The Lost Storm

Chapter 36 - Time

"Come here," Alex said to Isadora as he came inside the cottage for a break.

Isa was confused and hesitant about how he ordered her about, but she got up from the couch and went to him anyway. She stopped in front of him and stood staring deep into his mystical eyes, he did not show any emotion.

"Hold up your hands," he said taking her dagger out. She held her hands up in a sour mood, just staring at him, and he worked the dagger into the ropes finally releasing her. 

"Try to run away, and you will not find your way out of the forest," he explained throwing the rope into a corner. 

"Ok...," she said with attitude.

"Great. Let's keep your mind busy. I need help with the animals and the vegetable patch," he made his way out the door without even looking back to make sure she was following him. 

She is.

I can hear her.

Sense her.

He walked into the barn, where the back door was open letting all the animals take shelter from the sun but still enclosed by the main barn door. He held it open for her to let her in, she came in and —

"Hadassah!"

She was so excited to see her friend, she completely forgot about him. Putting her arms around her friend, Isadora smiled when her mare kept munching on her hay.

"You have kept her safe and sound. Thank you", she said turning back to him.

"You can thank me by helping me with them, and the chores around the cottage," he said grabbing a wooden bucket and a shovel. "I need to do yard work, pick some berries for tomorrow morning, would you? The basket is in the house." With that, he turned and went back to his patch.

Isa spent a few more minutes with the mare and talked to her before she left to retrieve the basket. 

It was easy for her to just do the chores around the house, or anything he asked her to do really. She did not expect the place to be so peaceful and homie, warm at night. Like something from out of a book. 

When the day came to an end, he made them herbed potatoes with turkey. Sitting in silence was an understatement, the crickets stopped chirping from how quiet it was. Once they were done, he grabbed all of the dishes and set them in the bin, "You may sleep upstairs from now on. I will sleep down here."

"But, that is not my bed. I do not mean to intervene in your home," she explained confused and startled as to why he would make that decision for her.

"'Tis done, a Princess should not be sleeping on a couch," he said without looking at her but looking up as if to not lose his temper.

She stood her ground, "No. That is your bed and I will not remove you from it, good sir."

"'TIS DONE!" he said forcefully while looking at her. Then he looked down, "I am sorry. Just...please, take the bed. You should not be sleeping here. Is not right. Lay my conscious to rest, and take the bed," he pleaded with his eyes.

She looked down at her hands, then back up at him holding her chin up high, "Fine. I will take the bed, My Lord."

In a heartbeat, he was in front of her with his face in hers and his hand on her jaw, she wasn't scared of anyone anymore but this brought her hair on end. 

"Do. Not. Call me by that. I fled that fucking place for a reason and I am ok with you being here, but do not patronize me," he said slightly shaking her. He was not rough with her, which surprised her, but it did tingle her skin. Where he touched her.