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Friends (Gades Spends The Night) |
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Friends
Prologue
Mrs. Rubiss and Lady Mariwen Twiline were deep in some discussion. Though it was bright and clear outside, their very room seemed shrowded in a dark atmosphere.
"Elanie..." Lady Twiline softly utters to the troubled parent in deep concern.
Mrs. Rubiss could not respond. Her solemn eyes merely stared aside, sparkling with tears.
"Elanie," Lady Twiline again spoke, "... I'm... sorry about this. Though you weren't the kind who'd say much, I could tell that seemingly detached young woman I had met years ago had looked forward to being a good mother. I can understand what it meant to you..."
The distraught mystic beauty shifted her ruby eyes slightly toward her friend while her focus widened only slightly.
"I remember specifically what you told me awhile ago. It sounds a bit strange of you to make this request. It would be best if you at least explained something to your son. Your eldest daughter left not too long ago. You might give the wrong message to him" advised Lady Twiline.
Mrs. Rubiss merely shook her ahead in an almost immediate response. She seemed confident enough in her request.
"If you say so..." remarked the Elvyn woman, "So Gades is to stay with our family in our estate in Malion for the night, then join us for the next few days in our home in Nonalie for the rest of the week, right? Are you sure this is the right choice?"
Finally, the somber young mother finally began speaking in a rational tone "It would be an ill thing for dear Gades to see me like this. It has been ages since he had seen my smile, and it would only hurt him even more to think that he ruined a chance to witness something so precious to him. Yes, it would only make matters worse if he is to stay. I need this.... we both need this time to heal. I'm very certain for this very reason Emerald had chosen such a time to take her pilgrimage as well. I..... I know your family can well help my son's pains heal over the course of time. He is rather fond of your family like another part of his own. Especially of your daughter Rose, it seems"
Mariwen nodded and smile. "And I agree. My Rose was very curious about what having a younger brother would be like. I suppose it all works out rather well for the both of them. She's taken so much responsibility at her age, it is a relief to see a charming friend like Gades! Quite honestly, the pair seem inseparable! Little Gades constantly aroused with energy and curiosity, my daughter's face lighting up with each new discovery they make... though, it's not quite the same reaction with that young man James around. I've been wondering a while how he's felt about that Assistant Teacher for awhile now"
The ruby-eyed woman sighed. "Somehow, I don't think your daughter will like you embarrassing her like that by bringing up that crush..." Mariwen merely chuckled, but Elanie went on "... this whole situation's rather peculiar, to be exact. Gades seems to look up to this prodigy "Master James" as well, and he's told me the two of them have formed some little union of some sort. From what I could tell, they both seem feverous about this cause. Anyway, he honestly views Miss Rose as a "sister" he trusts, and... well... he's... intent on playing matchmaker above anything concerning those two"
"Ah! I see! Your son has quite the thing for romance, huh?", cried the cheerful maiden elf.
"No" Mrs. Rubiss flatly responded.
"Oh, okay..."
"He has a bit on common with me, so he's shy at heart... and maybe, he doesn't want her to hold her to be held back from missing something great. It's...just another sign that he cares..." explained Mrs. Rubiss.
There was a momentary pause in the conversation after that comment.
"Elanie...", Lady Twiline softly called again, "You have a good son"
Mrs. Rubiss silently acknowledged her comment with a nod.
"I just wanted to make sure you knew that" spoke Lady Twiline.
"Thank you..." responded Mrs. Rubiss.
Not much was said afterwards. The room was again silent for a very long time. Mrs. Rubiss gazed off into the distance as Lady Twiline merely witnessed her concerned friend.
The Twiline Residence
The Next day, Gades met at the Twiline house to stay with the family for awhile.
Lady Rose rushed out to meet her classmate and greeted him happily, "Hi, Gades! I hope we have some fun this week!"
Gades smilled cheerfully and nodded in response.
