Silver Eyes Chronicles: The Journey Begins Trilogy: Book One: The Reunion

Chapter Twenty-Five: Wondering

Naria

Evening comes and while everyone is asleep, I am awake, keeping watch over my friends, yet I am unable to sleep myself. Leaning back against a broad tree trunk, feeling the hard bumps of the bark with my thoughts occupied by many questions.

The night is cool and the sky is clear. No moon is out, just the presence of tiny twinkling stars. A star shoots across the sky and I close my eyes, making a wish. I open my eyes, gaze up at the dark star filled sky and sigh softly.

How is Kirena coping? Is she still recovering from Nayuna's brutal tortures? Does she ever have nightmares or unusual dreams like I do now?

As I think of this, I find that even though I know my sister, I do not know her completely.

That is what wrong with everyone, I think with a trace of bitterness and sorrow. They think that they know their best friend or even their family in every way, when really they don't know, yet do not want to admit it, even to themselves. You can't really know someone completely, no matter what.

I'm like that in every way, at least now. I never knew my birth parents and despite the fact of my feelings for them before, I find that now, I can't hate them entirely.

Raeyeda told me that they only left me at the Azanend Lake to protect me from Nayuna. I guess what they decided was the right thing, for whatever reasons. So, I can't blame them now. I do, however wonder what they are really like.

All Raeyeda said was that my family was of the ruling line and that my father had been nearly killed.

I wonder what they looked like. I wonder what their laughs sounded like. I wonder whether there would have been love in their eyes if they had ever seen me? I wonder if their voices were as musical as my own? Would there be any light of spirit in their eyes? I wonder, if they're alive, will I ever get a chance to meet them?

Feeling a heavy burden of questions on my shoulders, I get up, grasp a thick bough and pull myself up, seating myself up against the trunk of the tree. I cross my legs in front of me, keeping my balance. I peer through the canopy of dark leaves and thin branches, closing my eyes.

I don't realize that a few tears are flowing from my eyes and trailing down my cheeks. I sob quietly, making no noise to betray me.

I miss my sister. I want to go home. I want an ordinary life, not this. Not the burden of being depended upon, the hope of destroying Nayuna.

Why can't someone else do this task? Why must I carry this burden? Why me?

I bow my head, crying silently until my tears are spent. I take out my handkerchief out from my sleeve and blow my nose quietly. I know that my eyes are red and puffy from crying but I do not care. The things I want most in life are not to be mine, no matter how much I want it to be so.

I sigh silently, slide quietly down the trunk and onto the ground. I smooth my tunic of dirt and fallen leaves, walking quietly to a peach tree, the branches bursting with pale pink blossoms. Instead of leaning back against the tree trunk, I let myself fall back against the petal strewn ground. My white curls spread around my face like a halo. My fingers caress the grass, picking up stray pink petals. I breathe in the sweet fragrance. I turn my head to one side, staring up at the sky.

I sigh, the tears coming again. I thought that they're gone. Why do they keep coming? I close my eyes and let myself cry once more, the saltwater moisture starting to stain my skin.

I then feel a warm familiar hand cupping my face and a finger trapping the tears falling from my eyes.

I open my eyes to see Ronan looking down at me, concern on his gentle features. "Naria? What's wrong?"