Doira'Liim (The Beautiful Whisper of the Goddess Saga)

by Orr, Krystal

  In this one moment, Talliea knew nearly everything about Arizira. She knew how she had struggled before their feelings had been shared. She felt Arizira's curiosity from the first time they met and her inner turmoil before the first time they had kissed. She saw faces dance before her eyes; other Arnia, some adored, some honored, some loved.

  She watched Arizira's childhood race before her in the blink of an eye. She saw her learning to use a bow. She witnessed her first kiss. She walked through dense parts of the forest she had never seen before, but were known and revered by Arizira.

  She remembered the first time Arizira had called her failira in the cave of Li'nas Dei. The word and its meaning were suddenly known to her completely. She could barely fathom the strength of Arizira's emotions for her. Such a simple and beautiful word encompassed all the things she, herself, felt for Arizira. Everything that made Arizira who she was, Talliea felt, experienced and knew.

  The same was true for Arizira. She felt her fingers being guided deeper inside of Talliea's body. The tightness around them was intense. Talliea's virginity felt wonderful to her. She watched her love react to the sensation of being filled for the first time and her heart pounded happily upon witnessing the myriad amount of emotions that passed through her dark eyes.

  She felt and understood Talliea completely in that one moment. The deeper inner workings of Esu politics was suddenly known to her. She saw Talliea's life, so dull and lacking in vibrancy and worth, enter her mind. The images brought tears to her eyes. She watched a young and defiant Talliea leaving the safety of an Esu settlement and become lost. She saw a flower blossom before her mind's eye.

  Tahlet Vahllah.

  The years passed and soon Arizira saw a powerfully built man with elaborate tattoos over his chest. She immediately knew the man as Markahn. She watched him touch Talliea and fondle her through her clothes and felt Talliea's repulsion as though it were her own. She saw him make his claim to join with her before other Esu men and women.

  A sadness fell over Arizira as the events of Talliea's life played out before her eyes. An image of herself came next. She saw her first encounter with Talliea through Talliea's eyes. The wonder; the fascination; the sense of hope that Talliea had felt became Arizira's. Every moment she had shared with Talliea, she witnessed from the other woman's point of view. Talliea's uncertainty and confusion made her smile.

  She experienced their first kiss again. She felt Talliea's pain and guilt over her accident. She felt everything. As the unusual and commanding feelings engulfed both women, they felt tears brim their eyes. Talliea looked up at Arizira. Arizira looked down at Talliea. They each knew what the other had just experienced, and though baffled at the nature, neither question anything. This moment was intimate in more ways than one.

  Arizira leaned down and kissed Talliea again. Her tongue embraced the other woman's as her tears fell down her cheeks. Slowly, she pulled her fingers out of Talliea before sliding them back inside. Talliea moaned, kissing her back, before rolling her hips up to meet Arizira's movements. She cradled the back of Arizira's neck with complete and utter reverence. Her fingers grasped silken threads of silver-blonde hair as she allowed herself to let go.

  For the first time in her life, in twenty-three years, Talliea felt as if she had finally come home. She felt a sense of peace that only bards and minstrels sang about. Arizira was moving on top of her, her fingers so, so deep inside of her body, and the touch was the most heated but gentle of any she'd ever experienced.

  She understood suddenly what Arizira had meant when she had told her the Arnira loved in the spirit, not the flesh. Though it was her body reaping the rewards, it was her spirit that was the cause of such staggering sensations. Arizira was speaking to her body from what she felt in her heart.

  Talliea began to roll her hips faster as Arizira's fingers continued to push inside of her. She felt a thumb rub against the source of her wetness and the sensation was mind-blowing. A gasp, a moan, parted her lips. They were moving as one now, Arizira on top of Talliea pushing their sweat drenched bodies together. Arizira's head was nestled in the crook of Talliea's neck, her lips pressed against moist skin, while Talliea's was resting against Arizira's shoulder. Both women's faces were wet with tears, both of their bodies shook.

