The Lucky Talisman
Written in collaboration with @xui-n-soowillbethedeathofme
“I mean I tried everything man...you know...everything...but...but she’s crazy, you know?” Kyungsoo slurred his words, leaning towards Baekhyun, who was carefully preparing a drink but nodded in agreement. Fire dripped over the sugar cube, letting it dissolve into the green potion and the melted drops sank past the slotted silver spoon, into the velvety liquid, twirling, mesmerizing and alluring, promising foggy dreams, riding the Flaming Green Fairy.
“The other week, right, I went over with a really nice emerald necklace...Do you know what she did? She threw it to my face and said that I need to try harder.”
“I think...I think...they’re spending too much time together...yours and mine.” Baekhyun concluded, struggling to keep the glass straight as he handed it to Kyungsoo.
“They’re so mean...you know...I...we...we love them right? I shower her with the best captures...my old man would have a fit if he would find out... shhh...don’t tell him anything.” Kyungsoo further confided.
“Your secret is safe with me!” Baekhyun reassured his friend, raising his glass. “To the crazy women we adore!”
“I fucking swear man...I love her so much, but I never told her…no in so many words anyway!” Kyungsoo confessed, slumping on the scattered pillows on the floor and sipping the glistening brew. The mixture coated their minds, languorously offering promises, phantasms, and a never-ending decadence. The dim light from the multicolored glass lampions threw shades against the tents’ dark covers, playing tricks on the men's minds, alluding to beautiful mistresses dancing in the smoke rising from the charcoals.
“I think you should...I think you should go over there...and speak your mind...and if she doesn’t get it...well...her loss. I mean you...you are a great guy...you know? You do your bit for the clan, you make enough, you have this great tent...” Baekhyun slurred, pointing his finger around the pavilion, coming back from his elation.
“You know what...this...this is why I trust you with these things. You’re good with the “heart” matters. And you know what else...I’m going there now.” Kyungsoo stood up, regaining some balance and straightening up his leather waistcoat, headed towards the tent opening.
“Wait...I’m coming with you...as your witness...in case things get serious...you know...like a chaperone...and also...if her sister is around, you’ll need some protection.” Baekhyun shouted and grabbing his hat he followed his friend in their nocturnal incursion.
The camp was silent, apart from eerie crickets sound accompanying the dark. Most fires were out, and folks were making their way back into the comforts of their tents and caravans. In the far end of the site, a young couple, shying away from prying eyes, was discovering the first thrills of love, on the other end, the sharp cry of a child rippled across breaking the tranquility.
After unclipping your adorned earrings, you started unraveling your heavy braid. Mindlessly, you dragged the brush over your plaited strands of hair, looking past the image reflected in the mirror. Your green sequined Kurti mosaicked with the candlelit interior of your tent, blurring lines and shifting all in a bokeh of colors.
Old, buried thoughts reached through the stained glass, disrupting your entire being, grabbing you on a journey you seldom wanted to embark on.
The ground trembled and smoke was seen on the horizon, billowing in great plumes from the ground up high reaching the clouds. Uneasy, you exchanged glances with your sister, an unspoken agreement to urge the clockwork horses, you rode faster. The smoke came from the same direction as your clan had traveled, a half day's ride ahead of you.
Making haste, you ran without stop, the same instinct driving you both to keep going. As dusk laid, you reached the camp. Smoldering wreckage of twisted metal and flames was all your eyes could tell you, you tried to make sense of the scene before you, but your mind refused to acknowledge what your heart knew.
Your clan was gone.
Numb with denial, you stepped closer, as much as the inferno would let you, your foot slipping on something in the dirt and glancing down to see what caused your stumble, you picked-up the object.
Your mother's talisman.
Anguish brought you to your knees, silent tears coursing down your face as you held onto the broken necklace and your sister, both of you watching the flickering flames.
