Iriona

[Victoria]

What happened? That was a loaded question she wasn’t entirely sure she knew how to answer. She had tried her best to keep everything from surfacing that now she didn’t even know where to begin to explain it all to him. For a long moment she just sank into his hold on her, somehow he was holding her together. Aria felt like everything around her was crumbling, with so many questions left unanswered she wasn’t sure she knew which way was up anymore. She knew too that unleashing all of this on Elion wasn’t going to solve any of her problems, but she couldn’t keep it to herself anymore. She felt like she was on the verge of some kind of meltdown, and just being close with Elion like this somehow made it all easier to deal with, it made it easier for her to accept the myriad of negative possibilities before her. She didn’t want to think about what would happen if she died, but the longer she was here the more she needed to think about it because the greater the possibility became. She needed to face reality, while she had been healing here on the farm so much could have been happening to her body in Springmount.

“Everything,” she finally whispered in response to his question because that was the only way to describe the extent of it. “When I left here the last time I called my parents, I set up a time to get to the bear and the orb, everything was going perfectly. We had a direction for the investigation here, Jack and I had made a break through with our case. It seemed all too good to be true. It was. Of course it was. Because nothing good can ever happen to me. Nothing in my life can just be easy for once. Next thing I remember, my phone was going off like crazy. It was Jack. His daughter Kyra hadn’t come home. I love those girls and Kyra fit the killer’s M.O. so of course we both thought the worst. It took several hours, but we found her.” She paused for a long moment, “When we were in Muula you pointed out that there was something personal about my case that was driving me,” she started, “I brushed you off because I was annoyed it was being taken over, but you were right. My cousin, Stephanie, was the first victim. My aunt had asked me to watch out for her, I was supposed to… I failed. So when Kyra disappeared, I panicked. I wasn’t thinking clearly and I should have paid closer attention. At first it just looked open and shut, she was safe, that was all that mattered. We didn’t think anything of it.”

They should have. They should have given it more thought. But hind sight was twenty-twenty. The more she relived those moments, the more she could pin point every little mistake they made. Every little step that sent them catapulting towards that final moment. Every misstep they took ended up the catalyst for where she was now. They should have questioned Gina more, she should have pressed Jack harder to let her question Kyra about what had happened. Even if she could have just gotten Adam’s last name, they could have run it through the system and maybe they would have had a heads up that they were going to end up face to face with their killer. They could have planned an attack, they could have gotten the FBI involved. There were a million of things they could have done differently that wouldn’t have ended with a bullet in her stomach and a possible death sentence looming over her. But she couldn’t change how any of it happened. The truth of the matter was she was in this mess with no foreseeable way out of it. However, not for the first time, she was grateful that she wasn’t alone. Elion may not be in the mess with her, but just having him there was a comfort she felt she could never fully express to him. Knowing she had fallen silent again, without having really explained anything, she pulled in a shaky breath and tried to find the courage to start again.

“Colin and I went to dinner at my parents, so that I could get the bear that night. Which because I was asking for old toys my mother immediately jumped to the conclusion that I was pregnant. No matter what I said, I couldn’t get her off that. I get it, she wants to be a grandmother, but I can’t be a mother, not right now. Colin overheard me telling my mother that I wasn’t going to have kids, that I wasn’t going to get married. Which led to a fight on the way home.” She paused for a moment, knowing she had to tell him the truth. “You didn’t cross a boundary last night,” she confessed, thinking back on the kiss they had shared. “In order for that to be true, Colin and I would still have to be together. I ended things with him that night. It wasn’t fair to either one of us, I couldn’t give him what he wanted and…” She sighed, she couldn’t go there just yet, she needed to explain the rest of it and she still wasn’t at the worst of it. “Driving home, we saw Jack’s car. I made Colin pull over, not thinking I jumped out. Jack was ecstatic, he had found our killer. But he was barricaded in the house, and there are a million things we should have done differently. He should have called me, told me what was going on. As his partner I deserved that much. The kid opened fire and the last thing I remember was the pain in my side. I had been shot. Which where I’m from, it can be fatal. I blacked out and suddenly I was here and the whole stabbing thing happened…” she shook her head, fighting back a sob, “I don’t know if I’m still alive in my world. I don’t know what will happen if I die. The best I can figure is that I’m in a coma there, and the longer I’m out the more damage I could be looking at. It can cause all sorts of problems. So if I wake up what kind of life could I really have? And what about Jack and my parents…” The problem was she didn’t have the answers, and she knew Elion wouldn’t either, but for once, it felt good to talk about these things with someone. To trust someone enough that she wasn’t afraid of him running away from all of this.

“The one thing I know for sure is that I don’t know anything anymore. I thought I knew what I wanted out of my life. I thought I understood who I was and what I stood for. Like I always thought I wasn’t cut out to be a mother, that I never wanted kids – that I never liked kids, but then I met Jack’s daughters. I always thought that nothing would ever be more important than my job, more important than solving that case, and then I came back here and it took me back to the roots of why I do what I do every day.” Leaning against him, she was grateful for how patient he was, that he was just letting her ramble on. She needed to get all of this out into the open with someone. But she was scared to confess the rest to him. She took a deep breath before finding the words, “And I thought I loved Colin, but I hadn’t even touched what it could be because I was afraid to really let him in. Which made me realize how scared I’ve been that I would never feel what it was like to really care for someone as more than just a good friend, that devotion and dedication to someone, that gut wrenching fear when something happens to them. That consuming worry where you can’t think about anything else and you just keep playing the what ifs over and over in your head until you feel like you’re going insane, how if one thing had been different…” she paused, unable to say the last five words, but she had to say them, he had to hear them. “But then I met you.” She shook her head, “And it scares me that I’m going to die, or that I’m going to wake up and all of this is just going to be gone. It scares me that the longer I’m here, the more I don’t want to go home.”

[athena]

Elion sat silently and listened to Aria tell her tale. He held her close the entire time. Occasionally Elion lightly stroked her hair in reassurance. It was, without a doubt whirlwind of events. He wanted to ask her why she had with held such information for so long, but Elion sensed that that may not have been the best course of action. Aria, he had learned, was a woman who was slow to trust. That she had trusted him with all her misgivings, fears, and worries spoke volumes. And then there was the fact that she was no longer with Colin. She could choose whomever she pleased and she had chosen him. Elion sat silently a moment longer, trying to process. His own feelings were slower to develop, but nonetheless just as steady as hers. Aria was influenced by a variety of spirits, and it showed in her drive and passion. It was something he had come to adore in her. Finally, Elion stood and offered his hand to Aria. “We should go for a walk,” he said simply. Aria took his hand sniffling all the while.

Slowly he led her to the orchard. The moon filtered through the leaves of the trees as they whispered greetings to the couple. A light chill hung about the base of the trees, but it was not entirely unpleasant. “I’m sure you know by now that the orchard is my favorite place.” Aria nodded, no doubt trying to contain both her confusion and sorrow. “I found that the tree spirits were the kindest to me when I was a boy. It was a very confusing time. I didn’t understand what was happening or why people seemed so terrified of me. My parents tried to help as best as they could, but they didn’t understand either. I found myself coming to the orchard more and more, and always listening to the trees. The spirits within were kind, patient. They taught me the beginnings of what I needed to know. And they encouraged me to continue exploring and growing,” Elion paused a moment and fondly patted a nearby tree. “I still come out here when I’m troubled, just to listen to the trees. I am in no way saying that my experience is similar to yours. It is not, but I understand the confusion and the sense of loss.”

Elion stopped under a particularly old tree and drew Aria to him. Delicately he wiped away the dampness from her face and kissed her lightly on the forehead. Perhaps he was being too forward, but now that Elion knew she had no other attachments he could not stop himself from showing his own affections. “If it is of any comfort to you, I do not think the spirits would have stranded you here. Yes they can be terrifying, but I have found them to generally be kind. Especially to those who have helped them in the past. I don’t think you’re dead either. It seems that your investigation in Springmount is almost at a close. Or that it is in a state that your partner can handle it alone. Regardless, the spirits seem to know this and have created an opportunity for you to remain in Iriona to complete the investigation here. I don’t know what that means though for when it is over and Adus is caught.”

He resumed walking, taking Aria’s hand as he did so. “I suppose that is a bridge we shall have to cross when we get there. In the meantime, perhaps mother can help you? Maybe she can figure out what your body is doing in Springmount? I admit that your situation is new to me. I don’t even know how to begin to address it.” He squeezed her hand reassuringly. “But, we will figure it out. You are not alone. You will never be alone here,” he added softly. Elion let a comfortable silence descend upon them, both seemingly lost in their own thoughts.

