Legends of Belariath

Salina Kyle

The Journey Home - Part Three

The morning dawned with a clear blue sky. The songs of the birds filled the forest around our cave with great music and the joy of life. I had awakened to find that Xenex had gone foraging for food. He sat by the stream cleaning wild carrots, and other greens.

"Good morning," he said cheerfully. I went to join him by the cool water.

"Good morning, Xenex," I said after splashing water on my face, "I see you've been busy this morning." Forest green eyes sparkled from his tan face.

"The one I had always thought of as my father taught me about plants that were safe to eat," he said, then reached over to pick up a large plate leaf. "I found these for you. I hope its' enough for now." He handed me several small bird eggs. My training allowed that I could name each bird he had taken the eggs from. Looking them over, I glanced at my friend.

"Thank you," I said, "It couldn't have been easy to climb up to these nests." He nodded a little smiling. "I like my wild carrots chilled before I eat them." Taking several, I carefully placed them in the water.

"You can eat plants?" Xenex said in wonder.

"Remember that my mother was a centaur," I said, leaning back against a tree. "I like many plants fixed in a variety of ways. I also like my meat raw as well as cooked. Mentor Jarel said that it was the wolf in my blood."

"I'm sorry I couldn't find more for you," he said.

"Aren't you hungry as well?" I asked, watching him chew on a twist of leaves.

"I'm not that hungry," he said. "These leaves are very nutritious, and they don't taste that bad either." My eyes cast about for several moments. In the clear waters, several trout flashed in the warm sunlight.

"Do you like fish?" I asked, going to the edge of the brook.

"Sure, I like fish," Xenex said, "but you don't have any hook or line." I gave him a toothy grin.

"Sure I do," I said, "All I need is a sharp rock, and that one looks just right. This shouldn't take a lot of time." Using the sharp edge as a knife, I cut down several strings of river grass. I broke a piece of bamboo into several small parts. In short order, a hook and line rested in my hand. Xenex looked suitably impressed.

"Did your mentor show you how to do that?" he asked, as he examined my work.

"Not my mentor," I said, "Bruneor visited the shrine every spring. He would take me into the woods and teach me about the ways of the Land. Bruneor is a satyr that Mentor Jarel had saved from a poison arrow." The young man fell silent for several minutes.

"He didn't try to rape you?"

"Of course not," I snapped, then softened a little. "Xenex, despite what you have done, you didn't do it out of evil thought. You were unprepared for the passion of your father's blood. Satyrs aren't monsters. Passion isn't evil as long as you can control it." My words seemed to be reaching him. In a minute, he looked up and smiled.

"Will that hook of ours be able to hold a fish?" he asked.

"If it doesn't Bruneor will be sorely disappointed in me. Watch." Digging up some grubs, I baited the hook. Two smaller trout swam over to check out the offer of my work. Just as I thought that one would bite a large bass darted forward to take the hook into his mouth. Quickly, I pulled the fish onto the bank. As Xenex started working on cleaning my first catch, I went to see if I could get one or two more for our lunch.

It was early evening before we left the safety of our little cave. Xenex told me about life in a village of humans. I told him about my life at the shrine, and my love of the Lady. It surprised me to see him scoff.

"Religion is something that man made up to combat his fear of death and the unknown," he said, "After a while the priests found they had a good thing going. Now its' all about control. I've never seen anything that proves that the gods really exist. This is the only world I believe in. This is real. You shouldn't live your life working for a better life when you die. It just wastes your time, and keeps you from enjoying what you've got." Silence fell between us for several moments, as I considered his statements.

"And you're so sure?" I asked, smiling, "Then how did I heal you?"

"That's simple," he said cocking his head a little, "Magic is magic. You don't need a god to do magic." The thought struck me as funny.

"Healing without the Lady's power?" I questioned, giggling. "I don't think so. The Lady gives me the power to do Her work." It was his turn to laugh a little.

"That's what you were raised to think," he said, "Not that your mentor meant any harm. I'm sure that he only taught you to believe what he was taught to believe."

"I believe in the Lady because She is real," I stated with absolute confidence, "She exists in me and that makes Her real. I understand that Her faith is waning among the human villages. Mentor Jarel and I once talked about it. That's all right, Xenex, maybe I'll be able to show you the Way to Her Light."

