Fic: In the Light of Two Moons, pt 5
Oct. 23rd, 2011 05:44 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
rivendellroseTitle: In the Light of Two Moons, pt 4.5
Previous parts: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 4.5. (There will be 12 chapters total, for those who are keeping track at home and/or waiting for us to post everything!)
Authors:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
hearts_blood and rivendellrose
Rating: PG
Pairing: Delenn/Neroon
Word Count: 6941
Notes: Pre-series. Words/phrases in Minbari are inspired by the Jumpnow Minbari Lexicon, but we've played extremely fast and loose with some of them.
The Star Rider had lived at their temple for about a third of a year when Mayan's misgivings about Delenn's friendship with the boy slid into genuine concern. It had been amusing at first to tease Delenn about the boy, but as time wore on Mayan became more and more certain that her friend not only trusted this Warrior, but was becoming more and more dangerously fond of him.
"You must be careful, Delenn," Mayan warned. "He's dangerous. They all are."
Delenn rolled her eyes, but didn't look up from her book. "He's not dangerous, Mayan. He's a friend."
"He obviously is, if he's disrupting your studies this much," Mayan pointed out bitterly. "I've never seen you have to rush this much to be up-to-date on your readings." Delenn had come in late the night before - out with the Star Rider again, Mayan knew, and now had to scramble to catch up on her reading before her philosophy class.
"I have time," Delenn insisted. "Or at least I will if you stop haranguing me about this."
Later, after class, Mayan tried again. "Did I ever tell you about the historical site I went to with my parents?"
"Which one?" Delenn asked, smiling fondly. "You've told me about at least five separate ones."
"This was a very old site, from before the time of Valen. A great battle was fought there. My parents and their people were investigating the conditions of the time and of the battle, and, since I was too young to be in temple yet, they brought me along. When we arrived at the site on the first day, a cadre of Warriors was waiting, standing on top of the ground my parents had marked for the excavation. They told us we could not dig - that they refused permission on the basis that the bones of their ancestors rested their. Mother and Father argued with their alyt for hours - they had already been granted permission by the local councils, but these Warriors wouldn't stand down. They said... horrible things, Delenn. Insulted my parents, threatened them. And when at last the local councils arrived and forced them to give way, my father told me never to trust a Warrior. All the things they've done in the past - horrible things, Delenn--"
"But that was in the time before Valen! We all did terrible things in those days - there was war between the castes, between the clans... We all did those things, and we all repented and gave up those ways at Valen's direction. You can't blame one caste--and anyway, those Warriors who your parents met didn't do anything. They just tried to scare you away from disrupting their ancestors’ bones."
"It doesn't matter! This boy is no good for you, Delenn. I recognize that in the city you are used to Warriors being nearby, but most places aren't like that, and most Warriors aren't used to being near other castes, and... Delenn, it makes me worried."
"There's nothing to worry about," Delenn assured her, squeezing her hand. "Trust me. I'm as safe with Neroon as I am with you. Now, I have to go - I promised I'd help him through some of the philosophy reading for tomorrow. I'll see you at evening prayer!"
"And then that's it," Mayan complained to Ashan later, in the library. "She's gone and off with him again, and I don't know what to do! I hate it! Thinking of them alone together, of Delenn of all people with a Warrior..." She dropped her face into her hands. "What am I going to do, Ashan?"
Ashan frowned. "This is your roommate and friend we're talking about, yes?"
"Delenn ra'Mir, yes. We've been the closest of friends as long as we've been at temple," Mayan told him. "As long as I've known her, nothing has come between us until now, and... I just don't know what to do. I can't stop thinking about this!"
"Do you... Do you love her?"
Mayan gave him an odd look. "Of course I love her, she is the dearest friend in my life."
"I meant... in a romantic sense, Mayan. Do you... desire her?"
Mayan blinked, and then blushed brilliantly. "No, no. Not like that. I can't imagine... I mean, I love Delenn, but I wouldn't want... No."
"It's all right if you do, Mayan. There's no shame in it. Your family may still wish for you to have a child with a male when you are older, but--"
"I understand that," Mayan said, though the high color on her cheeks spoke another story to Ashan's eyes at least.
"I myself am attracted to both men and women. Er. Not that that matters right now,” he continued, looking away from her abruply as a bright flush spread across his face. “I'm only trying to tell you... it's all right if you do, as well. You shouldn't be afraid to talk about it."
"I know. It's just... not the way I feel. I have thought about it," she added with some embarrassment. "When we were a little younger, I thought maybe... but I really just can't imagine doing that kind of thing with her. It just wouldn't feel right."
"Ah. Well then." Ashan seemed to pull himself together, gather his thoughts... and come up short. "Then why, if you don't mind my asking, are you so concerned that Delenn is apparently involved in a relationship with this boy?"
"Because he's a Warrior!" Mayan wailed. "He's rough and coarse and he can't hold still in temple, and Delenn... she's so sheltered. She lived alone with her father until she came here to temple, and she's never traveled or done anything like that - never been further from home than the temple, never been anywhere else to speak of... She wilts in on herself when the other students laugh at her, or when a teacher tells her she's given the wrong answer, no matter how gently they say it. And now she's disappearing at all hours - at night even! - to be alone with this boy? I've had to make excuses for her when she arrives late to classes! It's not like her. She's changed, she's... not herself."
"Perhaps... Mayan, I don't wish to suggest you don't know your friend, but are you sure... are you sure it's this boy causing the change? The age you two are at, people may change on their own..."
"Of course I am sure it's him," Mayan sniffed. "She's my very dearest friend. I know Delenn better than anyone except maybe her father, and I see more of her than he does, these past years. It's utterly unlike her to disregard her lessons, which she has, or to flout our curfew, which she also has. It's unlike her to come back to our room smelling of leather and night. And it's unlike her to do anything untoward, which I'm very afraid she may if this boy continues to influence her. He's only here for the year, but she acts as if they'll always be together, and what's going to happen to her when he leaves and forgets about her?"
"Do you truly believe he might hurt her, Mayan? And that this could be intentional conduct on his part?" Ashan asked.
"Yes! But Delenn won't listen to me. She's completely blinded by her feelings for this Warrior boy. When I try to bring it up, she either ignores me or tells me I'm being silly, so I don't know what to do!"
Ashan's face grew very grave, and he nodded slowly as if coming to a decision. "Will you come with me, then?"
"Where?"
"To speak with the temple elders. I must report your concerns to them, and it would be far better if you were to come with me, so that they may take your testimony directly rather than second-hand, trusting on my memory of your words."
"Of course... yes. Thank you, Ashan." Mayan stood and bowed deeply to her tutor - and, she realized, her friend. "I'm very grateful for your help in this."
"You're welcome. I only hope your friend will forgive you, when she realizes where the concern is rooted. The council will need to examine Neroon's presence in her life, and see if it causes legitimate danger to her... but if it is as you say, it is better that she be disappointed now than later, after matters have gone farther. I'm sure she will understand that in time," he added with a faint smile, when he saw how nervous Mayan suddenly looked.
"I'm sure," Mayan agreed, but, in truth, she did wonder how long ‘in time' might be, in this case.
***
The note, delivered by one of the temple's administrative staff, gave no details, no idea of what it pertained to or whether the matter was to be considered good or bad - it only ordered her to report to the head priest's office immediately after her morning classes. Such a summons was rare but not unheard-of, particularly for a student approaching the later years of her studies from which she would in a relatively short time be sent away from the home temple onto various outside assignments that would test her skills. The priesthood usually arranged for interviews with students about her age to begin to feel out what sort of assignments might be appropriate for them in the coming years, and Delenn assumed nothing more sinister than this as she walked from her classroom to the administrative building on the other side of the temple compound. Later, she would wonder if her recent happiness had made her over-confident, perhaps even arrogant. At the time, she was concerned only with the beauty of the spring day, and with wondering whether she and Neroon might be able to slip off alone for a while to enjoy the sunshine between her afternoon classes and evening prayer.
