Chapter 44: Fire and water girl. (Part 1)
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Weeks, months, and years pass very fast almost in a blink of an eye, Zaria used to say.
Tamaya used to shake her head in disbelief, for her, time was very long and days were boring, but now that she left Novyi Zem and her sister's wings.
Days went by as if she closed her eyes and opened them after 5 seconds, after years of dreaming to go to the Little Palace, she felt even sadder.
It has been a month and a half since Tamaya Isla was in the Little Palace, and the girl was miserable, she wanted to go back home, she wanted to go back to her sister and feel the warmth of her embrace.
she was lonely, with no friends, her mother at her sister's house, and Zaria in another country doing everything she can to reply to her letter, she wanted to see her sister.
go back to her.
She had her own room, as big as the Novyi Zem one, it had probably the best view though, the light, lakes, trees, and mountains, and it can be peaceful sometimes.
but the silence in the room was painful, it made her earrings many times, the air howling made her shrink and hide under her covers and the girl mostly found herself sneaking out and skillfully past the guards and into the library.
The mornings were mostly spent with her training, Botkin kept watching her with a suspicious look, she just got here yet she had fought every grisha and won, even the ones who have been here for years.
"She is fast, very fast, I had told Anika and Ivarn to combat her, thinking that she would lose but she won." he had told the queen, Zoya Nazyalensky about the girl.
"Ah, is that so?" she asked narrowing her dark blue eyes, where did she get all these skills from? crossing her arms in front of her chest eyes following the black-haired teenager throw a fireball.
Botkin nodded, "I would like for her to come to my office as soon as possible, Genya will come to get her," and when Tamaya heard that the queen and king would like to see her, she panicked.
She was in her room wearing black high-waist pants and a loose button-up white shirt with her last name on it embroidered in red and orange (by Zaria), ruffling her black hair with a towel she ran her hand through it.
A knock startled her; she frowned before placing the towel on the bed and walking towards the door.
A gorgeous woman with long, wavy, and fiery deep auburn hair was standing in front of her door with a faint smile, her skin is scarred all over, and she wore a silk eye patch, but is still very beautiful.
Tamaya panicked, did the saints send an angel? because the girl's heart was hammering against her chest.
Straightening her posture and fixing her hair she smiled kindly at the woman, "Tamaya Isla?" 'Oh shit, she knows my name!' thought the girl feeling warmth rush to her cheeks.
"Yes, ma'am?" Her voice quavered as she spoke, betraying her nervousness, Genya smiled at the girl making her cheeks redden even more, "You are requested by the king and the queen."
Tamaya's heart dropped, she just got here a month ago, is she in trouble, the king and the queen of Ravka want to see her?!
"Oh shit." she said mouth dropping in shock, "why?" Genya chuckled, "How am I supposed to know?" that was embarrassing.
Tamaya nodded taking a deep breath, trying to calm herself, but her heart continued to pound in her chest, and she couldn't shake the feeling of uncertainty that gripped her.
Putting on the boots her sister bought for her, she followed the Tailor without a word, she chewed on her lips and scratched her fingers the entire way.
Preparing for anything that was coming to her, with each step, the sound of her heels reverberated through the silent hallways, Grisha stared at her in confusion, some whispering but Tamaya gathered the courage and lifted her chin up.
Finally, they came upon huge white doors with gold at the edges, the guards opened immediately and Tamaya’s breathe hitched; she looked around in pure awe.
The ceiling was adorned with intricate paintings of saints that seemed to shimmer thanks to the gilded moldings, floor made of polished marble making her heels make a staccato sound as she walked, catching everyone’s attention.
Hiding behind Genya she grimaced, “Ah~ Miss Isla, you are here.” Greeted the king, Nikolai Lantsov, with a kind smile that made her nerves disappear like they were never there.
She appeared from behind the Tailor and bowed immediately, “my king, my queen, whatever I did I am so-” she was cut off by Nikolai standing in front of her and tapping her shoulder.
“Nonsense, you did absolutely nothing. We wanted to talk to you about something.” Tamaya was screaming, the king touched her and they were talking to her, she is so telling her sister.
“of course, your majesty,” she replied nodding and moving towards the huge table in the center, map laid on top of it along with open books, that’s when she finally got the urge to look at the queen in the eyes.
