"Oh children of the land, quicken to the new life"
9:27 Dragon
Melia had her head upon Merrill's lap. Her eyes were closed while Merrill played with her completely snowy hair, no longer a deep black at it was in her childhood.
"Emma lath, have you ever wondered what it's like in the shemlen world?" Merrill asked.
Melia opened one of her eyes, pale green and sparkling, "Sometimes," She sat up, gently taking Merrill's face in her cold hand, "Why? Are you not happy, ma vhenan?" She placed a gentle kiss on Merrill's lips.
"I am, Mel," Merrill scrunched up her nose, "I would take you, we could explore the shem world, have glorious adventures."
Melia giggled, "Someday, perhaps I will go with you. For now," She settled back onto Merrill's lap, "I am happy with you, here."
Merrill sighed, looking to the river that lay before them. The sun broke through the tree-line, its rays gleaming like gems upon the two lovers.
Both of their ears twitched, they heard feet running towards them.
"That must be them." Merrill sighed again.
Melia sat up, just as two elves jumped through the trees, landing just in front of the girls.
Tamlen and Fenarel rolled in the grass, laying on their backs.
"Hello, Mahariel." Tamlen smiled.
"Andaran atishan, Tamlen." Melia rolled her eyes, "Where is my cousin?"
Tamlen shrugged, "He heard we were going to the river and stayed at camp.
"Right…" Melia felt embarrassed for even thinking Thackery would come swim with them.
"Keeper was looking for you, Merrill." Fenarel said quickly, taking off his shirt and pants, readying himself for jumping into the water.
Merrill sighed again, "Then I shall go." She placed a kiss on Melia's beauty mark, then stood up to head back to their camp.
"Come for a swim with us, elder hair?" Tamlen teased Melia.
"Ma halam, Tamlen." Melia glared at him
Fenarel smirked, "Seriously, Mel, come swim. Don't be a mule."
"I suppose I will." She stuck her tongue out at Tamlen.
She stood up, taking off her cream tunic. There was a small bulge at her tummy, her wide hips swaying side to side as she lowered her trousers. Everything about her was honeyed. Her Ghilan'nain vallaslin flashing bright and coppery in the sun.
Tamlen had to avert his gaze, quickly, earning a glance from Fenarel, who smirked.
"Alright boys, let us see who can get across the river and back." Melia ran and jumped into the cool water.
After their swim, the soaking trio walked towards the camp, laughing and pushing each other. Melia said goodbye to the boys, going off to find Merrill. She put up her long white hair into a bun, still dripping wet when she found her lover sobbing behind the Keepers aravel.
Melia ran to her, "Ma vhenan, what is wrong?" She checked over Merrills body to see if she was injured.
Merrill threw her arms around Melia, "Oh, emma lath," She cried into Melia's shoulder, "Ir abelas."
"What did the Keeper say?" Melia pecked Merrill's cheek, wiping the tears away with her cold thumb.
Merrill looked at Melia, "She says you are keeping me from my studies."
"Oh." Melia's body tensed up.
"Ma vhenan, I can't...we can't…" Merrill started crying again.
Melia held Merrill in her arms, "My Merrill, ma'arlath, you are the Keepers Second. We should have known it was not going to last forever."
"Melia," Merrill pulled away from her, "Run away with me."
Melia's eyes went wide, "Merrill…"
"Hear me out," Merrill cut her off, "We'll leave the clan. Find our own home in a city, or out near a forest. We won't have to leave, ever. And we'll take in orphaned children, like you wanted."
"Oh, my Merrill," Melia looked down to the ground, "I could never leave Ashalle and Thackery. You know that."
"Then they can come." Merrill pleaded.
"Merrill." Melia smirked uncomfortably, "You are my heart. But I could never leave the clan forever. Please."
Merrill pulled away, "I do not wish to be your love if you do not want to leave with me."
"Merrill?" Melia's eyes glossed over as Merrill got up and stormed away.
