Prologue of the Prologue: Nelora Mahariel

Chapter 6: Wicked Ears and Spooked Souls

Summary:

Nelora Mahariel is sent on an errand.
This should be easy and boring, not much can happen but then again this is Mahariel who we are speaking of, nothing is just easy.
Nelora is on her way to do Ashalle's bidding but at one moment she isn't alone. There are two other elves, Tamlen and Fenarel. They haven't noticed her yet. Should she go about her business as usual or listen in for a moment. Should she take the high road or go down the sneaky mischiefy lane, again.

Notes:

"Any place is good for eavesdropping, if you know how to eavesdrop."- Tom Waits

Mahariel is told to fetch some water for Ashalle. It is the big laundry day for them.

She is carrying two empty buckets to the river but when she gets near there she can hear people speaking, she can make out two voices.

Should she eavesdrop, nah just go and take the water and return to Ash.

A few steps taken forward she can now see that the two talkers are Tamlen and Fenarel. A great inner debate is going on inside her, to go about her day or just stay for a moment to listen. It would be wrong to stay and listen but it could be very awkward when she comes at a bad time. Better listen to a few sentences and then make a decision if it is a good time to interrupt them momentarily with her water.

Nel puts down her buckets and sneaks a few steps closer. She hides behind a tree and peeks out at the two. They are fishing, strange when usually Keeper sends 3 of them to fish but not this time. Were they there to pass time or Tamlen didn't want her around. The curiosity grows inside her, she must know.

Fenarel pulls out an empty hook, takes an earthworm from a pouch and slides it onto the sharp object. He throws it skillfully back into the water. "You are acting strangely today, what is going on?"

Tam shrugs "Nothing really."

"Hey if it were nothing then you wouldn't be distracted all the time, wouldn't make these big pauses when you speak, wouldn't keep away from people..." Keep away from people? Is she concluded in those people or the 'people' is her? "... and you'd react faster."

"What, I react just ..." Fen throws him with some water plants at Tam. The plants land on his head. Green hair made of water flora does not quite suit him. The other elf protests "Why did you do that?"

"To prove a point." He dries his hands into his clothes and picks up the fishing rod again. "If you were alright you would have dodged or caught it."

Tamlen takes the mass of water plants off of his head, his hair is dripping now. "You don't know that."

"I do know that. It is a part of the bases for the hunter training that you are in right now, that I was in too. So spill the beans."

He sighs "Honest to the elven Pantheon, it is nothing."

"Oh if it is nothing then you wouldn't mind if I called the third fisher here, she was actually sent here too."

The answer comes as soon as the last word leaves Fen's mouth "No, not Nelora!"

What did she do? It can't be about her and Merrill, can it?

"Oh, I see. What is it this time? did you two get into a fight?"

He looks off into the distance and sighs "Of course not, nothing like that."

A sense of realization can be seen on Fenarel's face. He seems to be quite enthusiastic "Did you finally make a move on her?"

Tamlen's left quiet and confused "What are you speaking about?" Yeah what is he speaking about?

He shrugs "I don't know. I've always thought that you have a thing for her and she has a thing for you." She can't believe what she just heard. Her and Tamlen? Is he being serious? He is isn't he? Just no! No, no, no, no, no. They are friends, best friends and nothing more. It should be clear to everyone.

Tamlen blushes. He's voice is shy and quieter "I...no. Where would you get an idea that I like her, she is like a sister to me. This is so wrong. I would never..." Tam runs a hand through his wet hair. "Besides she already..." He stops speaking. What does she already?

Fen isn't joking anymore, he seems serious. "Then it truly is about Nelora." He jokes "So what, did you catch her with someone?" Oh, this is painful. What will Tam-Tam say, please don't talk about what you walked in on. It was a onetime thing, just having fun with Merrill, yeah just fun... She has a sick empty feeling in her stomach. Like her entrails are hollow and twisting, she wants to hurl. She should go away now, it would be for the best but as she tries to take a step back she finds that her curiosity is bigger and that she has to know what happens next.

Tam's face turns white and he focuses on the floater indicator that shows if the fish are biting.

Fenarel looks shocked. He is curious "You did! With who?"

Tamlen shakes his head. "I don't know what you are talking about."

"The only person you are fooling right now is yourself. And if you are going to be so tight lipped then when we get back to the clan then I can ask Nel myself. I'm sure she'll be more talkative and that she has some better explanations'." Oh please don't Fen.

Tamlen seems to have the same idea as her "Don't. I'm not sure of what happened either, it may be a misunderstanding."

There is pause between them. A gush of fresh and cool air blows through the forest baring the sweet smell of forest lilies.

"It was not very long ago, not at all when I heard some giggling and saw some lights. Then I thought what harm can there be in a surprise visit, it wouldn't be the first time when one of us crashed at someone's tent. But when I opened the door ten they might have been hugging but I doubt it, their lips were locked together, but then again I might have seen it wrong."

