Meeting Nihena

by Ervin Agayan

  “Arsy, please, call to mind my last warning and do not fall in love with me.” Deep in her heart, she wanted quite the opposite; she wanted him to fall in love with her so his love would turn him into a prince.

  “No worries,” answered Arsy sarcastically. “A couple of minutes ago, I reminded my heart not to fall in love with you, or I’ll knock it down.”

  “For a second, I pictured the scene: you are punching your heart, asking, ‘What have you done?’” Parelia cracked a jest.

  They again were silent, after which the princess suddenly said, “You know what I just noticed, Arsy?”

  “What?”

  “You have beautiful eyes…”

  “Oh no, it’s you who has beautiful eyes,” he hurried to answer and added with a satisfied smile, “but it’s pleasant to hear a compliment from such an angel…”

  “Then, you should know that the angel thinks you are a very unscrupulous person! A gentleman would give way a long time ago!”

  “I can’t give way. Gods of love won’t forgive me,” joked Arsy, “because our kiss will be the hottest and the most passionate in the history of Agastan.”

  “Do you hear it, Arsy?” Parelia again tried to distract his attention.

  “What?”

  “Sounds of nature.”

  They fell silent. This silence was immediately filled with a variety of sounds: the quiet splashing of water in the pond, the fervent croaking of frogs on the other shore, the incessant singing of cicadas in the bushes, the crackling of the fire, the barely audible rustle of the foliage.

  Parelia started describing the surrounding landscape with enthusiasm, sharing the emotions she had at that moment.

  “Are you trying to hypnotize me?” asked Arsy, yawning. “You have no chances. I will win in any case.”

  “I am simply describing my experiences.”

  “You forgot to mention me in your list.”

  “Okay, you too…it’s just a pity that, instead of a criminal like you, there could be a high-minded knight,” Parelia cracked a joke.

  “You forgot another important detail.”

  “And what is that?”

  “What about my heart? Don’t you hear it beating?” whispered Arsy.

  “Ah, that rumble? It’s making such an unpleasant noise,” joked Parelia. “Tell your heart to stop it right away. It doesn’t allow me to admire nature.”

  “Since the moment I met you, I can no more stay silent.”

  “Sure! It won’t take long; you’ll soon start writing poetry,” said Parelia with a smile.

  “Come on, give me a pinch,” smiled Arsy.

  “Why?”

  “I want to make sure I’m not dreaming. I am afraid this will turn out to be unreal. Such a fairy sitting in front of me and looking into my eyes…doesn’t that sound like a dream? It seems like a fairy tale and you are the princess.”

  Arsy was so absorbed in these beautiful eyes—he did not see anything except them, so he did not immediately realize that Parelia had indeed decided to fulfill his request.

  “Ouch!” exclaimed Arsy, when Parelia pinched his hand.

  “Have some decency, Arsy!” The girl pouted. “My neck has gone numb. Come on, give it up!”

  At that moment, a treacherous thought pierced Parelia’s heart—should I not give up? After all, here on the island, no one knows she is a princess, which means no one will know about the kiss either. Nothing bad will happen if she kisses someone. Why can everyone else kiss, but she can’t?!

  Besides, Parelia had never kissed anyone. Never before! But she was not a little girl anymore! This night was one of the most romantic in her life. Every moment here was wonderful and unique, and if she now missed this opportunity to make this night even more unforgettable, she may not have a second chance. In the end, everything now was exactly as she imagined for herself, when she thought of her first kiss! A wonderful night, no restrictions and rules, no supervisors—only her and this mysterious young man... What else could one dream of?

  However, Parelia realized her feelings spoke at that moment. Once the feelings conquered her heart, she was ready to lose in the same second. But then, reason and sound judgment entered into the matter. And they told her that kissing with a robber was dangerous. What happened if someone found out? She would burn with shame! Where was it seen that the princess kissed a thief?

  Parelia was torn between feelings and reason. This plagued her heart more and more with every second.

