Yla

Chapter 2: Adda, Agima and Nivek

Adda cleared the table and dumped all the dishes in the sink,  poured some water to wash away whatever was left of their breakfast, then soaped the plates and expertly placed them on a rack for dripping and drying. It was another day she smiled to herself,  as she finished the dishes,  but before the happiness and peace completely settled, she heard voices calling her out.  She groaned,  she was finishing her morning chores,  it was a rest day,  one that she intended to spend taking care of her dish gardens, but upon hearing those voices her ideas were shattered like a plate, yet at the same time she found herself smiling.  It was inevitable,  those were the voices of her two closest friends. No sooner there were knocks on their door,  Lady Reeves,  Adda's mother, put down the paring knife and walked towards the door smiling at her daughter,  slowly she opened the door, Adda heard two voices greet her mother 'good morning' and began asking for her.  A smile curved on her lips and rolled her eyes as she listened in their conversation.  

Those two boys were Nivek and Agima,  her friends.  Close as they were Agima and Nivek were as different as night and day but their bond was that of brothers. Nivek is the son of a skilled hunter named Blake,  Nivek's father has skills that were sharp and always brought home a prized kill for everyone to share; his mother is Romilda the seamstress. Nivek had inherited his father's skills - he was cunning, smart,  and deadly accurate, but he had inherited his mother's deep blue eyes, light brown hair,   and impeccable sensitivity, sensibility and kindness, he was the perfect mix of his parent's traits. On the other end of the spectrum was Agima,  he was a shy boy,  rarely talks, and generally stays away from people,  but the hidden laughter and fun that he held within only comes out whenever he is with Nivek. Agima was the child of the village healer Sivelle,  a person who people rumoured to have practiced witchcraft before she settled as a healer - it was a rumour Adda couldn't bring herself to believe,  for Sivelle was a sweet little woman and didn't seem to have even an ounce of evil in her.  Married to the village blacksmith Cleon,  they were the perfect couple Adda told herself endlessly. Agima their only child had inherited almost everything from her mother,  from his ash blonde hair to his pale green eyes,  his quiet and timid demeanor all of them were the traits of his mother,  the only thing he had from his father was the sweet smile and his low tolerance for failure especially from himself.  

Adda smiled as she finished the dishes,  amazed on how her mother could strike a conversation with a pair of eleven year old boys and seem completely interested, slowly she peeked from behind their post and saw how her mother smile so tenderly at them,  someday,  she told herself she'll be like her mother - well-loved,  and respected.  

"Adda", she suddenly heard her name called,  "are you done with the dishes sweetheart?" Adda nodded slowly.

"Well let's not keep your friends waiting,  all your chores are finished?" Again Adda nodded,  and walked slowly towards her mother.  Adda admired her mother and looked up to her mother, she was loved by everybody, she played a very important role in the village; her well-being and decision affects the earth quite too much for she's the protector of the light of Fadia; a magical source that had allowed the north lands flourish and grow. 

"May I go out with them Mother?" said Adda timidly

"Of course, go on now sweetheart", replied Lady Reeves and Adda kissed her mother on the cheek and ran off with the two boys.  

Nivek laughed at her as they walked towards the forest to play, teasing her about the change in her attitude whenever she was around her mother. Agima smiled as she watched the two bantered.  Finally they arrived at the lake, it was their favorite place in the whole of Fadia, the forest lake had a mysterious allure that drew almost everyone to it,  and the lake water was always cool or warm enough for them to take a dip. 

"Adda, don't you find it amazing that the future holds something special for you", said Agima as they were skipping rocks across the lake

Adda and Nivek suddenly looked at each other thinking the same thing,  Agima is being cynical again, "You know all of us have something amazing in store for us in the future; not just Adda." said Nivek encouragingly,  throwing a rock trying to skip towards the other side of the banks

"He's right you know", said Adda soothingly to him,  "you'll own up to something,  you're the smartest among all of us most skillful in magical arts, you'll have an amazing future."

Agima had always the soft hearted among them and Nivek had always been the one and seems the only one to strengthen and lift his spirits.  Adda cherished this friendship with them,  for it was the only one who wanted to be friends with her; others were afraid or respected her mother too much to even try to get to know her. "Besides the future is still so far away,  let us not be troubled by the things that have not yet been realized", added Adda.  

Slowly Agima smiled at them and began to pick a rock to throw when something by the water's edge caught his eye,  he reached for it,  grasped it with his hand he stood up and opened his palm to see what it was on his hand.  It  was a crystal,  black as the night sky,  it glistened under sunlight,  Agima stood transfixed on the crystal not saying a word, then he heard Nivek's voice calling out to him, as if waking from a trans Agima turned his head to his friends and said, "hey, come and see what I found by the water". Curious, Adda and Nivek went running towards him, Agima  showed them the black crystal and the two children stood in awe at the bizarre beauty of the dark gem.  Nivek held it for closer inspection, he just became more amazed at it,  it's rare to find such an item,  he commended Agima for the find. When the crystal was passed to Adda for her to see an ominous feeling went over her, she felt as if a cold wind began to blow around her,  and a dark aura seemed to envelope and as if choke her.  Losing her breath and sight she fell on the ground and dropped the gem, and soon as the crystal was out of her hands everything suddenly came to normal. 