  The muscles flexing and contracting in Arizira's body as she moved captivated and enchanted Talliea. Feeling their fluid and smooth movements beneath her fingers was enrapturing and intoxicating. She felt as if the two of them were moving toward some end, some goal. Her body felt ready for a release of some kind. She desired such a thing, yet, she did not. The feelings coursing through her body were the most beautiful she had ever felt.

  She did not desire for them to end, ever. Yet, she knew her body could not continue as it was. Her muscles were sore. Her breathing was stretched. She was hot and tired, but, oh it all felt so good. How she could want and wish for two completely different things, things at such odds with one another, was beyond her.

  Arizira bit down lightly on Talliea's neck. Her breaths came in heavy pants. The arm she had supporting her body above Talliea was weary. Not only was she focusing on her love's pleasure, she was having to stave off her own. Every swipe of her thumb and thrust of her fingers was felt by her as they were felt by Talliea. She had never experienced such a phenomenon.

  She felt as if her own innocence had been returned to her. She was experiencing their entire encounter from Talliea's perspective. The body beneath her own was moving more jerkily and spasmodically. Talliea had completely given over to her body's instincts. Her hips rolled up in such a beautiful way. Legs were spread wide open, heels were digging into Arizira's calves, and hands were grabbing at her neck and back.

  She could hear the pants, dry and uneven, that left Talliea's lips. Moans and whispered cries of her name filled the air around them. Talliea was nearing orgasm. Her first. Arizira smiled, her love for Talliea filling every fiber of her being, and sped up her actions. It did not take long for her to feel the muscles around her fingers begin to tighten.

  As for Talliea, she was lost; lost to everything but what Arizira was doing to her. She could feel something, some power, wishing to be released from deep inside herself. She did not know what it was. It felt...ancient; powerful and preeminent. What it was, she could not ponder, for another sensation vied for her attention. A physical sensation. A release.

  She felt her entire body readying itself for...something. Struggling to help herself achieve what her body wanted, Talliea increased the pace of her hips. She heard Arizira moan against her neck in appreciation. Words spoken in the Arniran language left her love's lips. She did not need to know their meaning to enjoy the sound of them.

  Faster and faster they moved together. Until...

  A paroxysm rocked Talliea's body. She arched her back up completely off the ground, as if offering herself to Arizira wholly. She felt an eruption shatter her into a million different pieces. The most intense of sensations raged through her body. Wave after wave after wave of white hot, explosive pleasure rippled and spread from her sex to her belly to her fingers and toes. She felt her throat constricting. The muscles deep inside her body were contracting around Arizira's fingers. Colors caused an outburst behind her eyes.

  Her emotional bond with Arizira peaked and reached new heights. There was only the two of them. Only Arizira. The rest of the world fell away and became inconsequential. Clans and tribes, gods and goddesses, night and day -- all meant nothing to Talliea. She was where she was supposed to be, in the arms of her love being brought the most beautiful and glorious of pleasures.

  Arizira rolled her hips into the back of her hand. She could feel the enormity of Talliea's orgasm. The sensations rocked her own body. Never before had she felt something so all consuming, so perfect. She knew, as they found their release together, that she could never be parted from Talliea. They shared a heartbeat now, an essence of life that would forever tie them together.

  There was no turning back. Their l
ives belonged to each other now. Arizira's tears pooled against Talliea's neck. She could feel their bodies convulsing together. Their moment seemed to stretch forever, so lost in one another they each were.

  Finally, Talliea sighed heavily and lowered her body. Her legs fell from around Arizira's calves, yet she maintained her hold on Arizira's neck and back, but only barely. Arizira fell against Talliea and released a gravid breath of her own. A copious amount of moisture covered her fingers which were still buried deep inside of her love's shaking body.

  Slowly, she pulled her fingers from out of their tight space. As soon as they were free, Talliea's hand reached for own and entwined their fingers. Her wetness covered both of their fingers. Arizira moved so that half of her body was on top of Talliea and the other half rested on Talliea's right side.