  “Arpy, I’m assuring you that even a gentleman in my place wouldn’t give in.” Arsy smiled. “Only an insane person would voluntarily turn away from kissing an angel…”

  “You know what a wonderful dream I had this night?” asked Parelia.

  “Did you see me in your dream?”

  “No!”

  “Then it definitely wasn’t wonderful.”

  “I saw a fairy meadow.” Parelia started speaking excitedly, “A meadow made of hundreds of flowers glistening in the night. Their half-opened buds gleamed with a dozen shades of blue, white, and pink. Like miniature suns, they beamed with warm rays. My eyes couldn’t follow this unbelievable kaleidoscope. They were lightly waggling in the wind as if nodding approvingly and enticing me. I couldn’t resist, so I moved towards them. Freshly-mown wet grass pleasantly tickled my bare feet, while the air was filled with a balmy scent of roses, fragrance of flowers, and a sweet savor of honey dew. Hardly had I started enjoying the sight of the flower sea gleaming in the night when something flitted in the grass a few steps away from me. Bothered by her self-invited guest, a fragile, almost transparent butterfly flipped its mesh wings and flew into the starry sky. She was followed by a second one, then a third, and soon, dozens of night-time beauties started whirling in a bright dance, rustling their elegant wings and strewing about aromatic twinkling pollen as though it was stardust. My hands were orchestrating the flight of those magical butterflies.” In telling this, Parelia indeed raised her hands. “Following my instructions, they flew high into the air and sat on the tips of tulips. Their gentle wings were trembling in the darkness of the night, performing a magic dance, while I found myself in the very center of that fantastic ring dance. Enchanted by the beauty, I was dancing with the heavenly butterflies like crazy until I suddenly realized that I was the princess of butterflies… That wonderful dream was like a fairy tale, where the universe was based on magic. I swayed with them, stretching my arms to the starry sky and letting that magnificent sense of freedom lead me in the dance to the melody of my own heart that only I could hear.”

  She fell silent, and Arsy, being carried away by her enthusiastic story, suddenly realized he was sitting with his eyes closed. He had lost! How? How was that possible? He was focused to the limit! He knew she could use some kind of tricks against him! And yet, he fell into this verbal trap of her stories! Arsy covered his face with his hands in despair.

  Parelia did not say anything, but he could feel her victorious look, burning his hands. Finally, Arsy opened his eyes. He was devoured by a feeling of deep disappointment and sadness that the long-awaited kiss he had dreamed of for the last few minutes would not take place. Parelia really looked at him with a victorious smile.

  “You killed me…” said Arsy sadly as though he was really dying.

  “Right, though it wasn’t easy!” said Parelia beaming with happiness.

  “I don’t know how exactly, but you are definitely cheating.” Arsy was upset with the lost game.

  “Come on. It was an honest struggle.”

  “Damn it! How could I lose? But we could have a short kiss as a silver lining, can’t we?” asked Arsy

  “No!”

  “Such a selfish girl.”

  “I hope you didn’t forget what was on the line.”

  “No, I am already getting ready to eat stones.”

  “Right, but let’s leave it for tomorrow. I won’t be torturing you anymore tonight.”

  Parelia yawned with restraint, gracefully covering her mouth with h
er palm.

  “Okay, I'm off to bed. You should also go to sleep. Goodnight!”

  “Good night,” said Arsy gently.

  When leaving, Parelia turned around and waved to Arsy. In his turn, Arsy sent her an air kiss. Parelia picked a branch from the ground and began to wave it in different directions, as if driving away his air kisses from herself.

  Arsy knew he had forever fallen in love with that beautiful girl. She ran to the hut, while he was staring after her with fascination. He felt like he was watching a magic butterfly flying in the twilight before dawn...

  *

  Arsy was going to pass the night duty to Erathos. Adding some more wood to the fire, he waited for it to start burning and was about to wake up his friend. Turning around, he saw that Erathos was already awake and coming to meet him. He looked more than disgruntled.

  “Arsy, how many times do I have to repeat this for you to understand?” he asked angrily.

  “It’s not my fault this time, Ero! I swear!” Arsy threw up his hands as though he wanted to protect himself.

