Just One Night…

[shawncameron]

((hehehe sorry for the length…))

“Are you sure its tonight?” Killian asked again hiding his nervousness as only a Harper could when his older sister, Beca, began to tap her foot impatiently in front of him. “Of cores I’m sure Killian I may be a healer but my husband is a fisher and we know the moon fazes, tonight is the fool moon… why do you ask anyway?” Killian did blush slightly then, of course she would ask? Why would he, a blind man, want to know when the fool moon was unless he was planning something? “Just curious is all… it’s been so long since I’ve thought of such things you know…” actually he thought of them almost every night as he waited for sleep but that was neither here nor there. He ran his hand through his hair smiling at his sister who took the mask for real expression of emotion as all did.

Only a few more things left…

Killian taped the door lightly with his knuckles holding and then letting out his breath slowly. But luckily for him it was Krina who answered the door and not Certain. “Yes?” her voice was soft, not accusing or overly curious and that threw Killian off for just a moment before he smiled his most charming smile, “I was just wondering, Milady Krina, if I could ask your help for a small project of mine…” that made the woman arch one delicate eyebrow though Killian couldn’t see it and she quickly spoke up realizing her mistake, “what kind of project Killian?” Killian just continued to smile that innocent smile, if anyone could guess his plan it would be this woman and he did not want that to happen, “it’s a cooking project, as you know our uncle is the head cook in the Harper hall and although I have helped him with many recipes I have never prepared--------- and was wondering if you could help me.” Krina didn’t say anything for a long time and the hair on Killians neck began to stand on end, “its for a picnic… you don’t mind do you?” Krina arched her eye brows further but shook her head then realizing her mistake again blushed, “no, no I don’t mind Killian come on in…” the Harper sighed inwardly in relief as he stepped through the door and followed the woman into the kitchen.

The next step was going to be much harder, for him at least…

“Vinrin… can I ask you a favor?” Vinrin was in the process of painting the makeup onto his face when he turned all to quickly clapping his hands together and causing powder to fill the air almost making Killian sneeze. “Oh my dear little brother of cores I will do anything for you!” Killian wrinkled his nose, trying to smile and not sneeze at the same time. “I need… an outfit…” Vinrin clapped again, “a dress! Oh I always thought you would look splendid in one of my,” “NO! I mean… not a dress I was thinking something more along the lines of a nice Hakama and a coat…” Vinrin seemed a bit disappointed and Killian held his breath, “well alright.” He snapped his fingers and Killian breathed more easily.
“I think I have just the thing…”
“Well Vinrin I kind have… something already in mind…”
“Oh and what might that be?”
Killian wasn’t sure if the man was really listening but he didn’t have much of a choice, “well… something along the lines of black.” Vinrin gasped and Killian hurried to finish before the man denied him without hearing the hole thing, “but with gray and silver embroidery… something that would look good in moonlight…” Vinrin sighted and Killian listened as he walked away then came back placing one warm hand on his cheek, “who ever said a blind man didn’t have good taste…” he taped Killians cheek gently and he relaxed, until Vinrin began to take his clothes off. “Well we will have to take accurate measurements so start striping…”

Just one more thing…

Killian was not in the Harper Hall when the sun went down, neither was he with his family or on the beach near by. All anyone knew and would say was that he went for a walk to work on a song that was troubling him. But he had not just left…

Up the stairs, in Apricus’s chambers, there was one dress lying out on the bed. It was a simple design one made for comfort and capable of being tied on by the person wearing it without any elaborate or cumbersome bows. Despite its design it was made of a very fine fabric lightweight and flowy and with a fool moon setting into the ocean embroidered on its dark blue almost black fabric.

Upon closer inspection of the room would revile that all other clothes, (not counting undergarments) had been removed and where nowhere to be found. On the door to the washroom was a note written in Killians own hand, it read…

Milady Apricus,

I’m sorry about your clothes, Vinrin insisted on cleaning and patching them all, I tried to stop him but you know what he is like. I assure you he will do nothing drastic to them but to compensate we wanted you to have the dress on the bed it is simple and very comfortable I hope you don’t mind.