Night fell as you held vigil, the fires dying down, leaving ablaze coals and ash. It felt as if a dream had taken you both, a dream where darkened gold scales were rattling in the air, engulfing you in an embrace that stroke, not fear but comfort, and lifted you through the clouds, leaving behind sorrow and desolation. You woke up with your sister by your side, surrounded by luxurious layers of covers and embroidered pillows, under a tall pavilion, draped in burgundy panels, pierced here and there, allowing golden shards of light to bathe the room. If not for the ache in your heart, you would’ve thought you’re home.
…………………………………..
A shuffle outside your tent pulled you back from the swarm of memories swamping your thoughts. Reaching for the Khanjar dagger strapped on your thigh, you unsheathed it, stilling by the entrance, waiting and slowing down your heartbeats. As soon as the tent cover opened, letting the brisk air of the evening hitting your face, you jumped towards your assailant. Your blade skillfully placed at the intruders’ neck, with their arm twisted at their back and your knee holding them down, forcing them to gasp. Suddenly, your attention was drawn to another noise, and looking up you saw Baekhyun, eyes wide in wonder and body slightly off balance.
“Baekhyun...what are you doing here...who’s this? Kyungsoo? What on fates threads...Why are you...ugh...just get up.” You shouted at both, sheathing your dagger back in its leather holder.
“Get up!” You huffed annoyed at his inability to gather his strength to stand.
“Why are you two lurking around my tent?” Your eyes were shooting blades, waiting for answers on their behavior.
“Ummm...Baekhyun said...that I should...he...umm...”. Kyungsoo began, looking at his friend, panic starting to spread on his face.
“You got to listen to what he has to say...I’ll...I’ll wait outside...give you two some privacy”, Baekhyun mumbled, eyeing his friend to speak up.
Arms crossed and lips drew in a straight line, you shook your head in disapproval.
“Speak then!” You dared Kyungsoo, who kept kneading his fingers, like a child caught in a lie.
“Well, I...I came over to make sure you’re ok...Ummm and to ask...you know...to ask if you need anything.”
“I am fine, Kyungsoo. And I do not need anything. I am perfectly capable of procuring myself whatever I need.” You assured, poised with your arms still linked across your chest.
“So, if there isn’t anything else, I would like you to leave now. It’s not proper to have you in my tent, alone, this late.” Your anger transcended your words, as you pointed towards the exit.
“Right. Of course. Sorry I bothered you...I just thought...Baekhyun said...”, Kyungsoo fumbled, rushing towards the tents’ opened flaps.
Then suddenly, without turning he halted.
“Actually...you know what? No. I’m not leaving.” He spoke so softly you barely heard him.
“Wh...what do you mean you’re not leaving?” You stuttered, dumbfounded by his outrageous behavior.
“You...should…no, scratch that. You have to come with me.”
“Have you absolutely lost your mind? We’ve discussed this before. It has been agreed that we’ll get to know each other first, I was given time. That when I’d grown more comfortable around the clan, I was to follow you.” You tried hastily to explain it all in one breath, as if afraid of being interrupted.
“This is ridiculous...we’re drifting apart and becoming more estranged if anything. At this pace, we’ll never be together.” Kyungsoo argued disheartened.
“Well maybe is for the best.” You concluded and instantly regretted saying it out loud.
“You don’t mean that,” Kyungsoo whispered, defeated. “I won’t give up on us. “And without offering any warnings, he grabbed your arms, and in a swift move, he threw you over his shoulder and made his way out, with you too shocked to react.
Baekhyun followed him, just as stunned as you were, carefully tiptoeing around you too, trying to read any clues as to how the events unfolded such, lowering his head and twisting it to reach your face upside-down resting on Kyungsoo’s back.
“Are you sure that you want to do this Soo? You know that once she’s in your tent ...that’ll be it...you won’t be able to change anything.” Baekhyun argued, starting to understand the extent of his friends’ actions.
“Yes! Finally...someone rational. He’s right. If you do this...then you’re stuck with me and believe me boy...I’ll make your life hell.” You unsuccessfully tried to convince him, shuffling over his shoulder, only to feel him stiffening his hold, digging his fingers in the sides of your hips.
“I don’t care...I don’t care if you won’t speak to me EVER...It’ll be quiet. For once.”
