#I mostly just saw stuff like “Bow‚ earrings‚ or braids. Take your pick”

[ceruleanterrapin]

I got a little carried away and made three but

Just some ideas…… you can make some really ornate mask tail designs if you try hard enough but these are just some simple examples off the top of my head 😓

I am legitimately both jealous and extremely impressed at the sheer amount of creativity that was put into this

How in the world did you come up with these?? (/pos) They're all so intricate and unique like what???

[foursideharmony]

The Cat, the Prince, and the Doorway to Imagination (Chapter 3)

Summary: Roman meets the White Witch.

Pairings: Platonic/familial LAMP/CALM, Platonic/familial DLAMPR

Content Warnings: Mentions of fairly graphic violence

Word Count: 2811

Read on AO3: here

The snow came down thick and fast, covering Roman's tracks in a matter of minutes. The temperature was dropping fast now that the sun was down, and he had left his fur coat behind at the Beavers' in his haste to get away (to get this over with), but the cold wasn't bothering him too badly at least—his boots were good, and he had two layers on underneath his regally tailored jacket. (Just because the story was forcing him into Edmund's role didn't mean he had to suffer like Edmund; he liked to think he was made of sterner stuff than a bratty schoolboy who sold his soul for pistachio candy.) Even so it was rough going, especially at first, with the snow flurry blocking nearly all the remaining light. Roman wasn't certain at all that he was maintaining his heading, but there was nothing to do except press on and hope that if nothing else, the story would lead him to his destination, since it was hell-bent on making him go there in the first place.

By and by, the storm began to break up. The snowfall dwindled to a stop and the moon coasted in and out of fragmented clouds, close to full and startlingly bright when it was out, lighting up the snowscape like...like really good stage lighting. Even intermittently, it was enough for Roman to pick out those two northerly hills and keep heading toward them, though he frequently had to detour around gullies and large clumps of trees. Sooner than he expected, the prince found himself staring up at the castle of the White Witch.

It was bigger than he had anticipated. He had designed it, of course, based on the brief description and single illustration in the book, but at Roman's level of experience, “designing” things in the Imagination often involved sending out a few vague parameters and letting the environment hammer down the details. The castle was a mass of thin towers and jagged battlements, more like an accretion than a construction, and under the moonlight it was impossible to tell whether it was made of stone or ice or both or maybe even some weird blend of the two.

Roman swallowed, preparing himself to go in. To go in, and pretend to expect the Witch to make good on her bad-faith promises...

Wait a minute.

Wait a minute.

What promises?

Roman had never met the White Witch.

He had started the story several chapters in, after those events would have happened. Which meant that technically...they hadn't happened. He'd never eaten her stupid fake food; he was here because the story needed him to be, not because he was compelled by her sinister enchantment. There was literally no reason for him to go into the castle wheedling and begging. But that left him somewhat at loose ends regarding his approach.

All at once, Roman came to a decision. “If this story wants me to be the villain,” he said aloud, because some things ought to be said aloud, “then I'll show it the kind of villain I can be!”

He stood up straighter, checked to make sure his sword was accessible, and marched toward the frigid castle.

He wondered if the others had noticed his absence yet, but decided it didn't really matter. Not with what he was about to do.

(Like a creek in a flash flood, the story leapt from its channel, lashing across the landscape of imagination until it found the new course.)

Getting inside was no problem as the portcullis hung open, the dozens of icicles festooning the iron making it resemble nothing so much as a yawning maw filled with needle-sharp fangs. It was colder within the walls than without, and Roman ducked into his collar as he crossed the courtyard, noting with grim curiosity the “lifelike” stone statues that dotted it every which way—the fate of any Narnian who openly defied the Witch. Directly across from the outer gate was the inner one, and across the threshold lay a massive timber wolf, easily mistaken for a statue itself if one didn’t happen to notice its slow breathing and the wisps of fog at its muzzle. Roman walked up within a few yards of it, and drew his sword.

As he had planned, the metallic rasp roused the wolf, which leapt to its feet with flicker-quick reflexes and made as if to charge Roman, snarling, only to pull up when it saw the steel blade in his hands.

“You make very bold to come here armed, stranger,” said the wolf.

“I am well practiced at boldness,” Roman said. “Am I to understand that I have the dubious pleasure of addressing Maugrim, captain of Her Majesty’s secret police?”

“You understand well enough,” Maugrim replied with a mirthless chuckle. “Unless you wish to curse that name with your dying breath, you will give your name, and your purpose in coming to my queen’s castle at this late hour.”

“You may tell your queen,” Roman said, raising his sword in a defensive stance, “that Prince Roman is here to propose an alliance with her. Any more than that is for her ears, not yours.”

“Do not try my patience, prince or no,” Maugrim said, beginning to pace back and forth as though looking for an opening. “I alone decide who may see the Queen.”

He made a lunge, half in earnest and half testing, and skidded to a halt when Roman whipped his sword around and pointed the tip at the wolf’s throat. “Do not try me…captain,” he said. “Just you go and fetch your mistress, there’s a good boy.”

Maugrim growled deeply, and Roman knew he had made an enemy. But he turned away and said “Follow me,” with a curt snap of his teeth. Roman did, at a safe distance, as the wolf led him through a short ice-walled corridor. They stopped at an archway. “Wait here,” said Maugrim, “and put away your sword. Move from this spot before I get back and I’ll hunt you down and tear your throat out.” As he passed through the archway—Roman could just glimpse a large space beyond it, though the light was too poor for him to make out any details—the prince couldn’t help but be impressed by how menacing Maugrim was. Had he done that, or was it all down to Lewis's writing? The Narnia series could be dark but they were still kids' books, but this baddie wouldn't be out of place in a PG-13 Hollywood blockbuster.

There was muffled conversation from the chamber beyond, and then Maugrim returned. “I can't imagine why, but Her Majesty deigns to receive you. You will not speak until she bids you, and you will address her with the utmost courtesy. You will bow as you enter her presence. Offend my queen, and I will take great pleasure in devouring you down to your bones.”

A dozen retorts jostled for dominance on Roman's tongue, but he bit them all back. He stepped through the archway, bending into a stiff, proper bow with one hand pressed to his chest and the other held at his side. He kept his eyes on the icy floor, and so it was mostly shadow and sound that told him Maugrim was circling him. For the first time since entering the castle, Roman felt truly vulnerable.

“Here he is, my queen. Prince Roman...as he calls himself,” said the wolf. “Your Highness, you stand in the presence of Her Imperial Majesty, Queen Jadis of Narnia.”

“Your skepticism is misplaced, Maugrim,” said a voice like wind chimes carved from the heart of a glacier. “Whatever else he is, he is certainly a prince. You may rise, Prince Roman.”

Roman unbent, taking in his new surroundings. The room was more of a cavern hollowed out of the ice, lit by some bluish luminescence whose source he could not find, its walls covered with swirling, lumpy forms where water had melted and flowed and re-frozen repeatedly over time. At the far side was a high dais upon which sat a magnificent throne, made, like the room, entirely out of ice, though it seemed more deliberately sculpted. Roman lifted his eyes to the throne's occupant, and for the first time saw the White Witch.

She was gorgeous.

Not suddenly-questioning-his-sexuality gorgeous (not least because there was nothing remotely sexual about her; she was chilliness personified), but...she looked like Snow White might look if she grew up and inherited her stepmother's personality. Flawless features, porcelain complexion, lustrous black hair falling in slight waves around her shoulders, crimson lips. Her crown, surprisingly enough, was made of gold and fairly simple in style, just harsh elongated points rising from the rim. Her scepter was gold also and very slender; Roman remembered that it was actually her magic wand. Her royal regalia and her lips made the only spots of warm color in that frigid hall, and Roman realized to his chagrin that her presentation mirrored his own colors: his white suit with its gold braid and bold red sash.

In any case, though she was a tyrant and a usurper, she was every inch a queen. Roman bowed again, in a more sweeping fashion.

“Our captain tells us,” said the Witch, “that you have come here seeking an alliance with us. The only question is what you think you could possibly have to offer. If you have been in Narnia for any length of time, you will have seen that our conquest is quite complete. Why should we accede to your proposal?”

Roman chose his words carefully. “Mighty though Your Majesty undoubtedly is, you cannot be everywhere at once. I am in possession of...information, concerning the plans and movements of Your Majesty's enemies.”

The Witch made a scoffing noise, not quite a laugh. “My enemies,” she said pointedly, “are arranged in the courtyard. You passed them on your way in.”

“With all due respect, Majesty, those are only the enemies you know about. Your subjects have learned to be secretive about their rebellion...and there are quite recent developments which could change everything.”

“What developments?” snapped the Witch. Behind Roman, Maugrim picked up his pacing back and forth.

For the first time, Roman actually met her gaze. “I am one of four.” The White Witch's free hand, the one not holding her wand, tightened almost imperceptibly on the arm of her throne. Roman forged ahead. “Significant events have been set in motion, Your Majesty. Without intercession, they may mean your doom. I can help you achieve that intercession. In fact, with the two of us, working together, even Aslan himself cannot—”

“How DARE you speak that name in my presence!” the Witch said, suddenly mere inches from Roman. Without at any point seeming to move quickly, she had descended the dais and crossed the space between them in an instant. Through his terror—she loomed over him by nearly a foot, and Maugrim was right behind him, there was no escape—Roman felt a little thrill of triumph, because he hadn't expected this. His creations could surprise him, and not just in little ways like the details of their appearance!

“Forgive me, Your Majesty,” he gasped out. “I did not know the mere sound of that name would upset you so. But was it not worth it, for the knowledge that you might yet be rid of him forever? With my help, it can be so. My power combined with yours...”

“Impossible,” Jadis spat. “Do you not know what he is, that one?”

