Chapter Text
Zoya was shocked. When Reuel first kissed her it was slowly, delicately like he was afraid she might break. He was always kind and reserved, but she realized that first kiss was a respectful test. She not only permitted him, she kissed him back more fervently.
This seemed to unlock a whole different personality for him. Or at least a side of himself he never showed to anyone but her.
For as sophisticated, polished, and proper an intellectual he might be, he now seemed a little bit wild, raw, instinctual.
She hesitated , smiling , laughing nervously.
He stopped.
“I am sorry that should not happen ......
It was inappropriate.”
“No.......... I’ve just never been with anyone . I’ve never kissed anyone even......”
Reuel was surprised.
Zoya was a little embarrassed. He had been alive many centuries .........
But as a priest? Would he have been celibate or was that only something only human priests practiced? Surely ,he had a great many previous women with whom to compare her.
“Have you ever-?” she asked tentatively.
“Loved someone? Yes, a long time ago. She died not long after the Great War . And so I said I would never love again . I just died along with her and went to sleep.” Reuel looked away, as though reliving a scene that had transpired just yesterday.
Zoya felt his sorrow even now. Without meaning to do so, he had turned his back to her. She stepped lightly behind him and put her hand on his shoulder, trailing down his arm, to reach his closed fist.
Reuel took her hand. “She died before we were together , Zoya . Elves are not like human men. We don’t take many lovers casually.
For us, choosing a mate is a serious matter . When one half the soul dies usually the other follows unless they are given strength by their attachment to their children to continue living in this world without their partner.”
Zoya felt more afraid – “Then Reuel you should be terrified of me ? Why, I am set to die in less than a week! Why of all would you choose me?”
She half turned ready to run away. She didn’t want Reuel to be hurt .
He refused to release her hand. “Please stay, Zoya, if you want to stay with me, please stay.” He gently released her and then when she turned back toward him, he gently placed his hand over hers .
“Why would you want me?”
“Love doesn’t ask why. It just is...... and I would rather love you for one week and be fully alive than live for another thousand years as a stone.” Reuel met her eyes, searching in earnest for her reply.
“Do elves and humans .....?” She was too embarrassed to ask her next question.
“Do we what, Zoya ?”
“Do we ‘match’ ?”
“Zoya , little elves are born the same as humans are , except with much less pain to the mother thanks to elven blessings. Where did you think they came from? Magic flowers?”
Zoya laughed and Reuel did too , she had never heard him be sarcastic with her . Even at the library when she thought that the cookbooks were magic , he had smiled, but never teased her. Perhaps he had been tempted to do so.
“It’s just,” Zoya was still nervous.
REUEL added softly :”My father was human and my mother was elven. Have you ever wondered why I don’t have the pointed ears? All the other elves scorned me at first. It is generally frowned upon. For the half elf children, at first, live almost as long as the elf parent; but with later generations, the lifespan shortens . Since humans out number us, there was a concern that elves and humans should live apart lest our culture and race be absorbed and vanish. The children’s link to magic also weakens compared to the previous generation.”
“Oh.” Zoya had never imagined Reuel an outcast in his youth. He must have worked hard to achieve the position of respect he now occupied.
“This other girl..... was she a human or an elf?” Zoya couldn’t stop prying.
“She was ....Human, Zoya, and she carried the mark......... just like you.”
“What ?” Zoya was stunned, and this admission felt a little awkward. She now understood why he wanted to help her and she felt a little ashamed and embarrassed. She thought she had been honest with Reuel when she confessed to him that she was Zoya, not Olga. However, now she realized she had one last confession to make. If he loved her, she wanted to make sure he knew and understood who she really was. A relationship so important, shouldn’t be forged with deceit. She still felt like she was someone else pretending to be Zoya, just as Zoya had impersonated Olga. So many layers of pretend! She was desperate to be honest.
“Reuel, there’s something you should know ........ I’m not just Zoya ........” Once she started, she stared past him and the words just tumbled out. She felt fearful that he would no longer accept her.
“I found a magic lectern one day in my world and it had the power to send me to other lives and other worlds , do you understand?”
Reuel looked surprised or worried , she couldn’t tell .
“You don’t think I’m possessed or crazy do you ?”
She just felt she could not deceive him .
But he had said humans could not do magic so he must not believe her.
“A sprite like fairy named Isabel helped me..... I don’t understand how the magic works....... I’m afraid once the curse is vanished I will be pulled back into this other world. A different Zoya will be here .”
Reuel grew very concerned. Oh no, maybe she had made a mistake! Maybe he wouldn’t love her now. But should he really offer his life to someone that was ingenuine? She couldn’t counterfeit him that way. She only worried, he would ask her who she really was, and she could no longer remember.
“Time shifting,” he responded somberly .
“Do you know about this?” Zoya was more curious about this now than her curse.
“It is a legend...... only a few have ever been chosen to do this for missions critical to history and the fates of many ....... however the only way to time shift is to jump into one’s own past or relatively, one’s future lives ...........”
