“Aye.”
“Your hands feel of devotion when they have dared to touch me.”
“Aye,” he nodded.
“Marry me then. Let us face all that lies ahead as one.”
“I thought you wanted to know who you were before you gave your pledge,” he insisted as a final argument.
“I have learned enough,” she said, shaking her head gently. “Enough to know if we don’t take the chances we have, they may be lost forever. I wish to take this chance. Say yes, Rey.”
“Ami…”
“Say yes, Rey.”
“Amicia.”
“Say… yes… Rey.”
“Aye,” he whispered, glaring at her, then hugging her once more with a squeeze that kept her from breathing until he let her go. “I will speak to the Mate and ask him to perform the ceremony. I assume it will be a small gathering, nothing so spectacular as that of Zae and Hayt, or even Piers and Meena for that matter.”
“Nothing like them,” she agreed with a nod. “Our small group and nothing more.” Sliding her fingers into his, she squeezed him. “A private ceremony will be all that we need.”
“Then we shall have it,” he sighed, finally lowering his lips to press them firmly against hers before releasing her and walking away to search for their leader.
His thoughts churning, the young man oscillated back and forth as he tromped through the marshes, his doubts eating at him from the inside. She loves you, one side insisted. She has no other option, the other tallied.
“Enough!” he growled aloud, hoping to silence the two halves of himself. Spying the Mate splitting wood with Bally’s axe, he walked directly up to him and asked, “Need any help?”
“Aye, you are right on time,” Piers laughed, happy for the distraction from his brooding thoughts. The loss of their youngest member had been hard for him, and he had been giving it his best effort to hide the depths of his pain, but the morning’s service had left him feeling drained. Dropping the tool, he hoisted the elven bottle he had filled with water to enjoy while he toiled.
Taking up the handle, Rey studied it for a moment, his thoughts drawn to his young friend who was no more. Inhaling deeply, he gave a loud sigh, then placed a log on the stump and split it cleanly with a full swing.
“I have a favor to ask,” he began after he had laid waste to a few of the portions of wood.
“Oh?” the Mate grimaced, sitting on the ground and sipping from the vessel of cool liquid.
“Amicia and I wish to be married,” Rey informed him in a rush.
“You want to do what?” the Mate asked incredulously, glaring up at him. “Have you lost your mind?”
“No. I am in complete control of my faculties,” Rey grunted, glaring at the older man with the axe hanging at his side.
“But Amicia has been adamant that you should not court her. Even during the best of times when we lived in the cabin, she stood against it. Why would you ask her to marry you, especially now?”
“I didn’t ask,” Rey hesitated, uncomfortable at the first mate’s reaction. “We have shared a talk, and she suggested it.”
“She suggested it.”
“Aye, and you know this is what I’ve always dreamed of,” the younger man admitted in a subdued tone. “Please understand, Ami has offered her hand to me, and I have accepted. Will you marry us or not?”
“Why must I be the one to marry you?”
“Because the captain went down with the ship, remember? That means you take his place and by rights should perform the ceremony.”
“Oh, you won’t talk me into it that easily,” Piers growled, getting to his feet so he could impose his height upon his friend. “I strongly warn against this. You know she is still discovering herself. What if she finds out some horrible thing that you simply can’t live with?” Thinking of his promise to Meena not to share what she had surmised about the girl, he hoped it wouldn’t come to breaking his word.
“There is no such thing,” Rey replied, running his hand over the top of his head and smoothing his long waves of dark hair. “I love her, Mate. There is nothing I could not accept about her.”
“I’m not so sure about that,” the Mate replied, turning his back as he rubbed at his mouth and beard anxiously. Fuck, he swore under his breath. Raising his shoulders as he drew a deep breath, he calmed himself. “This isn’t something you can take lightly. Maybe I should speak to her. If you make this vow, it cannot be undone. This is an ‘until death’ kind of deal, and I would hate to see either of you do something you would regret.”