“I know what is said about him,” Roman replied evenly. “But perhaps it is not entirely true?”

A long moment passed. The White Witch took a step back, her lips parting in a slight inhalation. “So,” she said. “That is how it is. And you choose to ally with me? Should I feel flattered?”

“You flatter me,” Roman said, making another gallant bow.

“Very well then, let us be of an accord. If what you say is true, then we likely have no time to lose.”

“Indeed,” said Roman. “He may land on Narnia's shore within hours. Tell me, Your Majesty—which feature in this room is your least favorite?”

The Witch glanced around, then gestured languidly at a glob of ice not significantly different from any other. “The asymmetry of that one has always vexed me somewhat.”

Roman strode over to it, drawing his sword, and with a swift motion, sliced off the offending lump. It bounced on the floor with a dull clunk, and he applied his sword to it again, several more times, until he had produced something like a multifaceted gem the size of a large marble. The sheer cold of it bit into his fingertips as he picked it up, and it didn't sparkle properly like a cut gem should. The facets, though mirror-smooth, were as dull as iron.

That would change.

“Have your servants make ready Your Majesty's sleigh,” said Roman, pocketing the ice jewel. “I shall explain everything on the way.”

*************************************

Somewhat earlier...

“I just don't get it,” Virgil said for the fifth or sixth time, pacing yet another circuit of the Beavers' small one-room lodge.

“So you have said several times before,” said Logan, still sitting awkwardly at the beaver-sized dining table, pinching the bridge of his nose, “and I have explained the situation as I see it each time. I will do so again if you wish, but I question the purpose if my answers are not helping you to understand.”

“Humor me, okay?” said Virgil. “Your droning voice helps me relax for some reason.”

“Very well. While I am not especially familiar with the plot of C.S. Lewis's book, I do seem to recall that one of the four children temporarily departs from the group and falls under the sway of the villainous witch, to be redeemed later. As Roman is the only one of us who does remember the story in detail, it fell to him to play out that role. The rest of us can take our cues from helpful characters such as the Beavers—” Here Logan nodded to their hosts. “—and play out our roles to the necessary degree of accuracy that way. In short, I believe this is all simply part of Roman's plan, and we should not be unduly alarmed.”

“I don't know,” said Patton, wringing a napkin in his hands. “It's so unlike Roman to play anything other than the virtuous hero. And that's what he said he was going to do. I can't help but think something is, well, wrong.”

“Right or wrong,” Mr. Beaver cut in, “we'd best be well away from here before too long.” Mrs. Beaver was already bustling about, packing some supplies for a journey. “We've been compromised. We'll go by back ways and hidden paths, and get to the Stone Table right under the Witch's nose. But we've got to be quick—her enforcers can make the run from her castle in half an hour.”

“That fast?” Virgil said, the Tempest Tongue instantly taking over his voice. He stopped pacing and started helping Mrs. Beaver shove items into her rucksacks. “Let's go let's go let's go!”

“Easy, dear, not so rough!” she said helplessly.

“Virgil,” said Logan, “there is little or nothing to be gained by suffering a panic attack. Let me remind you that we already determined, based on the flow of conversation, that Roman was here as of fifty-one minutes ago. Even assuming he left immediately afterward, and positing that informing the Witch of our whereabouts was instantaneous, that would leave a mere twenty-one minutes for him to travel to her castle, in order for her enforcers' arrival to be imminent. Given that they themselves take approximately thirty minutes to make the same journey, and this is implied to be a relatively short amount of time—”

“English, Teach,” Virgil said, although his voice was back to normal.

“Roman almost certainly has not been gone long enough for any representatives of the White Witch to get here for at least another—excuse me for the imprecision—several minutes. If we make sensible haste, then we can set out with plenty of time to get a lead on them.”

“We'll need our coats,” Patton murmured, getting up to fetch them from the hooks beside the door. “Oh...Roman left his. The poor guy must be freezing his behind off out there!”

“Serve him right if he is,” Virgil opined.

“We should bring it,” Patton continued. “For when we meet up with him again.”

“No, leave it here. It'll be dead weight,” said Mr. Beaver.

And on that ominous note, the little party trooped out into the frozen night.

[ryqoshay]

Tri-Arame: A Train’s Delay

Primary Pairing Trio: YuuAyuSetsu Words: ~1.6k Rating: G Time Frame: During their 2nd year in high school Story Arc: Stand Alone

Author’s Note: Writing the last scene made me want to give Ayu’s perspective on the early development of things among the three.

“I’m telling you, the pose will be really cute.” Yuu insisted as she and Ayumu stepped off the train. “The fans will love it, so we should definitely work it into your choreography for the next Live.”

“I’ll think about it.” Ayumu conceded.

Yuu’s obsession with school idols had led her to performing a ton of research, so there was little doubt as to the extent of her knowledge. However, Ayumu knew she had to temper the advice with the fact that Yuu called pretty much everything about her cute. Though as embarrassing as it often was, Ayumu couldn’t say she disliked it. And she was in no hurry to tell Yuu stop anytime soon. It just meant she had to gauge things carefully and occasionally seek a second opinion. A critique from someone like…

“Setsuna-chan!” Yuu called suddenly.

Yes, Setsuna was another excellent source of school idol information. And in the newly reformed club she was learning how to be more accepting of other views on the genre. Thus… Wait, she was here?

Sure enough, Ayumu looked in the direction Yuu was already running to find their fellow second year. Having just disembarked her train, she now stood facing them, her dark hair in twin braids and her glasses donned.

A flash of excitement crossed Setsuna’s face as she saw her friends before she visibly quashed it and forcibly reigned herself in. “Please, I’m Nana right now.” She said, giving a quick and nervous glance to either side, as if expecting her parents to get off the next train and catch her in a brief moment of not being the studious and somber girl they expected her to be.

Ayumu felt something wrench at her heart. She didn’t like seeing her friend having to repress her passions, especially since it was Setsuna who had ignited passions within herself and Yuu. She enjoyed watching Yuu be open about her obsessions with school idols, not only because she was incredibly cute when excited, but also because it helped keep her inspired to continue working on becoming more open herself. It was for these reasons that she and Yuu had invited Setsuna to the mall with them the other day, to give her a few hours to be truly open and honest with her interests.

“Ne, Nana-chan,” Yuu effortlessly switched gears “wanna walk to school with us?”

“I’d like that.” Nana replied. “Good morning, Ayumu-san.” She greeted the redhead with a polite bow.

“Good morning, Nana-san.”

Though genuine, the smile Nana offered was far more reserved than those she typically displayed as Setsuna.

“You know,” Yuu continued “Ayumu and I have taken this same train every day since we started high school and we’ve never crossed paths with you. Did you take a different one today or something?”

“No, that was my normal train.” Nana shook her head. “They just had a delay at the station before me.” To prove the point, she held up the delay certificate. “Though I suppose if you two usually arrive at this time and do not suffer punctuality issues at school, I don’t really need this.” She slipped it back in her bag anyway instead of discarding it in a nearby recycling bin.

“So I guess today was just an accident.” Yuu surmised.

“It would seem so.”

Yuu shrugged. “But at happy accident at least, ‘cause we get to walk together now.”

Another reserved smile.

“Anyway, I was just telling Ayumu that she should consider using this pose at the end of her new song at the next Live.” Yuu paused to demonstrate.

Nana stopped as well to examine Yuu thoughtfully. “Ayumu-san.” She said suddenly.

“Eh?” Ayumu wasn’t expecting to be addressed.

“Would you mind taking this position? I believe I might better judge it by observing the correct subject.”

“S-sure…” Ayumu battled the rising sense of unease at the concept of making idol poses in the middle of the walkway while dressed in her school uniform, as opposed to on stage in an idol outfit.

“Hrm… Perhaps if you moved your forearm up a bit more…” Nana reached out to make the adjustment. “And your other arm like this… Turn your wrist… Maybe shift your hips… And your torso…”

Ayumu almost bit her tongue as Nana’s hands slid up her waist to the sides of her ribcage before gently guiding her to the new position.

“How about this, Yuu-san?” Nana took a step back to admire her handiwork.

“That’s amazing, Nana-chan!” Yuu marveled. “Ayumu’s pose is even cuter like that!”

Cuter? Ayumu tried, likely unsuccessfully, to swallow down a blush.

“Indeed.” Nana agreed. “Although, I cannot take all the credit. The pose is only accentuating the existing high level of cuteness.”

Oh no… It was one thing when Yuu constantly called her cute, but now Setsu… Nana was joining in as well? Ayumu felt the heat overflowing from her face, up to her ears and down her neck. Geez… if she was going to survive as an idol, she would have to get better at handling these kinds of things.

“And Yuu-san set up the base work well.” Nana continued. “It is obvious you know much about your subject.”

“Subject? Ayumu? Of course I know her and her cuteness well.” Yuu puffed out her chest as though she believed the accomplishment was worthy of great pride. “But Nana-chan, you really know your stuff when it comes to idols. I may know Ayumu's cuteness, but you were able to help me truly refine the pose to ensure it shined at its brightest. And I'm still trying to learn the other girls in the club. I may have to have you teach me your ways so I can better observe you guys during practice and give better advice after.”

Though clearly enjoying the praise, Nana continued to keep herself reserved. Ayumu felt a bittersweet emotion start to fill her, displacing the embarrassment from earlier as the conversation shifted away from her. She wanted to see her friend like she was when the three of them went to the mall together. Back when the anime-obsessed girl was practically vibrating with excitement like a puppy, so much so that Ayumu had wanted to pat her on the head and scratch under her chin. The girl walking with her now was behaving instead like a puppy being cautious in its excitement after being scolded for doing something wrong.

