10: No More Talk of Darkness

Chapter 10 of "A Grail for Eidothea"

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Having met Maeve, learned some dreigiau môr history, it’s become clear that the Greal must be found. They arrive in Caer Morgana’s hot spring house…

:If you think about it, the robe is a part of you. You are already naked.: Llyr grinned at me.

My mouth dropped open. :If no modesty was needed, why did the Goddess give it to you — to us?:

:Because we were unused to living without clothing.:

I began to think Llyr had an answer for everything. :But … are you saying it is acceptable for a woman to disrobe like that in here?: I did not try to hide my shock.

Llyr raised an eyebrow. :If she is having difficulty getting the cold out of her bones.: He leaned closer. :Eidothea, you don’t have to do anything you’re not comfortable with. Would you like to sit closer to the source?:

I nodded and followed him to the chamber’s centre. I kept my robe about me. Llyr laid on the bench next to me, again letting the folds of his robe fall back, revealing his shoulders and chest. His eyes closed. :Do not let us stay too long here,: he thought. :We could become over-heated.:

I certainly felt that way already, a combination of the hot spring, Llyr’s lithe body and my embarrassment at being so conscious of him.

A woman entered the chamber and sat opposite us. She hitched her robe up around her thighs and shrugged it off her shoulders. It looked scandalous to me, but excepting the open V of her robe, her torso remained covered.

The woman smiled at me. :First time?:

I nodded.

:I knew it. Where did Llyr find you?:

I realised she had left Llyr out of our silent conversation. :Llyr,: I mentally nudged him, :Who is she?:

Llyr’s eyes flickered open, focused on the woman opposite. He sat up, pulling his robe back into place, although it still hung loose about hum. :Lady Angharad,: he acknowledged. His next thought was for me alone. :Thank you for waking me. What did she say to you?:

:She wants to know where you found me.:

The lady looked at the two of us. :Such an adorable couple. She even defers to you, Llyr. You are so wise to seek a bride from outside the caer.:

:What?: I blurted, at least remembering to keep it between the three of us.

Llyr’s polite expression masked his feelings. :All will be revealed in due course, my lady. I am honoured you have taken such an interest.:

:It has been a long time since we’ve had a stranger among us. Once it would have been seen as an ominous sign, but in these modern times, some of us have made homes Above. They at least bring them as children to see family and their heritage. Are you orphaned, child?:

I blinked at her verbal barrage. :No.:

:No, my lady,: Llyr murmured. I repeated his words.

Lady Angharad’s frown became a smile. :Biddable too! Llyr, I expected an adventurer like you would have chosen a similar soul. She seems — what do they call it Above? — Milque-toast?:

I sputtered, even knowing that this woman goaded us for some underlying purpose. I glared at her. :Llyr, is everybody in Caer Morgana this rude?: I thought it loud enough for the room to hear.

Lady Angharad laughed. :Be careful who you offend, girl, or you’ll find yourself ostracised from this place.:

:My pardon.: Llyr rose and stiffly bowed. :I fear my friend has overheated. She is not used to this place.: He drew me to my feet . To me, he thought, :Will you trust me and play along?:

I assented, gazing up into his golden eyes. His arm went about my shoulders and he kissed my forehead. My knees buckled and I gripped his robe’s lapel.

He gaze looked over my head at Lady Angharad. :I thank you for your forebearance. I fear she is quite overset.:

I hid my hot face against his chest and his arms tightened about me. One hand stroked my unbound hair.

:Of course.: Lady Angharad sounded cool, but I heard an edge of excitement. :I wish you both every blessing.: To me, she added, :I trust you will soon learn our ways. My patience is not infinite.:

I flinched at her harsh words. Pulling away from Llyr’s embrace, I regarded her coolly in turn. :My lady.: I dipped my head.

:You look very flushed,: Lady Angharad remarked. :Best get her home, Llyr.:

I started to respond but Llyr shushed me. We hastened from the chamber.

I waited until we were clear of the spring house’s busy square. The locals’ curiosity seemed to have doubled. :Llyr, did you make that woman think we are engaged?:

:Betrothed.: He nodded. He still held me, his arm about my waist. :Had to. If she learned you’re the prophet and I’m the next monarch, there would have been plenty of trouble ahead. She’s sister to the king. They’re not a family who will easily set aside their power. Better for her to think you will be my bride and thus no threat. Do you forgive me?:

I scowled at him. :A little more warning would have been nice.:

He laughed, squeezed my waist and released me, claiming my hand instead. :There was not time. I could already tell Lady Angharad was unhappy with my answers.:

We walked. An unseen current moved around us, not made of water but of thought. :Is this what it feels like when someone talks about you here?:

Llyr looked pleased. :You worked that out! Yes, I don’t think I should let go of your hand until we reach home.:

:Should I gaze upon you adoringly?: I followed through on my teasing, widening my gaze and resting my hand against his shoulder. I sighed for good measure.

