In time, the rain stopped.
I left for the fields and gathered what I could. My mind wasn't there. I kept mixing in useless weeds and even some that can actually harm a person if ingested.
Why am I so preoccupied with what they are doing?
I kept imagining them returning hand in hand, laughing, and it hurt my heart. Damn it..
I never should've talked to Granny. Now, she made me feel these annoying feelings that didn't even exist this morning.
I was so lost in my own thoughts that time slipped by me. I couldn't gather a lot of useful stuff.. but I didn't care. I hurried home to see if they returned.
In the house were only those I left.
" You seem pale, Lylly. Are you ok? " - Demelza turned to me.
" I'm ok Demelza..just hungry. Did Eleanor return yet, mom?" - I walked past them and headed closer in.
I sat down and picked up an apple and took a bite. It felt like swallowing tree bark. My stomach refused food.
" She did. She is inside your grandmother. " - mother was busy with dinner but nodded towards the inside. " Go help them, they taking account on supplies they need from the city."
I slowly went inside, expecting them together with granny. But he was not here.
" Hey Lylly, is there anything you want from Malai? We are doing the summer trip with some of Granny's council friends." - Eleanor turned to me without any indication where the man she left with.
" It's still weeks away but, I rather have the things you need first on the top of the list. Bare in mind our budget is..not great. We probably won't go again until early winter."
I wanted a bunch things my coin purse was light, though.
I wanted to go with them. I always enjoyed the life and energy of that city. First thing first..
" How come your back? Did you find Ilianna?" - I stepped further inside and tried my be nonchalant expression.
I couldn't come out and just ask, where the hell is he? Can I?
Eli seemed supper upset for a second. She saw through my cleverly worded question?
" We did... she refused to come near us until I left! " - she squirmed and punished the bag of innocent calendula. " He is with her probably, he promised her some lessons. I can't believe she didn't let me stay!!"
I felt a relief that made me ashamed. I need to go and check upon them.
".. Where are you going, Lylly?" - I heard Eleanor voice, stopped in my tracks.
I almost left without a word.
" I'm going to check on Ilianna. You must've frightened her." - I pointed towards the outside. " I left your work outside the house. Go sort through them, will you?"
Then, I left without hearing her reply.
I ran past some people who looked at with strange eyes. Me running wasn't that big surprise, right?
Why do I run?
I did stop halfway panting. Stamina was not one of my strong points. I walked the rest to Alexander house.
Once closer enough, I heard the noises from afar, the clashing sounds swords made. Is he fighting?
I went around the back and saw two boys from this morning sparing in the middle of the field. Doing their best imitations of actual fighting, now I don't know a lot about swordsmanship, but this looked pitiful.
Where are they?
" Lylly?"
I turned to my side, and there they were.
Ilianna clinging to his neck seems sleeping with a blanket around her. Her hair is still damp from the rain.
She looked so peaceful, though, safe.
" H-hey... I heard what happened from Eli. " - I did my best to wipe the sweat off from the earlier run and hid my eagerness. " She is distrustful.. but not with you, huh? You two seem close already. "
I went closer to them and gently caressed her back, careful not to rob her from this moment.
He smiled happily and rested his head on hers. There it was.. his real smile.
" I don't know why, but she seems to trust me. I need to be careful not to break it." - he looked up with more life in his eyes than I saw since he woke up.
'She might with our help change his heart.'
My granny's words rang in my ears. He only met her a few hours ago. Yet he so clearly cares already.
Remembering his wounds, maybe it's a blessing he doesn't remember. He must've had a terrible childhood. Maybe even a terribly hard life as a whole...so why not stay?
Why not at least try? Reach.
" Then maybe.. you shouldn't.. Maybe you should just stay.." - I kept my hand on her back and tried my best to sound impartial. " At least until she is better, you promised her lessons, no? "
He looked straight into my eyes with an unreadable expression. Then I looked at little Ilianna sleeping face. He looked so long, and too deep in thought, I was afraid he would just say no...
Before he could answer, though, Eli arrived with her friends.
