The Lost Storm

Chapter 37 - Aromatherapy

Isadora wakes up from her dream only to find that Alex is already awake...

"Of course," she rolls her eyes eyeing another dress, and goes to quickly put it on. She is positive that he is already getting prepared for the day. By the time she is done, she can hear him making more noise downstairs as if signaling to her that he is awake. When she got to the last steps, he was filling up two bowls with porridge and the fresh berries she had picked. 

"Come, eat while it is still warm," he said signaling her over. 

She went to him and grabbed both bowls for them to sit down on the couch. Again, they ate in silence. When they were done they cleaned up as usual and headed outside. Isadora followed him to help put the animals outside for the day. 

"When you are done with your steed, come help me at the patch. We must stock up before the fall," he said leaving her with Isadora.

She looked after his retreating monstrous form, "I guess he is ok," she said to the mare. The mare nodded her head as if to agree with her. Isa laughed at her friend and patted her a few more times before sighing. 

"Alright, my friend. I will see you later," she said enclosing the corral. She walks halfway through the cottage and to the side corner to find him kneeling at the patch, he wasn't wearing a tunic as the sun came out again. 

"Gods. He looks....delicious," she could not believe she admitted to it. 

But, she couldn't deny it.

"Let's go, the carrots need to be planted," he said without looking back at her.

She walked over to him and knelt. He handed her some of the seeds and she started to work.

Before they knew it, it was a bit into the early evening and Isadora wiped her forehead being done with the patch. As they cleaned their hands on spare linen, Isadora could not shake the dream she had the night before. And, before she could think...

"I had a dream last night," she blurted.

He looked at her and shot his eyebrows up, "That so? What about?"

She watched him clean his hands and then look back at her, "Well, it wasn't exactly a dream, but a message. At least, that's what she said."

"Who said?"

"Rhiannon, the Lady of Blessings."

She watched his Adam's Apple bob up and down, "What did she say?"

Isadora looked down at her hands, her fingernails had dirt beneath them.

 It comes with the job.

"To give you time," she said looking back up at him.

His face got pink and he puffed this breath, "Well, I can tell you now: I don't need any fucking time."

He was upset, now he got up and headed straight for the cottage door. 

"I need you to come back to the altar with me. The least you can do is go back. That's the ONLY thing I need," she said chasing after him, trying to catch up. 

"No," he said without looking back at her. "And, that's my final answer," now looking back at her.

Isadora stood there, watching his back trying to take his mind off the subject and distract himself with making dinner.

But, she did not. 

I will not put this in the back.

And so for one month, their routine was made. They would feed and let the animals out. Ending the day with fixing, caring, and looking for the vegetable patch.  He only made a visit to town three times, two for various things, and one to get her more clothes.