Chap 25: Memoria of the Borderkind/ Bethmora flowers in bloom!

Laira

I'm not ready to- I replied.

Nuada's mind clashed with hot colours, orange and fiery. I gasped. "No I don't mean that. It came out all wrong. I don't want to talk about my elven father. He abandoned us when we were kids."

His voice was cold. "You assume I will behave like him. I am more honorable than the beast!" He stalked away from me and stopped a distance away. I was not hurt on my own account, but I experienced all his frustration, that he did not understand why I was blocking my mind.

Strange thing was- he seemed to have known of our father already? But I had not told him before now….

I came up beside him. "I am not assuming anything, Nuada. I like you and would like to open up more. But it is sad for me, to talk about my past. I never had the chance at a normal family. I don't want to sound pitiful and helpless."

This calmed him. He mentally arranged what to reply. "Forgive me, dear one. I thought it a personal grudge. I'm not like him. I would never abandon you. Allow me to take care of you both."

I nodded. His golden eyes were beautiful. I relaxed and melted into his embrace. I closed my eyes. Why do you shield your mind from me? Do not hold back. It is frustrating I cannot do more for you.

I smiled. "All right. Then does it mean I can request for you to repair and transport things for me?"

He grunted. "My arm isn't fully healed. It depends." That scowl was funny, it highlighted his ritual scar. "Dammit, you imp! Give me your hand."

Oh dear I couldn't let him sense that I felt stressed by his past. I wanted Nuada to continue his trust in me. He waited until I was ready.

No escape, he had a firm set to his jaws.

We held hands. He did not comment. We watched the iridescent water flowing naturally.

"Do elves like fishing?" I made a gesture of a rod.

Nuada cocked his head. "No. We don't use a rod. Normally we speak to the fish. Then they come of their own will. If the young fish come, we do not take them."

"Ah. That's magic! You got some?"

"I suppose. It is a small type of talent. But I do not have a lot of magic, like a wizard, or the other word… mage. Nor witchcraft."

I nodded. Don't need to be humble, it was fantastic! Yea Liz told me he could shift the vines, and just now the bench trick was cool. I said so and he beamed. "I was asking them for permission. Only that. Our race does not force. Magic requires a lot of mana, spare energy but it's not like that. I am a melee warrior."

"Still it's cool! You're magical too. Any elven magicians then?"

"Quite few." Nuada went on to show me where his friends and him played. Amazing! I could have been in our park, but never known the elves were here! Mentally I tried to calculate how much our age range was: I'm a bean and an elf would be a sapling? Haha.

I think the elves have an instinct which leads them to nature and they simply utilize what they need without corruption. Whereas, humans would clear the forest because they didn't understand its magic and purity. I could understand why Nuada hated them. But the humans are not sensitive or telepathic. "What's on your mind?" he asked.

"I really like this place. You trust me to keep it a secret?"

Nuada chuckled. "If you fail to, I shall discipline you thoroughly."

I folded my arms, my eyes narrowed and pouting. He laughed.

"Hey you cannot. You're not a barbarian! Oh shit you've a change of mind! Omigosh!" We shared some moments of mirth. I love inducing this serious prince to laughter.

"How far is it to your home, dear Halfling?" Nuada gestured elegantly ahead of him.

I cast around. "Huh? Couple of hours. I think we are definitely lost. I was listening to your stories all the way that I didn't note any landmarks."

He folded his arms. "Such little faith in me. Did you think I came unprepared?"

I laughed. "Nope. Precisely why I'm counting on you, so it's relaxation time for me." The elf slipped out a map, which he had marked with crosses and markings and led the way.

After emerging from this secret little 'hideout', there was a doorway to the human world. My friend said something musically to a bush which parted to let us out. Then his glamour was back in place. The air in our city was tainted compared to it. Walking distance to our house.

"I have total faith in you," I repeated, holding his arm.

"Really." His voice reflected disbelief.

I opened the door and rummaged among unopened letters and papers until their postcard appeared. "Here you go, have time to stay?"

Nuada smiled. "Yes. Till the morning. Did you like the outing?" I checked the dates, coming up next month. The flowers were called Elinora and bloomed for an entire week.

"Yes! Thank you!" I leaned against his stomach. "How do you predict when flowers bloom?"

"An innate gift. We all feel signs of life and growth."

He took a seat and waited. I took off my necklace, placed it on the mantelpiece and went in to get a jug of cool water. I handed Nuada a glass.

He finished it quickly. Pointing to my can, he asked, "What's that?"

I showed him. "Chrysanthenum and jasmine tea. Want a sip?"

