Daenis the White Elf

[Nara-pyon]

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Name: Daenis (white dawn)
Race: White Elf (pure)
Homeland: Jielam (Tal En’Enko)
Gender: Female
Born: 29 037 (102 4A)
Height: 6’0”
Weight: 58 lbs
Build: Slim, just growing into womanhood
Predominant Features: Skill with the cornett; gentility
Abilities: Immune to cold; summon snow
Appearance: White hair, skin, eyes. Very slim, almost fragile-looking. Between childhood and adulthood, still going through adolescence. Typically wears the white furs of her people (seal, white fox, ermine, rabbit, etc.) but rather skimpy, as is also typical for white elves. Always wears a white scallop seashell necklace.
History: Daenis was born days after her father became the chief of their tribe. He has managed to maintain his position all these years, which has given Daenis an inside look at the ugly realities of her people. She has never wanted any part of it. She loves peace, and for years she has been learning to play the cornett. She attended her mandatory weapons training beginning at ten years of age, but never liked it. Despite never becoming more than competent with any weapon, she left off training at thirteen when her mother was killed by a polar bear and her father was too busy to enforce her attendance.  Daenis began going off instead, looking for places where she could hide from the violence of her race. She had to keep finding new places to hide until she found a glory of unicorns, which allowed her to join them but drove off anyone else who came near. When Daenis turned 16 years old, the weapons master, a man barely ten years older than her, demanded her hand in marriage. She refused, and the man went to her father. Her father is trying to convince her to marry the man, and soon became physically abusive when she continued to refuse. Her fear is that she will eventually be forced into the marriage, but she knows that there is nothing she can do about it. It is only a matter of time.

[Nara-pyon]

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Name: Ira
Evolution: Glaceon
Height: 2'07"
Weight: 57.1 lbs
Type: Ice (Fresh Snow Pokemon)
Mate: None
Nature: Gentle
Ability: Ice Body (Regenerates health in snowstorms)
Attacks:
Normal attacks:
Tackle
Tail Whip
Quick Attack
Bite
Ice Fang
Dig

Special attacks:
Icy Wind
Ice Shard
Blizzard
Ice Beam
Double Team
Rest
Heal Bell
Frost Breath

Notes:
Glaceon's fur can be frozen into sharp quills that it can fire.
Glaceon can create small ice crystals around it by controlling its body temperature.
By controling its body heat, it can also freeze the air around it.
Has high Sp. Atk, Def and Sp. Def stats.
Mediocre Speed and Health stats.
Poor Atk stat.
Glaceon loves racing in hot places, and playing absolutely everywhere.
Playful, loyal and affectionate.
Energetic and curious.
Competitive during battle.

[Nara-pyon]

Location: Northern Friesia, Arkandia
Year: 29 054 (118 Fourth Age)
Status: Late Summer

Daenis woke late the morning after the massive meal she had prepared for everyone (with Miyuki’s help), despite the fact that she had been one of the first to go to bed the night before. She was amazed at how clean the kitchen was, with all the dishes washed and put away already. Clearly someone had been very busy after she’d retired for the night. She wondered briefly who it was, but then dismissed the thought. She was simply grateful it wasn’t her who had been stuck doing all of it.

“There you are!” Wren’s voice came suddenly.

Daenis looked around and was startled to see Wren in the living room, which was still open to the kitchen from the night before. “Oh … good morning,” she murmured. She used the back of one wrist to rub the sleep from her eyes, and it was a moment before the implication of Wren’s greeting sunk in. She frowned at her. “You were looking for me?”

Wren chuckled and patted the cushion next to where she was sitting on the couch. “Sort of. I had been hoping to catch you, though it’s not as if it’s for anything important.”

“Oh … all right,” Daenis said, confused, as she sat next to Wren. Ira, who had been following her with his usual energy, hopped up onto her lap and made himself comfortable. “Can I help you with something?”

A gleam appeared in Wren’s eyes, and she turned towards Daenis and grinned. “I have to know – how did you learn to cook like that? I mean, you’re only sixteen years old, right?”

Daenis nodded.

“And Lancaeriel has been cooking for thousands of years, and I’ve been traveling and cooking for decades, and Kyrie’s been traveling and cooking for … well, I don’t know how long … and back home my meals were prepared by the best cooks my family knew of … and yet I’ve never tasted anything like the meal you prepared last night!” Wren was excited, and she couldn’t hide it. “How did you learn to cook like that?”

Daenis’ cheeks flushed. “I … just always liked to experiment whenever I could,” she replied. “My mother taught me the basics, but … I taught myself the rest.”

“Unbelievable.” And yet she did not look as though she doubted Daenis. Wren was grinning at her, almost admirably. “And yesterday you said you’d never heard of most of the spices I showed you, and you’d never heard of herbs before. How did you know which ones to use?”

Now Daenis’ ears were burning, too. “I just tasted them before using any of them,” she answered modestly. “Isn’t that what you do?”

“Well, yes,” Wren admitted, “but even so I could never prepare a meal as you did.”

Daenis smiled at Wren. “Perhaps next time you could help me,” she offered.

Wren had a similar offer. “I make quite a few of the meals when we’re traveling, perhaps you could also help me out,” she suggested with a grin. “I’m not sure what you’re usually doing then …”

“Not much,” Daenis had to admit sheepishly. “I know I’ve been with you all for quite a while not but … I’m afraid I don’t really do much to help out or anything.”

“No one said you had to,” Wren pointed out. She looked at the young White Elven girl thoughtfully. “I wonder … how would you like to join me in the greenhouses? You can see for yourself where the herbs come from. Perhaps it’s even something you might enjoy doing for yourself sometime.”

Daenis thought about it for a moment. Wren had a point. It wasn’t as if she had anything else to occupy her time. She didn’t have anyone to avoid, and she had all the time she wanted to play her cornett. Ira was fun to play with, but he didn’t need constant care. She had only once now prepared a meal – though if the night before was any indication, she might be asked to do so more often now. Aside from that, she didn’t do much at all. Make snow creatures. Talk with people.

“Sure,” she agreed at last, smiling at Wren. “Thank you. I think I would enjoy learning something new.”

Wren grinned and rose to her feet. “Come on. I’ll show you now.”

She got up from the couch and motioned for Daenis to follow her. Daenis nudged Ira to the floor and started after Wren, the young Eevee following close on her heels. They followed Wren through the kitchen into the hallway that didn’t lead to the bedrooms, a direction Daenis had never taken before. There were a few doors in that hallway, though not nearly as many as the other one, and Wren took her to a door that had a painting of green things on it (plants, though Daenis had never seen one before and had no idea what they were).

Inside that door were several other doors, and without hesitation, Wren led Daenis to and through one of them. There was an immediate temperature change. Daenis had never felt this warm before, and she put one hand to her brow and shaded her eyes as they stepped into the bright room.

“What is this?” she asked, squinting as she looked around at the strangeness around her.

Wren smiled. “One of the gardens. We have several. This one is for moderate climates – places that are warm during the summer weeks and cooler in the winter, though not as cold as Friesia or Jielam. Most of the herbs you used last night came from here.”

