Day Seven:
It had been another busy day for Hall and Belieth. As the pair worked their way to the library of the Eternal Wanderer, they discussed their days affairs. Hall was carrying three books and several hand-written scrolls from the Bral library, which he would use to update some of the works he kept on the Wanderer. Cohmat had also provided him with information that would update several of his other works. Belieth talked of her day with the Seekers, and of the bureaucratic nightmare of obtaining a charter. They stopped short when they entered the library and saw Crystal sitting quietly at a table, petting Whisper. As Hall put down the books and scrolls, he walked over to Crystal.
"Did you talk?" he asked quietly.
"I tried," the elf said quietly. "Nothing new."
Hall just shook his head as Belieth came up beside him.
"He kept on talking about his nightmares," Crystal said as she stood up. "Before that is was Scillabba, and before that it was saving you. He has always had something else to talk about!" she said, her voice becoming shaky.
For once, Hall didn't know what to say.
"Doesn't he realize that I can help him deal with these things!?!" Crystal stammered. "He is so wrapped up in a past he can never see that he can't see the present, never mind the future!"
"He may also be struggling to break free of that past," Hall offered, trying to sooth Crystal's pain. Somehow, though, he knew that even his bardic charm wouldn't help this distraught maiden.
"Why won't he..." Crystal started. "Why won't he... let... me... " Crystal couldn't finish her sentence. She burried her face in Hall's chest and started to cry. Hall did his best to comfort her, and Belieth did the same.
Later, Onestar worked busily at his desk, going through all sorts of papers and looking over reports from the other officers. Some cargo was being loaded onto the ship, so before leaving Bral, he wanted to make sure everything was in order. A knock came at the door.
"Enter" he said, not turning his attention from the papers. Crystal Ravenheart silently entered the room.
"Hello, Captain," she said, very annoyed.
Onestar read her face in an instant. She was angry. She was tired of waiting for him to tell her how he felt about her, or didn't feel about her.
"Crystal, I..." he started.
"Don't say it," she snapped, "I know what you are going to say. 'It isn't a good time right now,' or 'perhaps later' or some other swamp rot like that!"
Onestar didn't like her tone, even though he knew she had a point. He stood up to face her.
"Another one of your 'Captain's Honor' speeches?" she asked sarcastically. "Spare me! I'm sick of hearing it!"
"What would you have me say then?" he asked with suppressed anger.
"How you feel about me!" Her face was all flush and she was running her hands angrily through her hair.
"You talk about everything except what really matters to me. I don't go to your quarters in the evening to talk about ship operations or to play poker or any of that swamp rot. I go because I want you to hold me! Or haven't you figured that out yet? Have you any idea what you've been putting me through?!?"
"Crystal..."
"I'm not finished!!!" She paused and panted for a moment. "I love you Onestar, and that's turning out to be the worst curse a woman can have."
Onestar merely sat there, eyes opened wide. She had said it; something he didn't have the courage to admit. Where was his samurai honor now?
"I suppose you'll need more time to think?" Crystal asked, still fuming with anger.
"This isn't easy for me," he answered, his voice shaking.
"I know," she said matter-of-factly. "Perhaps you will find it easier after I leave."
"What?" Onestar whispered, suddenly alarmed.
Tears began to roll from Crystal's eyes.
"I can't wait for you forever, and if I stay here, waiting for you to come down from your pedestal, I'll destroy myself. " She paused to re-compose herself.
"The Calla Maraine is leaving for Solaris tomorrow night," she stated, "and unless you give me a good reason to stay here, I'm going to be on it!"
At that she stormed out, slamming the door behind her. The samurai just dropped the pen and began to stare at the now closed door.
Day Eight:
The Calla Maraine sat in the repair dock, cleaned and most of the damage repaired. On the main deck, Hall, Belieth and Tabatha Cherna were visiting Cherry. Friends from way back, they wanted to have a private visit before the squidship departed.
