Chapter Text
Elderwood Promises
It had been a rather normal day, you had tended to your garden, your fruits and vegetables and made sure to fix up your tools before going along with your day, or shall I say beginning it.
You made a list of the things you wanted to do, but well, that never goes as planned.. not usually, as you started your day off stepping in horse poop at the stables, Nai’o laughing his head off while offering to spray your shoes clean.
You brushed the incident off with a small laugh of your own, having been fine with it; even just the slightest bit disgusted by the lingering smell, Auni offering to trade his shoes with yours as he had just gotten a new pair from Jel.
After the stables you headed into town, going up to the request board and seeing a request that had to do with the Royal Highlands, seeing as only few were willing to go there themselves.
It was a simple request with a decent reward, nothing you couldn’t do, you thought aloud to yourself, feeling confident as you gripped the strap of your bag tightly.
You looked down at your new shoes, Jel offering them with a wave of his hand, smiling softly when I took them, obviously leaving no room for argument.
How could your day get any worse ? Never, never ask that, because I later regretted it.
”Starshine!” I hummed, looking up from my bag, looking around for the source of the familiar voice, “Starshine!” I spun around, only to be met with a grinning Sifuu, Hassian’s mother.
“Yes Ma’am..?” I questioned kindly, feeling a smile of my own coming to my face.
”Glad I caught ya in time!” She all but shouted, making me let out a small laugh, “Oh, why is that ?” I asked softly, digging through my bag.
”I need a favor from you, the Elderwood, I left my new bow I was testing out near Mitana Grove, and I thought you might be headed out there seeing as you’re at the request board, would you mind grabbing it for me ?”
Oh Sifuu, I smiled “That’s just like you to do that.” She laughed, nodding along at my truth.
”Yeah, I gotta stop doing that. I couldn’t go back myself though, I have a few requests myself, making some new tools for the ranch..”
I nodded in understanding, “Great! I’ll reward you kindly, you can bring it back anytime you like, I just need it within the week, Hassian wanted to test it out.”
I nodded once again, writing her request down on my list of things to do.
She waved me off, Auni running up to her asking about a possible new sword.
I rushed off before I could hear the rest of the conversation, heading off in the direction of the Bay.
I reach the gate in no time at all, smiling at the thought of seeing Hassian on the way through the Bay, down by Hideaway Bluffs.
Just as I went to open the gate I heard the telltale signs of clinking footsteps, ones that I was always happy to hear.
”Einar!” I jumped into his arms as he crouched down to reach me, the Galdur letting out a happy hum as his arms wrapped around me gently.
”My Star.. on the way to our other lover..?”
I nodded, “Sorta.. I have to do some things but I have to head to Bahari Bay to get there, figured I’d stop by to see him on the way.”
Einar stood up, unwrapping his arms carefully from around me.
”I see.. well, I hope that seeing him brings you closer to feeling your Oneness..”
I giggled softly, pressing a kiss to his hand, “Me too, I’ll let him know you said hi.”
”But I haven’t-“ I cut him off, “But you were, you’d like me to, right ?”
He nodded, his hat tilting slightly.
”You know me well, I’m glad our togetherness has made that so..”
I smiled, nodding in agreement. “Me too.”
I waved goodbye as I rushed back over to the gate, heading towards Bahari bay. Hearing the clinking of footsteps and fishing gear growing further and further away.
I made my way through Bahari Bay soon after stepping into the gate, looking over the cliff and over at Hideaway Bluffs, next to where the Bay’s request board was placed, set up by a small fishing pond.
“How odd.. No Hassian or Tau in sight..” I whispered to myself, heading over to his place, knocking a few times, not hearing a bark or his voice carrying through from the other side.
”Hassian..?” Odd, very odd. He’s never out at this time.
I went to Hodari’s place to ask if he knew where Hassian had been, Najuma working on fireworks silently at his side.
”I saw him walk past this morning, he said something about needing to talk to someone in the Elderwoods.”
Someone…“He didn’t say who it was ?” I was curious, a swirl of slight insecurity stirring in my stomach.
I clutched the strap of my bag tightly as Hodari shook his head no. He gave me a weak smile, his eyes full of understanding.
”Not like him, huh?” I shook my head, thinking of what the ever elusive Hassian could be up to.
I sighed softly, “I’ll let you know if he passes by later, can’t be keeping things from you like this.. leads to misunderstandings.”
It was something he clearly knew all too well about, I could see it in his eyes. Najuma looking up at me worriedly.
”I’ll keep watch, you passing through for requests ?” I nodded, pulling out my list of requests I took off the board.
”Busy as always, keep your head up, don’t get too far in there.” He flicked my forehead, ruffling my hair gently.
I smiled weakly, feeling the uncertainty get heavier in my throat, tears threatening to spill over as I nodded, turning away before either of the two could see.
”I-I’ll be.. going now. Let Badruu know that I’m taking my horse out and that nobody stole it, he’s always so worrisome.”
Hodari chuckled softly behind me knowingly. “I’ve got you covered, don’t worry.”
I rushed off to the stables, climbing up onto my horse Eloise. “Hi Ella.. let’s get to the dock okay ? I need to get to the Royal Highlands before sundown.”
