Welcome to Gaia! ::

Shiro had been translating everything that Leyenda said for Kelirahc, so that he could add anything if he so wished, but he had remained quiet throughout her entire explanation. Now, however, he spoke softly, his eyes filled with sorry as he looked at Leyenda.

Shiro translated quietly. "He never wished to do any of this without your full knowledge," he said, "and he did what he could to explain to you what it all meant. He thought you understood, and that you wanted it as much as he did. He understands that you married him without realizing what was going on, and ... if you wish to leave him, he will understand."

He turned to Leyenda. "But personally, I think it will break his heart."

Leyenda looked to her parents. "I just met him," she murmured, "and I know that it is far too soon to have done something like this ... but ... I don't want to back out on him. More than that, I don't want to be without him."

She looked at Kelirahc, and then back at her parents. "Perhaps if I had known exactly what was going on, I might have declined his proposal," she told them, "but I also feel ... that given more time ... I would have accepted anyways."

Arwen glanced at Senka, then looked back at Leyenda. "Well?" she asked.

Leyenda looked over at Kelirahc. "If he wishes it," she murmured, "I would very much like that ..."

Shiro translated for the dark man, and Kelirahc smiled widely and cupped his hands around Leyenda's. His eyes sparkled brightly, and he took a nervous breath. "Yehs," he said warmly, using one of the words of their language that he had learned from her. He added something in his own language, and Shiro translated for him.

"He will go anywhere you go," he smiled, "no matter where it is, or how far ..."

Leyenda blushed and smiled back at Kelirahc, but before she could say anything, Roydon spoke up.

"Leyenda," he said softly yet firmly, "are you certain that this is what you want?"

Leyenda didn't hesitate. "Yes, Papa," she nodded. "I am."

Kelirahc watched Roydon anxiously. Roydon looked at Arwen and sighed. They had expected more time to get used to the idea of giving her away ... though to be fair, at least she wasn't going to be leaving them ... still, they knew absolutely nothing about the man who was her husband, and he wanted to know for sure that the man was worthy of being her husband.

"I would feel better if the two of you still took a bit of time," he said quietly.

Shiro translated for Kelirahc, and the man nodded and spoke back quietly.

"He will do anything you ask," the neko translated, "even if it is to wait forever."

Something of a romantic, Shiro mused, which was interesting to find on an island like this.

"His elders have invited us to visit their village," he went on, "and would like to speak with us. It is a journey of two days-"

"We could be there by midday if we fly," Leyenda said quickly.

Leyenda nodded. "I don't understand exactly how it works or what it means, but they all seem to have some sort of tattoo or something that they use to summon a creature."

Shiro looked at Kelirahc as the man said something, and then he turned back to the others. "They're not tattoos," he spoke up. "They're called marks ... they are the sign of the family, and they are the spirit guardians of the elves."

Everyone stared at Kelirahc, and after a moment Arwen murmured, "Would we all fit on the dragon?"

"If not," Leyenda offered hesitantly, "I can try to summon another ... I know how he does it, though I have not tried it myself ..."

Shiro looked at the mark on her shoulder. "So the mark ... you received it as part of your marriage ceremony?"

Leyenda nodded slowly. "Though ... I don't know if I can use it yet."

"We're not going anywhere until Kelirahc has rested," Leyenda said firmly, her tone daring anyone to argue with her. "He's been going for four days without rest, at my count."

She looked at her parents, but Arwen simply nodded. "And you need to sleep as well," she said just as firmly, rising to her feet and walking over to Leyenda. She set one hand gently on her head. "You look as if you've been awake just as long."

Leyenda nodded and rose as well, tugging Kelirahc to his feet. "We need to sleep," she murmured to him, giving Shiro time to translate. "Come."

Kelirahc looked anxiously at Arwen and Roydon, then followed Leyenda as she led him into the shelter.

When Leyenda and Kelirahc were safely out of earshot, Arwen sighed heavily and returned to where she had been sitting. Roydon wrapped his arms around her and held her close.

"Lin," he murmured, looking at her, "Shiro ... we won't be looking at this situation clearly, Arwen and I ... we need to know ... what do you two make of this? Of him?"

"I'm sure he's aware of that," Roydon smiled, "what with the reaction of his friend ... what was her name?"

"Haldia," Shiro supplied.

Roydon nodded. "Haldia. I have to say, her reaction was worse than anything I have ever heard of in the Four Lands."

"Grandmother," Arwen nudged his leg.

"With the exception of Serenity," Roydon conceded. "But my point is, we will make clear to him the risks ... but if he was willing to take such a reaction from his friend, who obviously means something to him, I seriously doubt the possibility of a similar reaction from strangers is going to deter him."

"And if it does," Arwen frowned, "then he doesn't love Leyenda as much as he claims."

Shiro shifted uncomfortably. "I think his feelings for Leyenda are true," he murmured, "but I also think there's a lot more to learn here. About his people, for example. We've seen him here with Leyenda, but what is he like when he is with his own people? I think we should visit his village, get him to show us around, and then talk about what we think of him. After all, people act differently when they're around different people."