Chapter Two
Disclaimer: I own everything except the basic, basic plot/title and Elana, Randall, and Kari who are from Far Side of Evil and the names, which are based on elven words and the mindspeech.
Kari swam into the waves, looking behind her to make sure Sinta wouldn't catch up with her. It was one of the rare occasions that she could forget who she was and what she could go back to.
:Come and catch me: she thought happily to Sinta, lucky that she had the gift of mind-speech when so few of the Norelin did. After a few minutes of not hearing her friend, Kari got worried. :Sinta: she thought, stopping. Sinta didn't have mind-speech so she couldn't answer that way but she still could have answered normally.
Kari saw that they had gotten close to the shore and realized that Sinta must have stopped when they got too close and wouldn't talk when they were so near. She was about to go find Sinta when she saw someone moving. Kari's curiosity stopped her from going before she got a good look at them.
It was a man. He was the most beautiful man Kari had ever seen and as soon as she glanced at him, she fell in love. She wished she could go talk to him and would have at least tried, but Sinta appeared by her side and put her hand on Kari's should.
'Don't' the old woman said, 'he's not one of our kind. He'll only bring sadness and death.' Kari took one more look at him and then swam back to the palace with Sinta.
:Is there any way: Kari begged Sinta. It had been a day since she had seen the man and she felt like she needed to talk to him. The old woman shook her head.
:I'll do anything: she cried. Her friend looked at her strangely.
'Anything? Even if it will never work?'
:Just to see him and see if he loves me. If I don't, I'll die.:
'First I must tell you a story and if you still must,' Sinta sighed, 'we'll find a way.' Kari nodded, eagerly. 'Ok, ok, I'll tell,' the woman paused thoughtfully, 'you have an uncle, you know. He also fell in love with one of the land folk.' Then why is it such a problem when I do, Kari thought impatiently hoping Sinta would get to the point soon. 'He went on shore one day and with in a week we found him dead. I don't want the same thing happening to you,' Sinta's eyes filled up with tears. Kari felt guilt but she also needed to meet the man so much.
:I don't care. I love him! I need to go: Kari thought stubbornly.
'I can tell your father that we are leaving for a few days,' Sinta said thoughtfully, 'but if you're not back in three days I'll tell him the truth and you'll be banished.' Kari shuddered at the thought of banishment, but she had already made up her mind to go.