only female elder.  She's very kind.  Then there is Jinly.  He's the second oldest and rude.  But he's fair.  Next comes Quel.  He is the smartest of them all.  If he weren't a wolf-man, I would say he was related to Dryden.  Then there's Ginoz.  He's, like I said, one of the youngest town elders, and very levelheaded.  And last, there is Tyu.  He is someone you want to stay away from.  He may be an Elder, but he does not like humans.  I could swear he was growling at us the entire time we were speaking to them.  Serious anger problem."

"Is that all?"

"Yeah.  Most places have twelve elders, but Welku only has six because half of the village was wiped out."

"Oh."  Hitomi looked at herself as she finished braiding her hair.  "I'm ready."

"Be on your guard, Hitomi," Merle warned.  "We may wear out our welcome sooner than we all believe."

--The eyes continued to stare, some with contempt, others with curiosity.  A large opening, like a cave mouth loomed up ahead.  Two guards stood at the opening.  Firelight danced on the walls, beckoning.  Their escort guards led Hitomi and Merle to the entrance, and then took up a position beside the other guards.  Hitomi followed Merle as she led the way further in the cave.  The tunnel abruptly stopped as a huge room came into view.  Merle and Hitomi walked down the steps as Hitomi looked around in wonder.  There were torches along the walls and they illuminated the room.  A large table was set up, but it was low to the ground.  The Elders sat on the floor and looked at the two women as the walked toward them.  Van looked up and saw Hitomi.  His face showed relief.  Hitomi took a seat beside him and grabbed his hand.  Van gave her hand a gentle squeeze.  They both turned to look at the Elders sitting at the table in front of them.

"Lady Hitomi," Ginoz said.  "We are relieved that you are well."

Hitomi nodded her head and smiled at him.  "Thank you, Elder Ginoz."

"Lady Hitomi," a female said.  Hitomi looked up into the face of a kind woman.  Hitomi guessed her to be Ulei.  "Now that you have joined us, we shall have a feast in the honor of our visitors."

"Yes," a man agreed.  Hitomi was taken aback.  He looked almost exactly like Dryden.  Hitomi gathered him to be Quel.  "It is not everyday we receive guests from the outside world.  Tell me, is it awfully horrid?"

"No, Elder Quel," Hitomi answered.  "The outside has it wonders as well as its evils."

Wolf-women and wolf-men began to bring in food.  They placed the bountiful baskets and plates in front of the table of Elders, then in front of Hitomi, Van, and the rest sitting at their table.  An old wolf-man sitting in the middle of the Elders raised his hands.  Hitomi guessed him to be Oktu.  Oktu said: "Let us eat, remembering that our bodies and the food we eat are one."  He lowered his hands and began to eat.  Everyone else took that as a cue to begin eating as well. 

Hitomi began to feel someone staring at her.  She looked up and saw a wolf-man glaring at her.  The hate in his eyes made her shudder.  She guessed him to be Tyu.  Why would he look at her so?  Did he hold a grudge against humans like some of the others did?

"Tell me, milord king," Quel said, interrupting Hitomi's musings.  "Why do you and your companions carry weapons?"

Van looked at him and answered: "Well, we must carry them for protection."

"Goodness," Quel exclaimed.  "Do you really?  How many enemies must you have in order to carry such things?"

"Unfortunately," Van replied, "none.  Many men carry weapons because they wish to become stronger by hurting innocents.  Whereas in our situation, we must carry the weapons to protect ourselves from such men and to protect others."

"Absolutely unbelievable," Quel said.

"Indeed," Ginoz agreed.  "Things are different here.  We do not carry weapons of any kind.  It is against our laws.  That is why we confiscated your weapons at the entrance."

"We understand," Van replied.  "We only wish that carrying weapons weren't necessary in our world, as well."

"Perhaps one day, the need for weapons will be no more," Oktu answered wisely.

Hitomi looked up to find him looking at her.  His inquisitive eyes looked as though they were seeing into her heart and asking: Are you the one to make that happen?

*****

Later that night, Hitomi and Van lay in bed.  Hitomi had her head on his heart, listening to his even breathing.  She slowly rose up and looked at the sleeping form of her husband.  She smoothed the hair from his forehead and gave him a gentle kiss.  She silently rose from the bed and grabbed a cloak.  Wrapping it around herself, Hitomi walked out of the small room and into the walkway.  She found the village to be completely deserted.  Walking down the narrow street, she called out: "Hello!  Is anyone there?"

No one answered.

Hitomi continued walking until she came to the tunnel that led to where they had eaten with the Elders.  She walked inside and called out again, and still no one answered.  She looked around, feeling that something was off.  Suddenly, a bright light began to shine.  It shone brighter and brighter until Hitomi had to cover her face with her hands to hide her eyes.  Voices began to whisper in her ears.  The light began to wrap itself around Hitomi going faster and faster.  The voices got louder and louder, the light became brighter and brighter.  Suddenly, everything stopped. 

Then Hitomi's world exploded.

So how did you like it?  I hope that everything was all right.  Maybe this writer's rut is over with.  (crosses fingers)  Well, let me know how it was.  Bye!

Tevrah