Mrs. Twiline steadily approached the happy pair with a warming smile of her own. "Now Gades, are you sure you're up to this? I can tell you'll miss your mother very much, but if you insist, we'll try to make this experience enjoyable for you"
Again, Gades nodded. "Please don't worry about my mother and I! We'll be able to take care of ourselves for the while, and she has Father, so she won't be alone. It'll be okay, Milady Mariwen! We discussed this and everything before she explained it to you!"
Lady Twiline appeared reassured by Gades' positive attitude. "I pray he's right. Elanie looked quite a bit upset the last time I saw her, and by what I heard, I would've expected Young Gades here to be worse. I'm just so surprised he can come to us all happy like that, considering the ordeal he went to. Maybe my darling Rose can help heal any leftover pain..."
Gades began to chuckle a bit. "And besides", he continued, "The following trip to Nonalie will be worth the wait! All the exquisite Elven culture to be explored! All the mystical tools and artifacts to be observed! The whole royal court of the Nonalie Elves to see! This is one of those rare opportunities to study the Elvenfolk, and this time I have a week! What's not to enjoy?!"
Lady Rose sighs and blushes a bit. "I take you to Nonalie for a day and you're still so excited to see it? How long do we have to stay there to appease you?" she responds.
Lord Twiline chuckled aloud as well. " Well now, your enthusiasm ceases to amaze me, young Gades! I rarely meet enthusiastic scholars quite as young as yourself! I guess it was to be expected eventually, hanging around an intellectual school of wizardry, eh Rose?"
Lady Rose laughed embarrassingly. "Father, please! You don't have to brag! It feels awkward enough being honored by a fellow student I tutored! I don't need anymore praise"
Gades quickly chimed in, "Whether it be praise or not, I can admit you trully are a good friend and student mentor!"
"Not to mention a lovely daughter!" Lord Twiline quickly interjects.
Both Gades and Lord Twiline began laughing together at the expense of poor Lady Rose, whose redness began to spread further from her cheeks from embarrassment.
"Now, now, Rose! You know both young men simply care about you! It's pure family love, understand?" Lady Twiline explained.
Lady Rose nodded her head slowly. "But I guess that's what makes all of their praise especially embarrassing. My kindly Father proud of her precious daughter, Little Gades appreciating me regularly as his senior student. I'm his "Miss Rose". I can't believe I've been dealing with this on such a regular basis, and it still makes me feel funny!" Despite her discomforts, she was laughing and smiling along with everyone else.
Mariwen looked upon her cheerful family and their amused little friend with a twinkle in her eyes. "Everyone here, together like this, and they're all so happy...", she thought to herself, "I'm just so glad we can be like this, but for Little Gades' sake, I earnestly hope he's shared these kinds of moments with his own family. If not yet, let them be blessed enough someday in the future. His own family deserves this kind of happiness. His hurting mother, especially, needs this happiness. Even her daughter Emerald might be healed if she were to experience this. Elanie must care about her own family so much, it must hurt right. Please try to regain yourself, dear Elanie. I'll take care of your precious Gades like my own. You have such a good son, Elanie, and I'm glad..."
***
Another few moments of happiness passed among the blessed Twiline Family as they prepared for their trip to the Kingdom of Nonalie, their homeland. Nightime came swift, and the two children spent the night together, talking to pass the time away.
"I'm just so excited to return to Nonalie and see everything over there! I'm even going to greet your cute cousin again and have more fun! How's the princess, anyway?" asked Gades.
Lady Rose chuckled. "She's fine, thanks for asking. It's always nice to see Irillia again, especially when we grew up so close together, like sisters. Irillia always seemed to admire this courage and determination she saw in me, so I always tried to help raise her confidence and help her become a stronger when she grows up. I felt a lot more like her big sister rather than an older cousin..."
