CC Burning Preview
Are you excited for the new book? Here's a little snip-it of what's to come.
"The new scene showed Margorim standing across from Eldalane in the palace yard. His arm was in a sling. He had a bag on one side of him. It looked like his mission was finished. He was leaving.
“Well,” Eldalane hesitated, “I-I have to say I’ll miss having you around. I liked talking to you, and you are the best ‘violin player’ I’ve ever had.”
“Thanks for the compliment and not calling me a violinist again.” Margorim smiled.
“Yeah, but I don’t think it makes you sound like a girl. I think it makes you sound smarter than you want to look. I don’t care how dumb you act. You are smarter than you look.” She met his eyes.
“Well, that’s assuring.” Margorim smiled. “I liked playing with you too. No one ever understood that part of me before. So... thank you.” He looked away uncomfortably.
“Well, I love it.” Eldalane smiled then looked down, hesitating. “Actually, I loved the whole time with you. You’re.... the best friend I’ve ever had.”
“Woah, that…” Margorim hesitated, looking down as if ashamed. “That means a lot actually.” Neither of them spoke for a moment.
“Margorim...”
“Eldalane...”
They both spoke at the same time then both stopped and blushed. Margorim took a deep breath to speak, but Eldalane didn’t let him speak. Instead, she threw all pretenses aside, grabbed his neck, and pulled herself up onto him and kissed him full on the mouth, long and hard. An impressive feat as he was at least a foot taller than her.
By the look on his father’s face, Cedrick was sure Margorim had never been kissed before. But it didn’t take him long to take her lead. He put his one good arm around her and kissed her back.
When they finally broke apart, Margorim smiled, then his face fell, and he went pale. “That is so against the rules.”
Eldalane laughed, still hanging off his neck. “You aren’t my guard anymore.” She smiled. “And thank the Father for that. I’ve been wanting to do that so badly.” She kissed him again but shorter this time.
Margorim looked sheepish afterward and stammered. “Y-you too?” Margorim swallowed shyly. “Because I wanted to do that too but…um…” Margorim went more red.
Eldalane beamed. She seemed to like making him blush. “Write to me?” She half begged, half asked. “And don’t stay away too long; visit when you can, right?”
“Whenever I can get away,” Margorim promised.
Eldalane beamed. “I’ll miss you. Just don’t find a new cellist partner.”
“Alright, if you don’t find a new violin player.”
“How about violinist?” She teased.
“Alright, if I have to be called that to stop you from replacing me, I’ll be that,” He agreed with a smile.
They looked at each other for a long moment. “Well,” Eldalane said at last, letting go of his neck to slide to her feet, not looking at him. “This is g-good-bye then.”
“No,” Margorim said tenderly, putting a hand to her cheek to help her face him. “Just bye. wWe’ll see each other again. I promise.”
“Alright then.” Eldalane smiled. “Bye then.”
“Bye.”
They held each other’s gaze a long moment before Eldalane looked down at his bag. “You better pick that up. Your family will start looking soon.”
Margorim sighed and picked it up with his good arm and locked eyes with her again as he stood up. Slowly —almost painfully —he turned away and left. Eldalane didn’t take her eyes off of him until he was out of sight. Then she took off and ran up to a balcony as fast as she could to watch his party ride away.
Margorim looked back and spotted her. He beamed and waved to her. Eldalane beamed and waved back. “Don’t be long,” She whispered.
The scene then faded to show the same garden. It was autumn, so the leaves were falling in amazing splendid colors all around. They littered the ground and made Margorim and Eldalane’s feet crunch with each slow step. Eldalane was arm in arm with Margorim, who now sported a full beard, and his body was almost to its full size, not quite, but really close. Eldalane looked like she’d dressed up for him. Margorim looked more mature, p[erhaps broader in the shoulders.
“I missed you, so much,” Eldalane sighed as they walked. “I’m glad to have you back without the guard status.”
“Me too.” Margorim smiled. That voice hit Cedrick like a train. It was his adult, deeper but sounding warm instead of cold and hateful. “I’m glad father allowed me to come. He normally wouldn’t with things how they are.”
“Well, I’m sure my begging helped.” Eldalane smiled smugly.
“It did. I am very grateful for that.” Margorim gave her a sly look, and she giggled. “Seeing you again after all of this has sealed it for me,” Margorim said. “It thought it was true before, but now I’m sure.”
“Sure of what?” Eldalane asked. A hopeful look shining in her eyes as she looked up at Margorim.
“That I really am...” Margorim stopped and turned to her. He took both of her soft hands in his. “That in these past two weeks my feelings were confirmed and amplified. Those feelings for you, I mean. I am sure now, and I always will be sure.” Margorim smiled and kissed her cheek. “I’m in love with you; I love you, Elda, and I always will.”
Eldalane smiled. “And I love you too, Margorim, even if you won’t let me call you Ron, or Mar, or Rim.”
Margorim chuckled. “Sorry, my name doesn’t come with a fun nickname. None of those are very good.”
“I’ll find one,” Eldalane promised. “I will.”
“Good luck, sweetheart.” Margorim was still smiling.
“I will.”
“I’m sure you will.”
“Don’t patronize me,” Eldalane snapped.
“Eldalane please, let’s not fight again.”
Cedrick’s jaw dropped. His father could say those words; he could stop a fight? Cedrick was shocked, though he admitted to himself it was a bit mean of him, but he couldn’t help it.
Eldalane sighed and looked down. “I’m sorry,” She said. “I know it isn’t a big deal. I am just sick of you thinking I can’t do something.”
“You and me both,” Cedrick grumbled.
Margorim sighed and looked down too. “Sorry,” He said. “It’s just everyone’s tried to come up with one and still no one has.”
“I will,” Eldalane sighed.
“If you say so.” Margorim smiled.
Eldalane gave him a look, and Margorim laughed. He bent down and kissed her. Eldalane put her hands on his shoulders and kissed him back.
“Let’s not end this.” Margorim smiled.
“Never.” Eldalane smiled. They kissed again and didn’t let go for a very long time."