Jadeviper hands Laura breakfast and a tub with something for her lunch. Jadeviper also has things to do today. A lot of head-clearing and meditation - the elves still aren't back and she's trying not to worry.
The Swamp
Laura was practising all day with her new abilities. After clearing her mind from the disturbing memories of last night, she had gone to see the chimps. They had sufficient amount of intellectual activity but it was qualitatively different enough for her to easily be able to differentiate their thoughts from her own. She was amused to see how concrete their thinking was, mostly limited to things like a tree, a leave, sleep, water etc. Some chimps are know to be able to rise to a more abstract level, to understand and think in terms of mine, yours, yesterday and away, but not these fellows. They were care-free, understanding only the bare essentials in life.
Laura tried to focus on her training, but couldn�t help wondering what had happened to Orophin. It was perhaps due to her yet unrefined skills, but she could not feel him and it made her a little worried.
Orophin was now heading back to camp, he had assited in demolishing the dungeon and he escorted his troop home. He thought about the events of the past day, and he addmitted it was scary but very amusing....especially when he whooped ass!!
He was now a few meters from the camp and he could see smoke rising from the spot....he took a deep breath...."mmm, smell like JV is cooking up a storm again!!". his mind went to Laura, he wondered how she felt of her new powers and identity.......being an elf has its perks, and the fact that she was soon to be.........Orophin stopped....he pondered on that thought........"queen!!"....."i wonder if she would accept!"....."has this ordeal changed her feeling"............he felt the anxiety wash over him, he was nervous......"never leave what you can do today for tommorrow! i will have to take the plunge."........grrrowl!!!....."after breakfast!" he smiled as he heard his stomach complain.
'Hey, Orophin glad to see you' Laura turned around smiling, but he was not there. She had sensed his arrival prematurely (so much for the use of practising, she still does not master her new skills!).
But it did not take long for her to see Orophin for real, as he rushed to the table few minutes later and started eating as if he had not seen food for a week. Laura went up to him wanting to make sure he was alright.
Orophin was enjoying the meal, the fight had left him with a large appetite and he was also feeding for two...[huh?!?]......{the dragon, silly!!}....[oh!!]
"Oh i'm ok, just abit hungry" he took a sip of his orange juice....."what about you? how do you feel?".....he looked at Laura attentively, he wanted to know how she was feelikng, how she was taking to her new abilities. He was happy to see she looked okay, but he wanted to hear her say it to him.
Jadeviper is relieved to see the elf return in one piece, but senses the need for him and Laura to talk. She hopes that with Laura's new powers they finally both say what's on their minds...
Jadeviper prepares celebratory drinks, just in case.
�I�m feeling fine, thank you�. Laura looks Orophin straight in the eyes and smiles. �I just need some time to get a grip on these new powers, I don�t want to pass out on a critical moment again� she says with a laugh. She then talks about her experiments with the chimps and amusement spreads on Orophin�s face when she describes all the peculiarities she has learned about the chimp psyche.
What she does not tell him, is that while she�s been training with the animals, she has also been thinking a lot about Orophin and his responsibilities as an elven king. Now, more than before, she is aware of the risks involved. She is wondering if it indeed would be better for Orophin to marry someone from his own people, someone who has been born with the powers and would be much more capable in using them. Laura still feels so clumsy and fears that her lack of experience might prove fatal one day. No doubt there will be battles in the future as well. But Laura�s heart just won�t listen to reason. She cannot bear the thought of him leaving and marrying someone else.
But none of this she tells Orophin. She just smiles and cherishes the moment when he is finally there, safe, smiling back at her. (Even if Laura was more skilled with her new abilities she could not read Orophin�s mind. Elven kings have extra protection against mind intrusions and only certain emotions can be scanned. So she has no idea what Orophin is thinking at this moment, she needs him to tell her).
'I thank you from the bottom of my heart for getting me out of there' is all she can say. 'Both of you' she adds, turning to Jadeviper.
Orophin was still laughing inside about the chimps, he jsut remembered the short discussion he had with that chimp at the party........"oh, the party!!" he remembered that he neede to apologize to Laura and set things straight.
"Laura, i want to apologize for what happened at the party" he stood up from his chair took her hand........"there was a misunderstanding of my words, and that is understandable"...."thats why i want to do this the elven way"
He held on gently to both her hands, then he closed his eyes.....the lf was opening up his mind to her, so she could see how he felt........it was what elves did to make courtship less of a hassle as in the human world.
