Maiden Wreath

Part 13

Morning came way faster than I had hoped for, I heard the cock call out two times, which was that bird's maximum capacity of singing, only to think it was still early. I grunted out the injustice hunting me, felt warmth coming from somewhere near and curled myself up against it before falling back asleep.

Next time I woke up hours later, still against something warm and I was clad for it. I didn't open my eyes to know the sun was now beaming through the small crannies in the wall, but it hadn't warmed up the inside of the loft yet.

I heard Erika turn herself and taking in a good breath, before continuing her sleep and figured it couldn't be too late of the day. Then I felt a roughly edged calm breathing across my hair and realized finally what had kept me warm all night and that made me curl up even more against Dalek, even so I managed to wake him up.

"Morning." He whispered dreamily and wedged himself slightly apart, probably realizing he was still holding my hand he had hooked in his to prevent me from moving away.

"Magnus will sure kill you now." I joked, disliking the cold air that passed through between us.

He grinned, brushing over his eyes. "He came at dawn to wake you," he said, "he was surprised I was still alive."

"Alright, let's just drop this killing thing – otherwise it might seem like we're planning something against you." I pulled myself away and stretched my aching muscles as long as the space allowed.

He turned his eyes back on me and I felt my heart jump seeing them in pure light, all glazing and shiny, accompanied with his perfect crooked smile. "You're not?"

"No!" I muttered, loosing my thought in those wonderful silver grey deep seas. "You know, I've told you all my secrets and you didn't even have to drench me with mead." I moved on fast. I still feared I might harm him during the night, but the pain in my wrist bones indicated he'd found the solution to that. Not quite to my liking, had to note him to slightly loosen his grip in the future, but it was still better than asking my father to make chains on my wedding bed.

He let out a low laughter. "I've noticed."

"But even up to this point I know little about you." I continued sadly. It was true I had shown him my deepest fears not really thinking twice if what I did benefited me or not. But he was still a mystery to me.

"What have you learned about me then?" he teased, collectedly as if fearing his free attitude mere jiff before had revealed too much.

My eyes widened - he looked mild, but his voice sounded as interrogating a spy!

I felt cheated. Instead of an answer I turned my back on him and curled myself up under my flower blanket. How dared he? I had revealed all what I hid inside and he had taken it without questions while giving me nothing.

Except this endless pity he felt about me and at people living here. Truth be told – I did not like it. It was the same with my brother – they like knew something more than we did and they judged us accordingly, lowering us. They acted as if we weren't part of them anymore nor had they any relations left here. I didn't know if other families with the returned sons had the same spirit among them. Perhaps it was normal, but this started to pug me.

"That bad, huh?" He pushed himself up and waited chopping some straws he then sent flying over my heap.

"No!" I denied and turned to face him. "It's not that." I beckoned him to lie back next to me so I wouldn't have to blat it out for everybody to hear. "I just feel like" I continued when he took his place, "you keep me guessing all the time– you and Magnus – and what you say to others..." I shrugged. "Like, why are we in such hurry to be wed? If I didn't know better, I'd think because you wish to sail away right after it. And when Magnus grew silent at the dinner table at Great Hall – right after I mentioned a probability of him having a wife?" I let out a sigh. "Before you said you felt like no one knew you here anymore, as if there was someone out there that do..."