Hope and Loss

After Iris had finished her first bowl of food and filled up the second one. After spending so long surviving just on scraps, and measly meals, the sight and taste of warm freshly cooked food was more comforting than she remembered. She stood up from the table, still pecking at her food as she approached Maya, and Dakran, who seemed to be in their little world, staring into each other's eyes, with an ever-widening grin on Dakran lips, while Maya's cheeks burned, tinted red clinging to his arm.

Their happiness was just as painful, as a dagger into her heart, and the memories she'd tried to bury as deep as possible about what she'd lost, resurfaced. She had that with Ian, and now it was, just an endless, empty chase. But there was still some hope, Ian had retrieved the books, she had no clue how he'd done it, but was happy that he did. Maybe not all was lost, maybe just maybe the books held the answers. Despite her knowledge, hope blossomed once again in her heart. Caught between hope, and the pang of loss, Iris sighed and decided to focus on the present.

" Maybe we should sit down," Iris suggested scooping a spoonful of soup and bringing it to her mouth, glancing around the room. Everyone was bashed, battered, bruised, and covered in poultices. She fitted right in and no one would take any notice of her or the faint bruises on Maya's face. Too engrossed in their own struggles.

Dakran nodded, turned around with Maya, and walked to the emptiest end of the long table as she closely followed. Maya's head hung low, averting herself from prying eyes, self-conscious of the fact she was wearing her nightgown underneath, and nothing else.

Dakran pulled two chairs, and waved Maya to sit, while he took the one next to her as Iris settled in the remaining one. Silence reigned once more, and it seemed that none of them dared to speak. No one wanted to address the big question lingering in the air, but those who didn't know sure did want to find out.

Maya cleared her throat " I think we should have the ceremony before lunch, this way we won't need to worry about disrupting anything. And if people choose to attend, they can have lunch after." Maya broke the silence in a timid tone, gaining Dakran's attention. Despite his deep frown, his expression softened when he shifted his gaze onto her. The boy was beyond any salvation, stricken with the very same sickness as she was, love. But his was different, there was something in his eyes, a shine she hadn't seen before in anyone else.

" Yes," Dakran croaked, and cleared his throat " We should" he reaffirmed with a little more conviction this time around. It seemed that, in the meantime, he had changed his mind about the celebration and he wanted one, after all. Maya sighed, he was hopeless when it came to their wedding.

Iris cleared her throat " How is Edýia?" she asked between mouthfuls. Dakran's eyebrows furrowed, briefly glanced at Maya, and took a deep breath, trying to conceal the concern that briefly flashed on his expression but it was deep enough to make one raise an eyebrow. Uneasy, a little out of sorts, Dakran wavered for a few moments.

" She is" Dakran paused, deciding whether he should lie about it or not " She is not feeling herself" he blurted out, nervously chuckling, and that alone was enough to tell her that he was fibbing through his teeth.

Maya frowned, worried " What happened?" Maya pressed for more, with a fierce look, and that alone was enough to send shivers down his spine. There was still time to spill the truth.

" I don't know. She is under Pelham's care, and he won't let anyone near her for the time being." He carried on withholding the truth and refrained from telling what he knew from Sala.

" I have to speak with him. We will find out more then." Dakran added and poured Maya a warm brew and then one for himself.

" Could it be because of what happened with Ruma? If it is so then, I came at the right time" Iris pondered on the matter a little more than he liked. Sala, just reckoned that Edýia had lost a babe. Sala wasn't convinced, at least that was what he'd gathered when she told him.

" We will know more, once we speak with Pelham" Dakran answered, ready to end the discussion on the matter. Worrying without any facts was pointless.

" I'm sure Rom, is in pins, needles, and warts of worry." Maya absently mumbled, starting at the table.

" The girl is strong. She has survived up until now. I'm sure she will overcome this as well." Iris patted Maya's hand with a small smile. Dakran took a deep breath hoping that she was right, and Sala was dead wrong.

Trying to cheer up the mood " So, are you going to grace us with the stories of your adventures? Where is Ian and the others?" Dakran cleared his throat when Iris turned sullen, and slumped in her chair, glaring at the table.

Dakran sighed, his attempt had bounced back right in his lap, as silence settled in between them, awaiting for Iris to speak, but that was all, nothing followed. Clearly he had touched a sensitive cord, a very sensitive one by the looks of it. Since Iris, woefully sighed and didn't move. Dakran sighed, might as well, get on with other things, since Iris was tight-lipped about what had happened. He wanted to ask about Corvin, but seeing that she wasn't exactly in the mood to spill anything, he best get on with other things.

Dakran cleared his throat a little louder this time and all eyes went to him " I'm glad that those who had served me and survived this long war have finally made it home. I couldn't be more grateful to all of you for everything" Dakran paused and pulled Maya up to stand up next to him " Before lunch is served I would like, and if you want to come and celebrate with me and this beautiful young woman who has accepted to be my wife and the Lady of this Land while we join our fates." Dakran finished his speech while the hum of voices quickly resonated throughout the room, accompanied by nods of approval and appreciative bows.