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Wunderlust
For Amber
3.
The trip through the mountains was harsh. Aria and Malik were pelted with three more storms in just the week they were traveling together. It was on the sixth day since she met him that she spotted a small village in the valley wedged between the rocky faces of Mounts Vris and Corian.
“We should be there by noon,” Aria nearly cried with relief. Although Malik had yet to make a further move on her since that day with the berries, the air seemed to be charged with unbridled electricity around him and it was making her on edge.
In response, the wizard did nothing but make a noise in the back of his throat in acknowledgment that he’d heard her. Ignoring her companion, Aria began the long decent into the valley. The trail down wasn’t as nearly as wild as some of the ones she’d previously been on, but it was much steeper with jagged rocks and thorny bushes littering the edges.
When they finally reached the point where the path leveled out again, Aria was covered in scratches and nicks. She glanced behind her momentarily to see if Malik had made out any better. What she saw baffled her. The wizard looked no more scathed than if he had just taken a stroll in the king’s garden.
“What…?” the question died on her lips and Malik made a grand gesture to himself.
“It’s called magic, Pet, as you know, and some people find that I’m rather good at it.” His face may have been stoic but his eyes were laughing. Aria scowled at the name he often used on her. No matter how many times she’d told him, the blasted wizard just wouldn’t say her actual name.
Deciding the battle would best be fought after she’d taken a nice long bath and filled her stomach with something other than wild mountain berries, Aria let his use of rather embarrassing names for her slide.
They were only on the path a sun’s space longer when they spilled out into the village. Although small, it was bustling with activity. The women were hanging their laundry to dry in the sun and the men were either out hunting wild game or farming the sections of rich, brown soil off to the left. To the right there was a slow moving stream that children were playing in to keep the heat off their skin.
Breathing in deeply, Aria smelled the thick aroma of baked goose and fresh corn rolls. It was the smell of peace--the smell of home.
Malik passed her and headed towards the largest hut, his stride long and gaily.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
He stopped but didn’t turn to face her. “I’m going to talk to the village head. This place is small and probably doesn’t have a proper inn. I’m sure with a bit of persuasion, the head will let us lodge in his home for a few nights.”
“Don’t use magic!” Aria cried, scandalized at the thought.
The wizard turned his head so that she could see his profile and grinned. “I won’t need to.” And with that, he continued to walk towards the hut and knocked on the door. Within moments, a tall, rigid man answered and seemed to begin to make small talk with Malik. Before heading inside, the wizard called over his shoulder that she should head down to the river to get better acquainted with the head’s daughter.
Muttering under her breath about pretentious men, Aria walked to the river’s edge. There were four boys and three girls, their ages ranging from toddler to preteen. Off to the side, there was a young woman.
“Are you the village head’s daughter?”
The girl looked up obviously startled by Aria’s unrecognizable voice. “I am,” she said, a slow smile creeping onto her face. “And who might you be? We don’t get travelers through our village often.”
Trying her best to look friendly, Aria moved to sit on one of the boulders framing the stream. Letting a bit of her snarled, rosewood colored hair fall into her eyes she answered the question. “I am Aria, only daughter of Haben and Juin.”
The village head’s daughter nodded her head and continued lacing flowers together to make a crown. When she was finished, one of the smallest girls came from playing in the stream to take it.
Grinning companionably, she turned to Aria again. “Aria’s a lovely name. My parents named me the oh so boring Cathleen. But please, call me Leena.” And suddenly, as if the thought struck her as lightning, Leena jumped from her perch on the rock. “Oh! Where are my manners? You must want to bathe and rest and eat…” The young woman rambled on to herself, making a list of things that needed to be done to make Aria comfortable during her stay.
Aria looked fondly at her new acquaintance. Leena was built like most mountain women, muscled from work with wide hips for childbirth. She moved quickly, though, limber.
“What are you waiting for?” Leena seemed very pleased with herself. “Let me just get the children back to their mothers and then I’ll take you to a more secluded part of the stream where you can bathe.”
Hustling all seven children out of the water and back into the main part of the village, Leena stopped to wait for Aria. “Come along then. We’ll have you fit as a fiddle in no time. Are there any more women you’re traveling with?”
“No, I’m only traveling with one other, a man.” The look on her face must have been one of displeasure because Leena burst into a peal of laughter. It was childish and warm--the sound of a gleeful young girl and it brought a smile to Aria’s own lips.
“I take it you two don’t get along?”
“That’s only half of it,” Aria shook her head and walked with Leena to where the children’s mothers were waiting. “The man I’m traveling with is intent on making me his or something along those lines.”
