Chapter 112:
Return to Peaceful Days
With the guards nearing approach on their horses, the mismatched group of elves and a single human traversed down the hidden path, Maeir trailing slightly behind Clarence and Silas, who had been running side by side, tracking Jasmine and the elderly woman as they ran, their path dipping and diving at random, making it difficult to keep up with them.
If it were not for Jasmine helping lead the older woman, it was obvious she could have easily lost them. However, it seemed that she was more interested in helping the woman than losing the small group. Whatever her intentions, Silas followed behind her closely, using their trail to evade the palace's knights like snakes in the grass.
"How far should we go?" Clarence asked as the pair ran, Maeir only a short distance behind them.
Silas shook his head, panting, "As far as we need to. These guards won't stop until they've found us." He paused for a moment, adding, "We just have to keep moving."
After only a short distance ahead, Jasmine stopped in front of a bundle of bushes, her figure bent at the waist as she moved aside leaves and dirt, exposing a small hole leading downwards. As Silas and Clarence approached, they were able to see what the hole led to.
There was a hidden trench in the ground, covered by a thick layer of moss and foliage, disguised by a heavy fallen tree that made the area nearly unusable for most humans. Jasmine navigated the small area, leading the eldest woman in first with practiced movements before she turned up to the small group and said, "If I let you hide here with us, you owe me." She pointed to her chest with her thumb, her tone heavy.
"That's not a problem." Clarence said, his eyes on the hidden area. "I'll do anything. Please let my friends and I through."
Silas's eyes widened at the mention of "friends", as did Jasmine's, but she looked over the three with a quick eye before she quietly sighed and said with a frown. "Fine, get in."
Hearing her words, Clarence slid down the dirt slope first, followed by Silas and Maeir, who had finally caught up to the pair, leaving Jasmine to slide down last. She adjusted the foliage around the trench and hid the group in the deep mud, her body leaning against the wall of moist dirt as her gaze fixed on the small slits exposing the light of the outside.
Hearing the guards approaching their hiding space, the group fell silent, each of them holding their breaths quietly as they stared up through the narrow holes in the foliage, the shadows camouflaging their figures from view.
Their hearts were beating, their breaths mingling in the sound of the wind brushing the newly-grown plants around the top of the trench. Silas looked towards Maeir, her face paled another degree as she stared up at the top of the trench.
"Captain Laurent, do you smell anything strange here?" A knight spoke aloud, making Silas and Maeir's body run cold. Holding the dagger Maeir had given him in the Yursinean palace, Silas stared up at the narrow slit of light, the moonlight spilling into the area in weak gleams. His hands were cool and clammy, his eyes wet with tears as he squinted, praying to the Gods that they would be overlooked.
Please, not now. Please let us go. Silas thought to himself, his eyes fixed above as Maeir held the handle of her sword, her expression taut as she waited for movement from above, the light from above sparkling in her dark eyes. They could hear the steps of the soldiers searching the area, their horses stomping heavily against the ground, causing loose pieces of sediment to sprinkle down below towards the hiding figures.
There was a moment of silence, the five figures hidden below only accompanied by the sound of silence. After a moment of tension, there was a voice that spoke aloud, quiet, just barely audible in the deep trench.
"This area is clear." Captain Beau Laurent spoke, his tone low and concentrated, as if he had spoken carefully.
The sound of armor clattering rang out aloud. "Are there any elven scents in this area, Captain Laurent?" A lower voice spoke, full of gravely, aged tones. His words were full of questions, as if he were questioning Beau.
Silas listened closely as he heard Beau respond. "The smell leads north west. They most likely went this way to throw us off their trail." There was a short pause before Captain Laurent continued, "They're not here."
Another knight stepped forward, speaking aloud to the group of gathered knights. "They must be headed to the Faelfier Kingdom. We need to hurry to the border before we lose them!"
"Group one, continue north and search this area. Group two, follow Captain Laurent closely. There is a change that the fugitives may be escaping to the border, so be alert!"
"Yes, sir!" The knights shouted, quickly following the man's orders as they scattered, looking for any trace of the small group as they hid right below their noses, covered in dirt. The sounds of stomping lessened as the guards cut down the nearby foliage, shifting through bushes and other items not far from the hidden trench. Following the northern trail, the group continued to cut forward with hurried steps, leaving the area after nearly half an hour of thorough searching.
