Tammy had spent many days and nights in conferences with leaders from all over the land. Many of them had come straight from battle, against her brother. All of them greeting her with a low bow and treating her with the greatest of respect, a respect she felt she hadn't yet earned. Yet they all had one thing in common, they believed she was their savior.
They told her of terrible horrors about her brother, how his army ruled with an iron fist that smashed down on those who would dare to disobey him. Although she knew it wasn't her fault, she still felt a deep shame at his actions and was beginning to feel that she should help, that it was her duty to do so and stop this man, of whom she shared a bloodline.
After she had been updated by the warlords and clan leaders, then came the mages, men and women of various magical abilities. They tried to uncover her own magical skills, but so far nothing had come forth, and deep inside herself she truly felt that nothing ever would. She struggled to accept the concept of magic, yet here she was in another world, another dimension. Whilst her mind struggled to accept it all, it was all undeniably happening.
At the end of the day she was exhausted, filled with stories of her brother’s inhumanity, and pressured by mages to show some magical trickery. It was a relief when they all left, and she managed to steal a moment alone. Meandering down a pathway, that she knew led to a pleasant secluded spot by a stream, she listened to the musical trickle of the water. This noise had always soothed her mind, whichever land she was in. She felt in great need some time out, time alone, though she thought that to be a concept these people did not seem to understand. What she really needed was to go home, even if it was just for a short while, so she could get her head around all of this new information. Watch some TV, listen to some music, just do normal everyday things, things she had taken for granted. Everything had come at her at once, ever since the day she had arrived in these strange lands.
Despite being in a different world, it still had a familiar look to it, the trees and plants were the same as from her own world. The surroundings were somewhat similar, but yet still she felt homesick. She had not realized how much she depended on the modern comforts of the other world. To bathe in this world meant cold water, to eat was basic food, no fast food, no pizza’s, simply meat or fish, and boiled vegetables always seemed to be the constant menu. How she longed for a bar of her favorite chocolate, and she had only been here a few days! Lost in her own thoughts, mourning over the loss of her home comforts, she did not hear the approaching footsteps, until whoever it was coughed to gain her attention.
“Oh,” she was a little startled, “it’s you, Niyol. Please, I’ve just come for some peace and quiet and you’re the last person to give me that.”
“I come bearing good tidings,” he said, a touch of impatience in his voice. “It seems your thoughts have been understood, and I am to accompany you back to the other world, for a short while,” he said, without any further explanation.
“My thoughts?” She questioned. “Who has the ability to understand what goes on in my head?”
“Our mages are powerful people,” he shrugged, as if this was an everyday occurrence. “They know what you think. They understand that you are home sick. Though how you can be feeling like this, I cannot understand. This is your home now.”
“No, Niyol, I wouldn’t expect you, of all people, to understand my feelings. Plus, I think it very rude that people pry on my personal thoughts,” she wondered if they knew everything that went on in her head and had a fleeting memory of how she had envisioned Niyol naked.
“If you would listen to your wiser elders, and learn your personal skills, no one would be able to read your thoughts, you would be able to guard them. But, no, you choose not to learn,” he said, a note of exasperation in his voice. “You won’t believe anything that our wise ones tell you, even when they show you their magic, and try to tell you what you are capable of.”
“I’m glad that the elders are respected in such a way, at least it helps excuse the behavior of some of the younger ones, such as you, rude and impertinent.”
Tammy turned away from him, how could one person infuriate her so much, especially one so handsome? Again, but only briefly, the image of a naked Niyol giving her a kiss from those strong lips of his, ran through her mind and her face flushed with embarrassment.
“Are you unwell?” Niyol queried, “You seem a little flushed.”
“Fine. Yes I’m fine, and will feel all the better once I’m back to my normal life. At least I’ll get a break from the likes of you.”
“Hmm,” he grumbled, not looking at all pleased. “I am to return with you and stay by your side, for when you are ready to come back here and take up your responsibilities. The ones that you should be doing right now.”
“What?” she exclaimed. “I don’t want you in my world. You would look out of place.”
“That is the agreement, there is no leeway on this matter. I stay by your side, or you cannot go,” he explained, looking rather pleased, that in this at least, he had the last word.
“Look, I could simply go home and forget all about this place, this backward, middle aged primitive, beaut…” she did not finish her sentence, knowing that already she was falling in love with this land. It did feel like her real home, as if she finally belonged somewhere. “I’m not sure why I long to go back to the modern world,” she told him, “but I do, and even you can’t change my yearning. I do love this place and I will come back. But events have happened so fast, I never even knew I had a brother let alone a home in another world.”
“If you seek pity, then you are looking at the wrong person,” Niyol responded, in his matter of fact kind of way.
“I wouldn’t want your pity, anyway,” she said, anger rising in her as she stepped towards him, “you have nothing I want at all.” She knew this was a lie, she wanted his kisses, his caresses and any other loving act he might want to give her. Then she forced her thoughts elsewhere, annoyed that her mind kept wandering of its own accord.
The venom in her attack, surprised Niyol, but inside he was a little pleased, she would need to learn to be passionate, if she was to save her people. For the first time since he had met her, he was starting to believe that she just might be capable of helping.