Michael and Ravenna made their way to Graenwood, the town becoming visible as the sun cast pink and orange rays over the eastern horizon. Ravena grabbed Michael's hand, and they looked at the town together.
"I suppose it is time for me to secure our safe haven," Ravenna softly said, not yet ready to part with the Seraphim. She knew it would only be a short while before he would return to her; Michael was always swift about traveling to her summoning signals. But after their days of traveling together, Ravenna was growing to feel strong affection for Michael, and the thought of leaving him behind for a few hours to secure the haven was almost leaving behind part of herself.
Michael gave an encouraging smile and bent down to kiss Ravenna before she left. She cherished the moment that his lips pressed against her own and regretfully pulled away from the angel. Ravenna gathered her bag and began down the path toward Graenwood, leaving Michael behind in the trees.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Ravenna approached the Graenwood Inn at the edge of the town and did her best to hold her head high. She felt incredibly nauseous, recalling the night Peter dragged her into this building and held her hostage. Her palms felt sweaty, and she bit at her lips. Ravenna gathered up all of her courage and entered the inn. To her dismay, the same innkeeper who had unknowingly helped Peter was sitting at the front desk.
"Good morning, young miss! How may I be of service today?" The innkeeper seemed friendly toward her and did not seem to recognize Ravenna.
"Good morning, I was looking to see if you had any rooms available? I am travelling and am looking to spend the day. I am expecting a carriage this evening, so I am just looking for somewhere to rest for the day." Ravenna did her best to smile and put on a brave face.
"Of course, there is always room at the Graenwood Inn. Say, you look very familiar, have you stayed with us before?" The innkeeper had stepped closer to Ravenna and gotten a good look at her golden eyes and freckled cheeks.
If Ravenna and Michael had not discussed this possibility, she would have buckled under the pressure of this question. Ravenna smiled and heard Michael's advice in her memories. "Oh, you must have met my sister and her husband! Everyone in Canden says we look alike. They were travelling to Nerium recently, did they stop here?"
Ravenna lost herself in the small talk with the innkeeper about her imaginary sister, and the innkeeper led her to the room he had available. The man opened the door for her, and Ravenna blanched. This was the room where Peter had kept her. Any room but this.
"Excuse me, but do you happen to have one available with a view of the forest? I do love the serenity of the forests." Ravenna tried very hard not to let the innkeeper see her sweat.
"Unfortunately, dear, this is the last room available. The forest is still visible, just not a prime view. Is this still acceptable?" The innkeeper clasped his hands together, hopeful. "There is an upcoming festival in Graenwood, and many of the rooms were checked out last night."
Ravenna was trapped in her memories, remembering everything that had happened to her the night she was stolen. The way her wrists hurt. The fear. The helplessness. The panic. She had forgotten that the innkeeper was still with her, waiting for her reply.
"Miss?… Lilian?…Lilian?"
Ravenna snapped back from her thoughts. The man had called her by the name she had given him, and replying to "Lilian" had slipped her mind. "Lilian" was not something Ravenna had ever answered to.
"Oh, um, yes, this will be fine. Thank you for your hospitality. Would you like me to pay now or when I leave?" Ravenna felt the dread creeping into her heart - she did not want to return to the room, but the circumstances left her little option other than to spend the night sleeping in the forest with Michael again.
The innkeeper assured "Lilian" that she could pay for her room upon her departure and handed her the keys. Ravenna entered the rented space and locked the door behind her. She could almost taste the cloth that had been forced into her mouth. She rubbed her wrists, but there were no binds there. She sat on the bed, a luxury that had not been afforded to her the first time in this room. Ravenna took some slow, deep breaths and tried to slow her heartbeats. The room had done nothing to her; it was just a place and could not hurt her.
Ravenna found only one lantern in the room and sighed. She couldn't signal Michael with only one. She left the room and found the innkeeper, busy bustling around the lobby. "Excuse me, sir?"
"Oh! Lilian! Can I assist you?" The innkeeper was at least friendly to her.
"Yes, I was wondering if there was a second lantern I could borrow for my room? I would like a second one for extra light so I can read." Ravenna smiled widely at the man, hopeful.
"Of course. I will have it delivered to your room in a moment. Please feel free to return to your room and rest while you wait." The innkeeper bowed and hurried off to find the promised lantern.
Ravenna returned to the room, pacing the wooden floorboards as she waited for the second lantern that would allow her to summon Michael. Her impatience grew, and so did her discomfort. She knew the room could not hurt her, but the memories of being here were painful. Ravenna knew she could be comforted and feel safe again if Michael were here.
The innkeeper knocked on the door and called for his guest. "Lilian? I have the lantern you requested." Ravenna eagerly opened the door for him and passed him a silver coin for his trouble. The innkeeper thanked her, bowed, and left her to her plans of resting and reading with her extra lantern.
After she lit both lanterns, Ravenna placed both in the window, hoping the lights would be seen by the Seraphim waiting in the nearby forest. The small lanterns may be more challenging for Michael to see with the sun rising higher in the sky. Ravenna sat back on the bed, her feet swinging over the edge as she waited for Michael.