She led Daenis to a row of green things sticking out of brown ground. Daenis was amazed at all of it, and she hadn’t the faintest notion what any of it was. “What is all of this?” she asked breathlessly. She knelt and ran her fingers along the ground. Bits of it stuck to her fingers, and her fingers left tracks in the ground, just like in snow, but it was unlike anything she had seen before.

Wren knelt next to one of the green things and was about to speak, but when she saw the way Daenis was looking at the ground she blinked and straightened again. “You’ve never seen dirt before, have you?” she asked softly.

Daenis looked up at her. “Dirt?” she repeated.

Wren giggled softly, and rather than asking further questions she began to explain to Daenis what everything was, beginning with the soil, and then plants, and then going to the specific types of plants they were.

While she spoke, Daenis listened carefully, and every few moments she had to wipe some moisture from her forehead. After a few minutes, though, she found herself growing uncomfortable and slightly light-headed. Ira watched her concernedly, occasionally nuzzling her ankles in an attempt to make her feel better.

“Are you all right?” asked Wren suddenly, noticing the younger girl’s discomfort.

Daenis lifted her hair from her neck and cleared her throat. “It’s rather warm in here,” she murmured apologetically.

Wren nodded sympathetically. “Of course. You’ve never even seen ground that wasn’t snow before, I should have expected that. Will you be all right?”

Daenis nodded slowly. “I … I think so …” She ran a finger along her brow, summoning some ice magic as she did so and cooling her forehead.

“Do you need to go back outside?” Wren asked, concerned.

“No, just give me a moment,” Daenis replied with a faint smile. Increasing her magic output, she summoned a small snowsquall around herself, though it didn’t affect the magical sky above her. She felt cooler immediately. Suddenly there was a flash of light, and both she and Wren had to cover their eyes and blink away the spots in their vision. When they could see again, both women had to blink in surprise.

“Ira?” Daenis breathed, kneeling down next to her companion.

Ira had changed. He was no longer small and brown, but easily twice the size, and blue in colour. His ears hung low now, and he had two ribbon-like appendages on its head ending in blue diamonds. There were two diamonds on his back, paws, and the tip of his tail as well, all of the same colour.

For a moment, Ira seemed as confused by the transformation as Daenis and Wren were, but then he looked up at his mistress and let out a slow, thoughtful, “Glaaaaa-ce-ooooooooon!”

Daenis’ eyes lit up. “Glaceon?” she repeated. “Is that what you are now?” She held her hands out to the creature, and he leapt into her arms and nuzzled her face. He was cool to the touch, and it felt wonderful against Daenis’ warm forehead. She smiled widely and rose with him in her arms. His entire body was cool, and she felt better immediately.

Wren smiled. “Well, if it’s that warm in here for you, perhaps we’d better get out of here. Come on, I’m sure everyone will be eager to see Ira’s new form.”

Still nuzzling the Glaceon, Daenis agreed.

[Nara-pyon]

Location: Winum, Dolerum, Arkandia
Year: 29 054 (118 Fourth Age)
Status: Early Autumn

A full season had passed since Daenis had left her home and joined the group of travelers, and each and every day she marveled at how well they all got along. It was unlike anything she had ever seen before. Even when her mother had been alive, she had seen her parents arguing more than getting along, even though she knew they did have strong feelings for each other. For this many people to be constantly in each other’s company and not try to kill each other was new. And she loved it.

There was one slight exception to this generalization, however, and it was one she saw only occasionally – though this strange feeling had grown stronger since their arrival in Winum, the place where Kyrie’s family lived. There was a slight tension that grew every now and again when Kyrie or her brother was near Mailon. When Daenis had first joined the group she had seen it with Kyrie, though it had lessened over time; but now she was picking it up again between Khetal and Mailon: and it wasn’t just a feeling anymore, but obvious to anyone who happened to be in the same room as the two men.

It troubled her. She was well aware that she knew little of the pasts of her companions, but tension had never boded well in her experience, and now that it was happening between people she trusted, it made her uneasy.

More than trusted, really. As Ira pointed out to her quite regularly, she was fonder of Mailon than any of the others. For weeks, she had been puzzled by the way her heart seemed to race when he was around, or how her cheeks grew warm when she talked about him with anyone: but one day, Ira’s teasing had hit home, and she had realized just how much she liked the man.

Not that it mattered, really. He hardly seemed to notice her. Sure, he was kind to her, and helped her without her asking him, but he seemed to do that for everyone.

Having been cautioned not to go too far from the tent, Daenis had decided it was best simply to stay inside so as not to attract any of the wrong sort of attention from the city’s inhabitants. She didn’t have a lot to do when there weren’t meals to prepare – and she was never allowed to prepare all of the meals: Iorlas, Wren and Lancaeriel always made sure of that – so she ended up spending quite a bit of time in her room, talking with Ira, making snow creatures, and playing her cornett.

Actually, that’s what she was doing at the present moment: playing her cornett. She had had a discussion with Ira that morning about Mailon – the Glaceon couldn’t understand why she didn’t just tell Mailon that she liked him, and Daenis couldn’t understand why Ira couldn’t see that it wouldn’t help things – and in order to put off the strange feeling she got by not telling him, she simply occupied herself so that she had an excuse not to talk to anyone at all.

Besides, if she was on her own, she didn’t have to worry about the tension she sensed around some of the others.

Ira was snoozing near Daenis as she played, but suddenly his ears perked up and he raised his head and looked towards the door. Daenis’ song came to an abrupt halt and she lowered her cornett, wondering what had gotten Ira’s attention.

She didn’t have long to wait.  In only a moment, Mailon stuck his head into the room, and when Daenis didn’t seem to be in any hurry to get rid of him, he moved to stand in the doorway.

“Sorry to interrupt,” he apologized, smiling softly at her. “I was just leaving my room and I heard you playing … First Night, right?”

Daenis blinked in surprise, her cheeks growing warm. “You know it?”

Mailon smiled and leaned against the wall, then began to hum softly, and then to sing.

“And when the great black army had passed,
The smoke rose to the sky,
The Silver Tree no longer stood,
No stars to light …”

He trailed off and sighed, smiling. “Not a very cheerful song.”

Daenis’ cheeks grew warmer, and she couldn’t stop the smile that was spreading across her face. “Well, I don’t know that I ever heard the words … it’s just something my mother used to hum to me to help me fall asleep.”

“It’s an old song,” Mailon offered. “I remember my first mother singing it to me, too. Are you aware of the history of it?”

Daenis shook her head and put her cornett aside. “I don’t think I ever learned any history,” she admitted quietly. “My education was … well, you know what White Elven education is.” She blushed, embarrassed. “Except that I never did get anywhere with weapons.”

“Well, not everyone can,” Mailon assured her with an encouraging smile. “It’s nothing to worry about.” He gestured towards the room. “May I?” he asked. At Daenis’ nod, he stepped into the room and sat down a few paces away from her. “As I told you before,” he went on, “I used to be a Weapons Master. In both of my lives, actually. There were many times that I met children who had no aptitude for weapons work.”

Daenis crossed her ankles and leaned forward interestedly. “What did you do with them?”

Mailon hesitated a moment before answering. “Well … the expectation was that I would teach them and that they would learn, so … I’m afraid I was rather hard on them. Not as hard as their fathers would have liked, but … harder than I wish I had to be.”