Except Nana hadn’t done anything wrong, at least not as far as Ayumu could tell. She was merely guilty of having hobbies unapproved by her parents. It was for this reason that Ayumu and Yuu had reached a mostly unspoken agreement to provide an outlet for Nana to be Setsuna and freely celebrate her passions. The idol club certainly helped, but idols were by no means Setsuna’s only interests.

It wasn’t the easiest of tasks. On entering high school, Ayumu had tried to mature and move on from many things of her childhood. Yuu had an easier time picking back up former interests, but it had taken the burning passion of someone like Setsuna to remind Ayumu that it was alright to hold on to some things. In that regard, Ayumu felt somewhat indebted to Setsuna, so she was repaying it by helping her indulge in her interests.

Then there was Ayumu’s jealousy. As club activities continued, she was becoming increasingly aware of such emotions as Yuu lavished her attentions on the other idols. And when Yuu and Setsuna lost themselves in something, it was difficult for Ayumu to avoid feeling left out.

However, the rewards for the task were plentiful. When Setsuna truly let loose, her smile was nothing short of contagious. And Ayumu couldn’t help wanting to see it more.

The trio continued to talk idols and make plans for practice later that afternoon as they completed their walk toward school. Nana was adamant about helping perfect Ayumu’s performance and maximize her cuteness. Yuu suggested bringing in Kasumi, their local specialist on the topic of cuteness, to which Nana agreed. All the while, Ayumu’s thoughts continued to focus on how much Nana was holding back.

“Thank you for allowing me to accompany you this morning.” Nana bowed as the three paused in the front entryway of the school.

“It was our pleasure.” Ayumu assured her.

“Yeah, that was fun.” Yuu agreed. “Maybe your train will be delayed again tomorrow?”

There it was. That was the smile Ayumu had wanted to see. Perhaps Nana felt safer within the school walls? Or perhaps it was a result of spending time with trusted friends? Or both. Ayumu quietly hoped it was at least in part due to the latter.

“See you at practice.” Nana flashed one more smile before turning away and heading toward her homeroom.

“I sent you the link so you can view them later.” Yuu said as she and Ayumu stepped off the train. “Their choreography is amazing! I think we can learn a lot from…” Something caught her attention. “Nana-chan!” She called before taking off.

Ayumu glanced ahead along Yuu’s path. Sure enough, leaning against a nearby pillar was their fellow second year.

Nana looked up from whatever study material she was reading. “Good morning Yuu-san, Ayumu-san.” She smiled and bowed politely.

“Good morning, Nana-san” Ayumu replied as she caught up to her childhood friend.

“Don’t tell me I jinxed you with your train?” a concerned expression crossed Yuu’s face.

“Oh no,” Nana assured “my train arrived on time just fine. I just…” she glanced down and hunched her shoulders a bit “I had so much fun yesterday morning I thought perhaps we might walk together again today? If… that’s alright?” She looked back up with a hopeful expression.

Yuu laughed. “Of course, it's alright, Nana-chan!”

“Yes, it’s definitely alright.” Ayumu agreed. “Let’s walk together again.”

Even in its reserved form, Nana’s smile still managed enough of its contagious nature that Ayumu was compelled to reciprocate. And with that, a new morning tradition began.

Author's Note Continued in Followup Post

[centuryofdean]

When Lightning Strikes - Chapter 6

Author Disclaimer:: The Hobbit, Middle Earth and its characters are not mine. I take no credit. The story line and even some dialogue–also not mine. Instead I claim my Original Character Laurel and the adjustments to the story line.

Summary:: From when Laurel Took was small she dreamed of a man. Every time she dreamed of him, he could not see or hear her. Over time they are able to communicate–but he’s been dreaming about her too. Finally after years of anticipation Laurel takes the leap and kisses him. Only for her to wake up and dread the real world. Then lightning strikes and she finds herself in a familiar place, with a familiar face.

Rated:: M for Mature. Please do not read this story unless you are 18+ At this point in the story there isn’t much, but later on the M rating will come into effect.

Warnings:: Language and Violence

Pairing:: Kili x OC (Laurel)

Laurel

This was one crazy dream. It would make sense, especially if there were trolls. I didn't want to dream of Kili any longer none the less!

"When have I ever hurt you," he laughed quietly, offering his hand still yet and taking another step forward.

"Doesn't matter," I quickly picked up my knife and tossing it only to catch it again. In this position I could hold the blade the opposite way, pointing away from me. I have never hurt him either, but I was prepared to do so. "You just go your own way, with them," I muttered, "and I'll go wonder off until I wake up. I am not going through this shit again."

He stopped, dropping his hand. Looking around us, he pointed to the trolls with one hand and then to the other men with another. "None of our dreams involved anyone else but ourselves," he whispered, "have they?"

There wasn't anyone else… that was true. It still didn't mean this was real. I had to have died or something for me to just pop up in his land, Middle Earth.

"Remember when we climbed the pine," he murmured, finally closing the distance between us and pushing my hand aside, "you fell from the top to the bottom?"

"Yeah," I furrowed my brows, "what does that have to do with anything?"

Delicately he grabbed my left arm, fingers tracing the already purple bruise from when the string of the bow grazed me on my first shot. I hissed, trying to pull away. He was quick to hold on tight, "When you fell from the pine you did not feel pain. You feel this pain though. It is not a dream, I promise you this."

Silence filled the clearing around us. The only thing I could hear was the beating of my heart in my ears. Kili's face was just as I remembered, devilishly handsome. His lips tweaked into a satisfied smirk, the scruff on his face was molding around it. A gasp started in the back of my throat just remembering how it felt to have his beard scratch against my cheeks as he kissed me earnestly the last time I slept peacefully.

"How did I get here," I asked.

"I do not understand myself," he slowly released my arm but kept his other around me, "you quite literally fell from the sky into my lap. I dreamt you fell into a lightning bolt and when I awoke you were dropping through the night."

I was so busy getting lost in the sight of him, I forgot there were other people with us. Someone cleared their throat.

"I am Gandalf," the tallest man stated, bending to offer me his hand. Quickly I detangled myself from Kili to approach him and shake it. "You are Laurel?"

"Yes," I whispered, "Laurel Took."

A small exclamation of surprise erupted from the man who I released first. He came upon me and started to walk in circles, bending down and inspecting my feet. At one point he pushed my hair aside and pulled on the shell of my ear. "Ow," I muttered swatting his hands away, "what are you doing?"

"Well there is no doubt about it, she is partially a Hobbit," he muttered, fingers tapping his head in confusion. "You're a Took? Father was mostly Hobbit I suppose. I am Bilbo Baggins, my mother was Belladonna Took. I suspect we are of family!"

Hobbit? I looked at his feet, noticing the largeness and hairiness of them. In comparison mine were smaller, but still large for my person, they were not as hairy or thick in sole. Our ears were nothing alike either, his were pointed slightly at the top and very huge. "Family," I whispered, "Interesting."

One by one everyone came forward and introduced themselves. Each and every one except Gandalf and Bilbo was a dwarf. Maybe in my world was smaller than this one, making everyone in it smaller. We still did not have monsters and dwarves and hobbits or wizards. Instead we only had men and women and animals.

The bow across my shoulders was being tugged off, Kili handling it and then grabbing the quiver to sling across his shoulders. "You did very well with my bow," he smirked, "no one even noticed you took it or what happened when the trolls fell."

I always knew in the back of my mind Kili smirked when we hunted, because I suspected he was an archer as well. He never confirmed or denied the fact. With such a beautiful bow I hoped he was an excellent one.

"I'm sorry miss," the dwarf who introduced himself as Ori, "but what happened to your clothing. Are you not cold?"

I had forgotten that I was in just a thin tank top with spaghetti straps. My once long somewhat warm jeans were now shorts that got cut off at the knee, and cold. "Oh yes," I shivered, "I am very cold. I have to find where I left my boots."

In the light it was easier to find the tan canvas tough boots, and the ground was just as cold when I plopped down to lace them up. Everyone else started down the hill that I first climbed up almost an hour ago. At the clearing there were more horses I hadn't noticed before. Kili approached one and dug through the saddle bag, walking up to me with a bundle of cloth in his hands.

"Might be bigger," he ushered for me to take them, "but they will keep you warm enough for now until we can find you something more suitable."

The pants were brown and thick, almost itchy and I pulled them on over my newly acquired shorts. Since they were longer I had to roll them up and try to stuff them into my boots. A soft green shirt draped me, landing past my knees. The outfit oddly familiar. Even on Kili I felt it would have ended mid-thigh. Most of it got shoved into the pants. My sweater was pulled on over that making me all the warmer.

"Thank you," I murmured, finger idly playing with the braid in my hair. He must have put it there, but when?

"If I fell from the sky, how long was I asleep," I asked.

"About two days," he responded, fingers fingering the braid as well and tugging softly, "sorry about that, I could not help myself." Just like that, he pulled the braid out and untangled my hair.

Disappointment filled me. From what he told me, braids were important to dwarves. Wouldn't it mean that this braid was a signal of something, and he was just taking it out? At the thought I shook my head. It didn't matter, I told myself that I would not allow for this to happen. They are on a quest to try and defeat a dragon, some people will probably die, he could die.

I didn't want to be my mother.

Gandalf and some of the dwarves searched a cave, emerging with swords and gold that the trolls had saved. Evidently, that cave was their home. Thorin announced it was time to leave, Kili ushered me onto his horse and saddled it behind me. Throughout all the times in my dreams Kili and I never did more than hold hands if anything. We hugged on a couple of occasions, but I never let him hold me until the last one. This positioning while riding a horse was very intimate because I could feel him pressed up against me, arms on either side to hold the reins, and his breath hot in my hair. Not to mention his smell encased me since I was in his clothes.

