'Have Dad plotted to kill Kauri to steal his bride?' The question reiterated in Moana's head like a plaguing disease. The mere thought of the allegation itself consumed her. 'Had he betrayed his best friend's trust? Was he a cunning, cold-blooded man who was heartless enough to scheme such things?' Her brain was ransacked with spiraling accusations, swirling like a tornado amidst her own fear and confusion. The hard wall of the room suddenly appeared closing in and pressing their weight on her; she couldn't breathe! Moana began to panic.
Looking at her niece's distressed look, Emere instinctively pulled her into a hug, breaking Moana from her metaphorical suffocation. "Mo… are you okay?" she rubbed her back gently, coaxing Moana to calm down.
After a few silent beats, Moana found her voice. "Did my Dad...uh… really planned…. this?" she dared herself to ask. Frankly, Moana didn't want to hear the answer. She didn't want anything to tarnish the image she upheld of an exemplary leader, a devoted husband, and her loving father. She cringed, bracing herself for impact.
"No… no, it wasn't like that. Kauri's death was an accident. Well, as much I believe anyway," Emere retorted, clearing up the misunderstanding before it poisoned her niece's mind further. "But because there was a strong rumor about your father falling for your Mom before the incident, the scandal of him plotting this murder ― spread like wildfire."
After hearing Emere's explanation, Moana let out an explosive breath of air she had been unconsciously holding. There was a moment of repose before Moana collected her thoughts enough to articulate something coherently.
"My Dad fell in love with his best friend's fiance?" Moana inquired disbelievingly.
"Moana, no one could quite plan who they will fall in love with. I am sure you knew," the woman in front of her stated with matter-of-factly tone. Unwittingly, the image of Maikai emerged from the depth of her mind. Wait! Had she fallen into the trap of forbidden love too? Moana quickly shook off that morbid fantasy. But her Dad was the paragon of peace, the epitome of virtue and the embodiment of wisdom, how could someone like him possibly fall for a woman who's already betrothed to another man?
Amidst spur of thoughts, Moana remembered her grandmother often told tales in that even notable dignitaries, seasoned warriors, and men with great discipline and self-control could be drawn in by a maiden's beautiful face; lose themselves in her delicate limbs, her silky skin and of sheets of ink raven hair. Every human had weaknesses, and for most men―their lust for women was their point of vulnerability. Her father was no exception.
"Despite their betrothal, Kauri had never intended to marry your Mom, especially when he knew your Dad liked her. This had remained to be their secret, until one day… your Dad and Kauri placed a bet: whoever managed to cross the reef to sail and returned to Motunui first, would not be the one who breaks secret to their parents."
"And….Kauri never returned," Moana concluded sadly.
"No," Emere affirmed, sounding equally regretful. "And there where the squabble began, between your grandfather―who was the Chief of Motunui that time and Kauri's Dad, Akoni, his trusted counselor. Both were blaming each other and advocating their respective sons. Akoni had heard some unpleasant rumor that your Dad was courting your Mom without seeking his permission. He was adamant that your Dad had planned to assassinate Kauri to steal his bride-to-be," Emere expounded. "Your Dad felt insulted. In fury, he took an impulsive decision to take Sina as his betrothed, while your Grandfather―infuriated from lack of trust on Akoni's part―chose to remain silent and not impeding you Dad's rushed resolution. I knew Sina loved your Dad―so, on behalf of our late mother, I consented her engagement to your Dad. Akoni was obviously enraged when he heard the news, vowed for revenge and left the island."
"Oh…. " Moana only able to gasp fearfully. Now, she could fully understand the extent of Akoni's vehement hatred.
"And by the time your Dad and your Grandfather realized their mistake…. it was too late," Emere closed the story. "And a few weeks after your Mom's engagement, I moved away from Motunui to marry and settled back in Kabara."
Both of them sighed resignedly. But Moana knew there was hardly any point in placing the blame or speculating how the things could've been should her father was wise enough not to rush and took her mother as his bride. Everyone made mistakes, everyone had moments of regrets in their life, but what truly matter was how one learned from them. At least for Moana, the mystery behind Akoni's hatred had been answered. But there was some other question begged her mind.
