Daughter of Ice and Fire

Thirty-Eight

A soft wind rustled the leaves, sending several spiraling to the ground. Patches of bright orange, red, and yellow could be seen dotting the surrounding trees and the breeze held a slight edge to hit, promising colder weather soon. Lihleih shivered slightly, not cold but not exactly warm either. She stifled the urge to move, not wanting to alert anyone or anything to her presence.

Her perch, a large branch well above the ground, offered an almost perfect hiding spot. She had scouted the area for days, looking for just the right place to wait for her target. This had been the best she could find. It wasn't quite as high as she wanted but was angled in such a way that unless someone looked straight up, they would never see her. Unfortunately, there was always the chance she would end up revealing her presence when she took her shot, but that was a risk she had to take. No other suitable spot had presented itself. The King was hunting deer today, and according to Gauthier, he preferred the challenge of stalking them through the trees. That meant she had to be close with a clear shot unobstructed by branches. She had made do with what she had and tried not to worry. That, unfortunately, was proving extremely difficult.

Her hands were becoming slick with sweat, and she quickly slid them down the legs of her trousers, keeping her movements to a minimum. She'd been given a pair of brown leggings with a dark green and brown tunic. Soft leather boots covered her feet, and a cloak was thrown back over her shoulders, the hood drawn over her head. As long as she remained still, she was almost invisible. Even a squirrel hadn't realized she was there, scampering over the one leg stretched out in front of her.

Her back was beginning to ache, and she shifted slightly. She had been perched up here for hours. Gauthier had said he couldn't be exactly sure when the party would pass through, although he reassured her several times they would definitely take this path. It was one of the King's favorites. Not because of the beautiful surroundings but because it was easily traveled, especially with a large group. While King Vesterfahl might like the challenge of hunting in the forest, he abhorred doing it on foot. Staying astride the horse allowed him to chase down prey much more easily. And it subtly reminded his guests who and what he was.

The first hunting party of the season was cause for a grand celebration and the King, a heavy drinker to begin with, usually outdid himself. As did his guests. Since Gauthier had no idea when the King would actually leave the lodge, Lihleih had decided to be safe and settled in her perch early. She had skipped the Morning Meal, only taking a small amount of water as she didn't want to have to climb down to relieve herself. The peace and quiet of the forest calmed her, giving her time to consider what she would do after she accomplished her task. Providing she survived.

Continuing to wait, she thought back over the past week, the feelings bittersweet. She didn't regret the choices she had made but she couldn't help but wonder what might have happened if she had chosen differently.

After leaving Averit on the log, she stumbled back inside the cabin, crawling into bed and crying her eyes out. She had no idea what she would say if he appeared but couldn't help herself. She had spent months suppressing her grief, focusing on just surviving, and now that the dam had broken, she was overwhelmed. Curling into a ball, she cried until she fell asleep. When she woke, she cried again until there were no more tears left.

Hauling herself out of bed, she peeked into the front room, relieved Averit wasn't there. Creeping out, she searched and when she didn't find him, slumped in a chair and stared broodingly at the empty hearth. The place felt empty without him and despite her anger at what he had done, deep down, she already missed him.

Shaking her head and chiding herself, she forced herself into the kitchen, searching for something to heat water with. Lighting a fire in the hearth, she filled a large pot from the little well she found outside. Dumping the heated water in the tub, she continued until she had filled it more than halfway. Stripping, she sunk into it, leaning her head against the rim and closing her eyes, her thoughts a whirlwind.