When they reached the kitchen they passed Hannah sitting at the table, already writing in a notebook. At the back of the room Allie opened the basement door and Bleidd handed her the other empty box. He cocked his head to the side, elven body language that showed you were giving someone your full attention. When he spoke again it was in Elvish, “Why shouldn’t I get you something? It is your birth day after all, and humans make much of such things.”
“Well, yes, but I don’t celebrate it. Not usually, anyway,” she muttered in the same language, shoving the empty boxes unceremoniously down the steps. It was a bit childish but she felt an odd satisfaction in the noise they made as they fell. “Besides, you only just bought me a car. A car. Which is like the most insanely generous gift ever. You hardly need to get me anything else, pretty much ever. I don’t want you worrying about anything as minor as this. It’s not a big deal.”
“Right, and yet you are allowing Jason and Hannah to give you this party. That would seem to indicate that you have at least some interest in the concept,” he said slowly. She closed the door and as she turned back to the kitchen he reached out, grasping her arms gently and holding her in place until she met his eyes, her expression puzzled. “Tell me that you don’t care about any of this and that you wouldn’t like a gift and I will forget about it.”
She blushed and fought against the ubiquitous nervous giggle that always tried to overtake her in these situations. Her eyes darted away from his, trying to ignore the sincerity in their green depths, and instead she focused on the black strands of hair that clung to his shoulder where his ponytail had been pulled forward. “I don’t want people making themselves unhappy just to try to make me happy.”
“Allie,” he said, leaning over and moving his head until she was forced to look into his eyes again. “Tell me plainly that you do not want a gift.”
“I…” she started, her mind scrambling to find a way to tell him not to bother about it without lying. “I don’t want you to worry about something this trivial, especially when you’ve only just given me a wonderful gift barely a month ago.”
“Aliaine McCarthy,” he said, his voice entirely serious now. “I am asking you a third time, and I want a straight answer, no prevarication. Do you want a gift?”
She opened and closed her mouth several times, mortified. Finally in a small voice she said, “I…would like a gift for my birthday.”
He grinned triumphantly, leaning back. “There! Was that so hard?”
“Yes,” she said, rolling her eyes. “And nothing crazy. A small gift. But I suppose…I suppose…it is nice to be thought of on your birthday.”
“I think of you constantly,” he said, his voice now sending a shiver up her spine and making her step forward and wrap her arms around him. “But I also love a challenge. I will enjoy finding something for you that you will like and that will be…appropriate.”
“Now I’m afraid,” she laughed, making the truth sound softer.
She walked over to Hannah and sat down at the table trying to keep her good mood as she surveyed the notes the other woman had already made. Hannah looked up, feigning seriousness but projecting cheer that was easy for Allie to read, “So, let’s start with the most important thing: what flavor cake do you want?”
“Ahhh….” Allie hedged a bit. She noticed Bleidd smirking as he headed out of the room and reached out to his mind, causing him to hesitate in the doorway. “You aren’t going to stay and enjoy my suffering?”
He glanced between the two women, “Tempting, but I believe Jessilaen just arrived back and I’d like to talk with him.”
“Bleidd, don’t get him all spun up about this party idea. You know how he can get about these things and I don’t think I can handle this turning into utter madness.”
Bleidd’s expression turned decidedly Cheshire-cat-like. “Now be fair Allie, this is a lovely opportunity for the Commander to experience a new aspect of human culture.”
That comment really alarmed Allie, given Jess’s penchant for unbridled enthusiasm over the most trivial and odd aspects of human culture. She found herself remembering how much he’d enjoyed spending the day getting the hot water heater replaced….Before she could respond however, Hannah was asking her again, “Don’t worry about what you think other people might like just go with what you want. So what’s your favorite cake flavor?”
“She loves red velvet cake,” Bleidd volunteered, before disappearing down the hallway.
Allie opened her mouth then closed it, nodding at Hannah as the other woman made a note about the cake. She had a sinking feeling that this was all about to get very interesting…
*********************
Bleidd jogged lightly down the stairs towards the Guard vehicle to meet Jess as he was stepping onto the lawn. The other elf was still in his uniform, the dark green tunic and black pants that marked him as a member of the Elven Guard even without the visible badge clipped at his waist.
Jess smiled widely at Bleidd as he watched him walking over, then his gaze strayed to the decorations across the yard and on the house, his expression turning puzzled. He paused at the edge of the decorated area, waiting for Bleidd and after a quick embrace in greeting and a slightly more thorough kiss he asked, “There is a purpose to all of this, yes?”
Bleidd couldn’t hide his own disbelief, “Surely you’ve seen Halloween decorations before?”
“I’ve seen the things put up in the city for the holiday yes. I’m uncertain why our yard is suddenly full of the same.”
Bleidd tried not to laugh at the obviously disapproving tone in the other elf’s voice. Clearly Jess was not pleased by the transformation the house had undergone, although Bleidd would bet real money that the Guard commander would not say as much once he found out who was behind it all. “Ah, yes, this is your first Halloween with us, in the house. You will find, Commander, that Allie is nothing if not excessive about this holiday in almost every respect.”
