The Isles Of Airboń

A Promise

I made a promise to the woman I love.. but I don’t know how I’m going to accomplish it. It turns out I don’t know how to get her mother here.

I walked into the observatory. The observatory was very large. It had only one window but the window was huge and took up a good portion of the round ceiling it was on. Point up at the sky by the window was giant telescope. The walls were a pretty mix of black, purple, and dark blue with pretty constellations painted all over the walls. Along the ceiling there was pretty white fabric hanging from the ceiling. It always looked beautiful.

“Stella! Are you here!” I waited patiently for her. But I was anxious, Knowing her.. she would notice it the second she saw me. After a minute Stella appeared. She stood around 5 foot 5. She had beautiful long black hair that went down to her hips, her skin was a dark tan color, Stella had dark hooded eyes. She has SB or Spina Bifida. From what Stella has told me about it is that it’s a congenital defect of her spine that she was born with, she had to go through surgery while she was still in the womb. To help her walk she uses forearm crutches. “Hey Eros. What can I help you with this afternoon?”

“Well I was wondering if you could help me with the earth portal.” I even sounded anxious. “Hm. The portal was damaged as you were coming back Eros.. the moon goddess isn’t pleased about that..”

“Great. Is there anyway we could fix it?”

“I’m not sure Eros. Have you ever had to repair a 10,000 year old portal? Because I can tell you in my 20 years in this dimension I don’t know. I’ve asked the elders and they don’t know either.” She sat down in a chair. “Maybe if the first king was still up here we would know” she shrugged. “Stella there’s a reason he was banished-“

“He was banished because he tried to force women into servitude. That’s why he was banished. Women founded the isles. Women are life givers, and deserve respect. Men also deserve respect. As do non-binary people.”

“I agree. He was not a good man.. then again he had been taught human hate, it was definitely good that he was banished.”

“I’m glad we are at an agreement. Anyway. Oh he talked to everyone I could about the portal and nobody knows what to do.. also. What we’re you planning on doing with the portal?” She shot me a questioned look. “.. I want to bring Florence’s mother here. She’s still stuck on earth.. and Florence wants her here so that her mother isn’t alone.. her mother has nobody else.. no friends, no living relatives anymore other than Florence.” Stella looked at me, being concerned. “Eros I’m afraid we won’t be able to do that.. I don’t know how long it’s going to take to fix the portal. I’m sorry but I just have so many other things to do. I’m extremely busy. The 9 moons festival is this weekend. We have 100 young Airbonians who are getting blessed. By the moon goddesses this year. And there’s so much prep work to do. We will figure this out after 9 moons ok..?” I nodded in agreement. “I’m sorry to put all of this on you Stella..”

“It’s fine Eros. I understand your concern. It’s completely valid. But I need you to sit tight and do what the kingdom needs right now.” She smiled trying to be reassuring. “I will. Thank you”

“Your very welcome.” We said our goodbyes and I left.

It was late when I got back to me and Florence’s room. I hadn’t had dinner.. I just had so much to do today so my evening plans were to take a shower and sleep. But when I entered our room, Florence wasn’t in bed. So I went out into the garden, finding a pretty path lite by candles. I was pretty Confuse so I followed it. It only led me deeper into the garden and to the gazebo. That’s where I found Florence. She was putting a vase on a small table for two. The table had some pastries, and what smelled to be dinner. It smelled really really good. “What’s all of this dear?” I walked into the gazebo where she was. “Oh! It’s dinner.. I knew you wouldn’t have time for dinner tonight so I decided to make something for us..”

“You made this? All of this?”

“Yeah. I haven’t been able to cook for a while so I decided to ask the head chef if I could borrow the kitchen and she said yes so. I got to play around with some new flavors and explore Airbonian cuisine. I didn’t know you guys used so much honey melon. But I can’t blame you it’s really good.”

“And that’s why it’s used in so much. Plus it’s very high in vitamin C. With its sweet taste and everything else that’s delicious about it. Makes very good medicine too.” I chuckled. “Ok well. Come eat. You have been out for awhile and need to eat.”

“Yes dear.” I sat down and looked at what was on my plate. It was goat stew, yellow rice, and some cooked honey melon, with some small cut up cubes of elder carrots. Florence sat down across from me and smiled. “Go on. Try some” she smiled at me, and I picked up my spoon and took a bite. It was so good. The mix of sweet, savory, and spicy were just wonderful together. You had the spicy goat stew with the sweet of honey melon and Elder carrot, with the savory yellow rice. It was just out of this world. “Where did you learn how to cook?” I said as I took another bite. “My grandfather and my mother taught me how. One of the things I was told a lot as a child was In order to cook properly you must know what spices complement each other and how what flavors are going to be nice together, you don’t want overly sweet or overly spicy, you want it just right. That’s what my grandpa said a lot growing up” she chuckled. “Smart man, and I bet a really good cook.”

“Indeed. One of his favorite dishes to make was chilly. I’ll have to make his recipe for you some time”

“Now that sounds wonderful. I’m down. Wait! Maybe you could teach me to cook Florence?” I suggest. I’ve always wanted to learn how to cook, maybe she will teach me. “Sounds like a good idea. I will have to teach you sometime dear.”

“Great! But this means I get to teach you how to properly ballroom dance.”

“You can try, my rhythm isn’t the worst, just comes down to I’m not that good at dancing.” Florence took a bite of her dinner. “Don’t worry. Your in good hands dear”

“Whatever you say Eros” she rolled her eyes at me.