As the other harpers and drudges can tell you I have gone out too work on a song, if I do not make it back by two candle marks after night fall I would ask you to come find me. I apologies for any and all inconvenience but as you know it is rather difficult for me to tell time… I would like to have diner with you tonight so I hope for both of our sakes that I can work this out before you have to go out of your way.

If it dose come to that, you can find me by going down the tree lined road from the back door, once you reach a large tree with its roots growing into and obstructing the road turn right and head through the trees for fifteen yards, you will come to a grassy clearing and that is where I will be.

Humbly yours
Killian, Apprentice Harper

PS
If all else fails follow the music.

The night was quiet and Killian would not come back in the set time, a slight salty breeze was blowing through the open windows and balcony doors making the curtains ripple as it carried the soft sound of a guitar to all with an ear tuned to music…

[E]

((Just means I get to reply with a long one. ha!))

Apri nodded in silent exasperation as she thanked yet another stranger as they failed to know where the blind man was. Sighing, she gave up. She’d searched for him all day after her morning walk, but miraculously, he had not been in his room like he always was, slow to get the day started.

Opening the door to her room, she frowned and closed it again. Looking up and down the hallway she shook her head and opened it again. There was something wrong… It was clean… Apri never was one to keep her clothes picked up but now… they were nowhere in sight. Frowning, she looked behind her before stepping in and closing the door.

Instantly she found the dress carefully laid out on her bed. Moving to it, she reached out a hand to run it down the soft material. It was beautifully made and Apri could only guess that it was another one of Vinrin’s many creations he seemed to continuously give him. Shaking her head, she reached up to pull out the stick holding up her hair as she turned to the washroom for a quick bath.

She found herself frowning again, however, as she spotted the piece of parchment pinned to the door. Walking to it, she carefully pulled it from the door and held it in gentle hands. The writing was unmistakable as Apri knew only one person who could write so neatly.

After reading the first paragraph she stopped. Her clothes? Realizing that they were not in fact strewn around the room she quickly moved to the wardrobe and threw open the doors. To her dismay it was completely bare. Turning back to the dress, she pursed her lips before lifting the parchment again.

Dinner? A clearing in the trees? That dress? What was this all about? Apri could only guess that Killian had drunk too much Klah that morning. Sighing, she looked to the open balcony doors at the setting sun. Well, she still had time for a bath.

Shedding her clothes, she climbed into the warm water and leaned against the back of the tub. At the Hall with so many people in the washrooms, she’d never dream of soaking in the water. Here at Ista, however, she had slowly realized that she could soak as long as her body wished. Tonight, she wished to soak.

Wetting her hair, she washed it with sweetsand and rinsed it again before leaning back again. Turning to pick up the parchment on the stand next to her, she read thru it again before setting it down. There was defiantly something suspicious about everything today…

Getting out of the bath, she was pleased to find the bathrobe still hanging on the door. Putting that on instead, she kicked her dirty clothes to a corner before walking into the room again. Still not two candlemarks… What was she going to do if he did not come? Looking to the dress she sighed. Vinrin must have been in on it… making her wear yet another one of his dresses…

Two candle marks. No Killian. Apri sighed, sitting up from the balcony chair. She had spent the last mark listening to the music coming softly on the breeze. She was not confident, but she had a feeling that was Killian. And he had showed no sign of stopping.

Moving to the dress yet again, she ran a hand over its material before finally taking off the robe and rummaging for some undergarments, which were thankfully still intact. Carefully, she slide the light material onto her body. Fastening the dress, she picked up the belt and wrapped it around her small waist. Looking at it a moment, she decided she wasn’t even going to attempt one of Vinrin’s bows. Instead she did a simple one taught to children for their shoes. It would serve the purpose.

Wondering if she should take anything, she picked up the parchment before walking out the door. She was going to be asking some questions about all of this. In soft slippers, she carefully walked over the gravel stone before quickly stepping onto the gentler grass. Walking next to the path, Apri did not even bother following the directions written; she had listened to the music for over mark now and she was more than ready to find its creator.