  They each breathed heavily trying to calm their beating hearts. Arizira kissed Talliea's chest and neck. Keeping their hands together, she leaned forward and began to pepper small and light kisses across her face. Her lips exalted Talliea's chin and nose. They praised her cheekbones and her eyelids. She felt Talliea move their conjoined hands over her heart and realized they were both sharing the same rhythm.

  Outside, light had given way to an early darkness. Snow fell in a deluge of white fury and wind howled as if crying for a lost love. Talliea swallowed several times in an attempt to moisten her dry throat. Her entire body hummed and purred with a delightful ebullience. She felt whole and complete for the first time in her life. Turning her head, she pressed her lips to Arizira's forehead and allowed them to linger. She could feel and taste the sweat along the other woman's brow and the heat that covered her body.

  They laid together, arms and legs wrapped around one another, for several quiet moments. Talliea ran her free hand in soft and tender patterns over Arizira's body as they lay cuddled side by side. She wished to experience what they had just done again and again and again. "Ahmanae?" she murmured, her voice hushed.

  "Yes, failira?"

  "I think I have fallen in love with you."

  Arizira smiled and lifted her head to look into Talliea's eyes. Her own were radiating a deep luminous glow. She bent her head down to place a delicate kiss on Talliea's full lips. "I think I have fallen in love with you, too, Tah-li."

  Smiles spread across both their faces. The admissions, the confessions, having finally met the sound of life, blossomed between them. "Are you okay?" Arizira asked as she peered into Talliea's face and brushed a strand of hair from her eyes.

  "I am perfect," Talliea replied, her voice stronger. "It was perfect."

  Arizira smiled again as the sound of the storm outside quickly came to her ears. There was so much she still wished to say to Talliea, so much she desired to speak of, but her body was tired and she desired to rest.

  "I love you, Ari-sera," Talliea said feeling the need to speak the words again. Arizira studied her face for a time, her eyes tracing over exotic features. "And I love you," she said. "I believe I have found my Doira'Liim."

  Talliea did not question Arizira's statement. Though the Doira'Liim was a belief not of her people, she somehow believed Arizira spoke truly. What they had just shared could not be replicated. It was meant only for them and them alone.

  Arizira was the other half to herself just as she was the other half of Arizira. Together, they were one. They were greater than who they had each been alone. Their connection was unique and one of a kind. As long as she was with Arizira, Talliea knew she could overcome anything. She felt a strength inside of herself that she could not explain.

  Arizira wrapped the wolf hide blanket around their tired and sweaty bodies. She pressed herself against Talliea's side and laid her head on her shoulder. Talliea sighed contentedly and took Arizira into her arms. She held her small and slight frame with appreciative and devout care.

  Their hearts continued to beat as one as they each drifted off to sleep. They were together. Nothing else mattered.

  Chapter 30: The First Volley

  Talliea stretched in her sleep and rolled over onto her side. She was vaguely aware of a soreness deep inside her muscles, but it seemed almost welcome after her earlier activities. Her hand reached out, needing to feel the heat of Arizira's body, but landed on the top of her wolf hide blanket.

  She opened her eyes, her deep sleep causing the images she saw to be blurred, and immediately found who she was looking for. Arizira was sitting across from her, next to the fire, and her attention was being held by the world outside their cave as she stared intently at the night sky. Her small, lithe, and beautiful body was covered only by her cloak and her hair, normally braided or otherwise adorned, was falling down her back in a messy heap.

  Talliea lay silently for a time. Her eyes studied every movement Arizira's body made. She smiled to herself when she remembered that slender body moving on top of her own just a few hours earlier. Arizira's flesh had been soft and warm and her muscles had strained as she expressed her emotions with her body.

