The weather was fantastic.
Inside the wagon was cool, and we packed food and drinks for days. I talked to my sister and Demelza about what to expect from Tori village.
"I bet those poor souls will lose their minds when they understand what's happening." Demelza took some fruit from a basket full of them.
Eleanor was braiding her hair. "True enough... those Emil boys are already fully devoted to Zephyr."
I was spacing out, enjoying some grapes. I saw Zephyr's blue head riding in the distance. I wished I could ride with him. Maybe I will tomorrow.
"...Lylly! Hey, you're spacing out."
My sister reached and pushed my shoulders, waking me up.
"Hmm?? Oh, I'm sorry, I was thinking... about those poor, poor people."
"Or what if Zephyr was here in this wagon instead of us?"
I laughed because it was a damn great idea. The space was perfect... we had more than enough time, and we could still find some nice and quie—
"...Lylly!!... What is happening?" She shook me this time, and I almost choked on a grape ball.
"Alright, alright... calm down, Eli."
She pouted and looked with an expression of disbelief. "I can't believe how sex has changed you. It's... like you're a different person."
Demelza and I looked at each other with knowing smiles. She, of course, was very right. I couldn't believe myself... but after our first night, I was brand new. I couldn't stop myself, and to be honest, I didn't want to.
I thought, if it were anyone else, I'd still be revolted, but it was my forever someone. I had never been more sure of anything or been this comfortable in my skin. I loved my change.
I turned to my little sister with the hope she could at least grasp a little how I felt. "Eli, I didn't understand it either. But when you are with the right someone, it all... changes. It's not something gross or shameful after that."
Demelza quickly nodded along with my statement. "She is right, honey... I hated others' attention and their lustful gazes on me." She remembered her days before she met him, and I could almost see myself in those eyes.
She shook her head to get rid of those thoughts. "Then after I met and sta— wh- when I found Alex, it was different. I wanted his gaze only on me. The more lustful, the better." She pointed at the man visible next to Zephyr with an apple to make her point.
Eleanor was turning 17 right after the winter festival. Lucian would be there, ready. I had a feeling he knew that it might be for nothing. I followed her gaze to the young neighbor boy...
Maybe, with time, Eli would change, too. She was never a prude like me or hated men, and she and Lucian were getting closer, I could see it.
"It's not like I don't have... thoughts. I don't know." She looked back at us, her eyes full of confusion. She picked some blackberries, her favorite, out of the basket. "I wanted to wait, but seeing my sister so happy and fulfilled, I can't help but wonder. I like Lucian a lot... we, we do have fun together..."
She looked on the cusp. I didn't want to push her in either direction. I gave her the best advice I could.
"Eli, listen. I know my happiness might make you act with haste because you feel that happiness is close. But, just as you said, you don't know..." I took some of her berries to gain her full attention.
She finally stopped the eye rolls and listened seriously. "Look... you still have some time before winter. So why not let things happen naturally? It worked for me." I turned once again to catch a glimpse of him riding and laughing. The proof was right in front of our eyes.
I saw her thinking about it. "You're right..." She took her berries back and gave me a strange look. "You almost sounded like Mother there for a second."
I was quite proud of myself there.
~
We were riding for a couple of hours when the wagon stopped. Alexander came over and told us to stretch our legs a little. So we walked outside and found ourselves near a clearing. With large trees surrounding us, everything was green. I was so glad we came. We should do more trips from now on.
Zephyr walked to us with Ilianna, who looked very sleepy. We did wake her up early.
"I'll put her down in the wagon. How's the ride, ladies?"
Eli and Demelza talked about the ride. I went to take Anna from him. She was very agreeable when tired.
I kissed her little head and hugged her close. "Let's put you down to sleep, princess."
I left them and tucked my daughter in nice and cozy.
She reached up and twirled my already natural hair. "Riding is fun... Have you ever done it?"
"A few times... it sure is fun. Once you're older, we'll get you a pony. She will grow with you." I figured at least one of us should get one.
"Hmm..." She nodded but made herself comfortable and yawned mouth wide open. I smiled and covered her with a blanket. "Go sleep, sweetheart... I'll wake you later with something yummy."
I stayed until her breathing became steady and quietly walked outside. The others took it easy and were eating or watering the horses. Hell, some just climbed the tree branches and spent their time like that.
I walked and sat on Zephyr's lap, leaning on his chest, and enjoyed his warmth.
"She is asleep... and we have to get her a pony soon." He nodded with a smile until he heard that.
"How did that happen?"
"You took her riding... obviously." I lied through my teeth like a professional.
He looked suspicious but quickly gave in. "I suppose it will go well with her daggers when Olaf stops talking to the damn claw."
I laughed with him. I hoped our other children would be as... strange as their elder sister.
Our blacksmith, Olaf, was still working hard on the claw. He said something about talking to the claw and finding out its weaknesses? It had been hard on him. My ring had to wait.
I felt so peacefully and relaxed that I almost fell asleep myself. With the shades of the tree canopy providing cover and the sounds of nature mixed in with the easy atmosphere, one would think we all came to have a picnic.
"You think there will be others, Zephyr?" Alexander was half sleeping himself on his wife's lap.
"Others what?"
Lucian sat up next to Eli and looked hopeful and added the other half of the question. "You know... other villages come and join after Tori?"
"Lucian, I invited them to come... They wanted to exterminate the thing. Even if others arrived," I didn't see his face but felt his chest moving with every word. "I doubt they all would want to uproot their lives. Tori is small and is relatively close. Those circumstances are not always going to be there."
He squeezed my hand tight. He sounded sad. "I don't think we can save everyone... so let's just save those we're able to."
"Well said, brother." Alexander toasted with his water. "You see, young Lucian, we are not Gods... we are soldiers."
He went on to re-educate Lucian about Gods and men.
I looked up at my heart and searched his gaze. He smiled gently... I knew he wanted to help, but I felt glad he understood others and, most importantly, his own limits.
I reached up and played with his eyelashes. "It's hard to believe you're younger than me, my love."
He kissed my nose and rubbed his own on it. "We may never know, Lylly... I'm certainly more mature mentally and also a superior speech... alright, okay!!"
I turned around and bit his chest. Pulling back, something hit me like a boulder. I climbed up on him and couldn't believe I hadn't thought about this before.
"Zephyr... we don't have a birthday for you yet..."
He looked confused for a little while, then kissed my nose again. "We have time. Let's pick one. I'm fine even if— Uhhh... that reminds me, when is yours or Anna's!?" He grabbed me after his own brain clicked.
I guess we both hadn't thought about it until now.
"Mine is on December 8th, and Ilianna is..." I quieted down, realizing I had no idea myself. I looked at Demelza for help.
She smiled but shook her head, unsure. "It's sometime in September, I believe. Sorry, honey, I'm not fully sure... Vistellia will definitely know."
Right, Granny will know. She knew her biological mother. But, even more importantly...
"Soo?? Any thoughts when you want yours?"
He seemed so lost for a second that it scared me. Right... he might be thinking about when his actual birthday is.
I reached for his lips. I wanted to let him know I was here... even more, I wanted to distract him. It worked so well that we had to be stopped by Eli.
"You two are... can we decide this later? The others seem ready to go." She got up herself, and we saw the others getting ready also.
He planted one more on my lips before he got up and helped me, too.
"Eli is right... let's go, we want to make it to the lake before nightfall."