I followed him reluctantly, after grabbing a robe and tying it around me. I felt cold in the thin nightie, as well as embarrassed, although he didn't seem to care a bit either way. I look at his face as we crossed through corridors, our feet echoing. All the others were nowhere to be seen, and I was relieved. Earlier when Sappherin had tried to pry me out of my room I let her, figuring it would be good to get to know them all. But that had ended...not well.
He at last brought me to a door...with an actual door on it. He ran his nimble fingers over the lock, and it swung open easily, and he stepped in, motioning for me to do the same. I stepped inside and it was pitch black. I felt fearful of the dark, and even more so when I heard the door slam shut behind me. I felt him place his hand gently on my shoulder and guide me inward further. I felt like I should be running, but he was merely guiding me, not forcing me. So I tried to breath and keep calm, even though his touch made my heart pound.
Suddenly candles flared up and lit up the room. It was small, like some sort of study, with stuffed booksehelves lining the walls, and dominated by a large desk. One wall held a fireplace which had also roared to life. I looked around...the room looked like something out of a fable about evil wizards. I shivered.
"Sit down," He said softly, taking one of the two high backed chairs postioned at the table. "I promise this isn't some trick."
I sat down timidly while he pulled something from under the desk and sat it on the table. It looked like a huge crystal, oval in shape and placed carefully in a special dark silver stand that held it like a dragon's claw clutching a jem. He waved his hands deftly around the surface, mumbling under his breath. Then he sat back as the crystal slowly began to glow. like a warming fire. I looked at him in the dim light. His eyes were shadows, his breath came slightly ragged, like he had run a mile then sat in the chair before me.
"Are you alright?" I asked softly. He looked up, surprised that I had spoken to him and then chuckled.
"Yes, I'm fine. It's just that using this Fragment takes much of my magic energy. I'll be fine after I get a drink. Do you want something? It'll be a moment or so before it's ready for me again." He said, standing and motioning to the crystal that continued to glow steadily but slowly brighter.
"Sure...but none of that nectar stuff again!" I said, becoming slightly annoyed. "I drank too much of it last night and woke up feeling awful this morning!" I said accusingly. He chuckled while he went to a cabinet on the wall and rummaged for two bottles and two small cups.
"I'm sorry about that. You seemed to like it and I just poured to keep up. I forget too quickly how strong that stuff can be to a first-timer. Also, I was trying to keep myself propped up last night..." He poured golden nectar into a cup, then poured some lighter purple liquid into the other and handed that one to me. I sniffed it warily.
He laughed again at me. "Silly girl, it's just juice! Blueberry juice too, nothing bad." He sipped his nectar and I could see some color come back into his pale face. "Ah, thats better." He sat back down across from me and stared at me. I sipped the juice, which was sweet and crisp, then saw him staring still.
"What?" I said, feeling very flustered and i instinctivly grasped the robe tighter around me.
"It's nothing...it's just i still can't fathom how I managed to get you here with me at last." He reached over and grapsed my hand that was laying on the table. "I know this may all seem so strange to you, but I promise I'll never let you be unhappy. I will try so hard to make your life here perfect."
I looked down at his hands, which held onto mine so dearly, like he couldn't bear to let go. I felt my heart feel heavy and I said softly: "No one can promise that life will be perfect. It's impossible."