[shawncameron]

Killian continued to play, he had no words for this song but it didn’t need any, it used raw emotion in its notes, saying things that words couldn’t hope to express. He would switch on occasion to the violin mostly to rest his fingers as well as for the sound. He preferred the violin but something told him that Apricus always liked the guitar more.

The clearing he was in was surrounded on three sides by thick trees and underbrush with the fourth side looking out into the ocean and a most unusual beach. The grass was over grown reaching past his knees, though no trees had breached their line invading the solitude of the grass and the moon light that seemed to make everything glow a mysterious silver light that came from both without and within everything in the clearing.

Killian could see none of this however. He knew of the size of the clearing having walked its edge many times that day, he knew the length of the grass as he brushed his hands over the tops, he knew there where small flowers mixed in with the grass though what color he couldn’t even imagine.

He had set up a large blanket on the edge of the clearing half on the beach and half in the grass on said blanket was an open basket filled with all kinds of fruit as there where some grown in Ista that people couldn’t get anywhere else. A few of the fruits where hole but most where already cut into smaller peaces and shapes, looking like flowers, stars, animals and even a few musical notes.

Killian himself was seated on a large rock just beyond the grass line into the beach, he was dressed in what he hoped (and was right) was a black Hakama with a white under robe and a long open coat much like the dress Apricus would be wearing if she came out at all. His back was too the only entrance to the clearing and though he was slightly stiff he did not stop playing… waiting… would she come?

[E]

Following the music, Apri found a strange butterfly fluttering about her chest making her wonder if it was the music that she was following at all. Beneath the trees no light was shining leaving Apri to walk carefully with a hand in front of her just in case. Twice she found herself having to walk around a tree her fingers found, but she soon found her fingers touching, not bark, but the soft feeling of grass.

Stopping, Apri took a moment to let her eyes adjust to the change of light. A soft gasp left her lips as she dropped the parchment and brought both hands to her lips. That light… the silver light of the moon was dancing along the grassy clearing and around the many flowers turning them brilliant silver that sparkled against the slightly duller silver of the grass.

The moon’s light was not the only thing that washed thru that clearing, but the music as well. It was the song she’d been listening to… a song she hadn’t heard before and yet was just as captivating as that brilliant color.

Slowly finding her breath again, she bent down to pick up the parchment again before slowly wading thru the grass toward the man perched on the other side. Her fingers dancing thru the painted grass as she walked, absolutely in love with it. Reaching the edge of the grass, her breath left her again.

Apri had missed the blanket and food laid so neatly out, just a few feet to the side of it. Her breath had been stolen again by the black flickers that danced off the sand before her. What was this place? Stepping carefully onto that shimmery surface, walking up to Killian. Reaching his side, she stopped silently beside him, not wanting to interrupt that beautiful music.

[shawncameron]

Killian had heard her coming, how couldn’t he as he had been waiting for that sound all day? He gave no outward sign that he knew she was there other then a small smile, barely noticeable. He did not stop playing, wanting to finish the song as much as Apricus.

As the final notes drifted off to be lost in the wind and the sea Killian slowly put his arms down, “lovely isn’t it… I hope… the color is right.” He turned his head towards where her footsteps had stopped tilting his head and smiling, making is eyes crinkle as he looked right through her. “I suppose this means I was late in coming back?” his charming smile turned mischievous which if anything made it more charming.

[E]

Apri found herself speechless at his mention of the color. Everything, it all seemed like a dream right then with everything painted that ghostly color that teased the senses. And to have been found by a blind man? Was it even possible? Well, it didn’t matter. What did matter was that Killian had remembered it and even went out of his way to find it. That in itself bought a strange feeling to her chest.

Seeing his eyes turn to her and thru her, she couldn’t help but believe he could really see her, and not only her, but every thing about her that she hid from the rest of the world. How did he do that? Well that didn’t matter either, because it brought a rare, warm smile to her face.

