Dwellers of Ahwahnee (The Beyond Collection)

by Sheryl Seal

  “Hey now, they have to match my hair. Besides, those are trivial things. I totally have my mind made up on the important decisions, like where I want to get married.”

  “Alright all is forgiven, but this is where we part ways. Grey Wolf and I will meet you back at the village. See you later.”

  “Oria, Oria you’re going to get me in trouble.”

  She had blocked me out and so I would be in for it later. Well, let them all be mad. Those two deserved some time together. They couldn’t possibly get into too much trouble anyway. There was only about half an hour before grandfather called us all. I supposed I could take this time and spend it with Red Thunder. Surly I could handle that. Relaying this to my beloved in my mind, he seemed to want the same thing also. “I hoped your bright mind might think of this Aponi. That is all I wanted since you started this little game of yours.”

  “Let’s go to the top of Bridalveil Fall then, my love. We can decide if we want to have the ceremony at the top or the bottom.”

  I’m pretty sure I heard him grumbling, but I had decided our wedding plans weren’t really what I had in mind for him. I liked to keep him guessing though. I think it’s good for a relationship. He knew I couldn’t resist his charms and being alone with him.

  Grey Wolf

  Thank you Aponi, I thought. She did her job and kept us busy for a while before Oria figured it out. I had to laugh when they were talking because Aponi was right; something was on Oria’s mind. She definitely would have guessed early on. It took her quite a while before she realized we were headed back. I hoped she wouldn’t be angry when she found out that I had a hand in it. I couldn’t take the chance of being alone for a few hours with her. I smiled as I thought about her father…

  Pulling me aside, Fire Cloud gave me his fatherly advice, and requested that I honor his daughter in the old way. I don’t think he found my answer very funny. “How many horses shall I bring Fire Cloud? She is worth millions, but what will you do with so many fine stallions?”

  He patted my back and responded like a father that had been a part of her life all along. “Keeping her virtue intact and making her happy will be enough Grey Wolf.”

  This short time we were about to have together, would be hard enough to keep our wits about us but in the end, I did promise Fire Cloud I would be a perfect gentleman. We came into view of Oria Falls and we both shifted and as I turned around, she hit me so hard we both landed in the water together with her on top of me.

  Yeah, didn’t see that coming. She is most definitely stronger than anyone gives her credit for, and apparently very unpredictable which, I think I like very much.

  Coming up out of the water, we were both gasping and sputtering water. She was laughing so hard that I couldn’t help but laugh too. Mostly because of the paint that ran down her face from her hair.

  Then she threw her arms around my neck and when she looked into my eyes I was lost. I knew in that moment I was done for. She was not going to make this easy for me. Her beautiful blue eyes shimmered from the silver flecks that lived there; the water that ran down her face and sparkled with color was more than I could endure.

  I ran my fingers across the eclipse and stars that were on her face and ever so gently lifted her chin and touched our lips together. Her kisses were like butterfly wings softly caressing and tasting of sweet honey. I’m sure I groaned as she sighed softly and I knew that we needed to get out of the water and onto land and fast.

  I put my hand on top of her head and dunked her under and as she was coming back up, I quickly headed to shore. She was hot on my tail as I cleared the water and backing up along the bank, I held out my hands. “Whoa there, my little firecracker. Truce, I call a truce.”

  She laughed wildly and her face was beautifully lit up and sparkling with water droplets that were now clear. With her hair dripping and her clothes snug against her skin she was a vision to my eyes. Then she started stalking me like a wildcat, and startling me, she shifted into this small wildcat and pounced on me. Just as quickly shifting back, she was draped on me as we hit the ground together.

  She had me straddled and with her arms on each side of me, she dipped her head down and kissed me long and deep and when I thought I had to have more, she lifted herself away and looked me in the eyes. I was breathing so hard, I wasn’t sure I heard the words she whispered. “I love you too Grey Wolf, you are my heart and my soul.”

  My heart was soaring and as she got up off me and held her hand out, I took it and together we stood.

  “You however, are not forgiven for today. I know that you had a part in this. I have great control you know, you don’t need to fear me when we are alone.”

  I laughed out loud at this, “You are not the one I fear my little Queen.”

  “Really, who is it that you fear then?”

  She seemed completely serious. Did she not know how hard it is to control myself around her?

  Giggling when she witnessed how uncomfortable I was with her question, she winked at me. She winked and my stomach did a flip as the smile grew on her face. I believe she knew the effect that she has on me. She was going to make this a very painful courtship. It just may kill me yet.

  “Kidding you… of course I understand how difficult this is for us both.”

  “It is just that we should take the time and savor every moment. I like spending time with you. We already know that we are bound to each other for eternity; there is no reason to rush. We are soulmates.”

  “Yes, I know that we are. There was a time you know, when I didn’t believe it though.”

  I was nodding as she spoke because I remembered this well. “Yes, I know, but I have always trusted in my visions with The Great Spirit and I knew the moment you came from the falls, that you were the one.”

