Ancient Things We Hold

Chapter 2

The Story Behind the Affection

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"What is your name?"

"Hodaya,"

Those were the first words that they spoke to one another. It was their second meeting, which founded noise over the silence that they had built their recognition of each other on.

The little lord had never heard such a name before. It fell from her mouth naturally, but he had to hear it several more times to repeat it back to her. Even then, he sounded awkward. However, she had no trouble with his name, nor with speaking any of their words despite the funny way she spoke in.

"Aldwyn," she repeated, "Then you are not from my village?"

"No. I live not far from here, though. Look over the trees and you're sure to see it somewhere," he said.

That was when the talking ceased, for instead she began clambering up the tree in which they had met in. Her feet slipped continuously from the damp and her hands clamped with the growing cold, but she carried on until her head had emerged from the trees. All she saw was forest and hills. Disappointed, she went to climb down again, but she saw him below her trying to catch up, so she stayed until he had caught up again.

She liked the look of him. He seemed...kind. Normally, she preferred having the forest to herself, seeing as there was barely any time she could be alone. However, she didn't mind him being there- at least not yet, she thought. He didn't talk much, nor did he try to outperform her as they continued to climb about the trees. All the other boys she had known did that.

Hodaya. That's what he kept on saying under his breath. He was practising. Hodaya. Hodaya.

Although he wished that she would stay, she ran off soon after that and she didn't turn around even as he called after her.

The next time they met, they smiled at each other. It was the first time that had happened, but it amused them both that they should meet again. Both of them had taken a liking to that old tree and it seemed to each other as well. Perhaps that was why he was a little hurt by what she said that time.

"Do you have a family name?" he asked.

"No. I'm just Hodaya. And you should probably stop trying to be my friend,"

He looked down. He forced a quick smile and said, "Okay," quietly, with his hands slowly tightening around the branch that he was hanging onto. Then he began to turn away, but she called after him again.

Not wanting him to be in discomfort, she hastily explained, "You would not want to be my friend if you knew who I was," she said. He stopped moving away and instead looked back at her curiously.

"Why not?" he asked.

Suddenly, she disappeared. She had ducked behind the trunk and began clambering up the back. There was little decorum within her at all. Despite her gentle voice and quiet disposition, she allowed her dress to crumple and tuck up, then let her hair fall out of its cloth. The manner in which she climbed was careless, so much so that she looked like she was about to fall with every swing. She never did.

"Why not?" he repeated, circling round so that he could see her again.

"You are one of the others, aren't you? The ones with many Gods? You make up the larger circle," she said.

"How many Gods do you have?" he asked, intrigued.

"One. He is all powerful, all knowing. We worship him only," she said.