“Yes, you were late coming… but this…” she said lifting her hands to motion to the mystical world around them even though he could not see, “makes me happy you had not come.”

[shawncameron]

Killian’s smile, still mischievous, widened as he strummed a cord just to break the silence of the night air, “it makes me happy to know you are happy.” He ran his hand over the strings one more time before standing with a barely suppressed grown, after sitting on a hard rock for candle marks on end it was no wonder he was stiff though he hid it well under his always fluid like motions.

Turning to face her he continued to smile that mischievous grin, “well since I was so late I suppose it’s a good thing I paced some snacks… I hope you don’t mind fruit?” he held his hand out gesturing in the general direction of the blanket and its assortment of cut fruits.

[E]

Apri turned at the motion of his hand with a puzzled look on her face. Seeing the blanket laid out with all varieties of fruit on it, however, she let out a surprised ‘oh’. Turning back to the blind man, it was her turn to give him the scrutinizing look he always gave her.

“If I didn’t know better I’d think you had planed this…” she said almost sternly as if catching a child going thru an elaborate plan to steal a bubbly pie. A smile softened her tone, however, and she moved to the blanket, not bothering to wait for the man. She knew he would come.

Kneeling down on corner of the blanket, she sat perched on her heels as she examined the fruit. Apri found herself amazed at the assortment, many of which she couldn’t even name, which was surprising with her love for the natural food. As if the variety was not enough, the shapes were elaborate and must have easily taken hours to do. Turning to Killian she looked at him confused. Had he cut them so? It must have taken forever!

“I have never seen some of these… What are they?” she asked as she scrutinized one of the Istan fruits, her teeth itching to sink into the flesh of one but she hesitated wishing to know more about them first. Turning her head to Killian as he joined her, she looked at him curiously. “There is so many… Which should I try first?”

[shawncameron]

Killian pointed at himself fainting shock at the accusation before putting both his hands behind his back and rocking back and forth on his feet looking to the sky whistling all too innocently. He looked back at her though smiling really happy before he followed her to the blanket.

Plopping down heavily he rested on his side using his elbow to prop himself up as he shrugged awkwardly. “I can’t exactly tell you which one is which but there are….” He listed off 10 different kinds of fruits 4 of which only grew in Ista, “I would suggest trying each on in turn… hehehe it will be a surprise with every bight.” He smiled making his eyes squint. He ran his free hand through his hair taking in the salty air and laying back on the blanket his hands behind his head.

He tried to imagine what the sky would look like; painting the blackness he was forever shrouded in with little glowing lights but no mater how much he tried he couldn’t remember the moon… he closed his eyes breathing in the salt air again before letting it out in a sigh, “you know… this is the only black diamond beach on Pern… it used to be one of my favorite places to look at the stars… and the moon.”

[E]

Seeing Killian’s playful acting at her comment, she giggled. Watching him lay on his side on the corner next to hers, she smiled down at him as she spoke her questions. Listening to him list off the fruits, she looked at them carefully putting the names she recognized with the whole fruit. The cut fruit, however, was impossible to guess which was which. Giving in she reached down and picked up a small music note and bit into it.

The flavor was the familiar one of her favorite redfruit. Smiling, she put the rest of the piece in her mouth as she carefully chose the next one, listening to Killian all the while. Hearing his comment about the black diamond beach she swallowed in surprise. “So that is why it sparkles funny in the moonlight… its very pretty…” she said softly as she gazed at it a moment longer before putting in another piece of fruit, this time a star.

Biting into it, this one was a new flavor, a sharp yet pleasant sting in her mouth was brought by its juice and she smiled as she popped the rest in after the first bite. As she did so, she turned her eyes skyward along with the rest of Killian’s comment. Swallowing, she sat there a moment looking at the moon. It was full and beautiful in all its glory that night. Apri found herself wishing Killian could see it… she just hadn’t realized she had wished it outloud…

“I wish you could see it…” was the soft wish spoken beneath her breath as she leaned back on her elbows only two feet away.