"I'm sorry."

"For what?" It can be very traumatizing to see your best friend give their attention to someone else, especially the type of attention she was giving. It would be most awkward if she were to walk in on Tamlen and someone, it would be understandable of course but she would not like to see her best friend in that light and she thinks that nor would he.

She feels sorry for staying and listening, she just should have gone and take the water and be done with it. What to do now, she needs the water but she can't take it from near here. It means she has to go further down the river, lovely, just lovely.

Nelora turns away from the two fishing elves and starts to head for her buckets.

She hears Tamlen speak "I think I'm done fishing for today. The fish aren't simply just biting"

"It has been a terrible fish day but I'm going to stay for some time, maybe the luck will turn."

"You do that. Fenedhis lasa! " She has to do something, go away? - No Tam would see her, too little time for that. Hide in the bushes? – Too noisy and the bushes can be very thin in some places so the risks for getting spotted are pretty great. For the sake of sodding rat droppings! As she is thinking where to hide Tam is packing up his fishing gear. She doesn't have a lot of time, she doesn't have ANY time!

The first thought that hits her is to hide in a tree with her buckets and wait for him to pass.

She makes a move for the buckets and quickly climbs a grand oak. The tree has many large branches and a lot of leaves, hopefully she will be hidden.

Nelora makes it just in time. She can see Tam beginning to walk from the river. This is so intense; she is holding her breath.

Tamlen mumbles to himself "Why did I have to be awake and walk in on Mahariel and Merril being all friendly. I can't look neither of them in the eyes after that moment. It is just too weird." He sighs "I am so not looking forward to the next training lesson because she'll be there."

He is just under her. Please don't notice an elf in the tree, please don't notice an elf in the tree...

The branch is cracking under her and before she realizes she is plummeting towards the ground.

She doesn't fall on the ground, why didn't she fall on the ground, she expected to fall on the ground.

She hears someone grunt and realizes that she fell on Tamlen. She quickly jumps up. This could not have gone any worse. Should she make a run for it? – No that would be stooped but what she thought was smart turned out to be dumb so...

Tam shakes his head "Nelora?"

Oh crap, how will she explain this?

"Indeed. What were you thinking about that you didn't keep an eye on trees; do you know how dangerous it can be?"

"I know...I know. We aren't always the hunters. If we don't pay attention then we might become the hunted. You are beginning to sound a lot like Junar." She manages an awkward smile.

Nelora holds out a hand for him, he takes it and she pulls the other elf up. Not that much awkwardness has occurred, hope it goes on like that.

Now that he is up he is looking into her eyes and blushing, he won't let go of her hand.

Thoughts of panic fill Nel's head. He knows that I was listening in on them. He is going to be furious or awkward or... she doesn't know. This is going badly. She is turning red too. This is the most awkward she has ever felt. She just wants to sink into the ground and not exist.

Every second feels like a year. Tamlen's bush goes down and he asks "What were you doing in the tree?"

Make something up, fast. "I... Uhhh... was bird watching? Yeah, bird watching, you know like we used to do when we were little."

He raises an eyebrow "Really?" Is it getting hot in here? It is getting hot in here. Ground please open up and swallow the one known as Nelora Mahariel.

"But why are you still holding on to a bucket? And why is another bucket on the ground?" What happened to the not paying attention part that Fenarel pointed out by the river side? He is really putting her in a pickle and there is no way that she is going to admit to what she was doing.

"You see... ummm... I was actually sent to fetch some water but then I saw some birds and got distracted, you know how I am, how I've always been."

"Uh-uh." He seems skeptical. "So it's a laundry day and Ashalle sent you out to get water."

She nods.

"But why would you climb a tree with a bucket?"

"I wanted to catch a bird, yes you heard me right." She can't read him. Probably he is as confused as her, hopefully even more so.

He lets go of her hand. "How long have you been here?"

"Not that long really. I walked into the forest, got here, saw a pretty bird, had a stooped idea to go bird watching and perhaps catching and fell down. I wish that I'd have a better explanation but I don't."

"So you didn't hear people talking by the river?"

She tries to look confused. "What people? I thought that you were fishing alone."

"Hah! How do you know that I was fishing?"

She points at the fishing rod and is being sarcastic "Yeah, you carry that thing with you for fun."

He looks down on the ground towards his scattered stuff "Sorry for that."

"No problem." She picks up the other bucket "It would be great if you'd stop interrogating me and I could get the water. You know that Ashalle isn't the most patient person."

He is avoiding her gaze now. Seriously it was just a little kiss between her and Mer. It would be sad if he wouldn't get over it and they stopped being friends.

"Of course." he begins to pick up the fishing supplies "And so you'd know Fen is by the river side. Wouldn't want you giving him the scare you gave me."

She nods and walks away.

That was interesting. Now all she has to do is get the water, bring it to Ashalle and hope that she won't be mad for her taking her time.