Daenis’ brow furrowed, and she hugged her knees to her chest, laying her chin atop them. “I don’t understand,” she muttered, more to herself than to Mailon.

He blinked at her. “I beg your pardon?” he asked. “What don’t you understand?”

“You.” Daenis sighed, then looked at him searchingly. “Through two lives, you were raised in White Elven culture, and in both lives you were Weapons Master, which is probably the best position you could be in. People looked up to you. That tells me that you must have promoted our peoples’ beliefs, their practices. And yet …”

She sat up a bit straighter to look at him, her eyes filled with wonder. “And yet here you are: an outcast for caring about people other than yourself. For races other than our own. You could have had anything you wanted – but you’re here, traveling, no home, no family … how is it possible that you could have changed so completely, that you would prefer such a life as this to one where you could have anything you wanted?”

Mailon blinked in surprise at the question, and then he grew thoughtful. “Well … I’m afraid I can’t really explain it,” he admitted softly. “I mean … you are entirely correct. In my first life, I was one of those people that I now abhor. Was it my death that changed me? I don’t believe so. Even during the first part of my second life, I was not … well, I was different, but … I had no trouble with what my tribe taught me. It was not until I was an adult that I began to question the way things were, and it was not until I was myself attacked while bringing a message to another country that I really began to feel that we were wrong in what we did. Was that what changed me? I don’t know. Perhaps the change began before then. For a long time, I wanted only to be left alone, to have as little as possible to do with my people.”

He shrugged. “That’s about all I can tell you.”

Daenis nodded slowly, her eyes fixed on him. The mystery of it didn’t put her off in the least: on the contrary, she felt her heart beating just a little faster as she thought about his explanation. Her opinion of him had gone up with his tale: he had not needed to be taught about the value of people, no matter who they were. He had realized it on his own. He really was quite a bit like her – even if she actually had no talent with a weapon and he did.

“You really are amazing,” she couldn’t help but murmur. She couldn’t stop the smile that was spreading across her face.

Mailon only shook his head, though, his expression grim. “No,” he said quietly. “I am not. I am a killer, Daenis, and my past is so much more than you know. What Feraïs would have done to you … I was once like that. For so much longer than I have been as I am now.”

Daenis’ brow furrowed. “But that’s all in the past, isn’t it? You – you’re different now, that’s all that matters-”

“No.” Mailon cut her off, shaking his head. “No, it does matter. I have a debt to repay, one that I can never hope to repay.” He rose and looked at Daenis sadly. “Forgive me,” he murmured, bowing his head to her. “It is not your burden to bear.”

“But you’ve got to confide in someone,” she said quietly, pushing herself to her feet. “Whatever it is, it’s eating you up.”

But Mailon only shook his head again. “No, it isn’t my place to say. It concerns others, and it is up to them whether or not to say anything.”

“But-”

“I apologize for the interruption,” Mailon interrupted her, bowing his head again. “Please, continue your playing.”

He turned and left the room, and Daenis sprinted after him. “Mailon!” she called out, running into the hallway to catch him.

But he was already out of sight.

With a sigh, Daenis looked down at Ira, who looked back up at her, his head cocked to one side. After a moment, Ira squeaked at her that Mailon needed help to overcome his past, and Daenis nodded and looked back down the hall only briefly before returning to her room.

“Well,” she murmured, sitting down on her bed of furs and gathering Ira in her lap, “at least with us traveling together, there will be time to help him.”

Ira squeaked his agreement and snuggled in for another nap.

[Nara-pyon]

Location: Winum, Dolerum, Arkandia
Year: 29 054 (118 Fourth Age)
Status: Early Autumn

Daenis spent most of the rest of the day in her room, and only when it came time to prepare dinner did she come out, first tentatively checking the hallway to see if Mailon would be there. As much as she wanted to help him, she wasn’t sure she was ready to face him at the moment – not after the way she’d shouted after him that morning. She didn’t know what to say to him.

When she reached the kitchen, Lancaeriel was already working on dinner, but she looked up when she heard Daenis enter the room.

“Oh, there you are!” she said brightly. “I had wondered where you were all day. I heard you playing this morning, but then you got rather quiet.”

Daenis knelt down and picked up Ira, who had been walking alongside her, then straightened again, holding him close. “I just … wanted to be alone, I suppose,” she said quietly.

Lancaeriel looked at Daenis, her brow furrowed slightly. “Are you all right?”

Daenis ventured a smile. “I’m fine. Thank you.” She moved to stand next to Lancaeriel and looked at everything that was on the counter. “Quiche?” she asked, recognizing the ingredients for the Gaian dish.

Lancaeriel nodded and smiled. “Yes. It’s been a while.” She picked up a knife and began cutting up the ingredients. “Are you sure you’re all right? You’re not yourself today.”

“I’m fine,” Daenis assured her unconvincingly. “It’s nothing.” Still hugging Ira close, she focused her eyes on the food Lancaeriel was preparing. She didn’t like to burden her companions any more than she already had – and what could they do for her anyways? She already knew that Mailon had done something terrible to one of them, but it wasn’t her place to ask about it.

Lancaeriel was silent for a moment as she continued to cut up the ingredients, and then, as she picked up the cutting board she was using and used the knife to slide the diced bits into a bowl, she said softly, “Daenis, you may tell me if this is not my business – if you would rather I leave you alone – but I can’t help but notice that you have not been happy of late. Especially today. I heard you this morning, calling after Mailon … did something happen with him?”

Daenis blinked and looked at Lancaeriel in astonishment. “How did you know?” she asked. Her face had grown suddenly warm, and she knew her cheeks had to be red.

Lancaeriel smiled at her. “Well, you don’t get to be as old as I am and not learn how to read people,” she murmured. “Besides, I’m sure that at least most of our group realize – or suspect, at the very least – how you feel about Mailon, and I’m sure it comes as no surprise to anyone. He is a good man, very kind and gentle – and he is your own kind, not that that’s important, but sometimes it does have an impact.”

Now Daenis knew her face was red, and she lowered her eyes self-consciously.

“It’s not like it matters,” she muttered softly. “He will hardly let me talk to him. He just keeps saying that he’s a killer and that he has a debt to repay. He … he won’t let me get close to him. But he won’t tell me anything more, only that it’s not his place to say … even though he’s the one who owes the debt.”

Lancaeriel worked silently as she thought about what Daenis had said. Daenis had no idea what the older woman was thinking about, and because she was looking down, she completely missed the look of pity that crossed the other woman’s face.

“If I were you,” Lancaeriel said softly at last, “I would speak with Kyrie. She may be able to help you out.”

Daenis blinked and looked back at her companion. “Kyrie?” she repeated. “What does she have to do with it?”

It wasn’t possible that Kyrie was the one to whom Mailon owed the debt, was it? That didn’t make sense – Kyrie was one of the strongest, more care-free people Daenis knew. How could anything happen to her? And if Mailon had done something awful to her, why was she so cheerful around him? And if it was the case anyways, why was she so cheerful and Mailon so downcast?

She didn’t understand.

“Just trust me,” Lancaeriel said with a rueful smile, her eyes back on her preparations. “Kyrie has the most information. She’s the one you want to talk to.”