After waiting nearly twenty additional minutes for the guards to pass, Maeir was the first to use her mana, searching around the immediate area before she grabbed onto some firmer roots that had dug deep into the dirt and lifted herself up. Using the wet dirt as leverage, she lifted her body up the roots and climbed out of the trench skillfully, her body moving fast and agilely, surprising Clarence and the two women below.
"Silas, help the women up." Maeir said as she cleared a small window in the trench, her face visible between the leaves. "I'll lift you out."
The first to leave the trench was Aunt Josephine. With her aged body, it was difficult for her to move like Maeir had. Jasmine carefully kneeled down into the dirt, her clothes caked with mud as she used her knee to lift the older woman up. While Jasmine herself looked small, she was able to skillfully lift the older woman with her arms, slowly lifting the woman up as Maeir grabbed Aunt Josephine's arms, lifting her out of the hole with ease.
"I'll go next." Silas said to Jasmine, who had looked at the two men with a flat expression, nearly expecting Clarence to step forward to be lifted. Instead, Silas was first, not wanting Maeir to stand alone with the two strangers.
Silas lifted himself out of the hole, following the method Maeir had used and climbed out of the hole with a little difficulty. His body was still weak from malnutrition, making him take a moment longer to lift his body weight up using his arm strength. Once he was high enough, Maeir grabbed his arm and pulled him out, her expression relieved.
Once Silas was lifted out, Jasmine was next. While Clarence lifted a hand to support her, she artfully ignored his hand and scaled the wall of dirt like a spider. In only a few short moments, she was standing straight up, dusting the dirt off of her hands as she stared down at Clarence, her gaze containing some contempt as she asked Silas and Maeir, "Should we leave him down there?"
"Jasmine!" Aunt Josephine said aloud, admonishing her niece with a displeased tone, bending her knees to reach down towards the trench to help the young prince up herself. "Come here, honey. Let me help you up."
"It'd probably do him some good." Maeir muttered, barely audible.
After a few attempts to catch his footing, Clarence finally caught his foot onto some of the larger tree roots. Using the roots like a ladder, he hoisted his body up slowly and carefully, taking his time to make sure he did not slide, knowing most of the group would leave him behind if he were to fall again. Though his suit was tight and form fitting, Clarence did not struggle to move in the article of clothing and managed to climb the wet mud with little difficulty. His body, however, was covered in heavy, damp mud from head to toe, making him appear like a content pig on a farm.
"Where should we go now?" Clarence turned to the two women, his eyes falling on Jasmine in particular as he spoke, knowing the woman had no choice but to help him now due to Aunt Josephine's insistence.
"Follow me." Jasmine said, her arm wrapped around the elder woman's elbow, as if supporting the woman as she walked. "Our home is not far from there. We can talk there."
Maeir grabbed Silas's shoulder, gently patting it with a small nod of her head, as if saying, "If anything happens, you escape first."
Silas looked forward and nodded, Clarence walking slightly ahead with his muddied figure, looking somewhat displeased at the wet sensation the clothes had on his skin.
…
A thin layer of trust had been established between Jasmine's group and Silas's, allowing the two pairs to walk together without much trouble. Clarence quietly spoke to the elder woman attached to Jasmine's arm, her words full of soft, motherly words, "I remember when you were as tall as my hip. My, look how tall and handsome you've become!" Her face was beaming with pride, as if it were her own son.
"I really missed you and Uncle Jonathan, the farm, and all the animals." Clarence smiled, speaking sweetly in a voice Silas could not help but balk at, feeling as though the prince truly did have two faces. "After I returned to the palace, I never got the chance to thank you for saving me. I guess now is a better time than any." He turned towards the woman and thanked her sincerely, "Thank you, Aunt Josephine."
Aunt Josephine's wrinkled face was full of smiles, "You're such a sweet young man. When we get back, I'll make you all a big bowl of soup. You liked my pumpkin soup the best."
"Aunt Josephine, where's Uncle Jonathan?" Clarence asked, his eyes looking towards Josephine with some concern.