Even at the back of the line, we could hear what all the others were saying. His brother Fili was riding beside us, occasionally glancing our way. Thorin had decided that when we came across another town we would see about what to do with me. The statement had me reeling and feeling offended. It wasn't as if I tried to come here and get into all their business.

Kili promised that he would buy me warmer boots and clothing, no matter how many times I told him I was fine with what I was in.

Some of the dwarves asked me questions, about where I learned to shoot a bow or about my world. Most of the questions were hard to explain, like that there were cars and trains where in Middle Earth they had horses and carriages. Other things amazed them, such as my odd clothing and the fact that I was independent as a female.

None the less they spoke of how I killed two—almost three trolls—very fondly. Fili fought with his uncle about how I wouldn't be a problem as much as he had originally assumed. From what I had gathered, this dwarf, Kili and Fili's uncle, was not keen on anyone; unless they were dwarves.

"So are you disappointed that I am here," I whispered softly, hoping that Fili would not hear the conversation I was going to try and have with his brother. I do not want to get attached to Kili, even though I am afraid I am in already too deep, but it was still nice to know if he cared about me like I knew I cared about him.

"Never," he replied, breath brushing my hair aside. One hand took the reins while another wrapped around my middle as he sniffed at my hair, "I am very happy that you are here. Uncle is not pleased at my attachment to you, but I do not care at this point."

Shivers ran up and down my spine at his words, even with all the layers of clothing. A soft chuckle escaped his lips as they were next to my ear, nose running along my neck. The feelings he was starting to stir within me had me straining forward to get away.

"Thorin is your uncle, right," I asked, trying to change the subject. Fili coughed to our left, adorning a smirk of sorts. Great, he just saw the whole encounter. How much did Kili tell everyone of our…friendship?

"Yes," Fili cleared his throat, embarrassed to have be caught staring, "though after that display with the trolls, he may be thinking otherwise."

The day seemed to drag on, but it didn't stop the easy flow of conversation between the brothers and I. Fili told many stories of them as they were younger. I especially liked the ones he told of Kili having embarrassing moments. "There is something with him and Elves," Fili chuckled, "he's always had a thing for them. The day he turned seventy—"

"Seventy," I exclaimed turning to look at him behind me.

He laughed, "Yes Seventy."

"How old are you now," I wondered aloud.

"Seventy-seven," he stated as almost proud.

Seventy-seven. My jaw dropped in awe. Yes he had told me that dwarves could live to be at least two-hundred, but he still looked so young. "I am only twenty-four," I muttered.

"Anyway," Fili laughed once more, "he snuck one home, and it was the time that uncle was visiting. He took her to his room—"

"Do not finish that story," Kili growled out.

"—he was down to his trousers when Uncle burst through the door and bellowed. Never seen little Kili turn so red in my entire life. I swear!"

It caused a little twinge of my heart, knowing that he was with some other woman—elf—and she was probably prettier. Of course she was, she was an elf! I remained silent the rest of the ride, stacking up reason after reason about why it was a horrible idea to have feelings for this dwarf. Thorin rode ahead of the rest, dripping with leadership. I believed Kili when he said that Thorin does not care for his attachment to me. At least elves were of this world, Thorin probably hated the fact more since I was from another world.

Almost suddenly a man just a smidge shorter than Gandalf ran up to us, looking as if he lived out in the woods. The rat's nest of his hair was thick and tangled, and something white and mucky stuck to the side of his face and hair. Everyone started to dismount the horses, pulling weapons left and right. The staff that he carried reminded me of the one that Gandalf was carrying as well.

"Gandalf," he urged. "Something is amiss."

Previous Chapter << Chapter 5: Fuck, I’m Dreaming Again

Next Chapter >> Chapter 7: The Heart is in the Eye of the Beholder

[everlarkbirthdaydrabbles]

My birthday is March 19th and I would love a surprise drabble!!! I love Everlark in a funny situation, miscommunication, or interesting meet-cute. Can be any rating but I'm a sucker for a really steamy first kiss. Thank you! xoxo

Wishing you the happiest of days! To help you celebrate, the lovely @mega-aulover has crafted this darling bit of Everlark just for you!

I-CON

Rated: G

A/N: (….Happy Birthday, I hope you have a great day. Love Mega-Aulover…special thanks to @booksrockmyface for taking time to beta, thank you!)

The I-CON banner hung brightly over the entrance of the college building.

“Tell me again what you’ve dragged me to?” Katniss looked up at the blue banner with stars and some alien painted on it.

She wondered how Delly talked into going to this thing called I-CON.

Delly giggled, “Oh Katniss, I-CON or rather the Island Convention, is a smaller version of Comic-Con, on Long Island. Though it’s really a gathering of fan girls and boys, who are self-described geeks and nerds, like me.”

Katniss was none of these things but Delly was. Delly with her sweet disposition was heavily into Anime. A number of the authors she obsessed over were going to be present. Katniss didn’t get it. But Delly swooned over something called Tokyo Ghoul. “What’s this book about?”

“Take a look,” Delly handed her the book.

Katniss cracked open the book and flipped through the pages, a semi-scowl on her face. “You mean this is about zombies?”

“YES!” Delly squealed.

“You need to take it down a notch, Dells.” Katniss gave Delly the book back.

Everywhere there were people dressed up as their favorite characters, Delly called it cosplay.  Katniss had seen a few Princess Leia’s, a great number of Storm Troopers, a Scully and Mulder from the X-Files, and some woman dressed all in blue like in the Avatar movie.  Katniss wanted out, but Delly suddenly said, “Oh can I take a picture with you?”

Delly shoved her phone at Katniss and she was forced to take a picture with a scary looking monster.

“Come on Katniss this way,” Delly dragged Katniss into the vendor room.

There before Katniss was every fandom known to man.

“Star Wars, Star Trek, Dudgeons and Dragons, Game of Thrones, Batman, Firefly, Superman, Wonder Woman, Dr. Who, Narnia, Lord of the Rings, EEEEKKKK OUTLANDER,” Delly screeched in Katniss ear, pointing to a man dressed in a kilt.

Katniss hung her head it was going to be a very long day. Delly went off to sit in on a panel leaving Katniss to her own devices. Katniss wondered amongst the booths, she saw many dragons in all shapes colors.  But what stopped her dead was the cut out of a girl with an arrow. Katniss didn’t notice the poster of the girl was dressed similarly to her, dark torn jeans, well worn boots with laces, and a leather jacket.  The girl even wore her hair in a singular braid.

Katniss raised her eyebrow as she approached; the bow is what drew her attention. The life-size cut out was next to a man with various bows but with rubber tipped arrows, books and a few memorabilia of a strange bird pin. The man was slightly balding and wore a t-shirt that said ‘Trust No One’ and suspenders to hold up his pants over his pudgy belly.  

“How can I help you,” the man pushed up his glasses.

Katniss pointed to the life size cut out, “What movie is that for?”

The man behind the booth gave her a shake of his head, “That is for the Arrows and Bread movie coming out.”

“The movie is about a girl with a bow?” Katniss was curious.

The man laughed, “Not just any movie, it’s a dystopian society where teenagers are thrown into an arena and forced to kill each other.”

The movie sounded interesting but Katniss looked at the poster and cringed. The posture of the girl was all wrong, “She holding it wrong, the bow, I mean.”

“What do you mean, they’ve got people to teach the actress how to shoot, Hollywood has experts.”

“Well, I’m telling you she’s holding it wrong, the arrow won’t fly very far,” Katniss made her observations.

The man behind the booth challenged, “How would you know?”

Katniss grabbed a bow and one of the arrows with the rubber suction cup at the end of it. She aimed and shot it at the column. The arrow whizzed past people but instead of landing where she intended it landed on the forehead of a patron who at that moment stood where she’d aimed the arrow. Katniss eyes widened momentarily as the blond stocky man with incredible blue eyes approached her. Once more her pride had gotten the better of her.

He was taller than she, with wide shoulders and bulky arms. She should have been scared or apprehensive, but his eyes were kind and his smile was warm. This put Katniss at ease as he walked toward her with the arrow protruding from his forehead. He removed the arrow the suction cup left a red mark on his forehead. “I think this is yours.”

“Damn, lady, you’re good,” the man at the booth said taking the bow and the arrow.

“She should be she’s the best shot when were kids.  She hunted in the backwoods of our home town,” he gushed, sweetly.

It took a minute for Katniss to recall this was the sweet shy boy Peeta Mellark that lived next to Delly. The boy she’d had a secret crush all of her life.  Peeta still hadn’t lost that twang, which meant he was new to New York.

“I’m sorry you don’t remember me, but I’m the son of-”

“Peeta Mellark, we went to school together. How’s your dad doing? And the bakery?”

“Wait he’s the son of a baker?” The man behind the booth said with slight awe.  Katniss couldn’t be bothered with the vendor.

Her memory was filling up with the dozens of hours she secretly gawked at Peeta.  After high school graduation Katniss and Delly came up north along with Madge for college. As they aged and matured the girls found their own niche. Madge loved New York City and was a thriving fashion columnist. Delly preferred the suburbs; she became a teacher and lived in a small house with her cat. Katniss, she liked Riverhead. A small rural community of mostly farmers, where she bought a house after her school was over and took up a small business of humanely capturing pests, like rats, raccoons, possums and squirrels.

“Wow you’re just like her,” the man said.  He stood up with his phone and asked, “Can I take a picture with you.”

Peeta grinned and Katniss scowled, but this seemed to make the guy all the more excited. “Wow, I can’t wait to show this to the guys!” The guy then gave Katniss a bird pin, “The mockingjay is her symbol, you should have it.”

Katniss didn’t want to take it but Peeta intervened, “Thank you.”

