The Elven Curse

Chapter 6

It was harder than he thought.

He spent all night thinking what he would say once he saw someone, he was already very awkward with people inside the palace, and they were people who he knew since he was a child. How was he supposed to meet a stranger?

He already had the three duvets joined with knots, his hands were white from tightening them with all the strength he had. The linked duvets were about 6 meters long, he still needed other three or four to finally have a secure length from which he could go down 15 meters.

He was on his way to the stock room, which was below his dorm's floor. He walked staring at his naked feet, he hated wearing shoes, they hurt when they touched his skin with the rough material, even more when his plants had been cut off.

"Aerin?"

He froze for a moment, thinking it was his mother who he'd been avoiding successfully for two days. He was relieved when he saw Ethuil staring at him, hiding his body behind a pillar while just half of his head was visible.

Ethuil was staring at him with big doe eyes, his messy curly black hair falling over his shoulders. He was a rebellious kid and made his mother's life impossible, but she wasn't exactly very responsible to begin with , she normally left him for hours or sometimes even days alone at their assigned room, with him being too small to reach for food.

For some reason, Ethuil looked at Aerin as a motherly figure, every time he saw him he would try to run towards him and take his hand or hug his leg. Since Ethuil's 8th birthday he always ran away to sneak inside Aerin's room to cuddle and touch the flowers on his neck.

He wasn't a very talkative boy according to most people, but with Aerin, he talked so much that the older boy had developed a deaf ear and just hummed as if he was actually listening.

Aerin had been worried about the excuse he would give to get 3 more duvets, they would think he was sick and that meant being supervised, he couldn't have that.

Suddenly, his eyes brightened as he saw Ethuil looking at him, he smiled and Ethuil flinched, backing a few steps as he saw Aerin's creepy grin.

***

"I need them for my pillow fort", Ethuil looked at the woman with big teary eyes, she was definitely having trouble resisting the kid's puppy eyes, which he'd learned from Aerin.

Aerin felt proud of the results from his manipulation teachings, he had taught Ethuil how to get what he wants, and right now he felt like a proud mother.

"I told you I can't give them to you... what if someone gets sick and needs them, they're only for important occasions?", she said almost pleading him to stop.

"But it's really important", he pouted, "I've seen you take wine and cigarettes and hide then under your skirt, that is reserved for the royal family". Ethuil said with fake tears rolling down his cheeks, the threat falling easily from his tongue.

Aerin who was hiding with his ear pressed against the door smiled and almost failed to suppressed a snort.

He heard the loud gasp that escaped from the woman'd lips and the quick fumbling of the woman looking for extra duvets. She definitely didn't underestimate the threat of a child, even more when the child was crying and very upset.

He knew she gave the duvets to Ethuil when he heard him say a soft "thank you ma'am".

She didn't see the devious smile plastered on the kid's face as she closed the doors rapidly.

"I got them", Ethuil said with a proud smile looking at Aerin for a praise.

"You're such a good boy", he said while taking the duvets from Ethuil's arms, who was now flustered and looking the other way, trying to hide his red face.

"I promise to braid your hair this afternoon" he said ruffling the kid's face.

"Can't you do it at night?", Ethuil looked at him pleadingly,"I hate being at my mom's dorm, specially at night. She makes me sleep inside the closet, and she's always making weird noises in the bedroom with her boyfriend".

Aerin frowned.

"I'm sorry", he looked at Ethuil with a sad smile, "I have to do something tonight".

"I promise tomorrow you can stay and have a sleepover".

That seemed to work as Ethuil ran and disappeared through the corridors while giving excited squeaks.

Aerin went back to his room and tied the other three duvet with the ones that were ready. He tightened knots and tested  its strength until he was sure it was safe.

At this rate, he would be ready by nightfall.