The crowd dispersed and she handed the instrument they called a ukelei back to her new friend, Alfonso.
"You say you do not play and you say you do not sing but that was marvelously done my lady.", he said as he placed the instrument in its case.
"My right arm and hand are not what they used to be, so I am thankful to hear that you believe so. There was only four notes, so playing it was quite simple once you taught me. The song itself, my mother used to sing with me while we cooked and cleaned. I've certainly never performed before.", she said with a nervous laugh.
The ukelei had been small enough that she'd been able to rest it in her lap and reach it with her right hand, mercifully without lifting the damaged limb. The song had been simple enough that her weak fingers had been able to move between the notes with only a small amount of difficulty. Of course, that didn't account for the difficulties she had attempting to play with her opposite hand, aware that she wouldn't be able to strum with her normally dominant hand.
Of course, she wasn't going to let Alfonso see the shaking in her arm from the effort, but she was pleased they'd made it through the song without incident.
Alfonso laughed exuberantly.
"Aye, lady, whatever you say", he said chuckling to himself. "Could we tempt you to a small meal before your return to the castle?", he asked after catching the scent of something particularly delicious in the air.
He turned and saw Caeli hesitate.
"My treat, truly! Payment for your performance.", he said with a wink, his eyes twinkling with mischief.
Alfonso was handsome, but significantly older than Caeli. That being said, he must of been older than she could have imagined.
Crows feet fanned from his eyes and his short white hair mingled with strands of gray. His joyful eyes and smile hid the evidence of his many years, making it difficult to discern him from a young man in his twenties from a young man living in the body of a sixty year old gentleman.
His laughter was deep and free flowing, as was his good nature.
From the minute Caeli had wandered into the inn, he had been warm and welcoming, inquiring about her gargoyle and journal.
It hadn't taken long for him to introduce her to every individual in the inn, including his fellow musicians.
And only minutes for them to begin discussing the galaxian peoples traditions and culture in relation to their profession.
They had discussed the Old Songs and their origins, the story of the goddesses and the elements, the Five's birth into the world, the Midnight King and his lonely upbringing.
At the mention of Raven she had faltered, once again melancholic at the idea of him wandering alone for hundreds of years.
"His lordship was lonely?", she asked, her dampened emotions evident in her voice.
Alfonso nodded sagely, as did all the others who had gathered around.
"Indeed. He was birthed from the goddesses loneliness. It is his inheritance. His birth right. It wasn't for quite sometime that other living creatures were created, and even then, not many sought the darkness. Life needs light. They just didn't know that there is light here. The light of the stars and the light of his lordships power. Galaxians were created in the depths of the Midnight Forest. At first our kind were hateful and angry, they felt cheated of the life of light. It was only once we realized that the king had been forced by his mother to create us, that we realized our folly. Our lord had been forced to make us but henceforth took care of us. Loved us. He created the trees that make their own sky and stars, to give us light. He created a safe haven for our people and has watched over us for centuries. He is a good leader. A kind leader. He was forced to take on such a burden as creating and caring for life, and yet he has always ensured our happiness.", Alfonso said with the smooth cadence of a life-long musician.
Caeli recalled how Raven had explained his state of being, his inability to control himself or his emotions. She recalled how he had cared for her after the capture, and his honesty the night he had told her the truth.
She felt an aching in her heart at the thought of what position he had been put in.
Cursed to be a primal creature, with no control over your body, damned to roam aimlessly in a state akin to unconsciousness. Like living in a dream where your body was not your own and some other unseen entity controlled your actions.
"If not for him, none of us would be here. Nor would we be so happy and safe. His mother abandoned him, but he refused to do so to us. We are very lucky.", another man named Eino said, shrugging nonchalantly.
"Lucky?", Caeli asked, jotting notes in her journal as quickly as she could with her still clumsy, left hand.
"Oh yes. We could be like his lordship. Left to survive on our own and without his powerful protection. It was so with his mother who was a goddess, it could certainly happen again.", a woman said from behind the bar, meticulously polishing her glasses and mugs.
"Like many human kings do to their subjects. It's horrible really, even just to hear about. ", the young man said, shaking his head sadly.
"Thankfully, our ancestors were not so foolish that they refused to forgive the king for their dark existence.", Alfonso said with another one of his sage nods.
"Is that so? Just like that? The galaxians forgave him for something that hurt them so deeply?", Caeli asked in surprise.
Alfonso sighed with a soft smile.
