Chapter Text
In the heart of the Castle of the Crystal, amidst a towering collection of books and scrolls, there sat the last male gelfling. The Great Healer and Savior of Thra, Jen.
While he would never claim himself to be nothing more than a simple being of Thra, it was getting increasingly harder for Jen to ignore just how much his name was being praised in the three weeks since the crystal was healed. The creatures of Thra showed their appreciation through a manner of different ways, but more often than not, said appreciation would be heavily exaggerated, specifically by the podlings. Especially by the podlings.
Throughout the many parties held in the castle by the now ex-slaves, two things were constant in relation to Jen:
- Every night, without fail, he would be pulled into a fast-paced dance (often against his will) by a podling female, where he would spend the next three minutes getting spun around wildly.
- Several drunken toasts would be proclaimed in the name of “the glorious gelfling boy” that saved the world and banished the Skeksis from Thra.
Jen didn’t begrudge the podlings for their carefree attitude and high praise, but he often felt inadequate in comparison to the false image they were claiming him to be. Growing up with the Mystics, Jen had spent countless nights listening to urSu recount tales of the many heroes of Thra and the different stories of how things came to be. The irony that he had most likely cemented himself into the same type of legend was not lost on him.
However, Jen was far more than a legend, because he was really here, in the present and in flesh and blood, and he needed to quickly curtail any inaccuracies in the podling’s stories, lest he start to get egocentric. Or even worse, find himself in a situation that proved them wrong.
So, here he was at a small desk in the library of the castle, gently but thoroughly going over several texts detailing the complexities of the podling language, hoping to absorb enough information to at least be able to get through a standard greeting. Still, it was slow going, and it didn’t help that the texts Jen was currently reading were nearly about to disintegrate after several trine of non-use. The writing was smudged and barely legible, the paper yellowed and ingrained with so many layers of dust that Jen thought he would suffer death by sneezing.
Clearly, the Skeksis didn’t put much stock in learning to communicate with the other races that inhabited the planet.
With a small sigh, followed by another sneeze, Jen carefully closed the aged tome in his hands, setting it on top of a pile at his side. It was times like this where he wished he had Kira to help teach him. At least then he could get in some good practice.
Standing up and stretching his arms above his head, he let his mind wander freely, thinking about the female gelfling that had aided him in his journey. After the Crystal of Truth had been healed, and Kira revived, the air between the last remaining gelflings had been… different, to say the least. With the dying land restored to its former glory and the UrSkeks naming them as the de facto keepers of the Crystal, a countless amount of new responsibilities had now been delegated to the pair, much to their surprise.
Between hauling the Garthim carcasses out of the castle and gradually removing the remaining possessions of the Skeksis, the culmination of work had become too exhausting for the young girl. Hoping that some time back home would cheer her up, she had left a week prior to return to her village, with several podlings in tow.
While he knew she would eventually come back, saying goodbye had left Jen feeling hollow, almost like when he had watched his master pass on. Jen chalked it up to simply being caught up in the moment, but as the days passed he found himself casually thinking more and more about Kira. Her shiny hair, her dark eyes, the way she constantly smiled as she talked….
“Gelfling!”
“What?” Jen turned to his left, coming face-to-face with Aughra. Surprised, he let out a small gasp as the ancient old woman stared at him quizzically.
“What are you doing staring into space, Gelfling? Only Aughra has time to see the heavens, you have responsibilities here!” She hollered, her single eye blinking rapidly as she took a few steps back.
Jen let out a small cough, now recovered from his fright. “Sorry, Aughra. I didn’t hear you come in. Um, what did you want?”
“Who, me?” Aughra asked, then sniffed the air harshly. “I want for nothing, but those noisy podlings are holding another feast, and they’re wondering where their great hero went so that they could celebrate his honor!”
Jen outwardly groaned. Great, another party. Did the podlings ever take a break? After cramming his mind with literature all day, he was starting to get a headache. The last thing he needed was loud music and drinks that would only worsen his condition.
Rubbing his forehead for added effect, Jen spoke again. “Thanks, but could you please tell them I won’t be joining them tonight? I think I’m going to turn in a bit early.”
Aughra sniffed the air again, then nodded. “Fine then, suit yourself! But you’ll miss out on your present.” Before she could walk away Jen stopped her again.
“Wait, Aughra! What present? Did they make something for me?”