"Yes." So I poured from the can into his glass. His expression reflected: discovery and pleasure. "Heavenly syrup. Do you know another name for such a delight?"

"Ambriosia?" it was the only name that came to mind.

He drank again licking his lips. "One of its names, called Honey of the gods."

"Is it lifegiving? That's what I read."

The elf swirled his glass, ambers pensive. "Perhaps. The Cupbearer used ambriosia to please the many gods. Thus they always look handsome or beautiful forever. My people harvested the flowers but never forgot to regrow more in their place. At the time we were all favoured by the deities. Centuries of peace and unity."

So perfect, mortals didn't share this favour though. Why did humans forget the sacredness of life and Nature and magical beings? They must have waged war with the fey, after centuries of peace. I was ashamed of them, my ancestors. Nuada gazed at me. I blushed.

"Um, I need to shower. Just relax."

After a while, his mental voice said Why are you shy?

No I'm not. See ya! I closed the door. Suddenly I felt exhilarated and romantic, yet uncertain. I let the water run and sang a folksong. Someone had sung this really long ago.

I did not understand the lyrics. Wait! A midsummer's night. Mom and I were walking home somewhere close to the fey regions. She began panicking when I started imitating a singer.

"Stop singing that!" Mom'd yelled.

"Why?"

"It's a song forcing us to join Them! The unhallowed fey. Your father returned to them. I can't lose you! All of them are faithless lovers. All of them!" She shook violently and I cried, denying my choice to join them. She struck home the importance of distrusting feyfolk. Father was one of Them, the outsiders, the unhallowed.

My eyes filled with tears now. She was wrong about them. Unhallowed meant unholy. Just because they believed in many gods didn't make them unholy. If I had been allowed to join them after all, I would not be stuck in this boring mundane world. I am an elf at heart. I won't deny it any more. My soulmate's company had apparently dissolved the barrier to these blocked memories.

"Lirael," he called. "What's wrong?"

I swallowed, washing my face. He could hear me perfectly. But I needed to be alone.

"I'm fine. I miss my … mother."

He replied, "I understand. Show me how she looks like. We can help to find her."

Not yet. No. She doesn't like your people. She won't want us to be together. I looked at my face in the mirror. Was our father still alive? He would be aged by now.

When I came out, Nuada waited outside my bedroom door. "Did something happen?"

I smiled. He didn't fall for it. "You were crying. Tell me."

I briefly explained. Except for the fey hating part. Nuada would be infuriated. I could only hope his telepathy didn't probe to that extent.

"Please sing it again." The prince held me close. I hummed the music. My gift pushed far back before… right after my mother's outburst, I tried to run away from home. I was among the crowds gathered at the crude stage. The singer's exotic lavender eyes roved as he strummed his guitar and sang. It evoked images of their beauty and living forever with them. I had liked the singer, enchanted by his very appearance. He looked so youthful. The other musicians bore wings. A serpent woman glided about in rhythm. Entranced. But I had not followed them.

Nuada tapped my shoulder. "So clear. Then what happened next?"

"I dunno. They look worse than you. I couldn't leave my mom and brother."

He nodded. "I know the place. It's the Crossroads of the borderkind. You were shy and hesitant to follow strangers?" His fingers lifted my chin. I smiled.

"Yup. Are half-elves welcome? I look more human."

"Will be. My gifts show that you belong with us. No one will cross me."

"I don't know. Anyway it was so long ago. I didn't remember till now. I don't fear your kind anymore Nuada." We were so near. His lips felt nice when we kissed. Don't be excited, only an oral kiss! No clothes off. He said I would have enough time to choose and decide if I wanted sex and children. Soulmates do not need to do those things, it's more like a Spiritual State. He will be even happier if I want to do those intimate stuff of course. His soft hair tickled my cheek. Nuada's scar had faded. His eyes closed gave me a chance to notice this.

Touching both hands – the mental kiss was like a meeting of souls. Exactly as Icecream and singing blending together. "This is real awesome!"

Nuada

"I share your sentiments. Don't lie to me." I frowned. "You just tried to lie to me again."

"Aw, I need to be discreet. Don't be mad."

"No, be honest with me. Lying is a human flaw. I won't be angry."

She said, "What happened to Fishman? He got hit."

I leaned back on the wall. We were seated on her bed. "No." I didn't exactly get him though I threw stuff. But that was not the point. "That is not relevant. The topic is no lying to me. You may be candid."

Laira looked disappointed for awhile. It worried me that she locked herself in the bathroom to cry. Her memories of the distant past had resurfaced. If only we had become friends earlier! Friends kept me sane. I had just lost Mother and the king drew away from me. My life had only darkness….

