It's been a few days since Eleanor met the guy from her dreams, though it was just for a little while, Eleanor couldn't get him out of her head, and when the dreams started again, she would wake up red as a tomato, knowing the guy that tickled her fantasy was real made the dreams more intense.
Another hot morning, Eleanor watched the town from the balcony of her room, she let out a long sigh, "what's wrong Elea" Anastasia asked worried for her sister, it's been awhile since their little trip into town and Eleanor seem to be different like she was keeping something from her, "nothing just a little bit tired, haven't had much sleep lately" she said looking away from Anastasia ,"why, do you still have sex dreams, " she teased and Eleanor blushed profusely "come on Elea really, I was kidding " Anastasia laughed
Eleanor wanted to tell her sister about this Darren guy that has been hunting her dreams, but telling her would me exposing the fact that he's a werewolf and that might put him in danger and for some reason thinking of him getting hurt made her heart hurt, "want to go into town again" Anastasia asked with a smirk, Eleanor looks away nervously, she hasn't had the courage to go out, even though she really really wanted to, But with Anastasia there she might feel comfortable,
"Are you guys planing on going into town" Maria asked coming out of the shadow, "Goodness Maria how long have you been there" Anastasia asked and Maria shrugged "it's the Goblet race today so most of the men in Veilas will be there" Eleanor looked at her then Anastasia, " so, why are you telling us about it" Maria looks at Eleanor " Elea understands" then she walks away " what is she taking about".
"He is real???!!!!" Anastasia screams on the carriage ride into town, after Maria almost spilled the beans she had to come clean and she felt relived that she did, but Anastasia refuse to stop asking questions, "this is so mystical, so this man, is he really a werewolf" she asked with the utmost curiosity, "N…No, of course not, that's absurd" she wasn't going to tell her that part, "shit, how disappointing, but it's a good thing, the man of your dreams is real" she said with a loud chuckle, "keep your voice down, besides we only met once, I don't know where he lives, and even the cabin he took me to, I can't remember how we got there or how I left" she said sadly and her sister have her a hug, "but you want to see him right" Eleanor looks away, she did, "don't worry, if he is a man of Veilas, there's a high chance he will be there" Anastasia said assuring Eleanor who was trying not to get her hopes up.
When the carriage arrived in town Eleanor had her eyes out the window looking carefully at the faces, The Goblet is one of the biggest celebrations that lead to the Winter solstice ball, it's a event were the men in veilas gather in Dain, which is what the town was called it it was closer to the castle and was the biggest town in Veilas,
It was a simple race to the edge of town were a golden Goblet is buried, who ever finds it and brings it back to the town gate gets a rewards from the town magistrate, but the exciting part was the Goblet promise, the lucky winner gets to pick the girl of his dreams and give her a promise, it can be a promise of marriage, protection, money anything, ladies found it romantic and even married women would crave for a goblet promise, Anastasia got one every year, Eleanor never attended, and somehow deep inside her heart she wished he was here and he'd participate and promised himself to her, but that was just a thought, one that she buried deep down in her heart.
They got a seat closer to the front stage where the men lined up, Eleanor was disturbed it's been almost two hours and the race is about to start and he was no where in sight , her sister had gone to get some street food for them, she smiled a little as she pictured her mothers face if she found out they had street food,
After a while she heard some noises, ladies giggle and whispering, she was looking around for the cause of the sudden excitement, standing among the volunteers, shirtless, with his hair in a bun and his eyes scanning the crowd, "Darren" she said in a whisper, "holy Goddess of Veilies, he is magnificent..…" Anastasia said staring at Darren then back at Eleanor who wasn't listening at all, "wait, is that him!!!!" She asked in excitement and Eleanor buried her face in embarrassment, "you know what, I'd dream about him too" she jokes but Eleanor eyes were on Darren,
She stared at his body that glowed under the sunlight, the thought of caressing his broad shoulders made her red just in time to make eye contact with Darren who lit up like a torch at the sight of her, she looks away immediately then slowly look back to meet his smiling face,
"The race will begin now" the magistrate announced, they were asked to move to the starting line but he didn't take his eyes off her, "I think he might grant you his goblet promise" Anastasia teased and Eleanor blushed, If he did how would she respond, she was scared and nervous but she was excited, she knew he would win, he knew the oaken woods more than anyone and he was after all a werewolf.