He spoke to her in his mind, smiling...."do you see?"
Holding on to his hands Laura entered Orophin�s mind, and his emotions surrounded her. Misunderstandings were corrected and fears wiped away. Orophin had no difficulty in reading Laura�s thoughts as she replied �yes, I do see�.
Then she opened her eyes and smiled too.
Jadeviper senses the surge of emotion. "About bloody time!" she thinks to herself, smiling broadly. She starts putting the finishing touches to the celebratory drinks.
Orophin felt very relieved, he couldnt stop smiling as he looked into her eyes. "So, what happens now?" he asked, having never had experience in matters of the heart.....but he was so overwheled by her emotions, all he could think of was to kiss her.....but he stayed calm on the outside.
JV was just wacthing the two, with a bucket of popcorn and diet coke. the animals had all gathered round beside her enjoying the spectacle.
Laura almost laughed out loud, the mighty king looking so confused in front of her. 'The human custom would be to.... krmhmmm... kiss...' Suddendly she didn't feel like laughing at all anymore. Orophin's hands were holding her so close now...
Orophin embraced her, not wanting to let go, he wanted to remain like tat forever.............but he knew she needed to breathe too, so he pulled away gently, smilinng at her.
"Well, it looks like we have an audience. Oh, and drinks too" he smiled at JV, amazed at her uncanny hindsight.
She didn't want him to let go either. But she knew this was not going to be the last time for them to hold each other. She smiled at JV, blushing a bit, and took the offered drink.
Jadeviper wraps her arms around the two dolts and hugs them both tightly. "I thought you two were never going to be honest with each other about your feelings!
"So, what happens now?"
He was just about to answer when suddenly his samsung videophone watch began to beep...."hold on sec JV!".....he walked off and and talked to his wrist for a while.....he was very animated, which made it difficult for the other person since his hand moved too far away to hear sometimes.
He finished the call and walked back to the ladies......."um...sorry 'bout this but i have to leave for a couple of days....monarch duties call!".....he hugged JV and gave Laura a deep kiss....he almost forgot what he was supposed to do after it.........then he floated off into the air....."i wont be long. Laura will tell you our plans JV.......be good!!".
He then boarded a waiting transport craft and it promptly sped off into the horizon.
In another reality far far away Laura sits thoughtful at her pc. Summer vacation is over and she finds it increasingly difficult to divide her attention between work and the tale. She is reluctant to let go of the dream but it may be inevitable. Today however, is Saturday, and she logs in�
� finding herself together with Jadeviper. �The plans� well�we must wait until Orophin returns but I have a hunch on how things will develop from now on�. She describes the elven tradition of a longish engagement period which is meant to test the suitability of the engaged couple. A tradition also humans might find useful. The length varies depending on the differences between the couple and in this case, Laura being a newbie elf, an absolute beginner, and Orophin being the king, highest of the highest rank, the trial period could last for years. Elven years that is, and Laura finds it difficult to translate it to the swamp time. In every case it will be a considerable amount of time, even a few months maybe. Laura doesn�t mind, actually she is relieved to find that she was not expected to be able to take on her responsibilities as a queen just like that, instantly. She will have this time to learn to master her powers and to adapt to elven identity.
�So you see JV, in the weeks to come you probably won�t be seeing much of me here since I�ll be in the elven kingdom. Maybe by swamp December the training will be over and I can return. You can come and visit us, naturally�, she adds as she sees the sad look on Jadeviper�s face. �And� well� in actual fact Orophin has not even proposed to me yet, not in words, this is all just something I sensed in his mind� she says blushing. Laura is unsure in what way elves do their courtship, maybe they don�t use words at all. But she would find out if her hunch was correct when Orophin returns.
In a computer room far ar away, Orophin logs on and is sad to see that Laura will not be a constant presence, but he understands the pressures of work all too well. He wonders if there would be more stress when he ties the knot eventually....."Oh well, just wait and see!!"
In the elven kingdom, Orophin conversed with his mother on the past events and his future. She made it clear that it was rare for a human to be queen of the elves but its not forbiden. It would take a few years of engagement before its finalized, and being almost immortal, that can be a while.......but she added that since he picked his bride and the people approved, it wont take too long.