"And maybe I'll be able to show you the 'truth'," he said with a great big grin. Impulsively, I reached over to kiss his cheek. A rosy blush passed over his handsome face.

"We'll see, my friend," I said, grinning, "We'll see." A sigh of unrest came from my companion.

"Right now we have something more immediate to concern ourselves with," he said, with another heavy sigh, "We need supplies for our journey."

"I know," I said, thinking about the situation.

"As much as I hate to say it we don't have much choice," he said, "We'll have to take some clothes and food from a farm." I came to a quick stop.

"You mean stealing," I growled.

"I know," he growled back, "I'm not really thrilled with the idea myself, but we don't have any other choice. We can't go into town in the condition we're in. They'd throw us in jail, or just try to kill us out right." The look in his eye showed me that he believed what he was saying. Could humans really be that intolerant?

"I'm a Lady's child, " I said, "I don't take what isn't mine."

"There's no other choice," he said shaking his head, "We can't let anyone see us as we are. We have no money to buy with." We had no money?

"Wait," I said, searching my pack. In a minute, the pouch of gold rested in my hand. "What about this? My mentor saved it for my journey." Xenex's eyes widened at the gold pieces I poured into his hand.

"This is great," he exclaimed, "We'll take what we need, and leave some gold in return."

"That's still stealing, Xenex," I said, "You can't take without permission. I can't take without permission, and I won't."

"Then what are we going to do?" he growled angrily, "Do you have a better idea?" At that moment, a gentle bell rang through the woods bringing me a feeling of peace.

"I know what we're going to do," I said, putting the pouch up, "Come on." I lead my friend down the path toward the ringing.

The wall of brushes reached just above my head. At the entrance to the inner yard, a holy stone sat flush to the path. A visitor had to step over the stone to enter the sanctuary. The mark of the Lady of the Greenland brought tears to my eyes. With great respect, I knelt to touch my hand to my lips then the stone. A soft glow rewarded me. Feeling safe for the first time in a while, I walked over the stone smiling at Xenex.

"Come on," I said, gesturing, then grinned, "You're not afraid of the Blessing stone, are you?"

"No, I'm not," he snapped, stepping cautiously over the stone, "I'm not sure I like this idea. What are we doing at this convent? We don't want anyone to see us like this. Especially, a group of holy women." At that moment, several young women in green and tan robes came around the building. Seeing us, they stopped.

"I come in peace seeking only the Lady's comfort," I said with a clear voice. The oldest among them stepped foreword to look us over judging whether we were of the Lady, or the Great Darkness. She recognized my Lady's braid at once. Her soft blue eyes became relaxed as a smile spread over her gentle face.

"Be at peace, sister," she said, and then gestured to the door of the temple, "Welcome to the Shrine of Everlasting Love. I am Karem. The Lady's Own is in prayer for the passing of a Lady's Own"

"That would be my teacher," I said, trying not to choke on the lump that formed in my throat, "Mentor Jarel of the Shrine of the Quiet Vale." A shocked gasp went through them.

Then you're-" Karem started, but another voice finished.

"Shalla, child of the Lady of Light," said an elder woman. Her robes were of a deep green and dark brown. A lining of silver cloth simmered when she moved. Dark green eyes looked at me with love and joy. As she approached, I went down on one knee in deferential respect.

"Lady's Own," I breathed. As the hood of her robe was lifted back, a gasp of recognition came from me. This woman's face reminded me of my teacher's. She had the same nose, and cheeks. I could see his laughter in her sparkling emerald eyes. Smiling gently, The Lady's Own brought me to my feet.

"My prayers have been answered," she said, hugging me, "When I felt Jarel's death, I could only hope you'd escaped. Whatever we can do for you we shall."

"We need food and water, Lady's Own," I said, feeling tears on my face. Xenex took hold of my hand drawing my watery eyes to his face.

"A safe place to rest would do for right now," he said, "It&'s been a hard trip." After holding me for a minute, she stepped back to look into my amber eyes.

"We'll talk later," she said, and turned to Karem. "Please show our guests to the bathing room. Tarsa, please prepare rooms for our guests. They will sit with me at dinner." The holy woman went back into the sanctuary.