  “Oh, really? I saw with my own eyes how you were sitting here and talking. Of course, I might be mistaken, but it seemed to me you were holding her hand.”

  “Stop it! Next, you will tell me I took her here by force!” Arsy obviously wasn’t going to admit his guilt. “She came to me voluntarily, and we were just chatting. As for holding her hand, I did it with her consent.”

  “I’m telling you to keep away from her, and you do quite the opposite. I don’t get it. Are you deaf or stubborn?” Judging by his voice, Erathos was extremely annoyed.

  “I understand you, but she came here voluntarily, you see?” exclaimed Arsy, elevating his tone every next second. “Tell Erania. Let her tell her friend to keep away from me.”

  “Don’t make me angry, Arsy! I don’t want to see you together anymore!” snapped Erathos.

  “What a damned fortune!” burst out Arsy discontentedly. “For once, I’m attracted to a girl and such a misfortune!”

  “You’ll find another one.”

  “Seriously?” uttered Arsy with obvious skepticism. “You really think I can find another beauty like her?”

  “That is hardly possible.” Erathos shook his head. “She is pretty.”

  “Only, please, don’t tell me she’s in your sights!” resented Arsy.

  “No, we can’t have another Dinarina story,” assured Erathos. “You know pretty well that I am only interested in Parelia.”

  “Dinarina is inquiring about you from time to time.”

  Something like faint irritation glimpsed in Erathos’s expression, as if he didn’t want to talk about it. The next second, his best friend noticed how his face calmed down, and finally, he asked in a small voice: “How is she?”

  “She’s pretty fine,” answered Arsy excitedly. “Would you like to meet her?”

  “No! I’d rather leave the past in the past,” answered Erathos confidently, though his expression remained pensive.

  “Thank gods, fate was merciful to me!” sneered Arsy.

  “Don’t talk nonsense,” Erathos said. “Even death can’t part us.”

  They stayed silent for a while, after which Arsy decided to get his friend into a serious conversation.

  “Listen, Ero, I just learned some details about Erania from Arpy.”

  “What details?” Erathos moved his piercing glance onto his friend.

  Arsy swallowed nervously and looked at the fire: “I promised her not to tell you.”

  Discontented, Erathos made a wry mouth, fixed his stare on his friend for a while, and in the end, smiled ironically.

  “Maybe you can give me a hint at least?”

  Arsy started raking up the wood in the fire as though evading the answer.

  “Erania is extremely famous, but you don’t have the slightest idea of the reason for her fame,” he said after a long pause.

  “Won’t you share your knowledge?”

  Arsy’s expression was more than apologetic: “I’m sorry, but I promised Arpy I won’t tell you. Maybe I will tell you, if she doesn’t confess to you herself.” Arsy moved closer to his friend and spoke with a conspirator’s intonation. “Ero, you’re caught in her toils, though you don’t notice it. Arpy says you have no chances of becoming the King. If Parelia learns about you and Erania, you can give up all hope. She will never betray her friend.”

  “Yes, I know,” snapped Erathos angrily. “Therefore, we need to draw Erania on our side.”

  Arsy reflected for a while, after which he finally voiced his idea. “I suggest we keep Erania locked up until you marry Parelia.”

  “And what do you suggest we should do with Arpy?” inquired Erathos.

  “The same thing we do with Erania.” Arsy literally ground out those words.

  After a moment’s reflection, Erathos shook his head confidently.

  “We do not need unnecessary trouble,” he said, adding with almost a commanding tone, “You keep away from Arpy so as not to make Erania angry, and I’ll try to persuade her to help me.”

  “So, here is why you want me to hold myself aloof,” guessed Arsy.

  Erathos nodded silently.

  “What shall we do if Erania refuses to help us?” asked the conversationalist, with his stare fixed on the fire.

  Erathos’s response was more than confident and even harsh. “Then we shall take the power by force.”

  Suddenly, a mystical grin touched Arsy’s face. “Listen, then Arpy will be mine, won’t she?”

  “Not only Arpy. I can even give you Parelia.” Erathos shrugged his shoulders indifferently.

