"The Courting Gift"

Zhen sat alone in his little alcove, working quietly as he always did. His long, delicate fingers threaded the shell beads with unsurpassed skill, second nature to him by now. Each shiny orb clicked into its predestined place as he whispered its number.

He was not a transformed elf. The same hand webbing that propelled the other sea elves effortlessly through the current could only keep him from fully attaining mastery of his craft.

Sluggish and clumsy in the water, Zhen had never been a daring young hunter, explorer, racer. Instead, while still a youth, he had let himself fade into the background until praise over a finished ornament would finally bring him the accolades he so craved.

Which was the acknowledgment he hoped for now. Although he did enjoy giving gifts for the simple sake of the act, he truly thrived on the feeling that he and his trinkets were appreciated.

Nearly complete, he pinched off the end of the cord and held the necklace up to a better light. His green eyes scanned over it critically. Innocent of the inspection the piece glittered back at him, symmetrically arranged as desired, and he smiled, satisfied. He then secured the final strand, giving it permanence.

Zhen unfolded himself from his seated, working position and rose to his full height. A second-born, he towered over most elves of the colony, but likely shared a weight considering his slender, lean frame.

He stretched briefly and gave his creation one last, proud glance. I hope Zarra likes this, he mulled over the prospect absently, departing for the Palace's main hall, the color suits her.

Zarra ascended from the water blithely, depositing her catch on the smooth, coral floor of the palace until she found her footing--so plodding and awkward compared to the freedom of the waves--then gathered up the large fish again. Its heft assured it could feed several elves, but despite its size, the creature had been no match for Zarra's deft spear.

The dark blonde elf met the rest of her hunting party, already chatting idly, having passed along their day's find to the colony's preparer of food.

"Ooh, a weedfish," Kossia said, admiringly eyeing the ugly sea beast. Its appearance was deceiving, its thick, repulsive skin hid scads of white, tasty flesh. It was rarely found in the waters near the palace.

"Lucky, don't you think? Streak heard it when all of you had left. It must have thought it was finally safe to come back around." Zarra smiled at her bondbeast's ingenuity, at her searching the area one last time before returning to pod and palace.

"Look, it's Zhen," Threetooth diverted, idly leaning against her trident, "wonder what's got the old landbounder out of his hidey hole?"

The group all turned to see the pale elder deliberately walking toward them. He was well known for long solitary sessions spent indoors, and that he only left the safety of the palace once or twice every moon. Even so, the others were unsure if it was proper to make such a comment even in jest.

"Don't tease, huntress. It can't be easy for him, finless as he is . . ." Zarra chided, thinking, and Starbrook merely made a little "o" with her mouth, as she wondered the same thing. Choosing to stay in one's birth form, for so long, the very idea was difficult for them to fathom.

Oblivious to their scrutiny, Zhen approached, smiling shyly at them. "Maidens," he addressed, "you're all looking lovely, back from the hunt." He never quite knew what to say to the young ones.

"You're quite kind to notice, Zhen. We haven't seen you in a while, have we?" Threetooth was appreciative and polite at his praise.

"No, you're right. I've spent several hands of days working on this . . . for you, Zarra," he produced the many-tiered necklace for them to see. Its elegant, dainty beads shimmered on the strands, looking all the world like something magical.

"For me?" Usually a little more sophisticated, surprise made her sound like a youth. Though, compared to Zhen's millennia, she certainly still was one.

"Yes," he answered, slightly sheepish at her esteem. "When I saw the amber reflecting off of the shell, I thought of your pretty eyes, and I knew I had to make this for you."

Hands full of fish, Zarra hardly knew what to do. Luckily HighGloss took her catch from her and was off to the serving chamber with it, winking with humor at her comrade as she did so. Zarra's mouth dropped open. Zhen wasn't . . . HighGloss couldn't be thinking what she thought she was thinking!

Zhen obligingly drew it around her neck, gently brushing her braids to the side so that he could fasten it. "The clasp is soft metal--this piece is probably best for wearing at festivals--so I wanted to be sure it could be taken off easily."

"You always think of everything," she replied, her mind still on his sudden attention.

"I try," he ended and turned her around so that he could see his handiwork on its model.

"Ah, now that's what I've been waiting for; the trinket on the treasure." He said, and this time Zarra came very close to blushing. This was the longest she'd ever talked to the soft-spoken elder at one time, perhaps more than she'd ever remembered hearing him speak at all.

"I'm glad you approve," she answered, trying hard not to notice the spirited looks her friends were giving her from behind the elfin male.

"I do, now don't forget to wear it for me." He directed with unaccustomed boldness, and turned to go, clearly satisfied at her reaction.