Giving Zoya a bow she looked around, a pretty girl around her age stood on the other side with her fingers locked behind her back.
Blonde short and choppy hair, the blonde was a bright and sunny shade with few silver blond strands, almost as if it had been kissed by the sun itself, and her eyes, as soon as they met hers, she melted.
They were dreamy, deep and piercing blue, the color that reminded her of the lake beside their house in Novyi Zem, like the depths of the ocean on a clear day.
Elara smiled, and Tamaya noticed the way her nose scrunched when she beamed, her cheeks rosy and her eyes crinkled with delight, the Zemeni girl couldn’t help but smile back, as brightly.
Her cheeks were now red making Tamaya chuckle and shake her head at the girl; Elara’s eyes were now on the map, not daring to meet the pretty girl from the other side.
And with that, they started to talk about the plan and why they called the teenagers, “and you two, will work together.” Resumed Zoya looking at the two girls who were standing without a word.
Elara finally looked up, glancing at Tamaya to see her already looking at the girl with a cocked eyebrow, her arms were crossed in front of her chest, shirt still open revealing a little bit of her chest.
The blond girl stared, she will admit it, she did, not once or twice; she stole glances every second, and noticed a lot of things in that matter of time.
The way she ran her fingers through her black hair, it tumbled around her face, framing her features in a way that was both intimate and alluring,
The way she rolled her sleeves revealing the brown skin that looked so soft, a thin bracelet wrapped around her wrist, a friendship bracelet, the way muscles flexed with each move, when she titled her head and her hair fell to the side like an ocean.
The way she frowned when concentrating
Elara noticed everything about the Inferni, technically she did know her, and everyone was talking about the new Zemeni girl who was always at the library when it was the week end or something.
“You both are grishas, and I think you two will get along and work well.” The teenagers blushed at the queen’s words, Tamaya nodded looking at the girl across in concern, “wouldn’t you mind going together?” it sounded like she was asking her on the date rather than an important job it made her blush like an idiot.
Elara nodded, smiling at the girl, “no, I don’t mind at all!” she replied making Tamaya smile lovingly at the girl, Elara wanted to stab herself with the scissor in front of her at how soft and desperate she sounded.
“Great, well this matter is settled, we will let you know.” Tamaya nodded bowing at the king and queen before turning towards Elara and giving her a confident smile, a smile that made her knees weak.
Zoya and Nikolai already disappeared leaving only the girls stand there, “well, I should probably go,” said the Zemeni girl making her way towards the pretty blond.
Elara was very close to the royal family, really, people called her my lady except her friends, “of course,” there was sadness in her voice, like she didn’t want her to go, Tamaya grabbed the girl’s hand and kissed it.
“I’ll see you tomorrow, my lady,” the girl nodded, heat rushing through her veins as Tamaya looked up.
“Indeed, you will- I mean- of course…” she sighed in embarrassment hoping Tamaya wasn’t thinking that she was weird, the Inferni laughed, which made her stomach do weird backflips.
And with that she walked away, leaving her grin like an idiot, alone in the room, staring at the knuckles, right at the spot she kissed.
Well, that was the day Tamaya knew she was never going to be alone or miserable ever again in the Little Palace.
She had finally met her true love; Tamaya knew love at first sight was impossible, because the moment she knew she fell in love with Elara was 3 months later.
The short haired girl was the kindest person she met, Tamaya rarely sat at the table to eat with other grishas, she hated being surrounded by people (she hated people in general) especially after her upcoming mission with the queen of Ravka.
Sitting on the table holding the brand new letter she just finished writing Tamaya got up, opening her bag and placing the letter inside, her room was by now full of her sister’s letters and of course she told her about the pretty Tidemaker.
Pushing the door to the library open, blur of red, royal blue and purple colors greeted her, grishas were walking down the hallways in hurry along with their friends, she stood by the doors hoping no one notices her.
As the girl stood by the huge doors scanning the area in front of her, her eyes landed on the young woman who stood out from the rest, smiling brightly at her friends.
Striking blue eyes that gleamed even in the dim light of the setting sun, her hair in space buns with few strands out, rosy cheeks, her pink lips were soft as silk, she was perfect.
Blue ocean eyes met hers from across the hallway and Elara smiled brightly, saying something to her friends before walking towards her, Tamaya could feel her heart suddenly start beating so fast.
