The Peace Of The NOW [1766 RWH], by Erica van Nieuwkoop
Rock awoke from the last slanting rays of sunlight tickling his face as the daystar slowly sunk behind the hills in the distance. He didn't move, just opened his eyes, watching the golden glow caress the two women lying between him and the den opening. It made their skin glow and their hair shine, mimicking the halo he had once seen around Mother Moon, several turns of the seasons ago when the cool season had been exceptionally cold, when snow had fallen and he had been able to see his breath in the frosty air.
He loved watching his lovemates like this, in the evening light. Most of the time they slept on either side of him, snuggled up against him, their warm skin caressing his own, but sometimes they reverted to their old sleeping habits, from before their three-mating. At those times Rock slept to one side. Still close, still able to wrap his arm around both of them before he went to sleep, but somehow apart from their togetherness.
Today had been one such day. Dreamberry lay closest to him, her hair loose and one strand fluttering in the breeze coming from her slightly opened mouth. Behind her lay Wildstar, a mass of tumbling curls covering her naked body. The sleeping furs, as usual, had 'mysteriously' drifted towards Dreamberry.
It suddenly struck Rock that he and Dreamberry were the only ones who ever changed position. Wildstar was always closest to the den opening. It made sense, when he thought about it logically; she was the tribe's Chieftess. Whenever something was going on, she needed to be there as fast as possible. Having to climb over two lovemates to do so wouldn't make things easier. Still, now that he had noticed, he realised that the arrangement reflected their relationship in a way.
He loved his lovemates like no others. Everyone knew it, and most of them also wondered how they could ever have missed it all those years when Rock had kept it a secret. His lovemates knew it too. He never needed to tell them, all his actions spoke louder than words or even sending. The looks he gave them when they watched him. His breath-taking devotion between the furs. The little things he did for them whenever he had the opportunity. But did they love him as much?
He didn't worry about Dreamberry. She was the closest to a soul-mate he could think of within the Holt; light-hearted, carefree, sharing furs with whoever wanted, but ultimately devoted to him, the loving light in her eyes reserved only for him. But Wildstar?
Yes, she loved him. Yes, she was happy with him, but somehow, deep in his heart, he always had the feeling that it couldn't last. That it wouldn't be like this forever. There was a hidden distance between them, possibly due to her function within the tribe, and most of the time unnoticeable, but still it was there. High Ones knew who he would Recognize, if he didn't die before it happened, but his guts told him with a certainty he couldn't explain that it wouldn't be Wildstar. Dreamberry maybe - and if that ever happened he would be the happiest elf alive - but he would never be the father of the next Chieftain.
Just as he started to think about whether and how much that bothered him, Dreamberry opened her eyes and gave him a sleepy smile.
**What is it, beloved? You look so serious.**
Rock hesitated a moment, reluctant to speak and break the silence, but equally reluctant to send and reveal his worries. Then he smiled back. **You're beautiful,** he replied. **Appreciating beauty is a serious business.** Both were the truth, in his mind.
She gave him a dazzling smile and stretched out her arm to give him a playful push. **Flatterer,** she teased. Her own body rocked back with the movement and bumped against Wildstar, who woke up as well.
"Mmhh?" she mumbled, raising herself up on one arm and clearing the sleep from her eyes. "What are you two up to now?" she said, mock exasperation in her voice.
"Nothing," Dreamberry replied. "Our own personal flatterer claims he's been seriously appreciating our beauty."
Wildstar curled up a corner of her mouth. "And I always thought I'd notice something like that. How can I feel appreciated when I'm asleep?"
Rock grinned. "You want to feel appreciated?" he asked. "I'm sure I can think of something..." He moved his body against Dreamberry and stretched out his hand, letting it slide along Wildstar's side and rubbing his thumb across her stomach. She closed her eyes and sighed happily.
"Yes, that's a start," she said, and both she and Dreamberry chuckled.
As Rock moved himself between the two of them he returned to his musings for a moment more. Maybe his gut feeling was correct and maybe it wouldn't last. Did it matter?
No. Elves lived for the NOW, and the NOW was good. Yesterday didn't matter, tomorrow didn't matter, and today he was as happy as he could possibly be. Nothing else was of any importance.