[Victoria]

In that moment Aria really wished the spirits would talk to her, be honest with her about the reason she was brought here. She needed to know if this, whatever this was between her and Elion, was part of the agenda. If he was right in assuming that somehow the spirits had orchestrated her shooting so that she would be granted extended time in Iriona to help with this investigation, than it shouldn’t be too misplaced to question if it were possible for them to keep her here indefinitely. But was that what she really wanted? Just because she wasn’t as close to her parents as Elion obviously was with his didn’t mean she wouldn’t miss them. And Jack, he had done so much for her and if she was, in fact, still alive than she knew without a doubt that Jack was checking in on her. He was a good guy, he cared about her the way any partner would. She knew it wouldn’t be fair to him to cost him another partner, she knew Jack, he would blame himself for her getting shot. He would blame himself if she died.

A million questions still swirled around her head, all begging to be answered. But all the same, she felt more at ease. Talking to Elion had helped, just having him there helped. He may not understand her situation, but he seemed to understand her. And that counted for something. He didn’t have to sit with her as she rambled on about things, he didn’t have to hold her or take her for a walk like he did. Though, she had to admit that it was nice knowing at least some of what she was feeling towards him was returned. It had started slow for her, little things that had swayed her towards him and then when he went missing it hit all at once in waves of worry and fear that something could happen to him.

As they moved closer towards the edge of the orchard back near the veranda where he had found her sitting, Aria stopped walking, pulling him to a stop with her. When he turned to question her, she smiled slightly and shook her head. She didn’t entirely understand what was happening between them, she had been in relationships before, she had thought she had loved someone, but what she was feeling now towards the man standing in front of her surpassed anything she had ever felt before. Had she fallen for him? She couldn’t really say. She couldn’t make heads or tails of what she was feeling. And trying to read him sometimes was like trying to read a brick wall, she got nothing from it. But the way he gently wiped the tears from her face all the way through how he took her hand told her enough.

“Thank you,” she finally said softly, “for listening, for being there when you didn’t have to be. Right from the beginning you could have left me on my own here, but you didn’t.” Dropping his hand, instead she stepped into him, slipping her arms around his waist. If he could show affection, than so could she. It didn’t seem forced or misguided to feel like this about him. She had to wonder if this had been in the spirits plan all along. The two she had come in contact with had seemed to push her towards him, but they couldn’t possibly have known they would end up like this, could they? But she was learning that the spirits had a hand in everything that went on, here in Iriona and apparently in her life as well. She still had a million and one questions that needed answers, but in that moment they didn’t matter. She felt safe with Elion, she felt cared for, and most importantly as he had pointed out, she wasn’t alone in this.

“About last night,” she started softly, “I didn’t mean to attack you, quite literally. But with everything that had already been going through my head about my own situation, it amplified how scared I was. I know all too well how much one little mistake can cost you. Really it probably wouldn’t have mattered if you left a note or not, I still would have been worried.” Pulling back she looked up at him, suddenly it was that much easier to talk to him about all of this, having someone to talk to made it all easier on her. But she trusted him, she knew he would watch out for her, she knew he cared. Hell that much had been obvious when she had woken up here on the farm, when he had first admitted to being the one to stab her. At first she thought he stayed purely out of guilt, but now she was seeing something different. “I even came out here while you were gone,” She said, glancing around his precious orchard, “hoping that despite the fact that I’ve yet to succeed, that I could contact the earth spirits somehow.” She admitted before a small scowl came across her face, “It didn’t work. Obviously. For someone who supposedly has this great connection with all of them, they sure as hell like to ignore me.”

She knew they would have to get back to the house, it was a big day tomorrow. Zara was getting married. In the short time Aria had known her, she had grown rather fond of Elion’s younger sister. She couldn’t quite believe the wedding she had chattered on about a few weeks ago when Aria had been stuck in bed, a captive audience, was finally here. She was finding she was rather excited for Zara. She was also excited to see Elion all dressed up for once instead of all dirty like she had grown accustomed to. She knew they needed to get back to the house, but under the cover of the trees and a blanket of stars over them she didn’t want to go in yet. She didn’t want him disappearing off to bed yet either.

[athena]

Elion felt a hearty laugh bubble his way from his chest. He returned Aria’s tight squeeze. “Spirits can be quite fickle. It will take time for you to understand them and for them to understand you. It is a process, but you are well on your way. Patience is key.” Elion paused for a moment, a devious smirk playing across his lips. “Then again patience isn’t you’re strong suit.” Aria looked up at him, obvious hurt on her face. A slow smile spread across her face as she realized he was only poking fun at her. She smacked at him playfully before they lapsed into a companionable silence. He felt a strong need to sweep her up in his arms and squeeze her tightly. She was so unsure in this realm, and Elion felt the need to draw her close and keep her safe and secure. He could already see her blossoming and growing to understand Iriona. Soon she would be as much of a part of Iriona and his life that it would be impossible to think of her as an interloper. The thought that she might remain in Iriona filled Elion’s mind with a series of possibilities. The thought of her leaving, perhaps permanently, was a thought he began to push further away. He did not want to contemplate that possibility. It seemed inevitable that she would return to Springmount, but for now, she was here and he intended to take the time to get to know her better and explore the growing feelings between them.

Finally, Elion cleared his throat. “It is late, perhaps we should go to bed?” Aria stared hard at him, a blush creeping up her face. It took Elion a moment to realize that his words might have implications he did not intent – at this moment anyhow. A matching blush flamed across his face. “Oh, um...” he stumbled. “I meant to go to sleep...in our own rooms...” Elion could smack himself. He sounded like a bumbling idiot. Nervously, he rubbed his beard. Maybe he had made it sound like his feelings for Aria weren’t genuine. Maybe he had given her the wrong impression. Elion’s mind raced. A distant part of him was amused at his fretting. He was acting like a young boy in love for the first time, not the experienced man he was. Elion began to form an apology, but Aria only waved him off with a smirk. “Well then, goodnight. I will see you after the wedding tomorrow.” Aria raised a questioning eyebrow. “As Zara’s guardian I will not only escort her up the aisle, but I’m also responsible for spending the morning with the groom and preparing him for his new life with his bride. He has his own guardian, a cousin I think, that will do the same for Zara. They know each other fairly well so none of the information will be new to them. It’s just a very old tradition. You’ll no doubt be with Zara up until the ceremony. She likes you a great deal. During the ceremony, you’ll have a seat with the family. After the ceremony there will be a reception with dinner and dancing. That is where I’ll find you. It will be a long day tomorrow.” Elion sighed as he imagined all the festivities. He would be well and truly worn out by this time tomorrow. “Well, I will leave you to get your rest,” Elion declared. He bowed his head slightly in a way of departure. Carefully, he detached himself from Aria’s hug and climbed the stairs to the house.

Elion woke well before dawn the next morning. The entire house was already moving about; Elion could hear the soft murmurs of Elammin and the sound of somebody in the bath. He lay in bed, waiting for the sound of the bathroom door to open so that he could sneak in for his own bath before Zara got in there. Several minutes passed before the familiar click of the door echoed down the hall. Elion darted from his bed and quickly strode down the hallway to the bathroom. He ducked in, shutting the door behind him. Elion hurried through the morning ritual, shaving and bathing in record time. The last thing he wanted to do was spark Zara’s wrath on her big day. Wrapped in only a towel, Elion padded down the hallway and dodged into his room as he heard the sound of feet behind him. Safely in his room, Elion found that Zara had slipped his suit in the room at some point. It must have been her padding around the hallway behind him.

The sun began to force its way through the shutters. Elion was surprised that time had passed so quickly. Zara’s ceremony was scheduled for the late afternoon, yet Elion had to be with the groom soon. He would breakfast with the groom and his party before he would tell him about his sister and answer the groom’s questions. Perhaps the man would have his wedding gift prepared and ask Elion to bless it. The traditional groom gathering usually lasted until the ceremony when the two guardians returned to their respective person to escort them down the aisle. As much as Elion was excited for Zara, he knew little of her fiancé and the brotherly side of him worried for his sister. He had faith in her choice though and didn’t doubt that she would be very happy. Deftly, Elion slid into his clothes and buttoned the vest. He struggled on the bow tie before moving on to taming his hair. Elion was forced to use a ridiculous amount of pomade to smooth and style his usually wild hair. As the sun finally managed to force its way completely through the shutters, Elion gave up and left his hair alone. It was styled reasonably well. Zara couldn’t complain as it did look as if he put in some type of effort.

Quietly, Elion slid out of the house and waited for the buggy that would bring the groom’s guardian and take him away. He heard the crunch of the wheels before he actually saw the buggy. A few moments later and the buggy pulled into view. Two fine chestnut horses pulled the buggy, which itself was decorated in flowers and streamers. An elderly woman hopped out of the carriage before it came to a complete halt. She beamed at Elion. “Elion son of Elammin, brother of Zara and appointed guardian of the bride?” He barely had time to acknowledge the official title before the woman grasped his hand firmly. “I am Uru daughter of Sahel, aunt of Saheer and appointed guardian of the groom.” Elion bowed deeply and politely. “The bride is inside; she awaits your council.” “As does the groom.” Uru returned the bow and straightened. With the formalities completed the boisterous woman slapped Elion’s shoulder as she breezed past. “It’s going to be one heck of a wedding!” He offered a nod before climbing his way into the buggy.