"Oh yes, the Great Enlightenment. After our tribe became enraged at the realization that there were others in the world, others who loved and lived in the light, they went in search of their creator. That was when they found his lordship and ambushed him. They threw things and attacked him with weapons and yet he refused to attack in return. He explained what had happened and that his use of the magic had caused him to slumber for many years, having only just woken up, he had created the night sky leaves you see on the Old Trees now. Before our tribe had even arrived to make him pay for their anger, he had already created the trees as his only way to repay us as an apology for our circumstances. It was then that the tribe realized that his lordship had never intended to make such creatures or curse them to the dark as he had been. His regret and sadness true, the tribe asked for his leadership and his protection, sure that such a benevolent god would be a good chief. Thousands of years later, you can find us here today.", Alfonso said, his eyes soft and his appreciation easily seen in the lines of his face.
Caeli's heart felt as though it was swelling. The mans unalloyed love and appreciation for Raven as his leader was easily perceptible to Caeli.
Something dawned on her in that moment.
Raven was a god. A child of a goddess.
She had always known that Raven was powerful, but the sudden realization hit her full force. Her breathing hastened at the impossibility of it all.
And then it stopped all together as something else occurred to her.
"And yet I've never heard of this story. Surely such a story, about a good, would have been written and greatly told.", she said.
The young man shook his head.
"That's for two reasons. One, because of the general isolation the Midnight Forest has always had, even before the Isolation. Second is that, once forgiven, his lordship was forgiven entirely. Can any relationship be built on the scales of injustices? Could we not hold his actions against him? Of course. But we could never of loved or followed his lordship the way we have if we felt that his transgressions could be used as a weapon. And if not for our forgiveness, we would not be who we are today.", the young man said, his eyes sparkling with his faith and adoration.
Caeli's heart leapt.
Was it possible that individuals could make such great mistakes but be truly contrite? And truly change their behavior?
She couldn't help her mind drifting towards her own rift with the king.
Could she forgive him for his actions? Actions that were, in part, a result of someone's attempt at taking his life? His kingdom?
Actions that were a result of his own misfortune and curse?
Her heart ached at the knowledge that she had been so focused on how she had felt about the situation. Never taking into consideration Raven's side of the story.
"Incredible. Thank you all, all of you, for sharing.", she said, her emotion evident in her voice. "I've also never read of how wonderful story tellers the galaxian are. I will be sure to include that in my book."
Alfonso's brows raised in surprise.
"A book my lady? You are a writer?", he asked eagerly.
The others in the room leaning in closer, their excitement reflecting that of the wise musician.
Caeli laughed and nodded.
"I intend to. About the entirety of the Midnight Forest. Your home is beautiful and it is a privilege to be privy to such wonders. I hope to be able to share that sense of awe with others.", she said nodding. "While maintaining the forest's anonymity of course.", she said quickly.
Alfonso gave another one of his raucous laughs.
"Wonderful! Stupendous! A treat for the lady as we have much to discuss for her book!", he said excitedly, turning to the bar maid.
Caeli laughed and shook her head, standing.
"Unfortunately my friends, I must be going.", she said sadly with a smile, a hand on Alfonso's shoulder.
The group became a chorus of disappointed sighs.
"I am flattered, and gratefully, for such response but I hope to attend the Harvest Feast and ought to head back. Although, I hope to return very soon, and will of course bring my journal, for more content to include in my book. If you'll have me.", she said quickly. Hopeful that she had made new friends who seemed more than happy to answer her unending questions.
"Yes! Of course! We would love to have you anytime! And we look forward to seeing you at the feast!", Alfonso said, the others nodding in agreement.
Caeli's heart felt light and warm as she bid her new friends goodbye and made her way back to the castle astride Bats back.
It was time to get ready for the feast.
—————————————————————————
As Bat approached the castle, Caeli could see Raven seated on the step.
It was strange to see someone so revered and of such great authority, sitting patiently on the steps of his castle like a child after class.
The sight of him sent her stomach on its side and her palms became cold.
She recalled her last comments to Raven, the barely disguised barb that she had unintentionally placed in her words, and the guilt and embarrassment she felt afterwards.
"Hello my lord.", Caeli said hesitantly as Bat stopped to greet his master.
*Traitor.*, Caeli thought sweetly of the creature.
"Hello Caeli. Would it be alright if we spoke for a moment?", he asked, his voice deep and rumbling.
Caeli swallowed around a pit in her throat and simply nodded.
Raven turned to head towards the garden and Bat followed.
"I wanted to address-", Raven started.
"I want to apologize-", Caeli said at the same time.
They turned to each other and both paused.
"You first, please.", Raven said quickly, his resolve wavering.
Caeli cleared her throat.
"I wanted to apologize. For our last encounter.", she said turning away and biting her lip worriedly. "I had not right…", she said with an incredulous chuckle.
"Caeli. Could you look at me for a moment?", Raven asked quietly.
She took a deep breath, her face flushed from her mortification, and a slight stinging in her eyes. The latter born from what, she wasn't sure.
"You have nothing to apologize for. If you have questions, I beseech you too ask them of me. I will hide nothing from you, ever. If there is something you've heard, I apologize for how it may have sounded, but I would ask that you allow me the opportunity to explain.", Raven said haltingly.
