Second chappy! Ok, beware 'cause this might be a bit short as well. I'm not completely sure yet. I hope you enjoyed the first chapter and I also hope you enjoy this one. ;;
Disclaimer: I do not own Elphame's Choice or the other part of the story (which you'll have to find out 'cause I don't want to ruin it). Though I really wish I did...
Last time in Another World - "How do you expect us to take care of a whole race, Elphame;" "Mama? I wasn't expecting you to come;" She took a look around the room and she'd seen a crowd gather around and the other kids were falling asleep as well. Elphame smiled and joined with her mother in finishing up the lullaby.
"You will never be alone
As long as you have Epona in your heart
So keep that smile and don't you frown
And you'll never be apart.
The Goddess loves you
I know you know that much
We know she wont be a fool
And think you're monsters and such
Just keep on smiling
Keep on smiling
Just keep on smiling
And you wont be alone..."
Chapter 2 - Who are you?
Etain and her daughter slowly walked out of the room leaving the kids and Brighid to sleep. Of course, Elphame asked Wynne to bring in a warm blanket for the worn out centaur. She made sure that everyone worked as quietly as possible as to not wake anyone up. She slowly walked into the forest with her mom by her side. It was nice and peaceful except for the noise of the construction work going on around them. Elphame led her mother near the edge of the cliff where Brenna had taken her when she got her first fresh air after her accident. Elphame looked down a little as she remembered her old friend. Her throat clenched together as she tried to hold back tears that wanted to come out. Her eyes started to water and she blinked several times to keep it back. She looked at her mother and motioned for her to have a seat. When she took the seat next to her, she almost burst out to tears when she felt her mother embrace her in a comforting hug.
"I'm sorry, Elphame. I'm sure the little healer was a good friend to you, and a wonderful girl to court for Cu. But, I'm also positive that your friend doesn't want you morning over her for the rest of your life. Same goes for Cuchulainn. Now, stop crying and smile. Or else I'll have to start singing that song again," Etain tapped her finger underneath Elphame's chin that made both of them smile.
"Thanks mama..." Elphame smiled and hugged her mom.
Etain straightened herself and made her face a little serious, "Now, how about you introduce me to your husband, hmm? I've just gotten here and I don't think I've seen him anywhere." She looked around to see if she could spot him but she couldn't see anything.
"Oh, sorry about that..." She turned to look towards the forest and she didn't see him herself. But all she had to do was one simple thing. One thing that only both of them can reach eachother with...calling his name, "Lochlan."
The wind started to pick up and it swirled around Elphame and Etain as it reacted to the call of the Fomorian's name. As the wind started to die down, a large figure started to appear from the shadows of the forest. Etain's eyes widened and she let out a gasp as she saw his whole figure appear before her. She'd never really seen a full grown Fomorian before but this... this was just shocking. Light-colored hair and eyes and dark colored wings. At least that was all she could see.
"You called, my heart?" he asked. He slowly walked toward to two women and when he finally came within a few feet from them, he got down to one knee and bowed at Etain, "It's nice to meet you, Epona's Beloved. I've heard much about you from Elphame but I was really hoping to meet you."
His smile dazzled Etain as she looked at the winged man. He looked nothing of what the stories told about Fomorians, so why did he look so human? She looked at him and smiled, "It's a great pleasure to meet you as well, Lochlan." She watched him as he stood back up and saw Elphame move to his side, "So, when do you two plan on holding the wedding?"
Elphame blushed a bright, pink-red, "Mama! Do we really have to talk about this now?" She sounded so childish that Lochlan chuckled to himself.
"I don't mind, love," he pulled her tighter against him and gave her a soft kiss on her forhead. Afterwards, they heard some crashing in the bushes and they all turned to face the direction it was coming from. Elphame saw Duncan approach them and then bow deeply.
"My deepest appologies if I'm interrupting something important but, you've got to come see this," his voice sounded quite urgent and yet excited at the same time. Etain, Elphame, and Lochlan all looked at eachother with the same expressions on their faces, which was confusion, and then they started to follow Duncan into the forest. They got really far into it and Elphame was confused on what was going on. When the gaurd turned around, he motioned for them to stay low and as quiet as possible. They stayed behind a bush and made sure that they didn't step on any stix that were laying on the ground. The looked over the bushes and saw two girls standing there. The shortest one of them wore a long red robe looking thing and she had long, silky looking silver hair. The talest one of them really dark brown hair and she was wearing some odd looking clothes. It looked like a combination of both a robe over some other clothing. More like a dress than a robe though.
