Land of the Moon

Chapter 5

Ema

This was all so crazy. This war was destroying lives, ripping families apart, and bringing about ruin for the land. I want it all to stop and the only thing that I am capable of doing is staying alive and making it to my mother's homeland. Cecily and I have been on the run traveling through the wilderness and small villages that we have come across. Cecily has been keeping watch over me this entire time, only getting a small amount of rest here and there. I know from time to time she's gone out in her animal form to run. Like many shifters that I have learned about their animal side gets restless and they need the freedom of running free now and then. Also, I know she would never leave me unprotected. Cecily has told me before that when she runs she is also taking in our surroundings making sure all is safe.

I closed my eyes again after I watched Cecily quietly close the door behind her. She must be going into the village for something. The Rose Thorn Inns beds were so comfortable, a lot more comfortable than the last Inn in the village we stayed at before. I was not able to fall back asleep so I got up and dressed. Adding another small log to the wood stove to keep the room warm. I pulled one of the small stools that passed for a chair in our room to the window so that I could watch the morning sunrise while I awaited Cecily's return. After a while, I decided I would try to get some breakfast for the both of us while Cecily was out. I was just pulling on my boot when Cecily opened the door.

“Were you able to get a peaceful sleep?” She asked me as she closed the door behind her.

I just gave her a smile as I nodded my answer to her question. She told me about the Hunters that she saw that have just arrived into the village and that they were traveling over the Dark Mountain so this may be our only chance. “Let us go and get some breakfast before your stomach gets any louder,” Cecily told me with a smile as my stomach rumbled in its hunger again.

When we walked into the dining area my eyes were instantly drawn to the figure in the cloak sitting with two men with their table pulled close to the other table that two women were sitting at. I could make out the small silver strands that had fallen towards the front of his hood. They must have escaped whatever bind he was using to hold his hair from his face. I kept glancing at the man as I followed Cecily to our table taking the seat that allowed me to keep him in my sight without being obvious about looking at him.

I startled slightly when the young boy's voice spoke up right next to me asking what we would like for breakfast. When he left after taking our order I realized Cecily was staring at me with a small smile tugging at her lips. “Why are you staring at me like that?” I asked her through the mind link we shared so that no one else would hear our conversation.

“You seem to have found someone that has piqued your curiosity.” She replied to me never taking that sly smile from her face.

“I don’t know what you are talking about Cecily,” I told her trying to keep the shock from my mental voice as I turned to look out the window. I still tried stealing glances at the Hunters while we waited for our breakfast to arrive.

While we ate our breakfast Daniel the man we had talked to about our journey over the mountain was now talking to the group of Hunters as Cecily had pointed out to me when we entered the dining area this morning. He was talking to the bulkier looking man at the table. I could not stop my eyes from widening when Daniel pointed over at our table. I looked to Cecily who started to show me to breathe in and out to calm myself.

When we finished our meal Daniel had caught us as we were walking out of the Inn to go walk around the village again. “Ladies do you have some time to spare, I would like to discuss some things with you.” Came Daniels' gruff voice as he asked us while looking back and forth from Cecily to me. I looked to Cecily to who only gave me a nod in response to my unspoken question.

“Yes of course Daniel,” I answered him.

We followed Daniel across the street and a few buildings down to the little jail that existed for this village. Apparently it contained Daniels office as well though it was up above the jail. His office took up the whole top floor above the jail. His wooden desk sat next to the wall facing the east with a few big windows lettering in the natural light from the morning sun. A few bookshelves lined the south wall containing some books and other things that I assumed were important to him. When I looked back at Daniel he pointed out two chairs for us to sit in that were in front of his desk.

He cleared his throat before he began to speak to us. “You told me that you two are traveling south. And you have to cross the Dark Mountain for that which can be quite dangerous especially for a traveler or two, even more so for two women.” He held up his hands, halting me from speaking. I decided to keep quiet and let him continue on. “Now I’m not saying you two can’t handle yourselves or anything like that. I don’t know if you have noticed the group that was eating in the Rose Thorn just now, but they are a group of Hunters. They are traveling south as well. I did mention to them that you two were traveling the same way and were traveling the same way and were trying to find a group to travel through the Dark Mountain with.”