  It had been beautiful. Already Talliea desired to experience everything a second time. She could not imagine never getting to see Arizira that way again. The thought that they could one day not express themselves so was lost to her. She knew they were connected now, far more so than they ever had been. They had bonded. Emotionally. Spiritually. Physically.

  Talliea smiled again. She had always known the world had more to offer. As a child the belief that all there was only duty, obedience, and strict order had saddened her and brought a sense of heaviness to her spirit. She had wanted to see the world. She had wanted to experience the things spoken of in songs. If such things did not exist, why were they forever immortalized in such a profound way?

  When her people had come to the Northlands and she had seen towering trees and monolithic rock structures, she had known that there was beauty to be found. That belief had only been verified again when Arizira had revealed herself in the glade near her people's camp. Though at the time the two of them could not communicate, Talliea had felt that Arizira heard her as well as saw her. Everything that had happened afterward had been a wild rush of events, both good and bad, that had led her to where she currently was.

  Feeling loved and adored and cherished and physically satisfied. She could think of nothing else that would ever make her feel so complete. A child possibly would give her an even greater appreciation of life...

  She stopped suddenly as another thought entered her mind. A child? Could they have conceived a life? The actual how of Arnira mating and birth were still not certain for Talliea. Arizira spoke of Arniran conception as if it were like any other. She had told Talliea that Aitla blessed them with child. Did that blessing also extend to a love between a day walker and a child of night? Was such a thing possible? Talliea did not feel pregnant but then again, she had no other experience to compare such a thing. Was it possible Arizira was with child?

  They had been connected physically. Arizira had been inside her. They had shared something powerful and strong and beautiful. Was it so far out of the realm of possibilities that their wondrous and beautiful moment together could bring about a life?

  Talliea inhaled and attempted to slow the pace of her crazed thoughts. She was getting ahead of herself. If one of them was with child, then they would both decide on their course of action. They would do what was best. A child, a whole new life with Arizira, was not something Talliea was opposed to. Her eyes focused once again upon Arizira's silhouette. She could tell that her love was lost to her own thoughts. Her glowing eyes were wide with some unknown concept and Talliea felt a sense of happiness by just watching her.

  It had felt good to finally confess her love. Having felt such an overwhelming desire to say the three simple words for so long had left Talliea feeling spent when she'd finally felt comfortable enough to utter them. Hearing Arizira's verbal admission had only made their entire moment together all the more special. Talliea sat up and wrapped her blanket around her nude body. Walking over to Arizira, she settled in be
hind her and covered both of their forms with the soft wolf hide.

  Her legs spread out on either side of Arizira's hips and her arms wound their way around a slim waist. Arizira sighed happily and pressed her back against Talliea's front. "Hi," Talliea whispered, kissing Arizira's ear.

  "Failira," Arizira responded. The small word made Talliea's heart happy. She placed several small, light kisses along Arizira's shoulder before turning her head and resting her chin next to her neck. "Why are you awake?" she asked softly.

  Arizira, eyes having closed at the sensations Talliea's lips evoked, inhaled deeply before responding. "My sight misses the moon," she said. Talliea pulled back slightly and stared at her love. It had never occurred to her that Arizira missed something as simple as the moon. Understanding the Arniran woman as she did now, she was appalled that such a thought had been so lost to her.

  Of course Arizira missed the moon. The moon was her people's physical embodiment of their goddess. The Arnira were nocturnal and enjoyed the night and the stars and all that was celestial. When Arizira had started sleeping during the night so that they could travel during the day, Talliea had never thought overlong on the matter. She had been too upset over where her life was leading her and on Lao'dahn's abuse.

  Now, however, she understood the sacrifice Arizira had made to be able to walk with her as she did. The night was sacred to the Arnira, just as the moon was the light of Aitla upon the world. Feeling guilty, Talliea replied in a small voice. "I am sorry." Arizira turned in her arms so that she could see her face better. Bright and shimmering eyes stared into her own. "Please do not be. I would gladly sacrifice the sight of the Mother Moon if it meant I could look upon your face every minute of my life."