Valknut

CHAPTER|27 Love Blossoms

When she found him, he was curled up under a tree. His hair was plastered to his head with sweat. His hands clenched into tight fists. His knees drawn to his chest. Eyes closed tight. He looked like he was in a tremendous amount of pain. 

As she approached him, he suddenly let out a low growl. Startled and terrified, she took a few steps back. He sensed her and turned. Eyes glinting, a mad shade of black. The emptiness… the pain… the danger … all flickering clearly. Till he recognized her. Then his eyes were blank. 

Just as thoughts of fleeing entered her mind, he curled up into a ball again. She was frozen where she stood. No amount of screaming in her brain could shock her from her stupor. He’s a man … he’s a man … she kept repeating to herself. What you saw is explainable... or is it? He’s a man … he’s just…a... man 

More curious than terrified now, she stepped forward daintily. He was still growling softly, but he seemed a lot less threatening. More like a child. Hurt and scared. Like he was caught up in a terrifying dream. Slowly she knelt near him. She closed her eyes and prayed before putting her hand on his forehead. Dear God, he was burning! No likelihood of him… it … biting you. She laughed nervously at the thought. 

She struggled to rip the hem of her skirt till a piece gave way. Then she ran as quickly as her legs would take her to the idyllic river just a few feet away. Her trembling fingers rendered her unable to squeeze the excess water out. And so, she returned with the dripping cloth and placed it carefully on his forehead. She made a few more trips before contemplating how much energy it would take her to drag him to the river. Surely a cold splash would be far quicker than this. As she chewed on her lip, the burning sensation left. Just as quickly, his growling stopped and his body relaxed. He was now stretched out before her. Sleeping… normally… like the past few hours hadn’t happened. 

As she replayed the scene in her head over and over again, she failed to notice that he had woken. 

“Catriona” he whispered. Her eyes darted to him. Fear and confusion reflecting in them. In an instant he jumped up, looking around him. Suddenly aware that something was wrong. Dreadfully wrong.  Not seeing anything, he slumped back against the tree trunk. 

“Ye saw?” 

She nodded. Unsure if she could form the questions zipping through her head. 

He growled. The sound startled her all over again. “Shh it’s alright. I won’t harm ye” he whispered. 

“No, but I will if you don’t explain anytime soon.” 

“Ah I really… really don’t want to” he said while rubbing the back of his neck. 

“Suit yourself.” She said standing up. Dusting her skirts she continued, “I’ll just go ask Klaufi... or better still, I'll tell Kieran where to find ye”. 

He grunted as he reached for her hand. Pulling her back down, he ran his hand over the healing scabs on her wrists. He closed his eyes, sorrow and guilt flooded over him. He reached for his chin and cursed when he realized he was missing his beard. 

“Alright, but I have two conditions” he muttered, mischief glowing in his eyes. 

A nagging sense told her he had outsmarted her. 

“Name yer conditions” 

“Ah have some business with Aengus that I must attend to and then ye must have lunch with me.” 

“If ye must”, she replied smiling. 

He put two fingers in his mouth and let out a shrill whistle, the sound of which brought his black stallion trotting to where the two sat.