Barely Bleeding

131 9 8
                                    

Barely Bleeding - Nothing.Nowhere 
A/N: Young Obi/Len is so adorable(:

I close my eyes tightly as my body is sent crashing into a side table. I apologized profusely to Threil, even going so far as to lie and claim I'd gone after someone I'd seen near the home, but it didn't work. I've since gone silent and am accepting the punishment he's giving me. I disobeyed him so I deserve this. Against my better judgment, I cry out as Threil grabs a handful of my hair and forces me to my feet.

"Who were you sneaking off to see?"

Does he know that man from the field? "No one, I swear Sir."

"Were you trying to run away from me? Do you not love me anymore? Am I not good enough for you?"

"That's not it at all I promise!" I squeak out as he pulls harder on my hair. "I saw a man in the yard and I wanted to protect you!"

His anger decreases slightly as his expression shifts to realization. His eyes narrow as he focuses on me again.

"What did the man look like?"

In my panic, I describe the man from the field. He releases my hair and shoves me to the ground again while cursing quietly under his breath. He must know him after all... but how?

"If you step foot outside of this cottage for any reason, I will break both of your ankles this time. Understood?"

"Y-Yes Sir."

"Take a bath then go to your room."

I get to my feet quickly and bow to him before moving to the kitchen to set a kettle of water for my bath. I return to my room to gather clean clothing to find Threil nailing wooden boards over my window. He casts a glare in my direction so I avert my gaze and hurry out of the room. I won't be able to see the moon or feel the breezes at night now. I really screwed up by leaving. I carry the kettle into the washroom and add the water to the metal basin followed by some cool water so I don't burn myself. I strip down and settle into the basin with a rag and bar of soap. As I wash up, I think back to what Obi said but pause as Threil's words pop into mind.

'I'll break both of your ankles this time'.

Obi said that Threil had broken my ankle when he supposedly saved me from him. Threil told me that I'd broken it when I tripped over a root so why did he say 'this time' as if he'd been the one to break it? Could Obi really be right? Did I try to leave Threil and it led to us meeting? If so, how did I end up here and why don't I remember it? It makes no sense. I'll put it out of my mind for now and just see what I can find out over the next few days with how Threil acts. I just hope I don't forget.

Once I'm clean, I dry off and dress in comfortable clothing and braid my hair back from my face. Threil is waiting for me in the main room when I step out. This can't be good... He looks up at me from his chair and asks if the man I saw said anything to me. I quickly lie and shake my head.

"Nothing at all, Sir."

"Are you lying to me, Elydia."

"No Sir, I would never."

He arches his brow as he stares me down, but finally dismisses me to go back to bed. I tell him goodnight and go to my room. My window is completely covered now, leaving not even a trace of moonlight or a breeze to enter my room. How depressing. I sigh and tear my gaze away before crawling into bed and covering myself up. Perhaps I can sleep off this horrible night and things will look better in the morning.

I'm in a hay field again but it's some time around midday. I can see the skirt of my grey dress billowing out from the wind. It's the beginning of the stormy season when the winds cut through the village as they bring in the clouds. Mom let me out of my last chore of taking the washing from the line so I could play with Len again. He said he would meet me here but I haven't seen him yet. I decide to kill my time by twirling in circles as the pieces of hay tickle my arms.

"You look like a princess when you do that."

I stop suddenly and the motion makes me fall from the head rush.

"You startled me!" I huff as I glare up at Len. "Regardless, how do you know what a princess looks like? You've never seen one."

"No, but you've read me books about them and you're just as beautiful, if not more-so than any boring regular princess could be." He grins.

"You're so full of it." I sigh as he flops down beside me.

"Well, get used to it Els, because I'm going to marry you someday. Mark my words."

"Oh, really?" I snicker. "My Mom wants to marry me off into nobility and I heard that your mother wants you to marry up as well."

"My Mom has given up on that possibility I think. Lately she's taken to telling me that I'm going to grow up to be a listless good-for-nothing if I don't straighten up."

"She might be on to something." I laugh and he nudges me. "You haven't exactly taken well to labor or skills. That doesn't leave much for you to do when you get older beyond criminal work."

"Shame on you for agreeing with my Mom."

"Are we wrong?"

"Not entirely." He shrugs. "Especially when I'm already a master of thievery."

"What do you mean?"

"It won't fit you yet, but this ring has been in my family for forever and it's going to be mine within a few years anyway. I told you I'm going to marry you someday so until I can do it for real, I want you to have it." 

A/N: Parts in italics are either thoughts or dreams, given the context(:

Mercy *Obi x OC* (COMPLETE)Where stories live. Discover now