The look of dismay on Jess’s face was so comical that Bleidd had to bite the side of his tongue to keep from laughing, the pain helping him to keep his face blank. With an obvious effort Jess said, “I see. Well. At least it is almost upon us now and will be over quickly.” Then as if the thought had only just occurred to him, “She does celebrate Samfuin, does she not?”
At that Bleidd did smile, “Indeed she celebrates all of the Elven holidays, as well as many of the ones from the human witchcraft tradition her family followed.”
Jess visibly relaxed, “That is well then.”
“Speaking of celebrating though,” Bleidd said, wrapping an arm around Jess’s waist as they two began walking slowly towards the house, “it happens that Halloween is Allie’s birthday and the other roommates are planning to give her a party. I think it would behoove us to get her a gift, in honor of the event.”
Jess paused, tilting his head to the side, “I…would not know what gift would be appropriate for such a thing. Is it a special birthday this year for her?”
“Special, no.” Bleidd said, understanding Jess’s confusion. “Humans celebrate the day of their birth every year for their entire lives, rather than only the significant ones. Allie has not made a habit of it herself actually but this year Jason and Hannah would like to acknowledge the date.”
“I see,” Jess said slowly. “Fascinating. And of course gifts would be expected if that is the human custom. But what would be appropriate to give her under our circumstances?”
Bleidd grinned widely, “As to that – I have an idea. Do you think you could get a few days off to go into the Queen’s Holding with me?”
2 – October 27th
Bleidd self-consciously adjusted the sword strapped at his hip, surprised that it felt strange to be wearing one again. Oddly enough being in a tunic and loose trousers for the first time in more than half a century didn’t feel strange, and he even liked the way the forest green set off his eyes, although he hadn’t worn anything but black clothing in longer than he could easily rem
ember. But the sword’s weight hanging at his hip was a distraction he hadn’t expected. True he hadn’t worn a blade in almost six decades but before that it had been a part of his daily equipment for over 800 years. Yet wearing it now, as he stood by while Jess handled their paperwork in the Outpost’s reception area, he felt uneasily as if everyone was looking at him and judging him unworthy of the weapon.
Which is ridiculous you fool, he chided himself. No one here knows or cares about my past, about my being Outcast. All these mortal tourists see is another elf with a sword. I should be glad they aren’t taking my picture or worse asking me for a picture with them…or worse yet making horribly inept innuendo about swords. At that thought he did his best to stop fidgeting and to look more imposing and unapproachable.
The lobby was quiet, only a half dozen people sitting and waiting for their passports to be checked so they could pass into the Fairy realm. This time of year travel between the two realms was minimal and besides a few intrepid tourists was limited to traders. In another month when the weather turned really cold and the snow began, even intermittently, the tourists would give up entirely and only necessary trade would persist.
Jess stood easily at the counter, his own sword at his side, badge glinting slightly under the ceiling lights. Bleidd watched as the closest human, a middle aged woman, gave the Elven Guard Commander a long worried look then got up and quietly moved down to the opposite end of the seating area. She kept shooting nervous looks at Jess as she moved, and Bleidd found his own mood lightening as he realized that his traveling companion was likely to continue to draw all the attention.
A moment later Jess straightened slightly, sliding the bundle of paperwork that proved Bleidd’s legal entry into the Queen’s Holding into one of the many pockets in his pants. He turned without another word to the woman working behind the counter.
“Let us go,” Jess said in Elvish, businesslike. Then, glancing at the sword which Bleidd still nervously clutched the hilt of, his expression softened. “It suits you well, that blade.”
“Complimenting yourself on a gift well chosen?” Bleidd said dryly, referring to the fact that the sword had been a courting gift from Jess.
“Complimenting the person bearing the gift for doing it such justice,” Jess shot back, grinning. “Although I shouldn’t be surprised that you don’t recognize a civilized compliment when you receive one.”
Bleidd smiled at the teasing, knowing that Jess must be in a good mood if he were willing to joke in public. The two walked side by side out through the back entrance which led to the large open courtyard behind this wing of the Outpost, which was used as a staging area for those traveling into the Holding. Thinking of swords Bleidd was reminded of his earlier thoughts about the blade and innuendo. “In fairness when you’ve complimented my sword before it wasn’t referring to the one you gave me, so I had reason not to expect such a civilized comment from you.”
Jess snorted, clearly struggling not to laugh, his green eyes sparkling with mischief. “I do not believe I’ve ever implied your ‘other’ blade suits you well although I may have had occasion to compliment your skill with it. I generally try to avoid praising you too highly as your ego clearly does not need the encouragement.”
Bleidd did laugh then, “I generally assume you just avoid stating the obvious most of the time and the praise is given non-verbally.”
Jess shook his head slightly, still smiling. They had stopped at the edge of the courtyard, near the line of posts where the horses were kept tied, and he was obviously looking for someone so Bleidd fell silent. Odd how quickly things between us have changed Bleidd mused as they waited. When we first met I could not imagine ever willingly being in the same room with him, and then when it became apparent that Allie cared for him, loved him, he seemed like nothing but an obstacle to my own happiness with her…and yet within such a short space, barely anytime at all, here we are and he means as much to me I think as she does. As always when he found himself thinking of this he wondered how much of his very literal change of heart was due to Allie’s influence. Ah, well, it matters little really. If I love him because I am bound to her, and she loves him, or if I love him on my own; either way the feeling is the same.
