User blog:Ore-samma/My Lilim (Simple Farmer) (no lewd)

Hello Fans, Ore-samma here!

This one-shot is one that is self-inspired, with a little push from The Weary Time Lord.

I hope you like it!

Ever your Servant-

Ore-samma

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I sighed as I looked upon the freshly cut fields of hay and sweet alfalfa. The Holstaur mamono with their husbands made short work of this year’s crop and were nearly done packing their wagons.

“There’s a thunderstorm coming, son.” I said, pointing to the faintest dark smear at the western horizon. I looked up to my son; a farm master, and gestured to his large family. “You sure you’re going to make it ahead of the storm?”

Tony nodded and gave a large grin. “Of course we will, father! This year we had some stepsons who are proficient in magic! My daughters and my wife’s sisters won’t have to pull the wagons ever again!” His face grew solemn and he looked to the north. “Dad, uh….this winter had been predicted to be...well, would you like to winter at my farm so you won’t have to be alone when….uh...”

I smiled and shook my head as I set his basket of Prairie Fire blossoms in his wagon. “Tony, son- you’re a good soul. But, everyone, and especially every man has his season. He has his summer.” I looked to the north. “And every man has his last summer.” I winked and smiled as bravely as I could. “It’s early autumn, and come this spring, my farm will be yours. Just make sure to give me a proper send off, okay?” I extended my hand.

Tony took my hand and pulled me close. He let go and gave a sad smile. “Father, it doesn’t have to be this way. You could-”

I shook my head. “Thanks son, you always were a good boy, and an even better man. Just keep trucking along with what you’re doing. Slowly but surely; you’ll get that farming mamono nation.”

I watched them leave through the blurry moisture of my eyes, knowing it would be the last time I would see their faces, hear their voices, see and feel their happiness and contentment.

I sighed and looked upon the barren fields, my farmhouse and barn built from stone….still standing like a rock.

I ambled my way into the house and got my tea and toasted bread and sighed as I contemplated on harvesting the roses and fruits of autumn or letting it all go to seed in the fields.

“Gabriel- you are a farmer.” I muttered to myself, “Start acting like one.” I nodded and muttered again. “Yes sir.” I said and got my leather gloves and pruning shears.

I smiled as I neared the rose garden and started to harvest the long stemmed roses and laid them in the same basket as I always had for the last sixty years.

“Sixty years.” I muttered in amazement. “Where’d they go?”

I straightened, crying out a little as my back punished me for the activity, all the while my chest filled with that deep satisfaction that only could come from a job well done. Like the time I built my house with no help, then the barn, and slowly but surely….cleared the land for the miles and miles to Tony’s farm and far beyond. My sigh ended in a small cough and heartburn that plagued me all morning.

“Good morning.” A voice called out from beyond the old wooden fence.

I looked up and noticed a beautiful woman looking at me from the path that ran along the front of my house and rose garden.

“Good afternoon, actually.” I said with a cheery smile, taking a swallow of cold water from my waterskin that slightly dulled the pain. “What brings you to Gabriel farms?”

“I was just passing by, and I couldn’t help but notice the wonderful aroma of your rose garden.” She gestured to the bounty laying in my basket. “I’ve never seen Prairie Fire blossoms in these lands that weren’t actively grown by Alraune or Lilarune.”

I smiled at the young lady, “You know your flowers. My dear, anything is possible as long as the conditions are right, and with the right farmer.”

She returned my smile and leaned against the fence. “Might I purchase one from you?”

I shook my head. “I’m afraid they are not for sale.”

The woman’s face seemed to collapse in a strange expression of shock and outrage. “What? Why not?”

“These are gifts for my neighbors, and I only have enough for them.” I shrugged. “Prairie Fire isn’t all that rare, surely you have a sweetheart that would gladly procure one for you?”

The woman straightened. “I have no betrothed or sweetheart.” She said, her face almost stern, almost pouting.

“Well, I can’t tell anyone what to do. But a life spent without a great love is like a field that was never plowed or brought to its full potential.” I sighed as I looked over the horizon of the long, long walk ahead to visit with my two neighbors. “If you’ll excuse me, but I have a long walk ahead.”