“The same soul takes on many incarnations or personas but the aura is the same.” Reuel seemed now as intrigued as she was, but she felt more alarmed to be near the truth. “Do you mind if I take a reading?” He asked, gesturing with his hand palm side up.
Reuel was serious again. Intellectual. But he offered to investigate as if the matter was of great personal importance to him.
“How does one take a reading?” Zoya asked.
“Give me your palm.......” he gestured again.
Zoya did so. He said some magic words in elvish and painted a little dye upon her hand. All of a sudden, the runes began to glow and she could see colors around him and he around her .......:::
“It’s you?” He exclaimed quietly , letting her hand fall to her lap in disbelief.
Tears welled in his eyes , and he took a step back and buried his face in his robe for a moment .
“Wait, what do you mean?”
He called her another name in elvish that she did not understand.
“The one you lost before ...... after the war ...... what did I do to earn the mark?” She had to know what was the badge of honor and the gaze of darkness.
“You never did anything to deserve the mark ..... it was the work of Miggs’ dragon!” His voice cracked a little. “Your father was the human king of Lena and he was cursed by Miggs. In the beginning, his greed had been the spark that kindled the war; in the beginning her served Miggs to gain access to more power, however, Miggs only sought to advance his own power through sowing discord. When realizing his treachery and the cost, seeing the sky blackened, your father repented to Valtan. He helped him to divide east and west viera, and to establish the tree of light! Miggs blamed the king for his defeat, and so sought revenge with his final spell.
The mark was Miggs’ way of trying to ensure the line died out and lost power but here ..... you are ...... again...........”
“But why? Why should souls come back many times, no wiser than before, instead of living one long life like an elf? I don’t understand why Valtan would make us different!” She felt truly frustrated. It was unfair!
“Only souls that have unfinished questions come back . The soul remembers what the mind doesn’t .
I’ll show you , If you’d let me......” Reuel took a step forwards, and placed his hands behind her head, lightly kissing her on the forehead.
Zoya was alarmed by his attempted reassurances.
“Reuel, you don’t have to trick me and make me think I’m her; don’t trick yourself to deal with your grief .........” Zoya wanted to believe everything he said, she didn’t want to imagine that he might make up a reading as easily as she “read tarot cards “. What if her aura was merely similar as she was of the same bloodline? What if he was so driven by his grief that he reached a conclusion in error? She did not think him deliberately deceitful, but she didn’t want to take advantage of him or his past experiences.
“It’s no trick.” He answered .
And this time , when he kissed her mouth, he whispered some word and suddenly she remembered every past and future life she’d had . Vividly. The pain, once unlocked, was overwhelming, crippling . It was as though she could see his thoughts, and he could see hers . Both of them reeled for a moment after the revelation.
“That was a bit unfair ......” Reuel apologized. “That is why it is a blessing perhaps to not remember , forgive me .” Reuel sat down and hung his head. In his fervor to convince her, he had hurt her when he should have protected her. Had he gone against the natural order of Valtan? The tremendous pain, he never imagined it was greater than that which he carried all these years. Images of far off worlds and places he could never imagine on his own, had flashed through his mind. Painful deaths. Fire. Beheading. By Valtan, what had she endured!
“No,” Zoya said . “Thank you.”
She remembered everything now . She cupped his face in her palm, probably smearing a little bit of the ink from her palm, and gently turned his head toward hers. She kissed him . The kisses gradually turned into something more ....... they were glad Salvia did not return that night to disrupt them.
But finally everything in the world felt right and Reuel felt whole and Zoya wasn’t worried about her curse anymore. She was now more worried about Reuel.
In the morning, Reuel should have looked relaxed and happy but he looked more concerned at her as she slept . He sat up and started searching the old knowledge feverishly.
She had always enticed him with her youthful careless antics, but sometimes he saw her staring off so seriously, as though the weight of many lifetimes were on her and her soul was heavier than his. Now he understood. Part of her remembered each life and each death she endured, even before he spoke the word. She was an old soul in a young life. And now he worried he had spoiled things for her.
Had it been right to make her remember ?
Had he missed his only chance to save her with the destruction of the tree? After all this time she had come back to him and he had stupidly missed his opportunity!
More and more he hated and blamed Salvia for the destruction of the tree. Yet, he knew that he should forgive her .
Forgiving her might be the only way to restore the tree . Perhaps it was time they all remembered who they were. Perhaps it was time for all the elves to come home to their brethren, the night elves included . It was not right that they should bear their forefathers curse any more than Zoya should have the mark she carried .
More than ever he wished he could hear Valtan and ask him what to do.
“Reuel.......” Zoya called his name but reached for where she thought he should be without opening her eyes. When she found only empty blankets, she squinched her closed eyes and started to roll over in search of him. Watching her search, he almost laughed.
“I’m here,” he sat back down next to her pretending he’d never left her side .
