The Mare of the Snow

Chapter Two

Dawston tore through the front door to his little wooden cottage, out of breath from galloping through the harsh rain. He was greeted by the warmth of his fireplace, as the flames waved hello. He tossed his soaking overcoat onto the floor, and slummed down on his soft armchair near the fire. He sighed, and wiped away the rain from his cheeks as another stallion entered his cottage. His brown coat glistened by the glow of the fire, and as did his silver mane, as he took off his gray hat and overcoat and hung them on the coat rack standing near the door. He noticed how Dawston has left his coat sprawled across the floor without a care. “Well, you could’ve at least ‘hung’ your coat.” He said with a look of disappointment written across his face. Dawston remained silent, and gave the stallion only a subtle glance before he turned his attention back over to the crackling fire. “I don’t know why you’re upset, you’re the one that decided to leave the café in such a hurry.”

“Well, Zach, if you hadn’t come along, then perhaps I wouldn’t have had to cut my time there short.”

“Oh, so you’re blaming me for this? I see. So tell me, who was that mare you were talking to?”

“Just some stranger, nothing for you to worry about.”

“On the contrary, it’s my job to worry about you Dawston. When I saw you through the window, it seemed you two had your eyes glued right together.”

“Then perhaps it’s time you quit your worrying and let me go about my own business for a change.”

“You know why I can’t let you do that!” Zach’s voice jolted Dawston, and made him turn his head to him out of fear. “. . . I apologize for my outburst, but Dawston, whatever it is you’re thinking, I suggest you forget all about it.”

“I can’t, not this time.”

“. . . What is her name? Do you know?”

“Meriva, the most beautiful name my ears have ever been told. Looking into her eyes was like watching the sunlight shimmer off the wavy waters of the ocean. Her clothes and mane were both soiled and drenched by the rain, yet still she managed to look perfect. Zach, I swear to you, never have I felt this kind of sensation explode inside my heart before, not like that. She’s different, and I wish you could understand that.”

“You’re right, I don’t. But I wish ‘you’ could understand, little brother, that I am doing this for your protection—”

“Well, have you ever considered that your protection is what’s keeping me from being happy?” Zach refrained from lashing out at his brother for his arrogance, and instead, thought deeply about his statement. “When I’m with you, I have no freedom. I can’t even leave the house for a brisk walk without you just mere inches away.”

“How many nights are we going to sit and bicker about this Dawston? We’re not children anymore!”

“That’s my whole point.” Again, Zach’s anger had been repressed. “Things aren’t like how they were back then. Instead of being paranoid, you can start to let go of what’s happened in the past, and maybe then you can start to live your life without having to worry about me.”

“Dawston, I . . . you and I both know we can’t just forget—”

“Brother, please, I need this. That mare, she . . . she’s different, I know she is.” Zach thought long and hard, considering the points Dawston had brought to his attention. Perhaps it truly was time, and perhaps that mare truly was different. Now faced with a difficult decision, Zach turned his attention over to the dancing flames in the pit of their fireplace.

“Perhaps you’re right. Maybe it is just that time.”

“Are you saying . . ?”

“Go on brother, find her. I will not interfere any longer.” Dawston could barely contain himself. He rocketed out from his seat to embrace Zach tighter than he ever has. Finally, he felt the chains binding him to Zach’s side break apart. To him, this marked the start of a new beginning for the both of them.

“Thank you Zach, you have no idea how much this means to me.” Dawston’s voice quivered.

“There is no need to thank me, now go.” Dawston collected his coat and rushed out the door, galloping back to the café where he hoped to find Meriva once again. He hadn’t been gone that long, so there was indeed a possibility she could still be there. Zach watched him leave into the storm, and as the door creaked and clicked shut, he couldn’t stop the feeling that had arose in his chest. “Just don’t make me regret it.” He muttered.

Meriva sat in her chair at the café, befuddled by how quickly Dawston had took off through the doors. She found it quite peculiar that as soon as that other stallion entered, Dawston left without as much as a goodbye. Whatever the reason, she was alone once again, and that feeling that sparked at the core of her heart, had suddenly diminished. Giano peeked from around the doorway to the back room, curious to see what might have happened. However, he was shocked to see Meriva alone, returned to the state of gloom she first walked through his doors with. “Meriva, what happened? Where had that stallion gone?” He asked.

“He’s gone, took off without a word.”

“Meriva—”

“Don’t, please, I’m fine.”

“Listen, I know what you’re feeling, but don’t let this discourage you. Perhaps, he just wasn’t the one.” Meriva refused to lift her head up to meet Giano’s eyes, as the water that built behind her eyes was too heavy. She didn’t utter another word, leading Giano’s heart into a cold cave of guilt. This time, it was he who felt responsible for her sadness. He didn’t know what else to say, so he spoke the first words that came to his mind, hoping he could stitch the gash delivered to Meriva’s heart. “Meriva, dear, I’m sorry. I just, I thought for sure he. . .” Giano didn’t want to continue, as Meriva sat still and lifeless, he let silence overtake him.

“I thought so too.” Meriva had then gotten up from her seat.

“Meriva?”