Daenis stroked Ira’s head absently. “We don’t even know when she’ll be back here.”

“True,” Lancaeriel agreed. “But it’s something to keep in mind for the next time she does come.” She looked back at Daenis and smiled at her. “Are you interested in helping out with this?” she asked. “I could really use some help with the herbs – you’re so much better at picking out the best ones than I am.”

Daenis hesitated a moment, then smiled and nodded. “Sure. Let me wash up and I’ll be right back.”

She set Ira down on the floor and headed off to the bathing room to wash her hands. It might take a while, she reflected, but she would get to the bottom of all of this. She had to – for Mailon’s sake.

[Nara-pyon]

Location: Winum, Dolerum, Arkandia
Year: 29 054 (118 Fourth Age)
Status: Early Autumn

Daenis wasn’t sure where she had gotten the courage to ask Kyrie to speak to her alone – especially when she had seemed intent on leaving with her brother for the night – but now she found herself leading the half-blooded woman to her bedroom, her heart racing, her palms sweating. She opened the door and touched the rune that would light the room and led Kyrie inside before closing the door behind them both.

When she turned to face Kyrie, Kyrie was looking at her, her forehead puckered slightly in mixed curiosity and confusion. Her eyes, so much darker than Daenis had ever imagined possible until having met this group of people, flickered between Daenis’ own two eyes as she looked for a clue as to why Daenis had asked to speak to her.

Daenis wasn’t sure where to begin. She hadn’t planned this out, hadn’t thought about it. All she knew was that Lancaeriel had recommended that she speak with Kyrie, and that the opportunity had arisen.

“Are you all right?” Kyrie asked Daenis anxiously when the girl hadn’t spoken for nearly a minute.

“Yes,” Daenis replied without thinking; then, more hesitantly, she added, “No … I don’t know.”

Kyrie’s brow furrowed deeper, and she took Daenis gently by the arm and guided her towards her bed. “Here, sit,” she murmured. “Take your time. Deep breath.”

Daenis inhaled deeply as she sat down on her pile of furs, and let it out slowly. She looked at Kyrie anxiously as the other woman knelt next to her.

“I … I don’t know where to begin,” she said quietly.

Kyrie smiled and nodded encouragingly at her. “It’s all right. Just take your time.”

Encouraged by Kyrie’s patience, Daenis took a moment to collect her thoughts. She wiped her sweaty palms on her skirt in an attempt to dry them.

“Lancaeriel said I should talk to you,” she began at last, her voice nearly failing her. She cleared her throat and tried again. “She said that … that you would know more than anyone else what’s going on.”

“Going on?” Kyrie blinked. “Are you ill? Is it a medical problem?”

“No, no, I’m quite well,” Daenis assured her quickly. Then she hesitated again. “It’s … it’s Mailon.”

She paused, watching Kyrie for a reaction. For a moment, she saw nothing, no emotion, not even recognition of the name; but then Kyrie’s shoulders slumped ever so slightly, and she shifted so that she was no longer kneeling, but sitting on the floor with her back to the wall.

“Ah,” was all that she said, and though it was but a single syllable it spoke volumes to Daenis: understanding, resignation, and exhaustion. Then Kyrie closed her eyes for a moment and asked in soft monotone, “What would you like to know?”

Daenis was confused yet again. This wasn’t the Kyrie she knew, the Kyrie that was always so full of energy and cheer. This Kyrie sounded vulnerable, regretful.

She licked her lips slowly to buy herself some time and hesitated yet again. “I … I’m confused by him,” she said finally. “I like him. I like him a lot … I wonder … I think I may even love him, which is already confusing to me. But he … he’s so … contradictory. He’s protective of me, he compliments me, he came in this morning to talk with me. He shares things with me, he tries to include me in activities, and I know he talks about me with others. So it … it feels like … like he likes me, too.”

She shook her head. “I don’t know, perhaps it’s only my imagination, or my hopes.”

“No,” Kyrie murmured with a slight smile, “I think you’re right. He doesn’t treat anyone else like that, or talk about anyone else like he talks about you.”

“Then why,” Daenis cried out frustratedly, “did he run away from me this morning when I tried to talk to him? Why won’t he talk to me? Why – what happened? All he says is that he’s a killer, which I don’t believe, and that he owes someone a debt that he can never repay, even though he’s a good man, and-”

Kyrie cut her off by placing a hand on her shoulder. Daenis bit her lip to keep from going on, and she had to take a deep breath to stop herself from shaking. She was more upset than she had realized, and she was surprised to find that there were tears in her eyes.

Kyrie was silent for a moment, her eyes on the floor, but then she sighed and looked at Daenis.

“You are right,” she told her quietly. “Mailon is a good man now. He is honest and trustworthy and deserving of every happiness. But …” She hesitated a moment and Daenis could see in her eyes that she was conflicted about going on.

“Please,” she whispered, just about choking on the word. “Please, I – I have to know …”

Kyrie moved to sit a bit closer to Daenis. “I knew Mailon in his first life, nearly a thousand years ago,” she said quietly. “Back then, he was … he was pure evil, even by White Elven standards.” She saw the disbelief in Daenis’ eyes and nodded. “I know, I know. It’s hard to believe. But I lived with him for three years. He taught me to use weapons. Almost everything I know about fighting and defending myself, I learned from him.”

Daenis blinked in surprise. “He never said anything,” she said tentatively.

Kyrie smiled sadly and shook her head. “He wouldn’t. He is not proud of it. Back then he was …” She hesitated again, and once more there was conflict in her eyes. Finally, she went on. “… awful. A drunkard. Lecherous.”

Daenis frowned. Mailon? Lecherous? And she didn’t even know what a drunkard was.

“He said – he said he was like Feraïs,” she murmured, “but … worse.”

“Yes,” Kyrie said without hesitation. “Feraïs would gladly have forced you to become his wife. But he didn’t force you, and he would not have forced you and then killed you.”

Daenis’ eyes grew wide, and she felt as though her heart had stopped beating in her chest. She swallowed hard, nausea spreading through her as she realized what Kyrie was telling her.

“How- how many?” she asked when she could breathe again.

Kyrie shook her head. “I have no idea. He was old by the time I ended up with him. I still don’t know why he didn’t kill me. Maybe because he was enjoying teaching me to fight. Maybe I didn’t present enough of a challenge – I pretended I was mute and stupid. I don’t know. Maybe because if I ran away from him, my life would be over. You know what White Elves usually do to those of different races. I could ask him, I suppose, but … I’ve gotten past it, and I’d like him to be able to do the same.”

Daenis nodded slowly, barely moving her head, and she had to swallow hard again.

“I killed him,” Kyrie went on softly, looking Daenis in the eye now. “He returned, drunk, from the village one day, and I shot him and killed him. And I left. That was when I met Lynliss and her family.”

Daenis nodded again and lowered her gaze. She had to clasp her hands together to keep from trembling. If Kyrie had been so … so awfully treated, and for three years, by Mailon … how … how could she function? How was she so happy? Why was she traveling with him again?