The guy beamed and walked away, leaving Katniss standing in front of Peeta. There were things that she was good at but this, speaking to a boy or rather a man. She wasn’t good at saying stuff, and she felt awkward.

“I never expected you to be a fan girl,” Peeta said.

“I’m sorry what?” Katniss blurted.

Peeta laughed, “I see, so who did you come with?”

“D-Delly,” she stuttered.

Peeta waved his arm to the vendors, “Ah she’s the reason you’re.” He softly smiled, “I saw her during Christmastime, I told her about my plans to open up a local bakery, something small and family oriented. She suggested I look up Riverhead, said they favored family owned business.  She also told me,” Peeta’s cheeks turned pink, “you lived there.  So I came down this weekend to check it out. Delly told me about I-CON and bought me a ticket so that I wouldn’t be bored.”

“So you’re into this stuff?” It was adorable and down right sexy to see a grown man like Peeta blush.

“Yeah, I like Star Wars,” Peeta said.

Katniss wasn’t sure what to do next. She swung her arms awkwardly, she was about to speak but a guy with a phone said.

“Excuse me can I take a picture of you, Bob there told me you’re just like Kansas Evergreen the Arrow’s and Bread, series?”

Katniss was about to say no, but the guy quickly stood next to her and the flash of his phone went off.  She blinked several times, when suddenly she saw there were a line of people with their phones wanting her picture. Helplessly she glanced at Peeta.

A girl excitedly said, “OMG, he looks like PIERE!!!  Are you her honey bun?”

“Can you guys kiss?” The simple question caused the rest of the people start chanting, “Kiss, kiss, kiss, kiss.”

Katniss was so embarrassed.  She was helpless in this situation having no way out.

“Okay one kiss, everyone gets their picture and you guys leave me and my girl alone okay?” Peeta bargained with the crowd.

Katniss wanted to run but the reality was kissing Peeta was like one the things she had on her bucket lists. When he pulled her close she didn’t offer up resistance. Her heart rate had picked up as she took a good whiff of him.  He smelled like vanilla, cinnamon, icing and underneath that his dill-like smell and drove her mad. One on his hands cradled the small of her back while the other gently cupped her face upwards.

Her eyes widened, and her nostrils flared, this wasn’t like anything she’d experienced before.

Katniss was no expert in the field of physical intimacy, having the one obligatory boyfriend in college, an inglorious one month of sloppy wet kisses, and uninspiring coupling. Katniss never understood why people made such a big deal out of kisses.  But standing here being cradled in Peeta’s arms, Katniss felt her heart beating so quickly and loudly it could be heard externally.

She became hyper aware of just how broad his chest was, her palms braced themselves on top of his shirt and she could feel the warm, muscular solidness of his body. This sent a thrilling tingle down her spine. Voluntarily her lashes fluttered closed as his face neared. Her feet curled in her boots when she felt his hot breath on the bridge of her nose then on her upper lip just before they descended on her lips.

In the movies there was always music, and the world seemed to fade away when two lovers kissed for the first time. Katniss didn’t hear music but she forgot about everything as the simple peck felt like a tidal wave washed over her. She felt warm and out of breath, her knees trembled and threatened to buckle.  Her fingers curled into his shirt and she felt his hand on the small of her back slide up to bring her firmly against him.

Katniss sighed when he pulled away, her lashes lazily opened.  Peeta’s blue eyes were like stormy waters filled with passion, they mirrored hers.  Her cheeks felt warm. It was then she registered the sound of the people standing around her. The best kiss of her life was shared with a lot of strangers. She hid her face in the crook of his neck.

Peeta quickly guided them out of the room and out of the building.

“I’m sorry if I did anything to upset you,” Peeta said, bending his head to look her in the eye. But Katniss wanted to know if what she felt was real so she stood on tiptoe planted her lips on his.  Everything she felt before wrung true and had somehow multiplied. Greedily she sought to get closer.

His hands immediately affixed themselves on her shoulders, before they slid down over her arms and wound themselves around her middle and brought her in direct contact with that massive solid gorgeous body of his.  Katniss wound her hands around his neck, and helplessly gave herself up to Peeta’s lips.

A loud ‘EEEEEEEEK’ broke them up. Katniss hazily glanced to see Delly clapping and jumping up and down.

“Delly,” Katniss couldn’t help the blush, “what are you doing here?”

“I knew my plan would work,” Delly rushed forward, her glee was uncontained. “I knew if you saw each other again you’d hit it off. You both were crazy for each other in high school but neither one of you did anything about it.  And I swore, like Scarlet O’Hara, that I’d get you both together, even if it was the last thing I did on this planet.” Delly hugged them both. She then separated herself, “Are you mad?”

Katniss glanced at Peeta who looked lost for words. “No.”

“Good, now take Peeta with you, show him around Riverhead, have some coffee, move in together and call me for when you plan the wedding, Don’t worry Katniss I promise it’s going to be a simple ceremony, nothing big,” Delly said unable to contain her grin.

With that, Delly left.

Katniss shook her head, “I can’t believe I was set up by Delly.”

Peeta gazed at her with brilliant blue eyes. He grabbed her hand and with the other he touched her cheek. “So are you game for what Delly said? Show me around town, treat me to coffee, let me move in  and maybe get married?”

Katniss’s lips still tingled pleasurably and her body felt like when she ate chocolate. Two kisses made her body feel alive, and she wondered what would happen if she gave them a chance. To be fair she pictured a life without those kisses and she didn’t like what she imagined. “Come on I’ll show you the town after I show you my house, where you’ll be living. I have a pretty good unused kitchen.”

It was forward but she didn’t care. She wanted a life time of kisses. And less than a month later when Peeta moved in Katniss became a fan girl of one Peeta Mellark.

[sunokasai]

HAPPY (belated) BIRTHDAY, CARUSO! :D

@icaruswings87 celebrated her birthday yesterday, so I tried to get her fic she won in the giveaway done. And.... here it is! :D

A huge thank you, @nozoroomie, who volunteered to be my beta.

Following is the prompt that Caruso sent in and that inspired the fic. I hope you’ll enjoy reading.

For the Giveaway! Nozoeli (of course) and I think that I want something from your Family AU if I win. I'm torn between 'finding time for ourselves' and 'the family celebrating Nozomi's birthday/Mother's day'. Basically it would be Eli rallying the kids and somehow keeping them quiet about a big surprise for Nozomi and then once that is done giving the parfait gays a nice scene where Eli surprises her with a special date. It's pretty gay, but I'm sure you won't mind LMAO. Congrats on followers!

“Aren‘t they ready yet?“ Nico looks out of her room and towards her parents bedroom, Rin and Honoka right behind her. Across from her Hanayo and Kotori do the same out of their own room.

“Act normal, we don‘t want them to get suspicious.” Maki says, walking down the hallway to gently push her siblings back in their rooms. “Come out once they call for you.”

While Hanayo and Kotori retreat back and close the door the triplets pout.

“But we wanna see how mama and mom look.” Honoka peeks around the corner once more just to be picked up by Maki on the collar of her shirt.

“You’ll see them in the living room. You know they’d never go without checking on all of us first.” She is getting annoyed but can’t blame her siblings to be curious. If she recalls correctly they have never seen her parents dressing up beforehand.

Walking towards the door Maki looks towards the living room. “Umi?” She calls of her sister as silent as possible, careful not to get her parents attention.

“What is it?” Blue hair appears in the doorway as Umi sends her a questioning gaze.

“Can you handle stuff alone until mama and mom call us together? I am not sure the triplets will behave so I want to stay here.” There is protest from behind but Maki pays no mind as she sends Nico, Rin and Honoka a glare that says “We all know you won’t be able to hold still.” and the triplets get quiet almost instantly.

Umi seems to think about it for a while before she nods. “I’ll manage, don’t worry. Tell the triplets they have to deal with me if they screw everything up.”

Apparently, the triplets hear her because they tense up and look up at Maki helplessly. The redhead just smirks, thanking her older sister for the help. Now she is sure the triplets won’t cause any problems.

Meanwhile Umi continues to make the first preparations by hiding all the stuff they need later in cupboards and behind the sofa. It isn’t much but with stuff close by they will be able to save some times.

She barely manages to do so when she hears a door, undoubtedly the door to her parent’s bedroom, opening and a soft giggle drawing nearer. In a speed faster than light Umi stuffs the last bits under a cushion, takes her book and tries to act as normal as possible.

“Umi-chan is the only one in the living-room? I was sure I heard Nicochi and Maki-chan a couple minutes earlier.” Umi’s ears perk up as she hears her mama and looks up. The moment Nozomi turns around to look at her eldest Umi’s jaw drops and she is left speechless.

Nozomi wears a beautiful light blue dress, the skirt ending right above her knees. There is a bow around her waist with a beautiful ornament shaped like a rose, complimenting her waistline perfectly. Her hair is braided above her left shoulder, fishtail-style.

She doesn’t know how long she stares at her mama, but when she recoils from someone flicking her forehead Umi finds herself face to face with Eli. “Mom?”

“If you staring is any indication you too think that your mama looks stunning, right?” Eli smirks and once Umi nods she turns around to flash Nozomi a brilliant smile. “See, I told you. You look beautiful.”

“Ok, I believe you.” Nozomi walks over and Eli straightens up again. She lets her hands ghost over the blonde’s shoulder ever so lightly as if to get rid of non-existing dust. “But I have to admit that you look quite handsome yourself with your black suit, dark purple shirt and tie. Am I right, Umi-chan?”

Nozomi smiles and Umi becomes beat red, trying to hide her face behind her book. Laughing lightly Eli and Nozomi let go of each other before the latter goes into their kitchen.

“Could you all come to the living room, please?” Eli calls for her other children while adjusting the sleeves of her suit. She hears the tiny footsteps hurrying their way into the living-room and the gasps the moment these steps come to a halt. She looks up to see the triplets with wide eyes and open mouths and giggles.

