Medice Ceres

Chapter 31

Ceres laid on her bedroll before the crackling fireplace, the top half of her body bared except for a wide strip of fabric pulled across her breasts. Alden dabbed healing oil on the wound in her side. "Does this still hurt?"

She smiled at him. "Nay, you tend me well, my dear Alden."

He took hold of her hands and helped her sit up. She pulled her dress up to cover herself. 

He shook his head. "It still is hard to believe that Waithe would be your father. The odds of randomly finding him are, well, incredibly small. And that does not even consider that you did not even know he existed."

"I think it not random at all. The Spirits brought us together. But it is more than to just reunite a family. There is a much greater purpose. My destiny... our destiny... it still lies ahead."

Eira sat sorting her collection of marbles, arranging them in varied patterns on the rough wood floor. She separated them by size, material, color, or seemingly in random patterns that meant something to her.

Waithe turned the spits in the fireplace. On them roasted three feral chickens. The aroma made his mouth water. The rock fireplace and chimney provided just enough structural support to hold up that part of the roof above them in this abandoned house. It would do to keep them dry from the drizzling rain. The house laid partially hidden off the trail, but remains of past fires indicated they were not the first travelers to take shelter here.

Waithe took a moment to observe Ceres and Alden as they sat shoulder to shoulder, reading from one of the books taken from the Medice archives. They would sometimes turn to each other, one smile would bring forth a smile from the other. Their relationship grew, not only romantically but as close friends as well. In many ways, they were a good match for each other.

They had decided to stay here for a few days to wait out the rainy weather and give Ceres some time to fully heal. Ceres... Aala... the two names of his daughter, he again savored the joyful thoughts that reverberated through his mind. So much had this young woman changed his outlook on life, and so much more she may yet change the world.

Eira gathered up her marbles and sat cross-legged on her bedroll. She closed her eyes and within a moment Phy appeared before her. The Life Spirit's green light supplemented the fading golden rays of the setting sun and the glowing coals of the fire. This little girl, once lost, was now truly part of his family. Her ability to so easily call the Spirits amazed even Ceres.

Eira closed her eyes again and lifted her hands, small clouds of shimmering lights appeared above them. As Ceres taught her, she directed the Magic to the grapevines that wound their way up the far side of the house without a roof, the vines being all that kept the stacked rock walls from tumbling down. The vines began to twist and grow, spiraling outward among themselves in an elaborate slow dance. New green leaves sprouted along their length. One vine extended before her as if hoping to caress the girl who gave it new growth. Bunches of fruit sprouted and ripened before her. The Magic faded away as Eira opened her eyes. She plucked a plump purple grape and popped it into her mouth.

Waithe grinned at the little girl, who grinned back at him. "My dear Eira, between your wonderful Magic and Alden's skill with a bow, we have the makings of a fine feast."

The warm flickering fire in the fireplace, the patter of gentle rain on the roof, and comfortably full bellies made for a relaxing late evening. The four sat on the floor in a circle around a cracked wooden platter that served as a table. Only bones and stems remained of the chickens and grapes. Ceres nestled herself against Alden while Eira played again with her treasured bag of marbles.

Waithe had not felt so content for many years, only back when his family was whole. In a way, it was whole again, with one exception. His wife Fera - she was still gone. A twinge of grief swept through him.