Winter Shadows of the Vale

𝖈𝖑𝖎𝖒𝖆𝖈𝖙𝖊𝖗𝖎𝖈

𝖈𝖑𝖎𝖒𝖆𝖈𝖙𝖊𝖗𝖎𝖈 (𝖓) 𝖆 𝖈𝖗𝖎𝖙𝖎𝖈𝖆𝖑 𝖕𝖊𝖗𝖎𝖔𝖉 𝖔𝖗 𝖊𝖛𝖊𝖓𝖙

Dear Diary,

It's been going great since I got injured. I don't feel the pain anymore except for a few wrong hits to my thigh. Duran refused to let me do anything, which I suppose I understand the factor of making sure it does not worsen, but it got annoying after awhile. I appreciate his caring, but he didn't let me move or anything unless to use the bathroom or wash up.

Thank all the Gods that it basically all healed. He can't use my pain as an excuse to keep me sitting because I hardly feel it. I knew from the moment I felt the knife enter my leg, the muscle moving around it, that it was going to scar. It's not the prettiest to look at, and since the blade was jagged and my leg moved so much, the line was all over the place. It oddly looks like someone tried to spread butter on a piece of bread rather quickly.

I mentioned it, but I do appreciate all he's done for me. I don't know if I'll ever be able to repay him. He's been starting to open up to me more and more and I couldn't be more happy about that. He's not one to talk about his family, so I stopped asking about it. He can tell me when he wants too, or not at all. I owe him that at least.

- - - - - - - - - -

"Winter, are you done yet?"

The woman scoffs, "I'm coming. Let me finish dressing! That stew did not like my stomach."

Duran laughs and shakes his head. Witz moves around for a moment, waiting for Winter to come back so he can get an apple as payment.

Seconds later she's coming out of the woods, fixing the last movement of her dress, "Ready?"

Witz trots over and she chuckles, "You're becoming spoiled, aren't you?"

He answers with a neigh, takes the apple and eats it quickly, and waits for Winter to get up on him, "Why don't you ride today, Duran."

He looks surprised, "Why? My stride is longer than yours."

She frowns, "I feel bad, you're always walking on the floor. I'm perfectly fine now! My leg doesn't hurt! I can walk!"

Duran smiles, "Winter, even if your leg was in pristine condition, I wouldn't want you to walk on the ground."

Her eyebrow raises, "Why?"

He sighs and grabs her waist an hoists her up onto Witz, with a little bending on the horse's part. She squeaks, "What?"

He smiles up to her and grabs Witz's reins and pulls his friend along. It's a long silence, "I think it's my turn to ask some questions."

Her head turns to him, a surprised look on his face, "Really? Okay."

Duran thinks for a moment, "Let's start easy, shall we?"

Winter nods and waits, "Apples by themselves or into a pie?"

She laughs at the odd question, "By themselves."

"Flowers or sweets?"

"Both?"

He chuckles, "Fair."