Making her way down to the gangplank was an elven maiden dressed all in white. She was a magnificent creature, her skin perfect and just a shade above pale. Her long silvery hair flowed softly down her back, stopping just above her waist. Her eyes were slightly red, as if she had been crying recently.
Hall watched her approach and moved to help her with her belongings as she boarded. Belieth stood next to Cherry, talking softly.
"I can't believe that stubborn jackass is going to let her get away," Belieth commented.
"I've seen his type before," Cherry nodded in agreement. "All caught up in their honor and duty they forget what they really need."
"I don't think that's the case this time," Tabatha interrupted. Both women turned to face her. "I've been watching Onestar recently. He's been down in the training room, overworking himself. He seems torn, a man who doesn't know whether he's coming or going. But then, you should watch him work out. All those muscles..."
"TABATHA!" the other two women said in unison.
"For a human, he's quite a hunk," she replied with a wink. "Seriously, though, he is under quite a strain. A few days ago, after he finished his workout, and literally collapsed on the floor in pain. He is hurting."
The three women nodded silently as Crystal Ravenheart, with Hall just behind her, boarded the ship.
"Permission to come aboard, captain?" Crystal asked quietly.
Cherry nodded. "Permission granted. Welcome aboard the Calla Maraine, Crystal."
Hall placed her belongings down and moved to face her. "I wish you'd reconsider this, Crystal."
"I gave him all the time in the world. He wasn't even on the ship when I left. He couldn't face me when I left." She looked away, wiping her eyes. When she looked back, they were redder than before. "No, this for the best."
Hall hugged the elven maiden. "If you ever change your mind, come back to the Wanderer. There will always be a place for you onboard our ship."
"Of course," Crystal replied, and then gave a farewell hug to Belieth. Cherry motioned for Crystal to follow her.
"I'll have your bags brought to your quarters," Cherry said. "Come with me. I'll show you to your room."
As they walked away, Hall had a slight smile on his face. Belieth just stared at him. Realizing she was looking at him, Hall turned to face his wife. Suddenly her eyes opened wide. Tabatha, who was watching this silent exchange, finally broke the silence.
"What?" she asked. "What am I missing?"
Belieth grabbed her husband and pulled him close. "Nothing, Tabatha. Nothing at all."
Below deck, Cherry led Crystal to an unmarked door. As she grabbed the handle, she turned to face the elf.
"Here you go, Crystal." Cherry opened the door and stepped to one side. Crystal entered...
...And saw Onestar standing there, looking out a portal. When he heard the door, he turned to face Crystal. The samurai wasn't dressed in his usual armor, nor was it transformed into his usual kimono. Instead, he wore a loose-fitting shirt, opened to just above the waist, a pair of loose slacks, high boots and a long cloak.
Crystal's jaw just dropped. She barely even noticed Cherry excuse herself and close the door behind her.
"Greetings, Crystal Ravenheart," Onestar said.
"What are you doing here," the elven maid replied, finally closing her mouth. Before Onestar could answer, she turned her back to him. Onestar moved behind her and placed a hand on her shoulder. Unseen by the samurai, her face softened, and a tear began to flow.
"I came here for several reasons. First, I have to apologize. I've hurt you... something I should never have done. I forced you away from me, not for a second considering your feelings."
Crystal's face turned red and she turned to him. "You're right, you never considered my feelings! All this time, and you finally figured that out?"
"No," Onestar replied, his voice softer than she ever knew it to be, "I've known that all along. I just..." He removed his hand from her shoulder and walked back to the window. She went after him and turned Onestar around.
"Don't do it again. Don't shut me out. Talk to me."
"Crystal...I have to tell you. I... I... I"
"Spit it out, you overgrown idiot!" Crystal shouted.
"I love you too! There! Are you happy?" Onestar yelled back.
"Yes!" Crystal shouted in mock anger. She then smiled, laughed for a moment, and took the samurai's hand. "Why was it so hard for you to say that?"
"A long time ago," Onestar began, "I lived on Sphereworld. I have no memories of that time. Someone took them away from me. There was someone there... a cleric, I believe. We were close...how close I don't know, but there was a strong attraction between us. She...left."
