***If you haven't read the first chapter I'd really appreiciate it if you read that before reading this. here's the link: topic47405.html Thank you!***
Chapter Two
A Sudden Calling
I woke with a gasp and sat up so quickly the surrounding forest swirled around my dizzy head in the most bazaar and frightening manner. I blinked a couple of times to try and control this confusing dance the forest trees joyously taunted me with and raised a slender hand to my eyes, sheltering them from the too-bright sun which beat down hard upon me. To the other creatures that inhabited this area the sunlight was bright but weak, filtered by the lush green leaves which formed the beautiful canopy above me. Even in this form the sunlight still caused me pain, but this pain was easing slowly away.
I gazed around at the magical sights which surrounded me with my lips parted slightly, softly breathing in the sweet smell of the forest. One of my hands rested on the brown leaves and knobbly twigs which were slowly being accepted into the ground. The Cycle of Life. I thought with bitterness how I had cheated that particular cycle. Yet no matter how strong the bitterness it was impossible to hold on to as the soft calls of the unusual birds reached me. I closed my eyes and concentrated on a single cry from a beautiful bird I imagined with bright, colourful feathers that shone in the gentle light of the rainforest. Its huge yellow beak would open and it would dip its head as it cried out again. A rustling in the undergrowth indicated the passing of a cautious deer as it picked its way carefully through thick, leafy bushes and exquisite, large ferns.
Unconsciously my hand drifted down to rest on my chest, just above my heart. I frowned and slowly opened my eyes again. I could not place what it was I longed for. I felt the usual hunger as the thought of the deer brought it to my attention, yet it was stronger than that. Perhaps it was to do with my dream. Did I wish to return to that time? Truly I did not know.
I wished he was here with me now – sitting quietly with me as we let the sights and sounds of the Amazon wash over us like the lulling swish of calm ocean waves as they lap contentedly at the shore. I did not mean my father. I meant another person from that time who had been with me ever since. Even if he was no longer accompanying me he remained silently with me as a piece of him I kept inside my heart.
Pain washed over me as I thought of him. No matter how far I ran, how long I stayed away, it was impossible to banish him from my mind.
Laurel.
I squeezed my eyes shut for a second and then rose in one fluid movement to my feet. I shook a little at first as his name echoed around my head then I looked up into the covering of green leaves. Here and there I saw small gaps of brilliant blue almost hidden by the hordes of leaves. As a distraction this sight failed me.
My lips parted of their own accord and his name rushed out on a single whispered breath.
“Laurel…”
I wished I knew what he was doing at this moment in time. Had any others joined him since I had last visited? Laurel was peculiar in the way he could stand the company of so many younger ones. I loved only the company of nature and its wilderness. Unquestioning and unassuming it allowed me to wander deep within vast forests, climb the highest and most treacherous peaks, and find comfort in the company of the quiet animals. Laurel, it appeared, was content to stay forever confined in his mansion, only away from this dwelling when he ventured out to satisfy his hunger.
I closed my eyes again.
The soft rustling sounded once more as the deer returned. It was curious yet cautious and paused every few steps. I imagined it looking around, its head lifted and its ears flicking as the insects annoyed the gentle creature.
I opened my eyes and slowly turned my head in the direction of where the deer hid.
There was one hunger I would take care of first.
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Father was not the only one who thought that. People came up to me during the ball just to say how mature and beautiful I looked. One young gentleman appeared in front of me, bowed down and kissed the back of my hand with his full, pink lips – his large brown eyes fixed on mine as he did so – before leaping away and vanishing in the great throng of people. My younger sister, Iena, was very jealous. I had never been happier in my life.
I was dancing with Iena, grabbing both of her hands and twirling in dizzy circles, when I bumped into someone hard from behind.
I released her at once and twisted around to face the man, intending to apologise. I opened my mouth and looked up at him. My mouth stayed open even though no sound escaped from it.
He was so very tall. And handsome. Not a startling handsomeness, yet all the same there was a healthy look to him. A young man in his prime. His dark hair gleamed in the candlelight, thick and glossy. His dark eyes sharp and intelligent. Those eyes watched me now, surprised and puzzled. They flickered over me quickly, like someone who debates with themselves if they wish to buy some strange treasure from the hectic marketplace or not.
I lowered my own eyes quickly, embarrassed. “I’m sorry,” I mumbled. “How terribly clumsy of me. Please accept my sincerest apologies.”
That look on his face faded away, replaced by a strange, almost smug, look. “Oh no, no, my dear,” he replied quickly. He paused to smile at me in that peculiar way. “It is I who you must forgive, for not spotting such beauty earlier on.”
I flush a little at this. I have been enjoying complements like this for the whole evening yet the way he says them makes me feel uncomfortable for some reason unknown to me.
“You’re very kind,” I say in that distant, dismissive way people speak in when they wish to end the conversation. I began to turn away from him to face Iena again. I see she doesn’t know whether to laugh at my discomfort or to sulk at the attention I am receiving over her.
He catches my arm, and therefore my attention, and gently pulls me around to face him again. I cannot help but feel annoyed at having him push and pull me around as if I’m one of Iena’s dolls, but I don’t want to cause a scene and embarrass my father so I keep quiet, only frowning the smallest of frowns.
“Forgive me, but what is the name of this unflawed beauty?” He thinks he is being charming. I think he’s being a patronising fool.
“I’m Morgenna,” I answer, before attempting to turn to Iena again.
“Morgenna,” he echoes, stopping me. Frustration rises in me. I want to dance with my sister! But he holds me here with this infuriating conversation which bores me to tears. I am fed up with being courteous and ladylike; I just want to enjoy myself.
“Yes,” I answer. Politeness forces me to add after a brief pause: “And what is your name?”
He tells me his name, all three of his titles. They are forgotten nearly as soon as they leave his mouth. His first one is the only one to remain in my mind, which is fortunate as it is the only one I would address him with.
I try hard not to yawn as he prattles on about how important he and his family are about to become in these ‘momentous times’. I am told story after story of heroic deeds which are really not that remarkable, and nearly as interesting as my sister’s feet. My dearest sister who has long abandoned me. She had wasted no time in relishing in her freedom, rushing off to dance with one of our elder brothers.
***NOT YET FINISHED***
