Aella (manxman) - ON HOLD - Chapter 31: Chapter 31

"You are not needed here. The only ones allowed to stay are the fathers."
"Yes, Leader."
"......... You're still here."
"I'm still here"
"You don't have a child, so you should leave."
"I'm not here for the children, I'm waiting for Ceri"
He rolled his eyes. "I already sent Alev away. Aello Ceri is not a child. Stop treating him like one"
I didn't answer him. I'm not treating Ceri like a child. Yes, he is adorable, and yes, he's so innocent and inexperienced. But I don't consider him a child. If I did, I wouldn't 've let him leave alone to the Aellas territory. I'm aware he needs his own space to get used to the forest and to learn how to rely on himself. So I let him go. And now I'm waiting for him to come back. What else could I do? I miss him so much.
The Leader went to dismiss me again, but another Aello stole his attention.
It has been a week since Ceri succeeded in making the Aellas change their mind. Three days ago, their clan sent word that a few children will visit us today. They also delivered a set of rules and Cailyn agreed to all of them, no questions asked. The rules were simple, yet very restricting. For instance, only a small number of children will be selected, but they didn't tell us who exactly we were going to receive. Cailyn informed most of the Aellos, and many are here waiting eagerly for their little ones.
Also, the Aellas insisted that all children will be sent back to their territory before sunset. No child was allowed to spend the night on our side of the island. Therefore, many will spend the day somewhere in the forest around here, since it would be useless to go all the way to their far dens.
Despite the few protests, the Aellos were excited to know that the Aellas are finally giving in, even a little bit. Upon hearing the news, the fathers hunted and prepared the best they could to receive the children.
So here were the fathers, waiting and hoping their child was one of those allowed to descend their mountain. Some of them were extremely eager, others were debating if a hunt was more important and more entertaining.
"Ithel, surprised to see you here"
"Alesky. Waiting for your boy?"
"I'm so excited about this! I spent the last week hunting and gathering food and skins for my big boy. I hope his mother sends him. If she does, I have a beautiful fur for her. It's so soft and reddish, if she touches it, she'll send me the boy everyday"
I chuckled. "Your son is lucky to have such a caring father"
"Right? But I won't spoil him. I don't think he'll like that when he grows up. I'll raise him to be a man, a confident hunter"
"Like his father?" Essylt scoffed and approached Alesky, making him take a cautious step back.
"I thought only fathers were allowed here", Alesky commented with a frown.
"And here I am"
"You have another child??"
"Two" Essylt answered proudly. "I get a perfect Aella every year. I have a three-year-old son and a one-year-old girl."
Alesky looked taken back. "I... I didn't know. You never told me about-"
"And why would he tell you" Lug interrupted and I sighed. I don't hate anyone, there are just some people I don't like being around, and Lug is one of them. He takes after his father's rudeness. And while I tolerate his fathers' because he can actually match me in a fight, his son acts way more cocky than he can handle.
I adjusted the bag that I was carrying over my shoulder. Then I let them continue their lovely conversation and walked away. Cailyn kept following me with his eyes, silently reminding me to leave. I just ignored him and walked further.
Finally, the Aellas showed up. First came the Aella-hunters, about six of them and maybe more remained out of sight to emerge if needed. Behind them was a small herd of children. Correction, a herd of boys. No girl in sight. It was understandable, I thought. With what Ceri had told me about the other clan's fears, they were still doubtful and scared for their little ones, especially the girls. A few of us were happy, many disappointed, and some indifferent. After the greetings, the Aellas recited the rules once more, and insisted on all the boys being returned here before sunset.
Cailyn agreed and reminded us that only the fathers were allowed to take their sons. Every child greeted him and thanked him before Cailyn gave him permission to our territory and to his welcoming father.
A few of minutes later, my Ceri showed up. He was the last to arrive with an Aella right behind him. My mood immediately changed as soon as I saw him. It was like everything became a bit brighter and lively. He stood behind the remaining boys, watching them and smiling when one of them laughed loudly as his father raised him in the air. A bit later, all fathers who received their sons took them away, going back to their den or spending a few hours in the forest.