"And what about this Jade pendant?" Moana asked.
"That must have been stolen from the Chief of Namuka's wife. I knew he kept a tradition of passing a family heirloom and use it as a token of betrothal. We attended his wedding decades ago when he presented the pendant to his wife," Emere explained.
"Oh, I better return this then," Moana decided almost immediately.
"Yes, that would be the wisest thing to do."
In the morning, Moana came to Maikai's hut to invite him joining the rest of her family for breakfast. As they walked, Maui began to notice Moana's exceptionally lack of vocality, as though her mind wasn't there. Although he hadn't talked to her yet since last night, Maui had a presumption of what might be the culprit.
"Mo are you ok?" he asked with concern over the preoccupied expression she carried.
"Yes, I'm fine," she said without even looking.
"So, how's your talk with your Aunt?" he probed.
"It went fine," Moana answered tersely, pacing a few step faster, but the hulking giant seized her wrist and purposely stood on her way.
"What did she say?" Maui prodded insistently.
Moana rolled her eyes, "Nothing."
"What..?! You stay there a few hour over… nothing?" Maui deadpanned. "Admit it―she must have said something important. Right ―?"
"Maybe," Moana replied, detoured to walk around Maikai, but the man persistently shifted his large figure in front of her.
"Oh come on, Mo… can't you at least spill a little bit?" he whined.
"No," Moana crossed her arms defiantly.
"But I'm going to accompany you to Kailua, don't you think…it would make sense if I.. ―"
Moana feigned an irritated scowl,"I told you ―I could go there alone. It's you who are offering me to tag along."
Maui sighed exasperatingly. "Fine fine… I'll do anything, but please, tell me―what did your auntie say?"
A smirk danced across her face as a plan of mischief landed on her mind."Anything?" Moana repeated. Maui didn't like the way she smiled, but he had very little choice.
"Yes. Anything!" Maui said resolutely.
"Ok." Moana finished. You are gonna truly regretting this, Mister.
That night, when the full moon rose from its bed, Maui sneaked out from his fale to meet Anahera on their point of rendezvous.
Maui had never seen a bathhouse before, all he knew people were normally took a bath down the stream. But perhaps, Anahera, who was technically a princess, couldn't just bathe outside and mingle with peasants.
After asking for directions, a sight of a modest structure by the river came into view. It wasn't a building; it was merely a small geyser concealed by a wooden enclosure. The steam from the geothermal activity could be seen wafting in the distance.
He detected no one in the proximity, but the door of the enclosure clearly marked that the area were strictly women only. Maui suddenly felt a nervous twist in his belly realizing the lethally embarrassing prospect of someone running into him and misinterpreted his dirty intention for peeping the royal maiden taking a bath. Just as he held to that thought, he felt warm hand grazing over his shoulder―Maui nearly screamed. Thankfully, he was sensible enough to cover his mouth. It was only Tai.
"Hi… ugh sorry, did I―did I scare you?" the young prince grinned amusedly witnessing color left Maikai's face.
"Nah, of course not!" Maui naturally dismissed the claim, trying to act normal.
"I am glad you decided to abide with my suggestion," said the prince, teasing smirk growing in size. He opened the door for Maui. "Your love doctor is already inside; I'll make sure you won't be disturbed for a long time." He closed the gate. "Good luck!"
Inside the enclosure, the girl in question was already waiting, Maui could see her silhouette amidst the clouded mist of steam.
"Hi, Maikai!" Anahera greeted him cheerfully. Without preamble, she deposited herself next to Maui, perhaps a little too close to Maui's liking, but this was Anahera―everything in her dictionary had to be open and daring.
"Go and change, you don't want to ruin your loincloth. The bathing cloth is just behind the rack." (Just assume they had a piece of fabric that serve as a towel... ok, for simplicity sake, there might be a name for this.)
Nonchalantly, he complied.