“I know it’s confusing,” Kyrie murmured as if she had read Daenis’ thoughts. She moved to sit right next to the girl and put one arm around her shoulders to comfort her. “But what I said before still stands. He is not what he was – he was horrified when he remembered who he had been. He offered me his life, asked me to kill him again … but he was dead for over seven hundred years. He has more than paid for his actions.”

She hugged Daenis gently. “He is a good man. He can’t see it in himself anymore, but he is. He may not trust himself, but you can.”

Daenis looked over at Kyrie and wiped a tear from the corner of her eye. “How do you know?” she whispered, hardly daring to ask the question.

Kyrie smiled. “Your unicorns,” she said simply.

Daenis blinked and thought about it. The unicorns had always been violent to all the White Elves who had ever come near them, with the sole exception of her. They would not let such vile and hate-filled murderers near them, they told her. She was different from them, so they let her pass – and even protected her a few times, when people had come searching her that she wanted nothing to do with. And now that Kyrie mentioned it, she remembered the way the unicorns hadn’t made as much as a comment about Mailon. There hadn’t been any discomfort in the herd. No annoyance at his presence. And no one, she knew, could read a person’s heart like a unicorn could.

When she looked at Kyrie again, the other woman hadn’t yet moved and was still smiling at her.

“But how can I get Mailon to speak to me?” she asked quietly, slightly more calm now. She sniffed to clear her nose and rubbed her cheeks dry again.

Kyrie shrugged. “That, I don’t know. He won’t listen to me either when I tell him his debt is paid. Of course, we’ll see if anything changes when Khetal joins us – I’m sure you’ve noticed my brother doesn’t like Mailon, and now you know why. But for now … just tell him you’ve spoken with me, show him you understand.”

Daenis nodded slowly. She would do that … yes, that was what she would do. She didn’t know when. She had to get him to listen to her first, and that was going to be difficult enough.

She leaned over and hugged Kyrie with both arms. “Thanks,” she murmured into her shoulder.

Kyrie chuckled softly and hugged her back. “You’re welcome. It’s had to be a part of a group and be left out of things. I’m just glad I could help you.”

“It can’t have been easy,” Daenis murmured, sitting up again.

Kyrie smiled and shrugged one shoulder. “It’s not the hardest thing I’ve done. And it’s true – time heals all wounds. It’s been a long time and I’ve been able to come to terms with my past. Now it’s up to Mailon to do the same.”

Daenis nodded thoughtfully. How was she going to do that?

[Nara-pyon]

Location: Winum, Dolerum, Arkandia
Year: 29 054 (118 Fourth Age)
Status: Mid-Autumn

Daenis had never spent time with small children before – not quality time, anyways – but she was finding her morning with Amir quite amusing. While she had thought she might try to teach him some new words or something, but it turned out that she was learning from him.

“And what do we do with this?” she asked the young boy, holding up a dome-shaped block.

Amir reached out and took the block from Daenis’ hand, looked at it for a brief moment, then grinned and put it on his head.

“Hat!” he exclaimed, even as it slid off his head and landed on his foot. He giggled and held it up to Daenis.

She took it, laughing, and put it on her own head. “There,” she grinned. “How do you like it?”

She managed to balance it for about half a minute with Amir giggling at her and clapping his hands until she was shaking so hard with laughter that it slid off her head as well. She caught it and handed it back to Amir, who put it on top of another block on the floor.

“Are you sure about that?” Daenis grinned at him. He looked up at her, and she went on. “If you put something else on top, it will fall down!”

Amir’s pale green eyes lit up, and he reached for another block. “Faww down!” he cried gleefully, setting the block atop the dome. He squealed with laughter as the block slid down the rounded side of the dome and landed on the floor with a faint tic.

Suddenly there was a flurry of blocks flying everywhere, making Daenis duck for cover – though Amir let out a peal of laughter that Daenis couldn’t help laughing along with – and when she looked again, Kaede was between her and Amir, prancing on the spot and looking as though she had just accomplished a great feat.

“Kaede!” Daenis giggled, reaching out and poking the Leafeon’s shoulder. “Be careful! You could have hurt someone!”

Kaede yipped and turned towards Daenis, crouching down and wagging her tail like a tiger about to pounce. She launched herself into the air, but before she could land on Daenis, she was blasted to the side by Ira, who, upon seeing his mistress under attack (even though it was play) had executed a Quick Attack to prevent her getting hurt. The next thing she knew, the Pokémon had begun a mock battle.

The moment the two of them hit the ground, Ira turned towards Kaede, but before he could do anything, grass burst out of the floor and wrapped itself around Ira, tangling and trapping him in place. He chewed through the grass, but by the time he got out, Kaede was ready for him. She drew energy from the grass that had grown around Ira and launched it at him. It was weak and slow, and Ira dodged it and retaliated with a battery of ice shards.

Amir was watching and clapping, laughing at the two Pokémon, and Daenis grasped him around the stomach and pulled him out of the way, afraid that he might get caught in the crossfire. She couldn’t help but watch the battle, transfixed. She had never seen the Pokémon do things like this before, hadn’t even been aware of all their capabilities.

It wasn’t until the room was suddenly filled with a blizzard of snow and leaves that she finally realized how much damage they were causing.

“Stop!” she cried, holding one hand out to them. She didn’t expect them to see her, but the blizzard did die down slightly. There were still leaves flying everywhere, and she looked at Amir. “You have to tell Kaede to stop, Amir,” she urged him. “She belongs to you – she will listen to you!”

She had no idea whether the boy would understand her – his vocabulary was still spotty – but the blinked at her, looked into the storm of leaves and snow, and shouted out, “’Top!”

Suddenly the room went silent, and leaves and snow drifted lazily to the ground. Ira was once again tangled in a knot of grass, and Kaede’s paws were frozen to the floor inside blocks of ice. Both of them had snow and leaves on them, and for a moment Daenis just stared in a mixture of surprise and amusement.

“What on Arda happened in here?” came a shocked whisper from behind her.

Daenis turned around to see Mailon standing in the living room, his eyes wide, his jaw slack.

She giggled, unable to help herself. Between the sight in the playroom and the look on Mailon’s face, it was just too funny not to laugh.

“Playing that got out of hand,” she grinned. “You should join us.”

“Mayo!” Amir beamed, holding one hand out to Mailon.

Mailon still looked stunned. “Playing?” he murmured. “It looks more like it needs cleaning. The type that neither you nor I are capable of.”

“Nothing some good hard work can’t fix,” Daenis smiled at him. Then she turned back to the playroom and looked at it more closely. There were holes in the floor where the grass was growing through, and shards of ice were stuck in the walls. “Well … maybe not,” she admitted reluctantly.

“I would suggest you take them to the dojo,” Mailon said quietly. “It is safer there.”

Daenis considered the idea. It seemed a good one, she had to admit; but on the other hand, this was the first chance she’d had to talk with Mailon since their awkward talk the day before. She didn’t want to give up that opportunity.

She grinned at him. “Only if you come with us.”

It was odd, but since coming to the realization that she was falling in love with Mailon, and since admitting it to Kyrie, it didn’t feel awkward to be around him anymore. All she felt now was determination.

Mailon was surprised by her forwardness. It seemed out of character for her. He considered for a moment, then nodded slowly. “Very well.”