“Mom, is that nyou?!” Rin is the first one to regain the ability to speak and Eli thinks that if the triplets are already stunned by her simple attire they are down for a surprise once they see Nozomi.

“Yeah, Rin, it’s me.” Picking up her daughter Eli turns around just in time to see Nozomi exiting the kitchen. As if cue she hears the triplets, Hanayo and Kotori muttering a stunned “Wow”.

Nozomi spins around once for good measure before joining Eli, picking up Honoka and leaning forward to hug Hanayo and Kotori in a close hug. Nico takes Eli’s hand and Maki joins Umi on the couch, raising an eyebrow questioningly at the deep red shade that is still ghosting on her older sister’s features.  

“Well then… we are going to be late if we don’t leave now, Nozomi.” Eli says after glancing at the clock. She puts Rin back down and rustles Nico’s hair with some protest. “Umi, Maki, are you sure you’ll be able to handle this? We can still call Anju.” she says, addressing her eldest.

Before any of the two can answer though, Nozomi hugs Eli from behind, having let go of the others. “You worry too much. Everything will be alright. Umi-chan and Maki-chan know what they are doing.”

“If you say so...” There is still doubt and worry lingering in Eli’s voice.

“Mom, we’ll be okay.” Maki and Umi stand up, moving towards front door to get their jackets. They hand them over and practically start shoving their parents out the door.

“Have a nice evening, just the two of you.” Maki says and Eli reluctantly puts on her jacket and takes the keys out of Umi’s hand.

Nozomi is already out the door, smiling while patiently waiting for the worrywart that is Eli to follow her.

“We are on our way. Be nice to each other and if I see anything out of place or missing prepare for interrogation.” With that Eli closes the door.

The siblings wait with bated breaths for five whole minutes, neither of them moving a muscle. Once they are sure that they are safe Umi pulls out a roll of wrapping paper from within the umbrella stand, facing the door. “Let’s get to work.”

A couple days prior Eli had reserved two places in their favorite restaurant without telling Nozomi. Eli wants the whole evening to be a surprise, so when the blonde stops in front of the place where Eli had started the date night that would lead to their engagement a couple years prior Nozomi embraces her wife tightly before kissing her.

Inside the waiter leads them to a very familiar table and Nozomi smiles a little teary. “Isn’t this the same table we had back then, too, Elichi?”

“It is.” Eli says simply while helping Nozomi taking of her jacket. Like the gentleman that she is she pulls the chair back a little for Nozomi to sit down before getting ready herself. “I thought that might be a beautiful start to our evening.”

“It certainly is.” Nozomi stretches out her hand for Eli to take it, interlacing their fingers. “How long has it been since we had some time for us alone?”

“The last time was before we took in the triplets.” Eli gently brushes her thumb over Nozomi’s hand, thinking. “But going out on a date like this? I think Hanayo hadn’t been born.”

“So at least 7 years ago.”

Their conversations is interrupted by the waiter bringing them the menu. The next couple of minutes are spent in silence with the two of them just gazing lovingly at each other. Eli notices how Nozomi’s eyes seem to sparkle in the dim light of the restaurant and paired with that beautiful smile, Eli feels she’s 16 all over again, slowly falling for the girl that would become her wife.

Nozomi seems to notice Eli’s thoughts drifting away and gently calls her out. “What are you thinking about, Elichi?”

“Just noticing that you are beautiful.”

A faint pink graces Nozomi’s cheeks as she looks to the side.

“Elichi is a charmer. I am not sure if I’ll survive this the whole evening.”

Eli laughs, an airy sound full of love.

“But it’s true. And I was reminded that it was your eyes and your smile that made me fall for you.”

“My eyes and my smile?” Reaching up to her face, Nozomi’s curious gaze meets Eli’s honest.

“Your eyes and your smile.” Eli confirms. “Before we got closer all I ever saw was mischief, be it in your eyes or that smirk that told me you were up to no good. But after that incident on the roof, when you told me about your parents and that you’d have to move again… for the first time I had seen something else in your eyes. Sadness and pain mostly. I thought it didn’t suit you. And then we started to spent more time together and little by little I discovered what these eyes and smile could also hold. How you looked at me, how you smiled at me… even without telling me I could see how much our time meant to you and how much you valued it and me. And before I realized it it was my goal to always make you smile like this, happily with your eyes sparkling.”

“Elichi...” Tears start to form in Nozomi’s eyes after Eli’s honest declaration and the pure love in the blonde’s eyes.

“I can’t believe I almost lost this due to my own stupidity.” Eli’s expression becomes sour as she remembers the incident.

Nozomi reaches forward to caress Eli’s cheeks, her expression gentle. “Yeah, you almost did. But we managed to solve this issue. We talked about it, over and over again. And now we are here, together and happy.”

“You’re right.” Eli lays her hand over Nozomi’s making sure to keep the contact on her cheeks.

For the moment no more words are needed.

“Honoka, I told you not to cut the paper on your own but to wait for Kotori to sketch in the lines!” Umi holds the wrapping paper above her head, out of Honoka’s reach.

“But the paper is so pretty. I wanted to put it all over the place.” The little girl pouts.

Umi sighs, her nerves already wearing thin. She starts to wonder if this is a good idea. “Honoka, we promised mom not to make a mess. So please gather all the paper to-”

Before she can finish her sentence though Nico slides in from the left, throwing confetti in the air that lands all over the place.

Umi feels her right eye twitching. “Nico...” Honoka already backs away, trying to hide behind Kotori who comes back a couple of second earlier with a ruler.

“Doesn’t this look cute? All the colors. I bet mama and mom will like it.”

“Uhm… Nico-chan?” Turning around to her fellow triplet, Nico sees Honoka pointing at Umi. Once she does she gupls.

Umi has a devilish look on her face as she buckles down to be on the same level as her younger sibling to pinch Nico’s cheeks. She faintly notices Kotori pulling at her shirt. “Umi-chan, don’t be too mad. ...please.”

It isn’t fair, Umi thinks, that Kotori is able to disarm her just by asking with her innocent voice. She let’s go of Nico who starts to rub her slightly red cheeks. “You and Honoka will tidy this mess up while Kotori and I start on the wrappings. Got it?”

But instead of nodding Nico’s eyes grow wide and she shakes her head in a fast pace. Umi’s brows furrow. “You don’t wan-”

“Nya!” From behind Rin jumps onto Umi’s back, pouring a small bucket with even more paper snippets and confetti over the blue haired girl.

Nico, Honoka and Kotori stand beside them, all of them eyes wide open and hands over their mouths. Rin just nuzzles into Umi’s back, ranting how she found even more paper to get all over the place.

That evening a scream tears through the neighborhood.

“Should we help them, Onee-chan?” Hanayo asks from her spot behind the door to the kitchen, watching the scene from around the edge.

Maki stands above her, arms wrapped around the little girl’s shoulder. “It’s better we do not get involved.” She says as she watches her older sister chasing the triplets around their home.

“Say, Elichi…?” Nozomi asks between two bites. The both of them finally have their food and enjoy it in silence, occasionally sparing a glance at each other or commenting on the food.

“What is it?”

“Don’t you think that Umi-chan and Maki-chan acted strange earlier?”

Eli looks up from her plate, meeting an amused Nozomi. “What do you mean?”

“It was as if they wanted to get rid of us, pushing us out of the door like that.” Nozomi giggles.

“Now that you mention it...” Furrowing her brows Eli enters full parent mode. “They aren’t up to something bad, are they? What if something happens?” Overprotective parent Eli.

Nozomi thinks it’s cute.

“Nothing bad. They know what today is, so maybe they plan on doing something?”

“I hope they don’t overdo it. Or make a mess out of our home…” Eli says, half imagining the chaos the kids could possibly cause.

Nozomi’s giggles pull her out of her imaginations. “You worry way too much. But that only proves that you are an amazing parent.”

“I can’t help it. I don’t want them to get into trouble.” Eli says truthfully.

“Don’t you trust Umi-chan an Maki-chan?”

Answering this question doesn’t take Eli long.

“I do, wholeheartedly. They remind me a lot of myself when I was their age. I had to take care of Alisa a lot, so I grew up faster than others my age.”

“Well, they always help us with Kotori, Hanayo and the triplets. So I guess the same can be applied to them.” Her last words are almost whispered, but Eli catches them nonetheless, looking at Nozomi worried.

“What is it, Nozomi?”  

“Just thinking that I was totally different. My parents left for work early in the morning and returned late at night. There was no one I had to take care of other than myself. And well, I didn’t really care about me, so I goofed around a lot.” Nozomi explains, looking wistfully into the distance.

Eli takes her one hand, moving her thumb over Nozomi’s knuckles in a slow rhythm.

“That’s not bad either. Somehow… that’s what caused us to meet. And we both know how that turned out.” She smirks, one of her charming ones that never fails to make Nozomi smile in return.

“Is Umi-nee still chasing after Rin-chan, Nico-chan and Honoka-chan?” Hanayo asks, sitting at the kitchen table.

Maki slides back with her chair to peer through the half-opened door. Kotori still sits at the table in the living-room, cutting the paper carefully with a smile on her face. She obviously enjoys what she’s doing. There’s no trace of the other four, though, but Maki is sure she heard footsteps throughout their home.

“I guess she is. But I am pretty sure it turned to a game of Hide and Seek by now...”

Maki returns to her previous position at the table and continues to peel various fruits while Hanayo cuts them into tiny pieces. The both of them have cooked some rice earlier that is currently cooling down. Thanks to Anju they have an easy recipe for muesli made out of rice. They intend to serve it in the morning as a surprise for their parents.