“Hi!” she greeted standing on her tiptoes and placing a soft kiss on her cheek that immediately reddened, Tamaya opened her mouth with wide eyes, she tried to play it cool, but she could fell her heart racing and her palms getting sweaty.
“Hello.” She replied, words coming out in a jumbled mess, and she could feel her cheeks turning bright red, Elara smiled sweetly, it made her eyes almost disappear.
“I have been looking for you!” she exclaimed wrapping her arm around Tamaya’s as soon as the crowd disappeared, “you have been looking for me?” asked the black haired girl earning a nod from Elara.
“Yes, I noticed you weren’t with the other Infernis at the table, especially when today’s food was absolutely delicious,” Tamaya nodded, out of all people, Elara noticed her empty spot; her.
“Oh…” she said walking along with the kind Tidemaker, she smelled like coconut, and Tamaya loved coconut, she adored it, “I bought some fresh cookies,” she opened her white bag and pulled out the still warm cookie wrapped in a napkin.
Tamaya stopped and faced the girl who held the cookie like it was a birthday cake, gathering the courage she raised an eyebrow, “how did you know I liked cookies?” she asked teasingly and Elara reddened immediately.
“What- I mean- uh….” She trailed off awkwardly, “I noticed you stealing some from the party last week, so I thought I will bring some for you. Especially since you didn’t show up-” She was speaking so fast and Tamaya did everything to catch up and understand her rambling.
“Hey, relax dream girl, thank you so much.” Dream girl? Oh. My. God.
Elara was about to explode, she just called her dream girl! She is slowly warming up to her! She is about to scream from joy right now, “yeah, of course.” She managed to whisper with a bright grin spreading across her face.
Tamaya took the cookie smiling down at the girl, Elara was holding back a smile and without a thought wrapped her arm around Tamaya’s again and both the girls started walking down the hallways together.
“So you are an ocean girl?” said Tamaya sitting on the balcony of Elara’s room, swinging her legs she leaned back to get a better look at Elara who was hugging her knees and staring ahead.
She turned towards the girl, her hair was now down and the breeze was slapping her cheeks, “I can talk about the ocean my whole fucking life and never get tired of it.” She said smiling at Tamaya.
The Inferni was gorgeous, black hair in a bun held by a pencil for saint’s sake! She wore a blouse that showed her shoulders and the strap of her bra, the necklace she wore, the soft brown skin, the black shorts with fire embroidery, she looked gorgeous, she looked peaceful.
Tamaya smiled, it wasn’t usual smirky one, this was genuine and Elara almost fell.
“Tell me everything.” She said turning her full attention to the girl, the sun has disappeared and the red and orange hues were soon replaced by a navy blue and black one, the moon was bright and in the middle of the sky.
“The ocean is literally my home, it can take you anywhere you want, and it makes me feel free. I love everything about the sea, the shells, swimming in it even if the salty water burns as fuck.” She chuckled and Tamaya laughed, her shoulders shaking and her eyes sparkled in joy.
“But I fucking love it, it’s pretty, strong, everything.” She said waving her hands while speaking, Tamaya smiled, tilting her head lovingly at the girl who continued rambling about her love for the ocean.
Noticing a strand of her getting in the way and blocking the girl from looking at her pretty blue eyes, she moved, pushing the blonde strand behind the girl’s ears that were red, Elara stopped speaking, mouth open in shock.
“What? Your hair was getting in the way,” she said innocently before gesturing for the girl to continue, like nothing happened.
Tamaya knew that she made the girl shy just by the way the blue eyed girl avoided her eyes, “uhm, where was I?” she asked shyly, the girl chuckled, “you were talking about shells.” Replied the girl.
Elara felt special, no one really noticed her when she talked about the ocean and mostly just ignored her or hummed when she knew they weren’t listening, but the quiet Inferni even remembered where she paused.
“Right.”
And with that they continued their conversation, the girls didn’t sleep for the whole night and spent the rest of the day dozing off and fighting sleep, but not once regretted staying awake the entire night and listening to one another.
Elara eventually owned a special spot in Tamaya’s heart and the girl slowly started to fall in love with the water girl.
Fire and water.
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Introducing Elara to you guys!! Already in love with them. This is only part one and I wrote this on my computer