“Oh, you left me here !” She batted him playfully as her eyes opened. Reuel was not good at lying. “I can feel the cold on your garment !!!! You brought the cold back in with you ! You’re supposed to stay here and keep me warm !”
“I’m sorry, Zoya. We can stay in bed all day after the curse is removed: I was searching .........”
“Oh, stop your excuses! It isn’t even time for breakfast . You’re talking too much.” She giggled thinking she once thought of him as silent and invisible. She tried to smother him with the pillow .
Now he did laugh, a warm, mellow sound . “The sun is up. It’s passed time for breakfast. Your stomach just isn’t awake yet.” He strong armed the pillow away from her. It was silly that they had to keep the pillow and the blankets in the pack he carried all day. How spoiled they were!
When she feigned resistance to the prying away of the pillow, she fell forwards onto him. “I should have made you breakfast because once you are fully awake, you will be very hungry….” He smiled.
Zoya nodded sitting up with a yawn and a stretch.
Given their activities the night before , she was very hungry .
“But can we do it again ?” she asked aloud.
“No, you’ll kill me .” He pushed her a little as he stood to his feet. Zoya didn’t find the last joke funny.
“Well, then I’ll help make breakfast.”
“No, no! He wagged his finger at her ....... now I know for sure you want to kill me!” He had not forgotten her and Salvia’s attempt at the hot sauce recipe.
“Reuel, stop joking! I’m sorry about the hot sauce.”
“Ok...... I just want to give a treat to you.” He shook his head, eyes closed, still smiling.
Salvia showed up.
“ What the Ananiel just happened here ?!” Salvia dropped whatever she was carrying to her feet and her jaw dropped almost as low.
Oh no! Zoya pulled the blanket up over herself.
“What, now you try to pretend modesty? What am I your mother ? “Salvia tossed her bow across the camp nonchalantly, and her dagger just as nonchalantly into the tree near where they had left their clothes. “This seems to be the pile in which to discard such things,” Salvia pursed her lips and Zoya couldn’t tell if she was teasing or really upset.
“No , even elven swear words sound pretty and I think I mixed up hananiel “may the gods favor you “ with Ananiel “wrath of the gods !”
At the welcoming ceremony.” While she should have been embarrassed to be caught without her dress, Zoya was immediately shaken by Salvia’s exclamation. The memories Reuel unlocked contained lots of elvish, and she now realized how much of a fool she had sounded. She could understand them without trying!
“I swore at them ?!” Zoya smacked herself in the forehead . Why did the words have to be so similar and have opposite meaning ? Maybe because rather than simply saying ‘favor’, the concept of favor was described as without wrath . ‘May you have the gods favor’ more literally translated to ‘may you never cross the gods’ wrath!”
“Haha!” Salvia laughed coldly . That is what you’re worried about?
You should worry about Reuel’s reputation! He will have to give up his position as priest and live in Lena! He will never be able to show his face in polite Aurethel society again ! Unless , you want me to keep your little secret?” She stood over Zoya, head tilted, coy smile toying with her again.
Why did Salvia pester her so relentlessly?
“Truly!” Zoya balked. “Aurethel is dark, the tree destroyed, and you think they care about who the priest is sleeping with?” This may have been a low blow. Salvia’s face fell and she stalked away gesturing wildly with her arms.
“Yes! The tree happened last week and is old news. Don’t remind me!” Salvia tossed a little pebble. She sat back, one knee up the other leg stretched out beneath a little tree so that she was shaded from the morning sun.
Zoya shook her head. They both new that the tree’s explosion didn’t just ‘happen.’
“They will definitely care who their priest is sleeping with!” Salvia was stuck on that note. “Even if he restored the tree of light , they would welcome me back before they would accept him!” She said ruefully .
“Really?” Zoya turned pale and then flustered . “Is loving me so great a sin?” She clutched the sheet beneath her chin
Pffft! Silvia puffed her hair out of her eyes and shook her head at Zoya .
“Well you’re rather spicy ....... you’d be worth sinning for - but the old man ? Gross !” She had at least lowered her voice so Reuel couldn’t hear .
Zoya rolled her eyes . She should expect this from salvia by now .
“Breakfast girls !” He called as if oblivious to the entire conversation.
Zoya didn’t mind that he called them girls. She knew he meant nothing demeaning by it, but was finally relaxed with them.
“Well next time you decide to wage war against each other , will you warn me so I can go out hunting wahaug or something ? I’ll be sure to come back ....... later ...... much later ....... “ Salvia eyed the breakfast keenly.
“Of course if you left for a week you could come back and not worry about it; I’ll be dead by then….” Zoya’s voice trailed off melodramatically, but no one else found it funny.
“I said I’d help you break your curse and I will,” Salvia said seriously . “After all, it is the one thing Reuel and I agree on , and after you’re gone he will try to kill me .”
“She’s probably right !” he answered. “The truce only lasts as long as you do!” Reuel handed her plate encouragingly .