Orophin smiled and hugged her, he always felt reassured with his mum's wisdom.
In a messy livingroom cluttered with toddler toys, Jadeviper is also sad that things may quieten down a little here... but maybe it'll mean she will feel more able to abandon her PC more often to do housework 😉
Jadeviper keeps herself busy in the swamp, tending to the animals and slowly clearing up the damage caused by Mosquito.
Laura was helping Jadeviper with the animals and at the same time mentally saying goodbye to them. The meerkats had grown into a big happy family, with several generations already popping up and down in their own funny way. The deer would also be fine, now that Mosquito had been vanquished Laura was not worried about new deer hunting parties. Especially difficult for her was to leave Anwar and she fought back tears as she scratched him behind the ears and below the chin. �Wild animals were better off in the wild� she tried to tell herself and besides, her absence would only be temporary. At least she hoped so.
Orophin was arranged for Laura transport, he made sure there was utmost security involved. "hey hey...no sleeping on duty.....youre gonna carry a precious item!!" the elf snapped at a guard that seemed exausthed from all the specific arrangements the king was making, everything had to be perfect.
Orophin gave it the once over, then gave the order to depart. The journey would take about one hour, thus giving him time to put the finishing touches to the welcome party.....for a king, he was very hands on.
Laura stepped in the transportation capsule. She was desperately trying to locate Jadeviper, but for some reason she had disappeared in a critical moment. Laura would have wanted to wait but the driver was very persistant; they would have to leave immediately or the schedule would be ruined. 'What schedule?' Laura tried to ask, but got no intelligible reply (hmph... typical public transport employee...). Maybe she would still have a chance to see her in the elven kingdom before she would start her training in the secluded part of the elven citadel.
Orophin looked his watch, he still had half an hour.
he stepped into the busy kitchen, cooks and ravens allover the place, he was looking for the head-chef he had called in especially for this event.
"Hey JV!" he smiled and gave er a hug..."i'm so glad you acceted the invite, this wont be anything without you".....a sly grin formed on his face..."Laura will be shocked to see you here."
Jadeviper looks up from the sugar flowers she was making and smiles.
"Well, we couldn't just fade off into the sunset while Laura disappears for the duration of her training. She deserves a big send-off."
There's certainly going to be enough food to feed an army.
Laura arrived at the elven kingdom. She would have liked to take a sightseeing tour to look around since she had never been there before, but all that would have to wait. She was rushed to the castle main entrance and escorted to a huge hall. Her luggage was taken up to the ivory tower, where she would be spending the following months. Laura was about to follow the porter, when she heard someone call out her name. She stopped and turned.
"Surprise!!"...everyone chimed out in unison. Orophin and JV walked up to Laura and each gave her a hug....."Welcome to Va'lis, your new home" Orophin took her to the balcony, where she was met by waves of applause from the crowd below.....up in the air there was an airforce flypast with colors of the rainbow trailing behind each plane.
Orophin gazed at her as she took all this in, he smiled...."Theres more to come my dear"
Laura was speechless, gasping for air. A lump was developing in her throat and she was afraid she would burst in tears... when instead she suddendly burst into laughter. Tembo was flying behind the airforce, doing somersaults and trumpeting with all its might, and it was such an hilarious sight the crowd spontaniously cheered.
'What more can there possible be?' she asked - but Orophin did not reply.
Bedazzled Laura entered her chambers in the ivory tower and closed the door behind her. She would come out only if something important came up. 😃
The stranger walked in and looked straight at the dormant jukebox at the far corner. He lifted a coin and flicked it into the jukebox.....it suddenly sprang to life with music.
The shodowy figures that filled the room started moving and a chorus of voices filled the room, like nothing had happened.
"hey Mosquito, nice place you got here" a voice chimmed out through the din. "Thanks joolsvern. come have a drink on the house"
The stranger stood at the doorway....he smiled as he gazed at the room with his golden yellow eyes.
Jadeviper begins to wake, hearing music coming from... somewhere...
Laura lifts her head from the books she's been studying. Music?? It's been so quiet for months... She's tempted to get up and find out what's going on, but decides to wait for a while. There are lot's of new people in the neighbourhood, with tractors and all. 😃 Maybe they're just fooling around. She continues reading...