There were two boys whose fathers didn't show up. Of course, Aello Milen suggested taking them both. He has a thing for fathering, he already raised at least five Aellos, but he keeps asking to raise more. He even insisted on keeping Ceri, but Alev refuses every time.
The Aella-hunters insisted on keeping the boys with them, but Cailyn decided to take care of them until sunset. The Aellas didn't look pleased, but my Leader wasn't asking.
I approached them, only to find that there were three remaining children, and not two. On Ceri's back, there was a tiny baby holding onto him like her life depended on it.
Indeed, it was a girl. She was so small, I didn't even notice her earlier. Ceri was talking to Cailyn with his arms behind his back to beckon the child. He was pleading to the Leader about something I couldn't hear and Cailyn, as well as the Aellas, looked very sympathetic.
I remained far from Cailyn's sight, and only approached more when he went to keep a few Aellos from bothering the Aellas, not that they looked bothered. But rules were rules.
I arrived beside them just when an Aella was talking to Ceri with an authoritarian tone.
"Give her to me. I'll guard her"
"......... Her mother made me promise not to give her to anyone but her father-"
"If her father is not here for her and you refuse to give her to me, then you need to remain here until the sun sets and we head back."
Ceri pouted. He looked tired and it was very understandable. He spent most of last night walking to the Aellas' mountain in order to be there first thing in the morning. And then he walked all the way back here. And he obviously didn't want to spend the day with the company of the Aella-hunters.
"I'll stay with him. We'll be back before sunset." I said.
The Aellas looked at me suspiciously while Ceri grinned and nodded enthusiastically.
The one who gave him orders looked at me up and down a couple of times before she smirked and her eyes lit with amusement. I remembered that look all too well. She wasn't appreciating my body like one would imagine, she simply knew who I was. I haven't been to the Agape for a few years, but she must've remembered the stories told about me by the two Aellas that I mated with.
"Look who's here." She said and scoffed. "I thought only men with children were allowed close today. Do you have a child to wait for?"
She was mocking me and another Aella laughed incredulously. As if the mere thought of me mating and having a child was beyond consideration. Ceri looked confused with their behavior. I, on the other hand, didn't feel the least annoyed. I genuinely didn't care what they thought about me. As long as my Aella was happy to be with me, I was the luckiest, the most victorious.
I put my hand on Ceri's shoulder and coaxed him to our territory, careful to help him keep his balance because of the tiny body on his back. "Before sunset", I repeated calmly but firmly. Just when Ceri crossed to our side, he was pulled back and someone grabbed a tight hold of his clothes. I was surprised with the way the Aella-hunter called Rhonwen snarled in his face.
"If even one child is not brought back by sunset, I'll carve your heart out and deliver it to his mother instead!"
Ceri looked terrified and unable to respond. I didn't hesitate to immediately grab her hand and force her to remove it.
"No need to be aggressive! If you want to hold someone responsible, speak with the Leader. Ceri has nothing to do with all of this."
I looked over my shoulder to see Cailyn staring at us from afar. He didn't do anything to help, though, just called the boys and left. I didn't blame him for not wanting to stir trouble with the Aella-hunters, but they were blaming Ceri again and that didn't sit well with me.
The Aella hunters glared at me for touching their companion, and a couple even drew their weapons. But the Aella who was mocking me and ordering Ceri, she pushed Rhonwen back and dismissed Ceri with a wave of her fingers.
I only started walking away once I was sure Ceri was safe on my other side.
After a few minutes of walking into our territory, I began to relax. I stopped watching our back and I focused on my Ceri. He was breathing heavily, obviously worn-out. So I pulled him to a stop.
"Are you alright?"
"Yes, I think. I'm sorry about the Aella-hunters. They're very tense. The Aellas are relying on them to bring the children back, but the truth is, the matter is not really in their hands"
"I'm not bothered by what they said. I only care about you"
He smiled with a sigh and rested his forehead on my shoulder. "I'm so tired. I just want to go home with you"
I wrapped my arms around him to comfort him. I hugged him close, but I immediately paused when I saw a couple of big, beautiful brown eyes staring back at me. "So, is there a story to the little monkey on your back?"
