Sky Full of Stars

Chapter 10: The Goddess of Light

    I quickly dropped to one knee and bowed my head, eyes shut tight. "Kareem, it is an honor to meet you face-to-face" I said as calmly as I could manage, which wasn't all that calm in the face of the goddess I served.

    Rise, my child. I'm here to offer my condolences, and offer guidance. I heard her voice all around me, but also only in my mind. I didn't know if, if someone were to come find my from camp, they would hear her too, or simply see the massive white wolf standing over me. Maybe neither. Maybe they would think I was praying.

    I stood slowly, hesitantly, almost never daring to lift my head. Eventually, I was staring back into the eyes of my goddess.

    If a wolf could actually smile, I'm sure she would have been based on the warmth in her eyes. She sat in front of me, still quite tall, still obviously not just a wolf.

    "I appreciate the condolences, and will gladly accept any guidance you have to offer..." I spoke softly, suddenly very aware of the late hour. I knew Miznia would be up for her shift soon, and I had no idea what this would look like to her.

    You are struggling with the loss of your mother, and how you leaving is affecting your father and siblings. You should know, my dear, that your father could not be prouder, and your siblings all love you so much and look up to you.

    I looked down and sighed. "I still feel like I should have gotten married when Mother was still there... She'll never meet my future partner..."

    Your future partner? You haven't yet found them?

    "Not that I know of, no... Am I meant to?"

    That eye warmth was back, so I knew she was 'smiling'. Trust your heart, that is all I will say. Birsha and I like to make it known that everyone has their perfect match, somewhere in the world. You are no exception.

    "I'm also told some people have the ability to sense that they have found their perfect match at first glance... Is that true?"

    It is, and in fact, your perfect match has that ability.

    "They do? So it shouldn't be too hard to find them, given that I'll be travelling all over the world... But what if I can't settle down when they're ready?"

    It almost sounded like she was laughing for a moment before she responded. Your match is a clever one, they don't believe too much that we pair you up, and so they won't acknowledge it right away. But they are special, with natural abilities, and you are their opposite in those abilities.

    I frowned, my thoughts crowded. "So... I could have already met them...?"

    Kareem nodded. You could have, yes.

    "And you won't tell me who it is? How I can protect them?"

    I will tell you this much... She will always look out for you, and you will always look out for her, for it will feel natural.

    I smiled sadly. "Too bad it's always natural for me... Thank you, Kareem..." I bowed my head.

    Your mother is proud of you, my child. She sees you, and she loves you, and she is so proud of who you've become.

    I felt my eyes tearing up as I looked back to her. "Thank you... You don't know what it means to me to hear that..." I whispered, my voice breaking.

    I didn't see her come out of our tent, and I didn't notice her walking down the slope to us, but suddenly Miznia was at my side, just a bit behind me, growling softly.

    Kareem didn't seem too surprised by this, only letting that warmth return to her eyes in her smile.

    Ah, you are Miznia then. I've seen your heart, and it is more pure than you show.

    Miznia didn't relax in the slightest. "Nimue" she hissed, her voice low. She grabbed my hand, squeezing it tightly and starting to tug me away.

    I looked back to where Kareem had been, but she'd disappeared, leaving Miznia and I alone. I turned back to the smaller woman, in a daze.

    "Nimue...?" Her voice was softer now, worried. She stretched up on her toes, holding my face between her hands. "What happened? What did the wolf do to you!? Are you hurt!?"

    I blinked, letting my eyes focus on her face. How had I never noticed the little scar through her left eyebrow?

    "Say something please..." She whispered, moving her hands to my unarmored shoulders to turn me about and check for injuries. When her skin touched mine, it was like lightning cracked, and she snapped her hand back, eyes wide with shock.

    I stared down at her, frowning. "Did... You feel that too...?" I whispered weakly.

    She nodded slowly, watching me carefully. "Nimue..." Her voice sounded like beautiful music, and my name was the melody.

    The shock of the touch had caused her to step back, leaving a foot of space between us. I closed the distance, leaving only centimeters, and stared down at her, forcing her to look up at me.

    "Miznia...?" I whispered.

    Her eyes searched mine, and I knew they betrayed my hope. The hope that maybe I'd found 'The One'. I shouldn't have wanted this, I should have been focused on saving my family, my people, not on this strange, mysterious woman.

    "Yes" she said simply, answering my unspoken question, and I watched the sheepish smile creep onto her face.

    "Why didn't you tell me...? Why didn't you say something right away...?"

    She laughed softly, still staring up into my eyes. "What was I supposed to say? 'Hey, I'm the one the gods planned you'd be with, but I'm the exact opposite of you in every way'? There was no way that would have worked out for me. Besides, I'd always thought the gods pairing us was... Well, I thought they were fairytales..."

    I chuckled softly, and finally, hesitantly, wrapped my arms around her shoulders, gently pulling her closer. I made my movements slow and deliberate, so if she wanted to pull away she could. She didn't.

    Instead of pulling away, Miznia wrapped her arms around my waist slowly and rested her head on my chest, matching her breathing to mine.

    We stayed like this for several long minutes, just breathing and being close. The moon was back to barely half, and it was waning. The full moon was just a week or so ago.

    Finally, she looked back up at me. "I can't hear you..." She said, studying my face carefully.

    I raised a brow. "I didn't say anything?" I knew I sounded confused. Had I started humming without realizing?

    She shook her head. "Your thoughts. I can't hear them. If I focus hard enough, I can usually hear people's thoughts. But I can't hear yours..."

    I frowned softly. "Is that why you've been staring at me for the passed two days like I was the most intriguing thing you've ever seen?"

    I thought she was blushing, but it was impossible to tell in the dark, and with her dark skin.

    "That was a part of it, yes..." She mumbled.

    I laughed softly and slowly loosened my hold on her as she stepped back.

    And then a thought occurred to me, and I looked down at her, reaching for her hand slowly. She took mine between both of hers and looked up at me.

    "Miznia... When those men were harassing you... And then when Cylqis stormed up to you..." she flinched at the memory and I squeezed her hand gently. "Who hurt you before? Why were you so afraid...?"

    She looked away from me, tears in her eyes. I reached out carefully and cupped her cheek with my left hand. The electricity between us sparked from that spot and where she clutched both my hands in hers,

    I gently brushed away the tears from her right eye and she smiled weakly. "I have a... Less than ideal past..." She said carefully, choosing her words like I was the one about to break.

    I frowned softly but waited, listening.

    She sighed and looked up at me. "I was attacked when I was just a teenager, by a group of men first, then by individuals every now and again... Life on the street was hard, and I wasn't always the strongest... But I'm okay now... I just... Sometimes I'm back there, y'know...?"

    The truth was, I didn't know, and I'm not sure I ever would. This wasn't something I'd ever experienced, but I wanted to support her.

    I shook my head. "I was lucky enough that I didn't suffer as you did... But Miznia, I want to help you however I can."

    "You already do. But now you need to rest. It's my shift, you need your rest."

    I frowned, watching her closely. "Are you sure you'll be okay? I can stay up-"

    She shook her head, cutting me off. "No, you need your sleep. I'm fully rested. But I'll stay close by, watching over you." She smiled and it felt so easy to return the smile.

    "Okay... Wake me if you need anything." I murmured softly.

    "I will, I promise."