“How is it that you were able to get something like this through to here?” Eldana asked as they finally began to move, following Meko’s lead, and heading towards the group standing at the foot of the ship.
“Through the same way, it will take you out,” Meko replied.
Eldana could not help but feel honored that the elves would gift them something as incredible as this. As they neared the ship, the outline of the people at its feet began to get clearer, and they could make out the forms of Kochob, Fraweyni, Hermon, Mikko, and D’rmas.
Hermon was the first to see them approach. With a huge grin on his face, he broke off from his group and walked up to meet Eldana and Siem.
“A good morning to you” Hermon greeted Meko, nodding. Siem thought she could see Hermon, and Meko’s eye lingers on each other longer than necessary before
Hermon flicked his eyes towards them, and his smile widened. He rushed to Eldana and Siem and encircled them in a big embrace.
Eldana, and Siem’s lips spread into huge pleasant smiles.
“Okay. I think that is enough.” Eldana joked. “There is no need showing the entire world, how both our tiny bodies can make up almost one of yours.” Hermon laughed.
“I do not think you should dally any longer,” Meko advised. “The light of dawn is quickly upon us. You should be gone before it is fully dawn.”
Siem caught that lingering eye contact again between her and Hermon, and then she thought:
Yes, I knew it was not just in my mind. Something is going on between these two!
Fraweyni was dressed in a long white gown with a fitting bodice that progressed into a large skirt that was split into many parts like very long petals. And as the sea wind blew, the parts thrashed and played together. It made Fraweyni look like a wildflower in the eye of the dawn. She smiled as Eldana, Siem, and Meko joined them.
“I trust you had a pleasant rest?” she asked.
“I do not think they had rest at all,” Meko replied. “They were already wide awake when I got to them.”
“Same with their friends here,” Kochob said, “I walked in on them performing some male ritual or something.”
Siem cocked her brow inquisitively at Hermon, who just frowned, and shrugged his shoulders.
“The time has come,” Fraweyni said. “For you all to leave us. I know it, without a doubt, that you will be dearly missed here. You have been such wonderful friends. The word, allies, does not suffice in your case. And I still insist that should all this blow over, and any, or all of you, are willing to make a home of this place, they will always be welcome in the Ciroc. I would also want to thank you for showing my children that there is something for them to grasp on to in this world that has treated us so unfairly.”
Eldana and her friends nodded respectfully.
“My lady.” Mikko said, stepping out a little, “If I may be allowed to speak freely.”
“Why, Mikko, you can say whatever you wish. This is far from a tribunal.” Fraweyni declared.
“Well, since we are all throwing thanks and gratitude around, I would also like to contribute mine. I want to say a big, and heartily thank you, that all you did when we intruded into your borders, albeit unknowingly, was sing us to stupor, instead of killing us on sight!”
The company erupted into mild laughter.
“Serious.” Mikko continued. “Anyone in your position, having faced what you have faced would have terminated on sight. But you chose to delay your hand and enquire, and that there, shows you abound in wisdom, and thoughtfulness, and insight. Thank you, once again. You are a mother indeed.”
Fraweyni nodded in appreciation while Kochob turned to Eldana.
“And to my student,” he said, “who has now surpassed her teacher.”
Eldana’s eyes teared up. “Oh, please, Kochob. Do not make this harder than it already is.” Eldana said.
Kochob walked closer. “I am proud of you.” He told her. “And always will be.”
He spread his arms open, and Eldana went in for a hug.
Meko clasped her hand on Hermon’s wrist, and quickly pulled him away from the rest of the group. Siem watched them slyly.
“Were you going to leave without saying goodbye?” she asked, glaring at the tall Beserker staring him dead in the face.
Hermon’s eyes roved about, unable to look Meko in the eye.
“I really wanted to,” Siem heard him whisper. “But next time, when I complain about sharing a room with the other guys, my complaint should be taken seriously!”
“I wanted to come to see you in the middle of the night, but they were engaged in a wrestle of sorts, and they pulled me in as judge!”
“That is all you did last night?” Meko questioned. “That is no excuse.”
“I know,” Hermon said. “But if I had tried to slink away, or just leave, I would arouse suspicion, and then everyone else will follow.”
“Why are you scared about that?” Meko asked.
“About what?”
“About people seeing us together, especially your friends.”
“It is not that, exactly. It is just that I do not know how they are going to take it.”
“Do you trust me?” Meko asked, stepping closer to him, and gazing into his eyes.
“Ye…Yes. I think I do. I mean, I do.”
Meko shakes her head and smiled.
“Of all the Berserkers I have ever encountered, you Hermon, are the most juvenile.”
“I am not a child.” Hermon objected.
“I know. But you act like one. And if you had waited for me to finish my sentence before childishly objecting, I would have told you that you are also the strongest Berserker I know.”
Hermon looked at her like he was doubtful of what she had just said. But then, he saw the seriousness on her face,
