Reminding Teja of Himself

[wheatencrown]

Demeter leads Teja through the door and they stand on the grounds of the Tuscan house where a sharp wind blows around them.

Comments

[ostro_goth]

"Yes," Teja says. "This is my kitchen; I have dressed greens here, with olive oil and vinegar, and roasted meat or fish, for a meal with my beloved. I remember gutting trouts..."

He opens a drawer and takes out a slim knife, bearing his own house-mark, the edge shimmering with the pattern that marks folded steel.

"With this. I made this."

[wheatencrown]

"You did, you are incredibly creative, my dear Teja."

[ostro_goth]

"I am a smith," Teja says, "and proud of my blades. And yes, this might be one of mine; but the steel is folded much more tightly than I ever tried before."

[wheatencrown]

"That is one of the many things that you've learned in your afterlife."

[ostro_goth]

"And now, I need relearn it all, within some short days, to reclaim an afterlife that is but a faded dream to me now," Teja sums it up. "Where is my beloved now?"

[wheatencrown]

"In Milliways, I'll take you back when you recall more. Come outside, I think I know something that might help."

[ostro_goth]

Teja puts the knife back into the drawer, and follows her.

[wheatencrown]

She takes him outside to where a small ruin is all that remains of what was once his house,

"Put your hands deep into the dirt, this land knows you well."

[ostro_goth]

Teja bends to the ground, touching the earth.

He knows there is a great machine in the shed, upon which he may ride through the hills; he remember walking here with his beloved. He knows about the town, and where it lies; he remember the shop kept by Massimo and Chiara, in which he had a hole made upon his flesh, to wear a little ornament in. He remembers those; he remembers a broad, strong, dark-skinned friend with whom he shared his bath, who had many of those, and whose hair was felted into ropes.

He remembers Carlotta, and her father's wedding. He remembers the hunt for the blood-drinker, and the secrecy wit which he joined those searching for the monster. He remembers walking out with his beloved in the snow, and a sharp, sudden pain in his back...

From the earth of his home, he remembers everything.

[wheatencrown]

Demeter comes forward to enclose him in her arms as he remembers.

[ostro_goth]

"We must return," he says, taking her into his arms. "I was killed, but what happened to my Charlie? He was with me, in my arms; he might be wounded, or..."

[wheatencrown]

"I don't know, I've been gone and only know that I saw you and you'd forgotten yourself again."

She leans into him, he worries her so much at times but its good to have him back.

[ostro_goth]

"He and I were in the forest, and we were against that tree, kissing, and..."

Teja blushes fiercely.

[wheatencrown]

"Then we must reunite you two."

[ostro_goth]

"Yes!" Teja says. "We must collect the cat, and go!"

He stands, but doesn't brush the earth from his hands.

[wheatencrown]

She squeezes his arm before heading inside where Count is meowing, his warm human left.

[ostro_goth]

Also, the food is finished!

Teja picks up the cat, who goes to perch on the shoulder piece of his armour.

[wheatencrown]

She opens up the main door which leads back to Milliways and kisses his cheek,

"Its good to have you back again."

[ostro_goth]

"It is good to be back," Teja says, and walks through.