From: nelson@eastrg1.cray.com (Christine Nelson)
Newsgroups: alt.romance
Subject: Siobhan
Date: 13 Oct 92 19:10:24 GMT


Siobhan
-------
(hint: Siobhan is pronounced as She-von' [short "e"])


It had been days upon days since the lonely young girl had seen another living soul.  The dirt road in front of her seemed to stretch forever, ending finally there, at the horizon.  Yet, the road behind her no longer existed for the girl...she could never turn around and go back from whence she came.  She knew that.  No matter how much she may want to, she knew she could never go home.

Up until a week ago, her life had been without a care in the world.  She lived each day, never thinking about the future, never considering what she wanted from life.  Her people were quite simple.  No one, with the exception of their leader, had any status whatsoever...everyone was equal.  There were no fights, no petty jealousies, no harsh words, nothing except the endless freedom.  Day to day chores did not seem a burden to the girl, but were simply something that must be done, and something she took pl








easure in doing.

Her people were much like any other - they were born, they lived, and they died, surrounded by family and those who loved them in life.  They did not marry, as other races did, but instead chose partners with whom to raise their children.  They did not understand what other cultures had known for years, that it was two people, in physical union, that created a child, but instead believed that it was a mixture of persons' spirits which made a woman with child.  In this way, no one person was ever "the fathe








r," and individuals could "partner" with whoever they wished.  Intercourse was a natural thing among her people, but it was not something that need be kept secret, or done behind closed doors.  Pleasure was something shared among friends. 

She had never questioned her life, until the Feral Knight had ridden into their small village on his way back to the Castle.   
His horse had been tired, and her family had invited him to stable his horse with their horses, and share their hearth for the night.  Much to the young girl's delight, he'd accepted their invitation.  

The girl had seen him ride into the village that afternoon, had watched his powerful horse, covered with gold sewn blankets, carry this magnificent man past her without his ever looking down to acknowledge her by the road.  She looked at him with awe, for no man in her village had hair the color of his, no man had such rich clothing, and no man had eyes which seemed to burn with the inner intensity his did.

That evening, he'd explained many things to her.  He told her about the land he was from, and how he had been journeying for many days, trying to return to his home.  As he spoke, the young girl found herself studying the knight.  He was so unlike any other man she had ever met, his home so far away, his eyes so brilliant, and his voice silken.  

The more she heard about the world he was from, the more she desired to see it.   Somewhere near midnight, she fell asleep.  She dreamt of the knight's castle, of the people that lived in his land, and of traveling to it with him.  She awoke early the following morning, intending on asking the knight to take her with him...but found that the Feral Knight had already left her small village.  

She had run out to the barn, so eagerly, looking for the knight or his horse, only to find that both were gone.  The disappointment hit her like a wave, making her crumple to her knees.  His having left without her hurt her more than she thought reasonable.  It wasn't as if she'd been searching for a way out of her village, it wasn't like her life was awful, but during the night, listening to his talking of his land, and then hours of dreaming of foreign places and foreign people, had ignited the flame of 








adventure in her breast.  She had so wanted to go away with him.

That thought was what had brought her to where she was.  She had decided to follow the knight, to seek her own adventures alone.  She had started out after the Feral Knight shortly after discovering his absence, leaving many things, and many loved ones too painful to think about just now, behind her.  The narrow, dusty road she was on lead her up a small hill, and upon reaching the crest of it, she beheld a wonderful sight...the Castle lay below!  Just the sight of it filled her with excitement, and more t








han a little fear.  She had left her village without much forethought, and now that she was actually at the castle, she began to doubt she had made the right decision in leaving home.  In leaving...leaving...she couldn't even name the cause of her pain right now.

As she stood looking out over the castle lands, she noticed a lone man, walking down the hill toward the castle.  He appeared to be surrounded by animals, and most of them seemed to be following him.  Without hesitation, she raised one arm up in a wave, and called out to the man.

"Hello...you there."  She cried, waving at him.

The man turned rather abruptly, as if startled by her speaking to him.   He looked over to where the tall, slender, girl stood, simply staring at her for a moment.  

Since the man did not speak to her, or make any move to respond, the girl began walking over toward him.  Once she'd gotten a little closer to him, she noticed how extraordinarily handsome he was.  His clothes were just about nonexistent, and most of his body was covered with dirt or leaves, but underneath all of that, she saw a attractive man.  His hair was very dark, almost black, and so long it brushed the tops of his shoulders.  His deep blue-violet eyes blazed at her.  But what she noticed most was th








e way he stood and watched her walking toward him.  His stance was almost predatorial, like at any moment he might pounce on her.  His muscles were tensed, making his tanned skin ripple with each move he made.

She slowed her approach, noticing how nervous the young man appeared, and how the animals around him had stopped with her appearance, and now seemed to also be watching her.  

She said, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle or anger you.  I'm a stranger here, and thought only to introduce myself to someone from the castle."

He stood silent and still, simply staring at the beautiful young girl in front of him.  He'd never seen anyone like her.  Her long, golden hair reflected the color of the sun.  Her eyes were the color of the sea, first blue, then green.  Her skin had become tan as a result of her days of travel on the open road, and was now, to him, the color of pure, dark honey.  He'd never seen clothing such as she wore, either.  She had on a pale blue top made of some sheer, gauzey material through which he could see th








e ripe curves of her young form.  On her legs she wore loose fitting sheer white pants of the same material as her top.
His nostrils flared as her feminine scent reached him, even as the sound of her voice held him spellbound.  Having not had much experience with other people, he felt suddenly clumsy and afraid, his fight or flight instinct telling him to run, if only he could make himself move from her.

"Let me introduce myself, sir.  My name is Siobhan.  I am a shapechanger from the village of Benthas."  She extended her hand to him, watching him curiously.

"Alwir," he stated, "and I'm not from the castle, either."  And tentatively reached out his hand to touch hers.
Newsgroups: alt.music.alternative