We raced off, Najuma cheering excitedly at our speed, shouting something to her dad about making a firework as fast as me.
Before I knew it we had reached the dock and got off Eloise. The boat ride there was uneventful, my palcat Arcturus sitting in my lap.
I climbed out of the boat, Eloise following soon after. “I think we can make it back to the Elderwood before midnight.. but this might take a bit longer than I thought, I’ve got some hunting to do.”
I looked down at one of the many quests on my list, the name Hassian written in his hand writing.
“Ironic.. come on you two.” Eloise and Arcturus followed at my words, helping me do my quests quicker than if I had done it by myself.
”Finally done.” The sun was setting and we had been around all of the Royal Highlands, checking off everything from the lists quickly.
I sighed, putting the requested items in Eloise’s saddle bag, “That shouldn’t be too heavy, it’s mainly plants..”
I climbed up onto Eloise, pulling Arcturus up into my lap before setting off again.
”Maybe we can try to find Hassian before heading home, I wonder if we’ll be in the way of his plans if we do find him. I wouldn’t want to be a burden.”
Ah yes, there it was.. the biggest hit to my insecurity yet. I spotted Hassian in the Elderwoods, Tau close behind him.
Just as I was about to call out to him another voice called out to him first..
Tamala… his ex, his rather.. unusual ex, one who made potions.. one who.. stole my voice, my truth.. and one who looked all too eager to see Hassian.
”Tamala..” His voice responded, I came to a stop, trying my hardest not to listen in as my heart dropped to the pits of molten lava deep beneath the Earths surface.
”I came to get my things..” He spoke and gasped weakly, nearly alerting him if Tamala’s bracelets hadn’t jingled when she laughed.
”Still…? You seriously need to stop asking pretty boy, it’s not a good look on ya..”
Pretty boy.. I felt sick, my stomach churning nauseatingly as I leaned onto Eloise for support, Arcturus rubbing against my leg with a small whine.
His dropped to a serious tone, “You never gave them back, my old bow, my bag, Tau’s old toys… you didn’t even give me back my pin I made you. Even after you rejected me.”
My eyes widened at his words, feeling tears build up quickly.
I had nearly forgotten about her.. about them being a thing.. about the fact that.. if she hadn’t rejected him, he wouldn’t be mine or Einar’s..
”It’s almost like you keep it as a prize to ogle at to please you, maybe even to have a laugh at a piece of my heart I so eagerly gave up to you.”
I couldn’t stand to hear any more of what he had to stay, but I couldn’t bring myself to leave.
“Does anyone ever come over and ogle at it with you ? Laugh about it too ? Do you even get guests ? I’d assume so, seeing as your house is bigger than when we first met.”
I could hear the pain in his voice and I felt a lump building in my throat.
”I hope it pleased you. It lost all meaning after that. I’d like it back. All of my things. Now.”
It seemed this hadn’t been the first time, if Tamala’s earlier words were anything to go by..
Speaking of which, she hadn’t spoken the whole time. I hadn’t even been focused on her, too focused on my angry lover standing up for himself to notice her.
I stumbled back as I looked over at her, seeing her already looking at me, a smirk on her lips.
Just how long had she been watching, from the beginning ? Did.. she.. know I was here the whole time ? How.. hasn’t Hassian noticed..?
I tripped over a rock a I stumbled, taken aback by her knowledge of me being there, falling to the floor, hard.
“Hassian, Hassian, Hassian.. you silly boy.. aren’t you just making an excuse to see me ?”
I could hear the smile in her voice, a hand hovering over her mouth to hide the big grin trying to stretch out on her face at my fall.
An excuse.. I sat up, holding my head in a daze as I continued listened, Eloise nudging me gently to get up.
”It’s been years.. I’m tired of asking. I didn’t come here for you, I came for my things. If you think I came for something other than that then you’re sorely mistaken.”
She laughed lightly, “Why not go to my house to get your things instead of coming all the way out here for them ?”
Tau growled softly, “You’re never home! You avoid me and ignore me when you are home and then whenever I come talk to you about my things you make a show of it!”
This is the angriest I had ever heard Hassian, and I’ve seen him mad.. not a good look.
Tamala looked bored, “Not even gonna give me a chance to fight back ?”
”Why would I ?” His voice thickened in anger, his fists clenched tightly at his sides.
”I’ve got two amazing lovers and a horrible ex, what would you choose..?”
Tamala’s eyes were wide in shock, almost looking hurt.
”Well played.. I’ll leave your things out by the garden when I get back home.”
Hassian nodded with a sigh of relief, letting his hands fall open as he relaxed.
Tamala walked off quickly to the Central Stables, muttering under her breath.
”You’ve grown guts.. gained the confidence, so that’s what love does to ya..? Who would’ve thought. I guess I didn’t have it in me to bring it out of ya.. seems.. you were too much for me.”
My eyes stung with tears as I scrambled to get up, Eloise helping me get onto her back with her hooves.
Hassian turned in my direction, and as his eyes fell on me he froze, eyes widening.
”Star..” Arcturus quickly climbed into Eloise’s saddle bag, and I took off towards the entrance of the Elderwoods, not looking behind me as Hassian shouted my name desperately.