She still wanted to protect me. I am supposed to care for my saviour, not the other way round.

"Nuada your scar."

"Yes?" I traced with my index finger.

"It's less prominent. How did you get it? In war?" she asked. Her tone was accepting, meaning if I didn't wish to she would not force me. I glanced in the mirror. Indeed the scar was not as deep as before. I detailed the story, Nuala's pain when I received it proudly, my regrets that no elf wanted my scarred sister, yet I had no choice. Same as Liz, she replied, "You're so bad. Let me hit you on her behalf."

I smiled and accepted a soft punch to my arm. "I had no choice! Weren't you listening?"

"Nuada! If I were Nuala I should've bashed you up in public for that." She demonstrated.

I felt indignant. "Oh? As if I won't retaliate."

"When you retaliate, all would boo at you. Prince and princess brawling in public. As in stick figures of you both." That was so comical. We laughed.

Felt good. We continued our chat. I asked her what she liked and took them down. I really wanted to make her happy.

"I don't want to embarrass you. What should I do as your soulmate?"

She rubbed in the fragrant cream for my back. I smiled and closed my eyes.

"Don't. We look out for each other. That is all. A year is sufficient for you to learn about the elves. Sometimes I will explain. Observe and you will understand."

She groaned.

I awoke quite early the next day. I didn't want to go back to the Bureau so soon, after Saturday. We had to meet with stupid human agents for some conference to upkeep peace within the United States. I had to force a smile and stay in the cramped airconditioned cold place for hours. But when I called Abraham (usually Liz was still sleeping or I would not) he said it was necessary. I had to reach by one, another briefing!

"You gotta go? I don't want," Laira whined, kissing my cheek.

"I don't either. But duty calls."

She took out an envelope. "Oh I finished my letter. Here!" I kept it. We ate breakfast together. Then I took a shower. Dainin (elven for Halfling) Would you tire of me when the novelty wears off? If I became an ordinary person.

No! You're being silly again.

I combed my wet hair. My golden eyes indeed changed to a deep amber. Why didn't I notice? I am not. I need to confirm it for real. I pulled on my robe again, tying the sash.

"Wow! Can I watch?"

"No." I left the room. She opened the door gaping. Delightful!

"Hey! Why so fast?"

"Something you cannot do! Haha."

Laira looked at my bare feet. "Not magic boots… please please tell me how you moved so fast?"

I said it was a secret. Novelty and curiosity are part of elven heritage. My heart felt squeezed at the tenderness in her young face. I touched her cheek and whispered, "Keep your promise. I will see you for the flowers. Don't be late."

"Um Friday right? Yea I will be there." Laira came up to me and held me tightly. You're so special! My elf! I won't choose anyone else.

*******

I looked at the cellphone in frustration. There had been a call, but I missed it. Now I could not go to the section. "What is wrong, Nuada?" someone asked, approaching.

"I cannot find which is which."

"Missed a call?" I nodded. "Oh and you got unread sms." He pressed the buttons quickly. I felt helpless. Humiliating.

"Thanks. This one is call?" I asked again.

"Yep. The red is hang up. The tech's our thing. Just tell us and we'll help you."

The icons were baffling. Forget it. I called the person back.

"Hello? Sorry I missed your call. Was practicing."

"Nuada it's me Liz! Why didn't you pick up or reply messages?" she asked in a hurt tone.

"Oh. I am unsure how to operate it. Did not mean to miss so much. You could have spoken directly to me."

"Come. I will show you!"

This was a new model of phone. The previous one had been easier to use but I wrecked it. Cause: I threw it on the floor. In my day you simply meet at a pre-agreed place. I suppose the convenience is you can change the meeting venue by a call.

The humans made it look so simplistic. I tried to understand. "You got a lot here. Want to delete them? Not all are from friends. One's from Joe."

"I see. Yes how to delete?" I tried to do that. Joe's one was full of shortforms that I planned to call him back. A dizzying array of selections on the menu. But I smiled and tried to be patient with Liz's explanations. "if you're confused use the message and the call icons. Okay?"

"Yes I get it." I did not completely get it.

Breaktime. I called Joe from my room. "Eh Nuada? Why didn't you sms me?"

"My friend, I am sorry. I turned it off the whole time. I do not know how to."

He laughed at me. I grumbled. What did he expect? If he took me on in combat I'd flatten him. "Don't be a badsport. Wanna learn? We can show ya!"

"Just come for a spar. I will show who is superior."

"Ok ok sorry!"