  “Seriously?”

  “Yes! If I take the power by force, I won’t need Parelia,” answered Erathos.

  “Thank you very much for such a wonderful offer,” smiled Arsy, “but I will choose Arpy.”

  Erathos shifted his almost astonished gaze on his friend.

  “Are you serious? I’m offering you the princess, and you choose God knows who?” He frowned. “Are you really so badly attracted to her?”

  “It couldn’t be worse.” Arsy smiled dreamily and added in a serious voice, “Anyways, you should think over my suggestion; they should be kept locked up.”

  Erathos croaked discontentedly and elaborated with a tone of an experienced teacher, “If Parelia’s friend disappears, she will send all her forces to her searches and will forget about her personal life.”

  “You are right.” Arsy nodded and added quickly, “But Arpy is also dangerous to us.”

  “I know,” snapped his friend tartly. “You still haven’t found out who she is, have you?”

  “I haven’t,” Arsy shook his head. “But sometimes, she is saying weird things. For example, ‘If you don’t find me in the capital, go to Parelia, and there you will find me.’”

  Erathos frowned.

  “Maybe she’s one of her maids of honor?” assumed Erathos.

  “I don’t know, but her face seems familiar to me.” Arsy’s glance became concentrated. “I can’t remember where I have seen her.”

  Erathos became pensive and even morose all at once. He was looking at the fire for quite a long time, until he heard Arsy calling him.

  “Listen, I’ve also seen her somewhere.”

  “Really?” Arsy frowned.

  “And not only seen.” Erathos kept watching the fire pensively, as though he could find all the answers in it. “I’m sure I have spoken to her too.”

  “What does Erania say in this regard?” asked Arsy.

  “She says Arpy is her friend from the capital,” answered Erathos. “That’s it. By the way, Erania asked not to let our tongues run away with someone in her presence, especially about the Agayans.”

  “Couldn’t you warn me sooner?” exclaimed Arsy, but noticing his friend’s anxious expression, added immediately, “Don’t worry. I haven’t told her anything that could endanger your reputation.”

  Erathos peered at him with a disgruntled expression, but it di
dn’t take him long to relent and shrug his shoulders.

  “She’s seen quite a lot already.” His stare became more serious with a flash of harshness. “I think, as soon as Erania agrees to help me, we’ll have to lock up Arpy to get rid of these so-called unpleasant surprises.”

  “No problem. I’ll do that!” Arsy nodded, without losing a second.

  A sly smile appeared on Erathos’s face. “You’d love that, wouldn’t you?”

  “Well, we don’t necessarily need to keep her locked up.” Arsy’s lips stretched in a wistful smile. “I could take her on a trip, for example, to some faraway corner of Agastan.

  “Are you crazy?” exclaimed Erathos. “I need you here. We have more than enough problems, and Elmunia is one of them.”

  “What am I supposed to do?” inquired Arsy with the tone of a fair soldier.

  Erathos looked at the fire again and narrowed his lids, giving him an almost sinister expression.

  “She has many adherents; we must catch and question them one by one to find out her secrets. She’ll have to help us after she finds herself in a vulnerable situation.”

  “That’s a smart idea.” Arsy nodded approvingly. “Let me know when I should begin.”

  “When you have time.” Erathos gave him a hard stare and added with an obviously spiteful voice, “I will make her and all of them come down on their knees. They can’t get away with the traps they have set for me.”

  “And what are you planning to do with Erania?” Arsy asked carefully.

  “It depends on her decision.” Erathos was talking to his friend, but his voice grew so menacing that it seemed like he was picturing Erania instead of him. “I hope she’s smart enough to make the right decision; otherwise, I’ll have to take revenge on her.”

  An uncomfortable and even somewhat oppressive silence fell upon the place, which Arsy decided to break with a noticeably cheerful tone.

  “Enough planning! Let’s have some boha, shall we?”

  “You know I don’t drink,” answered Erathos with a sour puss.

  “Find someone else to tell your stories,” snapped Arsy, literally diving into the travel bag and producing a bottle with a turbid bluish liquid in it.