The Drache's Love

Chapter 13, Cormac

Avva and I walked through the forest, hand in hand  It was safer that way.  My village wasn’t too far from the city.  Before the peace, the Drache had lived far away from the humans, but when it became apparent that the peace would hold, we moved our villages closer to the human cities.  We still lived apart, but the humans had had a monopoly on all the best resources, so we had come closer in to have easier access.

“How much longer until we reach your village?”

“Not far at all.  The trek is shorter through the forest.  And, truthfully, my home is closer, but we need to go through the village and let the others know we’ll be there.  Don’t want someone breaking down the door thinking we’re burgling or squatting,” I answered.

“How will they react when they see you have a human with you?”

“That, I don’t know, but what I do know is that they’ll keep our secret.”

We continued on, still hand in hand for another half an hour before coming to the village.  Avva had replaced her hood when we continued our journey after our little tryst in the glade on the off chance we ran into someone on the way, so before we officially stepped into the village, I pulled it back.

“You have nothing to fear here, princess,” I told her.  Save judgement, perhaps, but I wouldn’t tell her that.  The Drache weren’t a trusting lot.  I was prepared for it to take them some time to warm up to the idea of a human in their midst, even if only for a few days.

They all proved me wrong.

We made our way to my friend, Asha’s cottage.  We met many other Drache along the way and I received greetings from all.  I had expected them to either completely ignore Avva, or at the very least look askance at her, but no, they all greeted her as well, and seemed quite taken with her.  I found myself wondering if some witch had cast a spell on my village.

We reached the cottage and I rapped on the door.  Asha’s son, Mago, answered.

“Cormac!  You’re home!  Let me get Ma.  Oh, hi there pretty lady, I’m Mago, by the by” he said, giving Avva an impish grin.  This twelve year old was flirting with my princess. And my princess graced him with a brilliant smile.  His whole face lit up as he ran off to find his mother.

“What was that?”

“You’re not jealous of a boy, are you?  Let him think he has a chance.  It’ll build his confidence,” she replied, amused.

Asha appeared from the back of the cottage.

“Come in, come in!  I thought you weren’t due home for another several months.  Who’s your friend?”

“I’m Avva.  We’re in the company together,” she replied, before I got much of a chance to even open my mouth.  I did love her independence.

“Well, Avva, I’m Asha, and I’m glad to see you with Cormac.  He needs a companion,” she said, giving me a pointed look.

“We’re only going to be here for three days, Asha.  I just didn’t want anybody to think someone had broken into my cottage.”

“You should go see Micken before you leave.  He’s out back, and I’ll never hear the end of it if you don’t.  I’ll take care of Avva,” Asha said smiling.

Avva grinned.  “I’ll be fine.  Go see your friend.”

I followed the women’s orders, but not without an unconvinced look back.  Micken was Asha’s husband, and my cousin and best friend.  He was sanding a large, beautifully ornamented table.

“For Asha?” I asked.  Micken would do anything in his power to please his wife, and she the same.  I had always admired their relationship, and had hoped to find a woman I could share a similar one with.  Avva was that woman, but I knew my hopes of a marriage to the princess were pointless.

“Yes.  I would’ve liked to keep it a surprise, but it’s hard to hide something this large.  So, Mago tells me you’ve brought a human female home.  Do you know what you’re doing?” he questioned, never looking up.

“No.  But I can’t be without her,” I answered.  He stopped dead in his sanding, and raised his violet eyes to mine.

“Does she feel the same way?”

“I don’t know.  I think so.  I mean, she voluntarily came to a Drache village.  A human princess.”

“Princess?”

“Yep.  Avva, daughter of King Asmund.  A princess.”

“Oh s**t.  Don’t tell anyone else, save Asha.  It would only draw more attention than you’re ready for.”

“No truer words have ever been spoken.  And I imagine Avva is telling Asha herself.  I bet Asha’s using that intuition of hers to divine Avva’s true intentions, but the girl doesn’t have a cruel bone in her body.  You should take a break and come meet her.”

“Good idea.  I do need to see this for myself.”

We headed back into the cottage where Micken introduced himself.  He seemed as taken with Avva as had the rest of the village.  Upon entering, Avva’s and my eyes had locked, and she gave me a small, knowing smile.  Never before had my stomach done flip flops because a woman smiled at me, but I suppose there is a first time for everything.

I took Avva’s hand and we said our goodbyes, but not before getting the feeling that Micken and Asha knew just exactly what we were here to do.  Avva put her arm around my waist and we walked the ten short minutes to my cottage.  Not far from the village, but far enough.  I had always preferred a bit of isolation, and it would serve me well for this furlough.

We reached the cottage and I immediately lit a few candles.  I removed the sheets from my meager bit of furniture and began to build a fire in the fireplace.  Avva had taken off her cloak, and moved closer to the fire as it began to crackle, and eventually roar.  I took her in my arms and brushed a gentle kiss across her lips.

“Princess, I’m…,”

“Starving and exhausted.  Neither of us slept last night, and we were so excited to leave we forgot breakfast.”

I broke into a wide grin.  “I love it when you read my mind, princess.”

She turned to the table  - that was as high as her chest - and conjured bread, butter, a bit of roast pork and two cups of kakao, a warm, creamy drink meant for soothing one before sleep.  She turned and literally climbed into one of the two chairs, only to discover that the table top was at her eye level.  I chuckled and grabbed a couple of pillows from the large, four poster bed.

“Jump down,” I told her, and when she complied, I put the pillows in the seat and lifted her back into it, pausing for another kiss.  After that small hassle, we wasted no more time and tucked in.  There was no conversation, only the sound of chewing and drinking.  It wasn’t long before all the food was gone.

“Come, princess,” I said, and carried her to the bed.  I got halfway there before I realized I had forgotten the pillows in the chair.  After I retrieved them, I wondered how silly a Drache must look carry fluffy pillows and a human princess, but then realized that I didn’t care.  I settled us on to the bed and snuggled Avva in to me.

Warm, content with my woman beside me and comfortable, I was asleep almost before my head hit the pillow.