The Stars in Your Skin

CHAPTER 31

Naawri sings softly with her fellow Weavers as they work together weaving designs into a large mat.  Her mind falls to her beloved. She thinks of his smile, the warmth of his voice, his kind and gentle nature, his glorious scent, the safety of his arms. They could finally be together in plain sight, not in secret. She heaves a sigh.

“Don't worry little sister, you only have six days,” Wiua jibes.

“Wiua.” A chuckle ripples through their group, several elder ones throwing teasing grins her direction. She groans.

She nears home, fingers still sore, a basket on her hip. She can't wait to soak her hands. First things first though, she finishes her chores around their home before tending her hands. She pours steaming water infused with healing herbs into the hand bowl, setting the pitcher aside before placing her hands in the water. She breathes a sigh of relief once the warmth wraps around her sore fingers. She'd just finished soaking her hands and was preparing to work on her heart gift when someone stops outside the entrance. “Enter.” The flap pulls aside. She smiles at her visitor. “Aitwu.” She greets him respectfully.

He returns her greeting with a smile, although there is a strange edge to it. He sits confirming that yes he would like some tea when she offers. They sit in a comfortable silence until he breaks it. “I-If I gave you a heart gift right now would you take it?”

She pauses in her movements, heart falling. A part of her had hoped this conversation would never happen. She looks up at him and the fear-tempered hope in his eyes pains her. She drops her gaze, pouring their tea instead of answering.

“Naawri?” She inhales deeply.

“No,” she replies. She sees him swallow, the mix of emotions that flutter over his soft features squeezing her heart. She opens her mouth then closes it, unsure of what to say. His gaze shifts to the left.

“Are those for Neteyam?” There's no bitterness in his voice, even though she hears the way it wobbles slightly. He gestures to the bowl of unfinished beads.

She nods.

“Did I even have a chance?”

She bites her lip, but recalls her hesitant consideration of him as a potential mate. “At one point.” He gives a humorless chuckle.

“So my timing was late.” 

She doesn't reply, shifting her gaze to the side. If she had accepted his gift would she have remained with him if Neteyam had made his feelings known?

“Was I you settling?” His question breaks through her thoughts.

She glances up at him. “Aitwu,” she starts, unwilling to hurt him any further. But he understands the unspoken answer anyway.

He only shakes his head. “The Great Mother must highly favor him for she has blessed him in all ways.” Another mirthless chuckle. He stands and strides towards the door. “Bye bye Naawri”.

She rises quickly. “Wait”. He stops and turns to her.

“Can't we remain friends?”

He shakes his head. “Maybe. When my heart is healed.”

She gives an acquiescing nod watching him leave with sad eyes. Hurting him was not her intention but she would not apologize for loving whom she loved.  She sits down and resumes working on her heart gift.

Neteyam spends the eight days perfecting his heart gift for Naawri and without him counting it's the end of the grace period. He barely sleeps that night. He rises early the next morning when his family is still sleeping and stealthily retrieves his items: his slingbag, courtship gift, and leftover spiced flatcakes. He places his items in the bag and departs for Naawri's home. As expected despite the early hour he hears someone moving around inside.