  She had her hair to the side and was ringing the water out of it when I noticed what looked like spiral tattooing on her neck and going under her clothing. She didn’t notice where I was looking though, and appeared to be ready to leave. I had seen in her mind that we were both walking through the meadow of flowers.

  “Are you ready to go home? I want to walk back through the meadow with the beautiful flowers.”

  “I will always be ready to walk anywhere, in all the worlds with you.” I took her hand in mine and we left the pool at Oria Falls.

  “So my heart, are you going to tell me of the runes that you have? Of course I know now about how you acquired the ones on your lovely face, but I also noticed some spirals on your neck and going down under your tunic.”

  She seemed a little reluctant to answer my question and I didn’t want to push, so I quickly tried to let her off the hook. “Of course, these are private things that maybe you are not ready to share just yet.”

  She hung on tightly to my hand and stopped and turned to face me. “Oh no, Grey Wolf, I want to share everything with you. It’s just that… Well, I’m not really sure what all is on my back. I only know what Aponi has told me. We don’t think that it’s complete yet. From what my father has described this is how the markings work. I guess they are waiting for my life to be in order and for me to acknowledge it all. I don’t know. It has me confused right now.”

  I gave her a hug and held her head close to my chest. “It is alright, our lives will work out just wonderful, you will see. Some things just take a little longer and The Great Spirit has the master plan for every one of us. The runes will be complete in time and then you will know the plan he has in mind for you.”

  “I know, and I can wait for that time, it’s just… the rune seems to be of my spirit animal on one side and room for something else on the other and then something is being held. I think. When I picture what Aponi describes it seems strange, any ideas?”

  “Hmmm… No, not unless I see it, my heart. Is this why you are still wrapped up like we are in the cold village?” I chuckled lightly but still got hit in the arm for my comment.

  “I just didn’t want so many questions about something I have no knowledge
of yet.”

  “I understand, but if I cannot see it just yet, maybe you should show your grandmother. She understands many of these things.”

  “Yes, I considered this, but I just thought… well, maybe I would just wait and see what happens with it. Do you want to see it? Maybe you can figure it out.” Unashamed and immediately she started to pull her tunic over her shoulder as she turned around for me to have a look.

  I hesitated, stunned for a moment, and then I moved her wild auburn hair aside and lowered it a little more. My fingers grazed her skin and my body heated up and I had a hard time concentrating on what I was seeing. This was a bad idea, a bad idea indeed. Her back was so smooth to the touch and flawlessly shaped. The runes glowing intensely were impeccable and I had to shut my eyes tightly. I willed my fingers to pull her tunic back up onto her shoulders before it slipped any further down.

  Groaning, I put my hands on her shoulders and kissed the back of her head. Inhaling deeply of her scent, I cursed the promises that I had made to her father.

  “Grey Wolf, what is it? Is it that awful?”

  “No, no my love, it is beautiful, just like you.”

  “Oh, you were so quiet, I was worried. Can you make any sense of it?”

  “Well, you are right in what you described, and you are also correct that it is not finished yet. It is beautiful though. We will just have to wait and see.”

  “Are you sure you are alright? Your voice sounds strange.”

  “Gods woman, do you really have no idea what you do to me?”

  She laughed then, and it was pure music, but I still had a feeling that she knew exactly what she did to me.

  “Why, whatever do you mean sir?” She giggled again and took off running through the meadow. I knew then that she would try every trick a woman knows to test my strength. I didn’t know if I was that strong, but I was always up for a good chase.

  Growling, I lit out after her and caught her quickly. We kissed there in the meadow under the sun, with the intoxicating flowers. I only noticed her scent though. I picked her just one beautiful white Lily and placed it in her luscious hair that blew wildly around her face. She inhaled it and smiling, said that Lilies were her most favorite flower. I smiled at her also because of course, I already knew this.

  I told her, she was my favorite flower and then as she giggled again, I breathed her in like she was the air I needed to survive. I was absolutely sure that without her, I wouldn’t be able to breathe and my heart would undeniably, cease to beat.

  Oria

  Strolling back through the meadow holding hands with Grey Wolf, kept my body tingling. Time and again we would look at each other and stop and share a kiss. His hair was drying in the breeze and blowing around long and dark and shiny. Mine I was certain, was one big curly mess. I didn’t care though. He seemed to love everything about me, including my hair. I knew this because he often took it in his fingers and twirled it and smelled it. For some reason he thinks I smell of vanilla and can smell me on the breeze over the other sweet smelling flowers in the meadow.

  I thought I would just die when he asked about my runes. I sucked in a deep breath and gathered my courage and when I showed them to him he had grown very quiet, although I could hear him breathing heavy. Then he touched my shoulder and I felt his fingers tremble and I knew he was using every inch of willpower he possessed to put my tunic back on my shoulder. His hands were still shaking as he squeezed my shoulders and kissed my head.

  I heard him take a deep breath and I knew that this man held my virtue in high esteem and it took all his strength, to deny himself what he wanted most. I wondered why, but assumed it had something to do with the “talk” my father had with him. Dratz! This father thing could be hard on us.

