It was perhaps good luck that Lady Sirelle had left. Lily wasn't sure how she would be able to explain the unconscious man that she found in a cave to her Mistress.
She wrung the soaked cloth to get rid of most of the water and folded it neatly and placed it on the forehead of the man. He was running a fever. Lily had managed to clean his wounds and change his clothes and sat by his bedside for the past three days trying to tame the fever.
She often times found herself staring at his face. His sharp features, thick eyelashes and pointy nose. She had the urge to run her finger along the lines of his face.
"When are you going to wake up, Mister?" she said softly.
The sound of a bell ringing filled the air. Someone was at the gate. Lily stood and made her way out the room, closing the door behind her. Once she was out, she walked down the stone stairs towards the mansion gate. Her figure appeared to float down the stairs with effortless grace until she came to stop, spotting Lord Evrin standing by the bell that hung from a tree.
"Lord Evrin," she said, slightly nervous. He wouldn't ask to come in, would he? What if he saw the unconscious man? What would he think? It would be even worse if he knew she brought him home on the night of the festival.
"Lily, there you are," he seemed to say almost relieved, "I didn't see you at the festival,"
"Uh, yes, I was, um, not feeling well," she managed to blurt out.
His forehead creased in worry, "Are you unwell?"
"No, no," she shook her hands, "I'm alright now," she blushed. Did Evrin care about her? "Thank you," she added.
He nodded, not entirely convinced. "Is Lady Sirelle here?"
"No, she left a couple of days ago,"
"She left?"
"Yeah, she does that sometimes,"
"I see," he looked in thought, "and are you alright? Being here alone, I mean,"
"Yes, well, as I said, it's not the first time. I can take care of myself," she winced. That came off too strong.
"Yes, of course. I don't doubt it," he inhaled, "I'll be off then," he turned to leave.
"Lord Evrin," she burst out. He turned his head back to her, "Th-thank you, for checking up on me,"
He smiled, "Of course. You're my friend," He waited a moment longer before turning again to leave.
Friend. She was his friend. She smiled as she watched him go, swaying side to side, waiting for his figure to disappear. Once she was sure he was gone, she squealed and jumped in place. Lord Evrin came to check up on her. He actually took the time to make sure she was alright. Did that mean he liked her? Well, probably not. He did just call her his friend. But that meant there was hope, didn't it? He had told her that it was okay to hold out for hope.
She clasped her hands together and turned. She skipped back up the stairs to the mansion with a wide smile on her face.
As she shut the door behind her and turned, a sword was pointed at her throat causing her to shriek and raise her hands in surrender.
"Where am I?" She looked beyond the sword and saw the once unconscious man, swaying unsteadily on his feet. Sweat covered his face and his body trembled with strained effort.
"Where am I!" he demanded.
"You are the Tree Mansion in Elyria. I found you in a cave in a very scary looking mountain and you've been unconscious for three days," she replied quickly.
"What age is it?" he managed to say.
"It's the Third Age of the Weavers," she squeaked.
"Third age?" he asked as his legs shook violently causing him to drop to the ground with a grunt. The sword clattered away and disappeared. He grabbed his chest with heavy breaths.
She quickly ran to his side. "You're sick. Your Spirit Root is dangerously depleted. You need to rest,"
He looked at her, "Do you even know who I am?"
"No," her doe eyes sparkled, "Should I know?"
He grinned slightly at her innocence. Maybe it was best that she didn't know. It at least gave him time to heal.
"You can call me Vale," he said.
"Vale as in strong?" she snickered, "Perhaps Bear would be a better name," she helped him up, "I'm Lily," she looked up. He was rather tall, and there was something about the way he looked at her. Like she was a meal or something. She cleared her throat, suddenly nervous. "I'll make you some soup. You need to start building up your strength," she took his arm and supported him toward the table. He reluctantly let her lead him away.
"Just Lily?" he asked as he carefully sat down.
"Just Lily," she replied.
"And what are you exactly, Lily?"
"Just a lowly flower," she stacked the abandoned reading books on the table into a pile, "although, I am the apprentice of the Lady Sirelle, the Guardian of Life,"
"And where is Lady Sirelle?"
"She left for a bit," Lily said and walked toward the kitchen.
Vale grinned. Perfect. A lowly flower and no guardian in sight. It was the perfect place to lie low for a while. It would also be very easy for him to leave. He'd kill the flower fairy if he needed to.
Lily returned with a steaming bowl and placed it in front of him. "Eat," she said.
Vale squinted his eyes. How dare she command him. If only she knew who she was talking to. She'd fall to her knees and beg for forgiveness.