Hours later the sun was setting which meant the Goblet would be over soon, while everyone went around either socializing or enjoying them self Eleanor sat eagerly waiting for Darren to come out victorious "hello Eleanor" a familiar voice called and she turned around, seated a few seats away from her was the one person she didn't have the strength to talk to at that moment "Ethelina, how pleasant" she responded
The dark haired girl stood up and made her way towards her " news is, you're still crying
over Philip scandal" she said with a smirk "I told you he was bad for you, yet you didn't listen" Eleanor rolled her eyes "no you told me to yield him to you or you'd curse me to die at nineteen" she sigh and sat next to her "well thank Goddess you didn't if not I'd be the one humiliated right now" she said with a chuckle "please ethelina go find someone else to mentally torture" Eleanor said about to leave when she heard the horn that signaled the end of the race and also the declaration of the winner
She ran to edge, indeed, he won, his body almost covered completely in mud, his hair loose so his curls bounced as he ran towards the stage "who is that" she heard Ethelina say from behind her but her focus was on Darren who didn't take his eyes off her,
"Congratulations to uhh..." the magistrate asked "Darren" he replied "congratulations Darren of house..." he asked again "just darren your grace"
" well congratulations Darren you've won One thousand pican" the crowd cheer Louder, "and would you be declaring a promise to any young lady today or would you do that in private" the magistrate asked and the crowd went wild some ladies shouted "pick me" and the crowd cheer louder but Darren kept his eyes on Eleanor "well I'm sure she wouldn't want to be announced so it something I'd do in private" he said and the crowd groan in disappointment but bounced back in cheers as the goblet came to an end
Eleanor didn't know if he meant her, but his gaze made her feel nervous and anxious, she didn't move from where she stood, she didn't want to, what if he came looking for her, the crowd had lessen and the sun was almost gone so it's golden orange glow filled the areana "we should get going Elea, Lucian is getting impatient since he didn't win" Anastasia said "okay, I'll meet you by the carriage"
Eleanor waited till it was dark out, she was so sad, she hated that she was sad, she told her self not to get her hopes up, she barely knew him, why should she feel this way, maybe it's because of her crazy dreams, or the feeling of familiarity or the fact that she feels protected by his presence, still it didn't mean anything, with tears almost falling from her eyes Eleanor made her way out,
"Eleanor" she heard his voice behind her, no she felt him behind her and she turned, he stood a few steps away in a black shirt and a worried looks on his face almost completely out of breath "It was so hard avoiding the crowd of ladies at the gate" he said with a nervous chuckle "you're quite the ladies man sir Darren" she said cleaning the tears in her eyes "are you okay what's wrong" he said as he moved close enough to touch her cheeks that went red and hot immediately, she steps away as the sudden spark was too overwhelming, "congrats on your win sir survivor" she smiled "thanks Miss Eleanor Darington" she looks up "you know my full name" he laughs "I asked around for a while, something told you'd be here"
He has been looking for her, her heart was beating so fast that she was sure he could hear it " Miss Eleanor would you do me the greatest honor of accepting my promise" he said with his warm lips hovering around her hand, gently placing a kiss on her hand, the sensation she felt lingered even after he removed his lips, "well it would be my honor to, what would that promise be" she said barely looking him in the eyes, he held her chin softly and tilts her face toward his "I promise to protect you with everything I have, you can call upon me at any time and I'd coming runing like a hunting wolf…." She chuckled cutting his off "isn't that a bit much, we barely know each other" she said and he nodded "true, but you know as well as I do that were are connected behind that"
They stared it each other till it got so intense they had to look away, "I should be going now, thanks for the promise" she did a little bow and was about to leave but he held her sending yet another spark through her entire body "Eleanor Of the house of Darington, promise me we would see again" she turned around to meet his face, he searched hers for a respond "and why would I do that sir" she said with a smirk " cause you're as curious as I am, you what what I am, I want to know who you are…." He brought out a letter and gave her "follow the instructions and meet me at the location in two day at before twilight"
Before she could respond some people rushed in and crowded him and she was pulled aside by her sister "let's go it's been hours"
She held the letter to her chest, she wanted to see him again, she wanted to feel that spark, it the same as when he touched her in her dreams, she wanted her dreams to come true, though she would never admit her desires, one thing was for sure, in two days before twilight she would meet him again.
Pican: Veilas currency in gold
vail: Veilas currency in silver