Bridging Destinies

Chapter 70: The Weave Reaches Its Fanale

The age of man had ended. The earth was new. Man still existed, but in small groups, clustered in communities that lived in harmony with the earth, rather than fighting against it. Humanity had learned to harness their technology to work in conjunction with the earth rather than to fight against it and their lives were comfortable. They lived as children of the earth that loved their mother, rather than as one who plundered her. We were known to them now, unafraid to be different, but living separately. We were not gods to them, or demons and not as alien as they once must have seen us, but we were aware of each other as fellow sentient species, a kind of cousin sharing the earth.

I sat on the back of my horse, our preferred mode of travel, surveying the valley before me. Beside me, Tar'oniel sat on his horse, enjoying the view. He gazed out and spoke into my mind, 'Do you think they will have that flower mead they had last time? Legra said it was a new brew and they were testing it out.'

I smiled fondly at my son, "Perhaps. I think you are more interested in seeing Legra than in her mead." I teased.

Scoffing, he turned his face away from me, hiding his smile, "Hardly. I simply enjoyed the mead the last time we were here." He told me, succinctly and guided his horse forward and down the hill. I followed laughing, but said nothing and rode into the small town after him.

We came to a building near the center of the small community and dismounted, handing the animals over to the care of a girl, who led them into a field near the structure to graze. Entering the building, I watched as my son looked for Legra, but spotted her talking to a tall young man, with long legs and curling hair brushing his collar. She was laughing and I looked from the couple to my son, noting the frown on his face. I did not say what I thought, that my son was jealous. No doubt he would say that he was simply concerned for the girl. I studied Legra with the young man and realized their connection was friendly, but platonic. Tar'oniel seemed to shrug something off and called out as we approached, "Legra, hello." He said and gave a wave of greeting, then slightly bowed.

Smiling largely, Legra greeted him in return, "Niel! It's so good to see you! I have more of that flower mead you liked so much last time." She told him, as she simpered at him, her curling honey blond hair flowing around her face as she shook her head in delight, "I can fetch some for you." Her companion elbowed her and she realized she had forgotten the man beside her. Her dark eyes flashed and she shook her head again and elbowed the man back, "But sorry, this is my cousin, Menan. I don't mean to be rude," She said as she glanced at the man, "But I really just forgot he was here." She teased and elbowed him again, more lightly this time.

Menan rolled his eyes and pretended to simper as she was doing, "She's just saying that because she's a horrible flirt, and she talks about you all the time, Niel." He said, imitating the way Legra said her shortened version of Tar'oniel's name. I laughed at the exchange, as both my son and Legra blushed. Menan peered from Tar'oniel to me and his eyes widened faintly. I stared back at him and felt a shock move through me as our eyes met. His eyes were a dark hazel and his almost blond hair framed his face. His skin was a healthy bronze, more because of the melanin in it, than from being out in the sun. What arrested me was not his features, the color of his eyes and hair, or the look in his eyes, but the sense of familiarity I felt when gazing at him. It struck me hard and for a moment I forgot to breathe.

I had known for a long time that Legra was the same Hoseok I had known lifetimes ago, reborn into a new body, and while I had known her from a child, and had also known her parents and brother, I had not yet met her extended family. Meeting her cousin was more than a shock for as I looked into his eyes, I knew him as the man I had loved. Menan was Namjoon. Tar'oniel looked at me in concern, sensing my distress and shock and put his hand on my shoulder. Silently he asked me, 'Mother. Are you well?'