I glanced at Cecily who had glanced at me as well. Daniel told us as well that the Hunters had agreed to let us travel with them as well as telling them that we knew healing magic. We both thanked Daniel once again for all he has done before stepping out onto the porch. I was smiling. I could not wait to be on the road again especially since the Hunters had agreed to let us travel with them. Now I would get to really see the Hooded man and perhaps get to speak with him.

We walked around the village for a spell as the sun made its journey in the sky. We just returned to the Rose Thorn Inn when the sun was starting to set. As I turned into the dining room I ran into another woman. Apparently she was one of the female Hunters when I bumped into her I could feel the hum of the magic that lived inside of her. She had to be a witch. She gave me a kind smile as her dark blond wavy hair slipped over her shoulders as she looked down at me. She was just a bit taller than I was and a little more so of Cecily since I was even a bit taller than her.

“Oh my, I apologize for walking right into you,” I told the woman as we let go of where we had grabbed onto each other to keep ourselves from falling backwards. 

“Oh no, it is my fault for not paying attention.” She replied back to me with a smile. Her voice was soft as she spoke. “My name is Louisa, please pardon my rudeness.” She finished up. She was quite polite.

“You are not the only one at fault here, I am as well. Right, Cecily?” I looked back at Cecily with a smile on my face asking her without my voice to back me up with this.

“She is right, she tends to let her mind wander when her feet are as well.” Came Cecily's reply and she smiled as I gasped at what she said.

I watched as Louisa giggled at Cecily’s comment. Louisa then started talking to me telling me about one time when they were on a hunt for a troll how her friend Nikolaj had fallen off the small drop off of this hill they were on fighting with the troll. He had fallen into the river below after it all he had smelled like a wet dog. Louisa had asked us to join her for dinner with the rest of her party. She led us to the table they were all sitting at and was close to the long wall in the dining area.

When we reached the table I heard Cecily let out a small laugh. I turned to look back at her wondering what had made her laugh. Louisa was kind enough to introduce us to everyone. I glanced at them all as she named them off though I mostly kept my eyes on the hooded man now known as Vladimir. He was also an elf though full-blooded unlike me. I could not help the smile that graced my face even though when Louisa introduced him he just gave us a wave of his hand. 

The man that Louisa had introduced as Cairo left the table and returned with two chairs. I took the seat next to Louisa so that we could keep talking. The table came live with the stories the Hunters told. I glanced at Vladimir throughout the night as I talked with both Louisa and Mira. I hid my yawn behind my hand though Cecily did not miss it for the next thing I knew she was telling the Hunters we would be turning in for the night.

I woke with a start when I hit the cold hard floor, I looked up at Cecily just now realizing why she had pushed me onto the floor. “I am sorry Cecily, I do not know why I climbed into your bed nor when in the night that I did so,” I told her as I stretched my tired body letting out a yawn as I was still trying to wake up. I got up and went and sat on my bed.

“It is alright, the only thing that happened was you stealing my blanket from me. Thankfully before you did sneak into my bed I had risen earlier to start a fire in the small stove so that the morning would not be so cold.” Cecily told me as I moved to the foot of my bed to be closer to the stove as I warmed my hands. I watched as Cecily got up and added another log to the small stove.

“The room does feel nice and it is a welcomed luxury from the growing cold nights and morning in the wilderness. Though we will soon be returning to those again.” A sad smile graced my face as I spoke my thoughts to Cecily. “I know we must and it only means we are getting farther in our journey It just means that I am also getting farther from my home as well.” I was trying to hold back the tears that were threatening to leave my eyes.

Cecily gave me a smile as we finished getting ready then headed downstairs for breakfast. We met Louisa in the hall though she looked like she would prefer to still be sleeping. She smiled at us as I asked her to join us for breakfast. She only gave me a nod in response. Once we were seated at a table near a window so we could feel the warmth from the rising sun Mira showed up. She told us that the men would be busy with other things and that we would all get together again this evening.

“You don’t talk much do you, Cecily?” Mira questioned softly.

The room was starting to slowly come alive as more people came in for breakfast. As our own table was starting its own buzz.

“Not everyone has to be chatty, she is not like the humans who love to spread stories they have heard. Granted, those humans do help us by giving us jobs if the stories are true and not leading us on wild goose chases.” Louisa replied to Mira.

“Cecily…” I started but Cecily herself had cut me off.