As the commotion grew in intensity, one by one, vardos and tents’ lights started to break the darkness and to your despair, lamenting babas also made their appearance, strutting their flowery skirts and disheveling their braided tresses, they began throwing themselves in your way, arms in the air and cursing at Kyungsoo. Now everyone knew. There really was no return point.
Kyungsoo arrived at his tent and placing you carefully on the ground, he grabbed your hands.
“This is your chance to do this willingly.” His eyes were hooded with regrets and the realization of his belated warnings.
“WILLINGLY?” You screamed and crossing your arms, you stood defiantly. “I would rather die.”
“Very well...Beakhyun...take her inside...I need to deal with the elders and Yixing”. And just as he finished the sentence, the leader arrived.
“What is this Kyungsoo?” Yixing spoke, his voice weighing over the crowd, prompting silence. Looking past him, he scanned your face, as if worried about your fate.
“Yixing...I’m...I’m taking matters into my own hands...she refuses to comply with the elders’ decision...she has had more than a year to mourn...I mean...I’ve asked her...and...” he mumbled, as he gradually lost his ability to justify his actions.
“Is this how you want to start your life with her?” Yixing asked grabbing Kyungsoo’s collar, barely containing himself. “Do you want her to hate you for the rest of your lives? Couldn’t you wait for another damn moon?”
“Well…Baekhyun and I…were talking...and...I…”.Kyungsoo babbled, struggling to put his thoughts in coherence.
“Get out of my way!” Yixing snarled, pushing Kyungsoo, as he approached the tent.
He found you by the fire...whispering in the ashes and he waited in silence for you to allow him to move closer.
“Kay tuto kam dikhel (When the sun will see you)
Odoy ava kiya mange!” (You’ll return to me)
Approaching gently, he fatherly ran his fingers over your head.
“Moon khe afsos aahe…Chha thiyo?”
You widened your eyes hearing such familiar words uttered by your elder. Tears warmed your already flamed cheeks, their traces drying as they traveled your skin.
“Hey there wildflower...what‘s all this”, he asked leaning over.
“How do you know my tongue, bulibasha?”
“This is a story for another night!” He warmly replied. “Tell me what happened”, he queried again, worry dressing his dark gaze.
Not taking your eyes from the light-up charcoals you sigh.” He’s just so stubborn...and stupid. He could’ve waited...I would’ve done this anyway...it’s not like I’m indifferent to him.” You scoffed rolling your eyes.
“How’s my sister?” You inquired, genuinely worried. “She’ll kill him if she finds out. Can you please talk to her?”
“How about you? How do you feel? Do you want me to talk to the elders...? We can banish him you know.“ Yixing revealed, and his furrowed brows and worried eyes made you wonder why this fantastic beast is protecting you such.
“I’ll never do that”. You stopped Yixing, still amazed at the extent he would go to protect you.
Ever since he rescued you and your sister from the burning remains of your camp, he protected you both, trying to give you a home, relentlessly fighting some elders who wanted you out. You kept wondering why such dedication towards defending you two.
“I know what it's like to lose your home...and as much as I despise him right now...I will never do that to him.”
“So, what are you going to do?”
“I’ll stay.”
“Are you sure? You don’t have to do this; we can have him ostracized.”
“Yixing NO! the thought of it…I wouldn’t be able to live knowing I’ve done that to someone!”
“If this is your final decision...I’ll...”
“It is. Yixing...please make sure my sister is well.”
Nodding in agreement, Yixing left you to your thoughts and made his way out.
“You own your life to that woman,” you heard Yixing roaring at Kyungsoo. “She just saved you from banishment. If you don’t treat her right...I’ll burn you myself.”
Knowing very well he means every word Kyungsoo lowered his head in humility and whispered only for his leaders’ ears.
“You know I love her more than my life...”
“You need to start showing her that.” Yixing interrupted him and left, leaving the man kneeling in despair.
“What have you done, you stupid boy?” You heard your sister’s bitter words breaking the silence. You smiled at the thought of her unleashing hell on his head and even prayed for it a little. You knew she’ll not let him escape so easy and you welcomed her overly protective stance.