“And you want nothing to do with him? That’s rather ironic.”
“Yeah,” she sighed at the predicament she was in, “I don’t think it’ll be easy to get rid of him either.”
The two of them had reached the entrance to Leena’s home. “Just let me get the soaps and oils from my bedroom and I’ll meet you back out here.”
Aria nodded and stood leaning against the hut’s wall. She could already feel a bond forming between herself and the village girl. There was something about the openness and honesty of her innocent face that had Aria taking an instant liking to her. She blew the bangs from her eyes. It wouldn’t do her well to become attached to Leena. After all, she and Malik would be leaving in a few days and she’d probably never see her again.
Aria could hear few words being exchanged from inside and then Leena was standing next to her with her hands clutching a basket filled with various bathing supplies.
“You didn’t tell me your friend was a wizard.” Leena’s voice was shimmering with excitement.
“He’s not my friend,” she started and began walking with her companion towards the river again. “And yes, he’s a wizard. Why is that important?”
“I have magic, but I’ve never known anyone that could teach me how to use it properly.”
Aria scrunched her nose in distaste. “I really don’t think Malik would be a good choice for a teacher.”
“Why ever not? He seems powerful enough and oh!” she let out a startled little gasp, “I could travel with you! Would that be alright with you? I can cook and hunt. I’m sure I’d be of use to you.”
Aria hesitated where the willow trees grew thick. The dear girl looked star struck. “I’m not sure,” she wasn’t quite positive how to word it without hurting Leena’s feelings. “Wouldn’t your family miss you?”
“No, that’s the thing. My mother is with my brother in the royal city. The king’s council recognized his talents when he was very young and requested his servitude when he turned fourteen.”
“And your father?” Aria asked as she and Leena stepped through the willows’ curtain and began undressing.
“He wants absolutely nothing to do with me. The only thing I’m good for in his eyes is marrying.”
Both of them stepped into the cool water. Leena, without being asked, pulled a vial of syrupy liquid from her basket and began lathering it on her hands. “I can do it myself…” Aria was silenced with a look.
Deciding it would be better if she just obeyed the young woman’s silent request, Aria dipped herself into the river completely. When she came back up, Leena began to massage the flowery smelling soap into her hair.
“Please Aria?” Leena’s voice was quiet now as if the answer she got was her last hope. “Please let me come with you. There’s nothing for me here.”
Her will crumbled before the sound of her new friend’s voice. Turning, Aria looked down into the girl’s face. It was lovely and her dowry was sure to be high, but she knew what it felt like to be surrounded by people and still feel alone.
“Alright, you can come.”
Letting out an excited shriek, Leena tackled Aria into the water. “Thank you!”
“Yeah, yeah,” Aria laughed along with the young woman on top of her. “Now get off me. I’m getting you dirty.”
Pleased, Leena stood up. “I’m just so happy. I’m finally going to travel and learn magic like I’ve always dreamed.”
When the two of them were done bathing and properly cleaned, they dried off with the small towels Leena had in her basket. It wasn’t until then that Aria realized she had nothing clean to wear.
“Leena, I’m afraid I bathed in vain,” Aria said in a tired voice. “I haven’t anything unsoiled to change into.”
Leena nodded and finished braiding the last bit of the plait in her sun streaked, brown hair. “I figured as much. That’s why I brought you one of my dresses.”
Sighing with relief, Aria took the thinly spun cotton dress from her friend. Fretting, Leena helped lace up the back. “It’s a little big. I mean, I’m much larger than you and I’m sorry it doesn’t fit better…” The young woman continued to chatter nervously.
Aria, sensing the embarrassment and self-disapproval in the woman behind her, faced her when the last lace was tied. “It fits perfectly.” She smiled warmly.
“Oh…oh, well that’s good. I’m glad.” Leena smiled back hesitantly, still a little unsure of herself.
Aria felt the kinship between them grow and beaming, she swung her arm around Leena. “Come on. Let’s get you dressed and then we’ll head back and see if we can get Malik to let you come with us.”
“Do you really think he’ll have a problem with it?” she looked worried at the thought of being shot down in her aspirations as she pulled on her dress.
“Oh, I don’t think there’ll be a problem.” She gave a wicked grin. “I’m quite sure I could persuade him to let you come if need be.” And with that, the two burst out into giggles and headed back to the village where an unsuspecting wizard sat brooding.
A special thanks to Sara. You're constructive review was very appreciated and I'm going to try and be more desciptive. I've added bits and pieces of what Aria looks like throughout that last three chapters, but I think I might add a conversation that Leena and Aria have to give more detail in a future one.