Melia sighed, rubbing her temples, she adored Merrill, but if Keeper says it is not to be, then who is she to question?
She walked slowly back to Ashalle's aravel. She could hear a light hearted giggle, peeking in the coming darkness behind what she knew to be Fenarel's aravel. There she saw Thackery, his spindly legs swaying flirtatiously, and Fenarel whispering into his ear.
Melia turned all shades of red, making a sharp gasp when Thackery grabbed at Fenarels belt.
Thackery turned his head quickly, "Hello, old mum!"
"Hi, Mel." Fenarel back away from Thackery, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Sorry." Melia started walking away, Thackery held onto her, walking alongside as she raced for their aravel.
"You were going to find out sooner or later, Mel." Thackery said.
"About?" Melia asked.
"That I'm…"
"With Fenarel?" Melia asked, "Oh, Thackery, do not take me for a fool, I knew." They stopped in front of the aravel, "I am just upset because I now owe Ashalle two bearskins. She said this is how you would tell us, but I said, 'Mamae, he would just sit us down.'" She stopped rambling.
"You're not angry?"
"Why would I be?"
Thackery shrugged.
"Thackery, you should know better. After all, I'm with…" She stopped, "Was with Merrill."
"Was?" Thackery opened the aravel for Melia.
"I don't want to talk about it." Melia rushed in, falling upon her wolfskin bed.
Ashalle looked up from her chair, setting down the knife she was sharpening. She took off her wooden hand and set it aside.
"And hello to you two as well."
"Abelas, mamae." Thackery and Melia said.
Thackery walked over and kissed her cheek, then fell into his bed upside down, his mop of hair touching the floor of the aravel.
"I will go out to get your bear skins in the morning." Melia rubbed her eyes.
Ashalle chuckled, "I told you, da len."
"I know." Melia closed her eyes.
"What's wrong with you, lethallan?" Thackery tried to grab at Melia's feet, right before she kicked away.
"Nothing." Melia brushed him off.
"Fucking liar!"
"Fenedhis!" Ashalle whacked him with her shoe.
Melia stuck out her tongue at Thackery.
"Melia'nain." Ashalle scolded.
"Abelas." Melia said quickly.
Ashalle shook her head, "Fen'Harel ma ghilana...Emma isala hamin." She went to the ladder that led up to her room, "I will see you both in the morning."
"Ar lath ma, mamae." Melia called.
"Ar lath ma, Melia'nain."
Once Ashalle went up to bed, Thackery scrambled off of his pallet, laying down next to Melia.
"Fenedhis lasa, Thackery." Melia groaned.
"Venavis." Thackery pushed his cousin, "Why are you being such a seth'lin?" He started messing with her ears.
"Thackery, ar tu na'din." Melia pushed him away.
"C'mon, old mum." Thackery begged, "You'll be grumpy all week if you don't tell me."
Melia sighed, "If you must know, Merrill absolutely hates me."
"Did you give her reason?"
"The Keeper said we should not see each other anymore, that it was a distraction to Merrill and her duties as Second. And I said that what Keeper said is probably for the best…"
"Fenedhis, Melia'nain." Thackery pushed her, "You really said that?"
"Is it not true?"
"Fuck that." Thackery said, "You are being an ass."
"What was said was said." Melia pointed out, "Leave me be."
"Did you apologize?"
Melia was silent. Thackery began to glare at her, not understanding why his cousin was being so heartless over this.
"I know how it looks," Melia said, "But I have known that Merrill was unhappy. I cannot give her what she wants."
"Whatever, old mum." Thackery playfully shoved her again. Then he was quiet, "Can I sleep with you tonight?"
"Why? You are too large for my bed."
"Because I had a bad dream last night and you always make it go away."
"Fine." Melia sighed, moving herself closer to the aravel wall, Thackery cuddled next to her, his head on her stomach.
Thackery fell asleep soon after Melia started playing with his hair, and with the quietness of the night and the softness of the breeze that creaked through, Melia too fell fast asleep.