Part Seven
The Final Day in Hydlaa
As we routinely did, we rose in the early light of the day, ate our apples and washed. This day would be different though, it was Leama's last day here in Hydlaa. Neither one of us knew if she would return. I thought that she would not and Leama hoped she would. Talking to Father was not easy, he expected things done his way and would have no one object to his demands. The truth was I did not know why he wanted her to return home. There was talk that a young female dwarf had died in our home town, though no one knew why, and her husband needed a new wife to tend to him and his farm. All of the young lady dwarfs were now married in our town so it made sense that Leama was needed to return home.
I had thought of something during the night. I wanted to stay here to experience this life for a short while longer. I knew I would never have my freedom again, so I wanted to stay. Being here was like living out a fantasy and I wanted it a little longer. Very quietly I mentioned this to Leama. To my surprise she told me this is a magical place and I should stay as long as I wanted. So I wrote a short note to my husband telling him to expect me later because I wanted to stay here longer then I thought. This is a beautiful place after all. Leama told me she would gladly deliver it to him and hoped that he would understand.
So we walked around greeting people as they went to work and did their daily chores. People from the party greeted Leama and told her to be safe. Some gave her more advice like remembering to stay on the main road while she walked home. Everyone had a big smile for Leama. It was good because she would always remember this day and I wanted it to be a happy memory.
Everyone thought we were both going back together though and many people wished me a safe trip back also. This made me think again that I should travel home with Leama. As we sat on a stone bench, her feet not touching the ground because she was so small, Leama said that she wanted me to stay here if I wanted to and not to worry about her. Then she said it might be for the best for her to get away from that man she was so afraid of. One thing Leama felt pretty certain of was that her foe would not leave his home just to torment her. Maybe she had to leave she thought silently.
The day went by fast. So many people invited her to dinner at the Kada El tavern that she decided to go. That evening she told me it was a wonderful place to gather with friends to eat, drink and talk. So as we strolled there she told me that there were a great many steps to go up to the tavern. Leama remembered I had a fear of heights. She did not want to tell me earlier so I would not worry. So we walked to the steps and stopped so I could look at them. I asked Leama to hold my hand so we could slowly walk up the steps. Suddenly a large blue stone Kran came up to us, carefully picked me up and carried me up the stairs. He gently put me down so I would be safe and told me that I could not miss a special dinner for Leama because of a few steps. I had to look way up at him, almost making me dizzy due to his great height, shocked yet grateful and then I looked down all those steps that I would have taken very slowly due to my fear. He told me he would carry me down when we were ready to leave. You have no idea how grateful I was to know someone was looking out for me. This was a new experience for me. Now I truly understood why Leama loved it here.
When I walked to the door into the tavern, I just stood there. Never had I seen a place like this before. It seemed to be a place where men might gather after a hard day at work to eat and drink. It was dark yet inviting somehow. A lady should not be there I thought until I looked and saw many ladies there. I slowly stepped over the threshold. Some ladies were sitting at tables eating, some down a set of steps sitting by a fire to keep warm. Everywhere we went people greeted us. I was actually beginning to learn names and say hello without keeping my head down. This was all very new to me. Let me tell you that I saw a lot of very handsome dwarfs around of which helped me keep my head up also.
Leama bought us dinner and ale and said there was no reason to keep the money now, we sat to eat. Soon enough people pulled up chairs to sit with us and make sure we were ready for our trip. This is when Leama made the announcement that I was staying on for a while. All the people cheered for me and seemed to like the idea I would be their newest resident. The evening went very well, food, drink and good company for all. Then someone came up to me and whispered in my ear that a tall handsome man had bought us a room for the night so we would not have to sleep outside on Leama's last night in town. This worried me because the offer seemed to come from someone that sounded much like the man Leama was so fearful of. I thought not to tell Leama where the offer came from, we had a room for the night and that was all that mattered. For me it meant I did not have to walk down those steps and this made me very happy. Leama knew that and accepted the room graciously.
It was time to sleep once everyone had left to go to their homes for the night. I did not want Leama to be tired and have to stop to many times during her trip home on the first day so it was best to get a good nights rest. All in all it should take at least fourteen days for her to get there. I already told the families on her route that she would be stopping by. One very nice family asked me what she looked like so they could make sure they took good care of her. I thought a moment and realized she looks just like me and told them that, we all laughed. If Leama stayed on the road I told her to go on and did not get curious as she sometimes does then it would not be a problem. That was if she listened to me, of which was rare.
This was her last day here and she seemed to enjoy herself and I was glad to think she would have this memory for as long as she could keep it. It is good to have happy memories.