  “It drives me insane you know? I can scent you miles away. It is the wolf in me.” Then he growled and chased me, while I ran and giggled through the meadow. Arriving back in the village, we kissed and parted ways. He was starving and headed to the warrior lodge to eat. I wanted to check in on my mother, so I went to my lodge.

  As I entered the lodge, I could hear the prettiest sing song voice speaking and knew immediately that this was my mother’s voice. A memory hit me of this beautiful voice when I was a very small babe. She was singing a lullaby, the same one I remembered grandmother singing, after my mother and father disappeared.

  First, I smelled my Lily again and smiling secretly, I placed it under my pillow to be pressed later. Feeling timid and excited at the same time, I slowly made my way to the back of the lodge. All the same feelings hit me again and I hoped that mother liked me and that I held up to her expectations.

  “Come in here my daughter and let me look upon the beauty of your face.”

  I made my way to my mother’s side and took her hand that she held out. She was beautiful laying there with her auburn hair all askew, and I smiled with the knowledge that mine was all over the place after today. Her burns were all healed and there wasn’t even any disfiguring. She was angelic to my eyes and looking over at my father, I could tell he felt the same.

  Grandmother had tears running down her face and was saying something about taking it easy for a while. She had always been a strong woman and I have seen a lot of tears from her lately, I knew she loved my mother very much.

  My ears were buzzing and it was hard for me to focus. I looked at my mother and although she was smiling at me, I thought I had seen her face shimmer. It was just briefly, and it was kind of dark at the back of the lodge. No one else seemed to notice but me, so I tried to shake it off. It reminded me of something or someone but I couldn’t place it.

  “Oria, I have waited a lifetime to see your beautiful face my darling girl. Being trapped in my own body and not being able to help myself or those around me has been such torture. I want to thank you my sweet baby girl, for without you coming to my rescue who knows how long that would have gone on. Come closer and let me hold you.”

  I swept into her waiting arms and let her hold me as she stroked my hair and murmured to me about the love that she had for me. She spoke of all the missed moments in my life and how we had so much to make up for. I listened to her lovely voice and tried to shake off the foreboding that I felt.

  It was wonderful that my mother and my father were here. I also felt grandfather coming and as he neared, I stood up and let him get in closer to view my mother. “My dear Titania, it has been far too long since this old man has looked into your beautiful blue eyes with sparkling dust. I was reminded often of your beauty whenever I looked upon your mother and your daughter. We are glad to have you back home where you belong.” He was down on his knees bowing to her and she smiled at him sweetly. In the background grandmother was chuckling and saying something about old men and their charms. I think she secretly liked grandfather’s compliment.

  “Rise Elsu, I am no longer your Golden Queen, there is a new Queen in our midst, the only one that deserves the title, at the moment. We will sort out all the little details later.” My mother was commanding in her voice, something I had not been able to accomplish very well yet, only on occasion. She however had achieved this at a young age and I gathered this was her way of speaking. This would be great; she could now take back her duties as Queen. It was way too much stress worrying constantly about every which way evil could come into all the worlds. The responsibility was overwhelming and I would be happy to turn the reins over to her. Yes I thought this will work out well for me. I could be just another Dweller of Ahwahnee. More time that I could spend with my friends and Grey Wolf.

  I was brought back into the conversation when I heard grandfather reply. “Oria has done a magnificent job as The Golden Queen. She learned quickly her responsibilities and has protected us all and the world of man. We are all very proud of her.” Then he took my hand, squeezed it and smiled at me lovingly and continued.

  “There are protocols though, and as one Queen retires and passes the crown, the other takes her place. Now that you are back with us, you are stil
l the Golden Queen until you pass it to your daughter. Oria will understand this, won’t you my dear?”

  “Oh, of course grandfather, I wouldn’t have it any other way. This is how The Great Spirit wills it. The crown belongs to you, my mother, and happily, I give it back to you. I am so happy you are home. I have missed you in my life.”

  “Come here and sit beside your mother for a minute Oria.” I sat on the bed beside her and she sat up a little more, so that she could hold my face in her hands.

  “I have heard all about your wonderful achievements and what a kind and loving Queen you are. My mother has raised you well and I thank her for that. I don’t think your father and I could have done a better job. You are a beautiful young woman. I am thinking that maybe things should continue this way.” Mother paused here to catch her breath and I could tell that she was tiring. She was recovering quickly but she would still need time to get all her strength back. I could also hear grandfather gasp in the now silent lodge.

  “I don’t understand my mother; you will recover quickly, probably within a few days and then you will be able to resume your responsibilities. Really, it is the right thing for all of us.”

  “No my dear, the right thing to do is let you learn all there is to being a Queen. Your father and I have discussed this and we have also talked with your grandmother. I would like to go home to the world of man for a while. I need this time to recover fully and also to spend time with your father and grandmother. You need to stay here where your duties as Queen are, and keep learning from the grandfather. You are the one that is needed here, not me.”

  I was so shocked that I had a hard time coming up with anything to say. Tears formed in my eyes and started running down my cheeks.

  “It will be fine Oria; this is the way I want it to be.”

  “But I don’t understand, what about me? Don’t you want to stay here and get to know me? We have missed so much time together and we just found each other.”