" I see you're able to bring her out of that cursed forest. Good for you." - she went closer, panting a little herself.
For Ehlite, couldn't they just wait 10 more seconds?
I got up and felt my face burning.
" Yes, she is a very shy little lady. " - he adjusted her a little and turned to my sister. " I'm sorry, I never would've thought she might ask you to leave."
" Please don't worry. She just needs time. One day, we will be close, I hope. She shook her head and couldn't decide whether to touch the sleeping girl or not. " You two look adorable together."
" Thank you, Eleanor. I'm sure you will be close soon. "
Debatable.. although now that I think, Eli had more interaction with her than me.
I do believe, though, that this little girls unconditional love might be just what he needs to heal his mind.
" We heard this morning little fight with Jartok. - a plain looking brunette, one of her friends changed the subject. " Is it true you almost killed him with a single kick?"
She spoke inflated nonsense.
Even if he obviously came out on top at the end. From someone seeing the entire incident no matter how you look at it, it was the other way around, right?
" No, that's not..it's not what happened." - he looked confused with a hint of annoyance.
He looked at me, and this time, I understood him perfectly.
I told Eli and her little friends what actually happened.
" I can't believe he almost killed you..." - they were quick to condemn Alexander after hearing the story from me. "...but, sounds like you put him in his place."
The two laughed like seagulls. It hurt my ear.
Eleanor has been giving me the evil eye..it didn't let it bother me.
I will fight..in my own way.
When I saw him smiling, he held that little girl gently. Back then, I already decided to at least give granny's words a try and see where fate will lead if I fight.
It was sudden. Maybe not so sudden, after all.. I did watch him since he woke up.
Granny words just forced me to confront these hidden feelings of wanting to know more about him. Helped dissolve my doubts stemming from my bad experiences with man.
"..hmm.."
Ilianna woke up from those creatures laughing.
She rubbed her face into Zephyr and closed her eyes again.
She felt protected once smelled him and smiled. It was such a change to her morning expression from earlier, like two totally different little girls.
" Hey.. you can just go back to sleep, honey...I'm sorry we woke you."
She looked at me and stiffened under my gaze, but once Zephyr met hers, she relaxed again. She still looked somewhat distrustful, but ...
" Hmm.. okay." - her voice was shy but not hostile at least.
" Hmmm.."
I felt happier than should've, and the look on Eli and her friends face was priceless.
" Ilianna...she is my friend and granddaughter of my benefactor.. " - he gained her attention, and she ended up looking right at me after his explanation.
" Her name is Lylly like the flower."
" Nice to officially meet you, Ilianna. " - I offered my hand unsure if she would take it.
" Hmm.." - she shook my finger a little.
She hid back into Zephyr's chest and pulled the blanket over.
She must've done something under the blanket because Zephyr laughed out loud out of nowhere and lifted her up in the air, blanket, and all.
He spined slowly with her having quite some fun and hearing that little girl laugh stopped even the idiots fight.
This scene looked so peaceful.. like a father playing with her daughter.
Alexander came over and tried his best to make her laugh or just amuse her a little. It soon turned into a silly tournament of the four trainee and their master making various faces and beating each other up.
It was a tranquil scene.
" You seem to have changed your attitude towards him, big sister. What happened?"
Eli walked beside me and smiled at the scene as she talked.
" You know what happened Eli you most likely asked for every second of it since we left." - I enjoyed her puffed up cheeks. " My my, you seem annoyed. Perhaps children are just not your thing. Or is it the man that holds them?"
I pretended to think hard and pushed her over.
" What is this? Are you really interested in him now? - she kept her voice down but touched my elbow to make a look. " ..and the kid didn't look in love with you either if my eyes didn't cheat me."
I didn't wanna upset her that much.. and she did have a point. She made her interest clear from the moment we found him. But does that mean she automatically won?
I looked at the wholesome scene in front of us.
" Who wouldn't be interested, Eleanor?"
She looked at Zephyr as well. I felt a sense of relief now that it's clear and out in the open.
" I suppose you were right, Eli...our boring days truly came to an end."