by Becca Lusher
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Glossary
Nalamahm
– Sweet one/sweetheart (f)
Miuskahm
– Little one (f)
Drabbles
If you don’t know what a drabble is, it’s a story in 100 words, no more, no less. I like writing drabbles and I tend to write a lot of them. They’re fun, quick to do and a great way of visiting characters I haven’t seen for a while. Since this year I’m attempting to write a Drabble a Day, the Aekhartain crop up quite frequently. In fact the inspiration for this whole story started with two quick drabbles.
With that in mind, I thought I’d share a few others that I’ve written with you. If you’d like to know more, visit my blog where I’ll be posting new ones soon.
1. Dancing: Maskai
The Aekhartain were celebrating – Freyda and Dóma’s union was the excuse, but they’d never needed a reason to party. The grove was full of dancers, while Dóma sang on the make-shift stage, Freyda on hand to offer smiles, refreshments and kisses.
Shaiel smiled to see them both so happy. To see everyone enjoying themselves. Even Emin was half-smiling at Alamé’s determined efforts to flirt with him.
Only one was missing. He found her in the shadows, listening to the others have fun.
“Their joy is beautiful,” she said, smiling wistfully.
He offered his hand. “Dance with me, Kaia.”
And she did.
2. Dark and Stormy Night: Messenger
It was a dark and stormy night, suddenly a magpie appeared. The howling winds were cruel, the rain hard. It was not a pleasant night for flying.
A square of light glowed in the storm-tossed darkness, and the magpie changed course. It was a tricky manoeuvre, with her long streaming tail proving more of a hindrance than a help.
Finally, she made it, and warm, sure hands waited to bring her in from the night.
“There, love,” Shaiel crooned, wrapping Messenger in a towel and sitting beside the fire. Then he accepted the tattered black feather she carried, and smiled.
3. Defenders: Alamé and Dóma
“You said something to her, didn't you?”
Alamé looked at Dóma, the girl she'd once helped bring out of the darkness, and who now filled the Garden with music. There were few people she loved more. “Of course I did.”
Dóma scowled. “I don't need you to fight my battles for me.”
Alamé laughed. “But I like fighting battles, and Freyda is strong enough for a good fight. If she wasn't, she wouldn't deserve you.”
“You should be nicer to her,” Dóma admonished.
Smiling, Alamé kissed Dóma on the cheek. “As long as she makes you happy, I will be.”
4. Bella Notte: Eddie
It was time. Eddie climbed down from his hollow to scoop Frost up from her near-invisible nest. Then he unfurled his over-long, wondrously mottled wings, wrapped them in close and slipped away to the world. Few knew he could this – and only at certain times of day. He preferred to keep it that way.
Letting Frost go, he vanished his wings and sat on the scrubby grass. The moon was rising and the nightjars were singing, filling the deepening twilight with their unearthly trills.
A dark shape floated past on long wings, effortlessly aloft amongst the moths, and Eddie smiled.
5. Happiness: Fara
Fara sat surrounded by wildflowers, in the new meadow at the heart of the Garden. She loved it here. It was so beautiful and bright, filled with love, hope and joy. Weaving daisies and cornflowers into a chain, she soaked in the atmosphere and smiled. Even a complete stranger would know this place was made with love. But only an Aekhartain could tell it was Freyda’s love for Dóma shining through.
It was wonderful.
Binding her flower chain into a crown, she lifted it onto her head. “Hope springs eternal,” she chuckled, and lay back to smile at the stars.
6. Training: Freyda and Dóma
“Come on, Doe. Don’t you want to fly?”
Dóma’s wings felt impossibly heavy against her back. “No.”
But Freyda was on a mission. “Of course you do. You’ll love it.”
Dóma looked doubtfully at her dress. It was a lovely crushed-velvet creation, deep violet and wonderfully soft: it weighed a tonne. “I’m not really dressed for flying.”
Freyda tutted. “You won’t fly today. You need to build up the muscles in your wings first.”
“Great.” But because Freyda wanted this, and because Dóma loved her, she dutifully started flapping her wings.
And was rewarded by the brightness of Freyda’s smile.
7. Cupcakes: Alamé
Alamé stared at the scarlet confection: it was a completely red cupcake, from base to sprinkles.
“How did you do it?” she asked the grumpy baker. “Witchcraft.”
Scowling, Emin handed her a basket filled with rainbow cupcakes. “Go.”
Grinning, Alamé swiped it and kissed him smack on the mouth. “I think you’re gorgeous too,” she laughed, waltzing out the door.
A flick of the wrist turned her cloak red and, after deciding Shaiel would make an acceptable Grandmother, she sauntered off through the forest.
Perhaps she would meet a big bad wolf along the way.
Well, one could always hope.
8. Freedom: Demero
Sitting on the cliff edge, high above the sea, Demero breathed in the salt-laden air and smiled. A cool wind curled around him to play with the two crows gliding just off shore. Even after all these years, Witness and Wanderer loved their freedom just as much as he did.
While the two corvids tumbled and swooped, Demero flexed his fingers. They were tingling. The sensation was still faint, but he knew where to go to strengthen it.
Smiling, he put on his hat, got to his feet and moved on. Behind him the crows cawed and flapped in pursuit.
9. Poetry: Drae and Freyda
“What’s this?” Freyda looked up as a book landed in her lap.
Drae smiled at her. “You wanted to learn about poetry.”
She picked up the book: Shakespeare’s Sonnets. It was a beautiful edition; red leather, embossed with gold. “I’ve read Shakespeare before.”
He sat beside her, taking it from her hands. “But were you paying attention?” He leafed through the pages. “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?”
“Even I know that one,” she protested, laughing and snatching it back.
“Then find me one you don’t,” he challenged.
“There are 154 of them!”
“You’d better start reading then.”
10. Contentment: Shaiel
The Garden was quiet tonight. Revelling in the solitude and silence, Shaiel lay on his back on the roof of his tower and smiled at the stars.
Here was peace. Here was contentment.
A soft chuck followed by a gentle thud announced Messenger’s arrival. Saying nothing, Shaiel moved one hand from beneath his head and bent his arm across his chest.
Chuckling, the magpie strutted up his ribcage and nestled into the crook of his elbow. They settled into silence, watching the stars together.
In the distance someone laughed.
Alone or in a crowd, the Shadow Garden was always home.
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