Jasmine turned to look at Clarence, her face full of a disapproving frown. There was an awkward pause before Aunt Josephine responded with a bitter smile, "Jonathan passed away two years ago from an illness."
Clarence lowered his head, "I'm sorry, I-"
Before Clarence could finish speaking, Jasmine stopped suddenly and announced, "We're here."
Stopping abruptly, the group found themselves in front of a small stone farmhouse. The thatch roof was thick with packed hay, and the brick structure was solidly built, standing tall with few cracks in the grey foundation. The windows had been shutted shut with rickety wooden planks, and while the fence around the property was dilapidated, the animals behind it lingered leisurely, staring up at the new people outside of their home for only a moment before they continued to graze on the grass outside.
Stepping forward, Josephine opened the door to her home and said with a small smile, "It's not much, but please come in."
Hearing her words, Jasmine was the first to step forward and walk inside, standing in the doorway as she gestured for the group to follow her inside. "Hurry up. It's not safe outside."
With a small nod, Maeir led Silas and Clarence to the door before the pair entered, leaving her to follow last behind the old woman, closing the rickety wood door behind them with a muffled slam. Using a wooden block, Josephine placed it across the doorframe, holding the door shut from the inside with the heavy piece of wood.
The inside of the home was not much different from what Clarence remembered, but now, there was an additional room attached to the main living area. With the dim lighting of the candle inside the closed room, they could see various wicker baskets of food and other items for the past winter. While the room was not large, it was too dark to see everything inside.
"The guards already searched this area, so you'll be safe for now." Jasmine said as she unknotted the tight braids of bright red hair at the sides of her head, running her fingers through her wavy hair. "Why don't you three wash up? The water's not warm, but I suppose you could warm it with that mana of yours."
Silas waved his hand. "Cold water's just fine. Where's the well?"
Josephine stood up, her knees cracking as she abruptly stood from her small wooden stool and said, "It's just outside the house to the right, by the fire wood." Her smile was warm as she said, "I'll prepare some rags for you to wash with and get some new clothes. My husband's clothes should fit you both."
"Thank you, really." Silas said with a bow, appreciating the hospitality the elder woman showed them.
Maeir nodded her head. "You wash first. I'll wait here." She looked towards Clarence, her eyes falling on his disheveled clothes as she added, "You should get rid of those soon while you're at it. They're too eye-catching this far into the countryside."
"I can burn them." Jasmine said. "If there's any trace of them left, the guards could track you all. It's better that way anyway. Aunt Josephine, can you grab him some clothes?"
While Clarence switched his old clothing, Silas stepped outside and walked to the well, taking a shirt and pants that Josephine had prepared with him. While the clothes smelled of dust, they were clean and well made, most likely sewn by Josephine herself many years ago.
Using the well towards the far edge of the wooded property, Silas grabbed bucket by bucket of water, using the first bucket to wipe down his body completely with the rag he had borrowed from Josephine. He stood barefoot in his pants, his torso bare as he wiped down his back the best he could with the rag, barely able to reach his upper shoulders. Cold water dripped down his back from the rag, producing goosebumps on his arms and torso. He shivered, retracting his hand as he shook off the excess water from his limbs, the goosebumps remaining prominent on his pale skin.
Hearing movement from the side, Silas looked up to see Clarence, who had meandered over with a shy expression, looking as if he were a school child caught peeking at something he should not have. "What are you doing skulking around like that?" He raised his brow, looking at Clarence with a frown. "If you're going to wash, do it then."
Clarence was now wearing the clothes from Uncle Jonathan, his wrists sticking out of the loose shirt slightly, exposing his thin inner wrists. His tan skin was lighter there, but there were traces of bruising there with random splotches of dirt, most likely from where he had attempted to climb out of the trench. His face was relatively clean, but the heavy fatigue of the day weighed on him, shadowing his under eyes with red rims.
Clarence looked reluctant to step forward towards the well, but Silas understood his meaning. Splashing the last of the water over his head, he threw the bucket back down into the well, the rope still attached to the wood bucket. Water droplets fell from his bare chest and down his back, dripping onto his old pants. Silas ignored the water and pulled the rope again, sending another fresh bucket of water up until it reached the rim of the stone well.