Surprisingly, the groom’s party had not established camp too far. He remembered Zara telling him that the family was established in Muula. The city wasn’t terribly far from the farm, and Elion had expected to go into the city. He was pleased that the family had taken distance and the wedding location into consideration. As he pulled into the inn, Saheer and the family tumbled into the street and welcomed Elion. They hugged him warmly before ushering him inside to eat the massive breakfast they prepared. Elion briefly wondered if Lys had made such a massive spread and who she could have possibly enlisted aside from Aria to help make it. He pressed the thought aside and enjoyed the fresh bread and rolls scattered across the table. The morning passed quickly. Saheer asked several questions about Zara’s preferences before revealing that he had purchased a home for them in Muula. He intended it as his wedding gift to Zara, and Elion eagerly gave it his blessing. He had no doubt that she would love the gift and would make it a home in no time. Elion conveyed his thoughts to Saheer and watched the young man’s face melt in relief. It soon replaced with nerves as the party realized it was time to head to the square for the ceremony. Elion offered a comforting back pat to the young groom before he hopped into the buggy to meet Zara.

He found his sister twisting her hands nervously at the far end of the square. The guests and families had assembled. Saheer and Uru stood beneath the great tree in the center of the square with the official at their side. Everything was in place, yet Elion sensed Zara’s worry. She looked up at her brother and straightened his bow tie. “Are you well?” he asked. “Nervous,” she replied. Elion smiled knowingly and fixed her circlet of pearls and brushed away a stray curl. “You look beautiful.” Zara smiled slightly, as if she didn’t believe her brother. At the same time, Elion knew his sister appreciated the compliment and was glad that he recognized the hard effort she had put in the making of her gown. “Saheer won’t be able to keep his eyes off you. He is a good man Zara. I think you two will be very happy.” She squeezed Elion’s hand tightly. “Oh El, you think so?” “I know so,” he responded, savoring the nostalgia behind the words. He had said them so often to her when they were younger. He squeezed her hand in return. “Ready?” She nodded and Elion offered his arm. She slipped his arm through the loop he created. Together, they walked slowly down the aisle his gray outfit perfectly complimenting the pearly white of Zara’s.

He heard the sighs and murmurs as the guests turned to watch the bride glide up the aisle. Out of the corner of his eye, Elion saw his sister’s face light up as she found Saheer’s eyes. His sister’s pace picked up as she tried to reach her future husband faster. Elion obliged and soon deposited her upon the platform next to Saheer. Her fiancé gently took her hands, and the gentle look in his face told Elion that the love they shared was unconditional. Togheter, Elion and Uru stepped from the platform and turned toward the crowd. He briefly caught sight of Aria sitting next to Lys, stunning in a blue gown. He winked playfully at her before turning his attention to the commencement of the ceremony.

[Victoria]

The sun was barely peeking over the horizon when Aria could hear people running about the house. After Elion had left her the night before, she had found herself sitting up until all hours of the night thinking over every little detail of her situation. She knew she shouldn’t let herself get close with Elion, not when everything was such a mess and so unsure, but she couldn’t help it. In the long run it would only make things harder on them both, but the time they did get together, she wanted to make the most of it. She didn’t want to leave Iriona behind with any regrets. Pushing up off the soft mattress, she stumbled out into the hustle of preparations for the wedding later on that day in late afternoon. Wandering down the hallway she found Lys in the kitchen, hard at work on something that smelled positively amazing. Elammin was likely tending to the little he could on the farm before the day’s festivities overtook the rest of the time, and she wasn’t sure where Zara was. Aria figured Elion was already long gone, there was no indications that he was anywhere nearby and he had said something about an early start and his role in Zara’s wedding.

Going over to the counter where Lys was working fervently, she leaned against it. “Can I help with anything?” she asked, “I’ve never been much of a cook but I can cut things up or something.” She didn’t want to just stand around and do nothing while everyone else ran around her out of control trying to get things done on time.
Not looking up from her work, Lys shook her head, “I’m alright dear,” she answered, “But perhaps you can go check on Zara, she’s upstairs.” Nodding, Aria pushed away from the counter and headed for the stairs. She didn’t know if she would be of much assistance to the young bride, but she would certainly do her best. Aria wasn’t practiced in the wedding rituals of her own world, let alone those of a place she hardly knew. Not to mention the very true fact that she didn’t have many female friends, she didn’t know how to comfort a nervous bride. Tell them everything was going to work out? It wasn’t something she entirely believed in, but she knew if worked at a relationship could be rewarding.

Knocking softly on the wooden door, Aria waited for Zara to answer. It wasn’t long before she heard footsteps and the door pulled open. “Your mother asked that I come check on you,” Aria explained and without a word, Zara grabbed her hand and pulled her into the room with her.
Going over wordlessly, Zara pulled out the finished blue dress that Aria was to wear, “here’s your dress,” she turned around with it in her arms. “I figured it safer to keep it with Elion’s dress clothes,” she explained.
Taking the dress from Zara’s hands she set it on the younger girl’s bed, “Forget the dress,” Aria told her, “This is your big day. I don’t know how things work around here but I do know that in my world marriage is a huge deal and the bride is most definitely the most important person of the whole day.” Aria smiled, “Now what can I do to help you?”
She spent the next thirty minutes doing her best to help Zara in any way she could, from unpacking her gorgeous gown from the bag to helping calm nerves as they cropped up. Soon enough there was a knock at the door, getting up Aria went over and opened it up to find Lys. “Saheer’s guardian has arrived,” she told the two girls. Finishing up what they could, they headed back down to the wonderful breakfast Lys had pulled together for the big day.

As the hours continued on, drawing closer to the wedding, Aria did her best to help where she could, but there were moments she found it best to just keep out of the way. Finally she decided it was time to go get dressed herself, leaving Zara in the more than capable hands of her mother. Taking the blue dress she fingered the lace gently, it really had turned out quite pretty, though Aria couldn’t recall the last time she had worn such a dress. Her senior prom, perhaps? The soft lace lay gently over royal blue silk, each layer rested softly on the one below it from the waist down, it truly was exquisite. Fiddling with it, trying to get it on, she didn’t want to rip the dress or worse yet somehow further the injury on her side. She knew she was feeling better, but that didn’t always mean anything. From what she had gathered her injury had been quite extensive. Struggling with the buttons on the back, she huffed just as the door creaked open, “having trouble?” Zara asked and Aria could hear the smile in her voice, coming over to help.
“Shouldn’t you be getting ready?” Aria questioned and Zara just shrugged. She was the bride, she could do what she wanted. Though if she had to place a guess she would bet the nerves were getting to her. Aria new if she were to ever find someone worth marrying she’d be a nervous wreck this close to the big moment.
“I couldn’t sleep last night,” Zara said randomly, “I was sitting by my window thinking over everything about today and I saw movement down in the orchard.” Aria felt the blush long before it reddened her cheeks. It wasn’t that she and Elion had even really done anything, but the fact that they had been watched and neither one of them had picked up on it said something. Whether or not that something was good was yet to be determined. Finishing with the buttons, she turned Aria around and smiled, “Mother may have to heal Elion when he sees you,” she said with a knowing glint in her eye. Aria wasn’t going to argue with her now about what Elion may or may not be feeling in regards to their situation. Hell they hadn’t even had a situation until a few days prior.
Shaking her head, Aria smiled, “Let’s get you dressed.”
It was a flurry of activity to finish the last of what needed to be done but soon enough they were in the square where the wedding was to be held. Glancing back from the seat Lys had confined her to, Aria waited for the bride to appear with her older brother at her side. They made their way down the aisle to the center platform and that’s when Elion caught her gaze, shooting her a wink before turning his attention back to the couple.

The ceremony didn’t last long, as most wedding ceremonies went. It was both beautiful and intriguing for Aria to learn how these things happened here in Iriona, what was important and how they went about tying two souls together forever. The whole concept of a guardian was new to her, but it wasn’t far off from the tradition of the father giving the bride away. Someone attempting to make the transition easier on the young couple. Every day she was learning something new about the spirits and the land, or sometimes just the people in it. With that thought her gaze flickered back to Elion and she felt a soft smile pull at her lips. The more she learned about him the more she liked what she saw. Albeit at first he had been gruff and uninviting he had still helped her out when he hadn’t needed to. The more time they spent together, the more they talked and got to know each other, the more she saw a whole different side to him. It was hard to believe that the man she had met and the one standing up at his sister’s wedding were the same guy. When he glanced her way, catching her watching him, she felt that blush creep up on her again before she dropped her gaze.