Those thoughts washed immediately from her mind when she saw the solemn faces of the senior priests who awaited her within the office... and, across from them, Neroon and Branmer. Branmer's arms were crossed over his chest, his green eyes unreadable, and Neroon stood stiffly by his clan-brother's side, his eyes focused on the floor. He lifted his head when he saw Delenn enter, and for a brief instant she saw joy in his black eyes... followed quickly by suspicion, and something that in anyone else she would have called fear. Pressing her lips tightly together, Delenn forced herself only to nod politely to the two Star Riders, though her eyes held Neroon's the whole time, and then turned and bowed deeply to the three priests. Only Master Nafeel, the youngest of the three, nodded slightly in return.
"Sit down, Delenn," Nafeel said in what he probably thought was a kind voice. "Master Branmer, Neroon, you as well, please. We need to ask you some questions. Neroon, you were allowed to stay at this temple under the patronage of your clan-brother with the understanding that our ways might temper your youthful high spirits, and in hopes that the influence of our students would be a good one on you. Whether or not this has been the case is yet to be seen, but concern has been raised that you have had precisely the reverse effect on one of our own students. It has also been suggested that your relationship with Delenn ra'Mir is more intimate than is proper, and that your intentions toward her may not take her feelings into consideration."
"This is foolish." Branmer stepped forward. "If you will know whether my clan-brother takes Delenn's feelings into consideration, you have only to ask her. Delenn--"
"Delenn's feelings are not what is in question here, Branmer. It is the boy's intentions which concern us, and the results of those intentions on Delenn." Master Midiri stepped forward and bent over Delenn, her rumpled-silk face folded into a tight frown. "There is concern, Delenn, that your relationship with this Warrior boy is too intimate, and that he may not have your best interests at heart. As the guardians of your body and soul while you stay in this temple, we are concerned for you. We wish to protect you from the influence of those who would lead you astray. Distract you from your studies, take advantage of your innocence and the openness of your feelings. Do you understand this?"
Delenn's head spun, but she struggled to speak slowly and calmly. "Understand... No, Master, forgive me, but I do not." The spinning turned to outright nausea. Her fingers cold and trembling, her stomach suddenly weak, Delenn stared back into the old woman's pale brown eyes, forcing herself not to turn toward Neroon even though she was sure she could feel his gaze on her, waiting to hear what she would say. "Neroon is my very dear friend. I care deeply for him, and... and I have never had cause to believe he feels otherwise for me. Whoever made these complaints... I believe they were sorely mistaken, Master."
Midiri nodded sharply, and turned to Neroon. "And you, boy?"
"This is ridiculous--"
"Let the boy speak, Branmer. Speak."
Delenn closed her eyes tightly. To look at Neroon now, she sensed, would only increase his shame.
"She is... I..." Neroon's voice tightened, and he fell silent for a moment. When he spoke again, it was in a low tone that sent shivers down Delenn's spine. "I would never willingly hurt Delenn ra'Mir. I would die rather than cause her pain."
"There, you see? Now let this foolishness be ended, Midiri. You have no evidence, no reason to question my brother's motives or intentions. Delenn says Neroon is her friend, and he swears he would not hurt her. Your informant was wrong."
"The one who brought these concerns to us was not alone in noticing or worrying about Delenn's... closeness, with the boy," Midiri said, frowning even deeper if possible. "Several of her teachers have remarked that her studies have suffered in the last months - that her attention appears to wander, and that she is frequently seen to arrive late to her classes, or slip out early. Many have noticed that much of her free time is spent on the grounds with the boy. There is concern among many here that she has given undue trust to this boy, and that he may intend to misuse that trust, and her, with cruel intention. I do not consider the testimony of one love-struck girl and her would-be seducer to be sufficient against these charges."
Delenn's face felt as if it had been pressed against a brazier, and her hands, folded in her lap, trembled no matter how hard she tried to keep them still. To think that this elder could take the tentative words of feeling she had exchanged with Neroon and so casually cast them to the floor, turn them into something shameful and humiliating... it turned her stomach and made her want to melt into the stones beneath her.
"Tell me, Delenn," Midiri's voice continued over her head, "precisely what has passed between you and this boy."
Delenn gritted her teeth, and tears traced cool lines down the heat on her cheeks. "We have walked outside, on the grounds. We have talked, about... about our families, our friends, our studies... We have kissed..." She swallowed, though the tightness in her throat made it hurt to do so and it did nothing to dissipate the thickness of emotion in her voice. "And we have... touched, through our clothes. Nothing more. I swear it. At that point, always, we have stopped. He stopped, even though I, I..." She trailed off, overtaken by embarrassment.
"The girl is clearly confused, humiliated by what has happened. Humiliated by the manipulations of this boy who has convinced her that she is the aggressor in their encounters--"
"Are we hearing the same words, the same voice?" Branmer interrupted angrily. "The girl is humiliated, yes, because you are making her speak of private matters in this way, and shaming her for them!"
"Master Branmer, if you cannot be silent during this inquiry we will be forced to send you away," Midiri snapped.
"So that you can blame Neroon for every ill the Warrior caste has ever done? Heap shame and dishonor on him until your vitriol against his caste is satisfied? No, Midiri. If you send me away, you will have a call in moments from the head of the Star Rider clan, and I do not believe the head of the Warrior caste would be far behind him. If you will maintain any pretense at all that this is a fair inquiry, I stay as Neroon's advocate before a hostile council."
"He is correct, Midiri," the third high priestess, Firell, pointed out. "The boy is allowed an advocate who will speak for him, as he is a stranger here, and not yet an adult."
"Very well," Midiri growled. "Now, boy, what do you have to say for yourself?"
Neroon's voice was tight, as if he spoke through gritted teeth and muscles that he held still only by a great effort. "Delenn speaks the truth. And I swear in Valen's name, I have never intended harm to her, in body or heart. What more can I say?"
"And yet there are concerns, and concerns of this nature must be heeded. Some care must be taken, to ensure that our charges are kept safe." Firell stepped forward, now, and bent down to speak gently to Delenn alone, first. "We are not asking you to cut off all contact with this boy, Delenn. He is a guest here in this temple, and we are quite willing for cordial friendship to be fostered between young people of our caste and his. That is entirely appropriate. It is the intimacy of your contact with him that concerns those who care about you. The social worlds that you both come from are very different. He has been raised to hard words, hard ways - some things that are done for the joining of hearts and souls among the Religious caste are... done with less feeling by the Warriors. What is right for them is right for them, but, misunderstood by one of us, might cause great suffering. What we ask is that you take care, and be mindful of the difference between our castes, and know that matters of the personal must be handled with great care with such a gap between us."
Off to the side, Delenn heard an angry snort that she suspected came from Branmer, but none of the elder priests paid it any notice.
"In order to ensure that you take proper consideration of this," Midiri continued from where Firell had left off, "you shall both be under observation. From now on, until we are convinced that his intentions toward you are honorable, you are not allowed to see the Warrior boy alone. You may see him in public, when you are with other students and teachers, but you may never go out of sight of others with him, and you may never allow him to follow you where you will be unseen by others. If one of you comes upon the other alone in any place, indoors or out, the Warrior boy must leave that place so that you may continue to go about your daily routine here, as is necessary to your studies."
"He has a name." Immediately after the words left her mouth, Delenn wished she could recall them - she did not need the narrowing of the older woman's eyes and the tightening of her lips to tell her that she had spoken out of turn, and imprudently.
"He does," Midiri agreed in a quiet, dangerous voice. "And for you, that name is Fi'sulara, Star Rider. It is Zha'den, Warrior. Anything else is unnecessary and inappropriate to your age and condition. Is that clear, Delenn ra'Mir?"
Delenn bowed her head, and, through gritted teeth, murmured, "Yes, Master." No other answer could possibly be appropriate, whether or not she agreed in the slightest.
"Further to what I have said, for you to be together with the boy in the presence only of Master Branmer is also not allowed for the length of this restriction. Given your connection to the boy and your statements here in this inquiry, Branmer, you cannot be considered an impartial witness. If the children are discovered in your company only, it shall be dealt with as if they were found alone."