Gades nodded. "That's pretty close to how I feel about you, as well. You just seem so calm, mature, yet strong, it's hard to resist admiring you, ya know"
Lady Rose sighed. "Your sister... part of me always wondered what it was like to have siblings before, being an only child. Back then I had Irillia in Nonalie as my younger sister, and now I have you as my younger brother, and Master James as my older one, though sometimes I wished I could tell him how I feel. Still, right now I'm curious what a sibling by blood is like. Gades, you have a real older sister, right? ....Emerald? I... want to know..."
Gades stared at his best friend for a moment.
"I want to know what kind of bond is like", Lady Rose continued, “you... love her... right? You've fought before... but that's just natural, right? So then...”
Gades looked downward and clutched his heart. It seemed as though tears were about to flow from his troubled eyes.
"So then... tell me... please... tell me how you feel about her... Emerald... your... honest feelings...” finished Lady Rose.
Gades resisted any tear that might pour down his cheek. ".... Do you know the truth, Miss Rose?.... why I'm hear? Did Miss Mariwen say anything?" he said with a shaky voice.
Lady Rose began to look at her cherished friend with great concern and started to quiver. "That pain... I... but why? This searing dread that pierces me... his Older sister...". "Gades... Gades?!" she began to shout franticly.
"You seem to know something.... I can see it in your eyes... I'm... sorry I allowed you to feel that..." he apologized.
Rose tried to regain her composure. She then responded,” No, don't! Gades! What is this? Emerald... did something happen to her? Are you worried about her? Did she do something wrong? Is she okay? Did she---"
"She's Fine!" Gades shouted. He started breathing hard, but quickly regained his air. With narrowed eyes, he continued speaking, "In most aspects, SHE is fine..."
Lady Rose looked upon her friend with greater concern. "...this feeling can't simply come from the fact that she left... it's the reason that she left, isn't it, Gades? Is that it? Did she leave because of something?"
Gades held Lady Rose's hands for a moment. His body ceased any previous shaking. "Miss Rose, my dear friend. I care for you... a lot. I know I would tell you anything I feel is important to tell you. I have my utmost trust for you concerning what I deal with in my life. I'd gladly leave dire secrets with you to my grave if it be neccesary...but this is one of those things I just can't tell you. I'm not ready to say it... I'm... sorry..."
Lady Rose accidently steeped her sense of Gades' emotions further into his heart. His pain and dread even deeper into her. More conflicting emotions seem to flow into her: fear, anger, regret, sorrow. An unknown pain soon entered her conscious, but her heart quickly pushed it aside. Lady Rose gasped, then swiftly brought herself closer to her dear friend.
"Gades, what's wrong? This pain that torments you so clearly! What is it? What happened between you and your sister?" she frantically asked again.
Gades threw himself upon Lady Rose for a moment, and then slightly pushed himself back. He looked at her concerned eyes with his own concerned ones. "Please don't make me answer you..." he answered in a clear voice "Please don't let me burden you with this pain... you're still... my dear Miss Rose, you're still so unspoiled... you don't deserve this... you don't deserve to be tainted by this at all... I can't allow you to be tainted with this ugly pain... this accursed pain..."
Lady Rose slowly mouthed out the words, "unspoiled", and looked upon him helplessly. "A pain worse than anything... a pain so close malice that comes from malice.... Gades, this is what I can understand from you. How could this spawn, thinking about someone so close to you? Why would this happen?" She held Gades close with great affection, and prayed he will be okay again.
After a long time of deep thought, both children calmed down, and their bodies were prepared to rest. Despite the darkness, the night stars lit up the sky, and Gades' eyes wandered around the room, enticed and distracted by the intriguing crafts of Elves. "Elvyn craftsmanship is so wonderful", he said with great fascination. "It must be so much fun making all those great things. They claim Dwarven craftsmanship is supposed to be the sturdiest, therefore the most quality craftsmanship of all, but I can't agree with that. The things that Elves can make, the mystical quality that those objects possess... that's hard to emulate so perfectly. Even great wizards struggle to capture that distinct essence. Do you kinda understand me, Miss Rose?"