Red also had this problem. His giant digits didn't handle little phones well. We observed the young humans doing special things with their phones. "Ha, so savvy eh? Look at 'em go, can race in some competition who's faster. Yo what you doing?"

One waved. "Swapping SIMs. Yea! I won!"

I didn't know what that meant. I picked up two things only: short messages and cell as a shortform. Baffling to my race.

During a training session, my cell shrieked. I was deafened. It had not happened before, damn! Wincing, I was completely lost. Luckily a woman offered to help me. "Sir you can turn it to silent mode."

"Please help me." As I instructed them in my specialties, they were my teachers too. Now I keep it permanently in the silent mode. Better for my ears too.

A girl was staying back. She asked me to teach them range weaponry.

I nodded. "My friends are good at it. I will ask the next time. What is your name?"

"Celia, um your- your Highness." She turned red while her friend was grinning.

"All right."

I never mustered bow and arrows competently. It is a myth that elves can use them skillfully. I have always excelled in melee weapons. It is the cowards' way to use range attacks from unseen places.

During a private session, we were in the room.

"I thought you can do everything." Liz pointed out while using a saber.

"No I cannot. Focus."

"Oh you're covering up." Impish smile.

"Don't embarrass me."

"Swear to a secret why not?" Now she started her attacks. Her blade was sheathed as with all beginners. I only allow the outstanding students to use the real blades to fence. I was pleased with her techniques. I fended her off easily.

Liz placed it on the rack and drank water. I leaned against the wall. She asked me the reason for not using the long bow.

"No story. Just can't. I don't like to."

"Why? A little story please." I smiled. Everything in my past was a fairytale to them.

"I'm no good. My aim was always off."

"Not all elves specialize right? Some can do both."

"Actually we do. Some of my people like Salem and Devan are adept with the bows. Mine is the spear. They like to use their weapons because we will be badly hurt at close range. But I have experience in close range combat."

She was on cloud nine from my compliments.

Friday night arrived. Elinora flowers are so rare and the last time I had missed viewing them. I hoped nothing would crop up. My friends had informed everyone. Typical of Uriel to enjoy sharing news. I slipped on a new black shirt and tied my sash. This one is a soft blue, I always loved Nuala in blue but had not worn it before. Quick brush of my hair. Abraham and my twin were early. I managed a smile for him.

"You are beginning to accept me, prince?"

Before I could answer, Nuala asked me where Laira was. "Soon." The demon was present with a group of mortals. I walked outside.

Where are you? Hurry.

I'm almost there, Silverlance. I could not see her anywhere. "Look up prince," a fairy whizzed by. The child was atop the shoulders of an elm treebeard. She patted his head. The giant creature picked her delicately. She held his fingers and stepped off with the slow movement down. I felt breathless.

"What in the world?" I gasped.

She hugged me. I added, sternly, "Don't tell me you speak gaelic. It's impossible."

*****

Laira

I wore a blue dress top with cutoff sleeves. Yay! It was Friday and I could go tonight on a date again! Did anyone know of our special friendship? I wished I could bring healing to him. His scar had faded, such a good sign. How will the flowers look like? I'm guessing they are blue as the sky. Nuada reminded me not to be late.

I had to go early to catch the special ride. Uriel waited with the elm treebeard, a giant tree guardian. "You got carrots? Can't wait to see Nuada's face when you reach!" So I earned a free ride with a great view! I wanted to surprise my prince! Haha.

Where are you? The elf called into my mind.

As he said this, I saw him, a tiny figure. His golden hair was vibrant. I patted the elm's head and said not to step on him. The elm's voice was deep. One last carrot and thank you in gaelic and I stepped off. Felt like a descending giant elevator, only with a rush of air.

Nuada's shocked face was worth it! He even opened his mouth. A few other elves were laughing so hard they could not stop. He grumbled something. Then he came forward and I hugged him. "What in the world? How?"

"Carrots. Yep I learnt a little bit to talk to him." I smiled up at the elm. The tree moved from side to side.

"That's impossible." Not so much anger as concern for me. He was out of breath. "You shocked me." Nuada looked into my eyes. Then he hugged me back. Our hearts beat in tandem.

On the way there, I fondled his sash. "Ooh, soft blue."

Then I tugged to see what will happen.

He stopped me. "If my pants fall I am going to hit you."

The flowers were glowing blue and violet. They were gorgeous! Little fairies fly about to illuminate them. The golden eyes were peaceful. He rarely looked like that.

I want to see into your mind too. Please. Nuala teased. You're not only his friend are you?

Haha. Okay. I took her hand as well. She beamed.

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