"This is for your safety, Delenn," Nafeel put in, his sickly-sweet voice oily and oozing against her ears. "Your well-being is very important to your teachers and friends here, and we want only to keep you safe from those who would misuse your innocence. If the boy can prove by adherence to these restrictions that his intentions toward you are in line with those concerns, and if your studies return to their former levels and remain there, then we will lift this restriction on you, and there will be no need for further censure on either of you."
"Censure?" Branmer repeated in a tone of barely-restrained fury.
Delenn felt as if her heart was trying to hide in her stomach to avoid any more hurt.
"There must be consequences, if these concerns are found to be merited. Delenn, the penalty for you will be mild - we know you bore no ill-will in this matter, and were led astray by outside forces you could not anticipate or understand. If the judgment falls against you both, the worst you will suffer is three years added to your training here, to be spent making up the studies you have neglected in your time with this boy, and contemplating the importance of discretion and obedience to those who know better than you."
"And for Neroon? If we are judged guilty--" Delenn faltered.
"The guilt is not yours, child," Nafeel told her. "You need not worry."
"But if judgment falls against us, what punishment would be given to him?" Delenn pressed on, determined to hear the worst.
"Yes, Nafeel." Branmer stood forth again, as if he would put himself between the priests and his clan-brother to protect him. "Tell us."
"The boy will be sent back to his clan in disgrace, as is appropriate to the indecency of his behavior." Nafeel folded his hands in his sleeves. "His presence here was protested from the beginning, and only your direct patronage gave us the confidence to bring him here, Branmer. If he has broken that trust, the Warriors must deal with their own... but we will make clear to them that his behavior has been unacceptable, and that he has brought shame on his clan and caste while among us. That is all you need to know."
Delenn felt tears welling up in her eyes. Neroon valued his and his clan's honor above all things, she knew - he would prefer to suffer the punishments meted out in the old stories, the lashings and physical trials and the battles against great monsters or impossible odds, rather than go home with dishonor to his family. And Branmer... if his patronage had allowed Neroon to be brought to the temple, then Neroon's disgrace would fall just as heavily on him, if not harder still.
"That is not quite all that must be said, however," Branmer said softly. "The children's parents must be notified of what has happened and what has been decided for them. That is only right - either may wish to remove their children from this temple before the matter goes any further, considering the risks to family honor should this continue."
"Very well." Firell brushed a tapestry aside to reveal a communications panel. "As a member of the family, I trust you will wish to contact Neroon's parents yourself, Branmer?"
"His mother. My cousin, Neroon's father, passed beyond many years ago." Branmer nodded and grimly punched in the correct routing information, then stood, shoulders back and feet shoulder-width apart, as he waited for the call to go through. He spoke briefly with the young Warrior who answered the summons first, then the whole room waited in tense silence for a long moment until the screen flicked to life again with the image of a dour, stoutly-built female Warrior in black and silver armor.
"I take it this is important, Branmer. So. What has happened to my son?"
"Alyt Sinolin, my apologies for disturbing you from your responsibilities. Nothing has happened physically, but there has been some... difficulty, here today." Branmer quickly outlined the subject and content of the inquiry for the woman, who nodded tersely a few times, her black eyes narrowed.
"This girl he is accused of misleading, what does she say to this?" she finally asked.
"The girl, Delenn, is here," Branmer replied, indicating her. Delenn stepped tentatively forward into the view of the communication screen's camera. The look Neroon's mother cast over her was quick, measuring, and cold.
"All the trouble you describe, for this little wisp?" Sinolin snorted. "Well, girl? What do you say to these accusations? Or can you speak at all?"
For the second time in the day, Delenn swallowed her fear and tried to speak as calmly as she could, though it was hard to pick her voice up from a whisper in the chill of the dark gaze that pierced her from the screen. "I have told the elders the truth, Alyt - that I trust in my friendship with Neroon, and in his honor, and believe with all my heart that his intentions toward me are good."
"Hmph." Sinolin released Delenn's gaze and sought out her son in the background. "And you, Neroon? You are meant to be learning patience with your clan-brother's people, but from what I can see here you are learning frustration, ignorance, and some questionable taste in companionship. Perhaps you would be better returning to the training camp, after all."
Neroon stood before his mother as straight as his pike, his arms rigid at his side. "With respect, Mother, I ask that you allow me to remain here, assuming Delenn's father allows the same. While I have found frustration here, I have also found loyal friendship, and I would be shamed not to return that loyalty in kind."
"Indeed." Sinolin regarded her son thoughtfully, and threw another sideways glance over Delenn, as if to double-check her initial impressions and weigh them against her son's words. No doubt she still found her impression wanting, but Delenn was too relieved to care. Neroon would stay, if only she could convince her father to let her stay as well, and if he stayed that meant they would still have some time together, even if it could not be alone. "Well, if Neroon would keep to his training, then I remand him to your authority once again, Branmer. Take care, boy, that I do not have cause to regret this decision." With that, and a swift Warrior's salute, Sinolin cut off the communication.
"And now you, Delenn." Midiri gestured her forward. "Let us contact your father, and I will explain matters to him."
There was no subordinate officer or aide to answer Delenn's father's messages for him - Clarenn answered himself, after a brief delay, and regarded the scene before him with a slightly worried expression. "Delenn? Is everything all right?"
The sound of her father's voice and the quiet concern in his grey eyes were enough to take away Delenn's voice altogether - after all she had been through in the past short while, it seemed that it took only his presence, distant as it was, to turn her into a child again. A large part of her wanted to fall into his arms and cry out all her sorrow and anger at the injustices of the day onto his shoulder. She pressed her lips together and squeezed her eyelids tight against the tears as Midiri gave her version of events. She emphasized to Clarenn that his daughter was accused of nothing more than being taken in through her innocence by bad company, and that the priesthood were doing their best to protect her, but that she refused to listen to them. With every word Delenn grew more angry, until she was biting her lip to keep from interrupting the old priestess rather than to prevent herself from crying like a child.
When at last Midiri had finished, Delenn opened her eyes again to meet her father's grave, worried eyes, and spoke calmly, and without hesitation. "The accusations against my friend are lies and false rumors, Father. Master Midiri and Master Nafeel have taken them to heart, and I understand they do so out of concern for me, but these concerns are entirely unwarranted. My friend is honorable, and I trust in him. If you ask me to come home to you, I will be forced to obey, but it would bring shame and dishonor to my friend, because it would say to everyone that these lies are the truth, and that he cannot be trusted. Please, let me stay."
"Delenn..." Clarenn reached out toward the screen, as if he would touch her, and then lowered his hand with an effort. "Are you certain this is what you want, ah'iersa?"
"Yes, Father. I am certain."
"And you believe in your mind as well as your heart that this boy is worthy of your trust?"
"Yes, Father."
Clarenn smiled sadly. "Then you have my permission to stay. Is this your... friend, then?" he asked, glancing at Neroon. Out of the corner of her eye, Delenn saw Neroon tense and straighten again, as if he feared an inspection like the one Delenn had experienced under his mother's eye. For the first time in what seemed like a very long time, Delenn had to smother a smile.
"Yes, Father. This is Neroon ra'Fi'sularae. Neroon, this is my father, Clarenn ra'Mir."
Neroon moved to Delenn's side, made a crisp Warrior's salute, and bowed deeply. Clarenn saluted in the Religious fashion and bowed in return.
"It seems that your path with my daughter will not run smooth, Neroon of the Star Riders," Clarenn said in a slow, considering tone. "Any father would fear to hear these things that have been said today. But Delenn says she trusts you and this is... not the first time we have spoken of that trust. And I, in turn, must trust the judgment of her good heart and mind. You look to me like an honorable young man. I pray you will keep that honor in mind, and be worthy of the trust Delenn places in you."
"I... will do everything in my power to do so, sir." Neroon bowed again. "And I thank you."