"Come on," Karem said, "You'll feel much better after you've cleaned up. This way." We followed her down a small cobble stone path.

The small out chamber for the bathing house had towels. Jars of different scented sand soap sat on a stone shelf. Karem checked to see that the heating fire still burned well.

"You should have plenty of hot water," she said, "I'll leave you two to bathe."

"Would it be possible for Xenex to have a pair of breeches and a tunic?" I asked, "His clothing was ruined in an attack."

"We always keep clothing on hand for just such an occurrence," the kind-hearted woman said, with a great smile, "I'll leave them on the bench." With that, the priestess left us alone. My pouch went on a hook in the wall as did my belt and rod. Turning, I found a strange look of embarrassment on Xenex's face.

"Is something wrong?" I asked.

"Would there be a second bathing chamber?" he returned nervously.

"Only the one," I said, then it struck me, "Xenex, there's nothing wrong with us bathing together. You don't have to be embarrassed. Mentor Jarel and I bathed together all the time. The body isn't something you should be ashamed of."

"I think you should go first," he said, dropping his eyes to the floor, "It would be better that way." Something was troubling my half-satyr friend but he didn't want to talk about it.

"Okay. If that's what you want," I said, picking up a couple towels, and a jar of lavender soap, "I won't be long." He sat down on the bench not looking at me. Thoughts of his comment about thinking about me in a sexual way popped up. With a sigh, I went to take my bath.

Xenex and I sat at the front table next to the Lady's Own, and her high priestesses. The meal of venison steaks and fresh vegetables tasted real well after the Spartan meals I&'d been having. The tan tunic and brown pants made my friend feel much better. As I had suspected, his hair, when clean, did cover his small horns. They had even given him low leather boots.

"Clothing and such is donated to the temple," the Lady's Own said, "In this way they know that they shall be provided for should bandits attack them." After a brief debate with my friend, I agreed to wear a large white tunic. My belt felt strange over the fabric. Accustom to the Silverwood rod being against my side, I could barely feel the weapon. In all, I hated this 'being dressed'. Severely uncomfortable, I scratched at my back and side. The Lady's Own smiled at me causing my fur to ripple with my blush.

"I take it, Jarel never got you accustom to regular clothing," she said.

"No, Lady's Own," I said, shifting where I stood, "He didn't think I was naked." I shot an angry glance at Xenex. The elder woman patted my shoulder in gentle reassurance.

"My brother had his own ways," she said, "I'm not surprised he raised you to be comfortable as you are. Still, you&'ll be passing near towns, and cities of people who would look down upon you for being 'unclothed'. It is for the best you aquatint yourself with dressing. You will have enough troubles because of your birthing."

"Mentor Jarel said I was a gift from the Lady," I cried, as tears flooded my cheeks, "He told me that I wasn't an abomination; That I should be proud of who and what I am. Did he lie to me?" Her thin arms went around my chest to hold me in her loving warmth.

"Jarel didn't lie, Shalla," the woman said softly, "You are a great gift from Her. Unfortunately, most humans, and the rest of the population will not realize this at first meeting you. You must prepare yourself for their fear and distrust. Still, you must never let what others call you affect what you see in yourself. My brother knew that he had a very special charge when he accepted you. You&'re strong enough to know what's right, and what you should do. His love is always around you. Remember that, -" A young priestess came running into the dining hall.

"Lady's Own, there are centaurs at the gate," she rushed, sweat dripping down her pale face. "They demand an audience with you at once. I think they know she's here." A great sickness clutched my stomach. Xenex caught my hand and shook me a little.

"We've got to get out of here," he said, urgently.

"No!" I cried, trying to break free of his grip, "I won't let it happen again. No one else is going to die because of me."

"Shalla!" the Lady's Own snapped, "Your things are ready. Karem will show you to the secret exist. Don't worry. This temple has many guardians. No one will be harmed this night, but you must go quickly." Grabbing up my pack, and the supplies, I let Karem lead us from the main temple back into the garden. She came to a stop before a wall of green. Closing her eyes, she held one hand out.

"Lady's Gate," she said. A gate appeared in the shrubs. Quickly, Xenex and I slipped through to an open path.

"This is the Lady's Trail," she said, "It will see you safely from here, and the danger. Good Luck." We waved then disappeared into the cool night.

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