Perranth With You

12

"Alright, Elide, just lay down and relax. Let your whole body fall into peace and your mind steady... no unclench your hands, Elide. A-And your toes. Okay, um... can you help?"

Elide heard a shuffle and a sigh from the corner of the room, and not a moment later a thumb stroked over her tightly shut eyes, now gently closed, then between her brows, over her forehead, his hands gliding through her hair, down her neck and massaging her shoulders. Running down her arms then reaching her hands and unfolding her tense fingers from her palm.

Another shuffle and the hands re-appeared on her thighs and met bare skin where her light house-dress ended.

She thought she heard a grunt but decided to dismiss it.

The hands smoothed over her skin and again, massaged her bare feet until her whole body was light.

The silence in the room enveloped her. Although she already missed those hands, the quiet was loud enough to drown out her mind.

Keep it steady.

A light breeze wafted through the room, gliding over her sensitive skin, making goosebumps appear. A window must be open. She opened her mouth to ask for it to be closed but something stopped sound from exiting her mouth.

The silence grew louder, there was no noise from either of the people in the room with her. She felt herself tense up again but another gust of gentle wind made her relax; it was somehow comforting.

Another few minutes passed but yet there was still no noise. Deciding she was getting restless and obviously nothing was happening, she decided to open her eyes. Perhaps it wasn't working?

Light invaded her eyes and she rapidly blinked them open. It took her a moment to recover and assess her surroundings... and when she did her heart dropped.

---

"Is it working?" Lorcan asked, he was fidgeting with his fingers, but at a slightly disturbed glance from Yrene's one slightly-open eye, he stopped.

"Yes, it is," Yrenes light voice sounded, her eyes now closed as she sat kneeled down on a cushion by Elides side. "She almost immediately began as soon as you sent that wave over her. That was clever, it's helped her twice so far."

He couldn't help but feel glad he helped in some way. He needed to do something to help or he'd never forgive himself.

"But I only sent it over her once?" He asked slightly confused.

He'd sent a pulse of his magic through her mind to help her relax. He knew she was familiar with his power from all the times it has helped with her limp, but how could it have helped twice?

"Her mind obviously caught onto it being a sense of comfort so it sent it again as an emotional wave instead of a physical one. She can feel it but it's not actually real."

He just nodded in acknowledgement... even though he did not understand.

"So, how does this work? Does she... fight her demons or something, because she's looking fairly calm and I don't think that's how you're supposed to be when you're fighting demon-"

"Lorcan. Please stop talking."

"Right."

Silence encased the room again. His shuffling must have been frustrating because not long after Yrene huffed and threw him out of the room.

Now he was aimlessly wandering the halls, attempting to listen to any movement or sound from the quiet room.

"My lord."

He was so focused on the room above him, he never noticed the servant standing timidly infront of him.

After Lorcan didn't answer, the young boy shuffled on his feet and wrung his hands under his scrutinizing gaze as he said, "There's someone at the door for you."

The boy attempted a polite smile, but when the Fae remained silent he continued. "It's the Crechen witch, My Lord."

A sigh echoed behind him.

"Now, now dear boy, that's not my proper title. Do it as we rehearsed."

The clicking of boots sounded through the manor halls as the white-haired witch made her way -as if she owned the place- towards the Lord of Perranth.

"M-My apologies. My Lord, The Queen of the Witches."

Manon tutted. "Much better," she drawled with an arrogant smirk. The servant gratefully scurried away. "I must admit I'm surprised you're not fussing over your wife. You do know she's unconscious on your bed don't you?"

Well he would be if Yrene didn't ki-

"She kicked you out didn't she." The amusement was evident in her voice. Nevermind the full-blown grin over-taking her slim face.

His avoidance of the question obviously answered it for her. But as soon as her entertained look graced her face, it vanished.

"The wine. You know something about it." Her question threw him off guard. She must have caught it on his face as she pushed- "Tell me."

He inhaled sharply, about to open his mouth, then decided against it.

He began to walk away.

---

Manon.

He just walked away.

Territorial Fae Bastard- How dare he.

I began to follow but as soon as he heard my footsteps he paused and looked over his shoulder. "Wait here."

The first words he's spoken to me since my arrival and it's... wait here.

The little shit.

So I waited, like the good dog I am- fuck no i didn't wait, is he serious?

Of course I followed, who does he think I am?

I followed him through the halls, past the meeting rooms and studies, drawing rooms and dining rooms until we reached the cloak room.

What is he going to show me? His newest coat collection? If that's what I was interested in I'd have gone to Aelin.

Instead of giving me a show like I'd hoped, he instead reached inside his black cloak (amusingly similar to Aelins) and pulled out a piece of paper.

It was wrinkled and stained, obviously folded over and over; as if he looked at it too many times.

After a moment of just looking at the paper, he slowly handed it to me.

And after unfolding it, I looked up surprised and confused, as on the paper was written two simple words.

The winery.