Caelum made his way to their room, his thoughts on Elara. He knew she would be curious about his extended absence and the acquisitions he had made.
As Caelum entered the room, the sight that greeted him was unexpected and heart-wrenching. Elara, wrapped in a towel that barely covered her modesty, sat on the edge of the bed, her body shaking with silent sobs. The bags of supplies he carried dropped from his hands, forgotten, as he quickly closed the distance between them. His arms instinctively wrapped around her, offering comfort in the only way he knew.
"What happened? Did someone hurt you?" Caelum asked, his voice laced with concern and a hint of fear. The thought of someone causing her harm ignited a protective fury within him.
Elara shook her head against his chest, her tears soaking into his shirt. "After the bath, I realized I didn't even have spare clothes. My home burned, my family died, and I don't even have a single thing that will remind me of them," she confessed, her voice breaking with the weight of her loss.
Caelum's heart clenched at her words, a surge of empathy washing over him. He understood loss all too well, the hollow void it left behind.
Caelum held Elara close, her sobs resonating in the quiet room. Her words struck a chord deep within him, evoking Caelum's own painful memories. They may not have been his own family, but their memories were now part of him, merged with Eclipse's consciousness. He remembered his father, mother, and sister – the last one's fate being the most harrowing, defiled and killed before Caelum's eyes. Those visions, both Caelum's and Eclipse's, haunted him, a relentless reminder of the cruelty and fragility of life.
Caelum soothed Elara as he gently rubbed her back, his touch conveying a quiet strength. He had no words to offer, no comforting phrases that could undo her loss or fill the void left by her family's death. He simply held her, letting his presence and the steady beat of his heart calm her sobs.
After a while, when her tears subsided, and her breathing steadied, Caelum spoke softly, "I brought some clothes for you."
Elara, her eyes still glistening with tears, looked up at him. A faint smile appeared on her face, a sign of gratitude for his thoughtfulness. She stood up, wiping her eyes, and approached the bags he had brought. Curiosity replaced her sorrow as she began to rummage through them.
Her expression brightened as she found the dress and the tunic. She held them up, examining them with a keen eye. "These are beautiful, Caelum. Thank you," she said, her voice carrying a hint of her returning spirit.
But as she delved deeper into the bags, her cheeks turned a shade of crimson. She pulled out a pair of panties and a bra, her eyes wide in shock. She turned to Caelum, her blush deepening. "How did you know my size?" she asked, her voice a mix of embarrassment and curiosity.
Caelum, maintaining a neutral expression, replied, "A trick I learned. The neck size usually matches the waist size." He avoided mentioning the demonstration with Lily, knowing it might lead to misunderstandings.
Elara's eyes narrowed slightly, her gaze flitting between the undergarments and Caelum. "Really? That's... interesting," she said, her tone laced with disbelief and a hint of amusement. She held the panties against her neck, checking the fit, and to her surprise, they matched perfectly.
Her amusement turned into laughter, a light, carefree sound that filled the room. "I can't believe this worked," she said, shaking her head in disbelief.
Caelum watched her, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. Her laughter was a welcome sound, a brief respite from the heaviness that often surrounded them.
Elara, still holding the undergarments, glanced at Caelum. "You have an eye for these things," she teased, a playful glint in her eyes.
Caelum shrugged, his demeanor nonchalant. "I just picked what seemed right. I'm glad they fit."
Elara set the clothes aside and approached Caelum, her expression turning serious. "Thank you, Caelum. Not just for the clothes, but for being here. For listening."
Caelum nodded, his gaze meeting hers. "We have a long journey ahead. We need to be prepared, in every way."
"I'm ready to continue our quest," Elara declared, her voice firm. "Tomorrow, we start fresh."
Caelum nodded in agreement. "We'll gather information on the northern mines and the Whispering Forest first thing in the morning."
As they prepared for bed, the atmosphere in the room shifted, becoming more relaxed and comfortable. After Caelum had cleaned up and donned clean clothes, the night in Lighthaven drew in, wrapping the inn in a blanket of tranquility. The room they shared, once a source of awkwardness, now felt like a refuge from the uncertainties that lay outside its walls. The bed, large and inviting, stood as the final hurdle of the day.
Elara, her resolve firm despite the emotional turmoil she had experienced, slipped into the bed without a word. Caelum followed suit, his movements measured, aware of the delicate balance their shared space required. They lay back to back at first, each lost in their own thoughts.
The silence in the room was not uncomfortable but rather a companion to their shared understanding. The events of the day, from the confrontation in the inn's common room to their shopping excursion, had drawn them into an unspoken alliance, one forged by mutual respect and a shared goal.
As the night deepened, their initial rigidity gave way to a natural ease. Slowly, almost imperceptibly, they shifted positions, now lying face to face. In the dim light filtering through the window, their eyes met, speaking volumes without a single word uttered.
Caelum, aware of the invisible line that lay between them, hesitated before speaking. "Elara," he began, his voice a low rumble in the quiet room. "If this is uncomfortable for you, I can..."
Elara cut him off, a soft smile on her lips. "It's fine, Caelum. I... I trust you." Her words, simple yet laden with meaning, hung in the air between them.
Caelum nodded, accepting her trust with a gravity that spoke of his own unvoiced promises. He knew the weight of trust, having seen both its strength and fragility in his past life. "Thank you," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.
The moment lingered, a silent acknowledgment of their growing bond. Then, almost instinctively, Elara shifted closer, her body seeking the warmth and comfort of his presence. Caelum's arms opened, welcoming her into his embrace. It was an innocent gesture, born of a need for human connection rather than desire.
As Elara settled into his hold, her breaths syncing with his, the tension of the day ebbed away. Caelum felt a sense of protectiveness wash over him, a need to shield her from the harshness of their world. Yet, he knew she was not just a damsel in need of saving; she was a partner, capable and strong.
The room fell into a comfortable silence, broken only by the soft rustling of the sheets and their synchronized breathing. Caelum's mind, always racing with strategies and plans, found a rare moment of peace. Elara, her fears and sorrows momentarily at bay, allowed herself to be enveloped in the safety of his embrace.