"Of course, of course.", Caeli said quickly, feeling more foolish than she had a moment before, seemingly impossible at the time.
She let loose a deep and miserable sigh before slowly lifting her eyes to Raven.
"I'm so sorry, before I realized it, it was out of my mouth. I hardly know-", she stopped herself, unsure of what else to say.
Raven slowly covered her hands with his large clawed one.
"I dare not hope for what motivated you to say such things. A selfish part of me is hopeful though. But you must know, you must know that there has never been, nor will there ever be, anyone like you.", Raven said, his voice rough.
Caeli's heart skipped a beat and her hand vibrated from his touch.
"It has not been many years, perhaps many more than you have been alive, since I've entertained a guest here that would require Lavendra's work. I swear it to you.", he said in a fervent whisper.
Caeli nodded numbly.
*Why does he feel the need to explain? Have I cashed this? I'm such a bloody fool.*, she thought to herself.
"My lord, you needn't offer explanation. I've no right… no grounds for such behavior and I apologize sincerely.", Caeli said with desperation. "Really, I can't say it enough.", she said sadly.
"But I do, because, by some miracle, you care. And although it pains me to think that I've caused you hurt, I will not deny my joy at knowing that you do care.", Raven said softly. "So many others, all the others really, never cared."
Raven looked down at his moving feet as they resumed their walk to the garden.
"I'm not a saint Caeli, but your friendship makes me feel reborn. As though life has just begun. For that I am thankful. For another chance to do things right. To see with such clarity.", he said as he stopped in front of the fountain.
Caeli recalled the story that Alfonso and the others had told her. The anger and hurt that the galaxians had felt, and their contrition at the realization of Ravens innocence. His own regret, and attempts at reconciliation.
"Raven… I am so sorry. Please. You mustn't go on, I don't deserve such honesty.", Caeli said, mentally kicking herself for causing such a fuss over something she should have known would be none of her business. But she couldn't help but recognize the small feeling of relief she felt deep inside.
She was both confused and scornful of the feeling. Why was it that his words caused the weight to lift from her shoulders? And how dare she be so pleased at his confession when she'd started the whole mess?
"Caeli, if I had it my way, you'd be the only woman in my life that I'd purchase gifts for again. Be sure in my feelings for you, because they are true.", Raven said seriously.
Caeli stopped breathing all together and unsure of what to say.
"My lord..", she said slowly.
"Raven. Please.", Raven said quickly and gently. He longed to hear his name on her lips. She so rarely called him so anymore.
"Raven… there are not enough words to express my regret. Your words shock me, and I'm sorry if I have caused you any pain.", Caeli said slowly, feeling the definition of tumultuous.
Ravens heart rose and fell. Not quite the response he would have hoped for but more than he had dreamed could have been possible.
Not so long ago, he thought he'd never see her again.
"I do not seek to shock you, only to be honest with you, in every way. We should get ready for the feast.", Raven said with a sad chuckle.
"Raven..", Caeli started as he shook his head.
"Do not worry yourself Caeli. There's not a thing in this world that you could do to displease me and I have all of time to wait for you. Any part of yourself that you're willing to share, I will gladly accept. I look forward to seeing you tonight.", Raven said softly, before bowing and making his way to the castles entrance.
After a moment of silence, Caeli sighed.
"I'm still unaccustomed to his sudden departures.", she said to the excitedly panting gargoyle.
"I suppose we ought to prepare as well my friend.", she said with a sad smile, unsure of how to take Ravens confession, and their entire interaction.
He would wait for any part of her that she would willingly give? What exactly was meant by that?
And how did he expect her to feel at his revelation of being glad at her discomfort at the idea of his past female companions?
She bit her lip and knew she'd need to decide soon on whether or not she would except his friendship.
If his confessions were in earnest, it would be wrong for her to take advantage of his kindness any longer than she already had.
She would need to leave immediately and allow him his time and space to come to terms with her decision.
The idea of leaving the forest, and her new friends, caused her heart to ache.
But she couldn't be certain that she was ready to reinitiate their friendship.
And she couldn't deny having trouble to fining reasons to do so.
He was kind and caring, his regret true, his desire to reconcile now more obvious than it had been before.
Could Caeli become his friend once more?
She knew this was a difficult question, but not as difficult as the one she hid deep inside of herself.
Could she be his friend and resist the heat of her skin at his touch? The flipping of her stomach at the sight of him?
She knew accepting his friendship would be unfair to him, and herself, if there were unresolved feelings between them.
Ones she may not be prepared to acknowledge.
Could she be his friend and only his friend? And if so, would it be understood on his end or would she only cause him pain?
Would it cause her pain to see the good friend in him she knew him to be, but be too frightened to take things to the next level?
And what pain would lie ahead if she turned from him entirely?
Much to think about, indeed.