Clarenn bowed in return, and then hesitated, as if he would say something else, but not in front of such an extensive audience. Then he turned his attention back to Delenn. "Take care, ah'iersa. Remember that you are young, and that there is no shame in waiting for things that will grow better with time. And remember that to me, you are the suns and the moons and all the stars in the sky."
"I will, Father." Delenn pressed her heart to her hand, and reached the other out toward her father, biting her lip to keep from crying. "Take care."
As the communication clicked off, Delenn swallowed a sudden, welling desire to say she took it all back, that she would prefer to go home to her father... but to what purpose? There would be no future for her if she left temple without finishing her studies, and it would not take away either the ache in her heart for Neroon and his tightly-held honor, or the sharp, painful knowledge that her father had somehow begun to grow old while she was away. What was done, was done. She turned to Neroon, beside her, his face pale and taut, and tried to smile. Her lip trembled, and he lifted a gloved hand to touch her cheek... and then lowered it with a laboured swallow and a clenched jaw.
"How long?" he asked the room at large. His eyes did not leave Delenn's, and there was no doubt in her mind what he was questioning. The same thought was on her mind - how long did they have to prove themselves, before they could be together again?
"Three months."
"Three..." Neroon closed his mouth, and a muscle in his jaw jumped at the tension in him. Three months took them through the rest of summer and into autumn, far too close for their tastes to the end of his year at the temple, the time when he would return to his own training with his own caste, far away.
"Three months," Midiri repeated. "Surely if your love is so true, you can wait that little time." An obvious sneer in her voice made Delenn glad she was not facing the old priestess - if she could see it as well as hear it, Delenn felt sure she would do something foolish to ruin all their chances.
"And at the end of that time, if I have proven myself honorable...?"
"Then there will be no danger in letting you be alone together, so long as you promise to continue to behave suitably toward each other," Branmer said, as calmly as if it was his decision to make. Delenn turned to look at him, then at Midiri, who scowled bitterly. But Firell nodded, and, after a moment, so did Nafeel.
"Three months, then. There will not be much time left after that, before I must leave..." Neroon's voice made it a question, and Delenn turned back to him.
"Whatever time there is will be worth the wait," she assured him.
"Then... until then." He swallowed again, saluted and bowed deeply to her, then lifted his head and walked swiftly away. Branmer followed him, and Delenn stood for a moment, shocked and alone in the center of the room, before she could make herself begin the long walk back to her dormitory.
***
In tightly-controlled silence, the two Star Riders all but marched back to the temple annex where they shared quarters. Master Branmer muttered meditative prayers under his breath and, in the privacy of his thoughts, cursed the ignorance of his colleagues; beside him, Neroon's dark eyes stood out enormous and staring in his pale face.
The boy held himself together admirably, but when they had reached the safety of their quarters, he broke, dropping into a chair and crying with the rough, tearing sobs of a child struggling desperately to be a man, and finding it just beyond his reach. Branmer abandoned his pretense at calm and knelt by Neroon's side, resting his hand lightly on the back of the boy's gauntleted wrist.
"I have done nothing," Neroon spat, hating the tears he choked on, "nothing to be deserving of this."
"In their eyes, you have. You made the mistake of falling in love with Delenn ra'Mir."
Neroon froze, darting uncertain glances at his patron. "Mistake?"
"In their eyes," Branmer said again. "Not mine." The eyes that looked on him so forlornly pierced through his soul. "You have been all I will ever have of a son, Neroon, and in Valen's name, I swear to you, I will not allow the petty furies of my caste to destroy the happiness you have found here."
Nodding tightly with the effort of reining in his emotions, Neroon looked down at floor. "I... I miss her, va'malid. I miss her already."
Branmer pulled the boy's head down on his shoulder, and held him quietly.
***
When she arrived back at her room, Delenn found Mayan already there, waiting for her. The thought of explaining all that had happened was instantly too much for Delenn, and she fell to the bed into her friend's arms, and burst into tears. Mayan held her tight, stroked her arms and shoulders, and murmured meaningless soft words to her, her musical voice like a lullabye, until at last her tears slowed against her friend's shoulder.
"There," Mayan murmured. "There, Delenn. It will be all right. It's for the best, maybe."
Delenn froze. "What?"
"That boy, leaving. Or whatever it is. I thought I heard you say it was about him," Mayan corrected quickly, her eyes suddenly wide as she realized what she had said.
Hot rage filled Delenn's heart. "I never told you what I was crying for," she hissed. "You knew. You were the one who told them! You lied, Mayan!"
"I did not!" Mayan shouted. "I did not lie at all, Delenn! I told Master Midiri that I was afraid for you, and I was. I told her I believed that Star Rider would hurt you, and I do! That is all. There was no lie in it!"
"You lied to me just now, telling me you thought you heard me say--no, I will not argue with you. I have called you my dearest friend since the day we came to this temple, Mayan, and you betrayed me."
"No, Delenn, listen to me. I only spoke to them because--"
"No, Mayan." Delenn stood up, surprising herself with the cold calm of her voice. "No, I will not hear anymore of this. You have hurt me, and hurt someone I care about - someone I love," she corrected. She had not dared to say it earlier in front of the high priests, for fear it would only strengthen their claims, but there and then, she was too furious to be careful. "I am leaving. When I come back after evening prayers, do not speak to me. I will not speak to you. Until we can be moved to other rooms, that is for the best."
"Delenn, please, don't go..." Mayan's sweet voice, thick with tears, cut off as Delenn shut their door behind her.
Outside, the sky was bright and the air warm. Around the grounds, students sat in the sunlight reading and chatting, a few leaning on the arms or shoulders of friends or lovers. Delenn wrapped her arms tightly around herself despite the heat, lowered her head and focused on the worn, stone pathway as she hurried to the library to begin the long work before her.
Three days passed. Although Delenn applied for a change of room, the administration could not allow a change unless some other girl in her age group was willing to trade, and everyone she knew was happy with their placement. So every morning Delenn rose early, dressed and gathered her study materials and slipped out the door without speaking to Mayan. She ate with study companions and lesser friends who, while less intimate and loving than she had once been with Mayan, at least did not comment on her situation with Neroon. And when not in class, in prayers, or in the dining hall, Delenn spent all her time in the library, studying to make up for the delays that her teachers had accused her of. And everywhere, as she walked, she looked for Neroon, but saw him nowhere. She began to fear he might have changed his mind, and returned to his family and his training camp, after all. Finally, late in the afternoon on the third day, she found him standing outside the library. He looked forlorn and awkward in his dark grey coat amid the crowd of white-robed students and priests, but his eyes took on a cautious warmth when he saw her.
Caution, Delenn decided, could be damned. She threw her arms around his neck, and was relieved when he held her tightly in return. "I missed you," she whispered against his neck.
"I know. And I missed you."
"I wanted to send you a note, but I was afraid; I wasn't sure--"
"Nor was I."
Delenn took a deep breath. "I know who told the high priests they were worried about us. It was Mayan."
"Your friend, the poet?" Neroon let out a soft, angry hiss. "I should have guessed."
"So should I, but she did not make it difficult to discover once I came back to our room after the inquiry."
"And now?"
"I am trying to get assigned another roommate, but so far I've had no luck. It will be a very long three months, with a roommate I cannot even speak to."
"I'm sorry, Delenn. At least I have had Branmer's friendship these past days. If I had known, I would have found somewhere to wait for you sooner."
"It's all right." Delenn buried her face in the collar of his coat. "It's more important that we not risk breaking the rules, right now."
Neroon growled softly, and pulled back from their embrace, holding her steady so he could look into her eyes. "I know. But... you are well?"
"I am well, I promise you. And you?"
The corner of his lip quirked up a little. "I will be well," he said softly, "when I can once again see my priestess whenever she wishes to see me. Until then, I am... waiting." He kissed her, quick and chaste, and then pulled back, bowed, and walked away through the crowd, toward the Star Temple. Delenn watched him until the dark of his coat disappeared in the distance.
