Chapter 2: By the Deadly Riverside
Guba loved Elyesa.
He loved that caramel skinned girl with black curly hair and a shy smile that stole his heart right from the first moment he had seen her, even though, back then he hadn't known that it was love.
He loved the sound of her laughter, her voice and the way she would always worry about him. She was always beautiful to him too, despite the fact that what he mostly saw her in was her black and white faded Maid's uniform.
He loved her!
Yet he was a crown Prince. Not just any crown prince but one faced with a tough situation of saving his kingdom from a looming war.
Like any good reasoning person would, he had picked his Kingdom and with heavy heart, he had broken the news to Elyesa. She had remained silent all through till he was finally done.
"You will always be the one for me. I just have to do this."
"I understand," she had replied in a quiet voice. "I'm not inconsiderate enough to ask you to pick me over the lives of thousands," she said blinking away her tears while she wiped her hands on her apron.
She had already heard the news from the jealous maids in the palace and she had prepared herself, yet it still hurt terribly.
"This will not change anything between us. I will still make you mine, I promise."
He pulled her into an embrace and she sobbed silently.
She trusted Guba, he had never failed her before and he wouldn't fail her now.
After that, they parted ways to their daily responsibilities, both knowing in their hearts that with this everything might change.
***
Although the BloodMoon River was a small river, it was termed sacred for many reasons.
One was that the colour of the river was as clear as crystals in the day, but under the moonlight, it was glittering red. Also the stones around the river would slowly produce different glittering colours.
It was always a sight to behold.
The people believed that the river was this way because a spirit or god would descend from the Moon to the River every night to rest.
In fear, many avoided the river.
Elyesa was one of the many that avoided the river in the past but tonight she was too broken to care.
By the river bank, she knelt and wept till the stones etched painful imprints against her knees, as she hoped with all her heart that if there was indeed a god or spirit here, it would hear her prayers, so that her and Guba would not have to be forced apart.
Hours had gone by now, the pain had made her legs numb, her eyes were empty of tears and her voice lost, yet her lips still trembled in inaudible prayers.
This was a routine she had kept to for a week now. Asides from always praying by the riverside, she would also starve herself of food, hoping it would help her get her prayers answered as soon as possible.
Her hands starting trembling.
She was weak, starved and tired but she was so stubborn, so she kept going on, till she finally passed out.
"It could be a man," she heard a voice from a distance. "A terrible man that had made her plan to kill herself."
"Or her family?" She heard another.
Were those the gods?
Was she dead?
Or was she still alive and they have finally decided to answer her?
"Or maybe she wants to kill herself because of a debt," the another spoke again before she heard departing footsteps.
Where was she?
She tried to move, force herself to do something.
"Hmmm, true. It does look like it. How pitiful," she heard the first voice say again, this time closer. "Hurry here now, Bihishma! She is waking up!"
She heard hurrying footsteps once again, then she felt hands on her, helping her sit up slowly before she opened her eyes, only to see two ladies in front of her.
One had her hair covered with a long beautiful purple scarf and the other had her head shaven.
They were both extremely beautiful in a different way. Even the way they were dressed. The one with the scarf had on a bulky purple robe, with a lot of different bangles on both of wrists and artistic drawings at the back of her hands.
The other, had drawings all over her bald head and a sword hung by the belt of her bulky brown trousers.
"You are the gods," Elyesa whispered in relief, tears streaming down her face. "Finally, you've heard me."
The one with the scarf smiled.
"We are not gods, we are people like you. What are you doing here? Why did you want to kill yourself?"
"I---" Elyesa began, bowing her head, not being able to meet their eyes anymore. "My life is destroyed."
"Don't say such. Tell her, Bihishma. Tell her that the tongue is powerful."
"It is, indeed, Helpless Stranger." Bihishma replied, her voice a little rough.
"But the damage has already been done," Elyesa said, pulling away from them and standing up, staggering while she did so.
"What damage?" The one with the scarf asked again.
Elyesa paced around for a while, in doubt of whether she should speak to them her grievances or not.
This was all so strange for her but then, she felt a need to tell someone.
It was all too much to bear alone.
"The man I love is to marry another."
"I knew it was a man! Only few of them are good, the rest are just useless. Bihishma knows. Don't you, Bihishma?"
Bihishma face turned hard like stone. "I do, my Lady, I do." Then she turned her gaze to Elyesa. "Don't kill yourself because of one of them, Helpless Stranger."
"I---I... w-wasn't, I--I..."
"Breathe." The melodious voice of the one with the scarf cooed. "It's alright. You are safe. You are okay. So, breathe."
She felt her grasp her hand softly, only then did she realize how fast her heart was racing, how ragged her breath was and how much tears were rolling down her cheeks.
"He is good," she finally said, her voice only trembling a little while she looked right at the woman with the scarf. Something about her made Elyesa feel calm and safe, like as if she could trust her.
"He loves me, very much so, but he does not love her."
"He is being forced to marry her?"
Elyesa nodded.
"Then it seems like she is the problem."
Elyesa wiped away her tears at that.
"Don't give up then. There are times to give up but this is not one of them. Am I right, Bihishma?"
"Very, my Lady," Bihishma said from where she was standing.
"He is yours, don't let that woman have him."
Elyesa stared back at her dumbfounded.
How could she possibly do that?!
Even Guba, the Crown Prince, was just as helpless. So what move could someone of low status like her possibly pull to change things around?
But before she could the lady ask any questions on that, Bihishma suddenly hurried to her side and whispered something to her ears.
"We must leave now," she gave her a smile while adjusting her scarf. Then she hurriedly pulled her into an embrace.
Elyesa froze, shocked by the show of affection.
"If Fate so pleases, we shall meet again and by then, you shall already have the man that you weep over," she pulled away from her, then raised her head slightly up, her palm facing Elyesa. "Peace."
With that, they left.
Elyesa turned around, dumbfounded.
They were different.
She stared down at the glittering river, then a smile slowly played on her lips.
They were Spirits!
Maybe not gods but they were certainly Spirits of the river, disguised as human to help her.
They had come to save her life and in a way, they had given her an answer even though she didn't know how she would go about it yet.
She fell to kneels, bowing down to the river.
"Thank you, Spirits."
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Phinix_ I hope you enjoyed this chapter.
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