Return to Jorgaldur Volume V: Reunion (2)

Misunderstanding (I)

Father and son sat facing each other for a long time, in silence. A cup of hot drink was in front of Eldi. Another one was in Liodon's hands. He looked like he was going to take a sip, but he had been staring at the liquid over a minute, without doing so.

He wanted to talk, to tell his father, but the words wouldn't come out. Liodon had kept them to himself for too long for them to flow easily. Nevertheless, Eldi waited, calmly, without pressuring him.

In his home world, he had found himself in similar situations a couple of times. When his sister or a friend had needed someone to listen to them, a shoulder to cry on. He knew that the best thing to do was to give him time.

"It's hard seeing you all so happy... Well, I don't mean that... I'm glad that you're finally with mom. That Ted and Mideltya have their parents' approval. That Elendnas, Goldmi, Klimsal, Elenksia, Lidia, Melingor... That they're all so happy... It's just hard... It reminds me that for me, it's impossible..." he finally started to speak.

Eldi looked at him, waiting for him to continue. Melia had told him that her son had fallen in love with someone who didn't reciprocate his love, but she didn't know any more details. In his home world, people usually got over it with time, but it didn't seem to be like that there. At least, not for everyone.

"I don't know who this other person she was in love with is, but it doesn't matter anymore. I hated him for a while, although later I realized it was stupid. Whoever it was, it wasn't his fault. Only mine for falling in love with someone I shouldn't have. But I couldn't help it. Her blue eyes were so beautiful, so deep, they seemed infinite. I lost myself in them. Well, I'm sure they still are. And her smile, her kindness, her joy..." Liodon continued.

His father looked at him with sadness and empathy. It reminded him of himself, in the past, when as his son he had been hopeless, trying to forget a character from a game. Eldi wondered if his son could ever find another love, although he wasn't quite sure. He himself had never forgotten Melia, despite the time, and living in different worlds.

"One day, I went to confess what I felt. You know, I was super nervous. Ha, ha. It's a little embarrassing to admit it. I was an immature kid," he laughed at himself, even though his eyes were getting wet again.

"When I arrived, I realized she was with someone, so I stopped dead, I hid as best I could. I didn't want to spy on them, but I couldn't help but listen to them. I guess it wasn't very respectable, although none of that matters anymore. Lidia was trying to get some kind of confession from her..." Liodon recalled, his eyes a little blurry.

"Lidia?" Eldi thought to himself.

Melia had said she didn't know who her son's beloved was, and neither was Lidia supposed to. However, now it seemed that his daughter knew her. It was strange. Despite this, he let him continue without saying anything.

"I remember my sister made her confess that she liked someone. Then, she asked her if it was me, laughing. At that moment, my heart was beating so hard... I think it stopped when she denied it. All I remember is that I ran away. It broke my heart, but it's not her fault. Although at first, I was furious with both of them for no reason."

He seemed to want to downplay it, like a story from a forgotten past, but the tears that flowed from his eyes said otherwise. It was hard for him to remember that, but it was also liberating to be able to tell it, to share it with his father.

"Who was she?" Eldi asked, confused.

"Ah! Didn't I tell you? You already know her. Bolbe lived with us for quite a while. I guess she's always seen me as a little brother, but I saw her as something more... I still do... I miss her, but I'm unable to look her in the eyes..." he confessed.

If Liodon had been watching his father at that moment, he wouldn't have understood the expression on his face. In fact, Eldi wanted to tell him, but he preferred not to do so yet. It was better to be sure, to talk to them. He couldn't make a mistake.

When father and son returned with the others, Melingor, Elendnas and Klimsal were setting up some targets in the distance. The twins were with Goldmi and Elenksia, who were helping them prepare their small bows, made by Eldi. Melia watched with curiosity, along with Lidia.

"Uncle Liodon! Uncle Eldi! Come shoot with us!" Eldmi invited them.

"Mom! Not you! You always win!" Gjami forbade her mother.

That made her and everyone else laugh.

"Go with them. It'll do you good to get some exercise," Eldi encouraged his son.

He wasn't convinced, but in the end he agreed at the insistence of the twins.

"I'll go later. I have something to do first," Eldi apologized to the girls. "Take him quickly, or he'll change his mind."

Lidia also wanted to sign up, but a look from Eldi shaking his head made her change her mind. She didn't understand the reason, but her father had put on a very serious face. Melia was also intrigued, and even more so knowing that he had hidden in the tent with his son.

He waited for the girls to take his son away before addressing both women.

"I have to talk to you. It's important. Excuse us for a moment," the high human asked.

"Of course," Goldmi didn't object, although she couldn't deny that she was curious about what was happening.

Eldi took his beloved and his daughter to a secluded place, and then took out the tent again. What he wanted to tell them was better not to be heard by other dryads, at least for the moment. The possibility of some nymph finding out would be very high if that happened.

Lidia and Melia looked at each other, intrigued. Without hesitation, they followed Eldi into the tent.

"Are you saying that it was all a misunderstanding!? All these years!?" Lidia exclaimed, stunned, even feeling guilty.

"It seems so. Are you sure that Bolbe still loves him?" he wanted to make sure.

"Absolutely. It seems that we'll have to tie him up and take him to her," the dryad suggested, excited.

"Mom! Don't go overboard! We can't tie him up! Well... Maybe a little..." the high human woman couldn't quite make up her mind.

"No tying him up," Eldi refused. "But we can't make them wait any longer either. They've already waited too long."

"Should we tell them?" Lidia asked.

"I suppose that's best" her father agreed.

"We'd better wait until tomorrow," the dryad rejected.

Father and daughter looked at her suspiciously. Melia was excited, and with a mischievous expression.