“Bah!” The ancient woman groaned, “More like found something for you. Multiple things, in fact.”
Jen looked down at the floor in thought before sighing again. “Well, I guess it would be impolite of me not to show. After all, they did go through the trouble of getting me a gift, right Aughra? Aughra?”
Jen looked back up to see that the embodiment of Thra had slipped silently out the door, leaving him alone in the library.
The young gelfling laughed to himself a little as he followed after her, already hearing the rhythm of the podlings’ drums in the distance.
“For a woman as old as her, she sure does move fast...”
XXXX
Kira stepped out of the green waters of the creek, a small smile on her lips. She had been helping Ydra move dirt so that the podling woman could plant a garden, but the gelfling girl had never known that she could get so dirty in a single evening, aside from if she were to jump into a mud pit. Despite all appearances, Kira really did have a penchant for cleanliness, and though she was raised by the podlings she preferred to wash at least once every few days.
Shaking her white locks free of excess water, Kira made her way to a small rock where she had set down her clothes prior to bathing. Pulling the garments up over her head, she was nearly done fixing her skirt when a loud bark from behind the trees caught her attention. A light brown ball of fur scampered out of the bushes and stopped in front of Kira, and she laughed as the little beady eyes stared up at her.
“Fizzgig! Did you have fun chasing bugs while I was busy?”
The furry creature gave another affirmative bark, then rolled to the water’s edge to take a drink. When he had refreshed himself, Fizzgig ran back to Kira excitedly, jumping into her arms so that she could carry him back to the village.
The young girl smiled, glancing at the three moons traversing the sky. Tonight would be the night of one of the biggest parties Kira had ever seen. Now that the Skeksis were gone, and with them the fear of the Garthim, her village was finally free to extend their festivities to the whole of the village rather than just a few small huts. The entire place was covered in decorations; streamers and bits of plant life hanging in between buildings, along with paper cut-outs representing different figures from history, some not-too-discreetly resembling herself and Jen.
Normally a small thing like this wouldn’t bother Kira; it was nice to be praised, and Jen deserved to be honored as well, but that wasn’t what bothered her about the decorations. Wherever there were cut-outs in her likeness, they were always connected to those of the gelfling boy somehow, be it by another strip of paper in between or something similar. Just an hour ago she had even seen one where they were holding hands!
Kira wasn’t exactly against the idea of her and Jen… together, but it made her somewhat uncomfortable to be reminded of it at every turn. She was still a bit young - they both were - so why couldn’t they be given time to consider it awhile, before being pressured into it?
Jen probably didn’t even think of her like that anyway. After the events at the Castle a few weeks ago, the two of them had been so busy they had barely spoken to each other until Kira had to return with the podlings to her village. To say that their goodbye was awkward was an understatement.
She was just so confused.
As if sensing her frustrations, Fizzgig let out a short whine and nuzzled into her neck, bringing Kira out of her mind and back to the present moment. Smiling, the gelfling girl made her way to a small hut where a group of podlings were filling up gourds with various different spirits, adding her voice to the rambunctious tune they were singing. Here, amongst her family, it was easy to dispel these melancholic feelings, and Kira calmly swayed to the chorus of voices, immersing herself in both the music of her people and the collective song of Thra.
And yet, despite this sense of peace, she couldn’t help but feel… Empty.
XXXX
The party proved to be more calm than Jen expected. Rather than the chaotic back-and-forth rhythm he was used to hearing, tonight the podling drummers were playing a light beat on their instruments, just fast enough so that one could dance to it if they wished.
Since the expulsion of the Skeksis, Jen and the podlings had reformatted the dining hall to suit those of smaller stature, taking apart the high tables and giant chairs and using them as parts for much simpler, miniature versions of themselves. Using this system they had erected three tables - each roughly twenty feet long - placed alongside each other with room between to allow the easy serving of food.
Tonight however, only two tables occupied the hall. The middle table had been moved to stand in the back against a wall. Several items that Jen couldn’t recognize were stacked on top of it, nearly spilling out onto the floor despite how reverently placed they looked.
The podlings left standing because of the missing table had migrated to the perimeter of the hall, happily conversing with each other in their language.
A podling yelled his name, diverting Jen’s attention to the other tables, where several podlings were already digging into their meals. At the end of the right-most table sat Aughra, beside her the podling that called Jen’s name was now waving to the gelfling. Although the gesture was clear, Jen was still happy to find that he was able to understand the podling’s words.