Leaving the playroom behind, the three of them headed to the dojo. Ira chewed through the grass again and followed after them. It took Kaede a bit longer to wriggle free of the ice that bound her paws, but by the time the others were at the door to the dojo, she had made it, too.

While the Pokémon resumed their battle in the battle area, Daenis, Amir and Mailon made themselves comfortable in the actual dojo. Daenis summoned a little pile of snow for Amir to play in, and while he amused himself, she took the opportunity to speak with Mailon.

“Why did you walk out on me yesterday?” she asked him softly, her eyes catching his gaze and holding it.

Mailon sighed quietly and lowered his eyes. For a moment, he didn’t answer, and when he did speak, his voice was barely audible.

“You have a very high opinion of me,” he murmured, “one that I do not deserve. If you knew what I had done-”

“I spoke with Kyrie last night,” Daenis interrupted him. She wasn’t sure if it was a good idea to bring it up so abruptly, but she wanted to be honest with him.

He turned and stared at her in surprise. “What?”

She took a deep breath. “After dinner. I spoke with Kyrie. She told me about your history with her. Everything.”

Mailon lowered his head and buried it in his hands.

“She said I was right,” Daenis went on quietly. “You are not what you were. She understands that. She forgives you, she says your debt to her is more than paid. Mailon …” She hesitated a moment, then put one hand on his. “What are you afraid of?”

“Hurting you,” came the whisper from between his hands.

Daenis felt a pang of sadness in her chest, and she pried Mailon’s hands from his face, forcing him to look at her.

“Mailon,” she murmured, “listen to me. I know I haven’t known you for long, but I believe that I know you well. And the others you’re traveling with, they certainly know you very well. Everyone believes that you are a good man, and no one more than I. You have a warm heart, Mailon, and with a heart such as yours, I do not believe it is in you to be what you once were. I do not believe you capable of hurting anyone that you cared for. And unless I am mistaken …”

She hesitated, her heart pounding. If she was wrong about this, there would be no going back. And yet she had to know for certain.

“Unless I am mistaken,” she repeated, her hands clasping his, “you do care for me. Maybe even as much as I care for you.” She looked into his eyes, hoping – praying – that she was right in her suspicions. Her heart pounded harder, thumping against her chest so strongly that she was certain Mailon would hear it. She swallowed down the lump in her throat as she waited for him to react.

For several seconds, Mailon just gazed back into her eyes, and then his chin began to quiver.

“Daenis, I – I don’t deserve that kind of happiness,” he choked out. His expression was filled with pain, and he drew his hands away from her. “I’m sorry.”

Tears sprang to Daenis’ eyes. He hadn’t said the words, but she knew he felt the same way about her as she did about him. Despite that, he wasn’t willing to give them a chance … and that hurt. Her chest felt as if it was caving in on her, and her stomach was turning, making her feel nauseous. The admission, as much as it gave her joy, also filled her with pain, and the pain of knowing that he loved her and would not let them have even a chance at a life together hurt far more than watching him walk away from her, leaving her alone with Amir and the Pokémon in the dojo.

[Nara-pyon]

Location: Winum, Dolerum, Arkandia
Year: 29 054 (118 Fourth Age)
Status: Mid-Autumn

After Mailon left her behind in the dojo, Daenis stayed where she was. She had her knees drawn up to her chest, her arms resting atop them, her chin on her arms. She was staring forward, her eyes fixed on nothing at all. Tears clung to her cheeks, nearly frozen by the wind and snow that whipped around her. She hadn’t even realized that it was storming in there; she was so unaware of anything around her that her magic was acting on its own.

Suddenly she felt a hand on her back, and a jolt of shock ran through her entire body, making her squeal and jump. Her heart racing, she turned to see who it was. To her surprise, it was Lancaeriel. The pale woman’s hair was whipping around her head, and she had to hold down her skirt to keep it from flying up in the wind. It was only then that Daenis realized what was happening around her. She reined in her magic as Lancaeriel had been teaching her to do, and though the snow remained, the wind died down immediately.

“Daenis, are you all right?” Lancaeriel asked, kneeling next to her, her expression concerned. She gently brushed away the younger girl’s tears with her thumb.

Daenis blinked and pulled away from Lancaeriel’s touch. Part of her wanted to deny that anything was wrong, but she knew that she wouldn’t be able to keep it to herself for long. Especially with how much she knew the others cared for her, treating her as if she were family, she knew that they would find out about her talk with Mailon.

She gave up before even trying to hold it in.

Fresh tears welled in her eyes, and she choked back a sob. “He … he won’t …” Her breath caught in her throat, and she burst into tears.

She felt herself being gathered into Lancaeriel’s arms, and she let herself be comforted like a child. She hadn’t been held like that in a long time, longer than she could remember, and it left her defenseless. Between sobs, she got her story out: the talk she’d had with Mailon, his almost-admission that he loved her, and his unwillingness to give them a chance because he believed he didn’t deserve to be happy.

Lancaeriel stroked Daenis’ hair softly, holding her close as if she were her own daughter. For a long time, she simply knelt there in silence, wishing she could do more to help her.

“Come, you should have something to eat,” she murmured at length. “You must be exhausted; you should regain your energy.”

Daenis shook her head. She felt a bit better - physically, anyways, not emotionally – but she didn’t want to face anyone else. “I just want to stay here,” she whispered, a catch in her throat.

Lancaeriel sighed, but she hugged Daenis again, holding her close. “I’ll leave you for now, but I’ll be back,” she said softly. After a pause, she added, “I’ll take care of Amir until Iorlas and Daeron are back. Do you want anyone to be with you?”

Daenis shook her head again. No, she just wanted to be alone.

Lancaeriel held her just a moment longer before standing up. “If you need anything,” she murmured quietly, “just come find me. I will do anything I can to help you.”

Daenis watched in silence as Lancaeriel went to the other side of the dojo and picked up Amir, and with Kaede following behind them, left the room. Ira, bereft of his playmates, came to snuggle with Daenis, licking her tears from her face before nuzzling her cheeks. Hugging him, Daenis lay down, curled up in the snow, and closed her eyes.

[Nara-pyon]

Location: Winum, Dolerum, Arkandia
Year: 29 054 (118 Fourth Age)
Status: Mid-Autumn

“Daenis.”

Daenis frowned in her sleep and snuggled deeper into Ira’s side. The coolness of his fur felt good against her burning eyes. She still felt so tired … couldn’t she sleep longer?

“Daenis.”

Then Ira disappeared from against her face, and she heard him growl, something she had never heard him do before. That was enough to alert her that she needed to wake up, and she forced her eyes to open. She saw Ira standing in front of her, braced defensively, his fur sticking out like needles. Beyond him she saw someone kneeling, facing towards her. She blinked slowly. She recognized those clothes … She looked up and saw Mailon’s face looking down at her, his expression filled with so many emotions it was startling. She sat up, suddenly wide awake, and pushed herself away from him. Her heart pounded as memories of what had happened the last time she’d seen him – when had that been? Was it still the same day? – passed through her mind. Why was he here now? What could he possibly add? He had made himself rather clear, she thought – so what was he doing?

“Daenis,” Mailon said softly, his voice so tender that it hurt.

