The Legend of Maydeen: Daughter of Nature

Partings, and Goodbyes

Maydeen had been inside listening to the stories she missed, and she learned that Elkatreya wasn't as young as she seemed, she was actually almost twenty and Amrvex only escaped the death sentence because the villagers that were taking her got attacked by bandits and were slaughtered. Amrvex had made it alive, but she could no longer use her legs properly. Elkatreya would soon show her age once she learned how to master the magic that keeps her like a child.

Teron told of the adventures her and May had together, the times traveling the human and Elemental borders. Naturally, she also told of May's lack of control of her own magic abilities, but Amrvex wasn't angry instead she offered to teach May.

"And when we got to the market in Sirenge, this old man tried selling to Maydeen a lily dress 'made by the Elements themselves'," she mimicked in a deep mocking tone and huffed just before she started yammering on again.

Though May laughed and told bits of the story that Teron had been leaving out, she wasn't quite listening to her friend tell her tall tale. Her thoughts were of the panther and Erak, she had a gut feeling that he wouldn't want to stay for long.

"Maydeen?"

"Hey, May!"

"Sister Maydeen?"

May's gaze snapped up from the floor and her eyes wandered around the room finding eyes staring at her, "Huh?", was the only vocal reaction she could muster.

Amrvex stood. "Come my dear, your father is trying to get your attention." May looked at the door she was standing next to, her father was solemn faced as he stood in the open doorway.

"Erak said he is planning on leaving you should go say your farewells."

The news was so sudden that she stood there and stared at him with a blank expression but with a pain in her heart and twist in the gut. "He's leaving already?"

Teron stood. "Come May, let's go say goodbye." Teron led Maydeen outside where Erak was patting Saroff's head with his back to them.

"You know, if I didn't know better, then I would say you have grown to like our panther friend," Maydeen teased, knowing in her gut that she might not see him for a long while, and when he turned to face her...she remembered why she had loathed him to begin with.

He had no expression lining his face, and he had a coin purse strapped to his hip, a coin purse that was jingling as he turned. "Hey, half-breed, I got what I came for so I think it is time for me to go back to Everdel." Impassive face, stern stance, fearful eyes that was what Maydeen could see.

"Thank you for not hurting us, Sir Erak." Teron bowed then glanced at May, "and now my farewell is done I will give you room, come on panther." Saroff stood slowly and looked back at May and Erak once then walked on with Teron.

"Thank you, Erak Brimble of Everdel, it was an honor," Maydeen said in her monotone emotionless voice and she curtsied slowly, expecting nothing more in return.

"You know how I found you when we met?"

May looked up. "No, you never said how you came to know where I was."

"There was a rumor of a woman whose beauty was unnatural for a human, she was traveling through the human settlements selling unique armor made from the Earth itself." He wasn't looking at her, instead his gaze was passed her. "I heard she sold Elemental armor that is only found in the deepest parts of the forest."

"So you went to the deepest parts of the forest and waited?"

"Indeed, but I was surprised to find a woman with a face stuck in an uncaring expression, and I couldn't see the beauty they spoke of."

Maydeen huffed and crossed her arms. "Is this simply a way for you to insult me?" May cut in as she cast him an annoyed twist of the lips, but all he did was smile.

"But the woman before me now, the one with a heart of roses and a head full of rocks, that woman's beauty holds no equal." He bowed as a king would scooping his arm across his waist, but keeping his eyes on hers.

Maydeen's mouth was open. "No equal? That is exaggerating it a bit don't you think, Erak?" May couldn't take this nice Erak she hadn't come to know him as she knew the other one.

He laughed and stood tall. "Farwell Maydeen Norel, that is a name I shall never forget." He turned to leave, but didn't get far when May called to the panther Saroff. The black panther bonded up to Erak's side and rubbed against his arm, it was now that May noticed Saroff's head reached Erak's upper arm.

"Take him with you, he would get bored hanging out here." Maydeen was looking at Erak when he stopped and put his hand on Saroff's head.

"You sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure. Take care, Erak Brimble."

"Rayno," Erak corrected.

"What?" May tilted her head.

"My name is Erak Rayno, not Brimble, not yet." Erak winked and both him and the panther walked back into the forest.

"Erak Rayno, I guess this is where we part ways," Maydeen whispered and turned to see Teron standing behind her with an angry, thorny face. "What's wrong with you?"

"Me? What's wrong with you?" She poked May's shoulder harshly.

"Ow!"

"Don't you ow me. Why. Didn't. You. Kiss. Him!" Each word was coupled with a painful stab in the shoulder.

Maydeen rubbed her arm. "Why would I?" That got her a slap instead of a poke.

"He was asking for it!"

Maydeen simply shook her head. "Not this time my little Elemental, and I think you should go back home and talk to your father."

"Don't change the subject!" she paused, "why should I talk to my father?"

"You've changed, I think he should know, plus Kan-Ton might be heading back there as well. I would like to know if he arrives safely.

"You're heart is far too pure my half-blooded friend, fine I will go but don't worry, I will be back!" She looked at her friend solemnly. "It's been twenty summers since we have been parted," she stated.

"How will you ever survive without me?" Maydeen asked plainly with a small smile.

Teron smiled too. "In those winters, I gained what no Elemental has...a sister." She hugged Maydeen forgetting about the newly produced thorns all over her body.

"And this half-breed now has now gained new holes in her body," Maydeen groaned. Teron pushed Maydeen away and slapped her arm again, but they were both happy.

"This is serious, May!"

"Teron, you are going to the Elements, you are not going to be gone forever."

The young Elemental shook her head. "You have a point."

"I know, now be gone before I get angry."

"Farewell, Maydeen," Teron chimed as she turned and ran to the forest in a different direction then Erak went.

"I will see you soon, Teron."

May watched her friend go and for the first time in twenty years May felt completely alone. Goodbye and good luck my friends. May looked around, from here she could see the rest of Oaken village through the grasses and trees. And greetings, Oaken, are you ready to accept the storm I bring?"