The ceremony ended and just as Elion had explained there was the typical after party, a tradition Aria understood well. “It’s been a long day, I let you run around this morning to help out, but you still need to take it easy,” Lys lectured and Aria just nodded. She could somewhat understand where Lys was coming from, but at the same time she wanted to go find Elion. She figured though that he would find her here eventually. Confined to her chair at a table, surrounded by people she didn’t know. Hearing footsteps come up behind her, she glanced back over her shoulder and smiled when she saw it was him, “Your mother has all but tied me to this chair,” she laughed, “Care to keep me company?”

[athena]

He listened absently as the official ran through the familiar ceremony. The wedding ceremony remained the same across Iriona no matter where you were, and Elion had sat through his fair share. The moment arrived when his sister looked up at him expectantly. Elion smiled gently at his sister and produced the long linen wrap that was embroidered with small flowers and wheat. His sister had painstakingly sewn each item onto the cloth. Elion had remembered her requests to bring her samples from the fields so she could recreate the flora in perfect detail. Carefully Elion unfolded the fine linen and let it hang from his hands. Saheer and Zara locked their hands around each other’s wrist. Elion took the linen and wrapped it around Saheer’s hand and Zara’s wrist. He left the fingers exposed as he crossed the point where their arms met and wrapped her hand and his wrist with the linen. He took a half step back. “I Elion, son of Elammin and guardian of the bride, hereby declare this marriage accepted by the spirits. I present this linen as a sign of their acceptance and the bond between bride and groom. May this union forever be blessed.” Elion returned to his spot and caught Aria’s eye. He offered her a half smile. Uru then stepped up, holding a set of simple silver bands. “I Uru, daughter of Sahel and guardian of the groom, hereby declare this marriage accepted by man and woman. I present these rings as a sign of their acceptance and the bond between the bride and groom. May this union forever be blessed.” The traditional words of the guardians said, both Uru and Elion stepped away from the platform so that bride and groom could be together. The final words were exchanged and the ceremony was over. Together, Elion and Uru walked down the aisle. Behind the newly wed bride and groom of course.

The walk to the reception area was not far. In fact, it was simply down the aisle and in a wide clearing. A wide canvas tent shaded the field from the evening sun; beneath it sat the tables and a wooden dance floor. Elion heard the sighs and whispers as the wedding guests began to stand and discuss the ceremony. Soon, they would follow the wedding procession and seat themselves, but for now they simply watched from a distance as Zara and Saheer found a table to sit at. As soon as they were seated, chaos erupted. Seats were not dictated, and it was typically a scramble to find a seat at the table of the bride and groom. Or near it should the seats be taken. Elion bowed politely and detached himself from Uru. He had no desire to battle for seats and instead took a step back, watching for a familiar face. It seemed his mother was of a similar mindset. Lys and Aria glided in behind the bulk of the crowd. With an expertise only a mother held, Lys guided Aria to an empty table and deposited her there before drifting off to congratulate her daughter.

Elion hesitated a moment. He wondered if his company would be welcome; he did not wish to seem overly persistent to the point of annoyance. Yet, he reasoned with himself, Aria knew so few people in Iriona so surely he would not be a bother. Their conversation from the past evening lingered on his mind no doubt creating the hesitation in him. Finally, Elion brushed it aside and walked towards the table. He was rewarded with her warm smile. “Care to keep me company?” Aria asked with a laugh. “Not one bit,” he replied with his own laugh as he slid into the seat next to her. They sat in amicable silence for some time, watching the crowd mill about the wedding table. Congratulations drifted on the light breeze. Elion turned to Aria. “You look...” he trailed off trying to find the perfect word. It seemed as if there wasn’t one to describe just what he was looking for. “You look simply beautiful.” He felt as if the words were somehow inadequate, and yet it was all he could think of. A faint blush crept across Aria’s face, and Elion felt a similar blush creep across his own face. Before either of them could linger on it though, Elion moved the conversation on. “Have you enjoyed the wedding so far?” Aria nodded and opened her mouth to respond; however an eruption of noise distracted them. A collection of waiters entered the tent and began to serve the meal. It soon became hard to even hold conversation as Aria and Elion’s table began to fill with friends of the bride and groom.

Dinner was filled by conversation. Elion was relieved to see that Aria was thoroughly engaged in conversation with the woman beside her. He was unable to hear what they were talking about, and was about to ask when the elderly gentleman at his side began asking about Zara. Elion was obliged to answer the fellow and soon they were hit upon farming. He hardly noticed that the plates had been cleared away or that the band had arrived until he felt a tapping on his shoulder. Elion turned, smiling broadly at his sister. He hadn’t realized it was time for the traditional dance of the guardians. According to tradition, Elion would dance with Zara and Uru with Saheer. At some point during the dance, they would swap partners, and eventually, Elion and Uru would melt away from the floor leaving the bride and groom to themselves. After they completed their dance, the floor would be open to all for dancing. Elion excused himself from the table and followed his sister’s insistent tugging. He took her hands and waited patiently for the music to begin.

He heard the gentle swelling of one of Zara’s favorite ballads and he swept his sister effortlessly across the floor. “How are you doing?” he asked Zara quietly. “Wonderful,” she responded. Elion could feel the happiness radiating from every inch of her being. “I am happy for you sister.” In response, Zara snuggled her face into his chest before the time came for him to pass her to Saheer. Uru smiled politely at him as they slowly waltzed their way to the edge of the floor. They remained silent as Zara and Saheer finished their dance. Applause erupted as the song came to close. The couple bowed before they broke into a spirited reel. The audience laughed as the band struggled to keep up with the energetic couple. Other young couples began to join the fun and Elion found himself laughing and clapping with the others. He looked back briefly to check on Aria before he was tugged onto the floor. “Briya!” Elion said laughing. “I didn’t realize you were here!” She laughed at him. “Of course! I’ve been trying to get over there to see you and your lady friend, but I’ve been caught up.” Elion spun her about, eliciting a throaty laugh from his old friend. “It has been too long,” Elion said over the music. “We shall have to catch up sometime.” Briya nodded. “Yes! And I have to say Aria is looking much better than when I saw her in town.” And so the dance went. They filled it with small talk before Elion moved on to dance with his mother and then Saheer’s mother and eventually Uru. Finally, Elion found himself free. Another gentle ballad began and Elion made his way slowly to where Aria was sitting.

“I apologize for taking so long in reaching you.” He bowed politely, offering a hand. “May I have this dance?”

[Victoria]

Sitting back, she watched as Elion moved from one dance partner to the next. First it had been Zara, and then the other guardian – she felt bad for forgetting her name, and then Briya pulled him back out onto the floor. Now he was dancing with his mother. It was clear how much family and this moment meant to him. Looking around she couldn’t help but wonder what life in Iriona would be like if she were here indefinitely. She knew it wouldn’t always be this spirited and fun, but there was a lot more vitality to everyday life here that she couldn’t find back home in Springmount. Then again, the more time she spent here, observing life, customs and hell, even just the people she was finding she felt more at ease than she had ever felt in her own realm. Something had always felt off to her, of course she had brushed that off as being stuck in a small town when she felt like she needed to go bigger. Everyone else agreed, they didn’t understand why she hadn’t moved up to Charleston. But something had kept her rooted right where she was, and now she was beginning to understand. Without the stress of the serial case she might not have been as receptive to the spirits call. She wouldn’t have been nearly as open to the idea that maybe all of this was real. Of course, now she knew better. There was no way that Elion was just a figment of a dream, created in her imagination just to torture her. No, he was real, that kiss had been very real. Just thinking about it caused a tingle along her lips and she found herself smiling.

“You’re certainly looking better than when I last saw you,” a voice said from behind her. Turning to look, she met Briya’s dark gaze as she slipped into the chair Elion had previously occupied during dinner.
“I’m feeling better,” Aria confirmed.
Briya smiled, “Lys has always been a bit of a miracle worker,” she noted, “One of the best healers Haleah has to offer. It’s no wonder Elion brought you here to her.” Aria couldn’t get a read on Briya, normally she was good at understanding people. But here in Iriona that seemed to be a talent that just didn’t exist. Elion was hard to decipher too, perhaps it was just the spirit walker thing that they shared, that she couldn’t get a good sense of who they were or what their motives were. Sure, now she liked to believe she was growing to know Elion well, but Briya was a different story. When they had met in town, she had come across as sarcastic and almost cold. Now she was showing concern for the well being of a woman she hardly knew. Aria didn’t know for sure what she was playing at, what she was hoping to get out of all of this. “Zara says you’re from Eltal?” she noted, looking over at Aria.
At first she simply nodded, It was easier than having to explain everything to someone else. It was bad enough that Elion’s family knew of her predicament, she didn’t need all of Haleah learning of her plight. “Yes,” she answered carefully, “Elion and I are working an investigation together.”
“The murdering of the sprites,” Briya said knowingly. Aria simply stared at her, had Elion said something to her? “Relax, it’s a spirit walker thing. Majorly connected and all.”
Aria nodded, though she wasn’t so sure she believed her, “Zara told me you’re a fire spirit.”
Briya laughed, “I’m not a fire spirit, but I connected with them,” she corrected. Before Aria could argue, she waved her hand, “I knew what you meant.” Aria wanted to ask questions, but she didn’t want to give away her situation. There was so much that she still didn’t understand about how Iriona worked. How the connection between spirit and spirit walker was stronger than the average connection, and more importantly how the spirits could just pass over a child in this realm causing the mayhem Adus had been able to cause when they all seemed to connect with a child from a different world instead. These were all questions she would have to save for a later time, when she could really sit down and talk to Elion about how everything worked around here. There were things beyond the spirits that still didn’t make sense to her. Weather patterns, who had control, did everyone just listen to the invisible force without question? Briya was staring at her, she could see the question poised on her lips. Thankfully she was saved before she could question too much.