It was as if he had taken hold of her heart and was squeezing it, squeezing her. She tried to swallow, but it was hard. How could he speak so tenderly to her now, after he had told her that he would not allow himself to love her? It was cruel of him!

Tears returned to her eyes, but she rubbed them away immediately. She had to be strong – she had to get used to the idea that she couldn’t show her emotions around him.

“What do you want?” she asked, her voice bubbling from the lump in her throat. She swallowed again to try to clear it, but it wouldn’t go away.

Mailon looked as if he were ready to cry, too. One arm twitched as if he was going to reach out to her, but he pressed his hand into the snowy floor to stop himself. Ira backed up so that he was closer to Daenis and growled again. Daenis reached out to him and his fur flattened again, and she picked him up and held him close. As uncertain as she was about Mailon, she didn’t want Ira to hurt him, even in her defense.

Mailon bowed his head, hiding his face from Daenis’ sight. “I am sorry,” he choked out. “I am so sorry …”

He looked up at her again. His eyes were red, and there were tears on his cheeks. Daenis wanted to reach out and wipe his tears away, but she just held Ira closer instead. She bit her lip to keep from saying anything, as much as she wanted to. She wanted to stop him from explaining – she understood! He had been so clear that morning! And yet there was a part of her that wanted to hear what he had come to say, hoping that somehow, it would be good news.

When she didn’t say anything, he lowered his face again. “Daenis,” he whispered, “I do care for you – more than I have ever cared about anyone or anything before! But it- it’s that very care that I have that makes me so afraid. More than anything, I am afraid of hurting you, of doing anything to you that would cause you pain.”

Ira growled again and started yipping at Mailon, chastising him and pointing out that he had already hurt his mistress quite severely. Daenis knew that Mailon could not understand Ira, but she could also see that he got the point. He flinched as if he had been struck by the Pokémon, but aside from that he didn’t move.

Daenis wasn’t sure what she was hearing. She understood the individual words, but when it came to the point he was trying to get across, she wasn’t sure.

“What are you saying?” she asked him quietly, her heart racing.

He looked up at her again. “That I allowed my fear to overrule my heart,” he whispered, his voice cracking. “I was so afraid of hurting you that I didn’t think … I couldn’t see … I … I didn’t …” His chest heaved, and it looked like he was having trouble breathing.

Daenis rose slowly. Her heart was really pounding now, and she could feel the pressure of it in her ears. Mailon rose as well, wringing his hands together. He took a tentative half-step towards her, and when she didn’t move away, he took another step forward.

“What I want to say,” he said finally, “is that … if you are willing to give me a chance, to … trust me … I … I …”

And suddenly Daenis knew exactly what he meant. Her hands flew to her mouth, dropping Ira to the floor, and she burst into tears. She rushed towards him, and he threw his arms around her, holding her close. She could feel her tears soaking his shirt, but she just pressed closer against him. She felt safe in his arms, and warm as she had never felt before – it wasn’t an external warmth like when she had been in the greenhouse with Wren, but an inner warmth that filled her with peace, despite the tears that were pouring down her cheeks.

And it wasn’t just her, either. She could feel Mailon’s tears in her hair, but even that was a comfort. He loved her, and that was all that mattered.

[Nara-pyon]

Location: Winum, Dolerum, Arkandia
Year: 29 054 (118 Fourth Age)
Status: Mid-Autumn

Four days after Daenis and Mailon were married, it was their turn to be invited to the magistrate’s house for dinner.

Considering how long the group had now been in the city, Kyrie felt it was safe to simply give them directions and let them go on their own. Mailon was certain he remembered the path from when the group had first been to the house, but he didn’t try to stop her. Refreshers were always good.

“I know Kyrie told us we would be safe,” Daenis said, looking around worriedly as they walked down the street. There were people looking at them with distrust in their eyes, and she felt every look like thorns pricking her skin. “But I don’t know if I like that she wouldn’t let you take any weapons with you. What if something does happen?”

“I don’t need them,” Mailon assured her, giving her a light squeeze around the shoulders. He smiled at her. “No one will lay a finger on you, I promise it.”

He looked around nonchalantly. “Besides, we are being followed, and have been since we left the clearing. I think that despite Kyrie’s reassurances, she doesn’t quite trust the people here. Unsurprising, especially considering our race.”

Daenis couldn’t argue that. She had left her people for a reason, after all. She pressed closer to Mailon’s side.

The five remaining blocks to the magistrate’s house seemed an eternity to Daenis, and when they finally arrived she felt as though a weight had been lifted from her shoulders. As Mailon knocked on the door, she looked around to see what was going on around them. It was early evening, so there were some people on the street, mostly returning to their own homes, though there were a few walking by who just stared at the two White Elves.

“I wish we could have brought Ira,” she murmured nervously.

“He’ll be fine,” Mailon murmured into her ear as the door opened. “Don’t worry.”

It was Gwen who had opened the door, and she met them with a wide smile and bright eyes. “Welcome!” she beamed. “We’ve been waiting for you!”

Her warm, familiar manner helped Daenis to calm down, and she smiled back at Gwen. “Thank you,” she replied softly.

At Gwen’s invitation, they stepped inside and removed their footwear. It was warm inside, but not unduly so, and it didn’t bother Daenis too much. It was like being in most rooms of the tent. They were invited to the dining room, and there they were greeted equally warmly by Lynliss and Leo, Gwen’s parents, who pulled out chairs for them to sit on.

“Thank you,” Daenis said again, smiling warmly now at their hosts. “It’s very kind of you to have us.”

“We’re happy you came,” Lynliss said brightly. “Both of you, really. I know we met when you all first arrived but that was so rushed, we didn’t really get to fully meet.”

“We’re trying to get to know everyone in your group,” Leo added, taking a seat at the head of the table. “It’s good to know who our children will be traveling with.”

Daenis blinked, somewhat surprised by the implication, but when she looked at Mailon, she understood. Mailon’s eyes were on the table rather than the people, and there was a tinge of pink on his cheeks. He had been Kyrie’s teacher and tormentor …

She glanced at Leo and Lynliss, wondering if they were aware. Neither Gwen nor Khetal had given any indication of knowledge of Mailon’s history with Kyrie, but that didn’t mean the parents didn’t know.

Lynliss paused as she passed behind her husband and put one hand on his shoulder. “We also would like to get to know you as friends,” she said with a smile, her tone implying that she was countering her husband’s comment. “Learn more about you, your experiences … perhaps even more about the crazy world we live in.”

“Crazy?” Daenis repeated curiously.

Lynliss laughed and finished bringing the food to the table. “Indeed. We’ve heard Kyrie’s stories and it never ceases to amaze me how bizarre the things are that seem to happen to her. The creatures she encounters, the people …”

“Which brings us to the two of you,” Leo smiled, leaning back in his chair. He smiled at Gwen, who had begun to serve everyone, murmured a soft “Thank you, dear,” and then turned his attention back to his guests. “That being said, it is only fair if we begin with ourselves, yes?”

Daenis glanced at Mailon, who remained nervously silent. She wondered if he would say anything that evening – though she didn’t blame him, either, for staying quiet. She turned back to Leo and smiled back at him. “Thank you,” she said softly, laying one hand on Mailon’s knee under the table to give him support. “I agree it would be very helpful if we all knew more about each other.”