Panting in the thick cloud of steam, Maui's skin became wet and glinted like oiled bronze against the golden candle light and his tiny lavalava skirt drenched with sweat (which incidentally delineating his god-chiseled torso and further enhancing his marvelous look). Needless to say, being in proximity with such a prime specimen of masculinity was exciting enough for Anahera, but when the handsome bachelor exchanged his lavalava skirt for a tiny towel around his waist, Anahera didn't waste any time to steal a peek when she thought he wasn't looking. Moana doesn't know how lucky she is, Anahera mused after secretly admiring Maikai's exquisite figure.
It didn't take her long to recover her poise and sense of propriety when she heard her guest clearing his throat loudly.
"Now," she began, smirking knowingly."I understand that you're having… a bit of love trouble?"
"Me? Love trouble?" Maui deadpanned."The only trouble I have with women is that I have too many of them," he refuted, scrutinizing non-existent blemishes on his nails.
Anahera rolled her eyes, shaking her head.
"Let me remind you that you only have less than two months," Anahera stated more seriously, knowing the future happiness of her cousin was at stake.
"You need all the help you can," Anahera suggested. "I even think some drastic measure need to be taken if you want your budding romance to blossom into something lasting and true rather than wilting on the vine."
It took Maui a few minutes to digest her words and letting the true implication and consequences to sink in. This girl was right, his first task now was to earn Moana's esteem and win her heart, and sadly he didn't have much time at all. If Moana was like many, shallow, vain type of girls that would easily be charmed by his rugged handsomeness and his husky, sexy voice―perhaps top it a week, he would have had her surrendering her 'single' title. But of course, Moana wasn't a type of person who evaluated others based on their superficial value. Maui remembered she told him sometimes inner strength and true beauty dwelled deep within―just like Hei Hei.
So, what can I do to charm her? Maui became thoughtful. Despite the fact he often boastfully claimed this title as a badass renegade, Maui was no hero. Besides, he was sure as hell that Moana would not need him to protect her―his action of escorting her to Kailua was to appease Tala's request and calming his own over-protective conscience that she would be fine. He sighed resignedly at the thought.
"Um, yes. I'm, er...completely out of my depth here. Help?" Maui fidgeted.
Anahera grinned, observing Maikai's debonair persona was reduced to a love-stricken like expression. Oh! This guy truly had fallen for Moana. Anahera could imagine a sappy love story brimming in the air. What could be more romantic than a valiant maiden meeting a stranger―a lonely man who only wanted someone to love? And what if this mysterious bachelor brazenly stood against Moana's villainous, tyrannical suitor, trying to win her heart and save her from a loveless marriage? And who knows, perhaps Maikai was some sort of hero or prince in disguise! That would've made a great legend―a romance tale of a lifetime! Anahera chuckled to herself.
After some of her sympathy and amusement had faded, she went on. "I give you a hint. You have to treat her like the queen of your heart without reducing her into a helpless damsel," Anahera chortled. "And be sincere, without condescension, impress her, without showing off, charm her, without laying off far too thickly… and most importantly be there for her, without being a nuisance."
"Uh, I never show off. I am the humblest creature ever, haven't you heard?" Maui laughed satirically, feeling that Anahera's patronizing advice began to get him.
Despite understanding Maikai's mocking reply, Anahera smiled. "Right, let's role-play… and smite me with your charm without doing all the not-to-do list I mentioned before."
Maui nodded firmly despite his own apprehension, while Anahera straightened herself, striking the best imitation of Moana's usual rather stern attitude and spoke. "So, is there something you wish to tell me, Maikai?"
"It would be my greatest pleasure if you would honor me with a dance," Maui said smoothly offering his hand.
The girl in front of him averted her gaze and scoffed, pretending to be entirely displeased with his offer and dished his arm."I don't dance with men," Anahera mimed Moana's intonation.
"Ugh," Maui floundered a bit, but quickly regained his composure and flashing his dashing smile as he threw another attempt."Here, I brought you some sweets. The finest, best tasting ever in the islands. Here! Have a try," he seduced enticingly, bestowing both his empty palm ceremoniously as though they were carrying a fragile family heirloom.