Zoya tried a bite . Delicious !
“But wait ?’ What after the curse is lifted? Then will you try to kill each other ?”
“That Depends,” Reuel eyed Salvia suspiciously.
Salvia was merrily gulping down Reuel’s breakfast. “Haha!” she laughed, her mouth half full of the food he’d made for Zoya. “He thinks he will get time to decide and make the first strike haha!” She smeared the crumbs away from her mouth with the back of her hand. “If I decide, he will never know it! Assassins always strike first ! hehe.”
Zoya turned red
She didn’t care for this banter . Half jovial and half serious. Why were elves so difficult to read?
“Truly?” Zoya’s breakfast tumbled out of her mouth with a cough.
“No,” Reuel shook his head . “We will live and let live if peace can be achieved in Aurethel.”
Salvia smacked her lips and stuffed a big bite of Reuel’s breakfast into her mouth so she wouldn’t have to say anything else. As much as she had hated the fairies, she found them amusing. But peace is so boring…..she chortled to herself. No, she wouldn’t kill him, she decided. It was much too amusing to torment him forever!
They set out after the breakfast to resume their trek to the dragon’s cliff. They could see a mountain out in the distance, but the trek would take them days.
Reuel, who was usually so quiet, kept humming some tune from the hymns of Aurethel .
Zoya had so many memories now running through her mind, but none as sharp and clear as what happened last night and so it was rather hard to focus . She was grateful Reuel had shown her the truth but now she wasn’t sure how to process it . She alternated between mulling over things and trying to just block it out .
She walked alongside him, and gradually his hand found hers.
All of a sudden a pebble struck Reuel . He turned , prepared to fend off an attack and saw only a fairly annoyed Salvia .
“Must you be so cheery ? It’s not just annoying , it’s insane .”
“Why don’t you scout ahead then?” He made no attempt to disguise getting rid of her nor apology for his incessant humming .
He smiled a tiny smirk of victory as Salvia shrugged and trudged ahead . “Good thing Zoya slows you down and it won’t be long before I’m out of earshot,” she whined.
“Reuel?” she tugged at his hand lightly.
“Hmmm? What, Zoya ?” He looked at her adoringly, and she gushed a little. “You don’t hate my voice too do you?”
No! Of course not,” she laughed and then added softly. “I think we should start traveling at night , dawn, and dusk for Salvia , and take shelter in the day . The light - it’s hurting her. That’s why she is so grouchy.”
“Well it will be colder and harder to see . Someone could get hurt…..” Reuel made a faint attempt at an excuse.
“Not if Salvia helps us . Besides we will see more of the stars will we not ?”
“The sun is a very selfish star . To hide its companions from view all day!” she winked at him and gave him a light nudge .
“You are good to think of Salvia,” Reuel acquiesced . “Perhaps after we cross this plain the moor or the Forrest will offer her some respite. I think you are correct her skin appears burned. I can heal it .... but only if she’ll let me. She still thinks I’m the hypocritical fairy. And she’s not just burned by the sun. She is jealous of me. She really likes you, you know…..”
Zoya was embarrassed. She had not thought of Salvia that way, but that didn’t mean Salvia didn’t think- oh dear! it would make sense why she was constantly teasing Zoya and tormenting Reuel. “I’ll make her do it, accept the blessing,” Zoya said, trying to conceal the awkward shock in her voice, although her face turned red.
When they stopped briefly for lunch, Zoya cried a little about the blisters on her feet . She put them in a clear little stream and enjoyed the sensation of the fresh cool water around her toes. Zoya started splashing and wading deeper into the wide part of the stream, and as she swirled and made little ripples she watched her reflection dance . The water was so clear here ! She was reminded of the little pool on the day of her baptism as the “holy maiden.” She remembered how she slipped and Reuel caught her and resumed his serious praying .
She could feel his eyes on her now and he was not praying, though his gaze was approximating worshihpfulness.
“Now that you know who I really am, and I’m not a holy maiden , you can come in.... you know ...... I’m the same person I was last night .”
Reuel looked a little sheepish and shook his head . “Get out now ! You’re going to fall into a bog or some quick mire !”
“Are you scared?” Zoya winked mischievously and tried to splash him.
“Really, Zoya please come out now! Rest a little so we can travel tonight.”
“Ok ...... Salvia is right . You’re no fun.” She saw his face fall.
Zoya pretended to slip . She was in a darker part of the pool and she held her breath submerged.
“Zoya ?! Zoya ?!”
Reuel splashed awkwardly in the water. He realized his sandles were pulling him down into the mud and so fumbled to get them off his sinking feet before he tossed them back to the shore behind him. This was taking much too long! Throwing his usual caution to the wind, he plunged headlong to swim to Zoya . When he found her she did a nice little back float and spurted water in his face like a coy little mermaid.
“That was a not a thing to tease!” He scolded and coughed even as he carried her to the embankment.