"What's wrong Adda", Nivek caught her before she hit the ground, worried Agima picked up the dropped the crystal,  and went to see what was wrong with their friend 

"Nothing, I was just surprised how cold it was to the touch", that was all Adda could say, unable to explain the dark sensation that almost choked  her.  

Agima raised it high to the light, "I have an idea! The merchant will be here the day after next", he said with a smile,  "he always has a jeweler with him,  we could have this appraised and sell it to him,  then let's divide the profit among us!" Nivek agreed to him in excitement, while at the back of Adda's mind she can't wait to have the gem disposed of, the sooner the better.  Agima pocketed the gem and they all went back home. But soon as they got out of the forest they forgot about the black crystal,  as if the find never happened.  The crystal never got appraised,  or sold, and not one of them had any recollection of finding the item.  

Days after the find and forgetting some things began to change; it was Agima, all of a sudden he became more strict towards himself,  he was moody and not as fun as before. But the changes were not that obvious that anyone had noticed except for Nivek.  But his old self was not completely lost,  whenever he was with his friends he was the same old Agima, but his changes began to Nivek will not like it, and he didn’t wish to worry Adda, Nivek  was protective of Agima so much that he would give anything. 

Years passed and the day of Adda's coming of age ceremony came, at the eighteen she has grown to be a beauty in her own right,  she has been under the careful tutelage of her mother and has been deemed ready to take on the duties of  a Protector. She donned on her ceremonial garb she faced the mirror and saw her ebony black hair tied back, her charcoal eyes glistening in anticipation,  as she looked at herself a knock came to her door. One of the village women rushed to open it,  standing by the doorway were two strapping men all dressed for travel,  one had an ash blonde hair he wore a coat and carried a small stack of books on one hand,  while the other had a light brown hair tied back into s loose ponytail, he was wearing fur coat and on his back slung a quiver and a small rucksack; it was Agima and Nivek. 

"Ms.  Marie may we speak to Adda for a moment,  we just wish to say farewell", said Agima. 

Marie allowed them to go in,  they went straight to the living room where Adda was being fitted with her veil. Both stood in awe when they saw her - she was beautiful. Adda looked at them in surprise,  "what are you two troublemakers doing here? " she asked, but before they could answer Adda had figured it out,  looking at their clothes and at the things that they were carrying; they were leaving.  

"Does it really have to be today of all the days? " she asked them accusingly.  Nivek didn't dare speak, he didn't trust his tongue, confessing his feelings then and there was not the right time, he kept mum.  Agima also remained quiet,  pondering if it was a chance for him to explain that he will leave to prove worthy for Adda,  but somehow he couldn't, not now,  he said to himself.  

"We are sorry to be unable to see you come of age", Nivek found a voice he could control,  "but you have to understand that we are no longer children.  We have to find our fortunes out in the world.  Yours is here in Fadia,  but Agima and I have to search elsewhere if we wish to own up to something we wish to be", Nivek paused,  he looked at Adda whose tears were beginning to well on her eyes,  "even without us beside you we'll be cheering you on." 

Slowly Adda wiped her eyes, and stared at them, Agima smiled at her and said,  "Your tears are not to be shed on those who are not dead.  We only cry for the dead Adda, Nivek and I  are alive and well, do not mourn us yet", Adda smiled at him. 

"Very well, I  guess this farewell can no longer be prolonged.  The sooner you leave the sooner the both of you will return." With those final words Adda watched them leave, and she too faced the adoring crowds waiting for her. 

Five years passed since each went their separate ways, and on the night when the moon was full the three friends were fated to meet again.  Their reunion was a blissful one,  but before that night ended things took a turn, both men have proclaimed a desire for courtship with Adda.  Confused Adda ran home leaving them without an answer.  Taking it as a challenge they began to prove their worth in their eyes,  but Adda could not bring herself to choose one over the other they were both precious friends, but she knew sooner or later a choice must be made, and assessing her own feelings she found an answer that she have known for a long time but dare not accept,  she had fallen for him for a long time, he was always kind hearted and understanding, but he feared that he can never like her, but after he had shown her his feelings her own emotions were affirmed.  Then Adda wondered about the other, she knew he would be heart broken, it was inevitable, but she had to do it. 

