The Eldars

11

Montani wakes once and finds Mant next to her on the bed and smiles before falling back asleep. She has peaceful, happy dreams and feels safe and secure for the first time in years. And she feels something else she hasn't felt for years, happy.

She reluctantly wakens, she doesn't want to lose the feeling of happiness. But when she does open her eyes she is confused to note that it's almost noon. Then she notices Mant at her side and memories of the previous day and night come flooding back.

She tries getting up without waking Mant up, she quietly gets out of the bed. She has never been so embarrassed before. She has never needed another person's help before and yet, last night, she wouldn't have been able to make it through without Mant's help. "Oh, what you must think of me Mant?  What am I going to do?"  She thinks to herself.

"How are you doing this morning Montani?" Mant asks gently as he sits up. Montani jumps obviously startled.

Montani turns to face him as she answers nervously, "I-I'm fine Mant. You know you really know how to startle a person. I'm sorry to wake you, I tried to move without waking you, yet obviously I did. I'm sorry."

Mant is enjoying Montani's confusion and embarrassment. It was rare to see Montani in any way discomfited. No one sees Montani without her mask on.

Mant decides to end her torment, "You didn't wake me. I woke up shortly before you did actually. I just didn't want to wake you so I stayed put and enjoyed the view. But since you're up now I think we both could use some food." Mant gets up and stretches as he speaks. Montani watches in fascination. "Come Montani, I'm starved, it's been almost a full day since we've eaten. Let's go." Mant cajoles Montani and she shakes off her thoughts as she agrees, but she doesn't move.

Montani just looks at the floor. Mant in concern comes over to her, "What's wrong Montani?"

Montani takes a deep breath and forces herself to look at Mant, "Mant, I'm sorry about last night. It's just-I don't know-I'm sorry." Montani says in frustration. She can't find the right words to express her feelings and it frustrates her. To her mortification she starts crying and this makes her even more frustrated than before. She hasn't cried since her family's death, until last night that is.

"Montani, what is it?" Mant is quick to go to Montani and embrace her like he had last night. He starts stroking her hair again like he had last night. Slowly he thinks he understands.

"Montani, everybody needs help sometimes and there is no shame in that. Friends are there to help one another. I am your friend aren't I?" Mant waits for her nod before he continues. He had thought so, but it's always difficult to tell with Montani.

"The only time there is shame is when you refuse the help offered by friends. You didn't do that, so there is nothing to be ashamed of. I'm only glad I was able to help." By the time he's done speaking Montani stops crying.

"Feel better now?" At her nod Mant kisses her forehead like he had last night. At least that's what he meant to do, but he ended up kissing her nose.

Mant and Montani start laughing and Mant is intrigued with her laughter. To him it sounds like the wind running through silver wind chimes.  Mant shakes off the spell of her laughter.

"Come, Montani, I will treat you to lunch at my favorite place. If we're lucky my favorite table will be empty."

Laughing Montani quickly ducks into the bathing room to clean up and change into some clean clothes that aren't stained by blood and death. The sight of the blood and what happened last night to Manion saddens Montani, but she knows that he would want her to have some joy. He was always trying to get her to laugh.

Now it's Mant's turn. While Montani is changing he borrows some of Mauntie's clothes and does the same. He decides that he's going to do his best to make Montani laugh. He has become addicted to her laughter and it lightens his heart to hear it.

As they walk through the city people stare at Montani in shock. They have never seen her without her mask. They hear her laughter and it makes them smile. News of her change spreads like wildfire. The people all like Montani, but this is a different Montani. This Montani is alive once more and the word spreads throughout the city.

The young men sigh in defeat as they watch Mant with her. To them it is obvious that she has chosen Mant and her beauty will never be theirs.

Mant and Montani on the other hand are completely oblivious to those around them. They saw neither the surprise and delight in the people, nor the disappointment in the young men.

Mant continues to teach her, but knows that soon another must take his place. She has mastered almost everything he can teach her. The thought of leaving Montani hurts him. He purposely lengthens the lessons, but even so he finishes all too soon.

Montani senses something is wrong with Mant and wants to help but doesn't know how to approach him about it. "What is it Mant? Why are you so sad?" She decides to just straight up ask him.

Mant looks at Montani and gives her a sad smile, "Am I that obvious? I guess I'm not as good at hiding my feelings as I thought I was."

"No, you weren't obvious as you put it. It's just that I know you. You aren't acting right, why?"

Mant doesn't look at Montani as he answers, really he should have informed her of this long before. "Today is our last lesson together. You have mastered everything that I can teach you and even surpassed me in many of my mastered skills. Now it's time for you to learn from someone else, if you are interested in continuing to learn. You can decide at any time that you aren't interested in learning a craft or skill and stop the lessons. But I think you enjoy learning far too much to do that.

"Soon I must leave, Montani." Mant's words act like an arrow through her heart.

"I don't understand, Mant. Why do you have to leave?" Montani asks in confusion and tears of pain. Mant is going to leave her. After five years of being her constant companion and all they've been through, he's going to leave her.

"I must leave Montani," Mant reiterates and is unable to look Montani in the eyes. He can't let her see the pain it's causing him or him see the pain he's causing her.

"But why?" Montani asks again, the pain breaking upon her. The pain is starting to tear her apart and she starts to cry. Mant doesn't answer her. Montani turns and runs back to her house.

Mant stares after her, tears running down his face unheeded. Once she disappears from sight he bends down and picks up their things. He somehow makes it back to his house.

He quickly packs his things and leaves. He takes Montani's things to Mauntie and tells him that Montani is ready for another teacher. Finally he tells Mauntie that he is leaving. This leaves Mauntie blinking. He hadn't expected this from Mant.

He takes in his appearance and quickly talks to Molani. When Molani gives him her answer he turns sad as he watches Mant leave.