He pretended to be stern but she could tell he was amused.
“Salvia has not been a good influence on you,” he added.
“Oh no, you cannot blame Salvia! Not this time! I take all the credit for this myself . You forgot I have survived on the street through my trickery.” Zoya chortled happily as he carried her up onto solid ground.
She watched him struggle a bit. “But I am sorry I worried you just to get my way. You’re just so stubborn.”
“Don’t apologize, Zoya.”
He set her down and was trying very hard not to look at how her clothes were clinging to her . He could see her so much better in the daytime and he liked what he saw even though he memorized every curve , every feature by touch .
“Reuel, I’m cold again......” she pressed her face closer to his and stopped short of his mouth.
“Well now we have to light a fire and dry our clothes and fire will give away our position,” he leaned away grumpy. “But we can’t have you being cold,”
he was trying to suppress a short shiver himself .
He wanted to do nothing more than to help her out of those wet clothes..... he needed to escape. He tried to distract himself gathering some kindling for the fire, but his clothes were sopping wet and that dripped all over the kindling, making it hard to start a fire. He’d have to use a little holy oil. He never carried a match. He’d just use magic. A trick that used to amuse him was now mundane.
They didn’t have time for all this playing around . If they didn’t make good time , he’d lose her for good this time!
Zoya watched his bustling, brooding steps.
When they lay down to sleep, she kissed at his ear and he pretended to be asleep .
“Hmmm......” Reuel squinted his eyes closed tighter.
She was persistent he would give her that!
She tried to nip at that non pointed ear just a little and he got a little upset .
“Zoya ! Please rest !”
“You’re not tired of me already are you ?” She backed up.
“What ?! Of course not.” Reuel rolled over to face her. “Zoya, I’m just .... concerned. Save your energy . We need to make good time.” He traced his finger over her forehead and down her nose lightly.
“I don’t want to spend my last days just trudging through the wilderness wearing blisters on my heels . I want to enjoy my time with you,” Zoya was not teasing now. Genuine tears threatened to spill over.
“What ?! Have you given up ? I want More time with you! And that means we will have to maintain a good pace now!”
Salvia had not come back from her scouting yet . Zoya started to cry a little; Reuel acknowledged it was no ruse.
“No, no please don’t do that!” He scolded as though she could help it. Reuel knew how to deal with an angry enemy but he was not good at comforting people who were prone to crying . It made him feel helpless.
He tried to gather her into a hug by putting his arm over her. “What would make you feel better?”
He sat up and pulled her close to him.
“Just hold me, and sing your song , ok. ? I can’t get all those images out of my head .......”
“Oh, Zoya; I’m sorry . I shouldn’t have done that to you.” He rocked her back and forth lightly. “That was selfish of me to want you to remember.”
Scenes of the Great War would not stop scrolling through her mind . The sky burning clouds rolling up like a scroll. The screams of people , the wails she had heard in the elf queen’s vision.
REUEL sang to her and his baritone voice smoothed away all her nerves . He traced her face gently above her eyebrows and over her forehead, pretending to sweep away the tendrils of the negative thoughts that cling to her and sapped away her energy and resolve.
Zoya laughed as he pretended to throw one of the invisible bad thoughts away.
“There goes a worry!” He flicked his fingers like he was trying to rid himself of a pesky spider. “And that one ! An ugly memory !” He pretended to pull one from her temple as he soothed her tension. “And this one : the many tentacled fear of the future ..... it’s nothing but a leech!” He traced his fingers through her hair.
“Get out you! You have no power here!” He tossed the fear away.
She laughed and closed her eyes. At least he wasn’t trying to exorcise her. They lay side by side and he sang for her again and soon she felt herself falling into heaviness and then weightlessness .
“I love you , Reuel .”
“I love you too , Zoya ......”
Now Reuel found it hard to sleep . He watched the sun set and he started to worry that Salvia was not back yet. Crimson red spilled over the horizon, and purple twilight covered the foothills, blanketing the little woodland and the moor.
He held her in his arms and listened to her breathing slow into her peaceful sleep .
The worst memory that kept replaying in his mind was how she had died last time .
How they had just been talking and all of a sudden she fell. When he rushed to her side to check her pulse there was the mark......
He had all this time to figure it out ...... how had he not tried to release her families curse before now ? After he lost her he gave up , and that was inexcusable. How many others had died? He chided himself silently. And worst, would it cost him their lives together again?
“This time , if I fail you , I’m coming with you ......” he thought and tried to push it out of his mind . He kept his fingers over her wrist and his face close enough to feel her breath. He kept staring at the mark. It was enough to drive him mad.
I cannot sleep until you are healed .....
he decided to carry her and follow on ahead to see if Salvia had doubled back yet. Perhaps humming the Hymns of Aurethel had warded her off for good!