"I guess we should have some pride in that, to inspire an enthusiast as great yourself", responded Miss Rose. "Come to think of you, you told me I was the first Elf you've ever laid eyes on. That must've been one of the most exciting moments in your life after being stuck in your village so long. The first elf you've ever seen, and now... you're one of the best of friends with her! Friends, colleagues, partners... this all must be very thrilling for you now"
"I couldn't agree more, Miss Rose! It was really one of the best moments in my life to have finally met you, a High Elf! And for you to a noble, too... that was just... so much to deal with!" he cried in excitement. Then his voice began to calm down to such a serene level. "But you know, that's not exactly why that meeting was very special to me. Who I saw that day, was a girl with such a rare, beautiful essence, and a calming aura... and I thought, if I were never to meet again, that would've enough for me. I wasn't sure that day if I would become friends with her, but I felt some discernable connection that day. Miss Rose... thank you for being my best friend. This means so much to me..."
Lady Rose looked upon her dear friend with comforting eyes, and saw him in a wonderful life. "And that is your light, Gades: my true, honest friend. A kindhearted boy that anyone would be glad to ask for by their side..." She twitched slightly, then rushed out of her bed.
Gades was taken by surprised and blurted out in confusion.
"A gift!" Lady Rose cried. "I forgot about your gift!"
Gades chuckled to himself. "A gift? What for, Miss Rose? Is it a special occasion?".
Lady Rose quickly cast a lighting spell to illuminate the room, and then reached for an unusual square object wrapped in cloth out of a desk. "You kept telling me how much you enjoy Elven things so much, that I decided to get you this special souvenir on a trip one time!"
"Aww, Miss Rose! Come on! Do you really need to tease me about my fascination with Elf crafts?!" Gades complained.
Lady Rose slowly unwrapped the cloth from the object, and then showed Gades a special book covered in Elvyn runes on the cover. Gades' jaw dropped. His ruby eyes twinkled in the nightly atmosphere.
"A... A... A book of Elvyn spells! Amazing! This is just amazing!", Gades cried out in sheer delight.
Lady Rose giggled. "As partners, we must help further our power, as well as our knowledge to improve ourselves, right? I decided that your week stay is special enough to be some sort of holiday worth celebrating!"
Gades snatched the spell book out of Lady Rose's grasp with amazing speed, then opened the book and began to scan each page's Elvyn runes swiftly. He then dropped the book just as quickly and rushed to hug Lady Rose fiercely.
"Thank you so much, Miss Rose! Thank you!" Gades cried out in glee. He also began cheering in Elfspeek to further praise his dear friend.
Lady Rose openly welcomed his embraced with a warm presence, and looked upon him with tearful, yet joyful eyes. "Little Gades, you're worth every moment of this happiness", she thought. "I'm sorry. I don't want to put you through something like that again if you're not ready. Maybe, someday, you will, and I'll understand what you're going through. For now, your relief is what I'll concentrate on. Thank you for coming to me that day. I think I've felt some welcome changes within me ever since we've met. You help remind me I'm girl... when I'm so used to taking care of those around me. Yes, you make me happy that way, and that is how you take care of me. I promise... I'll take care of you. As long as we're together, I'll always take care of you. I promise that we'll grow up together... and when we're finally adults... I'll be proud to see you before me as man, because I know I'm something special to that man... because... I've helped you... reach that age. Your heart and soul's so precious. You're so special to me, and that's all that matters, Gades. You are my treasured little brother.... the one I love so much..."
That one single moment seemed to be frozen in time, making rest a temporary unnecessary. The stars shone brilliantly with jubilation. And then, by some unknown phenomenon, the moon appeared to sparkle brightly with tears of empathy.
 Chicken Yuki · Fri Aug 04, 2006 @ 10:56pm · 0 Comments |
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