Moongrace

Part 10

She was frightened, even scared to death. Not being able to see, was the worst thing that had ever happened to her since she could remember. It was worse than the pain she had felt the last days. She felt helpless, lost in the darkness that surrounded her at every second, no matter how hard she tried to see colours and light. She had been so weak, so stupidly weak. Else she might have been able to stop the Queens magic. But the events of the last days and the open wounds had weakened her to such an extent, that she was not able to protect herself anymore. And anyhow, the Queen hadn't make her ugly but simply disabled her. Not even the release from the horrible isen could cheer her up.

She felt the table, the texture of it. She had never really paid attention to it. She knew what the table looked like, but she never felt all those notches, cuts and the grooving that had been carved in the wood by extensive use. Evan babbled something about him cutting cabbage, but Eleeza paid only a little attention.

Her thoughts always turned to the coming days. How could she survive without her eyes? Evan would help her, that was sure, but he could not always be around her. She eventually had to learn to live without her eyes for those three weeks. That thought scared her more that she would admit. How could the Queen do this to her? Nobody should ruin a life in that way. This could have been their chance to run away! But now she had to come back, for she would not find another magician in this world to give back her sight. Only maybe one of her world could help her. Not Esalaa, since her magic concentrated only on the true form of a body, so only the outsides. She did not really remember if she had a sibling whose magic had to do with senses.

Why on earth was her magic so useless? Giving beauty on long term bases to mind and body was not exactly the gift she had wished for, nor she could use right now. It only made it harder for her to stay hidden. Well, Evan profited from it, even though he did not know.

And anyway, what was beauty when there were no eyes to see it? What was beauty without light? Would she ever be able to wind her magic as she used to?

She was so frightened by that thought, that she felt for the vase on the table, which held a few old flowers. She pulled one from the bouquet and closed her fingers around it. Then she concentrated on flowers in full bloom and the beauty that emanated from them. She sent the magic to the dry flower in her hands and, to her immense relief, she felt the magic rise and flow in the leaves and petals of the flower. The smells of the flower filled her with happiness. The trick weakened her body immediately, but she didn't care. The spell of the Queen didn't take the magic from her!

She took the flower to her nose and took in the beautiful smell of it. Eleeza sighed, she had to accept that for those three weeks she would need to depend on her ears and her sense of touch. And on the help of Evan of course.

Lost in thought she had not registered that Evan was done cooking. When he put a plate in front of her, she was so startled she jumped back a bit.

"Hey Eleeza, it's only a plate", he said.

"Sorry, I was lost in thoughts. I did not hear you coming."

He petted her head: "Well, I guess I was startled by your reaction! I forgot to tell you that I am coming..." she heard him chuckle. "Sneaking on you will be quite easy now. I hope you won't mind me taking advantage for the next three weeks?"

She smiled: "Well, let's see. You are usually making too much noise anyway!"

She heard him grunt: "However, let's eat!"

"You are changing the subject!" she complained joking.

He set up the table fully and then filled her plate with steaming soup.

"Shall I feed you?" he asked carefully. He was not sure if she was fine with it.

She thought about it for some seconds, and then answered: "No, I guess it is better if I learn to do it on my own right away. But maybe you could lead my hand to get the spoon and show me where the plate is. I do not want to end up burning my skin!" she joked. He was happy she finally found her humour again, even when her laughter wasn't as cheerful as usually.

"Okay, here we go!" he took her hand and gave her the spoon, "So this was just the wrong way, you are holding it upside down." She chuckled and turned it around: "Now fine?"

"Yes, okay so here is your plate. It's still cold on the edges so no worry to burn yourself. Got it?" he gently led her hand during histalk. She nodded and tried to put the spoon to her mouth. It worked better than assumed.

"Jum!" she said, "the soup is great!"

"Although you spilled half of it on the table. Thanks!" he touched her arm.

It took her a while to eat without spilling anything, missing the plate with the spoon or by accident throwing down her wooden cup. But she eventually managed even when it took her twice the time to finish her soup as Evan. When they finished dinner, Evan cleared the table and started washing the plates.

Suddenly Eleeza was taken by a restlessness, which probably came from all those days she could not move either from pain or being fat. Without Evan noticing she got up silently and tried to find her way towards him. With one hand, she followed the edge of the table, the other one she put forth to find the wall. She stumbled a few times, but otherwise moved without a sound. Carefully she made her way through the small room. She was not aware that Evan was watching her, happy to see her will to do something restored. He did not want to disturb her. He owed her the feeling of being able to manage something on her own.

She found him with her sensing hand and hugged him from the back. He hugged her back, absolutely proud of her.

"Evan", she whispered, "I need to see the moon again. I still need to close my wounds and I ... I at least want to try to do something about my eyes. Even though I do not believe I can do something about it."

"Yeah, obviously. I will take you! But you have to promise me to answer one question." he said.

"Which question?"

"Why are you so sure that you or the moon cannot heal it? And why could you not heal yourself from that awful spell of Nasca? And why was your sister able to do it?" he said quickly.

"Evan", she said sternly, "I guess you forgot how to count. Those are three questions!"

"But it's all about the same issue: Your magic. Isn't it?" he exclaimed.

"I guess so!" she sighed, "I had planned to tell you anyway, so yes I will give you answers to your entire questions about magic. But, I will tell you outside. It's more... real beneath the moon."

He happily helped her put on warmer clothes and fetched their two blankets. Then they made their way outside to the gardens. He helped her with the corridors, leading her on one hand while she touched the wall next to her with her hand. He always warned her when staircases were in their way and told her where they were. She was only a bit confused of their way for she had a good sense of orientation anyway.

She was wearing her veil again, since there were still rushing servants on the corridors, like every night. As always, they found the park on the end of the Castle Grounds empty. Only after asking him, if there was really no one else, she took the haze off and they made their way to the spring. He helped her spread a blanket on the grass and they laid down next to each other.

Suddenly she asked confused: "I can't feel the moon!" sounding terrified.

"Well, that's because he is hidden behind a cloud. His light will shine on us in a few minutes if I am not mistaken." he answered, calming her.

She sighed relieved: "So there is enough time for me to answer your question!"

"Yes, and do not spare a thing!" he attentively turned towards her, fixing his gaze on her beautiful features and blue eyes.