LOVE IN THE SHADOWS OF TIME l LINGORM

CHAPTER 4

 The sun rose high above the village of Aveloria, casting golden rays that filtered through the trees, dappling the ground with light and shadow. It was a day that promised warmth and joy, but for LingLing, the brightness felt like a mockery of her growing anxiety. She had woken early, anticipation bubbling within her as she thought of her meeting with Orm at their favorite spot by the lake. Yet as the morning stretched into afternoon, that anticipation twisted into worry.

 LingLing paced the small cottage she had come to know as home nervously, her heart racing with a mix of hope and dread. Each tick of the clock echoed in the quiet space, amplifying her fears.  Her thoughts a whirlwind of guilt and worry --- she had promised to meet Orm by the lake , but the incidents in the forest had kept her away.

What if Orm hadn't come? What if something had happened? She stopped by the window, peering outside as if willing Orm to appear. 

 What if something happened to her?" LingLing muttered, the thought creeping into her mind like a shadow. She remembered the incident with the vile men—dark figures that had threatened her newfound family, leaving her shaken. What if Orm had encountered them too? The very idea twisted in her gut, causing a wave of nausea. 

 Determined to push away the worry, LingLing dressed quickly, donning her loose shirt and trousers. She grabbed her cloak and headed out into the bustling village, hoping to find some solace in her work. The villagers greeted her warmly, their faces becoming familiar over the past few weeks, but the hollowness in her heart remained. 

 As she helped Aon and Pohn in their fields, the gossip of the village began to swirl around her. Whispers echoed among the workers about a brave traveler who had defended the village's daughters from a band of vile men. LingLing's stomach tightened at the mention of the incident.

 Later that day, while taking a break, she overheard two villagers discussing the details. 

 "Did you hear? an elderly woman murmured to her companion nearby." That brave traveler ----- she fought those men single--- handedly".

"Another chimed in, "Aye, word is spreading even to the neighboring towns. They say she's a hero!" A true blessing to our village."

 LingLing's heart sank as she realized how quickly her actions had become a tale of valor, spreading like wildfire. She hadn't done it for glory but out of instinct and necessity. Yet the thought of Orm hearing these stories made her uneasy. Would Orm see her as a reckless hero, or would she understand the fear that had driven her? 

 As dusk settled over Aveloria, LingLing found herself wandering to their usual meeting spot by the lake, her heart racing at the thought of finally seeing Orm again. But as she scanned the shore, her heart sank. Orm was nowhere to be seen. LingLing's shoulders slumped, disappointment washing over her like a cold wave. "I should have gone to find her sooner," she whispered, chastising herself.  LingLing sat on the grassy bank, the beauty of the surroundings a stark contrast to the turmoil within her. 

 Meanwhile, Orm sat on a sun-dappled porch on the opposite end of the village, her fingers idly weaving another crown of wildflowers, a skill she had honed during lazy afternoons by the lake. But now, the crown she crafted felt incomplete, much like her day without LingLing. She glanced around, hoping to catch a glimpse of her friend, but the porch remained empty.

 "Where are you, LingLing?" Orm whispered, frustration bubbling just beneath the surface. The laughter they had shared felt like a distant memory, and the absence of her friend gnawed at her. LingLing's spirit was infectious; her determination and strength brought something out in Orm that she hadn't recognized before. Each shared moment felt like a thread weaving them closer, and now that they were apart, Orm felt the threads beginning to fray.