The first chapter of my story, Edirne, where we meet Rohanna, a girl who has been in a self-emposed exile and is now coming back to her home planet after a long time.

“Look Mama, Edirne!” An excited little boy peered out of the viewing window of the transport module, trying to get out of his mother’s arms for a closer look. Other passengers, intrigued by the child’s enthusiasm, decided to take a look at the scenery themselves. Indeed the boy’s reaction was justified.

Viewed from space, Edirne looked like a milky sphere of white and green. The icy chunks of rocks that formed its seven rings reflected the light from the planet’s two suns. It’s three moons, named after the planet’s guardians, Grahish, Medhir and Nandant, are in line rotating vertically around the planet.

All the passengers were awed by the stunning sight except a red-haired girl sitting at the far corner of the transport module. She looked at the other commuters and the wonder on their faces and wished that she could feel the same. She didn’t. She was returning to her home planet for the worst possible reason. Pain stabbed at her chest so she heaved a deep sigh and closed her eyes.

The sigh hadn’t escaped the old woman sitting at her left who, like her declined the privilege of looking at the scenery. “A little nervous, love?” The elderly woman patted the young girl’s left hand kindly. “Don’t worry. It’s always like that on one’s first ride on this monstrous vehicle.”

The young girl was about to tell the older woman that she misunderstood her fretfulness for something else but decided against it. Why worry the old woman with her problems when she had been so kind to me?

The old woman went on. “To tell you the truth, dear, I am also scared myself. Edirne is not the most stable place in the galaxy right now. The weather has been unkind resulting in food scarcity and drought around the globe. There is talk of a civil war in the south. Edirne’s keeper, the Upanasha is dead and the successor is nowhere to be found, if there is one. With no one to guide the planet, the tension between the four galaxies is at its most high and the people are becoming afraid.” The woman sighed. “It is a dark time for Edirne. A dark time indeed.”

She suddenly needed some air, the atmosphere of the passenger compartment stifling her. Excusing herself politely, she made her way to the viewing hall, by now almost empty, the passenger’s excitement waning.

Stopping in front of the huge viewing window, she looked out and stared at the planet in front of her. She bit her lip as she thought of the unpleasant task ahead of her. After years of running away, it finally caught up with her with no possible escape in sight. Not this time.

She moved away from the window and started to walk aimlessly around the hall. Why does she have to do this? She should have stayed in the planet Arnav with its endless oceans, fresh air and white beaches other than come back to a place she abhorred. Why did she have to leave at all?

Asking those questions were futile, she already knew the answers to them. Her mother. She couldn’t let her mother down. She couldn’t stay away from her mother’s home planet, her home planet. The planet her mother loved so much. Too much.

She was so deep in thought that she collided with a man and would have fallen if he hadn’t caught her. “Oh, I’m so sorry, sir. I wasn’t paying much attention to where I was going.” Embarrassment filled her to the core.

She looked up to find the man giving her a sly grin. He was about a head taller than she was and very handsome with wavy blond hair and amused blue eyes. “Well that’s a unique one, at least!” He spoke with a deep voice.

The girl blinked at him a few times, confused. “Excuse me?” Was he talking to himself or her?

He studied her closely, amusement still in his eyes. “I must admit you almost had me believing you falling into my arms was an accident but I’m sorry, princess. I’m not in the mood right now.” He touched her cheek affectionately, giving her a disappointed look.

She shrank away from his touch. She was more confused than ever. “Excuse me, sir, but it was an accident. And in the mood for what?” Was the man insane?

He gave her a smile that said he knew she was being coy. “Come off it, sweetness. We both know it was no accident. You took at liking of me when you saw me across the hall so you decided to pretend to bump into me so I could sweep you into my arms. I don’t blame you. Women seem to fall all over themselves whenever they see me. But as I?ve said princess, I have a lot on my mind right now so I’m afraid I cannot give you my full attention. Maybe another time, eh?” His eyes spoke promises galore.

The girl clenched her fist in an effort to control her anger. How dare he talk to her like that? She?d like to wipe that stupid grin off his face! Rather, she fixed him with a steady gaze and her voice dripped menace. “I don’t know what kind of drug you are in but I suggest you leave me out of it or I?d use that grin to wipe the floor with! Let’s see how women react to you then!”