"Of course not, again, my gratitude." He merely nodded in reply and disappeared into one of the many tunnels that lead to the living areas.

Zhen safely away, the elf females let out one collective squeal of delight at this new development, ready to gossip.

Zarra, touching a string of flawless beadwork, suddenly did not feel up to such talk. "I think I'll collect Wynn from Lileo, until evening then."

The others waved her away, still giggling. They were still gasping when Sursha arrived.

Always game for a new joke, the white-haired female smiled. "I'll bite, what's so funny?"

"Zarra has a new suitor," Kossia volunteered, while Threetooth tittered from behind a cupped hand.

"She does?" Sursha was scandalized. "Who?"

"Zhen."

"No."

"Yes," the hunting party answered in unison.

Sursha thought a moment. "What does Girtam have to say about this? I mean, he and Zarra . . ."

"If they're not lifemated, then she's available." Starbrook explained by rote, and Threetooth nodded approvingly.

"Available for who?" Girtam blurted from behind the throng, startling them. So intent on their gossip, the quartet had failed to notice the male's approach.

Threetooth spoke up coolly before the others had time to recover. "Oh, greetings hunter. We were only saying, that if you don't watch out, Zarra might soon be taken."

His one good eye flashed impetuously. "You think?" He didn't let them answer, instead starting off into the corridor.

"Threetooth, you're wicked," Starbrook accused, slyly, and was rewarded with the other's grin.

"Was that wise?" Sursha wondered.

"Well, someone has to get that couple to make up their minds. Why not us?" Threetooth's logic was hard to question.

"Poor Zhen," Starbrook sighed. "Do you think he was serious? About courting Zarra, I mean."

"High Ones only know what goes on in that elf's head."

Zhen felt free. His work completed, he only had his colony responsibilities until he thought of a new project. This could be as soon as tomorrow or in a distant moon or two.

It was time for him to see Cresttopper, his bondbeast. He denied her attention, that was a fact, though she did understand he had duties different from the other elves. She was quite patient with his slow swimming abilities, and his frequent need to return to the surface for air, unlike his amphibious comrades. Not just any dolphin had the composure, and he felt lucky to have her. He often went centuries without bonding with a dolphin, but did feel life was richer befriending a member of the pod.

Though she could wait until morning. He stretched out leisurely, reclining on a bench and looking up into one of the elegant spires of the palace. He admired the elaborate handiwork of the colony's coralshapers. He had known almost all of the elves that had built the palace, many were now gone, but he still felt them, especially while he gazed into these heights.

"Zhen," Girtam's voice startled him out of his reverie. The elder sat up abruptly, addressing the other, who was determined in his approach, and who could scarcely hide his anger.

"Girtam, do you wish to speak with me, young hunter?" Zhen's tone was quizzical. The young ones rarely came to him for anything, let alone with such feeling expressed on their faces.

"I do, and I think you know why."

"Oh?" His mind searched for any reference as to why the hunter would need an audience, finding one possibility, but quickly dismissed it as foolish.

"I think you know . . ."

"Do I?"

Girtam was quickly boiling over like a neglected kettle. "Zarra," the name escaped his lips quickly, powerfully, leaving no doubt as to the complexity of his emotions over his Recognized.

Zhen's brows rose in incredulity, sure he knew what the other was implying. Girtam, however, left him no time to react.

"The entire colony is talking about how you're pursuing her . . . this very moment the other hunters are in the grand chamber saying that if I don't watch out, I might find Zarra mated."

The elder knew it was probably only his age and related status that kept Girtam speaking to him this calmly. "Pup, it was only a gift."

Girtam stopped in his verbal tracks. "A gift? A courting gift?"

It took much self-control for Zhen to keep himself from reddening in guilty embarrassment. Truth be told, if he didn't fancy Zarra, he wouldn't have spent the time making such a gift, nor giving it to her. But to court her? Wasn't he an elder, past such childish games?

"Just a gift, making an old elf feel useful. If the colony feels it has a need to gossip, well then, I suppose I've done my duty." He sighed and sat down again, trying to make the incident seem as inconsequential as he could. He'd only just given her the necklace, he didn't imagine word spreading this fast. In any case, he didn't want to tangle with this hunter.

"Threetooth," Girtam muttered, his eye narrowing knowingly.

"Hmmm?" Zhen wondered wordlessly, glad his manner had changed so quickly.

"No matter," the hunter dismissed, then turned back to the hallway, "just remember Zarra belongs to me." He was pointed in his statement, then disappeared into the darkness.

Zhen was glad to see him go. "Whew," he couldn't help but utter, leaning back and returning to the cerise beauty of the shaping.