[shawncameron]

Killian tilted his head slightly toward her as she spoke almost unintentionally. He thought for a wile before smiling and facing the heavens again, “oh but I can…” he didn’t elaborate for a wile letting her stew before turning his head to face her again the charming smile lighting up all but his blank staring eyes, “every moment I spend with you I can see a little more clearly… memories I thought where gone forever.”

He faced the sky again running his hand through his hair and trying one more time to paint the blackness and getting the faint memory of a crescent moon… and though this night had a full moon it was something. He smiled only a faint sign of its normal sadness clinging to it. “Besides I don’t need to see it to know its lovely… anything that can make you happy is lovely in my eyes.”

[E]

Hearing his words, Apri almost jumped as if she had forgotten that he was there so close to her. Turning her head to him, she frowned, puzzled at his words. What did he mean? She did not have to wait long, however, as she found his face turned to her own. Listening to his words, she simply frowned more puzzled… how did being with her bring back memories?

Rolling onto her side, Apri found herself much closer to him with only a small arms’ width between them as she searched his face at the better angle. Her eyes watched his lips slowly turn upwards as he spoke again. These words found Apri even less understanding. Well… not exactly… she understood what he meant… but why he meant it was what lost her.

Rolling back to her back, she sat up and curled her legs up to rest her head on her knees. His words… she knew, by the way he had said them… His mask was gone… If there was one thing she learned, it was how to read some of the emotions Killian showed her… and this… He was being very truthful.

Rotating her head on her knees so that she was facing him again, though still in the curled position, she watched him for a time letting those words sink in. He… He really was happy… happy to simply be with her… Not to see her… not to touch her… but to simply be in her company…

[shawncameron]

Killian listened to her moving, almost feeling her as she came closer. He did not move an inch himself, not only was he conferrable but he would not risk accidentally touching her as she seemed to have trouble holding still at the moment. He hadn’t been expecting an answer to what he had just said, what could she say really? Repeating his own words in his head he tried to image what they would sound like to her and that only made his smile change a little as he laughed at himself on the inside.

He let the silence stretch, just enjoying the moment before he sat back up bringing his knees up and draping his arms over them lazily. He breathed deeply letting it out in another sigh before letting himself fall back down, “I was going to get up and get some nice diamonds but… I’m just too lazy.” He stretched his arms out over his head, listening to his shoulders pop before he rested his head on his hands again. It was like he had not just spilled a peace of his heart to her… as though he really did think of her as just a friend. “It really is a nice night isn’t it? That is one thing about Ista I miss, it never really gets cold, here we are in the middle of a winter night and its still swimming weather.”

[E]

“The water’s warm enough to swim?” she asked curiously, his statement about Ista letting her forget momentarily about what he had said before. Turning to look at him again as he laid back down she tilted her head a little to the left contemplating the man. “You know… I’ve never gone swimming before… I don’t know how…”

Turning back to the black sand with the waves lapping against them not overly far away. It was tempting… just to splash around in the water… and if it was warm… Apri shook her head as a memory of herself playing in a puddle came to mind. She’d always wanted to swim, but her mother was always too busy to take her.

[shawncameron]

Killian just nodded to her question on the warmth, he knew not many beaches where warm and Ista was the only one that was warm in the winter. But when she continued to talk and Killian had to repeat her words to himself, once… twice… a third time, as he blinked, mouth slightly open, at the sky.

When he did move it was in a flash as he sat up quickly making all of the blood rush to his head. He pushed back the dizziness as he turned to gape unbelieving at her looking almost like a fish out of water, “you… you have never gone swimming…? How is that possible?” he gaped at her more before he stood almost as quickly as he had sat up placing his hands on his hips and scrutinizing the empty space above her head.

“I… I… I’m lost for words… you have made a Harper lost for words…that’s it! Ocean now!” he pointed at the beach taping his foot though he was obviously playing… kind off. He dropped his hand, scrutinizing her again, only saying “how?… just how?” in a whisper more to himself then to her. “You haven’t even gotten your feat wet in the ocean?” he looked so silly it would be hard for anyone to take him siriously.