(To be continued...)
Previous parts: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 4.5. (There will be 12 chapters total, for those who are keeping track at home and/or waiting for us to post everything!)
Authors:
hearts_blood and rivendellroseRating: PG
Pairing: Delenn/Neroon
Word Count: 6941
Notes: Pre-series. Words/phrases in Minbari are inspired by the Jumpnow Minbari Lexicon, but we've played extremely fast and loose with some of them.
The Star Rider had lived at their temple for about a third of a year when Mayan's misgivings about Delenn's friendship with the boy slid into genuine concern. It had been amusing at first to tease Delenn about the boy, but as time wore on Mayan became more and more certain that her friend not only trusted this Warrior, but was becoming more and more dangerously fond of him.
"You must be careful, Delenn," Mayan warned. "He's dangerous. They all are."
Delenn rolled her eyes, but didn't look up from her book. "He's not dangerous, Mayan. He's a friend."
"He obviously is, if he's disrupting your studies this much," Mayan pointed out bitterly. "I've never seen you have to rush this much to be up-to-date on your readings." Delenn had come in late the night before - out with the Star Rider again, Mayan knew, and now had to scramble to catch up on her reading before her philosophy class.
"I have time," Delenn insisted. "Or at least I will if you stop haranguing me about this."
Later, after class, Mayan tried again. "Did I ever tell you about the historical site I went to with my parents?"
"Which one?" Delenn asked, smiling fondly. "You've told me about at least five separate ones."
"This was a very old site, from before the time of Valen. A great battle was fought there. My parents and their people were investigating the conditions of the time and of the battle, and, since I was too young to be in temple yet, they brought me along. When we arrived at the site on the first day, a cadre of Warriors was waiting, standing on top of the ground my parents had marked for the excavation. They told us we could not dig - that they refused permission on the basis that the bones of their ancestors rested their. Mother and Father argued with their alyt for hours - they had already been granted permission by the local councils, but these Warriors wouldn't stand down. They said... horrible things, Delenn. Insulted my parents, threatened them. And when at last the local councils arrived and forced them to give way, my father told me never to trust a Warrior. All the things they've done in the past - horrible things, Delenn--"
"But that was in the time before Valen! We all did terrible things in those days - there was war between the castes, between the clans... We all did those things, and we all repented and gave up those ways at Valen's direction. You can't blame one caste--and anyway, those Warriors who your parents met didn't do anything. They just tried to scare you away from disrupting their ancestors’ bones."
"It doesn't matter! This boy is no good for you, Delenn. I recognize that in the city you are used to Warriors being nearby, but most places aren't like that, and most Warriors aren't used to being near other castes, and... Delenn, it makes me worried."
"There's nothing to worry about," Delenn assured her, squeezing her hand. "Trust me. I'm as safe with Neroon as I am with you. Now, I have to go - I promised I'd help him through some of the philosophy reading for tomorrow. I'll see you at evening prayer!"
"And then that's it," Mayan complained to Ashan later, in the library. "She's gone and off with him again, and I don't know what to do! I hate it! Thinking of them alone together, of Delenn of all people with a Warrior..." She dropped her face into her hands. "What am I going to do, Ashan?"
Ashan frowned. "This is your roommate and friend we're talking about, yes?"
"Delenn ra'Mir, yes. We've been the closest of friends as long as we've been at temple," Mayan told him. "As long as I've known her, nothing has come between us until now, and... I just don't know what to do. I can't stop thinking about this!"
"Do you... Do you love her?"
Mayan gave him an odd look. "Of course I love her, she is the dearest friend in my life."
"I meant... in a romantic sense, Mayan. Do you... desire her?"
Mayan blinked, and then blushed brilliantly. "No, no. Not like that. I can't imagine... I mean, I love Delenn, but I wouldn't want... No."
"It's all right if you do, Mayan. There's no shame in it. Your family may still wish for you to have a child with a male when you are older, but--"
"I understand that," Mayan said, though the high color on her cheeks spoke another story to Ashan's eyes at least.
"I myself am attracted to both men and women. Er. Not that that matters right now,” he continued, looking away from her abruply as a bright flush spread across his face. “I'm only trying to tell you... it's all right if you do, as well. You shouldn't be afraid to talk about it."
"I know. It's just... not the way I feel. I have thought about it," she added with some embarrassment. "When we were a little younger, I thought maybe... but I really just can't imagine doing that kind of thing with her. It just wouldn't feel right."
"Ah. Well then." Ashan seemed to pull himself together, gather his thoughts... and come up short. "Then why, if you don't mind my asking, are you so concerned that Delenn is apparently involved in a relationship with this boy?"
"Because he's a Warrior!" Mayan wailed. "He's rough and coarse and he can't hold still in temple, and Delenn... she's so sheltered. She lived alone with her father until she came here to temple, and she's never traveled or done anything like that - never been further from home than the temple, never been anywhere else to speak of... She wilts in on herself when the other students laugh at her, or when a teacher tells her she's given the wrong answer, no matter how gently they say it. And now she's disappearing at all hours - at night even! - to be alone with this boy? I've had to make excuses for her when she arrives late to classes! It's not like her. She's changed, she's... not herself."
"Perhaps... Mayan, I don't wish to suggest you don't know your friend, but are you sure... are you sure it's this boy causing the change? The age you two are at, people may change on their own..."
"Of course I am sure it's him," Mayan sniffed. "She's my very dearest friend. I know Delenn better than anyone except maybe her father, and I see more of her than he does, these past years. It's utterly unlike her to disregard her lessons, which she has, or to flout our curfew, which she also has. It's unlike her to come back to our room smelling of leather and night. And it's unlike her to do anything untoward, which I'm very afraid she may if this boy continues to influence her. He's only here for the year, but she acts as if they'll always be together, and what's going to happen to her when he leaves and forgets about her?"
"Do you truly believe he might hurt her, Mayan? And that this could be intentional conduct on his part?" Ashan asked.
"Yes! But Delenn won't listen to me. She's completely blinded by her feelings for this Warrior boy. When I try to bring it up, she either ignores me or tells me I'm being silly, so I don't know what to do!"
Ashan's face grew very grave, and he nodded slowly as if coming to a decision. "Will you come with me, then?"
"Where?"
"To speak with the temple elders. I must report your concerns to them, and it would be far better if you were to come with me, so that they may take your testimony directly rather than second-hand, trusting on my memory of your words."
"Of course... yes. Thank you, Ashan." Mayan stood and bowed deeply to her tutor - and, she realized, her friend. "I'm very grateful for your help in this."
"You're welcome. I only hope your friend will forgive you, when she realizes where the concern is rooted. The council will need to examine Neroon's presence in her life, and see if it causes legitimate danger to her... but if it is as you say, it is better that she be disappointed now than later, after matters have gone farther. I'm sure she will understand that in time," he added with a faint smile, when he saw how nervous Mayan suddenly looked.
"I'm sure," Mayan agreed, but, in truth, she did wonder how long ‘in time' might be, in this case.
***
The note, delivered by one of the temple's administrative staff, gave no details, no idea of what it pertained to or whether the matter was to be considered good or bad - it only ordered her to report to the head priest's office immediately after her morning classes. Such a summons was rare but not unheard-of, particularly for a student approaching the later years of her studies from which she would in a relatively short time be sent away from the home temple onto various outside assignments that would test her skills. The priesthood usually arranged for interviews with students about her age to begin to feel out what sort of assignments might be appropriate for them in the coming years, and Delenn assumed nothing more sinister than this as she walked from her classroom to the administrative building on the other side of the temple compound. Later, she would wonder if her recent happiness had made her over-confident, perhaps even arrogant. At the time, she was concerned only with the beauty of the spring day, and with wondering whether she and Neroon might be able to slip off alone for a while to enjoy the sunshine between her afternoon classes and evening prayer.
