The Gift of Dreams

chapter VIII

"Where are you hurt?" Rowan grabbed Eloise's hands and searched for some unknown injuries, turning over both palms.

"I'm fine. I promise I'm not hurt." Eloise promised him but he didn't seem to hear her. The hiss she let out as she tried to move her legs did not help with her case. Both of their eyes narrowed down onto her left leg where a deep gash had ripped her dress, blood soaking the edges.

"It amazes me how you can lie." Rowan responded, tentatively moving the fabric that had ripped so he could take a better look at the wound. It was right below her knee, just where she had felt the sting moments ago. Before Eloise could respond, Rowan's head snapped towards the entrance of the small cave that they had taken refuge in. The strained look on his face set her on edge as she, too, listened in to hear whatever had caught his attention.

I think we're okay, for now. But perhaps we should talk quietly in the meanwhile. Rowan spoke to her, and even through telepathy he was whispering. As if unspoken words could lead to their capture and demise.

"What exactly happened? What were you doing when you first found the troll?" Rowan asked her so softly that she had to focus all her thought onto his words.

Eloise was silent for a moment, wondering if it was wise to tell him the events leading up to her being chased. "I wanted to get out." She admitted. Rowan's eyebrows furrowed in confusion, a silent gesture for her to continue. "I wanted to leave, I didn't want to be inside all day. So I wandered into the forest, that's when I found a pond. To be honest, I wasn't even doing anything. I was just sitting there."

Eloise didn't mention the deer, although she wasn't sure why. It's not as if it were a secret, but somehow it felt like one. Like some unspoken connection passed through her and the animal, and that it was much too intimate to share with anyone else.

Rowan must have sensed her hesitation as well because he prodded her for more information. "So you went all the way to Blackfriar Pond? That's a long way from the house, how long did it take you to run away from the troll?"

Eloise had not thought of that, she had to have been running for at least an hour. If she was honest with herself, she could not recount half of the events that occurred with the chase. Whether that was her mind's coping mechanism or if she was utterly exhausted, she didn't know. But all she said as she opened her mouth was "Blackfriar Pond, is that what it's called?"

"Yes." Rowan nodded. "I cannot believe you ran that far." He shook his head in disbelief.

"Did you take note of how far we ran just moments ago?" Eloise countered. She had ran too much for her liking recently, it seemed like every day brought more danger to escape from.

He silently agreed with her, an inclination of his head the only sign of acknowledgement at her observation.

Moments stretched under the silence that followed, and time itself seemed as if it had slowed down to a crawling pace. Trees moved with the wind and the occasional animal noise made the both of them jump.

However, the silence was not all bad. Eloise used the opportunity to create a plan for their survival. Surely they would not get far if they ran out now, there had to be more Unseelie recruits in the area. So they would have to wait out the night, and as she peeked her head out from the entrance of the cave she could affirm that it was indeed dark.

Stars shone through the cracks in the tall trees and Eloise was transported to another, more simpler, time.

Eloise and Greer giggled as they watched the stars form before their very eyes, pointing out the constellations as they appeared. The night sky was bright with stars and Eloise felt an immense sense of peace wash over her.