Ever After
Well, Ancient One, I think I can anticipate your question. Didn’t I promise a happily ever after in this story? Where is the love of my life? The knight in shining armor, the handsome prince, the gypsy king? My shepherd come to a new sensibility? The Four become The One and Only?
Here is how I can answer these questions.
At day, in my dreams, I remember every detail. How each of their tongues touched mine, how each one’s body fit with mine in its own unique way. I remember all the caresses, the moans and shouts of physical ecstasy, the whispers and tears of shared griefs. I remember looking each of them in the eye, holding fierce focus and feeling my loins stir and my heart expand. I remember how each of them got hard. Steadily, or in spurts, or all at once. I remember the stories. Each one’s story. I remember how the more I learned their stories, the more I could not help but love them.
When I wake at night, I rise in the glow of my memories and of my brother’s afterlight, and as I ascend, I see those bright stars. All the feelings of love I’ve ever learned to feel for all five, The Four and the shepherd blend, knitting together, spilling over, washing over every Mereling on the ground below. I love them. I love them all.
So you see, as long as I have my memories which I have shared with you tonight, I will be happy. As long as I can wave to my brother when he rises and I go to bed, I will be happy. As long as lovers stroll hand in hand on beaches below, or sit across from one another in late night cafes, or huddle together by a campfire or hearth, I will be happy. As long as Merelings find their way by my light, and exclaim when I am full, and delight when I pass behind shadows and emerge again whole, I will be happy. As long as I hear the songs they sing of my light, and implore me to shine down on them to light their way, I will be happy.
So what say you, Ancient One? Is my story worth your coin?