Zoya stirred a little and he said the magic word . The word that elf parents always use to send their squirmy rambunctious children into a deep and dreamless sleep . He could chuckle to himself at how humans struggled with so many things that he found so easy .....but then, perhaps he was missing out on something . Was magic cheating ? Was it a short cut? All his uses for magic seemed like trivial party tricks compared to removing the curse and saving her life.
“There’s an easier way to go about that,” Salvia’s voice cut through the silence and Reuel sighed, knowing that it had been too soon to hope for respite. Reuel turned to his right, struggling to carry Zoya and not jostle her or bump her head against the dense foliage in the wooded terrain. He found Salvia riding up on horseback, leading another horse at her side .
“Zoya doesn’t weigh much.” She made light of his predicament struggling to carry her over the little knoll. “You two will have to share.”
Ruel froze in his tracks. “Did you steal these?” he was still distrustful.
“Uh-uh, No , I found these,” Salvia corrected.
“Salvia, you know what I mean!” Reuel raised his voice a little. Watching him get upset was really fun to her. It was the only fun she had in a long time.
Should she tease him more? They needed to get going. Anything to get him to shut up and get on the horse. “No, really they are wild horses,” Salvia gestured widely for him to see, and beckoned him. “Up, up!” He would not pass Zoya up to her, so she slid off her horse’s back.
“Wild ? And you want me to get on?” Reuel’s eyes were wide. His draw dropped a little.
“A horse is a dangerous and untrustworthy animal.....” he said softly, looking at the horse as he might a demon.
“And you want to go find a dragon .....” Salvia couldn’t resist the irony.
“A dragon is not an animal......They are another sentient race,” Reuel justified.
“The use of animals as slaves is forbidden to the elvish race,” he added with emphasis.
Salvia rolled her eyes . Ananiel! This man was exasperating
“I tamed the horse using the same word you just used on her . Now you tell me which one is unethical. Do you want to get to the destination in time to save her or not? And you can drop the priest act. You can’t play holier than thou with me! You already broke your oath by taking her, and then moreover, you’re half human, so elf rules shouldn’t ever apply to you anyway!” She scowled a little.
She was right . He loathed to admit it but nothing would make atonement if they arrived at the mountain and it was too late for her .
“It’s just,” Reuel could not gather another protest.
“Oh my ! Reuel ! The great and mighty mage ! You’re afraid of horses .......” Zoya cackled raucously.
“Yes ........ I don’t trust them ..... “ he admitted his defeat.
“And you want to ride a dragon?” Salvia couldn’t contain the explosion of chortles.
“Dragons share thoughts with their riders they don’t toss them to their deaths .......” Reuel still refused to set Zoya down. He was using her as a shield to prevent having to get on the horse.
“Ah-but dragons also fly miles above the earth and at speed twelve times that of a horse .....” Salvia motioned with her hand like a little zipping and zooming dragon, and stepped closer to the terrified Reuel.
“Your fear of horses is illogical,” she added emphatically. Raising her eyebrow, and ducking her chin, she paused for effect.
Reuel grimaced, and shook his head. “Can’t I just walk alongside the horse to lead it while Zoya rides ?”
Salvia couldn’t believe this. This was quickly turning from humorous to exasperating. “The purposes isn’t to save her feet . It’s to get to our destination –“ she bobbed and whistled lightly.
“See, look at the horses eye,” Reuel. Salvia couldn’t help poking more fun at him . “It’s cute! Does that look like a demon to you?”
“It’s a vicious devil and I have been kicked and thrown more than once,” Reuel growled at the horse who was unintelligently chomping mild manneredly at the grass.
“Well..... Reuel if you don’t learn to trust the vicious devil and her vicious devil horse then, you won’t ever make it.” Salvia turned her back to return to her mount.
Reuel knew she was right. Damn it!
He hated it but she was right .
So he got on the horse . Awkwardly. He had to wake up Zoya so she could wrap her hands to hold onto his wasit while he held onto the mane . The whole situation was precarious.
“Reuel, when was the last time you tried something new?” Salvia taunted and chided trying to help him position his feet and guide the horse with the bridle and rein she had made .
“Oh wait ? It was last night !!!!” She started snickering ......the centuries old virgin…….
“Well, tonight you will learn to ride….” She suppressed another laugh with a cough.
“What did I miss?” Zoya blinked sleepily.
Reuel had heard enough of Salvia’s banter. “Zoya, hold on!” The moment her hand tensed,Reuel slapped his horse smartly with the rein across the withers and the horse took off. He and Zoya lurched awkwardly until they fell into the motion.
“This is great !!!!” Zoya loved the wind whipping her hair . She wanted to shout and whoop and put her hands up to the sky. So she did.
“Zoya ! You’re not holding on!!!!” Reuel scolded.
“I don’t need to!” A now fully awake Zoya hollered gleefully, about to topple backward.
He grabbed her hand and held her wrist around his waist .
“You will need to,” He tapped twice lightly with his heels and the horse sped up even more .”We are going to race Salvia!” His brow knitted competitively, Zoya was now half interested and half terrified.