Strangely enough, the young lady followed me down the road.

“Why do you walk?” She said with a scrupulous, and yet….almost fearful expression “Do you not have a horse?”

“I used to ride, but my body can’t take the jostling like it used to. I had to give up riding over twenty years ago.” I sighed and shook my head in amazement at remembering my last noble mount, Darkwood. “Twenty years, where’d they go….” I muttered under my breath as I continued to stroll down the dirt road.

I thought the young lady would eventually go her own way, but she still kept following me.

“How-” She stopped and seemed to contemplate her next words. “How long have you been doing this?”

I felt a laughter bubble up from my soul and insides, making me feel young again. “Ha! Hell- I’ve been doing this since I was a boy of eight years old! Like my granddaddy and daddy taught me. Farmers; plain and simple folk in the face, soul, and mind.” I deepened my voice to try to imitate my great-grandfather. “''We are the land, we are the weather, we are part of the pulse and heartbeat of the world. We caress the ground, sow the seeds of tomorrow, and like the rain; restore and care for all life! We are farmers!''”

I laughed again and felt the smallest melancholy and sniffed the moisture away from my eyes. “Course, all that hard work has paid off. Tony, my oldest son will soon inherit my lands and continue to work at making a farming mamono kingdom!”

“Ah yes. But what about the Order?” The woman replied.

I shrugged. “Even the Order knows to keep away. We grow food that even they purchase. In fact, all the neighboring lands are friendly towards us. Hell- my son even hosted the major authorities from the surrounding providences.” I shook my head. “Nope! My son and his children and his children’s children will be safe and prosper and grow.”

“I see.” The lady mused.

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We walked in silence to the Jameson’s farm. They took notice of the lovely young lady and also invited her to stay the night..

“We insist!” Mark Jameson beamed. “It’s not everyday we see new faces here! Our small portion of the land is peaceful and mellow. We like to be welcoming as we are simple!”

The lady blushed and nodded. “W-why thank you!” She exclaimed.

“Say, what is your name anyway?” Mark asked.

“Joanne.” She said, her face flushing a little.

“Welcome Joanne! Let’s have some supper, some tea, and some of the fresh fruit!”

The rest of the early autumn day passed into a gorgeous sunset and a crisp evening complete with fireflies. Joanne was told many stories of the pleasant and peaceful lives of the friendly folks who lived in the area and seemed to drink in all there was to be said.

I lay in bed, and took another long drink of cold water. The slow burn in my chest that plagued me all day eased again as I lay in the soft stillness of the night.

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Are you hurt?

I looked about the freezing landscape of my farm and noticed amidst the swirling flakes of snow….a serene face stared at me….always morphing….always shifting with the wind….but always there.

“Hurt? Just a little heartburn. My stomach can’t take biscuits and gravy like it used to.”

Don’t you want to live?

I sucked in a deep breath to try to quench the sudden stab of fear and guilt. “Well, sure...doesn’t any man want to stay young, fit, and healthy?” I shook my head as the snowflakes seemed to coalesce into a more substantial form, no longer just a face. “But it ain’t in the cards for me.”

''If you could, would you? If it could come from me?''

I tried to answer, but the blizzard surged and my vision was obscured in a gentle white backdrop.

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(later)

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As I got ready to leave in the morning, I noticed Joanne’s face carrying an expression of worry. “Maybe you should rest some more? I could probably find a local who has oxen and a wagon? I wouldn’t want you to wear yourself out.”

I waved the suggestion away. Bah! I’ve walked this route all my life. It isn’t far to my last stop. You sure you want to come along? I mean, what is a lovely young lady like you doing way out here?” I took another long drink of cold water from my waterskin. Damn, the biscuits and gravy was really going to take me to the woodshed, wasn’t it?

Joanne shrugged. “I’m just passing by. This place is beautiful, and I don’t want to rush along and not enjoy what is here.”

I nodded. “Not only beautiful, but wise too.” I said with a nod, a little surprised to see Joanne blush a deep red.