“You said yourself that one day she would be mine! What has happened that you are so set against it?” Rey demanded, the anger seeping into his voice. “Come on, Piers. We’re friends, or at least I thought we were!”
“We are friends,” the Mate replied, turning to face him squarely. Placing his hand on his shoulder, he gave it a squeeze. “That was near three years ago, son. Much has happened since then. But if you are certain… if both of you are certain, I should say,” he paused, swallowing before he finished, “then I would be honored to hear your vows.”
“Thank you,” Rey breathed, his smile wide when he realized they would be wed. “We will decide on the time, but rest assured it will be soon.”
“I leave you to the chopping then,” Piers grunted, taking his bottle as he trotted away.
Watching him go, Rey twirled the axe, spinning it in his palms. She will be mine, he swore to himself with a wide grin. Cutting his eyes up at the sky, he hoped Bally really had been watching and that he would be there to see the day Amicia became his bride.
Secrets About Secrets
“I must speak with you,” Piers informed his wife without preamble when he arrived at their camp.
“Oh?” she replied, smiling up at him from her mending. “Our clothing has suffered greatly this time around. Fortunately we brought what remained of our sewing supplies and I can –”
“Please, leave it,” he commanded, placing his wine bottle on the ground and glancing between Zaendra and Oldrilin. Pulling at her arm, he silently urged her to follow.
Close behind, she trailed him into the woods straight east from their camp. “What is it?” she demanded when they were alone. Arriving at a small opening in the trees, they had put a fair distance between them and the others.
“I’m afraid we have a problem,” he replied, wringing his hands anxiously.
“Always,” she laughed. “Our lives have been one disaster after another since we met. What is the cause of this latest bit of chaos?”
“Ami and Rey wish to be wed,” he supplied, facing her squarely.
“Oh my. That does present a problem.”
“Exactly,” he clipped, raking his hand through his dark locks and freeing the knot. “I tried to talk him out of it, but he insisted. I didn’t divulge anything, and I haven’t spoken to her,” he finished weakly.
“You thought you would leave that up to me,” she sighed.
“What’s going on?” Animir interrupted as he and Hayt joined the couple. “Are we sharing secrets away from camp?”
“This doesn’t concern you,” Piers barked, hoping to keep the situation between him and his wife. “Please, leave us be.”
“If it concerns the group, it concerns us all,” Hayt countered. He had taken a liking to the elf once he got to know him, and had no problem supporting him on this cause.
“They are concerned about Amicia,” Zaendra bit tartly as she and Oldrilin also sauntered into the clearing, which had grown crowded with the six of them standing within it.
“Oh, that’s just great,” the Mate growled, unhappy their private conversation had been overheard.
“Please, dear husband. Let us discuss this situation openly,” Meena advised.
“Openly?” he chortled. “Perhaps I should call the happy couple over, then. I’m sure we can squeeze them in,” he bit, wafting a hand around for emphasis.
“Happy couple?” Animir observed in surprise. �
�Have they announced their intentions?”
“Aye,” Piers grunted, bobbing his head, “which is a bad idea from what I know of the situation.”
“Because Amicia is a dragon,” Zaendra observed.
Staring at her with wide eyes, the Mate’s tone softened. “Who told you?”
Quiet laughter erupted around him, and their leader looked upon each of them in turn. “You all knew.”
“Of course we knew,” Hayt smirked, slapping the taller man on the back. “She is a magical being.”
“What our dwarf is trying to say is, Amicia’s inner being shines brightly within her. The more she uses her powers, the greater it will show,” Animir explained. “The gnomes, rest assured, will address her as our leader tomorrow night despite our intentions. All that we have met know who, or what, she is.”
“Except us,” Piers breathed, shaking his head and feeling foolish. “Rey doesn’t know and neither did Bally. We can’t see it, but all of you can.”
“That is correct,” Oldrilin agreed, bowing her head at the mortal of the rim. “Much we have to share, much we need not say.”