“Have a good rest of the evening Giano.” She walked to the two glass doors that led out of the café, and it seemed no matter how much Giano were to beg, she showed no signs of turning back. He wanted her to stay, so that he could assure her that she still had him for comfort.

“Meriva, wait. . !” Giano begged, but Meriva refused to halt. This time, she didn’t want comfort, she just wanted to go home. To lay in her bed, shut her eyes, and escape this world, even if it were for just a short moment. With the jingling of the bell above the doors, she entered the storm that continued to rage on amongst the town. Giano watched her through the windows as she fought the wind. He wanted to offer her a coat to protect her from the cold, harsh rain, but she left before he could even attempt to. His café, now empty, felt devoid of life with just the sounds of a ticking clock, and the pitter-pattering of rain drops along the rooftop to keep him company. He grabbed a white dish rag, dabbed a small amount of soap on its soft surface, and soaked it under the cold running water of the sink. He began wiping down the filthy glass tables, but couldn’t help but glance every now and then at the doors, hoping that Meriva would return. He moved from table to table, and stopped by the sounds of a jingling bell. However, he was greeted by a sight he hadn’t thought he’d see.

Dawston trotted inside, drenched by the rain, gasping for breath and shooting his eyes at every corner of the café. At first, Giano was surprised to see him again, but it quickly turned bitter. All he could think about was how lifeless Meriva appeared as she walked out of his café, all because of his rude departure. “Well, I didn’t expect to see you again.” Giano then turned back to continue wiping the table.

“Uh, sir, where’d Meriva go?”

“Afraid she’s not here. She left a while ago.”

“Well, do you know if she’ll be back?”

“Not too sure, why are you so curious?”

“Because I need to talk to her.”

“Well if that were the case, you wouldn’t have chosen to leave so abruptly.”

“Look, are you going to help me or not?” Dawston’s tone became agitated, and Giano hadn’t appreciated the aggravated expression amongst his face.

“Why should I? I have a business to run you know.”

“Well by the looks of it this shop isn’t having much business now is it?”

“Listen son, I don’t know why you’re getting all riled up—”

“I’m getting riled up because of you, sir. Right now, you’re giving me a hard time when all I want to know is when I might be able to see her again!”

“Well, if you were to just lower your voice, and ease back on the attitude, then I would consider it.” In the blink of an eye Dawston shoved Giano against the wall, and pressed his foreleg against his throat.

“Attitude? You haven’t ‘seen’ attitude yet!” At the sound of the jingling bell Dawston released Giano, still infuriated by his stubbornness, but afraid of being seen by whoever walks through the doors. As they regained their composure, both Dawston and Giano turned to see a rather unexpected pony walk into the café.

“Giano? Are you there?” Meriva asked as she moved her drenched mane out of her eyes, “I think I left my purse here, have you. . ?” She drifted to a pause as she noticed Dawston staring at her. She hadn’t the slightest clue of what to say, and at the same time, neither did Dawston, nor Giano.

“Meriva . . . hello again.” Dawston quivered nervously.

“I-I didn’t expect to see you here again. Um, what’s going on?”

“Oh! Well uh, Mister Giano and I were just having a talk. I came back as quick as I could, hoping I’d find you, but you weren’t here. So, I was just asking him if you’d be back. Isn’t that right sir?” Giano thought, as Dawston watched him he felt something boiling inside him, but once he looked over to Meriva, he knew he had to let it go. He saw this as an opportunity for Meriva, and he didn’t want to tear it to pieces. No matter how much he despised even looking in Dawston’s direction, he had to remember that his qualms were with him, and not Meriva. He did come back through the storm, and he seemed very intent on finding Meriva. He thought that perhaps this young stallion’s intentions were truer than he first thought. Giano wasn’t certain how to answer, but he knew what he wanted, and that was to see Meriva happy.

“That’s right.” He assured her, “I’m gonna go see if I can find your bag Meriva.” Giano walked over to the counter where Meriva had previously sat, and scanned the ground for her little bag.

“So,” Dawston cleared his throat, “gotta love this weather huh?”

“Yeah, I wish winter would hurry.”

“You like winter?”

“Oh, so much. Everypony in town would much rather stay inside their homes when winter comes around, but me, I think it’s beautiful. Just watching the snow fall from the sky, and becoming surrounded as it piles up over the ground, each little flake sparkling from the moonlight, it’s so . . . enchanting.”

“For me, I can’t quite look at winter the same way anymore.”

“Why’s that?”

“It’s just, when I was little, my brother and I we . . . we went through a rough time in our lives.”

“Oh, well, would you mind if I asked what happened?” Dawston suddenly went silent, leading Meriva to believe she must’ve stepped a bit too far in his personal business. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have asked.”

“Oh no, it’s alright. It’s just that I’ve been trying to forget all about it, and it’s becoming extremely difficult to ignore it. . . So, um, how long have you known Mister Giano?” Meriva, thankful he had decided to change the subject, gladly began to speak about Giano.