The following day Adda met with the two of them,  Agima and Nivek looked so handsome they never looked better than that day she faced them and spoke, "please understand that i love the both of you with all my heart but I have to choose whom of you will I be marrying.  This has been a very difficult choice for me, choosing between the two of you almost tore me apart,  I  didn't wish to hurt either one but I have to. My heart has decided, I'm terribly sorry Agima." Adda buried her face in her hands as she said those words.  Agima stood rooted,  speechless and hurt,  he stared at Adda as she cried,  Nivek also looked forlorn,  his mouth gaped, he didn't know what to feel; he wanted to be happy but he couldn't he was looking at Agima when all of a sudden he felt a fist smashing on his face.  

Seeing what happened Adda wept even more,  "You betrayed me!" shouted Agima to Nivek, "You told me that you'll give up, but you didn't!  You traitor!"

He was right, thought Nivek,  he did said that to Agima,  but when he saw Adda's face the night before he couldn't bring himself to say it,  he was too in love with her to let go,  not even for his brother by heart.  

"I swear by the Fates you shall pay for this Nivek!  This betrayal shall not be forgiven!" with that Agima had walked away. 

The following days nobody had seen Agima; anger and love was never the best mix, he was consumed and burning within him was a desire for vengeance. When He heard about the news of the marriage between Adda and Nivek,  a spark burned and without any second thoughts he rushed back to Fadia with a single goal,  the death of Nivek. If he couldn't have Adda no one will,  he'd rather be hated than to be pitied by his own friends that had betrayed him. 

On the day of the wedding he watched from afar as Adda walked down the aisle all dressed in white,  and Nivek wearing his best clothes smiling,  waiting for her. Agima felt his blood boil,  how could he smile after what he did, he said to himself grudgingly. He wished that Adda was not there when he puts his knife through his chest.  He allowed his hand slide to the knife handle,  it was reassuring,  he smiled,  this was a special knife he bought especially for this day,  it was a dagger from the southern part of the country,  blade used to shine brightly but now it burned red enchanted by Agima himself with a curse and laced with poison, it was the perfect weapon for his revenge.  

Adda, slowly walked on the aisle,  it was a perfect summer day,  the flowers were all blooming and the earth seemed to be celebrating this joyous moment. At the altar stood her bridegroom, happy and content. She fought back her tears as she remembered Agima all of a sudden,  this would have been the perfect day if only he was here. 

Nivek let out a deep sigh, he too was thinking about Agima, he was his brother,  but because of love he had to betray him,  but what can he do? Adda was his life as much as she was to Agima, it was impossible,  but it was too late for him to regret, he's already standing by the altar about to marry the girl that he loved so much. His priority now will be the family that they will be creating, their life together, and whatever mistakes that he had committed in the past is something he has to deal with so that it will not affect his soon-to-be family. 

As Lady Reeves handed her daughter's hand to Nivek she smiled, but all of a sudden a vision came to her, it was a knife flying through the air, she looked towards the direction where Agima was hiding but saw nothing, she breathed slowly relieved but it was not over yet the worry was just beginning to build.  Then Cana called them all to begin the ceremony, it was a ceremony that one to compete with her mother's. All worries seemed to have been washed away as they watched Cana perform the rites, soon they were asked to speak their vows. Nivek spoke first,  "Adda,  Maiden of the Light of Fadia, I am humbled by you, but at the same time I am maybe the happiest man alive at this moment.  I love you,  always have and always will, I pledge to you and to the Fates that I will always protect you and the family that we will have.  Please take me as your partner as long as you wish it".

Adda smiled through her veil and nodded to Nivek unable to express her joy,  then Cana told her to say her vow,  "I love you,  that is all I need and could say,  will you accept me as your wife and the mother of your children", that was all Adda said and Nivek gave a resounding yes and with that Cana proclaimed them as husband and wife.  

Agima felt his heart shattering as he watched them kiss, he gripped the dagger in his side and prepared,  and soon as the newly weds were walking down the aisle Agima went out of his hiding place,  he saw how their faces went pale and with satisfaction he threw the dagger at Nivek with such speed that it was almost impossible to see,  but before it struck him Lady Reeves shielded him and the blade struck her on the back,  the smile faded from Agima's face when he saw Lady Reeves fall on the ground his eyes darken, he missed,  and he killed the most important person in Adda's life. Nivek held her as she fell shocked,  Lady Reeves held his hand tightly saying,  "Protect my daughter with your life", and she breathed her last and closed her eyes.  Adda wept,  as she watched her mother taken away by death,  she tried to heal her but it was impossible the wound was turning purple and blue and bleeding excessively.  

Nivek pulled the blade from her chest and she handed her body to her new wife, he stood,  and looked straight at Agima,  he raised the dagger and without any hesitation he threw it towards Agima, it landed on the ground between his legs,  "Leave now,  before I forget that you are my brother and kill you like any other criminal", said Nivek with tears on his eyes, with that Agima vanished through the air,  Nivek fell on his knees,  he couldn't accept that his best friend was a murderer. 

All the painful memories came rushing back as Adda saw Agima standing in their living room only a few days after her child was born,  looking straight at her.  She was looking at the shadow of man she had once held dear in her heart now he's just a monster.