To Thaw A Frozen Heart

~ chapter 3 ~

The cold water hit my face once more, but the glowing remained.

"Fuck, fuck, fuck!!!" I scrubbed harder and looked in the mirror once more. Nope. My hands found their way to the sides of the washbasin and I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, steadying my heart rate. I opened them, and saw that they had returned to their original pale green. I breathed a sigh of relief, before hearing shouts and ruckus from outside the door. I walked out to see a group of men harassing the hooded figure. I quickly made my way over.

"Gentlemen! How are we this lovely evening? No troubles, I hope? No? Wonderful - well, go have a seat and I'll be right over with more ale for you! Okay good!" I said quickly, and shooed them over to their benches.

I stood behind the bar, elbows leaning against the dirty wood, and watched them sit down. My eyes found their way once more to the hooded figure. 

"So, how's the ale treating you?" 

He glanced up at me, with an unreadable expression. 

"Fine." he grumbled, his raspy voice sending shivers down my spine.

"Ah, he speaks!" I said, trying to crack a joke. My attempt was unnoticed, or unwelcome, it seems. He simply took a sip of ale and avoided eye contact. Don't blame him, I didn't bathe today.

I stood once more and made my way down the bar, serving food and ale to whoever called on me. Hours passed, and it came the time where only the hooded figure and the group of now heavily intoxicated men remained. I was just about to usher them out when one of the men approached me, asking for another drink.

"I'm sorry, Henrik, but we're about to close! Even if we weren't, you're far too drunk anyhow." I said to him calmly. 

I walked away, but was stopped by a tugging on my wrist. He pulled me towards him and I was suddenly flush against his chest. I could hear the chuckles of his friends. Why did Stjepan have to leave for Novigrad today??? I chuckled dryly and tried to free myself from his grasp, which only made him grip my wrist more tightly, and put the other firmly on my waist, far too low for my liking. I struggled, and looked over at his now laughing mates.

"Say, 'Tea, your room's around here somewhere, ain't it?" he said quietly, moving his mouth from my ear to my neck placing wet kisses along my jaw as his hand found it's way to my ass, as gripped it firmly.

"Henrik - let go of me! Let go! Please! I don't -" I started to panic, flashbacks from a few years ago rendering me immobile, as a tear slipped down my cheek. I closed my eyes and prepared. I heard a thunk, and was released. I opened my eyes in a panic, and was met with the beautiful amber ones I had seen earlier. The hooded man had now removed his cloak, and I could see his figure clearly. I was right. He was at least 3 heads taller than  me, and boy, was he handsome. White hair hung to the top of his shoulders, the top half loosely tied back into a pony-tail. he had dark, furrowed brows, and a sharp jaw. He was magnificent, really. 

He looked at me with sad eyes before turning to face the mates of the man he had hit, ad they stood up slowly, their smirking faces now very, very serious.

"Go." Was all he said to me, and I ran to my room.

After a while, the grunts and groans has come to a halt, and the inn was silent. Then, I heard a pair of footsteps climb the stairs. I braced myself and pulled my covers over my shaking body. A knock. A knock on my door pulled me out of my trance. Slowly, I got up, telling myself what a bad idea this was, but I answered the door anyway. I was met with a face load of chest, but looked up to find the familiar gruff face of the white-haired man.

I slowly backed away, sniffling as I did so. He stepped in to the room, and held out his hand.

"I'm sorry. I don't mean to scare you, I won't hurt you" he said calmly, and for some reason, I believed him. 

"W-what is it you want?" I asked, though I'm sure the shake in my voice didn't go unnoticed. 

"I honestly just came for a bed to sleep in, I don't mean any trouble. I came to apologize to you, but I'll be on my way now." he said slowly and began to walk away.

"We-"I began, and he turned to face me. "We don't have any rooms, but I-I have a bed." I stuttered. I'm sorry? Did I just offer this man my bed? I did. I just offered this big, scary, blood stained man whom I've never met my bed to share.

"Thank you, miss..."he paused.

"Antea."

"Thank you, miss Antea, but I couldn't. Farewell." he nodded his head softly and turned away once more.

"Please." I said. "Please, don't leave. I don't wish to be alone. I shall sleep on the cot. Please." I asked. That's right Antea, BEG the man to stay. Gods, how pathetic. I internally smacked myself. 

"Hm." Is all he said, and with a nod he entered the room once more, shutting the door behind him.

This would be interesting.