His muscles tensed under my touch. :You’re a terrible actress,: he grumbled. He looked away, glanced at me and away again. Red climbed his neck and into his ears.

:I think I am not the only one who overheated. :I bit my lip, realising too late how much I had just confessed.

He stopped, turning me to face him. :Are you referring to the spring house, or …?:

:Yes and … yes,: I replied, remembering his partially clothed appearance. The words tumbled out of my mind without thought for the consequences.

He clasped my hand with an intent, eager expression. :We’ve known each other since we were children, but what you don’t know is that your mother and mine forbade me to go anywhere near your beach. I continued to visit you, although I didn’t dare to reveal my presence.:

:I never saw you,:

:I never let you. I had assumed your mother had chosen the human world for you. As part dreigiau môr, you could never have come to Caer Morgana. I watched you grow into the woman you are now. That is why I came to you when I was so terribly wounded. I trusted you to take care of me.:

I wondered what about my beach activities has inspired his trust. I felt the gossipy current around me grow. :You are not acting, are you.: I did not make it a question. I saw pain flit across his face.

Llyr stroked my cheek. He moved closer, almost touching. :I never thought you could live in my world, and yet here you are. Close enough to hold, to kiss …: His thumb traced my lower lip.

The street near had an apoplexy. I was not immune to his actions either. My heart thudded. I placed my hand on his chest, over his heart, so as to not put the lie to this story we spun to the bystanders. I would not write of this so intimately, except that I know these pages will be hidden, and I do not want to forget this moment.

Although handsome, I had not thought of Llyr as anything other than friend and brother, perhaps because I had been so busy adjusting to my new reality, and perhaps also knowing that a gentleman is more than his looks.

Seeing him in the spring house, hearing his confession, sent my thoughts spinning in a more romantic direction. Somehow I reined in my tumbling emotions. A lot more was at stake than my heart.

:I trust you completely to guide me and protect me. I have not had the chance to think of love.:

His eyes closed and he gave a slow nod. :I understand. I wanted no secrets between us and I didn’t want to regret not saying anything before you left Caer Morgana. I want you to return to me, Eidothea, Greal in hand or not. Perhaps, I have opened the way for us to be more than prophet and ruler?:

I could not look away from those intense golden eyes. The current of gossip rose to a wordless roar. I could not answer him yet, could not give promises when I did not know whether I should, or would, keep them. :We should go.:

Llyr tucked my arm into his and we resumed our stroll to his home.

I sought safer ground in our conversation. :Your mother objected to you coming to the beach? But she did not know who I was when you brought me here?:

:She had no idea why I traveled so far when I was so young. The sea between here and  your home is dangerous. The predators can be shark, human, or dreigiau môr. My mother had had enough after I had an unplanned interaction with a fishing boat.:

:Your wounds when I found you?:

“Dreigiau môr. There is a clan of a few families that will attack any creature which crosses their path.:

On our arrival, Ceridwy took the news of our faux betrothal with a raised eyebrow. :That will be interesting to untangle.:

I was too tired and overwhelmed to wonder why it would be difficult to break an engagement, even a fake one. Ceridwy sent me off to the guest bedchamber to rest, and in the same breath asked Llyr to update her on our excursion to Maeve. I left them to it.

In the morning, after we broke our fast, Ceridwy insisted on joining our visit to my mother’s family. :Even if,: she sighed, :it means giving credence to this story you’ve concocted.:

The gossip current accompanied us the entire way to my grandmother’s house.

We reached a house, smaller and plainer than Ceridwy’s, boasting a few simple arched windows and an arched door. Like the rest of the city, it was made of the same calcified material.

Before we had a chance to announce our arrival, the door flew open. :Berle—: The woman stopped, her joyous expression freezing, then shifting into confusion. Silver strands scattered through her dark hair. :Ceridwy ferch Heddwch, what brings you here? I swear, I thought my daughter was at my door.: Her gaze encompassed me and her nostrils flared. :Who are you and what have you done to my daughter?:

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