“I apologize for taking so long in reaching you.” He bowed politely, offering a hand. “May I have this dance?”
Aria looked up at Elion and smiled, “Are you sure your mother isn’t going to hunt us down if I get up from this chair?” she asked, a teasing tone slipping into her voice. When Elion just shrugged in response, it caused a laugh to bubble from within her. Gently she slipped her hand into his and allowed him to help her to her feet. “I’d love to, but I have to warn you that I’m not the best dancer,” she told him.
Briya laughed, “All you need is a strong lead who knows what he’s doing,” she said as she stood from her own chair, “You’re in good hands with this one.”
As they made their way out to the dance floor, she tightened her grip on his hand, “When we first met I never would have pegged you as the troublemaking type,” she teased lightly. But as she had noted many times before, he wasn’t the same man she had first thought he was. He was so much more than what her first impression had told her. Letting him lead her to the floor, she felt herself watching each step she took, but Briya had been right, it came effortlessly. Aria knew though that it had little to do with his skill and a lot more to do with the fact that she was wrapped safely in his arms. She did her best to quiet the voice in the back of her head which told her these moments weren’t going to last forever. As the song swelled around them, it was like every problem and worry she had faded away. None of it seemed to matter in that moment. This was a life she could get used to living. And as they gently moved to the music, she found herself sinking in against him until her head came to rest gently against his shoulder.

[athena]

“When we first met I never would have pegged you as the troublemaking type,” Aria teased lightly. Elion chuckled. “I’ve mostly grown out of it,” he teased back. “But there are times when I simply cannot refrain from stirring up some sort of trouble.” Aria smiled knowingly at him, as if it was completely normal behavior for a grown man. As had become custom for the two, they lapsed into a companionable silence. It seemed as if the energy for conversation was devoted to focusing on the dance steps. At least for Aria anyway. Formal dancing had been ingrained in Elion since boyhood; it was almost second nature at this point. He wanted to tell Aria to relax, but Briya seemed to have that covered as she shouted at them from across the dance floor. Elion shot her a look, but his friend only laughed at him as she sauntered about the floor. Eventually, Aria stopped concentrating on her feet and began to enjoy the dance. She slowly sidled closer. Before too long, Aria had nuzzled into his chest. Elion wrapped his arm around her more tightly and rested his chin lightly on the top of her head.

He wished that things could remain as peaceful as they were now. No pressing concerns and at ease, surrounded by family and friends. For the time being the threat of Adus was distant, although not completely forgotten. Absently, Elion recognized Grifad whirling his sister about the floor. Soon he would be a full-fledged agente. In fact, Elion had decided that the conclusion of this case would signal the beginning of Grifad’s career as a solo agente. Of course there would be a ceremony and such and...Aria adjusted her head on his chest and Elion’s thoughts snapped back to her. Mostly, he wished that she would stay in Iriona. Yet that seemed impossible. Aria was bound to return to Springmount eventually, regardless of what his thoughts or feelings may have been. It made him cherish the moment that much more.

Elion continued to hold Aria and sway her gently despite the fact that the band had began to play a lively jig. They were both lost in the moment. Elion could have remained lost in it forever, but it was only a matter of time before Lys came over and demanded that Aria sit down and rest. Although Elion wanted to protest, he shut his mouth and remained silent. He may not be in need of rest, but then again he was not the one with the injury. Instead, Elion smiled apologetically. “I seemed to have gotten carried. It will be nice to sit down.” A murmur wove through the crowd. Elion turned to see Zara and Saheer approaching the center table. “It seems it’s a good time anyway. Zara and Saheer are about to cut the cake.” Gentlemanly as ever, Elion pulled out Aria’s chair and helped her scoot up to the table. A smattering of applause erupted as the two pushed the knife through the cake. The newly wed couple smiled as they collected their pieces of cake and meandered to the table. Waiters sprung up like daises to finish cutting the dessert and delivering it to the guests whom were largely seated by now.

Elion and Aria’s table quickly filled with guests, and Elion was pleased to see Briya had managed to steal the seat on the other side of Aria. He flashed her a smile before turning his attention to the new guest beside him. The remainder of the evening passed in a similar matter. Wave after wave of guests came to express their congratulations to Elion. He remained seated for the majority of the night, keeping Aria company. He would occasionally mill through the crowd but it never took long for him to return to the table. Finally the bells from the town center pealed one. The gusts began to slowly disperse. Of course they all wished a fond farewell to the bride and groom. Elion was the last to say goodnight. He kissed his sister on the cheek and hugged his new brother while wishing them both a few words of luck.

The farmhouse seemed empty without his sister. Elion briefly wondered if his parents felt a great sense of loss. They seemed content at the moment, but they were both excellent at hiding emotions. It was a trait he had learned from them. He brushed his mixed feelings aside. Zara would be back on the farm in a few days to celebrate Harvest Day and the start of Ager. Saheer’s entire family would join her as well since none of them had ever celebrated the new season on a farm before. The next few days would be filled with decorating and setting up tables, clearing away the fallow fields to prepare for the winter crops, cleaning and baking, the list seemed never to end. Distantly Elion felt a tug on his elbow. He looked absently at Aria, his mind a focused on the harvest and not on what she had said. Concern flickered across her face. “Sorry,” he apologized. “There’s just so much to do.” Elion wasn’t entirely sure if that was what she was asking or if it was the proper response, but he found that he was overly tired and distracted. “You will have to excuse me,” he pressed, “I find that I’m overly tired.” Elion recognized the cold politeness had slid into place out of habit. Lightly, he kissed Aria on the check to reassure her of his feelings as much as himself. “I will see you in the morning. Harvest Day is almost here.” He tossed her a playful wink before disappearing down the darkened hallway. In only a few hours Elammin would no doubt be nudging him away to begin clearing the fallow fields.

[Victoria]

It was so easy to get swept up in the moment and forget about the pressing matters weighing down on the both of them. But now in the sanctuary of her temporary bedroom everything began to weigh down on her shoulders. It had never been her intention to add to the list of issues Elion was forced to deal with, but after he had kissed her it had suddenly seemed important that he know what she was dealing with. But letting him in like that, in a way, only made matters worse for her. It wasn’t as if she would be lucky enough to just forget Elion and everything between them when she inevitably returned home to Springmount. She would remember every moment, every soft touch and gentle kiss. She knew, without a doubt that it would haunt her and yet she couldn’t bring herself to pull away from him and put space between them. No one else seemed to understand her in the same way Elion did. But then no one else had ever really bothered to take the time to get to know her enough to understand her. Well, except Jack, but that wasn’t the same situation and she damn well knew it. Jack was like a brother to her, Elion definitely wasn’t. But that left her with a choice she knew she would have to make sooner or later. She could return home and risk never finding someone who seemed to get her quite the same way Elion did and never really feeling like she belonged the way she did here in Iriona. Or she could focus and learn to connect with the spirits and find a way to stay even though she knew, if there even was a way, that it wasn’t going to come easy. But she also knew that given the uncertainty surrounding her situation it was a choice she would have to make soon.

Slowly she got ready for bed as the mess of thoughts weighed down on her. Sleep wasn’t going to come easy tonight, but that was unfortunately something she had become quite accustomed too. Moving the chair Elion ha often occupied when they had first arrived on the farm, she slid it over to the window. That was one thing she had always loved about living in a small town, the ability to see the stars. Here on the farm was no different. Somehow it was a comfort to her, staring up at the vast night sky. Everything else seemed so small in comparison. But the longer she stared up at the stars the more her eyes followed familiar patterns. The three stars that made up Orion’s Belt, the Big Dipper – or was it the little one? She could only ever seem to find one. But that meant the stars she watched every night back home were the same here. Somehow. Unless it was just her imagination, wishful thinking that maybe there was something connecting the worlds. A flash streaked across the night sky, catching her attention. A shooting star. Aria found herself doing something she hadn’t done since she was a young child. Wishing with everything she had that her questions be answered. “Is it possible for me to stay?” she whispered softly.

