29 the love for Nashi (1/2)

”Oh, the forest. You finally got here. Dia, good for you. Dean, once again, you're quite fast. Nice. Jerry, please lead the entranced pair to the kitchen. I'm hungry. The food's ready. Getting cold. And that makes me cranky.”

None of us had noticed Pratt until he spoke. And so, we weren't sure how long he'd been with us. Why was that embarrassing though? I blamed Pharaohs'.

It was a short and tasty meal. I was enjoying the food, when I was surprised by Jerry's question.

”Why aren't you wondering about how and why we're here? In the kitchen at a heritage site. Strange enough that there is one. But, we're actually allowed in.”

I didn't have to think long for the answer.

”Because of Dia?” I asked, more sure than tentative.

”Bingo,” Jerry and Pratt screamed together.

And all of us erupted into laughter.

”Of course because of me,” Dia said proudly. ”I'm the grand elder. I can do pretty much anything. And no one can do anything. Not even Eowyn.”

”So, I'm pretty sure that's not what makes an elder,” Pratt said slowly.

”But of course,” Jerry continued. ”An elder is one with respect. Honour. Deserving praise. Sure, inducing fear, but for righteous reasons. None of which makes you.”

”So, you'd be a tyrant.”

”You would make an unquestionably mighty tyrant. The kind that would command kings and knock emperors to their knees.”

”That is certainly something to celebrate. As long as we're on the right side.”

”Wrong side, more accurately.”

”Yeah, whatever. So, good that we are there. The emperor was surely frightened off his mighty throne.”

”Eowyn?”

”Of course.”

They fell into giggles that were almost grotesque.

Dia and I looked at each other, saw the same intention in our eyes, and left.

”Come,” Dia said when we were back in the study. ”Let me show you the reason for the climb.”

We were back at the first table. Dia scrolled through the notebooks expertly. The one she was looking for was somewhere in the middle.

**

A folk tale of the tail we left behind.

We were heirs of a higher dream. Maybe, that was literal.

We followed the vague idea. Leaving the central lowlands. Heading east. To wherefrom the sun called us everyday. We walked until we saw the mountains in our way.

The only way ahead was up. We climbed. Through forests. Stepped over clouds. To the peak. Andstopped only when the sun stepped off from the heavens, so near we could touch it.

The heavens weren't home to gods. The sun wasn't the vanguard of the might of the heavens. It was the gateway. To the flatlands on a higher world that were the heavens. We had walked until where we could. We had found where we were meant to be. We had found home.

The sun welcomed us with a shout of freedom. Shined a bright new day upon us.