"Did she die?" Crystal asked, looking at the samurai.
"No. She left me for another. A mage, if I am to understand my jumbled memories."
"I was young," Onestar said, looking up to the ceiling. "I was inexperienced in the ways of love. When she left, I was devastated. I used to only care about my honor, but she made me change the way I saw the world. I could no longer care about just honor. I had to make moral decisions. Justice was not enough. I began to care about things. When she left..."
"Hey," Crystal said, reaching and making Onestar look at her, "I am not this woman from your past, someone you can't even remember. I am not leaving you. I'm here. I'm not going anywhere."
Onestar just looked into her eyes for a few seconds more, then saw one tear roll down her cheek.
"You've been crying?" he asked. It sounded just as stupid as it looks.
"A little," Crystal replied sarcastically.
"Can you ever forgive me?" Onestar asked. After he said that, he gently took her into his arms, held her very close, and kissed her for quite some time.
After they separated, she looked at him with a big smile. "I think that's a good start."
The pair began to walk to the door. Onestar reached to grab the handle...
...and as the door opened, Hall fell into the room. Belieth, Cherry, and Tabatha just stood outside, all trying to suppress laughs. Onestar had his arm around Crystal when he looked down at the bard.
"Heh, heh, heh," Hall said, standing and brushing himself off. "Just checking to see if there...there...there were any mice in the door. Yeah. Un-hun. Mice."
"You can lie better than that, Hall," Cherry commented.
"I wasn't really trying," Hall said with a sly grin.
Onestar just grimaced at his friend. "How long were you listening at the door?"
"Oh, long enough," Hall said with a smile. Belieth just slapped him in the arm. "OW!"
"Captain," Crystal began, "I believe I'd like to resign my commission."
"What commission?" Cherry replied. "Your belongings have already sent back to the Wanderer."
Crystal's eyes opened and she turned to look at a smiling samurai. "It's not my fault," he replied.
"Like you didn't set this whole thing up!" she exclaimed, hitting him in the arm like Belieth hit Hall.
"OW!" Onestar replied in mock pain. "Do you put up with this often?"
Hall smiled. "You get used to it."
The group turned and walked away from the Calla Maraine. Hall and Belieth holding hands and Onestar and Crystal arm in arm. Tabatha trailed some distance behind.
"Hall, notify the senior staff that the poker game tonight has been canceled. I have some other work to go over."
"What do you mean, you have work to go over?" Crystal said, looking up at Onestar. He just looked down at her and smiled slightly. Crystal began to blush.
"Shall I have a 'do-not-disturb' sign made for your door, or will a guard posted be sufficient?" Hall asked. Both Onestar and Belieth slapped him in the arm. For a moment Onestar wondered which was going to be worse: Crystal's teasing or Hall's ribbing. Somehow, he was looking forward to finding out.
"That won't be necessary, Hall," Onestar replied as they walked away from the dock.
"I must say, Onestar," Belieth commented as they made their way back to the Wanderer, "I like this new look on you."
Hall just glared at her.
"Actually," Onestar commented, the shirt rustling in a slight breeze, "I used to dress like this all the time before I gained my armor. Hall and I used to roam the starlanes like two swashbucklers."
"I do like it," Belieth replied. "I think Tabatha was right."
"BELIETH!" Hall snapped. Belieth laughed hard for a moment, then looked at Hall.
"Guess you'll just have to punish me! Catch me if you can!" she said, as she ran off laughing. Hall growled and ran after her, leaving the others behind.
Onestar looked back at Tabatha, who was all smiles. He gave her a questioning look.
"They used to act like that all the time," the tabaxi said. She then looked at Onestar and Crystal for a moment.
"You know," she said, "I think I'll go back via the market, to take one last look around. Bye!" Before either Onestar or Crystal could respond, Tabatha had vanished from sight.
Onestar and Crystal were now alone on the empty street. Crystal placed her head on Onestar's shoulder as he put one arm around her waist. They took the long way back to the dock, through the elven forest and the Bral gardens.