“Oh! Well, um….th-thank you!” She stammered.

I laughed again. “Ha! You flatter this old, plain looking man!” I said wistfully. “But seriously, as pretty as you are; there ought to be many a strong well-to-do man or even a hero that would gladly vie for your hand in marriage, wouldn’t you say?”

Joanne blushed even deeper and shook her head. “Well, it’s not like….I mean to say...that is….” She pinched the bridge of her nose and locked her deep violet eyes to me. “Even though there have been plenty of men like that- it doesn’t mean that they are the best!”

“Sure it does!” I countered. “They are young, handsome, fit, strong, tall, battle experience, and some would even be of noble birth!”

Joanne shook her head again, and her lips curled into a pout.

“You can’t be seriously attracted to a plain, old man like me.” I said with a grin and just knew there was a twinkle in my eye. I chuckled again as Joanne didn’t say anything, but her pout deepened and her cheeks puffed out just ever so slightly as we continued to walk down the path.

I sighed; it was good to feel like there was a lady who saw me in a different light than most ladies. But, seriously…..what could I offer her? She was at the beginning of her life, and I would not see the next spring.

Joanne didn't speak for a long time until I had to stop and rest by a cool spring and drank some more water.

“You know,” she said at last. “you could always take a mamono as a wife, her energy would revitalize you...and you would be able to see many more years, generations of family, and maybe even this farming kingdom!”

I spat out the water I had in my mouth and laughed again, thumping my chest to try to ease the heartburn. “My dear, of course I could... but only if a mamono would have me.” I shook my head. “Nope...I was passed over for the very men you described. Heroes, and those who were a higher quality male specimen than myself.”

“What- how could that be? Did you really try? Wait a second- didn’t you tell me you had sons?”

I nodded, “My brother’s children. He was the handsome one. I was just too plain-looking for a hellhound to hunt me, a devil bug to chase after, and a bit too mellow for the holstaurs you’d find around here.” I shrugged. “I got used to it, and just invested my time, effort, and energy to my nephews...but they all eventually saw me as their father.” I sighed and stood, resuming my walk. “He passed away far too young if you ask me. But such is life.”

“Oh.” Joanne muttered in a low voice as we finally arrived at the Hawthorne’s ranch.

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“John! Mary!” I cried out and handed them their gift of Prairie Fire Blossoms. “You two are looking well! Meet Joanne!”

“Welcome!” John exclaimed.

“It’s so nice to see new faces that are so neighborly!” Mary chimed in and hugged Joanne.

“Oh! Uh, he-hello!” Joanne said, her face a deep red.

“Well, come in! Come in! We are just about to get supper on the table!”

The evening passed in pleasant spirits, and at long last my heartburn stopped. We talked long after the sunset, and even after the fireflies turned in for the night on the back porch lit by a small fire in a stone-and-copper brazier.

“Gabriel, are you okay?” John asked, his face suddenly worried. “You just turned pale and grey all of a sudden.”

I stretched and yawned. “I feel a little tired. This old body can’t go on forever.” I stood and wobbled a little. “Woah! You see? I think I’ll turn in early. Good night everyone!” I smiled and was about to turn to the guest bedroom when I noticed Joanne looking at me with a worried expression.

“Are…..are you sure you are okay?” She almost whispered, her eyes shining with a bit of wetness.

“Sure I am!” I replied with a wink and made my way.

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I sighed as I laid back in the bed, blissfully thinking about the last fall I would see, wondering where I should wander off when my time drew near so Tony wouldn’t have to find my corpse in the farmhouse. I must have laid there for quite some time as I jumped from the sound of the door opening, and noticed Joanne at the doorway.

“You’re awake?” I muttered to Joanne as she slipped into the room.

“Gabriel, I….I haven’t been honest with you. Not completely.” She whispered as she padded to the bed and sat down.

I struggled to sit up. I almost felt winded as I at last got up and sat cross-legged, facing her and shrugged. “I wouldn’t say that. You haven’t been transparent with me that’s for sure. But I don’t think you have been lying to me.”

