Chapter 2 - Summer's Embrace

~ Seven cycles of the seasons - 16 Years earlier ~

Lia walked confidently along the road, humming to herself. A quiet smile on her lips, her long copper hair plaited in a loose braid that hung down her back, a steel and deer antler comb set into the top. It was late summer; the air was warm in the mountains, the people of the village moving around before sunset. She quickly glanced at the sun, her amber eyes flashed momentarily before they shifted back to the road ahead. She smiled, the joyous expression touching every feature of her face. She had a fondness for the gentle warmth of the sun at this time of day.

“Lia, are you going home?” came a woman’s voice to her ears.

She smiled again, her eyes skimming over the open windows of the blacksmith’s house, finding Orlwen’s wife gesturing to her to come. Lia quickly walked to the window.

“Afternoon, Rietta. Aye, I am going home, is there something you want me to pass on to Odessia?” Lia said, her voice like the chiming of bells.

“Gods, Lia, you are always so proper. You’ve turned seven, I got something here for you.” Rietta pointed to the adjoining workshop that Orlwen worked through the day in.

Lia smiled again as curiosity overcome her, picking up her pace and almost running around the side of the building. Rietta met her at the gate, holding it open for her.

“Come Lia, I have it set aside. Orlwen returned this afternoon, he is with Odessia at the moment.”

Lia laughed, “Orlwen is back from the Academy?”

Rietta nodded her head, smiling brightly.

“I wonder what he saw there. I wish I could go there one day, see the city, the stores, the people.” Lia said excitedly, following Rietta back into the house.

“Lia, by any chance, did you see my boys while you were down at the river?”

Lia nodded, “Aye, they were play-fighting, using sticks like swords.” she smiled mischievously at Rietta.

Rietta stopped and put on a stern expression, “Did you do what a big sister should?”

Lia tried to stop herself from giggling, making a fuss over crossing her arms and puffing out her chest, “Aye Rietta! I joined in and soundly beat both of ‘em!” she looked at the hearty woman as she laughed, “But Lil is older than me, he’s nine!”

“True, but you’re a fyrelf. There’s not one boy in the village under the age of seventeen that could beat you.”

“Rietta! There’s only four. And your two boys are two of them.”

Rietta laughed at Lia’s stern expression, “That they are, I like that there is a girl here that can keep those boys in line, even those older than you. Keeping them proper. You are just so mature for your years. Must be Odessia’s teachings.”

Lia smiled, blushing to the roots of her hair, “If you think so, Rietta, then it must be!”

The woman smiled, “The boys were alright after that little play-fight?”

“Aye, I healed them up good as new, they had a couple of bruises is all.” said Lia, looking up at Rietta curiously, “Not from me either! From banging on each other before I joined in. I know what you’re asking.”

Rietta smiled, “Lia, the whole town is thankful for your thread, every day. You are our light. Just like Odessia is the life of the forests. Gods Lia, they would have been so proud of you.” said Rietta, a crack in her voice as she bundled Lia up and hugged her, “We all are so proud of you.”

Lia hugged her back, enjoying the warmth of the embrace. She looked up as Rietta released her.

Rietta met her eyes, “We know you like instruments, Lia.”

Lia stared at Rietta expectantly, her eyes wide in excitement. Rietta smiled, a twinkle coming to her eye.

She nodded at the table, “There in the box, it’s for you.”

Lia quickly glanced at the table before quickly stepping to it. There was a wooden box with metal clasps and latch, its surface polished to a deep shine and reflecting her face as she looked into it. She looked back to Rietta questioningly and was immediately rewarded with a small nod, she smiled, bouncing slightly with their hands on the table. She carefully slid the long and narrow box closer, watching as the light played across it from the window, highlighting the rosewood and its grain. Lia stood for a moment with a finger on the latch, she hesitated before opening and lifting the lid. Letting out a gasp in surprise, she quickly glanced at Rietta before back to the open box.

“Your flute playing is beautiful, almost every day we can hear it singing through the forests. You have been playing with a simple flute that Harks made, so we all put a little together to get this for you.” Rietta said.

Lia quietly looked at the instrument lying in its silken bed, its length with a number of metal bands ringing it at either end. Her hands shook as she touched it.

“Its beautiful.” she said with a whisper.

“You can try it if you want to.”

Lia looked at the flute, her eyes dancing with emotion, shaking her head.

“You want to try it out by yourself?” Rietta said with a smile.

Lia nodded, blushing. She slowly closed the box, double-checking the latch, before flinging herself at Rietta, hugging her.

