Cara awoke the next morning to the sound of her bedroom door opening and closing. She opened her eyes and saw that Dahlia was already awake. She looked and saw Grace standing by the door, a bemused expression on her face.
"Good morning, Grace," Cara said to her sister, smiling pleasantly.
Grace's eyes wandered to the chair, where she saw Cara's dress next to the red leather of a Mord'Sith. She looked even more confused for a moment, before she understood.
"Cara, why is there a Mord'Sith in your bed?" she asked, looking slightly frightened.
Cara cuddled closer to Dahlia and kissed her on the nose. "She was just so tantalizing, I couldn't help myself," she said over-dramatically.
"…tantalizing…?" Grace asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Mm-hmm." Cara smiled slightly.
"Okay then…" Grace said, turning to leave. "I'll leave you two to get dressed."
"Grace?" Cara said before her sister opened the door. "Don't tell anyone that Dahlia is a Mord'Sith, okay?"
"I wasn't planning to," Grace said, smiling kindly at her younger sister. With that, she opened the door and left, closing it gently behind her.
Cara got up and walked across the room to the closet. She jumped slightly as she felt Dahlia's arms wrap around her waist from behind. She hadn't even heard the Mord'Sith get out of bed. Dahlia smiled slightly at Cara's surprise before brushing her hair out of the way and kissing her neck. Cara shivered slightly, then turned around and handed Dahlia a dress.
"This should fit," she said.
After changing, Cara and Dahlia went into the kitchen to get breakfast. The rest of Cara's family was already sitting at the table.
"Good morning," Cara said as she and Dahlia sat down.
"How come you didn't tell us you had a friend visiting?" Cara's mother asked.
"I would have, but I didn't know," Cara answered. "She only arrived last night, and I didn't know she was coming."
"Would you care to introduce us, Cara?" her father asked.
"It's Dahlia," Cara answered, smiling. "Surely you remember her?"
"Oh course," her mother said. "But weren't you taking by the Mord'Sith?" she asked Dahlia.
"I was, yes," Dahlia answered politely, "But I escaped. I've been living with an elderly couple a few days journey from here. I didn't want to risk coming back here in case they came looking for me."
Cara was a bit nervous that her parents would not believe Dahlia's story. She looked at them carefully after Dahlia had finished talking, and was relieved to see that they seemed to be buying it.
After breakfast, Dahlia insisted on helping Cara with her chores. They began by taking the dirty clothes down to the creek to wash them. As they were washing, Dahlia accidentally splashed some water in Cara's face.
"Hey," Cara said, "you did that on purpose!"
"Did not," Dahlia answered, smiling.
Cara didn't say anything. She gave Dahlia a mischievous smirk, and then splashed a great deal of water in her direction. A significant splash fight then ensued. This went on for some time, until Dahlia finally tackled Cara into the water. The two girls crawled up onto the shore, where they lay giggling breathlessly for a while, until Dahlia suggested that they take the clothes back to the house.
"That's probably a good idea," Cara said, looking at the sky. "It's probably getting close to lunch time anyway."
They walked back to the house with the wet clothing, and hung it on the line to dry. As they were doing that, Cara's mother came outside with some bread and cheese.
"I brought you girls lunch," she said, eyeing their soaked clothing but not saying anything.
"Thank you," Cara said, taking the food from her mother.
Cara and Dahlia went to sit under the big oak tree by the side of the house. They sat side by side, leaning against the trunk of the tree. They ate in silence, and when they finished, Cara got up and moved to sit on the wooden swing hanging from a branch of the tree. Dahlia followed her, standing in front of her and holding onto the ropes which the swing was hanging from.
"Do you ever miss it?" Cara asked.
"Miss what?" Dahlia said, not sure what Cara was talking about.
"Just…living here. With nothing really to worry about," Cara said, looking up at Dahlia.
"Sometimes," Dahlia admitted. "I mostly miss you though."
Cara smiled, and Dahlia pushed the swing backward, causing Cara to slip off so she was standing again, leaning with her lower back on the swing. Cara looked down shyly as Dahlia stepped even closer to her.
"Cara," Dahlia whispered.
Cara looked up at the slightly taller woman and found their lips barely an inch apart. Dahlia brought her lips to Cara's in a sweet, innocent kiss.
"I love you," she said, smiling at Cara.
Cara smiled back. "I love you too," she whispered.
Cara's mother witnessed this whole scene through the kitchen window. She smiled slightly. She had always known there was something more than just friendship between Cara and Dahlia. But Dahlia had been taken by the Mord'Sith before either of the girls could figure out exactly what they felt for each other. She was glad that they finally understood their feelings for one another.