"Oh, is she awake?"
I chuckled, "Yes, she definitely is."
"She's so quiet, I thought she went to sleep."
"I can carry her if you'd like" I suggested and opened my hand to the little girl. But she whined and her small hands clenched harder on Ceri's clothes.
"It's ok. I think she's scared. She's not used to traveling this far. Ummm... could we rest, though?"
I looked around us, giving this some thought. "I think my den or your father's are both quite far"
"Maybe we can sit here?"
"I know a spring of water not far from here. Would you like to go there instead?"
"I'd love to see it! Did we go there before?", he asked excitedly, completely forgetting about his fatigue.
I chuckled. "No, I think you're yet to discover it"
As soon as we arrived, Ceri gasped and froze before the view. It was a small spring of water running from a knee-high crack between a few rocks. There was a small space around the spring, and then a wall of trees among which the spring continued its path.
Ceri immediately thanked me and hurried to drink some water. Then, with my help, he held the child between his arms and helped her to drink. The little girl giggled and shrieked from happiness. They both obviously enjoyed the spring. They stood in the small stream of water. The child stood frigidly, but still grinning. I guess this was an exciting new experience for her.
I let them play and started a fire to prepare the two birds that I had hunted earlier and brought along.
We sat down and ate in peace. I was happy I was prepared in advance because my poor Ceri was starving, he actually finished a whole bird by himself for the first time.
He sat beside me with his back against a tree and the little girl between his legs. She was so adorable as she sat quietly, nibbling on a pear and making a mess.
"She looks happy"
Ceri laughed and leaned over her shoulder to better watch the way she was enjoying the piece of fruit.
"She loves the forest. She's not scared anymore. Aren't you a brave baby? You're the first to get this far without your mommy!"
The child stared at him for a moment, and then she ignored him and occupied herself with the fruit. Ceri kept his hands on her sides to keep her from crawling to the spring every now and then.
"How are your brother and sister?"
He sighed heavily. "They're fine. Not happy, though."
"I guess they wanted to be here"
"I wanted to bring them with me so badly."
"They'll be down here on the Agape"
"It's not the same...... I wanted to show them the way... to be their big brother for one day. But all the Aellas were against it. Epona thinks it's a given that she should 'lead the mission' as she said. When I left, she was pouting to everyone, even me."
"And little Vreis?"
"He was crying so hard, saying he wanted to see his father"
The reason was obvious, and there was nothing we could do about it. The Aellas didn't like Cailyn pressuring them for submission, so they were punishing him.
"Cailyn didn't ask me about them, but I could see his disappointment."
"I guess he understands that, despite the absence of his own children, what was accomplished today was a huge progress."
"You think so?"
"Of course! No child has descended the mountain without his mother and outside the Agape before today. You participated in something great, Ceri. You should be very proud"
He nodded slowly, still trying to convince himself of my words. That's another thing I loved about him. Even if he didn't understand fully or didn't think the same, he'll always try to adopt my opinion. If that didn't inflate my ego, I don't know what would.
"Hey, you even managed to give this baby a day of freedom"
As if she knew that I was talking about her, the little girl yelped and started babbling.
Ceri smiled gently at her, looking deep in thought. "You got to see the free forest. ... Too bad your father wasn't here today..."
"I'm surprised to see her, actually. She's much younger than the other boys the Aellas sent. And the only girl"
"Moina plead to the Leader to let me bring her today. She made me promise not to give her to anyone but her father." He sighed before continuing, "Actually, this child is much stronger than what she looks like."
"She is?"
"She's a winner."
"Against?"
"......... sickness"
I frowned and looked down at the oblivious innocent creature. "She looks in good health"
"She is now. But she's very sensitive to the cold. She barely survived her first winter."
The girl dropped the rest of the fruit and was now playing with a few small rocks, trying relentlessly to build something. I let Ceri's words sink in for a moment until I realized the reason her mother sent here.
"She needs healing herbs?"
Ceri nodded. "Moina already used everything she has to trade for many kinds of herbs and potions."
"The Aellas pay for treatment?"
"The clan can spare some, but if you need herbs daily......"