His musing was broken as Jess finally spotted the person he was looking for, an elf in the uniform of a Guard Recruit. The youth hurried over at Jess’s wave, his face painfully eager, his uniform looking like he hadn’t had it long enough to have needed to wash it yet. The light blue tunic was spotless, the grey pants crisp, and his dark brown hair was braided back so tightly it stood out down his back like a stick. When he spoke his voice still held the tenor of a child to Bleidd’s ear although he knew the Guard took no one under the age of two hundred. “Yes, sir? What can I get for you sir?”
“We require two mounts for the next several days,” Jess said briskly.
The youth turned and surveyed the selection of fairy horses tied to the posts. The ones closest were those that could be rented out by the tourists; generally the best natured and dullest of the animals. The youth began walking down the line slowly obviously thinking hard as they moved to the section where the Guard horses were tied. These of course were only used by the Guard and those authorized by the Guard Captain, and represented the best and fastest of the animals, if not necessarily the calmest. That Bleidd remembered well enough from his own time in the Guard. His Holding may have been far away from this one but he knew that the Elven Guard was the Elven Guard wherever they were and whatever monarch they answered to. Looking at the animals he found himself grinning again. Despite the memories this experience kept bringing up he was enjoying himself immensely.
The youth selected two of the horses, a dark grey and a palomino with a white blaze covering most of her face, and led them forward together. Jess briefly checked the two over then nodded his approval. The young elf led the horses quickly back to the stable, behind the main building, and the two elves were left to wait for their mounts to be saddled and brought back. Jess turned to Bleidd, “I suppose you’ll insist on riding the grey.”
For an instant Bleidd almost resisted the baiting, but he was enjoying the mild teasing, especially without Allie getting in the middle stopping it before it could really get fun. “I would if only to see you on that palomino. You make such a beautiful matched set, all golden and shining, it will be like something out of an old earth fairytale.”
To his delight the Elven Guard Commander actually blushed, shifting slightly, and Bleidd wondered if the thought hadn’t occurred to him. Jess recovered quickly though. “Indeed. And you shall match your mount as well, all dark and brooding. The two of us together will be quite a sight.”
Bleidd laughed aloud at that, “We shall. I imagine everyone who sees us will simply assume that we chose our mounts ourselves and with that intent in mind. Typical Elven ‘showboating’ as it were.”
Jess cocked his head to one side, curious. “What does that mean, showboating?”
Bleidd reached out and grasped his companion’s arm, suddenly overwhelmingly glad that he had asked Jess to go with him instead of simply doing this alone. “It’s a human idiom that means showing off.”
“Ahhh,” Jess said thoughtfully, nodding. Then smiling, “Allie would be impressed though.”
“Allie would be impressed to see us on horses,” Bleidd sighed. “whatever color they happened to be. I’m not sure she even realizes I can ride, although I’m sure she would if she only stopped to think about it.”
Jess laughed lightly at that. “You should have seen her the one time she rode, on that kelpie. The look of fear on her face, as if she even could have fallen off of him if she’d tried.”
“I can only imagine how amusing that would have been.” Bleidd said, picturing it.
Jess’s look became wistful, “Do you think she will manage alright while we are both gone?”
Bleidd’s grip tightened slightly on the other elf’s arm, squeezing as reassuringly as he could. “I’m sure she will
be fine. She has managed quiet well without us before, and we are always within reach of her thoughts if she needs us.”
That mollified Jess somewhat. “Yes, I suppose you are right. Still…”
“Do not worry. We will be back quickly and she has much to keep her busy. Besides planning this party she is finally interviewing someone today to work with her in the store.”
“Truly, she is hiring someone to work in the store?” Jess looked genuinely shocked.
“Didn’t you know she was going to hire someone?”
“No, she hadn’t said anything to me about it,” Jess said, for a moment looking hurt before he tried to cover the lapse with false cheer. “Of course I am pleased though. She has long needed extra help and this will allow her to work less. Perhaps she may even relax now that is she is not always so busy.”
Bleidd repressed a wince. Oh Allie, why would you not have told him that you were hiring help? Would you have told me if I hadn’t heard part of your phone conversation with the woman you are interviewing? he thought, baffled as always by the way their bondmate kept such random and seemingly harmless information to herself instead of talking with them both.
The young Recruit was re-emerging with their borrowed mounts, the two horses now saddled and equipped for a journey of several days. Bleidd had to admit, grudgingly and only to himself, that he had forgotten how convenient it was to have the Guard handling all these little details.
They took the reins from the youth, Jess nodding to him and saying they would have the animals back within three or four days, barring delays. The Recruit nodded back, wished them a safe journey, then hurried off to help a small group of bewildered looking tourists huddled outside the doorway. Wordlessly the two elves each took the horse they had discussed earlier, despite their own joking about the way they would match their steeds, and swung easily into the saddles.
Fairy Gifts: A Between the Worlds Anthology Page 2