“Listen...I’m sorry...I am a fool. I had a few too many and Baekhyun...”
“Baekhyun?” She shouted, dramatically, pausing for effect. You knew too well your sister’s tactics. She was fearless, a warrior, a queen in her own rights, and even if the youngest of you two, behaving like she was older. “Beakhyun has his own problems to solve. His better half will see to that. Be a man and fix this right now. “
“You know she cares for you. How could you be so stupid and impatient.” She kept quizzing, making you proud she’s your little fighter.
Tears fell from his eyes melting on his knotted fingers. “I wish I could turn back time...but I can’t. And I really want her to see how much care for her; I would even accept banishment...”
“Yeah! so you can really break her heart. Aren’t you clueless...How you leaving is going to fix everything you fool man? Do you think she’s just going to carry on with her life as if nothing happened…She wants you by her side. You’ve been there for her…when I couldn't be anymore.” You stilled hearing your sister, tears pooling your eyes; wiping them with the corner of your batik, you kneeled on the thick Persian rug covering the tent floor and carried on prying.
“Don’t beat yourself up. Grief manifests differently in everyone. Where you sought to forget it all and threw yourself in your work, your sister lingered in pain, succumbing to its weight and treasured all memories, regardless of how heart-rending they were.”
The sudden display of insightfulness coming from his mouth seemed to surprise your sister, who lowered her voice and warmed her tone:
“See this is what I don’t get: how can you be so sensitive about our fate and so mature, and yet so childish and reckless and do what you’ve done tonight. I’m convinced Baekhyun has something to do with this. Him and copious amounts of the Green fae”, the youngster concluded with a chuckle.
“But your heart is pure...you’re stupid...but pure. Maybe I can help you save this.” She said and ended the tirade, leaving without warning.
You returned pensively to the stove, playing with the last remnants of the fire. You knew about duty and honor. You learned about a woman’s destiny in a clan, long before you learned of stolen kisses and shy embraces. Your father taught you that, as a leader’s daughter, your duty will always be to stand next to an honorable man. Your breath hitched in your throat strangling you. You knew what needed to be done.
Kyungsoo sat by the fire outside the tent...his gaze drifting in the flames. He remembered when Yixing brought you and your sister into the camp. Both frightened and all cried out, heartbroken with grief after losing everything you loved, half asleep, barely understanding what was happening. He remembered how, in the following months, whilst your sister seemed to have assumed her new status quite with ease, you would still be reluctant to open to anyone. Anyone but him. He would sneak you the best reaps every chance he would get, sometimes a box of dried dates, other times cocoa from the sunny shores, anything to make you smile. And when you finally did, his heart stopped in his chest and he knew he wants nothing else in life but to make you smile…over and over again.
“Here”... his thoughts interrupted by your sister’s prompt return. “Fix this...it’ll probably give you a heads-start and maybe she’ll let you prove you’re not a complete idiot”. Saying that she threw in his lap a velvet pouch and left.
Loosening the strings Kyungsoo let the contents spill in his hands...beautiful teal gemstones, different sizes ovals, set in antiqued gold and some oxidized copper pieces...he trailed his fingers over the broken necklace and smiled.
..................
The morning sun lighted up the tent, twisting the fuming remnants of the fire in dancing tandems. You fell asleep late in the night, laying on a pile of pillows scattered on the furs stacked on the floor. This side of the tent was separated from the main room by heavy woven rugs, all clasped onto the mainframe, acting as a curtain, allowing privacy and keeping the warmth in. Smells of dried basil and lavender woke your senses and reminded you of the hills and looking around you took in the beautiful display, hanging on the side of the tent in rows of dried bouquets, wildflowers, and linden branches. You went to the makeshift sink, an old copper basin resting on top of a wooden frame, and traced your fingers over its shiny edge. Next to it, a small round table with a blue glass jug, and on a little china plate, a purple soap. You washed your face welcoming the coolness of the water and the gentle smell of lilac. You carefully tightened your braids, covered your head with your batik, and straightened the leather corset covering your Kurti. You yearned for the feeling of taking it off, but because of your impromptu sleepover, you kept all your clothes on. You smoothed over the layers and decided out loud:
“I need coffee!” and hastily went over to the main room.
