10. La promessa {RO}

I felt that piercing gaze down to the marrow. I heard once a saying that you become a woman the first time you feel seen by a man. Now I believe I understand what it was hinting about.

Alessandro's lingering looks stirred something in me I've never felt before. My common, natural world was both worshipped and questions with one stare. Enough, don't show him any more. I reach for the dress I recently shake-dried, and even if it didn't warm up enough yet, I put it on and strut towards the fireplace.

- Nora, I.....I.... you know what, I'm sorry. I don't want to be that kind of freak that stares awkwardly at you...

 – I'm not some museum exhibit..

– You'd be one hell of a living statue. Lethal, but magnificent... Alessandro giggles slightly ashamed, studies me head to toe yet doesn't say another word. My inner compass marks it as an honest mistake. Maybe the same gawking face could've been mine under different circumstances, in some far away corners of this Universe.

 – Fine, freak, come, get near. Seriously, I won't bite. I promise. I give him the broadest smile, forcing the corners of my mouth as wide as they go. He started laughing and decided to come closer, to sit once again face to face.

He's tired, a little dirty and still wet from the rain and sweat. I cup his cheek and feel that perfectly short stubble, awaken my right arm fingerprints. I soften my gaze and offer him a charming, quiet smile.

-I feel a promise in the air. Lift your left palm. My people have been doing this since the dawn of time. It's a sort of tradition that carries us safely through the night, when in need. A promise that dies on the first morning light.

We overlap palms and notice the contour is almost the same. Îmi suprapun palma stângă peste a lui și avem același contur. A mirror, how rare. I ask him to hug my pinkie with his and with my right hand I cup his head, pulling his eyes towards mine. Foreheads barely touching, our eyes melt perspectives and our lips rest one kiss away.

- Repeat after me. You're safe with me. I promise to be Light during the Darkness.

-I promise.

I lift my fingers and point with one look that we're bound by an agreement.

-Till daylight.

He nods, and we release our fingers.

***

She walked over to me

slowly winging her tail around.

A gentle stroke filled my muscles with pleasure

As she laid her hand on my arm.

Her face bathed in warm fire was perfectly composed.

My full being was present at her fingertips,

She cupped my hand between her palms,

And asked for a promessa.

She said this is a custom of this world

With many nights and many wonders.

To make a sacred promise

That you are safe

At least until first light,

To do no harm

To anyone you find yourself in Darkness with.

Promit.

We locked eyes, and hearts and hands in a moment that felt infinite. I simply felt the truth of her words in a way that makes other promises seem uncertain.

I should have kissed her right then. Would that be a mistake? I didn’t. I wonder what kept me away this time, it felt so different from all the other girls I was this close with... is it that weird to be attracted to her kind? Is this one of her magic spells, to keep me this intrigued? Aroused? Confused? What is this thing I feel?

Maybe silence is enough to fill the void of the moment. I need some space in my mind to process all of this.

I sit by the fire and let the warm light melt away some of the feelings. I am at rest now, why is it so hard for my body to follow through?

Out of mindlessly staring into the fire I turn to look outside. The night was a stick-throw away. Feels like two days will pass until sunlight again and God knows how this night will go....

Flashes of last weeks run through my mind, the guys, my Lord, the cold dark earth, the fall that nearly broke my hand, the fights, the runaway, the close encounter with the wildlings....a mess of beauty and despair was twirling in my mind with no power and no anchor to get stuck into my mind’s eye....