"Here, you can use it." Silas patted the bucket as he stepped back, retrieving his new shirt to put on. The prince could only nod, his eyes moving towards Silas's figure, who had begun to put his clothes back on.
Ignoring the bucket, Clarence stared forward, feeling his eyes unable to look away from the elf. The man's back was thin, full of bruises and healing scars that were red and inflamed. The wounds were now clean, however, and the dried blood no longer lingered on the surface of his skin, exposing the ivory tone underneath. Removing his pants, Silas stood in his undershorts as he placed his past trousers aside, putting on the new pants with ease. He slipped his covered feet into the loosened pants and covered his bottom, hiding it from Clarence's view as he tied the rope waist belt tight.
Staring away, Clarence grabbed a handful of water and splashed his face, attempting to hide the redness dying his ears. Hearing only the sound of water splashing, Silas kept his gaze forward, finishing dressing before he walked inside.
Once the washing was done, there was the discussion of beds. With the small cottage, there were no formal beds, only hay mattresses and quilts in the small side room. Having slept most of his life on hay beds, Silas was not perturbed, but Clarence stared at the bed with a questioning look, as if wondering if it were a bed or an intricately stuffed rug. There was one large hay bed set against the wall to the right side of the room, most likely shared by both Jasmine and Josephine, as they could not afford to make another.
"We've slept enough, so feel free to use the bed." Jasmine said, her eyes staring out at the sky that had begun to brighten. "We have to feed the animals, so we'll step out while you rest. I think you all need it."
Having never slept on the ground in his life, the prince felt aggrieved. He stared at the bed, and then Silas again, feeling a bit relieved that at least he would not be suffering alone.
"You two should rest. I'll wake you up when it's time to go." Maeir patted her son's head, seeing the fatigue finally catching up with him. The dark circles under his eyes had only darkened, making his pale face appear gaunt under the dim lighting of the small cottage. He looked fragile, worrying his old mother. "I'll help feed the animals. It's the least I can do."
After the chores were dealt, the three women stepped out together, leaving Clarence and Silas to decide the bed arrangements.
Silas stared down at Clarence with a hint of contempt. "You take the inner part of the bed. I still don't trust you not to kill me yet."
Clarence glared at Silas and laughed low, "You think you can push me around, you stupid little-" Hearing the words wanting to leave his mouth, Clarence caught himself before he paused, sighing aloud with an embarrassed expression, knowing he would not win. "Fine, I'll take the inside of the bed."
The bed was large enough for Clarence to have to crawl across the blanket to the other side, finding himself stuck tightly against the wall as he lifted the blanket and covered himself up to the chin, hiding like a child. Silas stared at Clarence for only a moment before he moved to the side of the bed and blew out the small candle illuminating the small room, lifting the edge of the blanket as he laid down, letting out a quiet sigh as his back touched the soft hay mattress. With his hair scattered across the pillow, Silas closed his eyes, laying flat on his back like a statue as he began to fall asleep.
No more cold stone floor. Silas was content with having a warm place to sleep.
No more soft, plush mattress. Clarence stared up at the ceiling, feeling unaccustomed to the life changes he was experiencing.
Clarence laid with his back against the wall, facing Silas as he stared at the elf, wondering if the elf would truly fall asleep without saying another word. To his surprise, Silas slept quickly, and his breathing soon evened out.
Meanwhile, her hands full of cracked corn, Maeir stood, thinking to herself. Maeir stared at the horizon with a pensive frown. I wonder if Silas's sleeping habits ever improved.
Unknowingly, Clarence was in for an uncomfortable night.
...
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Posted initially from mobile. Apologies for the delay, as I am now back from vacation!!
Hi all! Last chapter before the special! Pretty much killed my stockpile but meh, the break was nice 👌 And Silas's sleeping habits are inspired by my own. No one wants to share a bed with me 😂 Can't wait for that!
Though, I will say it was lovely to get a call from extended family that my dad horrifically died (he did not) at 12am Thursday. We went to bed in shock, woke up trying to find details before we found him at work that afternoon (we're not close). That leaves a special "fuck you" to Kathy, you insufferable twat. Lying like that, evil as all hell.
Wishing you all a better week than ours. Much love ❤️ and happy 2 year anniversary next week! Wishing Kathy a very "special" week 😊