NOVEL NEXT Vol 10 – Intermission – Getting To Know Mara
Warning - This is a little more--intense--than normal 'Getting To Know' Chapters.
“Master?” A quiet, nervous voice brought my attention back from the Magic Circle I was currently designing, drawing on blueprint paper, alone in a room while the girls where out training.
Looking up, I saw that it was Mara standing at the entrance to the room, her tan eyes moved around rapidly, she was strangely reticent; the normally enthusiastic Dwarf seemed considering something.
“What’s up?” I placed the blueprints onto the table top, turning in my chair and giving my full attention to the small figure standing in the doorway.
“I-I have a…gift? A request.” She paused and looked down, seeming to gather her courage, before speaking quickly and quietly, “I-I haven’t been able to spend as much time with you as your other girls, an-and you might not like someone like me--but. I w-want to be with you, Master. You saved me, you let me live my dream…even allowed me to work with materials that I only ever dreamed of. I owe you my life--I owe you more. I want to pay you back.
Her hands were clasped in front of her, she paused to gather her breathe and her eyes focused on the floor. I got up and walked over to her, bending down, I reached out and gently placed a hand on her shoulder.
She twitched a little and looked up at me, her eyes widening and her cheeks flushed, “Please…accept this. It is usually given among Dwarves to the person, or people, that they wish to spend their lives with; alm-almost like a a Human Promise Band.” She stuttered and held out her hand.
Sitting in her palm was the earring that I had seen her making from Orichalcum, the golden hammer of intricate design. A spike for going through the earlobe and a clip to keep it in place, it wasn’t the kind to clip on, it was more permanent, “You don’t have to consider it to have t-that meaning…or to feel any obligations…I-I, need to give it to you.”
She stared up at me, her eyes only meeting mine for a second before her cheeks reddened even more, “I-I also, made some for…the other girls too--of course; w-we will be together. I, wanted to…” She started murmuring incoherently.
I smiled at her, stroking her silky hair, before crouching down so our eye-lines matched, and carefully took the earring from her shaking hand, “Thank you; and you can stay as long as you want, if you want to stay with me forever, please do.”
Holding the earring in one hand, I wrapped my other arm around her slim shoulders and pulled her into an embrace. As our faces neared, she closed her eyes, wrapping her hand around mine--the one that held the earring.
I kissed her, at first, our lips barely touching.
Eventually, after a few hours, and quite a few Stamina Potions, we just laying entangled on the floor. She had her arms and legs wrapped tightly around me, snuggling up against me, “Thank you--Master.” She whispered, before kissing me.
I quickly cast Clean on the both of us, and on the room.
A knocking suddenly sounded from the barrier, and Mara let out a surprised noise.
“Master, it’s time for dinner, I declare.”
Nana’s voice rang out.
“You probably need to eat, after using so much energy.” I heard Arisa say in a teasing tone.
“Okay, thanks. I will be out soon.”
Mara had jumped up and quickly got dressed, all the while blushing a deep crimson and looking embarrassed.
When I finally got dressed and dispelled the Flexible Shield--most of the girls were there, Tama and Pochi were playing with Mia, who was waving around a string.
Arisa was leaning against the wall and grinning at Mara and I.
Liza and Lulu weren’t there, they were probably working on dinner.
I could see a brilliant crimson face peeking around the corner. When my eyes met Aze’s she let out an “Awawawa” and darted off.
“Congratulations!” Arisa said to Mara, hugging the surprised Dwarf.
“ ‘gratulation!” Tama shouted jumped at the two.
“Congratulations.” Pochi joined in enthusiastically.
I think they thought it was a game.
With a smile at the girls, I lead the way to the table--where Liza was already seated and seemed to be engaged in a staring competition with a large pile of meat. Lulu was serving some food, and looked at me with a slightly pink face.
It was then it occurred to me that there was no soundproofing to the room--and Mara, the normally shy and quiet girl, wasn’t so quiet for the last few hours.
Mara’s face and neck was crimson, and strangely so was Aze.
Arisa kept grinning, and having a friendly conversation with Mara -- ‘officially welcoming her’ -- as she said.
With a smile, I watched the girls and reached up, touching the earring that Mara had put in my ear--she apologized as she pushed the spike through and clipped it--but she also said that it was part of the Dwarven Ceremony.
Author's Note:
The 'Promise Bands' mentioned here are different than the ones on Earth (They are closer to back in the 1960s or so when a guy would give his girlfriend his class ring and ask her to 'go steady' with him) - So, Mara isn't exactly proposing to the MC (and she also makes the same thing for all the other girls)
There, won't be any marriage/proper proposals in the book. (Except maybe right at the end, in an Epilogue, with 'Family Time' and maybe some children appearing ***This is only a maybe***)