“By Valtan ! He can ride!” Salvia said under her breath feeling strange to use the light elves expression, even if mocking a little . Why here is a chance I must exploit ! she thought to herself while tapping her horse, “Hup! Hup!”
Salvia had of course the advantage as her horse had one rider and not two..... she may have also kept the fastest horse for herself ....... but as raced across the moor, they neared the wooded tree line of the foothills, she started to slowly shorten her horses stride so that Reuel could pass her . She would let him feel like he won just this once , just this once . It wasn’t as tho they had a predetermined finish line and it would do no good to tire their mount before a long journey.
The horses saved them several days. They neared the edge of the dragon cliff by dawn.
The cave entrance seemed sealed with an enchantment. Reuel thumbed through the ancient tome on dragons trying to find some incantation to break the seal.
Magic shimmered over the cave entrance like ripples of water.
“Why don’t we just call out to them?” Zoya asked over her shoulder, daring to place her hand into the mystical rippling wave.
“Zoya! Don’t!” Reuel dropped the book.
It was too late, the ripple expanded over Zoya into a bubble and pulled her into the cave.
She could see, but not hear her companions on the other side.
There were one-two-three-four! She gasped at the size of the fourth dragon. Zoya squealed gleefully. They would surely break her curse…..if they didn’t eat her…..how long had they been asleep? The smallest dragon was snoring and stirring, little spouts of flame coming out with each snorting little snore.
They must be waking up on their own? Perhaps the destruction of the tree, and the awakening of Miggs had been the cue?
What was that word that Reuel used to make her sleep? She knew there was another word to make her wake, but she thumbed through the new memories he had given her to see if she could recall the word for ‘wake.’ She said it, and nothing happened. Then she thunked her forehead lightly, as she recalled humans had no magic.
She went back to the cavern entrance and motioned for Reuel to come through.
He did without hesitation.
“Reuel, say the wake up word,” Zoya whispered.
“Why are you whispering if you want them to wake up? If they are magically enchanted to sleep, even shouting won’t wake them!”
“Reuel, of course we need to wake them or why else did we come all this way,” Zoya was growing impatient, but Reuel said some words and the cave started to glow with runes. Runes that were not elvish, but the old dragon language.
“This could take some time to translate,” he rubbed his chin thoughtfully. Reading dragon language was not something that he had practiced regularly.
While Reuel was admiring the mystical shining runes, Zoya decided to climb onto the back of the little white dragon and try to pry it’s eyes open. It’s little feet were moving as if running in it’s sleep.
“Zoya, no!”
It was too late. The little dragon lurched upwards, cat like eyes darting wildly.
“Owwwww!” It howled.
The mystical force field flattened and faltered. The little dragon ran back and forth with Zoya still clinging to his neck.
“Wake up! Wake up! Mother! It’s got me!” This dragon was just a child.
He stopped abruptly, sending Zoya tumbling.
“Oh!” The little white dragon sat back on his haunches and looked at Zoya like he had found a new pet. “It’s a cute little hooman gurl!” He picked her up and practically dragged her to the sleeping mother dragon.
“Can I keeps it!!” He started tugging at her.
Mother dragon did begin to wake up, with a sneeze.
Fire blasted out. Zoya fell backwards.
“Zoya!” Reuel grabbed her. “I think we should go back for now….”
Mother was wheezing and stirring as though she might have a bigger impending sneeze of flame coming.
Even the rollicking white little dragonling, started backwards past his sleeping littermates.
“Runs, yes to the light!” He screed in elvish and bounded on all fours to the cave entrance.
He was not the mighty wise and noble creature Zoya had imagined would save them. But that mother, she was impressive! Reuel and her ran toward the entrance, and when they emerged into the light, they pulled a startled Salvia to the side, just in time. Flames burst out of the entrance followed by coughs of smoke. The horses ran away, never to be seen again.
One by one the dragons all woke up, and Reuel insisted on some time to speak alone with mother dragon, to bargain on Zoya’s behalf.
Reuel felt he had failed in his mission as a priest. He had failed to guard the sacred tree, and worse he had failed the young girl who came to him for help. He should have not waited. She had sat and basked in the very light that should have been her healing but he waited, not wishing to disrupt the ceremony or to humiliate her publicly.
Now, it would be too late to restore the tree. At least for Zoya . The elves could have their light again, but the light that was Zoya would be permanently gone .
Reuel could not let that light burn out.
“Please, there must be some other way you can remove the mark,” he implored the dragoness.
“There is,” she moved forward, head turned to evaluate him with her slanted snake-like eyes flitting back and forth. The slits narrowed and she chuffed air through flared nostrils as she extended her claw and pointed it at his chest. “but the only way to get rid of a curse if it cannot be removed is to transfer it. There is no postponement.”
“You mean——“Reuel held his hands to his chest. “I could take her curse for her.”
