I shooed away the crowd from him. He needed to rest...with me.
" Alright, alright..the show is over for now. You may all come back tomorrow. " - I stepped beside him and took his arm. " He is still tired.. right?? "
"..R-right."
I took him by the arm and led away from the adoring crowds touching him all over. Damn snakes..
I can't take my eyes for one second, can I?
I walked him toward our group and handed him to our daughter. " Ilianna, take your father home..don't let others near him."
She grabbed his hand from me and pulled him with a little difficulty. Zephyr, shoot me looks, but I won't hear it.. go rest and let me plan our future in peace.
I went ahead and talked to some of the Zephyr students.
They were an enthusiastic lot even before his display, needless to say, they were more than happy to start chopping wood for our house immediately. They kept calling me Lady Astoria..by Ehlite, it felt good.
I can't wait to make it official once he asks me. Soon, they ran off to gather others. I went back to Eli and Demelza, who were waiting for me.
" Well done..Lady Astoria." - Demelza shoved me a little with a nice smile.
" Stop it.. even if he asks me, we can't get married until winter."
" You say that, but your smile really gives away how you actually feel." - she poked my face playfully.
True, I cursed that silly tradition. I wished we could marry tomorrow. Four months seemed like a very far away time now.. a lot can and will happen in the meantime.
We started to walk home, and I asked Demelza for her house keys.
Which she gave after a few short bursts of giggles. My sister looked at me with a shocked and embarrassed red face. But smiled happily for me at the end.
I guess, for her It must've looked like an imposter has taken over her introverted big sister.
Inside our house, I saw Zephyr soothing our daughter by patting her back gently. She had fallen asleep. She must've been still tired.
I went over and checked on her peaceful expression and removed her messy black hair from her mouth.
I would've offered to take her, but Zephyr looked so peaceful holding her. I stole a quick kiss and went to help my mother with work.
Occasionally, I saw men bringing chopped long wood and placing them neatly next to the field. I guess Alexander was right. With help, it will be done soon.
After Ilianna woke up, Zephyr took her and Arnold down the river to play. Lucian and Liz husband Norman, who was kept home by Liz, for the same reason Lucian was , and their baby went with them.
I was glad Liz and I became closer recently.
I guess me changing with a relationship and daughter really did close the distance I created for years.
" My Norman can't stop talking about what happened yesterday. I must've heard the story like 30 times since last night. " - she was putting some clean sheets into a basket and bumped me with her hips.
" He believes Zephyr one day will rule these lands."
My Zephyr had no interest in such a thing. How absurd.
I just went on gathering our clothes from the line and heard more absurdity.
" He is not alone your husband Liz. My Alex also believes, and from what I can tell, Lucian too."
" He sure does.. he kept me up all night with his damn dreams.- Eli reaffirmed her word while picking through a flower basket. " I had pushed him out of the house it was almost dawn."
Okay, so it might not be a single mans stupidity.
I swear, I take care of them soon enough. They are planning dangerous things without even asking him? And more importantly, without asking me?
That's a big No-No.
I didn't stop with the folding. " It doesn't matter.. at the end, Zephyr decides what he will do."
" He would never do anything without your say so..." - I heard Demelza's voice. " It's pretty clear you have him on the palm of your hand."
I enjoyed those words. She is right.. we will decide what happens next. It made me feel better about the unknown future.
In the early afternoon after feeding him and my daughter with..others cooking. Alexander and the others returned. They made record timing.
" Emet body is gone, brother. " - he emptied his glass. " Not even bloodstain remains."
He explained and looked grateful as Demelza put some food in front of him.
" We were practically flying up that mountain. One good thing .." - he pointed outside hearing the sounds. " We brought back the animals. They mostly stayed inside the pen."
Oh, we are getting Helin back. She was our cow for years.
" What do you think, Zephyr?"
Norman asked him about his thoughts.
" Oh.. I don't care, to be honest. Is there a chance it survived? " - he checked with the man who was there. " I was out, so I didn't see."
" Trust me, little brother...he is dead. Crushed in a nightmarish way."Alex stopped eating as he remembered. " I don't believe anything in this world survived a fall like that."
Zephyr went back to eating ." Alright then, ..sounds like whatever happened at the very least. He won't return and attack our people. I'm glad it's the end."
See? He is not intrigued or interested even. He put his family first always.
" Problem is son...word will soon spread. It can't be helped. We have a village as near as 10 miles..." - granny interjected. " Maybe some already knows."
" What is that mean, granny?"
" It means sweetheart.." - she turned to me with a long sigh. " That those still live in fear are finally see a light. There's a blessed among them. There will be people asking for his help. It's inevitable." - she looked outside the window off to the distance.
" Divine beasts, don't live very near each other, but I believe at least one village will request his help soon enough. "
It already started. I felt the fear, I pushed at the back of my mind creeping forward.
Zephyr grabbed my hands. " Don't worry, my beloved. I'm not running off for some monster hunt." - he lifted and kissed them both.
" Zephyr...look me into the eyes and tell me. "squeezed his hand and asked seriously. " Will you turn all those away begging you to save their sons and husband their fathers or brothers?"
He can't.. his silence was all the conformation needed.
How could he? If I ask him not to go.. I can't.
I didn't want him or myself to live with that kind of guilt.
" Don't look so depressed.. it might happen, it might not. For now, let's just enjoy the peace you earned us, son. " - she smiled proudly and even got teary-eyed.
" Generation of man now rest in peace, knowing their descendant will not have to live in some monsters shadow. Not to mention, all those children today, including your daughter, will have a better life."
Despite all my worries, I felt great pride. I slipped in his lap and enjoyed his arm around my waist.
" She is right. Let's celebrate tonight. - I snuggled in comfortably. " What do you think?"
He played with my hair. I could tell he was thinking something deeply.
He grabbed me not so gently and kissed me.
I felt something poking me and smiled in his mouth. He wanted me. Maybe as much I wanted him.
" Let's celebrate something else as well.."
" What my love?"
He looked at me with such love I could practically drown in it.
" Lylly Wold... will you marry me? "