“Careful Lia, you hug like a bear!” Rietta said, patting the girl on the head and stroking her hair, wincing slightly as she felt Lia loosen her grip.

Lia stepped back, an apologetic and embarrassed smile on her face. Her eyes slipped back to the box on the table

“Go on, it’s yours. You need to get back to Odessia’s before nightfall.”

Lia stood, her words not coming to her. She nodded and carefully picked up the wooden case before staring wide-eyed at Rietta again. The sounds of the boys talking as they approached the house filtered in through the window. Lia suddenly blushed again, quickly giving Rietta another quick hug before running out of the house, through the shop and onto the road. Her heart pounding as she ran, grasping the wooden case tightly to her chest with a broad smile on her lips, her long copper braid shining in the sun.

Odessia sat at the dining table in the quaint kitchen of the cottage home she shared with Lia. A number of packages and preserved foods sat piled on the table and set against the walls leading to the main living space. She glanced up, her hand on her chest, coughing once or twice before taking a sip of water from a mug.

Her eyes dropped back down to the letter in her hand, reading the practiced and elegant script. She nodded as she read, a small smile wrinkling the corners of her lips, and scoring her eyes. No more silver adorned her hair, its once glorious length now thinning and matching the pure snows of winter. Time was catching up with her. She coughed again, steadying herself against the table as the fit continued, wracking her frail frame. Odessia gasped, quickly drinking again, clearing her throat and shaking her head. She pressed a hand to her chest, wincing. Breathing deeply, she continued to read, the light of the near to setting sun, slanting through the windows and burnishing the room with gold.

Odessia looked up, her still remarkably sharp elven ears picking out the sound of running feet on the path leading to the house. She shook her head, picking up where she left off, continuing to read the letter. She ignored the sounds of Lia’s panting and the scrape and shuffle of the girl sitting on the stool by the door, hurriedly unlacing and slipping off her doeskin shoes. Odessia smiled, everything had gone quiet outside.

Lia stood at the door, carefully correcting and straightening her cream blouse before shaking out the loose, voluminous woodsy green cotton pants that she preferred over a skirt or dress. Her eyes kept settling on the long, polished rosewood box that she had placed on the stool, the sunlight reflecting off its edges. She stood calmly, fighting her breathing, focussing on composing herself, trying to control her pounding heart after the run from Orlwen and Rietta’s home. A big excited smile broke over her face, the warmth and weight of the box reassuring in her hands as she cradled it under an arm. Lia closed her eyes, breathing deeply before reaching out and grasping the handle, twisting it and slowly opening the door.

She quickly entered, closing the door behind her, making just less than a whisper as she allowed the latch to drop back into position. She looked around the main living area, a curious expression on her face, there were all manner of boxes stacked against the wall near the door, some hessian bags, almost bursting at the seams. Lia frowned, setting her wooden case down on the side table while she took out some sandals and slipped them on.

Quickly picking up the gift, she walked slowly, her eyes straying to the boxes as she walked to the kitchen.

“Odessia, I’m home.” she called out, tilting her head to line up with the stamped text on a box she passed.

She frowned, “Odessia?” she called again, reaching the kitchen and looking through the door.

She smiled in relief, peering over the loaded table to see the ancient elf quietly smiling to herself, reading a letter. Lia walked up to the edge of the table and stood patiently. Calming as she respectfully waited for Odessia to finish reading. She watched as Odessia sighed, peering over the top of the letter before folding it carefully and sliding it back in its envelope, the ornate wax seal dangling from the edge of the flap.

Odessia raised a white eyebrow, “Lia, did you pass Orlwen as you ran as fast as you could home?”

Lia shook her head excitedly, watching a smile grow on Odessia’s lips.

“Hmmm… He must have taken the boundary road to Harks’s then. Never mind.” she looked Lia up and down.

“Good, presentable. Now, what has got you so feverish, girl?”

Lia bit her lip and held out the box, stepping forward. Odessia shook her head.

“Lia…Can’t you be like a normal girl around me, or are you too excited?”

Lia nodded, quickly coming to Odessia’s side, placing the rosewood case on the table.

Odessia looked at her, shaking her head, chuckling, “Do you want me to open it?”

Lia nodded again, quickly moving to the side of the table, bouncing slightly in excitement. Odessia laughed to herself, Lia’s exuberance was contagious. She leaned forward and unclasped the case, the wood warm under her touch. She glanced at Lia as she opened the lid, watching as the girl squirmed.

