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Sharlayan was generally a chilly isle, and thus experienced many moons of ice and snow. But as the snow thawed and winter turned to spring, gentle rains would descend upon the land, returning life to the sea-drenched soil.
Today’s rains were much different; the clouds dropped torrents of water, beating on the roofs like Byregot hammering on his anvil, and lightning cracked open the sky, thunder following in its wake.
When Erenville came into the kitchen to make a snack, he spotted Elayne outside on the back porch, pushing herself in the swing bench with her feet, head leaned back and eyes closed to listen to the downpour. Erenville brewed some warm chai tea, poured two mugs, and went outside.
Elayne’s eyes flew open when she heard his footsteps on the wooden planks, and her lips curled into a smile. “Hey, sweetheart,” she greeted, taking his proffered mug and drinking deep.
“I figured I would join you if you insisted on staying out in this monsoon.” He took a seat next to her on the swing and wrapped an arm around her shoulders, taking a sip of his own chai. “I still don’t understand why you love the rain so much. Surely you’ve been drenched in Steppe rains enough times to hate it.”
“You know how when Heathen girls bleed for the first time, they have to give up their favorite foods and hobbies for a whole year, then later when children reach adulthood, they have to spend a week in the wild by themselves?” Elayne asked.
“Of course. My people have similar traditions,” Erenville asked.
“You appreciate things more when you don’t have them,” she said, taking another sip, gazing at the rain. “It almost never rains in Kievan Rus. Even in the sunny months. Just snow. I was twelve the first time I ever saw rain, in the rice fields of Doma. I will never forget those monsoons. How the drops felt on my face as the clouds emptied their tears. Then it was seven more years before I got to see another storm, on the Steppe. Think about it. Two thunderstorms in almost twenty years. That’s not much.
“I’ve learned to always stop and listen when it rains. It calms my mind, draws me out of that tornado of thoughts. It’s peaceful. I don’t know the next time I’ll have that opportunity, so…best I enjoy it while I can,” she added, glancing up at her boyfriend.
“You’re not wrong there. Before I came to Sharlayan, I was more like to encounter a dust storm than rain,” Erenville told her.
“Dust storm? I thought you don’t have dust storms in the jungle?” Elayne noted curiously, folding her legs into her body.
“Well…I’m from a desert, actually,” Erenville admitted, massaging her shoulder blade with his thumb. “If the clouds darken in the day, it’s usually dust or fire. Very rarely, it’s a front – and those usually come with plenty of lightning. Sometimes even tornadoes. Further down south and north though, that’s where you’ll find the rain.”
“I saw a dust storm once, in Thanalan. It’s not an experience I ever wish to repeat,” she informed him with a rueful chuckle. “That’s the reason I did almost exclusively Coerthas deliveries.”
They listened to the rain beat down on the ground, sipping their tea in contentment, before either of them spoke again. “When I was young, my mother would tell me stories of thunderbirds, who came with the rain and blinked lightning,” Erenville started.
“Are thunderbirds like raven mockers?” Elayned asked, eyes glittering.
“No! They’re nothing like raven mockers!” Erenville exclaimed. “Anyway…my mother liked to say that when the thunderbirds come, they bring our loved ones with them. She encouraged me to talk to them whenever the lightning flashed and wave at them, tell them how I was doing. I didn’t have anyone in particular to talk to, but I talked all the same.” He nudged her head with his nose. “Why don’t you try it? I’m sure you have plenty of people calling to you.”
Elayne smiled, and at the next lightning strike, she jumped up and called over the rain, “Hi Papa! Hi Deda! Hi Khaidu! Hi Haurchefant! Hi Tsuyu! I’m doing great! I got a man, I got a dog and a horse, and I got a house! I can’t think of anything else I’d ask you to pray for! Except for my sanity, I’m losing more of it by the day…”
Erenville spit out his chai, collapsing in a fit of laughter.
Elayne paused for a moment, nose scrunched up in thought, then added, “Hi Moen! Urianger’s fine, he and your parents made up, he’s much happier now! Don’t worry, Minfilia, Thancred’s happy too! He’s traveling around helping people with Urianger, and they’re surprisingly fond of each other! They even have a daughter! Okay, you already know about Ryne, but she still counts!”
Erenville kept laughing even after Elayne was finished talking to her loved ones and sat back down with her cup of chai. At her odd look he choked back his laughter and composed himself.
“You think they heard me up there?” she asked brightly, curling up against him.
“I’m sure they did, sweetheart,” he assured her, knocking his forehead against hers.