Ethereal

Silence and a Spare Bed

Oliver held out his hand to help Astrid up the last few steps. "Need a hand?" Astrid gracefully accepted and climbed the last few steps.

"Thank you.. Oli-"

"Why were you there without  guard?" he interrupted.

"I just wanted to talk to the man down there. I didn't see harm in it, so I-"

"You could have gotten hurt! What would you do if something happened?" he said as he pulled her face up to look into his eyes. "What would I do if something happened to you..?" he said, gently releasing her face.

"Oliver.. I never meant to upset you." she said, taking his hand in hers. "I just thought it would be easier to talk to me without a guard watching them. If it were me, I would feel more comfortable talking to someone without a man with a weapon behind them."

"Astrid.. I know what you mean, but.. I don't want there to be an incident that I can't handle.. I don't want something to happen, when I know for a fact I could have done something to prevent it."

"Oliver, I'm fine. See?" she said as she twirled around. He looked at her and then grabbed her wrist.

"What's this?" he said, pointing to the little bit of blood on her sleeves. Astrid tore her hand out of his and held it tight. 'I can't tell him it's David's blood..'

"It's nothing." she replied. 'I've got to change the subject and quick! Wait a second..' She got close to his face. "By the way.. is there anything that you need to tell me? Anything that might make me think differently of you?" she said, raising her eyebrow. Oliver shifted uncomfortably.

"No. Why would you ask such a silly question? It almost sounds like an accusation." he said as he turned his back to Astrid and began walking away.

"Hey! We aren't done here!" she yelled out, chasing him down.

"We are. Well, at least I am. I don't.. I don't want to talk right now.." he said as he walked up the stairs.

"Oliver.." she called out. Oliver stopped in the middle of the steps and turned to face Astrid.

"Yes?"

"Next time you speak to the man downstairs.. be nice to him, okay? He's actually really nice and sweet and-" Oliver's eyes widened at the fact that Astrid had successfully conversed with his prisoner as he rushed down the stairs and grabbed Astrid's arms tight.

"Y-you got him to speak?" he said, tightening his grip.

"Oliver, you're hurting me.."

"Astrid, you need to tell me what he said."

"I don't need to tell you anything!" she said, struggling and trying to break free of his grasp.

"No, I need to know. I need to know his name. Astrid, I must know his name." he said, the sanity seeming to escape with each word.

"I said, you're hurting me!" Astrid ripped her arms out of his grasp. "You're also scaring me.." she said, her voice almost inaudible.

"Astrid.. I'm sorry.." he said, slowly and gently placing his hands back at his sides.

"You should be! I thought we were getting along Oliver, and then you start acting all crazy." she said as she grabbed the places on her arms that he had held. He looked at her and began to open his mouth, but then decided not to talk. Astrid looked at him only for a moment before turning away and heading up the rest of the steps.

"A-Astrid wait.." he called out after her. He followed her back to his room. "Look, I'm sorry.."

Astrid sat on his bed. "I'm sorry too, Oliver. I'm sorry we can't be fully honest with each other and we have to keep secrets." she said, adding extra emphasis on the 'fully honest'.

"Astrid, what are you-"

"I know about the girl." she interrupted. "I know about the girl who fell. I know about the wolf. I know about the town.. I know about you.. and what you did.." she said, averting her eyes from his. She wanted to look anywhere but into the eyes of the man who stood before her.

"Astrid... Who told you..?" Oliver said, his voice faint and breaking.

"Don't worry about it. It's nothing to concern yourself with anymore. Did you even plan on ever telling me that?" she said, her tone raising in volume. Oliver looked at her and slowly shook his head.

"I.. didn't want to tell you. I had hoped I could outlive my past. I suppose I was wrong.." Oliver said as he approached Astrid. She started to back away at first, but eventually let Oliver approach without fleeing. He held her close and placed his head against the side of hers. "Astrid.. I am so sorry.." Astrid stayed in his embrace a while longer until remembered what was happening. 'I'm mad at him. I can't let him toy with me like this.' she thought.

"You will get no sympathy from me, Oliver." she said as she pushed him away and headed towards the door of his room. "In fact, I don't even wish to speak to you right now.." she said as she opened the door.

"Where are you going?"

"To cool off, and if you have any respect for me, please do me a favor." she said as she stepped outside the room.

"Of course, anything." Oliver said, hoping that by completing the favor, Astrid will be less upset with him.

"Don't follow me. Leave me alone until I am ready to approach you." Astrid said, not looking back at the man.

"Astrid..." he said, walking towards her.

"Also." she said, turning to face Oliver, stopping him in his tracks. "Gather some bedding for me and place in on the bed in the guest room, if you don't mind.." Oliver stared at her, his heart heavy from his hidden deeds. He nodded and she gave him one last glance and then closed the door.

Oliver sat down on his bed and held is face in his hands. "Way to go, idiot.." he scolded himself. "Why did I act like that? I hurt her. She said I scared her." he said, tears welling at the corners of his eyes. "Astrid.." he said, gripping the pillows next to him, hugging them while falling over and curling into the fetal position. "I am so sorry.."

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Hello! It's Mei again!
SO SO SO SORRY FOR THE SLOW UPDATE THIS CHAPTER.
;^;
I will try to be better about updates!
Also, I am always looking for characters and ideas, so any feedback is welcomed!
Thanks again, and I hope to hear from you all!

(ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