“Yessss,” the mother dragon hissed. And then shrugged . “But why would you do that ?”
“She is a nobody ....... and more so a human , their lives as short like flies anyway...... you are a priest , a long lived elf....... what is she to you?”
The dragoness’ words stung.
What was she to him? Reuel knew that he should not care, but he did.
Not just because it was right to be compassionate;
not just because he pitied her .
No, Reuel felt something stirring in him , feelings that had lain dormant; which he thought would never visit him again beyond his youth........
He didn’t know how or when it began, but he loved her. He could only guess as to why: everything she felt was visceral , she laughed , she cried , she feared , she mourned. She was not like the smooth stalwart stone that he had become . And she stirred feelings in his heart he no longer wished to silence or repress . Foolhardy though they may be ! That day that her face had come so close to his as she sought comfort amidst her despair; he had wanted to gather her close to shield her .
She was really just a child , he reminded himself .
Still, he didn’t want her story , which should only be beginning , to be at an early end.
“I will take the curse for her!” Reuel stepped forward without further deliberation.
“You? Why?” The dragoness was testing him rather than mocking him.
“I love her ,” Reuel replied adamant in his admission.
“Love is a good reason..... it is the only thing worth living or dying for,” she paused. “Yet you do not take her curse because you love her......”
“What do you mean?” Reuel asked the elder dragoness.
“You take her curse because you are afraid to live again..... now that she has reminded you how, you don’t want to live without her ......” The Dragon Mother was perceptive.
“You fear !” She poked at him with her talon, challenging him, scolding him.
“Perhaps,” Reuel made an effort to shake off her rebuff and to straighten his garment.
“However is it not natural to fear the loss of what one prizes most?”
“Yes.......love and fear , inextricably linked . But perfect love casts out fear.......... one should not be afraid of living; not be afraid of dying; not afraid of losing ......” The Dragoness seemed to test him. She drummed her claws against the ground, asking him not to waste her time.
“I’m afraid no matter how long I live I’ll never master that kind of perfection,” Reuel admitted honestly .
“Very well.......” Mother dragon drawled. “If that is your decision I will perform the ritual for you.” She sighed, shaking her head. Her dragonlings would need a strong spirit to bind their magic to before confronting Miggs-a priest would be preferable to a human girl with no natural ability or to a fallen night elf. She thought perhaps, his choice illogical, but when had love ever been that?
“Thank you,” Reuel bowed slightly . “However , I ask you not reveal to her that it is a transfer . I will tell her only that it is being removed otherwise she will object !”
“Lie to the one you love ?” Mother dragon shook her head disapprovingly. But she said nothing to Zoya as she performed the ritual to remove her curse.
The next day was Zoya’s birthday and she was so relieved that she would wake to see the sun. She wanted to stay awake all night to watch it rise .
“Zoya if the curse had not been removed what would you want ? How would you want to spend your last night ?” Ruel asked her.
“Well, I suppose I would want to fall asleep in the arms of someone I loved , someone who loved me too!”
As if wondering at his question, she boldly leaned over against his shoulder .
Reuel did not protest. “Sleep, Zoya . You will see the sun rise , I promise .”
“I know,” she sighed happily. “My mark is gone!” At last she could finally rest, as she had never rested since attaining the age of understanding.
As Zoya slept, Reuel listened to her deep breathing; to her heartbeat against him. He closed his eyes to sleep.
While Reuel and Zoya slept on their last night together, mother dragon approached softly.
“Silly elf . She whispered I was only testing you.” Mother dragon knew her time was at an end. The curse held nothing over her. She muttered her last words and took the curse of the dragon mark on herself.
She chuckled a little as she went to her final rest . Wouldn’t Reuel be surprised to wake up ! It had been fun teasing him, and teaching him. She had missed the company of elves . They thought themselves so wise and beyond humans but really to a dragon as old as the earth itself they were just the same . “Dear children , the world belongs now to you.” Gaia , the mother dragon released her spirit . Her soul was tired and she was ready . She passed away, the mark of Miggs dragon on her foreleg was still green at the edge .
In the morning Reuel awoke . He was a little disappointed to be awake because he didn’t want to worry about dying any moment . He hated suspense . But zoya was so happy she had no idea he had taken the mark . He rolled up his sleeve, self consciously checking while she was not looking. But to his shock : the mark wasn’t there! He checked frantically . The mark wasn’t on him.
“Zoya,show me your arm again ?”
“Reuel, why are you so worried it’s really gone !” Zoya beamed merrily.
“Then how .......” Reuel trailed off.
That was when they noticed Gaia .
Her sons gathered around her mourning as only dragons can do . Silence punctuated occasionally by a shrill bird like cry.
“Mother took the mark. Izzzzzz just as well ........” the little white dragon said.
“Did you really think she’d give you up priest ? You are the ones we have waited for,” the black drake enjoined.
“Izz ready to complete our mission,” the largest red drake raised himself, motioning for them to follow.