Aliel

Chapter 9

Renai was putting freshly baked pies in the display case when I came in. "There you are, it's nearly lunch time!" I looked at the old grandfather clock and couldn't believe it. All that had happened, and I'd only been gone an hour and a half? It seemed like at least a day had passed, and a whole lot of change accompanying it. Adeem emerged from the kitchen.

"So, has he asked you to marry him yet?" he asked, and laughed heartily at his own joke.

"Not in so many words..." I watched both of their faces change, and it was almost comedic.

"I knew it, I told you, Adeem!" Renai exclaimed, swatting her husband, softly, on the arm. "Oh, oh dear! Well, Claresa, what did you say?"

"She's not actually going to accept, is she? She barely knows him, it's not right!"

"Hush, Adeem, and let Claresa tell us what happened!"

Later that night at the dinner table, Adeem was still very upset.

"It's not right, I say. You're at least courting, aren't you? You didn't skip straight to the 'I do's. And what about permission for your hand? Are they going to do anything properly?"

"Adeem!" Renai reproved, but he would have his say. I was surprised that he was so vehement about this, I barely knew him any better than the elves.

"And how do we know they're telling the truth about this magic business? They could just be stringing you along, having a good laugh!"

"Believe me, I've thought about that." I remembered my dream where Lorien and I were on that giant stage, and all of the elves were mocking me.

"I think I ought to have a talk with this Lorien."

"Oh, Adeem, don't make a nuisance of yourself. Claresa is a grown woman, she can take care of herself."

"Well, who else has she got to look after her? If we don't, nobody will." I laid my hand on Adeem's arm, stopping his words.

"Adeem, I really appreciate that you want to help me. You've been a good friend. But I believe that they are telling the truth, and are very serious about it. I've been given time to think it all over. They aren't rushing or forcing me into anything. And, if I decide to go through with it, of course we'll do everything the proper way."

"Well, I... I still want to talk to this elf. See if he's the right sort, you know?"

"He should be coming back tomorrow, and you can talk with him then."

"But please, be civil, Adeem!" Renai said earnestly. "You don't want to be the reason they all leave, do you?" Adeem sighed.

"No. I admit, we owe them more than we could ever hope to repay. I was in the last battle, you know. We were retreating, those Feveral dogs right on our heels, and all of a sudden these horses came out of nowhere, and riding on them, no one believed it, elves!" Adeem launched into a long story about how the last battle of the war was won with the aid of the elves.

Then we all went to bed. But while I heard snores coming from the room across the hall, I lay there wide awake. Thinking.

I still couldn't believe all that had happened. An elf believed that I was his soulmate. How in the world does that happen? It certainly shouldn't happen to someone like me. But what was I to do? Just let things take their own course? Should I put a stop to it? It seemed positively too good to be true. I was so confused. I fell asleep with these thoughts bouncing around in my head.

I woke up incredibly early in the morning, so early in fact that Renai was still in bed, which was completely unheard of. I knew I wouldn't be able to fall back asleep, so I got up, got dressed, and swept and stoked up the fires before Renai or Adeem even came down the stairs. Renai was very glad that I was more focused and ready to do all my work that day.

It was late in the afternoon before I realized that Lorien hadn't come yet, and I wondered if something had happened. He said he would come. More time passed, and I became more and more anxious and downcast. I realized I'd been looking forward to seeing Lorien again. I wanted to know him more. I wanted to be sure that I could trust him.

Dinner time came with still nothing. Adeem and Renai had the goodness not to mention it, and both wished me a good night with a sympathetic look.

The next day I tried not to be too depressed, and I was rewarded for it when Renai called to me from the shop, saying I had a visitor. I rushed into the room, but I only saw Varen standing there at the counter. I hid my disappointment, and was the first to offer what I hoped was an elven greeting, from what I'd seen. I squeezed one of her hands warmly in both of my own, and Varen smiled for the first time since I'd met her. I must be getting the hang of this.

"Hello, Claresa. I am here to convey Lorien's apologies for not coming yesterday or today. His duties as a captain and Vale-heir have been needing attention. He's been quite distracted with everything going on, understandably so, but his responsibilities cannot be put off for long."

"Vale-heir?"

"As the son of Vale-zrah, the leader of our clan. Didn't he tell you this?"

"Oh, that, yes, I just... I didn't know that was his title."

"Oh. Yes. Well, I can see that you are busy," Varen said as the door opened behind her and admitted Old Miss Cerci, a daily customer. "I am sure that Lorien and I will be able to come tomorrow." She turned to go.

"Wait, Varen. This will only take a moment. I... have a few questions I wanted to ask you." She nodded, and waited quietly while I filled the nice old woman's order, two loaves of rye and a package of seed cakes.

Then I asked Renai if it was alright for me to take Varen upstairs, and she gave her permission readily. Upstairs, I showed Varen into my room and closed the door. She sat down in the wooden chair in the corner, and I sat on the bed.

To be continued...