"It's not her fault"
"And yet she's considered weak. Weak members are considered a burden. The whole clan sympathizes, but... you have to be strong to survive."
His voice held so much sadness. I didn't know the girl, nor was I usually interested in other people's children. But Ceri's compassion was contagious. And his look made me think, how unfair it was for such a little girl to face a ruthless clan like ours.
"Her father didn't send many gifts last year. Moina thought maybe if he saw his daughter and was reminded of her condition, maybe he'd remember to send more things for her."
I ran my hand through his hair and tried to comfort him. "Cailyn saw her, I'm sure he'll help. He may be impatient and strict, but he cares about everyone in this tribe. And, believe me, he has a weakness for children. Especially the younger ones"
He looked at me, his eyes swirling with confusion and anger. "I just don't understand how could her father not be here today!!"
"I... I don't know"
It was saddening to think about the two remaining boys and this tiny one. They came all the way here, despite our strict laws that we honored for a century, only to find that their fathers didn't bother coming for them. Our clan is so diversified. We have Aellos who came from other islands to see if their children were allowed to visit them, and others on this same island who didn't bother.
"Ithel, she needs him. She came all the way down here to see him, and yet..."
"Maybe he didn't think her mother would send her"
He shook his head. "I saw Aello Milen today. He used to scare me because he'd ask me to go with him every time we met, but then you and Alev told me that he was harmless. Milen came today, not because he had a child, but because he was simply interested. He believed today's event was important and he even brought some gifts to the Aellas. He believed children were important! And yet her own father-"
"Don't torment yourself over this, Ceri. This doesn't concern you-"
"They know her father doesn't care about her!! They already think she's weak and useless... The truth is, no matter what Moina does, she can't protect her from the clan's condemning eyes. She's barely one year old and they already think she won't survive"
It was unfair. And the amount of agony in Ceri's voice told me that this wasn't just about the girl. This whole thing reminded him of himself, back when he was called 'fatherless'. It is difficult for a child to grow while believing he was worth less than the others. Until this day, I can still feel the lack of confidence he has in himself, and it will take much more time and patience before I could truly remedy to that.
"She'll survive. Like you said, she's strong, so she'll adapt and prove them wrong. This is our life, Ceri. It is not fair. But with her mother by her side, she won't be left behind. And we can help"
"We can?"
"Of course. I don't have a child or a family to care for up the mountain. I only care about you, and now you're here with me. So, if you'd like, we can both gather gifts and herbs for her every year."
"Really?"
"You can even send things to your family. I'm sure your little brother and sister would love that"
He thought about it for a moment and then smiled. "I want to make a necklace for Halina, so she'd never forget about me"
I chuckled at his sweet thought. "No one could ever forget about you. But you can do anything you want"
"I... I still don't know how to hunt yet. How will I get the things I want?"
"How about we go to a close island on the next Agape?"
"We'll swim?"
"A raft would be safer. I can even teach you how to make one. My father taught me how to make mine. It took me a while to make one that lasts"
He grinned and thought loudly, "Sailing to another island..."
"I'll show you new kinds of trees and food."
"Where would we live?"
"We'll make our own home. Find a den, maybe"
"Or build a hut in a tree! I always wanted to live on a tree."
"Then that's what we'll do. And we'll build it together"
"That sounds amazing"
"Of course, we'll only be able to do that if......"
"If what?"
I leaned closer to him and whispered into his ear. "If you be my next Agape"
He blushed beautifully. His eyes were cast down as he smiled shyly and answered, without any hesitation. "Of course I will."
"That's my only wish"
"I don't know if Alev will let me sail, though. He... he has been telling me not to sleep outside his den a lot lately."
I sighed. Indeed, Alev was becoming more and more reluctant about allowing me to take Ceri or be around him. Even though I knew he had promised to take Ceri sailing as soon as he deemed safe, I couldn't help but want that experience for Ceri and I instead. The Agape was less than two months away and all I wanted was to make Alev trust me enough to allow me to take Ceri. But lately, my kindness towards his son seems to have made him more suspicious of me.