They work like this for a couple more minutes before Maki hears tiny footsteps near the door to the kitchen. She stands up and walks towards the door, waiting till a small figure with orange hair passes her by.

She opens the door and grabs Rin by the collar, gently pulling her backwards into the kitchen. The energetic girl yelps in surprise but any protest dies an early death when she is picked up underneath her arms and placed on a chair by the table. Hanayo smiles at her and gives her a sliced apple.

Maki stays behind her and takes the apple, putting down a small cutting board before Rin. “You have two options: Being caught by Umi-nee because we both know that will happen soon or you redeem yourself my helping me and Hanayo with our breakfast.”

Rin looks up at Maki who looks down at her younger sibling with raised eyebrows. “What do I have to do, nya?”

Maki smiles.

“Okay, look.” She takes the apple and shows Rin to cut them into small pieces. Once she is sure that Rin will manage she sits back down and continues peeling.

“Maki-neechan, Hanayo-neechan?” Maki looks up to look at Rin. “Sorry for all the trouble. I love you.”

Both Maki and Hanayo smile before they reach over to ruffle Rin’s hair.

“We love you, too.”

“Nico, Honoka, Rin! Give up, I’ll find you soon enough.” With each step she takes there is another piece of paper falling out of Umi’s hair. That doesn’t exactly help her calming down.

She takes a break in the middle of the hallway to pull out some pieces when she hears a creaking sound in her very own bedroom. Umi squints her eyes, not believing that they would dare to hide there. Everyone knows that they need to ask Maki and Umi first.

She approaches the door and opens it by pushing once, standing still in the door frame.

“You know the rule… prepare yourselves.”

Umi looks all over the place, noticing her bed sheets being out of place and the corner of her blanket being pulled underneath her bed. So she crouches down to look under her bed and is greeted by Honoka, sheepishly waving at her.

“Get out. Now.” Umi says, glaring at her younger sister.

Honoka does as she is told and takes Umi’s outstretched hand. Together they go back to the living-room where Umi motions for Honoka to sit down beside Kotori. The ashen haired girl pulls her younger sister into a hug while Umi still looks down on them. “While I keep looking for Nico and Rin you will start to clean up. We don’t want mom to get a heart attack when she returns.”

Honoka nods and Umi continues to look for the last of her two siblings. She walks towards the kitchen to tell Maki to keep an eye on Honoka. But once she opens the door she is greeted by Rin, Hanayo and Maki preparing the fruits. “Rin is here?”

Maki turns around briefly before she keeps peeling the apple in her hand. “When she tried to hide she walked past the kitchen. That’s when I grabbed her.”

Rin flashes her a catlike grin and Umi sighs. At least that means there is only one person left. She thinks she might know where to look for Nico. So she makes her way towards her mama’s office whose door is indeed slightly open. Her mama always close it.

Instead of going inside Umi stays outside.

“Nico? Come on out. We need to get things ready before mama and mom return. You want them to have a nice evening, right?”

She hears a door opening, probably to one of the shelves inside. Soon after Nico exits the room and closes is tightly again. The raven haired girl turns to her older sister.

“Sorry. I won’t play around again.”

Umi sighs and holds her hand out for Nico to take it. Together they get back to the living room.

“I didn’t say you aren’t allowed to have fun. I just want you to think a little and not to cause chaos.”

Soon after Honoka and Nico finish cleaning up while Kotori and Umi keep preparing the paper.

“This is so beautiful.” Nozomi says as she allows herself to melt into Eli’s embrace.

After they had finished eating Eli had taken Nozomi by the hand to walk with her through Tokyo. They had taken the Tokyo Metro Namboku Line until Komagome Station. At that time Nozomi got a vague idea what Eli was up to.

Nonetheless she’s surprised when the beautiful sight of the Rikugien Gardens greet her. Now they just stand there in each others embrace, enjoying the evening for a little while longer before they have to return home.

Feeling the arms around her waist loosening up Nozomi turns around to meet Eli’s beautiful blue eyes. It’s quite all around them so she seizes the moment and leans forward, Eli meeting her halfway in a slow but all the more loving kiss.

Breaking apart Eli rests her forehead on Nozomi’s closing her eyes. “If I’d ask you again, here and now… would you still say ‘yes’?” Eli mumbles only for Nozomi to hear.

The purple haired woman knows. Ever since their fight that Eli constantly worries if they are still alright. They talked about it – what happened, what they thought about it – and Eli tried so hard with simple yet thoughtful gestures that Nozomi had forgiven her a while ago. But being the worrywart that is Eli, she should have known that the blonde still struggles.

So she tries to reassure her as best as possible now.

“Ask me a thousand times… my answer will never change.” Because Nozomi knows exactly why. “You were the only one who cared about me. Out of all the people it was you, the person who became the victim of all of my pranks. In the two months before I had to move again you had managed what no one had ever done in a year. You made me feel less alone and gave me the feeling that for once there would be someone remeberring me. And you did. Even better, you kept in touch. That was when I decided that I never wanted to lose you, and shortly after I realized that I loved you.” She tightens her hold around Eli’s neck. “So never let me go either.”

Eli smiles. “Never. That’s a promise.” She seals it with another kiss. “Happy Wedding Anniversary. I love you, Nozomi.”

It’s late when Nozomi and Eli return home. Some lights are still on so Nozomi nudges Eli in the side.

“I told you, they are up to something.” She says with a smile.

“Whatever it is, it better didn’t cause a chaos.” Eli sighs, already preparing herself for the sight of the leftovers of an explosion in the middle of their living room.

When they approach the door and Eli jiggles with the keys they hear whispers behind it and feet shuffling hurriedly. When it is completely quiet Eli dares to take a look at Nozomi to see her nodding with a smile. So she turns the key and opens the door, half awaiting something falling straight at her.

Eli is surprised when the hallway is just as neat as it had been when they left. Their jackets are still hung up and their shoes are placed in a perfect row. The only thing that is strange is the fact that the door to the living room is closed.

“Umi-chan? Maki-chan?” Beside her Nozomi calls for their eldest as she takes of her shoes, a knowing smile on her face that grows when no one replies. The lights were on, so someone has to be awake. Eli starts smiling, too.

The moment they enter the living room, though, they are beyond speechless. Placed neatly on the table in front of their sofa are seven gifts, wrapped up in dark blue, red, grey, green, orange, yellow and pink paper. A small banner is tied to their shelf and a broom stick that had been placed behind the sofa, reading “Happy Anniversary” in the neat writing that they recognize as Umi’s.

Before either of them can say anything a bunch of small people comes running towards them from the kitchen and in a blink of an eye they are surrounded by Kotori, Hanayo and the triplets all wishing them a happy anniversary.

Eli laughs and Nozomi has to rub her eyes to keep the tears from spilling. They each lift up one of the triplets, Eli takes Rin while Nozomi takes Nico, and they all go over to their big couch.

“So that’s what you guys were up to.” Eli says, still smiling brightly.

Rin’s face falls.

“You knew?”

This time it is Nozomi who laughs.

“Your big sisters weren’t exactly subtle.” She looks at Umi and Maki who still stand near the door to the kitchen. “I knew something was up the moment they proposed your mom and me having a date night.”

Maki and Umi blush a deep red and turn their heads away. Eli laughs.

“Yeah, putting it that way it sure is strange. Them proposing a date. And shoving us out of the door earlier didn’t help, either.”

Seeing the faces of their youngest falling upon failing on surprising them Nozomi quickly adds “But it’s still a surprise. We would have never guessed to come home to this.” She nods towards the gifts on the table. “And we love it. So thank you.”

Faces light up again and the triplets start snuggling up on Eli and Nozomi. Kotori and Hanayo lean their heads on their parents shoulders, by far the ones who show the most fatigue. It is late, after all.

“Open the gifts! Open the gifts!” If it weren’t for Eli holding Honoka close the girl would jump all over the place.

“Ok, ok. Maki? Could you hand me the….” Eli eyes the presents, knowing well which belonged to who thanks to the colors. “The green one?”

Hanayo’s face lights up even more as Eli carefully unwraps the box, careful not to destroy the wrapping. Once she opens the box she is greeted by two beautiful crafted origami swans. She carefully takes them out to show Nozomi who scoots closer, just as amazed as Eli.

“These are amazing, Hanayo-chan.”

“Now… where to put them?” Eli says, already scanning the room. When she finds a place she gives the swans to Umi and tells her where to put them. “I think that fits perfectly.” She nods, proud and Nozomi smiles. Two white swans are now framing their big family picture. Hanayo looks equally happy and proud and that is all Nozomi and Eli need.

“Ours next, nya!” Rin chimes in, trying to grab the orange, yellow and pink presents, but Maki beats her to it.

All three of them are cylinders, with a simple bow securing the wrapping paper. Once Nozomi and Eli take them of the paper unrolls and three pictures come in sight. What’s strange is the fact that none of them seem to be finished.

“They are supposed to be one piece.” Nico explains as she eagerly takes the picture out of Nozomi’s hand. “Like a puzzle!” The triplets then put the pictures together like they are supposed to.

With them being in the right order Eli and Nozomi see what the triplet’s intention was. Everyone had drawn three of them each, everyone holding hands. Now there were nine figures lined up on three pages, starting with Eli holding on to Honoka and Umi on the right picture that had been drawn by Honoka herself. The next picture shows Kotori, Rin and Hanayo, the legs being straight black lines evidence that Rin had made this. The last picture on the left shows Maki and Nico with Nozomi, the pinks and hearts being obviously Nico’s doing.

Nozomi tears up and hugs Nico, who sits on her lap, tight. The small girl circles her arms around her mama's neck.

“I love you, mama.”

“I love you, too, Nicochi.” Nozomi says, tears finally spilling.