After a while Cara and Dahlia came into the house the change into dry clothes. They emerged from Cara's room after a few minutes and went to hang the wet dresses on the line with the clothes they had just washed. Cara informed her mother that they were going to the market, and that they would eat there. During the summer, the market was always very full of people. There were always performers on a small stage in the center of the market. The performances ranged from music, to small plays, to acrobatics.
They walked through the market for a while, holding hands and talking quietly. They stopped at one stand and bought some fruit, and at another some soup, and some fresh bread at another. They found a place near the stage to sit down and eat the food, and watched as a man juggled burning torches, adding more and more until he was juggling eight at once. He finished and took a bow, and everyone cheered loudly.
When he exited the stage, Dahlia got an idea. "Cara, you should sing!" she said enthusiastically. She and Cara had sung often when they were children, and she remembered that Cara had a gorgeous voice.
"I don't know…" Cara said hesitantly. Dahlia thought she looked slightly worried.
"Come on," Dahlia said encouragingly. "You have nothing to be worried about."
Dahlia stood up and pulled Cara up with her. She gently pushed Cara toward the stage. Everyone saw this and started cheering.
"Now you have to do it," Dahlia said, motioning to the crowd. "You wouldn't want to disappoint them, would you?"
"Fine," Cara said. "But you owe me."
Dahlia grinned at her. "Oh, I'll more than make it up to you," she said. "I promise."
Cara climbed up the stairs onto the stage. A group of men with instruments quickly volunteered to accompany her. She told them the song and key, and when the crowd had quieted down some, they began to play. Cara waited for the mournful introduction to finish, and then she began to sing.
It doesn't matter what I want
It doesn't matter what I need
It doesn't matter if I cry
Don't matter if I bleed
You've been on a road
Don't know where it goes or where it leads
It doesn't matter what I want
It doesn't matter what I need
If you've made up your mind to go
I won't beg you to stay
You've been in a cage
Throw you to the wind, you fly away
During the instrumental break, Cara looked over at Dahlia. She saw Dahlia smiling back at her, tears in her eyes. She looked around, and saw similar expressions on many other faces in the crowd.
It doesn't matter what I want
It doesn't matter what I need
It doesn't matter if I cry
Don't matter if I bleed
Feel the sting of tears
Falling on this face you loved for years
When she finished the song, the crowd cheered wildly. She grinned at Dahlia, and motioned for the Mord'Sith to join her on stage. Dahlia walked gracefully up the stairs and hugged Cara.
"That was beautiful," she whispered.
Cara smiled. "Now you have to sing too," she said.
Dahlia looked uncertain. "I don't know if that's a good idea," she said. "I haven't sung in years."
"You'll be fine," Cara said.
She once again told the men with instruments the song and key, and they began playing immediately. Cara smiled encouragingly at Dahlia, and then began singing.
I'm dying to catch my breath
Oh why don't I ever learn
I've lost all my trust now I'll surely try
To turn it around
Can you still see the heart of me
All my agony fades away
When you hold me in your embrace
Don't tear me down
For all I need
Make my hear a better place
Give me something I can believe
Don't tear me down
You've opened a door now
Don't let it close
Cara looked at Dahlia during the short break. "You're turn," she said, smiling. Dahlia smiled back at her nervously, then began.
I'm here on the edge again
I wish I could let it go
I know that I'm only one step away
From turning around
Dahlia's nervousness disappeared as she heard Cara's voice join hers.
Can you still see the heart of me
All my agony fades away
When you hold me in your embrace
Don't tear me down
For all I need
Cara stopped singing, and Dahlia had the next line alone.
Make my heart a better place
Dahlia glanced at Cara while she was singing this line, and indicated for Cara to take the next line.
Give me something I can believe
Dahlia joined Cara again, singing a harmony in her slightly lower voice.
Don't tear it down
What's left of me
Make my heart a better place
Cara dropped out again.
I tried many times but nothing was real
Make it fade away
Don't break me down
Dahlia stopped and Cara took over for the next phrase.
I want to believe that this is for real
Save me from my fear
Don't tear me down
Cara continued alone for the next part, in a quieter, lighter tone, returning to full volume on the last line.
Don't tear me down
For all I need
Make my heart a better place
There was another short instrumental break, during which Dahlia stepped closer to Cara and took her hand. Cara looked up at Dahlia and smiled happily. She had sincerely missed singing with Dahlia after Dahlia had been taken away. Dahlia began singing after the break, still looking down at Cara.
Don't tear me down
For all I need
Make my heart a better place
Give me something I can believe
Cara joined her once again for the end of the song.