“It is alright Ema you do not need to explain for me.” Cecily gave me a smile before continuing on. “I do not talk much because I just do not have much to say. And I do just enjoy the way some people try to converse with each other.” She finished.

This made all three of us laugh. After we finished breakfast Louisa and I thought it would be fun to go out and see the little shops here in the village. We stopped at the few stores that sold clothing and leathers. Louisa bought a few things and I found some gloves that looked like they would keep your hands nice and warm during the cold weather. I grabbed some dried meat at the butcher that was across the street from us. As Louisa and I moved from shop to shop Cecily and Mira followed us. After about the fourth or maybe fifth store they called a stop to our wandering through the stores. In between the stores I watched as Louisa told some men off when they kept trying to approach Mira. It was interesting to watch. The women really seemed to trust one another to have each other's backs.

We stopped at a small stall for lunch that was selling sweets and tea. The little stall was called Sara’s Sweets. Cecily got us both lotus cakes which were delicious. Louisa then got us all an order of the doughy dumplings. They were yummy as well though I preferred the lotus cakes to the dumplings. When we finished relaxing and enjoying our time there we then decided it best to return to the Inn before the sunset.

Cecily left to our room to put away the few items that we had gotten while I stayed with Mira as Louisa had left as well to drop her things off in her room. We sat at a table that Mira had pushed another against it to create a bigger table for us all to sit at. Louisa had joined us by the time we sat followed by the men then entering the dining area. Cecily was the last to join us all. She sat down next to me.

I looked down the table to where Vladimir was sitting on the opposite side of me and the farthest away. A sigh escaped me as I thought he was ignoring me. I have no idea why this bugged me. Or why I even felt drawn to him even though I have not even spoken properly to him yet at all. I ate the stew Cecily had ordered for me as I sat there letting the conversations fade into the background. Once we finished eating everyone retired to their rooms for the night. When we got to our room I started to help Cecily build a fire so that our room would be warm throughout the night.

I sat on my bed once we got the fire going thinking about why and what could be the reason I am drawn to Vladimir. This was all confusing, I was to be married to another who I have never met yet. I just met Vladimir just looked at him and I have these strange feelings.

Cecily smacked me on the leg as she said “Ema, are you paying attention to anything around you besides Vladimir?” She spoke to me like she was scolding me.

I straightened my back before I replied to her. “I am not just paying attention to him. I am aware of my surroundings.”

“Oh is that so, then please tell me what I said a few moments ago when I was by the window?” She asked me while she sounded sarcastically about it.

I looked away from her because she was sort of right. I was not paying attention to what she said or even saw that she had walked to the window in our small room. “Alright, I was not paying attention. I...I just can’t stop thinking about him.” I finally admitted the truth to her. “I want to know more Cecily. But it seems as though he wants nothing to do with me, well anyone. Whenever I see him my eyes follow him, I even asked Louisa a little bit about him. Though I believe it did not lead her to suspect that I have an interest in him.” I sighed as I was finally confiding in Cecily. I looked up at her as I continued. “Cecily what am I to do? I know that since I was a child I was already promised to someone. But how do I tell my heart no? How do I know if this is just a crush and it will pass or if it is like the stories Meme used to tell me when I was little of finding the one who matched your soul, your other half. I remember her telling me that Soren was the other half of her soul.” I could not stop the tears that fell from my eyes now. I was crying a lot more often on this trip than I have in a long time.

“Ema” I heard Cecily whisper to me as she sat next to me on my bed while hugging me close. “Things will be hard, there is no right or wrong answer here that I could give you.” I listened to her sigh as I let my tears soak her shirt. ”Yes, your hand is promised to another. ”I continued to listen even as she paused. “If you want to find out your feelings whether they are just an infatuation or true I will stand by you and help you through it all. But you do know that if they are true, you will still have to go before the Elves and marry the man you are betrothed to. If he is your true love you are still royal and you will have to follow through with the marriage.” Cecily's voice had slowly flowed into a whisper as she spoke the last word.

My tears flowed freely now as I turned my head more into Cecily’s chest to keep my crying from leaving the room. I never liked it when other people would see me cry. Cecily and those close to me were the only exceptions. Cecily let me stay like that till I stopped crying and even then till I slowly drifted off to sleep.