Joanne gave a wan smile and a soft chuckle. “Okay. Fair enough.” She closed her eyes and sighed and as she exhaled a pair of horns, wings, and a singular tail emerged from her body. As she opened her eyes they were burning with a bright pink fire. “This is who I really am.”

I nodded, then shrugged. “I thought you might have been a mamono. But why stick around with me?”

Joanne scooted closer. “Gabriel, please….” She whispered, “be my husband.”

I felt my insides cringe, surely this must be some kind of joke. Some sick prank.

“My lady, what I said before still stands, wouldn’t you say? There must be a multitude of men who-” I stopped as Joanne placed her fingertips to my lips.

“Gabriel! Not another word about ‘other men’, not one more!” She almost bawled out. She wiped her eyes and took a stuttering breath. “Gabriel, please. I don’t care about heroes, looks, strength, or noble birth.” She wiped her eyes again. “Gabriel. I need you! You are the one I was looking all my life for! You are….” She lowered her face and whispered. “you are a farmer….. a simple farmer, and I need you.”

“Joanne.” I said in a low voice, resisting the urge to comfort her. “I’m too old. I am going to die before the spring. I can feel it.”

Joanne shook her head. ”No, Gabriel….you are going to die tonight...very soon in fact! I can feel it. I can smell death all over you!” She locked her tear filled eyes to me. “Please! Gabriel! Say you will be my husband! I will give you my love! I will give you children! I will give you life!”

A deep and fundamental force tore at my soul. A fundamental and core need that all living beings possess. A need to have family, to be happy….to be loved.

“Joanne...I…..” All of a sudden; at that moment, I felt truely old….I felt ancient and so tired….and I suddenly knew...as she already knew….my last moments of my ninety two years of life were upon me….ninety two years….how does time go so fast?

I always thought I would face my death in a warm bed, a smile on my face, and a cup of lukewarm tea on the nightstand.

But as I looked into Joanne’s desperate eyes, seeing her plea, her love…. and that it was for me!

A sudden sharp pain tore through my chest. How I was able to remain still and with that soft smile I would never know….but Joanne knew. She cried out and touched my face and kissed my lips.

“Gabriel! Please! Don’t leave me! Please! Say you will love me!”

A flash of motion caught my attention and I saw her hands at the ready, an immense shimmer of magic rippling from them.

I nodded and felt another ripping pain in my chest and closed my eyes, just as her hands rested on my chest and seemed to grip my breaking heart with a touch that was transcendent in its love and power.

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(later)

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I exhaled and tossed the last boulder on the stone fence and smiled at the hot sun and wiped my brow.

This summer was going to be the hottest in decades, but it was paired with more rainfall than ever before! A wondrous benefit of being a mamono farming kingdom. The crops and herds yielded far more with the mamono energy everywhere.

I sighed as I strolled to my new farmhouse and smiled as I saw Joanne waiting for me with a pitcher of fresh lemonade filled to the top with ice.

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.“Darling!” She squealed as soon as she saw me. “The Arkens are coming over for supper!” She poured a glass for me and herself and sat down smiling at me. “I swear we might as well have them live here as much as they come over!”

I laughed and took a long drink of lemonade and allowed my eyes to drink in the sight before me.

A freshly tended farm and field, a freshly stained and waxed wooden porch, a newly made wooden farmhouse with stone accent, a beautiful Lilim who cast aside her regal origins to be a simple farmer’s wife, and the glorious sunset that heralded the promise of a long and fruitful summer.

“What?” Joanne asked, noticing that I just kept staring.

“Nothing, it's just that...I never thought that I would be so lucky.”

“Luck has nothing to do with it, my love.” Joanne said with a small thrill. “You were always worthy of love. Everyone with a good heart is.”

I looked at the sun and back to Joanne. “So, we’re having company for dinner, yeah? In about an hour?”

“Yes? Why, wha- Oh!” Joanne cried out as I stood and picked her up like it was nothing and carried her over my shoulder to our bed, reveling in my new found strength and vigor, like a tree that was given new life….and this was just the beginning.