The man threw back his head in laughter. “Spunk! I like that. There’s really no need to be ashamed, princess. It’s natural that you feel attracted to me. Most women are.”

“Who ever said I was attracted to you, you big oaf!” As she stalked off to her seat she heard him yell, “Hey, princess! I didn’t catch your name!”

Calm down Rohanna, she told herself. It’s not the first time you met a ruffian on public transport.

“Maybe you?d better sit and calm down,” a male voice came from behind and invaded her thoughts.

“Oh, shut up!” She whirled around to give that arrogant man another piece of her mind and found herself facing a dark-eyed man with brown hair and a friendly smile. Her eyes widened in surprise and she blushed. “Pardon me, sir.” She lowered her eyes in embarrassment. “I thought you were someone else.”

The man gave her an understanding smile. “Don’t worry. I’m not the slightest bit offended.” He turned to the direction where the rude man was a few moments before. “Although I wish that man was.” He fixed his eyes at her. “I wanted to punch him the moment I saw him harassing you but I doubt that he would have felt it through that thick skin of his.”

Rohanna’s giggle surprised even her. Her amused eyes met the man’s dark ones and he, too, laughed. “I hope you don’t think me shallow. Your joke was unexpected, that’s all.”

He dismissed her apology. “I don’t think that at all. I’m just glad it succeeded in making you smile.”

“Thank you very much.” Her smile was heartfelt. “I was starting to think that my day would be ruined because of that brute.”

He looked mortified. “Heaven forbid!” Then seriously he said, “I do feel bad about not coming to your aid in time. By the time he was within punching distance you were already walking away. If it were up to me I?d punch every hoodlum in every transportation vehicle within the three galaxies. Unfortunately, even if I were to do that, there will always be people like him.” He shrugged. “An inalienable truth.”

“The truth it is.” Rohanna nodded. “Do not feel bad, kind sir, about not coming into my aid since I manage to handle the situation. I am most grateful for the fact that you thought of making me smile instead. And for that reason alone, I must know your name. I would consider it a great sin if I got off this vehicle without knowing that.”

“So would I,” he said. “The name is Calah Reu.” He held out a hand to her. “Now my fair maiden, may I know yours?”

She accepted his hand gladly. He raised her hand to his lips, his eyes fixed on her. “I’m Rohanna ??-.” She was cut off in midsentence as the transport module lurched suddenly. She was thrown off-balance but Calah steadied her. “Thank you,” she murmured while releasing herself from his arms. She was blushing in embarrassment. What am I doing? Into the arms of two strangers on the same day!

Calah’s concerned eyes searched her face. “Are you alright?” When she nodded in response he continued, “A stray meteor must have passed us so it’s best if we sit down before another one passes us again.”

Finding two available seats, they sat down and started to talk about anything and everything. From their favorite color to the uneasy relations between the four galaxies; Lyrea, Tethis, Protous, Epannines. Through their conversation Rohanna found out that they had a lot in common. She was grateful that the good rapport she established with Calah somehow made her forget the bleakness of her destination.

They talked on for a few minutes before the voice of the transport attendant, amplified by the vehicle’s sound mechanism, reverberated through the transport module. “Excuse me, ladies and gentlemen. We are now about to enter Edirne’s atmosphere so please sit down and wear the safety belts attached to your seats. Thank you very much.”

“We?re finally here,” Calah whispered. Rohanna noticed the awe in his eyes as he spoke and wish she could also feel anticipation rather than dread upon their approach towards the planet.

Calah glanced at her and, noting the curiosity on her face, smiled and said, “You must think that this is my first time in Edirne with the look on my face. In truth I?ve been here many times before.” He looked away so that she couldn’t see his eyes. “But this time it’s special,” he whispered.

Rohanna’s heart pounded wildly inside her chest. So this trip also had a special meaning to Calah? She searched his face for any indication what that could be and when she found nothing asked, “Special? In what way?”

He looked at her for a long moment, deliberating whether to speak before giving her a small smile and saying, “I think I?d better keep the reason to myself for the time being. I hope you don’t mind.”

“Absolutely not,” Rohanna assured. This trip is also very significant to me although not in the same way as yours.

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