A Court of Scars and Shadows

One Step Forward, Three Steps Back

Gwyn groaned as she threw the twentieth book she read to the floor. Nothing. She was at the River Estate, looking at the books there to see if there was anything to help Tamlin.

Lennan lifted her head from her own stacks of book and gave Gwyn an amused look. She had come to help Gwyn out.

"You would think, twenty books about curses would have something on how to help Tamlin," Gwyn complained. Time was running out, Tamlin would have six months at best, with the rate the curse is spreading. Rhysand had asked his healer, Madja, to look at Tamlin, but she had concluded nothing.

"It's ok, we will find something. Maybe we should take a break," Lennan suggested and Gwyn shook her head.

"We've already wasted valuable time. Anytime off would mean less time to help me."

"I understand, but maybe if we were to take a break and come back later, we might find something."

Gwyn just glared at her, the idea wasn't bad, but for the whole week, when she wasn't doing something to help out Tamlin, she felt guilty. She nodded slowly and rose from her seat. Lennan smirked, as if she knew she could get through Gwyn, and also rose from her seat.

"Where are we going?"

"Somewhere I found in my time here," Lennan paused before asking, "Do you trust me?"

Gwyn tentatively nodded her head. It was almost two weeks since Gwyn talked to Lennan, the two of them had gotten back into their usually rhythm. She was still nervous when she neared Lennan, whenever they had physical contact -- holding hands or sometimes hugging -- Gwyn always found herself thinking about Azriel. How it would be to hold hands with him, hug him.

She was still disturbed by her thoughts about Azriel, she didn't know what they meant. nor would she tell him what conflicted her. She still felt something for Lennan, but it was as if the Shadowsinger grasped her heart and imprinted on her, not willing to let go from her mind.

She hadn't talked to him since that night, every time she found herself in a room with him, he would leave. As if he was avoiding her. She hid the hurt that ran through her when he did it every time. He had her wondering what she had done wrong. It felt as if it was one step forward and three steps back with them.

Lennan was taking them behind the River Estate, pass the garden and into the trees. They kept walking and Gwyn found herself mesmerized by the different shades of green. She heard water running in the distance and it was like the River Nymph in her sighed. Soon enough Lennan stood in front of stream of water.

"I found it when I wanted some place to read," Lennan explained, her hazel eyes relaxed. Gwyn just kept taking in the scenery around her. "There's more." Lennan walked left of the stream, and after a few minutes, the stream connected to a decent size pond. "It's nothing compared to the cliff, but I thought this could be our place here." Gwyn turned to face Lennan, to find her flustered. Her dark skin coated in the light blush.

"I love it," Gwyn said and Lennan's shoulders shagged in relief. Gwyn walked up to her and held her hand. She felt a pang of guilt as she didn't feel the normal fluttering in her stomach.

Tell her, a logical part of Gwyn said. If only it was that easily. She took off her shoes with her free hand and felt the energy of the land wash over her. Tamlin had told her that being barefoot allowed for better access to her Spring powers.

The ground near Gwyn sprouted with flowers and Lennan looked at her with surprise.

"I didn't know you could that."

Gwyn shrugged as she let go of Lennan's hand, "It's nothing really." She walked towards the water and walked in slowly till her ankles where covered in the water. She swayed to the light breeze, but she didn't dare sing or hum. She didn't feel ready for that.