Page 3 of Blackwood Milk Farm #7

Questions

Elara and Nyn bowed to the new guest.

Lyn bowed to the two elves.

When the three of them stood up, it was Elara who broke the ice by embracing the black-haired elf.

“Welcome my sister to our farm,” the blonde elf said with genuine warmth. “It’s good to have you here in this wonderful place.”

When they parted, Lyn’s small smile remained.

“Your family name means you’re from the Thallmar Province. It is a pleasure to meet another sun sister.”

Elara gave Lyn a happy grin. “Moongaze? We are most likely distant cousins.”

“I’m not so sure about distance. You know what they say, all sun sisters are related in some way.”

Elara and Lyn laughed like they knew each other their entire lives.

Nyn stood behind the pair, keeping a small smile but not joining in the conversation.

Asher was on the other side, watching the two elves with happy interest.

It’s like watching a family reunion.

Elara’s eyes gleamed in delight. “The farm is an amazing place to relax and connect with the Mother. It is such a fulfilling experience.”

“So I’ve read, and dreamed,” Lyn said with a breathy sigh. “I feel a little overwhelmed. Lord Blackwood has told me some of what to expect but I’m still at a loss of how deep the experience will become?”

“It’s a deep and life-changing experience,” Elara said with a reassuring tone.

Lyn’s whole body wilted as she relaxed further.

Elara shifted her gaze to Asher. “I’ll show her around.”

Asher nodded, but he saw something in Elara’s quick gaze. There was a shadow to her eyes. If he didn’t know her so well, he would have missed or dismissed it. There was something she was saying without words.

“Lyn, you’re in good hands, especially for a tour,” Asher said.

The elf looked at him, her eyes taking in a shine the ranger had seen before. It was of relieved sorrow.

Elara curled her arm around Lyn’s arm.

“This way for the royal tour,” Elara said as she led the new guest out the front door.

Once the front door closed behind them, Nyn stepped closer to Asher. The dark blue-haired elf stood at his side as they both looked at the door.

“Elara is worried,” the pair said in unison.

Asher turned to Nyn. “She’s worried about another sun elf here at the farm?”

“She’s worried that Lyn will bring information about her back to the province,” Nyn answered. “Elara and I vanished from the Druis Empire. We hoped to have faded from our old lives, but we don’t know Lyn.

“The black books infer secrecy but no soul is ever true to hidden societies and codes. She discovered and unlocked the code to reach here but we don’t know who she will speak to after leaving the farm.”

Asher rubbed his jaw in thought.

“I see,” he said as he stared at nothing. “If we deny her stay here, she will tell others of her experience. But we should not walk on eggshells around her just because she may tell others.”

Asher turned to Nyn with a small, wicked smile.

“It took time for all of us to get to know each other,” he said with an intimate tone.

Nyn looked into her lover’s eyes and her soul wilted. The elf stepped closer, her hands sliding around his waist. She pressed her forehead to the side of his neck as Asher’s strong arms surrounded her, and held her close.

The pair was silent, holding each other like they were two halves of the same soul.

“Asher, my feelings for you have grown beyond measure. I know I will out-live you, but knowing that makes each moment more precious.”

“And if I was immortal?” Asher whispered.

Nyn closed her eyes and took a silent inhale of Asher’s musky scent.

“My feelings would not change,” she said as if she was speaking to the universe.

“Neither would my feelings change,” Asher whispered to her with a loving tone.

The pair held each other in silence for long moments, caught in each other’s loving gravity. When Nyn pulled away a little, she looked up to Asher’s eyes with her own serious gaze.

“It has been some time since we last had a true play. I require inspiration for my future books,” the elf said plainly.

Asher let out a warm laugh.

“It seems we need a house meeting for the next play. Tonight? Wine and cheese?” Asher smirked.

“I want the Summer Spire Bree,” the elf said with blank eyes.

“Of course,” Asher said and bent his head down slightly, giving the elf a kiss.

Nyn lifted her hand and gently clamped it against the back of Asher’s head, ensuring the kiss lasted much longer as tongues swirled.

***

“And this is the biggest room we have in Farmhouse West,” Elara said to Lyn at the open door of said room.

The blonde elf looked over to Lyn, the elf’s gaze tilted down and lost to inner thoughts.

“I know. It’s a lot to take in,” Elara said with a friendly tone.

Lyn looked at Elara, her gaze filled with sullen shadows.

“This feels so different. I’m not sure I should be here.”

Elara kept an understanding gleam in her eyes. “The journey is different for everyone. I came here to connect with the Mother, and possibly indulge in reckless, intimate trysts.

“I was surprised how different it was from my expectations.”

“He changed those expectations,” Lyn said with a knowing tone.

Elara gave a small, simple nod.

“He helped me to love myself and I learned to love beyond myself. It’s hard to explain but our family…learned from each other as well. We are all blended, equal in our minds and bodies.”

Lyn smiled and looked away. “Please don’t think me rude, but may I ask you a personal question?”

Elara nodded. “I will answer any question the best way I can.”

Lyn gave the blonde elf a polite smile. “I can sense you are in your Soul Autumn. It’s safe to say, I am in my Soul Autumn as well.

“Do you see a future here that you do not see within the empire?”

Elara parted her words to speak, but no words came out. Moments from the past year crossed her mind and it caused her spirit to weep in happiness. When she thought about her time within the empire, it was empty with little laughter and joy.

What is my future here? What will be my legacy? A life of pleasure is a life well lived, but do I want more?

Moments played on within her mind’s eyes of opening the Wine Library and seeing so many patrons from town enjoying a glass of wine with their reading.

Are these moments only meant to be echoes in time? Or am I meant to leave a dynasty before I fade away in a few hundred years?

“Please forgive my rude question,” Lyn said, the moment of silence broken.

Elara woke from her inner thoughts, focused on Lyn, and smiled.

“No, please, it wasn’t a rude question. I…simply didn’t think about it before this moment. As for an answer, I don’t have one to give at the moment. I wish to think it over before giving an answer.”

“You are not obliged to answer,” Lyn said with kind urgency. “I too understand contemplating a nearing transition to my next life. It haunts me and that is why I am here. I wish to forget it, for a time. I wish to connect with the Mother and wipe away my life for a time in divine service.”

“And here you shall,” Elara said with a soothing tone. “I know it may be strange at first if Lord Blackwood attends to you, but I can be your attendant, ensuring your stay is as comfortable as it can be.”

Lyn nodded with happy eyes. “Thank you. Yes, I would like you to be my attendant.”

“It shall be done, Lady Moongaze,” Elara said with a small bow.

“Please, call me Lyn,” the dark-haired elf said with a bow of her head.