Inwardly, Anahera praised Maikai. She admitted this guy apparently knew how to play his game.
"I don't eat sugar. My Dad said it rots teeth," Anahera answered tonelessly, giving Maikai a hard time to woo her.
Maui grumbled begrudgingly. So, she played hard to get, huh? Fine!
"Oh, come on, Mo! Live a little. I am sure a little sinful treat wouldn't hurt. I've not slept the whole night just to make this especially for you," Maui appealed in earnest. "I've picked the sweetest fruit in the island, cooked them, spiced them, and dried them... I even managed to scald and cut myself in the process!" He pretended to extend his injured arm. "See? Now, don't you have a little sympathy for me?"
A smile bloomed on Anahera's lips. Secretly, she applauded Maikai for his excellent maneuver.
Maui knew the victory was near when he saw the girl smiled coyly while toying the tips of her hair with her finger―looking positively beguiled. He went on and dropped another ambush. "Besides, didn't I tell you?" Maui leered at her with his mesmerizing eyes. "They're just like you…" he paused, feeling an urge to detour to a slightly more satirical route. "Hard on the outside, gooey on the inside―Ugh, I mean, strong with a good heart!"
Anahera let a jittering laugh at Maikai's sense of crude yet astute humor.
"Nice save," she inserted after sobering."I hope you are aware that in real life―Moana would already beat you senseless with her oar by now, don't you?"
"Of course!" Maui scoffed, "I told you wooing girls wasn't exactly the problem." Because other girls aren't Moana. She is… well, special.
"Okay...okay. Let us approach this differently," Anahera suggested."Imagine that this is a competition, between you… and uhm,―that...that hunky, estranged fiance of hers? Tama, no...Tamato, Tomato - something?"
"Tane... Tanemahuta."
"Yes, him. So, if you are here to win her heart as a prize, which you could earn by showing her honor, respect and learning what pleases her best," Anahera advised.
"Hmmm….What pleases her best… ―?" Maui confided with himself. Then he remembered one of his last nights in Motunui, when he and Rapa were watching Tane, Moana and a few villagers celebrating a little feast. He clearly remembered how Tane's impeccable flute performance had stolen the night: how Moana's eyes twinkled in delight, smiling with unfeigned admiration as Tane continued to blow strings of sentimental notes.
"Yes," Anahera's voice broke Maui's musing. "If you knew what she liked or fancy, you should tell that―or rather show her," she said, smiling encouragingly at him. "Moana isn't sort of woman who's easily impressed with fancy words and eloquent speeches. It's action and deeds that earn her respect. You need to go out there and do things for her, be the man that she needs."
...be the man that she needs.
All right! Maui thought resolutely, thinking of a plan. He would approach one of the musicians and asked for a private lesson with them, practice some cheesy song over and over again until he knew it by heart. Maui didn't think he had any musician blood in him, but since he could sing, how could playing a musical instrument be any different? Then he would take her in the canoe, and he would surprise her by playing it, very dramatically while on the background, the moon was shining, the sea calm and still, a perfect mood for romance. And like a magical spell, those sweet, sentimental yet impressive tunes would win her heart. Eventually, her broken heart would heal, and Moana could see, not only Maikai was awesome and strong, but he could also do whatever Tane was capable of doing―Yes, Maikai would offer her the same deal and more! And... she would fall in love with him.
Perfect!
Jadeoccelot pointed out there is no sugar cane back then, so the sweets (or candy), I imagine in those days came from fruits that being preserved. Another one I am not aware of is how royals back then take a bath. While commoner took a bath in the river, collectively, I had a feeling that it won't be the case for the royal family. Thank you for reading, I will do a giveaway on the next chapter, but participants must be a registered FF net or Ao3 user. Chapter 18 will be posted soon roughly four days from today. Meanwhile, I just create a new Moana fic―still in a very early stage to see whether people would like me to continue or not. Please let me know your thoughts :-)