“Come! Come! Sit here with Aughra.”
“Okay,” Jen responded, taking care not to mispronounce his words. “I’m coming.”
The podling’s eyes widened in surprise, and they turned to Aughra, who simply nodded.
“See? Told you he was practicing! Soon he’ll be just as good as the other one.”
Jen smiled at the old woman’s praise as he sat down next to her, taking a ladle and serving himself some soup into a bowl. “I’m not that good yet. Kira could probably talk circles around me.”
“Maybe,” Aughra huffed, “but it’d be another point of bonding. Grow closer, maybe…”
Jen tuned her out before he could hear anymore, preferring to stare into his bowl and eat his soup. Thinking about Kira was bringing about that strange hollow feeling again in the pit of his stomach, and it confused Jen. What was causing this? Was he sick?
Reaching up to fix the collar of his tunic, Jen felt the cord of the wooden firca around his neck. Clutching the instrument in his hand, something clicked in the young gelfling’s mind, and he let out a small, sad smile.
No, thought Jen. This is the same feeling that I used to get in the Valley. It’s loneliness.
He remembered how only a little over an unum ago he had played his firca near the spring for the very last time, mere hours before he was sent out on his quest. The song Jen usually played there was one he had made for himself, back when he was a child, in order to soothe his loneliness when he needed it.
Jen recalled wistfully how he had never shared that song with any of the urRu, always keeping it to himself, and stopping whenever he sensed one of the old creatures hobbling in his direction. It wasn’t that the young gelfling didn’t wish for them to hear it. No, it was more appropriate to say that the song just wasn’t meant for them, but for other gelfling.
For most of his life, “other gelfling” simply meant Jen himself. Jen alone. He thought that he would never have the chance to play amongst his own kind, to bask in the concept that he wasn’t truly alone.
He had gotten his wish when he met Kira. She was the only other person in all of Thra that had ever heard his song, back when they were traveling on the river by boat. Even if they were the last of their kind, Jen was finally happy to play for someone other than himself.
But now, for the time being at least, Kira was gone, spending time with her podling family. And Jen was alone.
Again.
The realization made him sigh, and he set his bowl back down on the table, effectively losing his appetite. “I’m just not the type for parties, am I?” He whispered to himself.
A tap on his shoulder made him turn to the left, locking eyes with a group of podlings, some smiling, others chattering quietly. The podling that tapped his shoulder was an older female, her grey hair peeking out from under the small hat on her head.
“Come,” she said, still smiling. “Time for your gifts.”
Despite his lamentations, Jen couldn’t help but return her kindness with a smile of his own. Standing up from the table, the gelfling followed the group of podlings to the back of the dining hall, where the mysterious items were still piled on the third table.
Now that he was closer, Jen recognized several of the things to be articles of clothing, along with a few leather-bound books that were spread out. Journals, perhaps? Among the other items were a small collection of weapons, primarily consisting of swords and longspears. Although they looked to be excellently crafted, the gelfling was far less inclined to inspect them, instead choosing to pick up a dark brown cloak, not unlike the tan one he was currently wearing.
Feeling the material with his fingers, Jen glanced back to the podlings. “Where did you find all this?”
The old podling woman spoke in a string of indiscernible words, prompting Jen to ask her to speak in gelfling. After a moment to think, she spoke again, using short sentences to explain.
“Gelfling live here once! In castle!”
The gelfling boy’s eyes widened in shock. “Really? When?”
“Not for long time,” she answered, albeit less enthusiastically. Then she brightened up again. “But gift for you! From us friends. Put on! Put on!”
Around them the other podlings echoed her in a chorus of happy pleadings. Jen couldn’t help but give in, allowing them to help assist in the removal of his old cloak so that he could wear his new gift.
Upon further observation, it turned out not to be a cloak or cape, but more similar to a long coat, reaching all the way down to Jen’s knees. The sleeves were a bit long, so he had to roll them back up to his wrists, but other than that, it was a near-perfect fit.
Rotating around for his audience, Jen smiled at how the little people marveled at him, staring up in wonderment as he showed off their present. It made him feel good, to help these displaced podlings feel joy. They no longer had villages to return to, and in that sense Jen could relate to them, having just been thinking of the Valley.
Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad, staying here in the castle. Even if for now he was the only gelfling, Jen had a hunch that he could find solace here amongst these podlings.
After all, he thought, they’re already calling me a friend. I think I could get used to that.
Jen felt a new confidence come over him, as if he was breathing life anew.
Maybe it’s the coat?
Straightening his shoulders, Jen bowed his head to the podlings appreciatively. “Thank you very much. I’ll be sure to cherish all of your gifts.” Then, with a bit of a grin, he repeated the first Podling phrase he had learned: “Fala vam.” - ‘Thank you.’
The podlings broke out into another chorus of happy rambling. On the other side of the room, the drums had finally returned to the crazy rhythm that Jen was accustomed to hearing, and the young gelfling watched with a smile as the little group of people before him began to partner up and break into singing and dancing.
Turning away from the festivities, Jen reapproached the gift table, observing the rest of its contents with a grateful eye. Aughra joined him, shuffling over to stand at his right.
Nonchalantly, she grasped a stray dagger, then tossed it back unceremoniously.
“Strange gifts for one who abhors violence, hmm?”
Jen frowned a little at her actions, before scanning the table again. “It’s the thought that counts, Aughra. Besides,” he said, reaching over a pile of clothes to grab one of the leather books, “some of this stuff I could learn to cherish.”
After he had collected a sufficient number of reading material, the gelfling bowed slightly in her direction, taking care not to shake the tower of literature in his arms. Aughra simply raised an eyebrow at him, her face contorting into an expression of confusion.
“Where are you going with that?” She questioned. “Starting your cherishing already?”
Jen merely smiled from behind the stack of books. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Aughra. Goodnight.”
With that, the gelfling turned around and strode out of the dining hall, no doubt back towards the library. Aughra shook her head in disbelief, turning back to the dancing podlings.
“Hmph! Here I am trying to sow the seeds of the new gelfling race, and all he can think about is a bunch of old books!”
XXXX
Kira laughed as she stumbled over a stray rock, steadying her drunken mother before they continued their walk back to their home. Ydra, perhaps seeing an opportunity to fully cut loose, had consumed far more than her fill of drinks during the course of the party, so now it was Kira’s filial duty to make sure that she made it back safely. Kira herself had had a few cups of the podling’s specialty wine, and as they stepped haphazardly to their destination, the two females joked together, laughing even when neither had said anything. Behind them, Fizzgig dutifully followed, walking a straighter line than either of his owners.
Out of nowhere, Kira felt her adopted mother slump against her, her weight pushing them both to the ground. Despite the thin haze of tipsiness, the younger girl let out a noise of concern. “Ah! Mother, are you okay?”
The sound of heavy snoring was her only response.
Kira let out a short breath, grimacing at the aftertaste of the wine, before looking down at Ydra and smiling. “Goodnight, mother.”
Gazing up at the sky, she took account of the position of the moons. Two of the three sisters were still rather high, but one was nearly about to disappear over the horizon, signalling to Kira that the party was lasting nearly the whole night. Indeed, the festivities would probably last until part of the next morning, if the podlings desired as much.
She thought she knew what a party was before. This one tonight was on a whole other level. This must’ve been what it was like before the Garthim, Kira pondered, watching the stars above her shine amidst the black canvas that was the sky.
Settling herself on the ground with Ydra at her side, the gelfling let her eyes slide shut, humming softly to herself, though she couldn’t remember where she had heard the tune before. In a rare act of selfishness, she thought of the gelfling race, and the possibility that maybe the Skeksis were figments of her imagination - that dying was just a figment of her imagination - and she would wake up in a world where other gelfling existed.
A happy world where she had never been hidden inside that sad, lonely tree.
She felt Fizzgig lick at her face where her tears had fallen, and then she felt herself grow warmer as he nuzzled against her, and Kira exhaled a deep breath, and she smiled. She began humming the song again, finally feeling consciousness begin to leave her as exhaustion set in. Maybe the Skeksis had been real, but that also meant that they were gone now. That was real, and so was the love between her and the podlings. The song she was humming now was real, too. All of that had to count for something special.
It wasn’t until the moment sleep took her that Kira realized the tune she was humming was the same one Jen had played for her, back when they were traveling on the Black River. He was real too.
The thought made Kira smile again, and she drifted off to sleep in peace.