Don't tear it down
What's left of me
Make my heart a better place
Make my heart a better place
Cara and Dahlia smiled at each other as the song finished. The crowd was silent for a minute, awestruck. Then after a moment the loudest cheer Cara had ever heard erupted through the marketplace. She and Dahlia bowed, thanked the musicians, and left the stage.
"Cara," Dahlia said when they were some distance from the stage, "you still have the most beautiful voice I have ever heard."
Cara smiled and shyly accepted the compliment. She was about to speak when she heard a voice behind her calling her name.
"Cara!"
She turned and saw Daniel, a young man who had been vying for her affection for ages, running after her and Dahlia. They stopped walking and Daniel caught up to them. He looked at Dahlia.
"I've never seen you before," he said.
"Daniel, this is Dahlia," Cara explained. "She used to live here a while ago. When we were children."
"Oh," Daniel said, then turned back to Cara. "I had no idea you could sing like that," he said.
"Well, I haven't been singing as much since Dahlia left," she answered. Daniel looked slightly frustrated at the fact that Dahlia had her arm around Cara, and Cara wasn't doing anything about it.
"So…" he began. "Can I take you out to dinner sometime?"
Cara sighed. "You never give up, do you?" she asked, smiling slightly.
"I try not to lose hope," he said. "I just keep telling myself that one of these days you'll change your mind and give me a chance."
Cara sighed again. "Daniel, I don't mean to be unkind, but you're wasting your time. You should find someone who is interested." Daniel looked very gloomy. "You're a handsome man, and there are plenty of girls in the village who would love to have dinner with you. I'm just not one of them. I'm sorry."
"But why won't you give me a chance?" he asked sadly.
"I don't want to waste your time, Daniel," she said. "I love Dahlia, and nothing can change that."
"Okay," he said. "I'll see you around." He cast a jealous look at Dahlia as he turned and walked away.
"Has this been going on for long?" Dahlia asked.
"Only a few years," Cara said, sounding a bit annoyed.
"I could…talk some sense into him, if you like," Dahlia offered, thinking of her agiel, which was currently back in Cara's room with her leathers.
Cara gave her a skeptical look. "That's okay," she said, "he's nice, just very persistent."
"I just don't want you to get hurt," Dahlia said in a concerned voice.
"Don't worry about it," Cara said, "Daniel's harmless."
"He might be," Dahlia began, "but his friend certainly doesn't seem that way," she continued, nodding toward a very angry-looking young man walking in their direction. Cara recognized him immediately. It was Michael, Daniels friend. No doubt Daniel had told him what had happened.
He came to a stop in front of them, and when he spoke, Cara found that she had been right.
"Daniel told me what happened," he said, glaring at her.
"And…?" Cara said, glaring back. She and Michael had never gotten along very well.
"I'm going to make you pay," he said, grabbing her arm roughly.
Cara shook him off and pushed him away. "I'm sure if that's what Daniel wanted, he would have done it himself," she said.
"No he wouldn't. He'd never try to hurt you," Michael sneered. "Fortunately, I don't share his affection for you." He raised his hand and swung it toward her, intending to hit her. But Dahlia was quicker. She caught his fist a foot from Cara's face, and twisted his arm behind his back before Cara knew what was happening. Michael yelled in pain, catching the attention of some of the other people in the market.
"Apologize," Dahlia said firmly. Michael set his jaw firmly and didn't say anything. "Alright, have it your way," Dahlia said nonchalantly. She twisted his arm even farther, bringing him down to his knees as he cried out in pain again.
"Alright, I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" Michael yelled, on the verge of tears.
"That's better," Dahlia said, letting him go.
"I'm going to get you for that," he said menacingly.
"I sincerely doubt that," Dahlia said smugly "but you can try."
Michael glared at Dahlia, then turned to leave. He quickly turned back around to hit Dahlia, but once again, she was too quick for him. She blocked his fist and pushed him away, spinning him off balance. He regained his balance and swung at her again. She stepped to the side so his fist went past her head, and she hit him hard in the chin, causing him to lose his balance again and fall over.
"Better luck next time," she said. She turned to Cara. "Let's go."
Cara took Dahlia's hand and the two of them turned at walked toward Cara's home, leaving Michael staring after them, angry and humiliated. The people who had noticed the fight watched them go to, staring at Dahlia amazement.
"You didn't have to do that," Cara said as they neared the house. "People are going to start wondering."
"I did have to, Cara," Dahlia said. "Would you prefer I let him hit you?"
"I guess not," Cara answered.
The entered the house quietly in an attempt not to wake anyone, as the sun had already gone down long ago. They went to Cara's room, changed out of their daytime clothes, climbed into bed and were both soon asleep.