Darkness carved in bone

Chapter 26

Helen

Ten kept holding her hand as they walked over the now torch lit courtyard and made their way to the hall where the feast was held. The bell in the clocktower still chimed and beckoned them to join in on the celebration. As soon as they entered the front doors a faint smell of alcohol and warmth hit them, accompanied by the sound of laughter, conversation and music.

They walked across a dark hallway that led to the dancing hall hand in hand, and Helen noticed how Ten seemed to tense up as he studied the layout, noting every exit and door trough the hallway. She nudged his arm gently, and gave him a sweet smile, beckoning him to calm himself and enjoy himself instead.

Ten looked down at her and gave her a knowing smile in return as his eyes filled with light.

They walked through the double doors that led to the dancehall and saw what had to be at least a hundred people dancing, laughing and talking in the grand hall. The hall was relatively sparsely decorated. Aside from the heavy red curtains hanging besides the windows, the only decorations were garlands made from pine branches, winding up every column and hanging in chains across the walls. The green was a lovely contrast between the red curtains, and the golden glow that was emitted from the candles burning in crude chandeliers from the ceiling, and from the torches on the walls. The silver moonlight that shone through the windows bathed the hall in pale light, that together with the golden light and the decorations made the hall feel festive.

They paused at the entrance, and it suddenly felt like everyone was looking at them, making Helen's heart gallop in her chest. She tried to reason with herself, knowing there were perhaps only a couple of curios eyes that had glanced over them as they entered, but it did not calm her. It felt as if everyone could see that they were frauds, and that everyone could spot Ten's darkness. She felt instinctively protective of him, almost wanting to step in front of him and protect him and shield him from their curious glances.

This time Ten nudged her hand and gave her a reassuring smile. No one knew what he was, no one suspected anything, his eyes told her.

Helen took a deep breath, and the decorations made her nose fill up with the smell of pine, reminding her of the forest which calmed Helens fast beating heart. It felt like that breath of air cleared her sight, letting her see the people and the hall for real now, not through her frightened eyes.

And what she saw was beautiful and warm. It was families, love and kindness. She let her heart be filled with those feelings as she looked up at Ten and inhaled once more, smelling him and the warmth of the room.

Ten gave her a bright smile when he saw that she relaxed. Without a word he pulled her with him to a table with barrels of ale and poured them both a mug of the liquid that smelled sweetly.

She took it and clonked her mug to his as they both took a small sip.

Helen's thoughts went to the last time they had been drinking together, in the cabin. They had been drinking and playing cards for truths. Those memories brought a smile to her lips.

Ten saw her smile and asked, "What are you smiling about?" His expression enquiring and warm.

"I am just thinking about the last time we drank together," she lifted a brow slightly, "and that made me smile."

Ten let out a small chuckle and looked at the group of people who were dancing before he glanced back to her, "You were kind of infuriating when you kept on pushing me to think a tad more closely on my life and my choices," he lifted his mug of ale to her and added, "but there is nothing like a bit of alcohol to get me talking I guess." There was humor in his voice as he spoke, but also a hint of something else that almost sounded of bitterness. Why would there be bitterness in his voice because of that?