“But I think,” Lynliss added quickly, “that before we begin with stories, we first need an assurance. Mailon.”

Mailon jumped, though barely noticeably, at the sound of his name. He looked at Lynliss, and Daenis could see the fear in his eyes.

Lynliss smiled reassuringly. “Don’t worry. Kyrie has forgiven you for the past, and we have as well. You have nothing to fear from us. And that will be the last time we speak of the past.”

Mailon was surprised, and Daenis could sense it before even looking at him. She smiled widely at him and squeezed his hand. “See?” she murmured. “I told you it would be fine.”

Mailon smiled back at her, and she gave his hand one last squeeze before she started to eat. While they ate, Leo filled them in on the family’s background, which Daenis thought must be very typical for people in these kinds of places. Born and raised in the city, became magistrate through popular choice, met and married Lynliss. A few years later, they had a daughter, and then another, and when the girls were in their teens they met and adopted Kyrie. A few years after that, Khetal joined the family. Then their elder daughter met and married her husband, but they had to leave because it was an interracial marriage, and since then things had been more or less the same.

Daenis took her turn next, explaining about her father’s position in the village and the marriage he had been trying to force her into, and how she had met Kyrie and the others and how Mailon had helped to protect her, and how she had joined the group on their journey around the continent.

Then came Mailon’s story. Daenis found herself paying very close attention as he spoke softly of his past. Much of it, she hadn’t known until now. How at ten he had killed for the first time, and thus become the youngest Weapons Master anyone had ever heard of. How he had never been truly comfortable with the position. His trip to Kelibrae, and the attempt on his life. His return, and then how he had been run out of the village for questioning their need to kill anyone who wasn’t like them. The way he had wandered for so many years, before an attack by a dragon had taken him to Shiezin, and his subsequent reunion with Kyrie. From there of course he had joined the group, and he had been with them since.

By the time all of their stories were told, it was time for dessert, which Gwen served cheerfully. It was a cake, the likes of which Daenis had never seen before, even with all she had learned about different foods from the people she was now traveling with.

“What is this?” she asked eagerly, looking from Gwen to Lynliss and back for the answer.

Gwen set the cake down in front of herself and picked up a large knife to cut it. “Apple cake,” she told them with a smile. “And there is a sauce to go on it, so don’t take your piece right away.”

As she began to cut it, Lynliss rose to get the promised sauce. It was in another room, and by the time she had returned, Gwen had cut slices for everyone and put them on plates. Lynliss added the sauce, and then they were served their dessert.

The cake and sauce were delicious, and upon inquiry Daenis learned not only what they were made of, but also where the ingredients had come from and how to make it herself.

“But with sugar and cinnamon coming from so far to the south,” Mailon asked, “wouldn’t it be rather expensive to make?”

Leo chuckled softly. “It is worth it for the right occasion,” he assured Mailon. “One such as this certainly qualifies.”

Daenis was confused, and she looked to Mailon to see if he understood.

He didn’t.

Both of them looked to Leo for an explanation, and the magistrate smiled widely and raised his wineglass.

“To the two of you,” he said warmly, “in celebration of your wedding. We wish you both all happiness, no matter where you find yourselves, and the love of friends and, in time, family.”

Lynliss and Gwen raised their glasses as well, and, blushing but smiling, Daenis and Mailon followed suit.

“Thank you,” Daenis murmured softly. She smiled up at Mailon, who looked back at her, his eyes shining, and then leaned down and pressed a kiss to her forehead. Daenis felt her face growing warmer, and her smile only grew wider. Then, following the examples of their hosts, they took a drink from their glasses.

On their way back to the tent, both Daenis and Mailon felt more relaxed, and they spoke of their experience at the magistrate’s very warmly. Daenis had only one question for her husband.

“Are you finally satisfied that you owe no debt?” she asked him softly, her arm tucked into his. She looked up at him, smiling, and laid her head against his shoulder. “You are truly forgiven, as much so as if you are not the same person you were – which is the truth, really.”

Mailon looked thoughtful but relaxed, which was already a good change, in Daenis’ opinion. For a few moments, he didn’t reply; but then he smiled down at Daenis and slipped his arm out of her grip, placing it instead around her shoulders and holding her close.

“I am,” he murmured. “Though I would never have been able to reach this point without you.”

Daenis grinned at him. “Nor would I have known true happiness without you. I think we neither of us could have found a better match for ourselves. For bringing us together, we do owe thanks to the rest of our group.”

She put one arm around Mailon’s waist and sighed softly. “Do you think we could ever repay them for all they’ve done for us?”

Mailon chuckled softly. “I think you and I both know them well enough to say that they would never consider any such thing. All we can do is help out where and when we can.”

“Which for you means no more hiding away,” she pointed out to him.

“Yes, yes,” Mailon smiled. “No more hiding away.” He kissed her temple. “With you at my side, I will never feel shamed again.”

Daenis beamed all the way back to the tent.

[Nara-pyon]

Location: Near the Quir/Illsbruic Border, Arkandia
Year: 29 054 (118 Fourth Age)
Status: Early Fading

The discovery that Daenis was pregnant was both exciting and terrifying to her and Mailon. Neither of them knew much about parenting, and considering the relationships they had both had with their own parents, they were quite anxious. That first night, they lay together beneath a large blanket, talking, with snow falling lightly throughout the room, something Daenis did on occasion to help her relax.

“So what do you think?” she asked Mailon softly as she lay next to him. Neither of them could sleep, and despite how late it was, they were still awake and talking. “Do you think we’re ready for this?”

Mailon placed one hand lightly on her belly and smiled softly.

“I will be the first to admit that I have no idea,” he admitted quietly. “But I am looking forward to finding out. We’re with a wonderful group of people, remember, and half of them are parents already. I’m sure they could help us.”

Daenis giggled lightly. “I’m sure they would be eager to do so,” she agreed. She sighed softly and laid her head against his shoulder. “I don’t know anything about children. I know I was one once, and not so long ago, but I’ve never … never helped with them, never spent time with them … I mean, aside from Amir, and even that hasn’t been much.”

“Hey,” Mailon murmured, pressing his lips to the top of her head. “Don’t worry so much about it. We might not know much, but we will learn. Our child will be the luckiest White Elven child ever born.”

“I like the sound of that,” Daenis smiled, relaxing into his embrace. “Our child.” She laughed softly. “What a strange thought.”

“But a true one,” he grinned.

They lay in silence for a while, and Daenis just let the snowflakes fall on her face. They melted after a few seconds, dripping in tiny tracks down her cheeks. Then she turned to Mailon again and smiled at him.

“Do you hope for a girl or a boy?” she asked in a whisper.

Mailon chuckled and hugged her tightly. “I really don’t care,” he murmured into her ear. “As long as he or she is healthy, and as kind and loving as you, it doesn’t matter whether he or she is a boy or a girl.” His eyes began to glint mischievously. “Besides,” he added, running his hand lightly over her bare skin, “we will have all the time in the world to try for the other.”

Daenis giggled and put her hand on his. “You’re making it very difficult to even think about sleeping,” she teased him.

He grinned back at her. “Fine with me,” he replied simply. And he drew her close and kissed her tenderly.

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