The Dreamweaver (Mature story)

[Chaosfairie27]

<p><span style="font-size: small;font-family: times new roman,times;">The Dreamweaver</span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;font-family: times new roman,times;">In the furthest corner of her room, she quietly slipped into the few pieces of mismatched armor that she called her own, taking only a brief moment to enjoy the heft and smell of the cracked and worn leather that she had grown to love.  Fully dressed and satisfied that the hallway was clear, it took her only a heartbeat to slip out of her room and into the waiting night beyond.  Saying a prayer to the gods for her safe return, she kissed her fingertips and touched them to the front door of the home she had shared with her parents her entire lifetime.  Pulling a hood over her head, she ran for the gates out of the city, the guards barely giving her a second glance as she passed through in the wilderness.</span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size: small;font-family: times new roman,times;">. . .</span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;font-family: times new roman,times;">"I didn't think you would meet me here tonight, little one," he said in the thick elfish accent of the Ayr'Dal that flowed like water from his lips.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;font-family: times new roman,times;">"Only death could have kept me from this meeting, well, on second thought," she giggled, "even death couldn't have delayed me for very long."</span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;font-family: times new roman,times;">He smiled at her then as he opened his arms in welcome and she immediately melted into them, breathing in his scent as her head settled into his chest and he rained kisses down upon her.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;font-family: times new roman,times;">"Marry me, little one," he said in between kisses.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;font-family: times new roman,times;">Lifting her head she said, "You know I cannot, yet you have asked me this same question for weeks.  Do not torture me this way!"</span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;font-family: times new roman,times;">He spoke as he pushed her away from him and turned his back on her, his tone harsh.  "Each night I wait here and hunger for you like I have never hungered for another before and each night you come here with your hugs and kisses, raising your skirts faster than a [Removed for Content] working for her next copper piece.  Don't you know, each time we part, a little piece of me withers and dies, wondering if you will even return to me the next night and yet it is I who torture you with a simple question, little one?"</span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;font-family: times new roman,times;">She took a deep breath and measured her tone carefully before she spoke, feeling the anger rising in her.  "Simple question, is that what you would call it?  You know that I love you, but what would you have me do?  Live in exile with you, juggling two worlds that would both want me dead, leaving my parents behind?  I owe them everything down to the very beat of heart.  Who will protect them, Gael?  Who will be there for them each morning with meat and bread?  Everyday I toil and sweat, working the fields to find food for my family and ores to sell.  Hiding away in a basement making spells for people that barely deserve to use them.  My fingers bleeding and torn and covered in ink.  Do you think I enjoy it?  I do it because it's my duty as a daughter.  They were hurt protecting our people in a war that they believed in, a war to make our world better, and can no longer take care of themselves.  I cannot turn my back on them, Gael.  To do so would bring the wrath of the gods down on my head.  If the Tier'Dal believe in nothing else, they believe in family."</span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;font-family: times new roman,times;">She was crying by then and she felt his arms wrap around her and she took solace in them.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;font-family: times new roman,times;">"I am so sorry, little one.  I knew your parents had fought in the war, but I had no idea that they were hurt.  Word of their sacrifice never reached those of us living in exile.  Why didn't you tell me before?  I didn't mean to be selfish with my question, but I want you with me, not just like this, but always.  I can and will wait for you.  My life before you was nothing."</span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;font-family: times new roman,times;">Reaching an impasse with their words she made love to him.  The passion and urgency nearly swallowing them whole as the night watched over them and the grass sheltered their bodies, one blue, one pale.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;font-family: times new roman,times;">Waking up with a start she noticed how light the night was becoming.  Realizing it was almost dawn, she jumped up and quickly dressed.  Her partner stirred by her sudden movement.  She felt him watching her dress and the urge to make love to him again tried to overtake her, but she knew she had to get moving in order to make it home before her parents woke.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;font-family: times new roman,times;">He moved to hold her, but she stopped him, kneeling down to kiss his lips briefly, moving away before it could turn into something more, she headed towards town.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;font-family: times new roman,times;">"Little one, meet me here tonight," he called after her.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;font-family: times new roman,times;">Not looking back, a single tear trailed down her face because she knew she would not come back to meet him again.</span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size: small;font-family: times new roman,times;">. . .</span></p>