The Mate’s features twisted as he interpreted her comment and asked, “Are you saying we should or shouldn’t inform Rey? I mean, I don’t think we should allow them to wed, personally.”
“We cannot prevent their wishes without due cause,” Zaendra observed. “If they wish to be joined, it is not our place to judge or stand against it.”
“But she’s a dragon!” the Mate fumed.
“Do you wish to reveal this to her? She is not yet aware,” Animir pointed out. “You would have to tell both of them why you stand against their nuptial, as it is their choice to make.”
Silence fell over the group as they abruptly reached the point of their conversation.
“Do we have the right to stand in their way?” Meena finally asked quietly. “As far as they are concerned, she is a mortal of the rim. If one of you knows a way to break her curse, speak of it now.”
“I know of no such magic,” Zaendra stated defiantly, her dimpled chin raised. “And I do not think it is our place to force a wedge between them.”
“There is a wedge between them,” Piers grunted. “They aren’t the same!”
Cutting her eyes over at him, Meena’s expression collapsed. “As are we, my love.”
“That’s different,” he dismissed with a wave of his hand. “I knew what you were, and I loved you anyway. Rey doesn’t know she’s…” the words fell away as he pictured the young man he had known long before they came to the Kingdom of Eriden. “He won’t care. He is head over heels for her, and I am certain it wouldn’t matter. Is there any hope of returning her to her dragon form?”
Glancing between the others, he waited, each of them silent as they considered the implications. When no one volunteered a resolution, he sighed, “Well, I say we let them marry then. I for one do not wish to break the news to either of them.”
“You do not think she should be told?” Hayt asked pointedly.
“No. If we cannot help her gain her true form, what would be the point? She is likely to spend the rest of her life trapped in the body of a human. She might as well be able to live like one.” Glancing around at the others, Piers could see the doubt on their faces. “Come on. What do you say then? Who will go and tell her?”
The seconds ticking by, none were quick to volunteer. When each had stepped back out of their circle and informally withdrawing from the discussion, Piers concluded, “Then we are agreed. Meena, if you wish to try and dissuade her, then you may do so, but the consensus is that the wedding will take place whenever they have set the time.”
“I am not certain of this course of action,” Animir informed him, “but as I do not wish to be the one to break this news to her, I will agree.”
“As will I,” Hayt snapped, glancing at his bride. “Zae?”
“I will not speak of it,” she replied, her lips pursing into a pout.
“Ami must discover her own heart,” Oldrilin agreed while shaking her head side to side. “If it was my place to tell her, I would have long ago.”
“Then the secret is sealed, lest anyone outside our group reveals it,” Piers affirmed. “Let us then return to our chores and speak no further of it.”
Picking their way back through the marshes to their camp, the three women returned to their sewing. Taking up her needle, Meena glared at the cloth, her heart filled with mixed emotion. Part of her wanted to reveal all to her young friends, but she understood why it would be cruel to do so. If Amicia were to remain in human form all the days of her life, knowing she was a dragon might force her to spend that life alone. The very idea filling her heart with sorrow, she informed the others, “I’m afraid I must speak to Ami.”
“Well, then you are in luck,” the girl giggled, joining them from the north side of the clearing. Dropping to her knees, she crawled into her shelter to retrieve her pack and the item still hidden within it. “I have exciting news,” she beamed, obviously happy at their plans.
Seeing the eagerness on her face when she stood, Meena smiled, her doubts removed in an instant. She would never do or say anything to crush her young friend’s joy. “We have heard your happy news,” she informed her with a nod. “Congratulations. I was coming to find you that we might discuss your wedding wishes,” she added with a laugh she hoped covered her previous misgivings.
Glancing around, Amicia also giggled, “I’m afraid the marshes will have to do. I have the dress we made for me last winter,” she informed them, pulling it from her pack. It had been rolled into a tight bundle and shoved to the bottom. “However, it isn’t very fresh after all we’ve been through.”