Eli reaches over, stroking her wife's cheeks first and then petting Nico with Rin and Honoka in her embrace.

“And you, too, mom. I love you.” The raven haired girl whispers and Rin and Honoka join in.

Taking the pictures, Umi turns around. “I am going to pin those on our fridge.”

“Next mine.” Hesitantly, Kotori reaches over and takes the gray wrapped gift, handing it to Eli. “I hope you like it.” She shuffles with her feet and plays with the hem of her skirt, eyes looking to the ground.

“I am sure we'll like it, sweetie.” Eli moves a little and pats the place between Nozomi and Eli. Getting the hint, Kotori sits down on the sofa. Eli starts to pull of the paper. There is a small box again that she opens to reveal some sort of fabric, one blue, one purple. Unfolding them they see hearts and flowers neatly sewn into the material in bright colors. “Kotori, these are awesome.” Eli's breath catches in her throat.

Nozomi takes the fabric and looks at it herself.

“I think… someone has a talent for sewing.” She smiles and kisses Kotori at the top of her head. “Thank you, sweetie.”

Kotori beams at this, her feet happily bouncing up and down.

“I am glad.” Eli and Nozomi smile at each other.

Clearing her throat, Umi redirects the attention to her and Maki. “Now it's our turn. For that we ask you to open the two remaining gifts together.”

Doing like they are told, Eli and Nozomi open the remaining two boxes to reveal a sheet of music in the red wrapping and lyrics in the blue wrapping. “Aishiteru Banzai?” Eli says, reading the title on top of the music notes.

“The same title as the lyrics… wait? Could it be…?” Raising an eyebrow Nozomi looks up at her eldest to see them placing a speaker on the table, connected to Maki's phone. They smile and take a deep breath before Maki hits play.

A piano starts playing and after a few notes both Maki and Umi start singing.

“Cheers for the love!

I'm glad to be here, our present exists right here

Cheers for the love!

It's only just begun, I'm counting on you again tomorrow, we've yet to reach our goal.

Smile when you're sad, let's blow it all away If you can laugh, the scenery will change, peeking through the clearing weather Even when you're unsure, the road leading to happiness Comes into view under the blue sky

Rain falls from time to time but it's harsh without water Don't wither, nurture everyone's tree of dreams Now! Cheers for loving you! With the courage to never give up, let's enjoy the present Cheers for loving you! We can do our best so wave goodbye to yesterday and look forward”

By the end of the first verse everyone has gathered around Eli and Nozomi to look at the lyrics to sing along. The family sings together and when the music is fading Umi and Maki bow like professionals while their “audience” applauds them.

“That was so cool.” Honoka exclaims, looking at her older sisters with admiration. The attention causes Umi and Maki to blush though.

“Agreed. It was beautiful. But when did the two of you manage to create this?”asks Eli, genuinely curious.  

“At school.”

“It was amazing. Thank you, all of you. Really.” By now Nozomi can't stop the tears from flowing, which doesn't go unnoticed.

“Mama!” The youngest bunch climb and rush over to Nozomi who just opens her arms to hug them all before pulling them all backwards to lay on the sofa. Eli, Maki and Umi sit down beside them, smiling at the scene.

It is Nozomi who summarize the whole evening, short but simple and full of joy. “Thank you all for this beautiful idea. I love you.”

[derekgeoffrey-blog]

Lone Sea Wolf (excerpt)

Thud! Ralf’s ears twitched as the sound invaded his dream. However faint it was, oftentimes noises around him would find their way into his dreams and “feed” them in a way. Most of the time when these noises were loud enough they would just wake him up. Thud! There it was again! Ralf yawned as he lifted himself out of bed. Where would that noise be coming from? There was no one else in the—Wait. No one else was in here. Where was Sierra? Surely she wasn’t stupid enough to have run off. The snow was falling again and another blizzard was on the way… Thud! “UGH! Curse this bow!” ‘Of course.’ Ralf realized what was happening now. The sea wolf rolled his eyes to heaven and walked out onto the verandah. He trudged to the area behind the house where the sound was coming from. ‘Sierra?’ He paused just after seeing what she was doing. She hadn’t noticed him, though. “Oh good grief…” he muttered. With her deep red hair tied behind her head, Sierra was clumsily drawing and nocking an arrow nearly three feet long into the taut string of his bow. With a four-fingered grip and her thumb overlapping them, she strained and grunted under the bow’s heavy limbs. The furthest she could pull it was about three inches from her nose, for barely two seconds. There were arrows poking out of various spots all over the big target, and some were stuck in the trees at different angles and distances. Ralf shook his head at Sierra’s incompetence and naiveté. Those limbs were made with a fifty-pound draw! Not to mention she was also holding the string wrong. Without a glove, the braided hemp bowstring would be digging into her fingers like wire. Her shoulder muscles, which contributed the most to pulling a bow, wouldn’t be in any better condition (hers weren’t strong enough yet). She hadn’t figured that detail out yet and was only using her arms with her elbow not raised high enough. With that, her results were even more catastrophic. Getting a better look at her hair and her face, she was sweating. That meant two things; one, she had been at this for hours. Two, the cold air against her overly-warmed body would cause temperature swings and make her sick. Shouldn’t it have been obvious that that bow was too heavy for her? She should have only made one attempt to pull it and then put it back where she found it. In fact, she shouldn’t have picked it up in the first place. It had been hanging on its wall peg with the quiver next to it. “I must have left it strung last night.” Ralf kicked himself for forgetting that one simple task, one of the most vital (if not the most important) habit of keeping a horn bow intact. As much as Ralf admired Sierra, especially her energy and passion, he was deeply worried about her. He felt that she was overworking herself without realizing it. Or maybe she did realize it but didn’t care. Being out in the wild, away from everything, she probably didn’t have a care in the world anymore. Once Sierra loosed another arrow so poorly it would have been laughable to anyone else, Ralf said aloud, “What on earth are you doing?” Sierra turned abruptly with the next arrow nocked, breathing heavily. “Hey, easy.” Ralf said, his hands up in mock surrender. “That thing’s heavy. It makes me wonder why—and also how—you’re even using it.” “It was the only one already strung, and the other few were too heavy for me to string on my own.” Without another word she turned around and tried pulling an arrow back again. She hit the target but only at the edge. In defeat she finally dashed the bow to the ground. Ralf walked over to her and picked it up. As he unstrung the bow, Ralf said gently as he could, “You shouldn’t be shooting a heavy war bow bare-handed, you know.” Sierra was not pleased. “Does it come naturally, finding stuff to punish me for?” “Do irresponsible stunts like this come naturally to you? Let me see your fingers.” With no glove on, the bowstring had dug deep into her fingers. They were scraped and he could tell the joints were overly strained. It would take days for her fingers to feel right again. Her opposite hand was in no better shape, scratched from the wooden shafts and turkey-feather fletching rubbing against her skin. Small rivulets of blood ran down the back of her hand. “You should at least have some sort of wrappings over this hand so it won’t get scratched.” Ralf gripped the end of his sleeve and gently dabbed at Sierra’s hand. He looked at her and saw she wasn’t wincing, so it couldn’t have been deep. When the blood was cleaned off and he checked again, it was mostly a few scratches. They were big, sure, but not serious. “Sierra, how old are you?” “Twenty-one.” “Well a year older isn’t a year smarter. It should have been obvious on the first try that pulling this bow was a bad idea.” He paused, hoping to get a response from her. But she remained quiet. “Your obsession with toughening yourself concerns me. Look at yourself.” Sierra did just that, looking herself over. She squinted in confusion. She clearly noticed no change. Ralf hadn’t really expected her to. If she had, then she would have already taken a break from all this. “Naturally you cannot look at your own face.” Ralf continued. “But I can. I can see the dark circles under your eyes and how you stoop when you practice with whatever strong weapon you pick up. You haven’t gotten enough sleep lately either. You take turns gaining and losing weight all the time, then you groan in your sleep from aching muscles. I imagine that will certainly be the case today, now that you’ve tried too hard to shoot a bow that you don’t know how to use.” “What’s your point?” the girl snapped. “You’re consciously trying to harden your outer shell, and it’s tearing you apart. You may have had the strength to travel this far over the hills, but that iron will was drained when you fell in the water and woke up in my house.” he continued. “Don’t deny that you felt relieved that you finally had someone to take care of you again.” When Ralf mentioned this, she realized how true it was; how glad she was to be out of that storm, how accustomed she was to being sheltered, and all these other things that she had grown up on. “If you want to be tough so badly, go home and join your king’s military. Maybe they can teach you properly if you aren’t satisfied with me.” “I can’t.” Sierra said defensively. “It’s against the law for women to join.” “Then go back to Ulfria instead, or even Bjarndyr or Svenajote. We aren’t barbarians. Men and women are equals here up north.” “Right.” She folded her arms across her chest. “Except slaves, out of vengeance.” “Slaves who can be set free.” Ralf countered. “You told me Helga was only pretending to own you, to protect you.” “And if I go back and find somewhere to make a new start, what am I supposed to do? Change my hair color so I don’t draw suspicion? Helga says ‘there aren’t any red-haired lassies ‘round here’.” Sierra added, imitating Helga’s thick accent. “Sierra, I can protect you.” Ralf then gestured toward the landscape surrounding them. “I can shield you from the elements, but I can’t change who you are—” “I JUST WANT TO BE ONE OF YOU!” Her shout startled Ralf and echoed through the trees. The girl raised her hand close to her mouth that hung open in shock. “I…” was all she could get out. Any hostility had suddenly been drained, released by that one exclamation. Neither one of them said a word for a long time. Ralf and Sierra simply stood there looking at each other, lost and confused. Still refusing to speak, with a shamed look, Sierra stormed past Ralf and into the trees.