Those thoughts washed immediately from her mind when she saw the solemn faces of the senior priests who awaited her within the office... and, across from them, Neroon and Branmer. Branmer's arms were crossed over his chest, his green eyes unreadable, and Neroon stood stiffly by his clan-brother's side, his eyes focused on the floor. He lifted his head when he saw Delenn enter, and for a brief instant she saw joy in his black eyes... followed quickly by suspicion, and something that in anyone else she would have called fear. Pressing her lips tightly together, Delenn forced herself only to nod politely to the two Star Riders, though her eyes held Neroon's the whole time, and then turned and bowed deeply to the three priests. Only Master Nafeel, the youngest of the three, nodded slightly in return.
"Sit down, Delenn," Nafeel said in what he probably thought was a kind voice. "Master Branmer, Neroon, you as well, please. We need to ask you some questions. Neroon, you were allowed to stay at this temple under the patronage of your clan-brother with the understanding that our ways might temper your youthful high spirits, and in hopes that the influence of our students would be a good one on you. Whether or not this has been the case is yet to be seen, but concern has been raised that you have had precisely the reverse effect on one of our own students. It has also been suggested that your relationship with Delenn ra'Mir is more intimate than is proper, and that your intentions toward her may not take her feelings into consideration."
"This is foolish." Branmer stepped forward. "If you will know whether my clan-brother takes Delenn's feelings into consideration, you have only to ask her. Delenn--"
"Delenn's feelings are not what is in question here, Branmer. It is the boy's intentions which concern us, and the results of those intentions on Delenn." Master Midiri stepped forward and bent over Delenn, her rumpled-silk face folded into a tight frown. "There is concern, Delenn, that your relationship with this Warrior boy is too intimate, and that he may not have your best interests at heart. As the guardians of your body and soul while you stay in this temple, we are concerned for you. We wish to protect you from the influence of those who would lead you astray. Distract you from your studies, take advantage of your innocence and the openness of your feelings. Do you understand this?"
Delenn's head spun, but she struggled to speak slowly and calmly. "Understand... No, Master, forgive me, but I do not." The spinning turned to outright nausea. Her fingers cold and trembling, her stomach suddenly weak, Delenn stared back into the old woman's pale brown eyes, forcing herself not to turn toward Neroon even though she was sure she could feel his gaze on her, waiting to hear what she would say. "Neroon is my very dear friend. I care deeply for him, and... and I have never had cause to believe he feels otherwise for me. Whoever made these complaints... I believe they were sorely mistaken, Master."
Midiri nodded sharply, and turned to Neroon. "And you, boy?"
"This is ridiculous--"
"Let the boy speak, Branmer. Speak."
Delenn closed her eyes tightly. To look at Neroon now, she sensed, would only increase his shame.
"She is... I..." Neroon's voice tightened, and he fell silent for a moment. When he spoke again, it was in a low tone that sent shivers down Delenn's spine. "I would never willingly hurt Delenn ra'Mir. I would die rather than cause her pain."
"There, you see? Now let this foolishness be ended, Midiri. You have no evidence, no reason to question my brother's motives or intentions. Delenn says Neroon is her friend, and he swears he would not hurt her. Your informant was wrong."
"The one who brought these concerns to us was not alone in noticing or worrying about Delenn's... closeness, with the boy," Midiri said, frowning even deeper if possible. "Several of her teachers have remarked that her studies have suffered in the last months - that her attention appears to wander, and that she is frequently seen to arrive late to her classes, or slip out early. Many have noticed that much of her free time is spent on the grounds with the boy. There is concern among many here that she has given undue trust to this boy, and that he may intend to misuse that trust, and her, with cruel intention. I do not consider the testimony of one love-struck girl and her would-be seducer to be sufficient against these charges."
Delenn's face felt as if it had been pressed against a brazier, and her hands, folded in her lap, trembled no matter how hard she tried to keep them still. To think that this elder could take the tentative words of feeling she had exchanged with Neroon and so casually cast them to the floor, turn them into something shameful and humiliating... it turned her stomach and made her want to melt into the stones beneath her.
"Tell me, Delenn," Midiri's voice continued over her head, "precisely what has passed between you and this boy."
Delenn gritted her teeth, and tears traced cool lines down the heat on her cheeks. "We have walked outside, on the grounds. We have talked, about... about our families, our friends, our studies... We have kissed..." She swallowed, though the tightness in her throat made it hurt to do so and it did nothing to dissipate the thickness of emotion in her voice. "And we have... touched, through our clothes. Nothing more. I swear it. At that point, always, we have stopped. He stopped, even though I, I..." She trailed off, overtaken by embarrassment.
"The girl is clearly confused, humiliated by what has happened. Humiliated by the manipulations of this boy who has convinced her that she is the aggressor in their encounters--"
"Are we hearing the same words, the same voice?" Branmer interrupted angrily. "The girl is humiliated, yes, because you are making her speak of private matters in this way, and shaming her for them!"
"Master Branmer, if you cannot be silent during this inquiry we will be forced to send you away," Midiri snapped.
"So that you can blame Neroon for every ill the Warrior caste has ever done? Heap shame and dishonor on him until your vitriol against his caste is satisfied? No, Midiri. If you send me away, you will have a call in moments from the head of the Star Rider clan, and I do not believe the head of the Warrior caste would be far behind him. If you will maintain any pretense at all that this is a fair inquiry, I stay as Neroon's advocate before a hostile council."
"He is correct, Midiri," the third high priestess, Firell, pointed out. "The boy is allowed an advocate who will speak for him, as he is a stranger here, and not yet an adult."
"Very well," Midiri growled. "Now, boy, what do you have to say for yourself?"
Neroon's voice was tight, as if he spoke through gritted teeth and muscles that he held still only by a great effort. "Delenn speaks the truth. And I swear in Valen's name, I have never intended harm to her, in body or heart. What more can I say?"
"And yet there are concerns, and concerns of this nature must be heeded. Some care must be taken, to ensure that our charges are kept safe." Firell stepped forward, now, and bent down to speak gently to Delenn alone, first. "We are not asking you to cut off all contact with this boy, Delenn. He is a guest here in this temple, and we are quite willing for cordial friendship to be fostered between young people of our caste and his. That is entirely appropriate. It is the intimacy of your contact with him that concerns those who care about you. The social worlds that you both come from are very different. He has been raised to hard words, hard ways - some things that are done for the joining of hearts and souls among the Religious caste are... done with less feeling by the Warriors. What is right for them is right for them, but, misunderstood by one of us, might cause great suffering. What we ask is that you take care, and be mindful of the difference between our castes, and know that matters of the personal must be handled with great care with such a gap between us."
Off to the side, Delenn heard an angry snort that she suspected came from Branmer, but none of the elder priests paid it any notice.
"In order to ensure that you take proper consideration of this," Midiri continued from where Firell had left off, "you shall both be under observation. From now on, until we are convinced that his intentions toward you are honorable, you are not allowed to see the Warrior boy alone. You may see him in public, when you are with other students and teachers, but you may never go out of sight of others with him, and you may never allow him to follow you where you will be unseen by others. If one of you comes upon the other alone in any place, indoors or out, the Warrior boy must leave that place so that you may continue to go about your daily routine here, as is necessary to your studies."
"He has a name." Immediately after the words left her mouth, Delenn wished she could recall them - she did not need the narrowing of the older woman's eyes and the tightening of her lips to tell her that she had spoken out of turn, and imprudently.
"He does," Midiri agreed in a quiet, dangerous voice. "And for you, that name is Fi'sulara, Star Rider. It is Zha'den, Warrior. Anything else is unnecessary and inappropriate to your age and condition. Is that clear, Delenn ra'Mir?"
Delenn bowed her head, and, through gritted teeth, murmured, "Yes, Master." No other answer could possibly be appropriate, whether or not she agreed in the slightest.
"Further to what I have said, for you to be together with the boy in the presence only of Master Branmer is also not allowed for the length of this restriction. Given your connection to the boy and your statements here in this inquiry, Branmer, you cannot be considered an impartial witness. If the children are discovered in your company only, it shall be dealt with as if they were found alone."