The tent was empty, your assailant nowhere to be seen, and his bed untouched. Recalling the events from the night before you felt your heart hastening, blood rushing in your face. You stilled your movements to gain some calm and then carried on stirring the ground coffee in the boiling water over the hot stove.
Sensing shifting in the covers, you turned your attention from the pot to the source of the noise.
“Morning.” The guiltiest morning you ever heard. Barely suppressing a snicker, you returned to the hot charcoals, steaming your dark brew.
“I am an idiot. I deserve banishment and I know you will probably never want to see me again, and I understand”.
You kept silent, stirring in the copper pot, releasing a chocolaty aroma throughout the tent, and heard him approaching.
“I will never forgive myself for what I have done, so I don’t expect you to do either. I will present myself to the elders and ask them to banish me so you can have your freedom back.”
You froze in place, uncertain if you heard right.
“But before I do, I just want you to know that I didn’t act as I did from bitterness or anger. I did it because I was desperate to start our lives together...so that I can show you how much I…, how I was...um, how I was willing to put the whole world at your feet.”
“I didn’t need the whole world, Kyunsgoo... I only needed a little time. We had barely adjusted to life in this clan, after losing all we held dear...I had just started to trust people again, and even to hope that maybe I would be able to be happy. And you took it all away because you acted like an impetuous child who didn’t get his way.”
“I am. And I will regret this for the rest of my days. I’ll go see the elders”, and sighing deeply, he headed towards the exit.
“Before I go...I want you to know... “Man tokhe prem karyan ti”.
He barely uttered, but seeing your stern face, he repeated as if unsure you heard him.
“Man.Tokhe.Prem.Karyan.Ti”. He recited, insisting on every word, like a child repeating after his master, with tears in his voice, cracking up his words.
“And I want you to have this...I tried to fix it...You can wear it now”, he paused before cautiously approached you, and searching for approval in your eyes he placed the velvet pouch in your hands.
You loosened the stings and emptied the contents, astonished and intrigued, tarrying in the middle of the tent, and time stood still for you. Your whole life, until that moment, flashed in front of your eyes. You felt your moms’ warm touch on your checks and your fathers’ protective hand on your back, guiding your arrow towards your first deer. You saw your sister, chasing you through the meadows, carefree and joyous, bringing you the prettiest flowers for your garland. And in the middle of all those memories, you saw him. His dark eyes, kindly-looking upon you, his shy hands clasping yours, comforting your tears, his soft voice singing you songs of old, making you forget your sorrows.
“Forgive me” he whispered as he rushed towards the opened curtains of the tent.
“Stop. Kyungsoo...what is this? Where did you get this? And how do you speak the language of my clan?” You asked still in shock.
Nestled in your palms, the only thing you could salvage that day, when you and your sister reached the fuming ruins of your once prosperous camp, scattered in the ashes of your parents' abode, buried beneath layers of charred memories, your mother’s necklace, now shining bright, restored to its former glory.
“How?” You broke down, tears flooding your eyes.
“Your sister gave it to me...last night, she came by, and after she scolded me, gave me this. I know how much it means to you and I wanted to fix it for you.”
“Kyungsoo...wait!” You grabbed his sleeve prompting him to stop.
“Man tokhe prem karyan to”, you whispered, making him falter and turn to face you.
Grabbing your face with both hands he leaned over and hovered inches away from your already parted and glistening in expectation lips. He closed in the space and you welcomed his mouth over yours. He poured in all the promises of a good life, days filled with laughter, and undying love.
You opened your eyes to his warm gaze washing over you and hug him tightly, as if afraid he will disappear.
“Let’s go see the elders and officially make you my romni!” He said waking you from your reverie and taking his hand you followed him through the tents covers, embracing the bright morning light.
@soos-goddess @changshapatrol @diveinthebluewithyou @vampwrrr @xui-n-soowillbethedeathofme