“Giano, I’ve known him since the first day I moved here. I wasn’t able to make any friends, I just didn’t know how. Every time I would even enter a place full of ponies, I just got so . . . scared. I was taking my usual walk through town, then I spotted this little café. I waked in, took my seat, and immediately, there he was. With his big smile and kind greeting, I didn’t even know how to react. It was after we shared a few words that I suddenly felt comfortable. And something I hadn’t noticed, was that as we were talking, I realized that I was smiling. It felt like ages since the last time I’ve smiled, and he made it happen.”

“Sounds like you two are really close.” Dawston realized just exactly how much that stallion meant to Meriva. On one token, he felt a bit of jealousy, but on another, he became overwhelmed with guilt. He took Giano for just a simple stranger, but right then he captured a glimpse of the true bond between them.

“I wouldn’t trade him for anything in the world.” Giano, with his hoof on Meriva’s little purse, had been listening in on their conversation as soon as he heard his name was mentioned. He felt guilty for eavesdropping, but his curiosity had gotten the best of him. Once Meriva had finished, his heart flooded with emotion. A tear escaped from his reddening eyes, and he tried to wipe it away as quickly as he could. He took a deep breath in an attempt to calm himself, then turned with Meriva’s bag in his hoof, and the remnants of his tears along the base of his eye sockets.

“Ah, here you are Meriva. It was right next to your seat.” Giano then outstretched his hoof to her, and as he didn’t want her to see his reddened eyes or rosy cheeks, he kept his face lowered to escape her view.

“Thank you Giano, you’re a good friend, I don’t think I say that as often as I should.”

“I could say the same, as I feel I’m the one that doesn’t say it enough to ‘you’.” Meriva smiled, as did Giano.

“Say uh, Meriva?” Dawston asked.

“Yes?”

“I was wondering if . . . if you’d like to join me for dinner?”

“M-Me?” Meriva stuttered, unsure of how to respond as her heart pounded vigorously on the inside of her chest, “I’d love to! But . . .”

“But what?” Meriva leaned towards Dawston, and began to whisper in his ear as quietly as she could.

“I shouldn’t just leave Giano here all by himself. I already almost did, and that makes me feel guilty enough.”

“Meriva,” Giano broke in, “go right ahead.”

“Giano I—”

“You don’t worry about me, I don’t want to feel like I’m holding you back. Now go and have fun, I’ll be just fine, I promise.” Meriva threw herself into Giano’s chest, where he found her embracing him tightly.

“I’ll be back soon.” She said.

“Meriva, you come back whenever you feel. I won’t be going anywhere.” Meriva released him, and stepped back next to Dawston.

“Ready to go?” Dawston asked.

“Yes, I am.” Meriva took in a deep breath. Dawston opened one of the doors, and was struck by a thought that caused him to smack his hoof on his forehead.

“Ugh! I didn’t even think about my wallet. Would you mind if we made a quick stop by my cottage to pick it up?”

“No, not at all.”

“Great, and here, this’ll protect you from the rain.” Dawston removed his overcoat and wrapped it around Meriva. This meant he would have to take on the storm in just his plain dark shirt, but he didn’t care. Just as they pushed open the doors to leave, Dawston froze, and he reentered the café to pull Giano aside for a moment. Meriva waited by the door, confused by his sudden actions. Once he made sure they were far enough, they stopped, and Dawston sighed, unsure of how to begin.

“What are you doing? Shouldn’t you be going?” Giano asked.

“Not yet. I wanted to say . . . I’m sorry about earlier. And, I was hoping, that we could just keep what happened between us. It’s just I’m really short-tempered, I’ve had this problem since I was young. I hope you can forgive me.”

“Hey, don’t worry about it, I understand. It was my fault anyway, I was the one who gave you a hard time. So, I’m sorry about that.”

“No it really was my fault. I shouldn’t have let it get to me like it did, and I shouldn’t have done what I did. I should be the one apologizing.”

“Well, how about I just accept your apology before this chain of apologies continues any further huh?”

“Right, sorry.”

“Now don’t you go startin’ it again.” The both of them chuckled, and to Dawston, a chuckle was all it took to prove to him that he had just stitched the fabric he had torn with his violent outbreak. Giano patted him on the shoulder, and he then began his walk back towards Meriva. “Dawston!” Giano beckoned him back, and he leaned to whisper to him, “Now, I know young love when I see it, I know what can happen. With this in mind, I swear that if you ever, ever hurt her—”

“Sir, I won’t, I promise you that.”

“Okay, I’ll hold you to that. Now go on, don’t you keep her waiting for too long.” Dawston returned to Meriva, and the first thing she did was question him about what they spoke about. He assured her it was nothing to worry about, and they went on their way into the storm that had continued to roar outside. Giano watched the two gallop until the darkness overtook their bodies. For some reason, as he stared through the glass, he felt she might never come back. He felt silly for considering such a thought, she could walk right through his doors the very next day. But, as the darkness overtook her body, he suddenly felt disconnected. He didn’t know why, but he just couldn’t shake the feeling away. He walked back to the table he was cleaning and grabbed the still-wet dish rag, ready to finish up before he flipped the little paper sign in the window to read ‘closed’. Accompanied once again by only the ticking of the clock, and the drops of rain pelting the roof, he had never felt so alone.