Heartsease

Chapter Eight

After Orsik selects a few vines, we start working on the bench. He shows me where to hammer the nails, and we finish quickly. I bring the vines down and wrap them around the arms and backrest of the bench. Winding them in such a way so they won't break. Guiding some of my magick through the vines to prevent them from dying out. They should last years if not decades. Happy with our work, Orsik steps back and smiles.

Suddenly I'm lifted, Orsiks hands holding my waist as he sets me on the bench. He stands in front of me, not releasing his hold on me. "I figured we should test it before Mother saw it," Orsik says. I can feel the heat of his hands through the dress he brought me to work in. I can smell the Patchouli on his clothes. There are green flecks mixed in the blue of his eyes, surrounded by a black ring. He has a scar underneath his left eye, small and faint like it's been there for years. 

My face flushes when I realize I've been staring at him, and I turn my head. Orsik reaches up and pulls my hair behind my ear, "The tips of your ears turn just as red as your face when you blush. It's cute" He says, quietly. Like if he spoke any louder this moment would cease to exist. Suddenly he pulls away, my hips growing cold when he removes his hands from my waist. He walks behind the bench and I grab onto the vines when he pushes. Flying through the air I can't help but laugh. He pushes the bench again, his laugh echoing mine. At this moment I feel free, like I don't have to think about anything. So I don't. I just laugh and kick my legs, wishing this moment would never end. 

Orsik pulls the bench to a stop and stares at me. He reaches up and pulls a flower out of my hair. Walking in front of me I can see he's holding a Dafodill. "These are everywhere now. They're all around us. Did you mean to do this?" I shake my head. "Sometimes I can't control my talent. Mother and Father told me that a person's talent feeds from emotions. Too much of one emotion can cause their talent to erupt. Mother was teaching me how to regulate it before.." I stop talking and pull the flowers out of my hair. Orsik takes them from me before I can let them fall. "Which emotion caused these? They're beautiful."

"Happiness," I say. "I felt happy. Like I didn't have to think about anything that has happened. Like I could just live in the moment without anything bothering me. Thank you." I look up at him, smiling. "I haven't felt that free since I came here." Orsik lays the flowers on the bench and pulls me into a hug. "I want you to feel that happy all the time. Around me, around my family. In this kingdom." I wrap my arms around his back and hug him. We stay like that for a few moments before he pulls back, clearing his throat. "It's late, the sun is setting. Let me walk you to your room. You must be tired, I'll have someone bring you some dinner."

I turn, heading towards the palace doors. When Orsik doesn't follow I turn around. He has the flowers back in his hand and is picking a couple more from the ground. He catches my eye and stands up, meeting me at the door. The walk to my room is full of us laughing. Him telling me a story of when he was younger, how he climbed the willow to scare his Mother. "She sat underneath me and I leaned over to frighten her, but I leaned too far and fell. I got tangled in the vines and was just hanging over her crying. She was laughing so hard that Father had to help me down instead." He shakes his head, "I never climbed back up in that tree until today." He smiles, shaking his head while laughing.

We reach my door and he turns to me. "I had a lot of fun today, Rosie. Thank you for helping me." I smile up at him, "I did as well. Anytime you need help again, come get me. If I'm not helping your Mother I will more than gladly help." And with that, he turns and leaves. I enter my room and find a note on my bed.

"Rosalind"

"My sweet girl, I am alright. Your Father did not make it but I'm sure you already knew that. Our house is safe. I am safe. For now at least. Do not be afraid of how this letter got to you. Your Father had a friend, a crow, that would deliver letters to my Mother. I sent that crow to you. I miss you. I know you're alright, I can still feel you. I will be staying with my Mother for a while until it is safe to come home. If you wish to write back, just find the crow. He will stay around until I call him back. Hand him the letter and he will find his way to me. I love you, my sweet girl. Please let me know you're doing well.

~Mother"

I drop the letter and look out my window. I see him, standing on the courtyard wall. The little crow looks towards me and nods his head. I smile, Mother's okay! She made it out. She sent to me. I nod my head to the crow and make my way toward the bed. I will have to ask Ellanora for stationery supplies when I see her tomorrow. With a smile on my face, I fall asleep.