Wedding Day 3

Dakran halted his steps in front of Pelham's chamber and knocked on the door while Maya looked at him doe-eyed, and shyly smiling. It was finally happening. It felt as if he'd been waiting for that moment for aeons, and now angst crept up in his gut. What if, it was all too soon for Maya? What if what had happened with Haren hadn't fully sunk in into her mind?

The door creaking open interrupted his thoughts, and Pelham poked his head through the ajar door looking half asleep, and a little miffed.

" Yes," Pelham croaked, and cleared his throat, grimacing at the sound of his groggy voice.

Dakran rummaged through his pocket, pulled out the liantur stone and held it in front of him " This what you need? If it is, then, I need you to make as much as possible out of it. Also, before lunch is served I need you to be at the oratory to wed Maya and me." Dakran said what he had to say, without giving Pelham a chance to react.

Pelham reached for the stone, and took it out of Dakran's hand " Edýia only needs two doses of this, in light of the recent events" Pelham remained cryptic about Edýia's state, as his gaze drifted to Maya, and frowned with plenty of questions in his eyes.

Pelham opened his mouth to speak " As many as you can get out of that" Dakran cut Pelham off " One is for Maya." Dakran added as his gaze didn't stray from Pelham, but Maya looked up at Dakran as if he was the sun, and the moon under one roof.

" Was it you, who did that to her?" Pelham blurted out with his eyes on Maya who snapped out of her daze, glaring at Pelham.

" No" Maya shyly answered, and looked up at Dakran who nodded " It was Haren " Maya answered in a quiet voice.

" So, the other day, that racket, the shouting, and the banging on the doors. I thought he was just drunk." Pelham grew wistful as his eyes studied Maya's face with compassion.

" He was but...." Maya drawled, her shoulders slumped and squeezed his hand once again.

" We should leave this for some other time. How is Edýia?" Dakran butted in seeing that Maya had a difficult time speaking about it.

" I hope you done the right thing " Pelham added and fisted the stone " You can't turn a blind eye, again. Edýia is resting. I will know more when she wakes from her slumber. So, far is nothing that you should worry about," he added as his eyes drifted to Maya when she rubbed her arm.

" I have dealt with him, no need to concern yourself about it. For now, let's focus on rebuilding and it should begin with our wedding to mark a new start for all of us," Dakran paused to gather his thoughts " Edýia, bled" Dakran cleared his throat " What was the cause?" Dakran finished his thoughts a little out of sorts while Maya looked up at him, worried.

" Edýia " Pelham sighed, and frowned " It is not clear yet, what caused it, but I know for certain that, the little one, is just fine." Pelham smiled but it wasn't his, he was hiding something. He always spoke in riddles when he was lying about something, but it wasn't a good time to turn him into target practice to squeeze the truth out of him.

" The stone?" Pelham changed the topic as fast as he could " It can only be found in Shaddow Valley" Pelham opened the palm of his hand, to look at the stone, and grinned.

" Iris. She brought it to us" Dakran turned to Iris who raised her head and wearily smiled " We owe a debt of gratitude and a life debt. Anything you ask it will be given to you" Dakran solemnly bowed to Iris who smiled and returned the bow.

"You're hurt" Pelham stated the obvious " I must say, I have seen you many times, but now that I see up close" Pelham took a step forward and touched Iris's hair " I've never seen anyone with your condition" Pelham seemed ecstatic about Iris.

" Yes. And broken tired. What do you mean, someone with my condition?" Iris said grimacing and hugged her ribs under Pelham's scrutinising gaze.

" Flaxen hair, argent skin, flawless" Pelham measured her from head to toe and pointed at her ribs.

" May I?" he asked permission before touching her to which, Iris nodded, and Pelham raised the ragged tunic to look at her ribs.

" Kovi dressed the wounds, but he said he doesn't think, there is anything broken" Iris's voice strained, and hissed when Pelham poked at her ribs.

" Hmm" Pelham rubbed his chin " No, nothing broken, but looks like you have small cracks in your bones. Stay here. I'll get you something for the pain, and later " Pelham wiggled his fisted hand " Something that will help with that. I only wish that we had more though. There are plenty of wounded that needed it." Pelham pensively added as he strolled back into his room.

" How much can you make out of that?" Dakran asked the moment Pelham appeared on the threshold.

" Not much, two, maybe three doses" Pelham answered as he walked past him, holding the familiar elixir bottles.

" It will help with the pain, and you need plenty of rest" Pelham gave his instructions while placing the little vial in Iris's hand.

" Thank you" Iris meekly said, and fisted the vial.

" Is there any way to make more than three vials?" Dakran continued to press for more, as his people were hurt too, and they also could use all the help they could get.

Pelham halted his steps in front of the door " I can, but it won't be as effective, and it won't do much." Pelham delivered the grim news, with a matching grim look.

" Edýia needs it the most at this moment, while the rest can heal in due time. Maya can have something else to clear the remaining flecks on her skin." Pelham said as he walked back inside the room, and returned with two more vials.

" Here," Pelham took Maya's hand in his, and placed the two vials in her hand " It will take a few of these, but they will be gone before you know it" Pelham fisted Maya's, hand and smiled.

Maya nodded, and smiled " Thank you, Pelham," she said in the same quiet voice.

" In that case, we will leave you with your work and remember before lunch at the oratory. Don't be late." Dakran said and Pelham rolled his eyes at him.

" I won't...well ...maybe. "Pelham chuckled when Dakran scowled at him " I will be there. Don't get your knicks in a wad" Pelham amusedly said, before shutting the door as Dakran frowned, growled at him, and looked ready to slap him silly.

" Your chamber is not far from here" Dakran pointed to one of the doors further down the corridor " If go through that door and then to the end, you'll find the chamber. It is quiet, and no one will disturb you" Dakran added as he halted his steps at the corner of the corridor.

" I will see you at the ceremony " Iris meekly said to Maya, and him as she turned around the corner, out of sight.