It had taken a long while for Aria to get to sleep, but the bustling about the house woke her up as it usually did. Getting up and getting ready for the day, she figured Elammin had already pulled his son off to the fields for the day. Normally she found herself helping Zara out in any way she could, but with Zara now gone that left Lys. Who was likely to tell her to sit down and rest. But Aria had always been restless, she couldn’t sit still for long. Which likely meant it was going to make for a long morning before Elammin and Elion came in from the fields for lunch. Wandering out into the kitchen Aria found Lys hard at work as she often was, “Is there anything I can help with?” she asked. Now that Zara had her own home to tend to Lys no longer had the extra help.
At the voice behind her, Lys turned around and greeted Aria with a soft smile. “I’m sure I can find something none too strenuous for you to do,” she answered. Setting Aria up to a task the two women worked in silence for a long moment.
“Is this all for Harvest Day?” Aria found herself asking, breaking the silence.
Lys nodded, “It’s always a day of celebration, there’s a festival in town, but this year Zara and Saheer will be here.”
Harvest day, why did that sound so familiar to Aria? Sure Elion had mentioned it the night before, but that hardly seemed why it sounded familiar. Then it dawned on her, “Elion was born on Harvest Day, wasn’t he?” she asked.
Again Lys smiled, “He was. Harvest Day during Earth Year. Then he connected with the Earth so young. Thrice blessed by the earth spirits. It shouldn’t have come as a surprise when it became obvious he was a spirit walker.”
So Harvest Day was also Elion’s birthday, that thought made Aria smile. But that begged the question, how were birthdays celebrated here in Iriona? She had already seen the differences in how weddings were celebrated and performed, so it was logical to believe birthdays were likely handled differently too. Of course there was also the fact that she got the feeling Elion didn’t celebrate his birthday often. He just didn’t seem the type. “It’s funny how different traditions are here from back home,” she noted, “Like the wedding, the idea of guardians is foreign to me. I mean I guess we have that in a way, but not.” She glanced up from her task to Lys, “How are birthdays celebrated here?” she asked, “Do you celebrate them?”

[athena]

Lys kneaded the bread dough as she contemplated Aria’s question. “I suppose we do celebrate them after a fashion,” the mother said. “I don’t know how you celebrate them in Springmount, but they are usually small affairs here.” Lys huffed as she pushed the dough around. “Children of course have the bigger celebrations. There are usually songs and sweets and a day off from work or school. Elion never really got to take the day off though. Almost everything is closed for the Harvest Day festival anyway. It didn’t stop him from running about the farm like a wild child though.” The memories of her young son running bare footed and bare chested through the fields ignoring the shouts of both parents made her laugh fondly. “Believe it or not he used to be so wild. And stubborn too. As he got older the wildness left him somewhat. I cannot say the same for his stubbornness. That seems to have gotten infinitely worse. But I digress. We haven’t celebrated Elion’s birthday since he turned sixteen. He decided that he was far too old for it, and he took over the position of mediator for the harvest festival not long after.” Lys pushed the bread aside and draped a damp cloth over it. The dough would sit over night to rise and be baked in the morning. She dusted her hands off on her apron before settling down at the table with Aria. The young woman had almost completed shelling the peas. Absently, Lys watched her work. She seemed to bring her son happiness, and that made her content. It had been so long since her son had shown interest in something other than work.

Aria finished shelling the peas and pushed the bowl aside. Lys gently took her hand gently. “That’s more than enough for today. The festival is still a few days off yet. We don’t have that much to finish. Zara and Saheer will bring things as well. And his family will too. I think now is a good time to begin your lessons in healing. Come.” Lys stood and led the young woman down the hall to the infirmary. “This is my pride and joy,” the older woman declared as she swung the door in. The strong smell of witch hazel and another astringent assaulted her nostrils. While many found the smell too strong, for Lys it was comforting. It meant her clinic was clean and in order. The dull shine of the floor and the orderliness of the supplies on the shelves attested to the healer’s demand for cleanliness. She scooted Aria over to the small table in the corner. It was used for minor injuries, but it would work well for their first lesson. Deftly Lys collected several varieties of bandages, bottles, and plants before she settled in the seat across from Aria.

“I have never trained another before,” Lys said softly, “although I suppose I should have taken an apprentice long ago. I won’t be here forever.” The thought of her own mortality was one that had been occurring more frequently as she aged, however Lys found that she never dwelt on it long. She was at peace with herself. As usual, the thought fled quickly and a warm smile spread across her son. “I must teach somebody these things, and I deeply feel that you are the proper student. Besides, if anybody is going to stop my son from rubbing dirt in his wounds it would be you.” She set the plants out in front Aria. “Healing is not all about the spirits...they can only help you heal so much. The rest is up to your skills. In fact,” Lys paused to straighten some of the bandages, “it took me many years to actually find the spirits to help me. Before that I relied on my knowledge and skills. I believe that the spirits only made themselves available only after I had proven that I knew what I was doing. Spirits are strange like that. But I doubt it will take you that long. I had no one to guide me; you will have all of my experience to guide you. Now, I believe we should hop right to it. We will have a good amount of time before the boys come in for lunch.

They spent the remainder of the morning exploring the items Lys had brought to the small table. She started with the bandages, as they were the simplest. With great knowledge, she explained the difference in the weave of the material and what they were best suited for. Binding, stopping blood flow, broken limbs and casts, gauzes and sponging, packing, it seemed the list was endless. “I can show you how to use it later. Right now it’s more important to understand the differences.” Lys pushed away the bandage pile and gently picked up a plant. “Medicinal plants. These are tricky to find and harder to identify. I do not expect you to remember these all. I have a hard time remembering myself, but I always remember names and I keep a reference book to check my plants. I’m sure you’re not surprised to know Elion is able to track these down in no time. I used to give him a list and he would collect my plant for me. Now I just grow them myself, or buy whatever I can’t grow.” She paused and let Aria catch her breath. The mother in her recognized the young woman was overwhelmed. She patted her hand lovingly. “Don’t worry my dear. It becomes easier in time. And I will be sure to give you opportunities to practice. I’m sure my son will be more than happy to provide you with minor injuries to work on; he is quite adept at those.”

As if on cue, Lys heard the clomping of her son and husband in the kitchen. The morning had passed quickly. The afternoon would pass just as quickly. She would have to go to the grain house and take stock of all the food left from last harvest. Most of it would go towards the feast for Harvest Day, but still Lys needed to take stock and see what needed to go and what could stay. Aria could help there as well, or she could take some of the plants and they could discuss them while Lys did her work. She understood quite well that the young woman wished to be active again, and with her wounds healing well Lys had no reason to prevent her from light activity. “Ah,” she said as she stood. “I believe that is our cue to take a break.” She smiled softly at the young woman and helped her carry the materials back to the shelves before they shut the door to the infirmary and walked slowly to the kitchen for a light lunch.

[Victoria]

After lunch, when Elammin and Elion returned to the work that needed to be done, Aria found herself out in the orchard. She had told Lys that she needed a bit more of a break to fully understand what it was they had gone over in the infirmary. But truth be told, she wanted to try again, to see if she could connect with the spirits on her own. As much as she loved having Elion around and all of his help and guidance with everything thrown at her, she knew this was something she had to figure out for herself. Gently she reached out and ran her hand over the bark of the nearest tree, hoping just the soft touch would be enough even though she knew in her heart it was going to take a lot more than that to draw the spirits out. She knew it would take work and determination to forge that connection that was between them, especially if she wanted the answers she was looking for. Of course she knew too that she could always go against Elion’s warning and yell at Haizae again, after all it had worked for her once before. She knew the wind spirits wouldn’t ignore her if she got harsh with them. But she wasn’t going to do that, she cared about Elion, and by extension she had come to care about his family too. She wasn’t about to bring down the wrath of the wind spirits on a family that had nothing to do with any of this, especially a family that had been nothing but caring and kind to her. At least not to just get the answers she wanted, that wasn’t a good enough reason. So instead, she was set on doing this the right way, albeit the hard way, she would find that connection and get her answers that way.

Wandering slowly through the trees that not only Elion cared for, but that cared for him too, she felt herself smiling. Going over to one larger tree she settled herself down under its offered shade and gently she ran her fingers through the soft grass next to her. She just had to believe in herself, the connection was there, that was a given. Without it, she wouldn’t be in Iriona in the first place. It was real, there was no denying that. She just had to find it in herself what was blocking it, what was preventing the spirits from really communicating with her. Or vice versa. She had to break down whatever it was. She had to make that connection.

