Of the Golden Earth and the Silver Skies

CHAPTER 4 – Homecoming

 

      The elven maiden hums happily. Her loved one is coming home. She knows not when but after hearing such news, she bakes his favourites, makes the home special, just for his comeback. He had left her for quite some time now. Perhaps he will stay home longer this time, she quietly hopes. Loneliness gets to her at times, but not as much as her anxiety of waiting for him to be home, safe and unharmed.

Knocks came from the front door. The elven maiden excitedly runs towards it and opened it quickly. She gasps. In front of her was her awaited knight!

“Samudera. I’m back,” he said with a meek smile on his face.

“Mega, too!” squealed the horse maiden behind him.

She took him into her arms. All of her yearning for him felt washed away as she felt his warmth against her. 

“This is such a wonderful surprise!” she sobbed.

Wonderful surprise? His heart sank hearing Samudera’s sobs of joy. His homecoming is no wonderful surprise, for he brought with him dire news. One that would break her heart.

“Pawaka? Why so quiet?”

He looked at the elven maiden. Her expression was of pure happiness, but tainted with questions and doubt.

“No. Nothing.”

“But you look so…”

“Nothing. I’m just tired, that’s all.” The knight wrapped his arms around her and embraced her tightly. He felt ashamed for lying. An oath was broken. But he dared not to tell her the truth.

He’s hiding something, her heart whispers. But pure happiness for this newfound serendipity soon overwhelmed this doubt, and for now, it is silenced.

    Pawaka was relieved to be home. And he felt happiness blooming inside him. He smiled as he entered the humble house. The smell of wood, mixed with an appetizing aroma of cooked food welcomed him. He looked around. Not much had changed. Memories start to flood in. He remembers the time when he first met his foster parents. How they took him from the streets and raised him as if he was their own. How he hated them when they took Samudera in, and how they were murdered by a group of bandits when he left the house. It was too late for them when he arrived, but he managed to save Samudera. People around cared less. He sighed. The sin his foster parents ever did was to raise a demi- mortal.  He felt the burden. He felt the guilt. But he blamed it on Samudera. He used to hate her- for a very long time. Yet, the elven maiden never ceased to care for him. Blinded with self-pity and remorse, he mistreated her, threatened her, and caused her much pain. Strange enough, the elven maiden endured all that. And somehow, one day, he realised it was useless to keep hurting her. He asked forgiveness from the elven maiden. After that, he decided to become a knight, to ensure no other being would have to go through what he and Samudera had to and to compensate for all the wrongdoings he had done to her before. The demi-mortal still blames himself for his parents demise, though. Had he be more tolerant, more…open, then all of this will not take place. If time can be reversed, then he would have done so at the moment he saw the stiff bodies of his parents.

        A red wooden table in front of him reminds him of yet another deed he regretted. Fortunately it was not fully done. He looked at Samudera. The elven maiden flashed a smile. He wonders if she had simply forgotten the event.

     She led the knight and the horse maiden to the kitchen, where a sole table stood, laden with foods of all kinds. “I must say that I am sorry. This was all that I had managed to do,” said Samudera.

  

Mega wowed. “You can do better?” The elven maiden bashfully nodded.

“This is more than enough. Thank you, Samudera.”

     They had an amazing dinner, though homely, it was special. Not only for Pawaka and Samudera, but for Mega, too. It was one of the rare nights where Mega is not in her horse form. She felt acceptance, she felt bliss, and she felt as if she was a part of a loving family. And when Samudera touched her hand and gave her a smile, she felt she belonged here, with them both.

    They retired late, after clearing up the table and wash the dishes together. The horse maiden retired first, worn-out from the long journey and the excitement. Pawaka and Samudera were left alone in the kitchen, cleaning whatever mess she had done, in her attempt of assisting Samudera to wash the dishes.

“…Samudera?” The elven maiden stopped her work and looked at the knight.

“I’ve been very unkind to you…haven’t I?”

 “No, Pawaka.  You’ve been very kind to me. You saved my life once. And I am eternally in debt.”

He looked down at the gravy- stained floor. “Will you be wrathful upon me if I leave you… forever?”

Tears began to well in her eyes as the words fall to her ears. “You…you’re not dying, are you?”

“No! Samudera, don’t cry. I’m not dying.”

“Thank the gods. But, please don’t go away, you just got back…”

The elven maiden approached the knight. “Are you leaving me because I…I’m not good enough?” The tears overflowed and rolled down her cheeks.

   Her question stunned Pawaka. “Wha…n…no, of course not!” He did expect her to cry, but not this. Not this kind of question. The elven maiden slumps to the floor. The knight rushes over and wrapped his arms around her. She laid her head on his chest. “Nothing’s wrong with you. You’re perfect. Always.”

“Pawaka?” He looked at her. Tears stained her reddened cheeks.

“Yes, Samudera.”

“Do you…want me?”

“…Why do you ask me of this?” She gazed into his eyes instead of answering.  Her hands caressed his cheeks. He took them into his and hold them tight.

“Samudera, I…We can’t keep this up.” Somewhere in his heart aches as those words pass his lips. I know I want her, his mind echoes. I want her bad, now more than ever. But I can’t. He let her hands go and rises.

“You and I both know that this isn’t right. I…I’m going to bed. Good night, Samudera.” Slowly he leaves the kitchen; all the while trying hard to ignore Samudera’s muffled sobs. As he ascends the stairs, he knew that this is going to be a rough night.