"Kuri... are you sure it's safe to be out here? I mean... it could be someone else's property..." the short girl looked around cautiously.
"Yeah, yeah. I'm sure. Now stop whining and have a seat..." the tallest girl replied nonchalantly. An unexpected rock came flying towards her head and hit her dead center. It was quite a big rock that hit her as well. "Ow! What what the heck was that for!"
"For being an idiot and not double checking! I know you didn't check to see if it was someone else's property so I'm leaving!"
"Oh no you don't!" the girl named Kuri tackled the other girl to the ground and got into a major fist fight. One started bitting, the other scratching, then they both started punching and slapping.
"Cut it out you fucking retard! I don't have time for games now let...me...GO!" she kicked Kuri square in the face and started stomping off again until she tripped over Kuri's foot.
"I told you you're not leaving and that means you're not leaving! So stay."
"Make me!"
"I don't have to!"
"Well too damn bad!"
Everyone was confused at the actions of these people. But what really caught their attention was when they took out swords. Elphame gasped and then covered her mouth quickly before they noticed. Lochlan turned toward her and held her close. The saw the girls turn in their direction and they stood extremely still.
"Who's out there? Show yourselves!" said the silver head pointing her sword in their direction. She turned back to Kuri, "I told you that it wasn't a good idea. But would you listen? Nooooo... You just had to fucking run off and then go somewhere where you don't know where the hell you're going!"
"Shut up Sel. I just wanted to have fun..." Kuri looked to the ground and started sobbing.
"I don't give a damn. I'm leaving," she headed in another direction and disappeared into the darkness of the forest.
"Fine then, be that way!" Kuri stuck out her tongue and just sat there on the ground. "If you don't wanna have fun with me then I'll have fun by myself..." She looked around to double check if anyone was there, "Probably just a chipmunk or...or maybe a squirell. Yeah, that's it. No one else is here..."
Elphame and Lochlan backed off a few steps so they could whisper and the girl couldn't hear them, "Do you think we should invite her to the castle?"
Lochlan just nodded and they moved forward again. But when they got to where Etain and Duncan were, she heard singing. She thought it was her mothers at first but her mom's mouth wasn't moving. When she looked over the bushes again, there was a crowd of animals around the girl. She was singing to them with a smile on her face and her eyes were shining. There seemed to be a glow around her but it was just the sun. She pet the dear that was laying down next to her and a bird landed on her shoulder singing some tunes with her.
"Mother isn't here now
Who knows what she'd say?
Nothing's quite so clear now
Feel you've lost your way.
You decide but you are not alone
Believe me
No one is alone...
Believe me, truely
You move just a finger
Say the slightest words
Something's bound to linger
Be heard!"
Elphame listened and when the girl finished singing, she stood up and walked slowly up to the girl. Kuri gasped when she saw the woman appear before her, "That was a beautiful song you sang. Where'd you learn it from?"
"C-c-choir..." she managed to stutter out. Kuri didn't know who this person was but she was beautiful. She reminded her of a Goddess, "Umm... who... who are you? Where'd you come from? How'd you find me? I hope I'm not intruding or anything 'cause I really didn't mean to. It's just that me and my sis-" she got cut off when she saw the sight of a man appear behind her. He was tall and lean and odd looking. He had talons for feet and...wings? Where the hell is she!
"We'll answer those questions if you'd like to come over to the castle," he said.
"Holy shit! There's a castle around here!" she looked around as she noticed that the animals had left when the guy entered. She jumped up to her feet and looked at them with wide eyes, "You've got to be kiddin' me. Ha, too bad Sel's missin' out." She turned to face the direction in which Sel had left in, "You stupid mutt! Now you'll be missing out on the fun! So, ha! In your face!"
A sword went flying past Kuri's face and sliced a little part of her left cheek, "Uh oh... that was a bad idea..." Kuri mumbled to herself incoherently.
"Yeah, uh oh indeed, imoto-chan," Sel came jumping out of the tree branches nearest to Kuri and tackled her to the ground and started strangling her. "Stupid mutt, eh? In my face, huh? We'll see who's going to be having fun!"
"Ow...Sel... you're choking me... That hurts..." Kuri mumbled as she reached up with one hand and started choking Sel while with her other hand, she tried to loosen up Sel's tight grip. Sel just tightened her grip and cut off the girls breathing.
A/N: What a loving familiy, ne? Anyways, yeah. I hope that was a better chapter. At least it was longer. ;;;