Forcing herself to concentrate on the moment, on extending her own spirit to them, she felt her fingers dig into the grass as determination coursed through her. But just like every other attempt, she was unsuccessful. At this point she didn’t know what she was possibly doing wrong. She was focused, she was determined, she was trying, what more did they want from her. But something sparked in the back of her mind, a soft tingle at first, but there nonetheless. It was a flash of the dance she had shared with Elion the night before and Briya very clearly yelling out to her to just relax. Was it that simple? Could it be that’s why she wasn’t making headway with this? With the thoughts now in her mind, she could feel just how tense she really was. It was something she had become so accustomed to that she almost didn’t even feel it anymore. Closing her eyes, she pulled in a slow breath, in through the nose, out through the mouth. With that mantra playing through her mind, she could feel the tightness in her back slowly ease up, her shoulders dropped back down to where they belonged, her neck felt looser and her head almost too heavy. That’s when she heard it.

It started slowly at first, a soft whisper coming from her right. The only thing there was the tree she was sitting under. Reaching out blindly, she placed her hand to the bark and it sparked alive beneath her touch. She could feel the excitement bubbling within her, mixing with the definite sting of pure disbelief. She was so lost in the moment and her own excitement she didn’t hear Elion approach behind her, “Aria?” he called.
She snapped her gaze up, a smile bright across her features. It lit a fire behind her dark gaze like nothing else could, she could feel it now, everything coursing through her. She could hear the soft whisper of the wind in the distance, the gentle babbling of a nearby brook, the cackle of the fire, a song in the trees. It was like an extension of her own mind and body and it was amazing. She felt connected to everything around her. But just as quickly as it had come on, it was gone again; leaving her in total silence. It was almost a relief when it was over, the silence was calming. Pushing up off the ground, she ran towards Elion, throwing her arms around his neck when she reached him. “I did it!” she giggled happily, “I felt them, the spirits. Such a rush,” she smiled as she pulled back enough to look up at him. Without really thinking of what she was doing next, with the excitement coursing through her system like a drug, she leaned in a pressed a firm kiss to his lips.

[athena]

In truth, the Harvest Festival was as much about planting as it was about harvesting. Many of the crops would not be completely ready for harvest. Only a few of the crops planted early would be ready to collect and use for the evening celebrations. The large majority of the harvests would be collected throughout the season of Ager. Regardless, Harvest Day indicated the change of the seasons and the change in the crops that needed to be seeded. It was the second half of the year, the most fruitful and productive, and often the most mild in terms of weather and the spirits activity. Even though exhaustion tugged at Elion, he could still feel the anticipation building. Harvest Day was one of the few days that communication with the spirits was easier than normal. And as a spirit walker of the earth, Elion found the upcoming holiday to be his favorite. He even loved his role of intermediary. He was responsible for communicating with the earth spirits and asking for their blessing on the upcoming harvest season. Of course, he was to ensure the contentment of the spirits as well. The ceremony was typically informal and brief, yet important to maintaining balance in Iriona.

The waning evening light signaled the end of the day. Tiredly, Elion called the large draft horse to a halt. A majority of the fallow fields had been plowed; they would be ready for planting on Harvest Day in a day’s time. Elammin cut across the field and collected the reigns of the horse. Working in perfect synchronization, father and son unharnessed the horse and collected the harnesses and animals. They walked silently to the barn, both tired and lost in their own faults. His father waved him off as he entered the barn. It was a clear indication that he would care for the horse. Elion nodded as he returned the harness and equipment to its proper peg. Dragging his feet, Elion shuffled towards the porch. From within the kitchen, he heard Lys yell at him, “Aria’s out in the orchard. Go fetch her for dinner!” Sighing loudly Elion redirected his course and shuffled to the orchard. As much as he loved the place, he was well and truly exhausted and wanted to bathe and then sit. Or sleep. Both options were very appealing.

Entering the silent orchard, Elion listened for a moment. It seemed as if the spirits were holding their breath. A moment passed before the spirits seemed to erupt in excitement. Elion smiled softly to himself. He knew the sound well. It seemed as if Aria had finally found her connection. “Aria,” he called softly so as to not distract her. As he stepped from behind a tree, he caught sight of her sitting in the grass. She looked up at him, her eyes brimming with excitement. It was a look he had never seen on her. “I did it,” Aria laughed as she popped off the ground. A moment later she was squeezing the life out of him. Elion could only let out a breathless, “I know.” She pulled back just enough to shoot him an excited smile before crushing her lips against his own. A small zap chased away Elion’s exhaustion. They hadn’t kissed since that night in the kitchen. Yes, they had shared small touches and exchanges of affection, but nothing like this. He found himself returning her kiss and squeezing her just as tightly. A moment passed before Elion returned to his senses. Gently, he detached himself somewhat from Aria, although not completely. He held her lightly and smiled fondly.

“Congratulations,” he said softly, “I knew you would do it, and it will only be easier from here. With Harvest Day only a day away, the spirits’ activity will be great. You should be able to chat with many of them. I have no doubt of this.” They sat silently for a moment, simply enjoying each other’s embrace. Finally Elion broke the silence. “I am here to collect you for dinner, as per mother’s request.” He offered his arm and together they walked slowly to the house.

Dinner passed without much ado. Lys informed the table of what remained in the way of preparations for the upcoming celebration. Both father and son remained silent as Lys ticked of her list. “Will you be ready in time or should we ask Zara to assist?” Elammin finally asked quietly. Lys laughed and waved of her husband. It was their usual tango of wills. Eventually his mother would win, although usually that happened sometime during the evening hours after they had retired. The plates were cleared away efficiently, and Elion excused himself to bathe.

Finally clean, Elion crawled into his bed. He had been looking forward to this since he had sat down for dinner. But as he lay in his bed, Elion found he suddenly couldn’t sleep. Restlessness swept over him. It would be one of those nights where it would be better to meander about. Throwing aside the covers, Elion slid out of bed and softly padded down the hall. He paused noticing the light shining beneath Aria’s door. He debated for a moment before tapping softly on her door. He heard her mumble something. Elion opened the door and peeked in. Aria was snuggled in bed, a book open on her lap. Elion recognized the book as his mother’s book on herbs. He smiled boyishly and stepped into the room. Feeling like a child again, Elion padded over to the bed and hopped over Aria. He stretched himself out between her and the wall and offered her yet another boyish, hopefully charming smile. “I couldn’t sleep,” he offered in way of explanation. “I thought I’d pester you instead,” Elion concluded impishly. He adjusted himself so that he was more comfortable and sighed deeply. “What have you been studying?” he asked, feeling the restlessness drift away as he lay beside Aria.

[Victoria]

Why were there so many different uses for oregano? She thought it was something to flavor pizza sauce. But like many common herbs, they all seemed to have other uses besides the ones she knew them for. Basil. Lavender. Mint even. Every herb she knew was in this book somewhere, and there was certainly a long list that she had never heard of before. There was no way she was going to remember all of this, or for that matter what they all looked like. They were green, with leaves. Sometimes not quite green, still with leaves. Even with the book she wasn’t sure how she was ever going to learn to tell the difference between all of them. There was more to all of this than she ever could have anticipated. There were thousands of plants listed in this book, and the kicker was, this was only the herbs. She knew flowers could hold medicinal properties too. A properly made cream with rose oil could help with inflammation and so many other things. This was only the start though, learning what plants were capable of what medicinal purposes. And it was easy enough to heal an injury, a cut or sprained ankle. But there were also deeper issues that she knew she would have to learn about too, internal ailments, the ones that she couldn’t see. She was essentially learning to be a doctor of natural medicine. It wasn’t a common practice in her world, but there was once a time such remedies were considered dangerous.

When there was a knock on the door, she muttered a quick “come in!” before Elion pushed open the door. She smiled when he came over and jumped onto the bed next to her before explaining he was only here to pester her, but before she could send a jab his way, he asked what she was studying. “Your mother has taken on the impossible task of teaching me how to heal,” she answered, “So I’m studying herbs. And so far I’ve learned that they’re all various shades of green with slight variations in the leaves.” She sighed, “Meaning they all look the same.” Then again she was so tired at this point that she was beginning to think she was seeing double. “You know, in my world it was easy, basil and oregano go in tomato sauce, mint makes tea, cinnamon is great in applesauce. I mean all of this existed, but it got trampled out by modern medicine. Not to mention in the olden days practicing this kind of healing was considered a sign of witchcraft.”