"This is for your safety, Delenn," Nafeel put in, his sickly-sweet voice oily and oozing against her ears. "Your well-being is very important to your teachers and friends here, and we want only to keep you safe from those who would misuse your innocence. If the boy can prove by adherence to these restrictions that his intentions toward you are in line with those concerns, and if your studies return to their former levels and remain there, then we will lift this restriction on you, and there will be no need for further censure on either of you."
"Censure?" Branmer repeated in a tone of barely-restrained fury.
Delenn felt as if her heart was trying to hide in her stomach to avoid any more hurt.
"There must be consequences, if these concerns are found to be merited. Delenn, the penalty for you will be mild - we know you bore no ill-will in this matter, and were led astray by outside forces you could not anticipate or understand. If the judgment falls against you both, the worst you will suffer is three years added to your training here, to be spent making up the studies you have neglected in your time with this boy, and contemplating the importance of discretion and obedience to those who know better than you."
"And for Neroon? If we are judged guilty--" Delenn faltered.
"The guilt is not yours, child," Nafeel told her. "You need not worry."
"But if judgment falls against us, what punishment would be given to him?" Delenn pressed on, determined to hear the worst.
"Yes, Nafeel." Branmer stood forth again, as if he would put himself between the priests and his clan-brother to protect him. "Tell us."
"The boy will be sent back to his clan in disgrace, as is appropriate to the indecency of his behavior." Nafeel folded his hands in his sleeves. "His presence here was protested from the beginning, and only your direct patronage gave us the confidence to bring him here, Branmer. If he has broken that trust, the Warriors must deal with their own... but we will make clear to them that his behavior has been unacceptable, and that he has brought shame on his clan and caste while among us. That is all you need to know."
Delenn felt tears welling up in her eyes. Neroon valued his and his clan's honor above all things, she knew - he would prefer to suffer the punishments meted out in the old stories, the lashings and physical trials and the battles against great monsters or impossible odds, rather than go home with dishonor to his family. And Branmer... if his patronage had allowed Neroon to be brought to the temple, then Neroon's disgrace would fall just as heavily on him, if not harder still.
"That is not quite all that must be said, however," Branmer said softly. "The children's parents must be notified of what has happened and what has been decided for them. That is only right - either may wish to remove their children from this temple before the matter goes any further, considering the risks to family honor should this continue."
"Very well." Firell brushed a tapestry aside to reveal a communications panel. "As a member of the family, I trust you will wish to contact Neroon's parents yourself, Branmer?"
"His mother. My cousin, Neroon's father, passed beyond many years ago." Branmer nodded and grimly punched in the correct routing information, then stood, shoulders back and feet shoulder-width apart, as he waited for the call to go through. He spoke briefly with the young Warrior who answered the summons first, then the whole room waited in tense silence for a long moment until the screen flicked to life again with the image of a dour, stoutly-built female Warrior in black and silver armor.
"I take it this is important, Branmer. So. What has happened to my son?"
"Alyt Sinolin, my apologies for disturbing you from your responsibilities. Nothing has happened physically, but there has been some... difficulty, here today." Branmer quickly outlined the subject and content of the inquiry for the woman, who nodded tersely a few times, her black eyes narrowed.
"This girl he is accused of misleading, what does she say to this?" she finally asked.
"The girl, Delenn, is here," Branmer replied, indicating her. Delenn stepped tentatively forward into the view of the communication screen's camera. The look Neroon's mother cast over her was quick, measuring, and cold.
"All the trouble you describe, for this little wisp?" Sinolin snorted. "Well, girl? What do you say to these accusations? Or can you speak at all?"
For the second time in the day, Delenn swallowed her fear and tried to speak as calmly as she could, though it was hard to pick her voice up from a whisper in the chill of the dark gaze that pierced her from the screen. "I have told the elders the truth, Alyt - that I trust in my friendship with Neroon, and in his honor, and believe with all my heart that his intentions toward me are good."
"Hmph." Sinolin released Delenn's gaze and sought out her son in the background. "And you, Neroon? You are meant to be learning patience with your clan-brother's people, but from what I can see here you are learning frustration, ignorance, and some questionable taste in companionship. Perhaps you would be better returning to the training camp, after all."
Neroon stood before his mother as straight as his pike, his arms rigid at his side. "With respect, Mother, I ask that you allow me to remain here, assuming Delenn's father allows the same. While I have found frustration here, I have also found loyal friendship, and I would be shamed not to return that loyalty in kind."
"Indeed." Sinolin regarded her son thoughtfully, and threw another sideways glance over Delenn, as if to double-check her initial impressions and weigh them against her son's words. No doubt she still found her impression wanting, but Delenn was too relieved to care. Neroon would stay, if only she could convince her father to let her stay as well, and if he stayed that meant they would still have some time together, even if it could not be alone. "Well, if Neroon would keep to his training, then I remand him to your authority once again, Branmer. Take care, boy, that I do not have cause to regret this decision." With that, and a swift Warrior's salute, Sinolin cut off the communication.
"And now you, Delenn." Midiri gestured her forward. "Let us contact your father, and I will explain matters to him."
There was no subordinate officer or aide to answer Delenn's father's messages for him - Clarenn answered himself, after a brief delay, and regarded the scene before him with a slightly worried expression. "Delenn? Is everything all right?"
The sound of her father's voice and the quiet concern in his grey eyes were enough to take away Delenn's voice altogether - after all she had been through in the past short while, it seemed that it took only his presence, distant as it was, to turn her into a child again. A large part of her wanted to fall into his arms and cry out all her sorrow and anger at the injustices of the day onto his shoulder. She pressed her lips together and squeezed her eyelids tight against the tears as Midiri gave her version of events. She emphasized to Clarenn that his daughter was accused of nothing more than being taken in through her innocence by bad company, and that the priesthood were doing their best to protect her, but that she refused to listen to them. With every word Delenn grew more angry, until she was biting her lip to keep from interrupting the old priestess rather than to prevent herself from crying like a child.
When at last Midiri had finished, Delenn opened her eyes again to meet her father's grave, worried eyes, and spoke calmly, and without hesitation. "The accusations against my friend are lies and false rumors, Father. Master Midiri and Master Nafeel have taken them to heart, and I understand they do so out of concern for me, but these concerns are entirely unwarranted. My friend is honorable, and I trust in him. If you ask me to come home to you, I will be forced to obey, but it would bring shame and dishonor to my friend, because it would say to everyone that these lies are the truth, and that he cannot be trusted. Please, let me stay."
"Delenn..." Clarenn reached out toward the screen, as if he would touch her, and then lowered his hand with an effort. "Are you certain this is what you want, ah'iersa?"
"Yes, Father. I am certain."
"And you believe in your mind as well as your heart that this boy is worthy of your trust?"
"Yes, Father."
Clarenn smiled sadly. "Then you have my permission to stay. Is this your... friend, then?" he asked, glancing at Neroon. Out of the corner of her eye, Delenn saw Neroon tense and straighten again, as if he feared an inspection like the one Delenn had experienced under his mother's eye. For the first time in what seemed like a very long time, Delenn had to smother a smile.
"Yes, Father. This is Neroon ra'Fi'sularae. Neroon, this is my father, Clarenn ra'Mir."
Neroon moved to Delenn's side, made a crisp Warrior's salute, and bowed deeply. Clarenn saluted in the Religious fashion and bowed in return.
"It seems that your path with my daughter will not run smooth, Neroon of the Star Riders," Clarenn said in a slow, considering tone. "Any father would fear to hear these things that have been said today. But Delenn says she trusts you and this is... not the first time we have spoken of that trust. And I, in turn, must trust the judgment of her good heart and mind. You look to me like an honorable young man. I pray you will keep that honor in mind, and be worthy of the trust Delenn places in you."
"I... will do everything in my power to do so, sir." Neroon bowed again. "And I thank you."
Clarenn bowed in return, and then hesitated, as if he would say something else, but not in front of such an extensive audience. Then he turned his attention back to Delenn. "Take care, ah'iersa. Remember that you are young, and that there is no shame in waiting for things that will grow better with time. And remember that to me, you are the suns and the moons and all the stars in the sky."