“It will be fine,” Meena smiled. “I know a trick for such things.” Taking the garment, she carried it over to a tree limb, where she hung it so that the bottom cleared the ground by close to a foot.
Next, she poured a small bowl of water and placed it beneath the gown. Surrounding the vessel with smooth stones, she used her staff to tap them gently, causing them to glow brightly. The water warmed quickly, and steam rose into the air, penetrating the delicate fibers. Pressing her hands together, the cloth sandwiched between, the wan worked her way up, pulling downwards and smoothing the fibers as she went until it shimmered like new.
“It’s beautiful,” Amicia gasped, pleased with the result. “You have a trick for everything, don’t you!”
“I have lived many years, yes,” Meena laughed. “You will make a beautiful bride.”
“Know any spells for flowers?” Zaendra grinned. Glancing around them, the marshes were only decorated in shades of green.
“I don’t really need flowers,” Ami sighed, still fingering her dress. “All I need is my circle of friends to stand with me as I embark on a new life.”
The words stealing her breath, Meena knew she would not speak against their intentions. “And you shall have it,” she agreed.
Hiding the gown so Rey would not see it, Amicia set about preparing their dinner. Animir and Hayt produced the meat while Zae and Lin gathered the vegetables. Sitting in their circle that night, the group spoke in soft voices, each enjoying the company and doing their best not to spoil the occasion for the happy couple.
Once they had eaten, Rey announced, “We will hold the ceremony tomorrow morning if that’s all right. That way we will be joined before we stand before the gnomes.”
“Why not now?” Piers replied in a surly manner, still disgruntled with the cowardice of the others, as well as his own.
“Now?” Amicia gasped, her clear green eyes darting around at the gathering.
“Perhaps tomorrow would be best,” Meena clipped, glaring at her mate. “We did hold Baldwin’s memorial only this morning.”
“It would end the day on a happy note,” Rey observed, the lump in his throat bobbing as he swallowed nervously.
Silently glancing again at the others, Amicia could see the doubt on their faces. Still, sooner was better than later
as far as she was concerned. On her feet she announced, “It will only take a few minutes for me to change. Let us gather in the clearing so that Bally can join us.”
“Bally,” the Mate snapped, pushing himself up to stand. “You know he isn’t really buried there.”
“No, but it’s our place of remembrance,” Ami replied happily, digging in her bag for her brush. “You all go and await us there,” she ordered, pointing at the men with the mirror. “I promise we won’t be long.”
Seeing that she was serious, Rey reached inside his shelter to retrieve his blanket as the other three men reluctantly gathered at the trail to Bally’s marker. “You go on, and I’ll join you in a minute,” he informed them, heading further up the line of trees.
“What are you doing?” Piers yelled after him.
“I’ve got something I need to do,” he shouted back with a wave before he disappeared on another trail. Pushing his way through, he located a secret place he had discovered but not shared with any of the others. There he set up a surprise for his bride, then left to return to the place of their ceremony.
Approaching the ring of trees surrounding the engraved stone, the girls had not yet arrived. His three friends appeared anxious, causing him to laugh. “I thought I was the one supposed to be nervous.”
“Hmmp,” Piers grunted. “Just preparing to officiate, here,” he lied.
Rey looked around with a peaceful gaze, as the circle had felt sacred since the first time he had laid eyes upon it. Rubbing his palms against his pants, he sighed, “I guess this won’t be much of a wedding.”
Above him, the full moon shown brightly down upon them. “It contains all that it should,” Animir informed him.
“Aye,” the Mate agreed, his features forced into a smile. He had agreed to do the honors, but he currently wished he had some of the troll beer to help him with the proceedings.
They didn’t have to wait long, as Ami was in a great rush to finalize their agreement. Wearing the dress, her hair had been combed and hung loosely about her shoulders. Coming into the clearing, she paused as the other women moved to stand beside the others in a full circle.
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