“A flute?” Odessia said, lifting the instrument carefully.

“By the gods of old, would you look at it… It is beautiful.” she remarked, looking past it to Lia.

Odessia smiled, watching Lia stuff her hands into her pockets.

“The whole village got it for me!” Lia finally managed to get out, her cheeks burning.

“They did, did they? They must have taken a liking to your playing at dawn. Hearing the flute echoing through the forest is enchanting.” Odessia said, looking at the maker’s mark, her eye’s widening as she recognised it, “This truly is a beautiful instrument.”

She looked at Lia, a tear in her eye, biting her top lip lightly, “They love you so much… To have got this for you. You must promise me to keep this safe. Don’t let any harm befall it. Do you understand?”

Lia nodded quickly, an earnest look on her face.

“I never knew Orlwen had such a…discerning eye.” Odessia spotted a folded slip of paper that had been placed under the flute, she nodded to Lia, “Read it to me.”

Lia quickly unfolded it, “With compliments, Eira.”

Odessia raised her eyebrows, “Dear Orlwen had some help.”

Lia frowned, “Help?”

“The Chancellor of the Academy. She must have directed Orlwen to its maker, maybe even helped him select it. This is one of the traditional instruments of our people, it has a special importance.” Odessia smiled, glancing at the letter she had been reading only moments before, “I can teach you all about it another time.”

She carefully placed the ebony flute back in its case, running her hand over the lid.

“While Orlwen was at the Academy, I had him do something on my behalf. It is near the door. A tall box wrapped in black cloth.”

Lia nodded and disappeared back into the other room.

“Be gentle with it, Lia.” Odessia called out.

A few short moments later Lia reappeared, carrying the narrow cloth-wrapped box that almost stood as tall as her. Odessia stood slowly and helped her place it on the table, before sliding her hands over it gently.

She looked at Lia, a sad smile on her face, “Lia, I did not know what the villagers had planned. This is from me and your parents; it has been too long away from your fingers.”

Odessia slowly started to carefully unwrap the box, exposing the deep red and burgundy design of the card. She glanced at Lia whose eyes were glued to what was slowly being unwrapped. Odessia lifted the box, placing it on a chair and opened it before lifting out a long item that was again, wrapped in a black cloth. She placed it down on the table before Lia.

“I felt it was the best time to give it to you, Lia. Before… I become unable to. It is yours now, it passed from your grandmother to you mother, and I am ensuring that it passes to you.” she finished, watching the girl reach out a hand.

Lia looked at Odessia, her lips becoming thin as she recognised the shape. She slowly unwrapped it, laying the cloth out flat. Exposing the boiled leather case. Its dark surface tooled with elaborate embossed dragons and phoenixes. Lia met Odessia’s eyes again, a frown pinching her brows together, her breaths coming in short gasps as her hands ran over the case. It was restored, its surface carefully cleaned and treated, its hinges, straps and buckles, replaced and new. She bit at her lip, holding her breath as she undid the two straps and slowly lifted the lid.

Odessia watched; tears coming to her eyes as Lia stood transfixed, looking into the half open case. Lia slowly reached in and ran a hand over the long strings, her fingertips drawing a faint breath of muted sound. She looked up to Odessia, her chin quivering.

“I couldn’t leave it broken like that, Lia. It was your mother’s. Her music brought so much happiness. I couldn’t leave it the way it was from that night.” Odessia whispered.

Tears rolled down Lia’s cheeks, her eyes quietly aflame with blue, her eyes on Odessia’s with the unasked question.

Odessia nodded, “I sent Orlwen to the academy, he took the opportunity to sell his wares, he made a tidy profit and secured some work for our little village. But he also took this to an old friend of mine. The one who made it for your grandmother, I requested that he restored it to its former glory and added a little more, in honour of your mother, father and now you.” she said, the words tumbling out of her.

Odessia started coughing, clutching a hand to her chest. Lia quickly brought her a glass of water and helped her sit. The flames in her eyes growing, she placed a young hand on Odessia’s chest and started concentrating, whimpering as she made her hand burst into ethereal fire.

“Lia… Please, no…” Odessia said through coughs, “It is not a hurt, it’s…” she stilled her words, her eyes meeting Lia’s and the fear within them.

“Lia, one day your thread will not be able to fix my problems, you can’t turn back time on a body that has nothing left to give. You must accept this.” she said, pulling Lia into a firm hug, stroking the young girl’s back and rocking back and forth as the pain in her chest lessened.