"I will, Father." Delenn pressed her heart to her hand, and reached the other out toward her father, biting her lip to keep from crying. "Take care."
As the communication clicked off, Delenn swallowed a sudden, welling desire to say she took it all back, that she would prefer to go home to her father... but to what purpose? There would be no future for her if she left temple without finishing her studies, and it would not take away either the ache in her heart for Neroon and his tightly-held honor, or the sharp, painful knowledge that her father had somehow begun to grow old while she was away. What was done, was done. She turned to Neroon, beside her, his face pale and taut, and tried to smile. Her lip trembled, and he lifted a gloved hand to touch her cheek... and then lowered it with a laboured swallow and a clenched jaw.
"How long?" he asked the room at large. His eyes did not leave Delenn's, and there was no doubt in her mind what he was questioning. The same thought was on her mind - how long did they have to prove themselves, before they could be together again?
"Three months."
"Three..." Neroon closed his mouth, and a muscle in his jaw jumped at the tension in him. Three months took them through the rest of summer and into autumn, far too close for their tastes to the end of his year at the temple, the time when he would return to his own training with his own caste, far away.
"Three months," Midiri repeated. "Surely if your love is so true, you can wait that little time." An obvious sneer in her voice made Delenn glad she was not facing the old priestess - if she could see it as well as hear it, Delenn felt sure she would do something foolish to ruin all their chances.
"And at the end of that time, if I have proven myself honorable...?"
"Then there will be no danger in letting you be alone together, so long as you promise to continue to behave suitably toward each other," Branmer said, as calmly as if it was his decision to make. Delenn turned to look at him, then at Midiri, who scowled bitterly. But Firell nodded, and, after a moment, so did Nafeel.
"Three months, then. There will not be much time left after that, before I must leave..." Neroon's voice made it a question, and Delenn turned back to him.
"Whatever time there is will be worth the wait," she assured him.
"Then... until then." He swallowed again, saluted and bowed deeply to her, then lifted his head and walked swiftly away. Branmer followed him, and Delenn stood for a moment, shocked and alone in the center of the room, before she could make herself begin the long walk back to her dormitory.
***
In tightly-controlled silence, the two Star Riders all but marched back to the temple annex where they shared quarters. Master Branmer muttered meditative prayers under his breath and, in the privacy of his thoughts, cursed the ignorance of his colleagues; beside him, Neroon's dark eyes stood out enormous and staring in his pale face.
The boy held himself together admirably, but when they had reached the safety of their quarters, he broke, dropping into a chair and crying with the rough, tearing sobs of a child struggling desperately to be a man, and finding it just beyond his reach. Branmer abandoned his pretense at calm and knelt by Neroon's side, resting his hand lightly on the back of the boy's gauntleted wrist.
"I have done nothing," Neroon spat, hating the tears he choked on, "nothing to be deserving of this."
"In their eyes, you have. You made the mistake of falling in love with Delenn ra'Mir."
Neroon froze, darting uncertain glances at his patron. "Mistake?"
"In their eyes," Branmer said again. "Not mine." The eyes that looked on him so forlornly pierced through his soul. "You have been all I will ever have of a son, Neroon, and in Valen's name, I swear to you, I will not allow the petty furies of my caste to destroy the happiness you have found here."
Nodding tightly with the effort of reining in his emotions, Neroon looked down at floor. "I... I miss her, va'malid. I miss her already."
Branmer pulled the boy's head down on his shoulder, and held him quietly.
***
When she arrived back at her room, Delenn found Mayan already there, waiting for her. The thought of explaining all that had happened was instantly too much for Delenn, and she fell to the bed into her friend's arms, and burst into tears. Mayan held her tight, stroked her arms and shoulders, and murmured meaningless soft words to her, her musical voice like a lullabye, until at last her tears slowed against her friend's shoulder.
"There," Mayan murmured. "There, Delenn. It will be all right. It's for the best, maybe."
Delenn froze. "What?"
"That boy, leaving. Or whatever it is. I thought I heard you say it was about him," Mayan corrected quickly, her eyes suddenly wide as she realized what she had said.
Hot rage filled Delenn's heart. "I never told you what I was crying for," she hissed. "You knew. You were the one who told them! You lied, Mayan!"
"I did not!" Mayan shouted. "I did not lie at all, Delenn! I told Master Midiri that I was afraid for you, and I was. I told her I believed that Star Rider would hurt you, and I do! That is all. There was no lie in it!"
"You lied to me just now, telling me you thought you heard me say--no, I will not argue with you. I have called you my dearest friend since the day we came to this temple, Mayan, and you betrayed me."
"No, Delenn, listen to me. I only spoke to them because--"
"No, Mayan." Delenn stood up, surprising herself with the cold calm of her voice. "No, I will not hear anymore of this. You have hurt me, and hurt someone I care about - someone I love," she corrected. She had not dared to say it earlier in front of the high priests, for fear it would only strengthen their claims, but there and then, she was too furious to be careful. "I am leaving. When I come back after evening prayers, do not speak to me. I will not speak to you. Until we can be moved to other rooms, that is for the best."
"Delenn, please, don't go..." Mayan's sweet voice, thick with tears, cut off as Delenn shut their door behind her.
Outside, the sky was bright and the air warm. Around the grounds, students sat in the sunlight reading and chatting, a few leaning on the arms or shoulders of friends or lovers. Delenn wrapped her arms tightly around herself despite the heat, lowered her head and focused on the worn, stone pathway as she hurried to the library to begin the long work before her.
Three days passed. Although Delenn applied for a change of room, the administration could not allow a change unless some other girl in her age group was willing to trade, and everyone she knew was happy with their placement. So every morning Delenn rose early, dressed and gathered her study materials and slipped out the door without speaking to Mayan. She ate with study companions and lesser friends who, while less intimate and loving than she had once been with Mayan, at least did not comment on her situation with Neroon. And when not in class, in prayers, or in the dining hall, Delenn spent all her time in the library, studying to make up for the delays that her teachers had accused her of. And everywhere, as she walked, she looked for Neroon, but saw him nowhere. She began to fear he might have changed his mind, and returned to his family and his training camp, after all. Finally, late in the afternoon on the third day, she found him standing outside the library. He looked forlorn and awkward in his dark grey coat amid the crowd of white-robed students and priests, but his eyes took on a cautious warmth when he saw her.
Caution, Delenn decided, could be damned. She threw her arms around his neck, and was relieved when he held her tightly in return. "I missed you," she whispered against his neck.
"I know. And I missed you."
"I wanted to send you a note, but I was afraid; I wasn't sure--"
"Nor was I."
Delenn took a deep breath. "I know who told the high priests they were worried about us. It was Mayan."
"Your friend, the poet?" Neroon let out a soft, angry hiss. "I should have guessed."
"So should I, but she did not make it difficult to discover once I came back to our room after the inquiry."
"And now?"
"I am trying to get assigned another roommate, but so far I've had no luck. It will be a very long three months, with a roommate I cannot even speak to."
"I'm sorry, Delenn. At least I have had Branmer's friendship these past days. If I had known, I would have found somewhere to wait for you sooner."
"It's all right." Delenn buried her face in the collar of his coat. "It's more important that we not risk breaking the rules, right now."
Neroon growled softly, and pulled back from their embrace, holding her steady so he could look into her eyes. "I know. But... you are well?"
"I am well, I promise you. And you?"
The corner of his lip quirked up a little. "I will be well," he said softly, "when I can once again see my priestess whenever she wishes to see me. Until then, I am... waiting." He kissed her, quick and chaste, and then pulled back, bowed, and walked away through the crowd, toward the Star Temple. Delenn watched him until the dark of his coat disappeared in the distance.
(To be continued...)
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Date: 2011-10-24 05:03 pm (UTC)I look forward to reading more.
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Date: 2011-10-24 10:54 pm (UTC)