It almost made her wonder too if just like natural medicine, the spirits had been stamped out by advancements and fear. If it was possible that those that connected with the spirits, such as the natural healers, were considered evil because they just didn’t understand. Fear was a powerful emotion, and it only ever took one to cry witch before hysteria would break. All it would have taken was someone in the position of power to say that the spirits weren’t real and the masses would follow suit. Perhaps someone like Adus. But of course this was all speculation of a sleep deprived, addled brain. It was so easy to speculate, to think she had the whole thing figured out. But really, there was no figuring it out. Why was she the one that connected with the spirits as a little girl? Why was Adus denied a connection with the spirits? Was there a chance that the two worlds were more connected? Or was it just coincidence that she was brought in to assist on an investigation that mirrored her own situation. Only in reverse. She was about to say something to Elion about it, but when she looked over at him, he was sound asleep in the space next to her. She found herself smiling as she tossed the blanket over him too. He looked too comfortable and sweet for her to even consider waking him. And really, what was the harm in letting him stay here for just one night? Slipping from the bed, she first put the large book on the small table that sat in the room. Then she went over to the switch and plunged the room into darkness, save for the soft stream of moonlight coming in the open window. Going back over to the bed, she slipped back in next to him and it wasn’t long before she was sound asleep too.

[athena]

He meant to tell Aria that once she became better acquainted with the spirits, she could simply ask the plant spirits what they were called or what they could do. Elion had been doing it for years. His mother seemingly thought he was just skilled at recognizing plants, or perhaps she had caught on to his trick. Regardless, it was a secret Aria would no doubt love to have. The mention of pizza and applesauce distracted him. He opened his mouth to ask Aria but she continued on about how his mother planned to train her. That in itself was impressive. Lys had never, in all her years, taken on an apprentice. Apparently she found Aria more than worthy. She continued to talk about her training, and inevitably Elion felt the tug of sleep. The restlessness that had plagued him earlier had vanished, leaving him with the much-anticipated exhaustion. His eyelids fluttered heavily before he succumbed to sleep.

The sound of a gentle knock startled Elion awake. He looked about and grew more disoriented by the second. The angle of the sun and the contents of the room were entirely unfamiliar to him. He was even more surprised by the sight of his mother popping her head into the room. Normally, she did not bother to wake Elion as he was usually already awake and working in the fields. The surprise on Lys’ face registered as she recognized her son tucked away in the bed behind Aria. Her surprise and recognition turned into a scowl. Lys was no doubt about to scold her son for spirits knew what. Instead held a finger over his lips, and pointed to Aria. His mother frowned even harder but obligingly shut the door. The floorboards creaked as his mother walked off. Oh he would hear an earful later. No doubt he would spend a majority of the day trying to avoid his mother and the lecture that indubitably came with her.

In the meantime, Elion turned his attention to the woman sound asleep at his side. He watched Aria for a moment, memorizing every curve and line of her sleeping face. It wouldn’t be long before she woke up and be bustling about the farm to get ready for the festival. He tenderly brushed aside a lock of hair and watched her a moment longer. His mind wandered and he found himself picturing waking up like this every morning for the rest of his days. He saw himself devoting a small portion of every morning just studying her face and documenting the change of time. Elion caught himself before his thoughts travelled any further. Sighing, he shook the last bits of sleep off and crawled out of bed. The movement of Elion’s awkward crab shuffle out of bed woke up Aria. She looked up at him groggily. Confusion registered briefly on her face before she recalled his antics from the previous night. Aria gave him a sleepy smile, and Elion felt his own silly grin spread across his face.

“Sorry to wake you,” he said softly. “I’m late to get to the fields. Got a lot to do today since tomorrow’s Harvest Day. I suspect mother is going to want help baking and such. No lessons today.” He winked at her as he padded out of the room. Quickly he backtracked to his room to collect his work boots. He heard Lys banging around in the kitchen and immediately darted out the back door. With a one legged hop, he slid his boots on and bounced off to the fields.

Surprisingly, most of the fieldwork had already been completed. The early crops had been brought in; the fallow fields now lay fertile and ready for sowing. All that remained was to set up the pavilion and necessities for tomorrow’s celebration. And so father and son spent the day struggling to set up the pavilion and pulling out the tables and chairs. At some point, Lys had laid out table clothes, flower arrangements, and lights. His mother must be keeping Aria incredibly busy to have churned out so many things in such a short time. As Elion looked up, he realized the sun was past its zenith and they had been in the fields passed lunch. As if on cue, Elion’s stomach emitted a loud grumble. Elammin chuckled. “We’re almost finished with everything. I say we press on and finish. Then have the rest of the day to yourself.” Elion nodded and trudged back out to the fields, his arms full of table clothes and vases. Elammin followed his son with the flowers and the lights. Together they spread out the finely pressed table clothes and weighed them down with vases and flowers. The hardest part was stringing the lights under the pavilion, but even that managed to be completed.

Elammin waved off his son, and Elion found himself meandering out to the orchard. While he was hungry, he felt the orchard calling to him. He wandered deep into the forest and sat down at the base of a tree. Slowly, he relaxed and opened up to the spirits. He simply sat and listened. Most of the chatter was about the upcoming holiday. It seemed that for the time being the unrest about Adus and his plans had been allayed. It would not last long. After the festival, Elion knew he would have to leave the farm and return to the case. Hopefully, his mother would release Aria at that time. They unfortunately could not spend anymore time elsewhere. Despite the upcoming festivities, Elion could not help but feel the pressure of the investigation weighing down on him. It must be solved soon before another contention occurred. He sighed heavily, and in that moment he heard the shuffle of footsteps. He looked up and saw Aria with a basket. She lifted it up in offering. “I thought you might be hungry,” she stated simply as she settled beside him. “Ah, yes I am.” He sat a moment longer in silence. “I was just thinking about Adus. We’ll have to get back to the investigation soon. I’m afraid Grifad can’t hold down the fort forever.” Another sigh and then, “Sorry, I don’t mean to be so grim.” He only shrugged and reached for the basket. He felt Aria’s eyes on him intently, but refused to meet her eyes. Instead he focused on picking at the roll he held. “How was your morning?” he asked hoping to change the subject.

[Victoria]

Moving to sit next to him under the tree, Aria sat quietly for a long moment. Thinking about the investigation, about solving it, brought on thoughts of her eventual return to Springmount. He tried to change the subject knowing that conversation of Adus wasn’t the most uplifting of topics, but her mind was stuck on it now, refusing to let it go. She played with the edge of her dress, anything to distract her. But as her silence grew longer she knew he would question her. “Aria…” he said her name softly and she just sighed.

“When all of this started, when I first popped up here in Iriona, when I first got pulled into this investigation it was all I could think about. Even when I was ho…” she paused, Springmount wasn’t her home. It never really had been, but she hadn’t seen any other alternatives before now. She had just known that she didn’t fit. People had always said it was because she was stuck in a small town when clearly she needed to go off to the big city. That the cases weren’t big enough and frequent enough for her. But she knew better now. “when I was in Springmount. Even with my own murderer to worry about, I was constantly thinking back on it. But now, it’s the last thing I want to think about,” she admitted softly. Leaning back against the tree she sighed again. “The thing is, I never felt like I belonged, in Springmount. It never felt like home. Everyone always said it was because I wasn’t meant for small town life, but I knew better. There was something missing.” She looked around the orchard and the farm off in the distance, anywhere but at him. “Since being here in Iriona, I found that, I finally feel like there’s somewhere I belong.” She turned her gaze back to her hands, inspecting her fingers and nails, anything to keep busy somehow. “And when this is over, once we find Adus and finally put an end to this investigation the spirits are going to send me back. I don’t want to go back.”

Sure she had people she would miss, like her parents and Jack. But that was a small price to pay to finally feel like she belonged somewhere, to finally feel like she had a purpose in life. Why was she given this great connection with the spirits if she was never allowed to use it? Why was she sent to Elion, allowed to fall for him, only for that to be taken away? It wasn’t fair, nothing about this was fair. “I know it has to happen, that we have to go after Adus, I just wish it didn’t have to be so soon.” Elion was good at what he did. It would only be a matter of weeks before Adus would be taken care of. Which meant their time together was dwindling. She felt torn between the few choices she did have. Going after Adus wasn’t a choice. Aria had never been one to put her own wants above getting a killer off the streets. And she knew, no matter how much he cared, Elion would never let Iriona enter another contention. No, they would do what they had to do, no matter the consequences to them. But that meant this, whatever it was between them, had to be figured out.

“What is this Elion? Between us?” she asked. They had kissed only twice, he had snuck into her room and fallen asleep with her in her bed. There had been a whole mess of gentle touches and exchanges of affection. But nothing had been talked about, they both seemed to shy away from the topic. Mostly because of the situation she assumed, but that was all the more reason to get it out in the open now. To figure out if there was anything worth fighting for. “We know how it’s going to end, they’re going to send me back with no guarantee that I’ll be able to come back again. So do we make the most of the time we do have, or do we put a stop to it before we both get hurt?” She was really hoping that he didn’t vote towards the second option, but if that’s what he wanted, she would understand.

“Oh and with your mother’s help, I have a small surprise for you for tomorrow. It is your birthday after all.”