"We'll find a way", he suddenly said. I looked at him to see his beautiful eyes smiling encouragingly at me. "I want to be with you on the next Agape. So we'll find a way to tell my father without making him upset. I'll tell him I want to be with the one I love, and he'll understand"
"He may think that I'm using you."
"But you're not"
I scratched the back of my neck, finding it really difficult to explain things further to him without hurting his innocence.
"Ithel, why would my father think such a thing?"
"Because our tribe can be violent and aggressive, Ceri. Especially my clan. I don't know about the Aellas, but in our clan, there have been times when an Aello was attacked and-......"
"And what?"
"Hurt"
"Well, we'll just promise him that we won't fight."
"That's not what I meant..."
He pouted and frowned. "You're not being clear. In what way could you hurt me?"
"The Aellos I was talking about were not just being beaten. They were being forced to mate. That is one of the reasons why every Aello needs to be strong enough to protect himself. "
Ceri was stunned into silence. I peeked to see if he was too terrified. But actually, I was horrified myself when I realized that he wasn't shocked, he had a knowing look.
"You knew about this??"
"What?"
"You knew this kind of incidents happens in our clan!"
"N-No! I mean, w-what incident? That sounds horrible!"
I narrowed my eyes when he escaped my gaze. I felt like I was starting to panic, more than him, I might add. By all the spirits, he's supposed to be so innocent and naïve! I'm supposed to teach him and open his eyes!!
I tried to sound as calm as possible. "Ceri? Please tell me who told you about this. It... it can't be Alev, right?"
"No, no one told me"
"Ceri... I just want to understand" I held his hand and plead. I had to know how my Aella discovered about this.
"...Drita told me" he mumbled, "she said the Aellos will do awful things to me. I didn't get it until...... someone told me about it too"
"From this clan!?"
He nodded. "I-I-I don't know his name, but when he threatened me, I understood what Drita had told me"
"Threatened you?? When was this?"
"Months ago... it was the first day I got here, when Alev got sick and I had to find the Leader on my own."
My heart sank knowing that an Aello actually menaced to harm him. And for a moment I resented Cailyn so much for sending me to another island and trying to keep me away from my Ceri
"I'm sorry"
I reached around his shoulders and pulled him closer to me. "You don't have to apologize. I'm the one who was supposed to be here for you"
The child squealed and flapped her hands excitingly when three small rocks held together to form a small tower. Ceri chuckled, lighting the mood a little. I admit I was still shaken a bit, but I didn't want to add to his worries.
I was brought out of my thoughts when his tongue licked my cheek to get my attention.
"Don't look so worried, Ithel. If you can't claim me on the next Agape, I can still claim you."
Just like that, my heart was filled with happiness and I grinned. "Do you even know how to do that?"
"Of course. You're not the only one who makes plans for the future"
My heart swelled at the thought of him thinking about our future together. "Tell me, my mate, what did you think about exactly?"
"I think about the day I get to feed you something I hunted on my own. And then dress you with the skin of a tiger. A big tiger with huge teeth and claws."
"And you'll sleep in my arms every night"
"Well, I still want to be with Alev a few times."
I nodded, hurrying to bring him back to thinking about me and not his father. "Sure, Alev will always be there for you. And... have you thought about our Agape?"
His right hand released the baby's side to cup my jaw and bring me to kiss him. I immediately held the back of his neck and caressed his upper thigh with my other hand. I kissed him passionately, reaching with my tongue to tease his.
He broke our intense kiss but kept his luscious lips close to mine. A beautiful shade of pink colored his cheeks as he continued, doing his best to sound seducing, with a low, torturing voice
"I think about our Agape a lot, Ithel. I won't tell you my thoughts, but I can't wait for the real Agape to show you"
I think I released a low growl that made him smile victoriously. He knew how much his audacity makes my whole body burn with desire for him. My Aella knew me so well
"I promise to love you and take care of you, my sweet Aella. I promise to give you anything you desire. I promise not to wait any longer, and I will make you my mate, for real"
He smiled, his eyes blinking in confusion. "I already am your mate"
I returned his smile and hugged him close, while kissing his shoulder and neck.
Oh my innocent Ceri, if only you knew what I have in store for you