The Remembered (Elements II)

Chapter 21

Over the next few weeks, she saw a change in Dvalin. He became less likely to snap at her, and she wondered why. Once afternoon, she resolved to find out. Going down to the garden, she soon found him in his corner in the flower house.

“Back again.”

She smiled slightly, and edged closer. She still didn’t really know how to act around him, despite her feelings for him, and how he acted towards her.

“How are you going?” she asked quietly. He lifted a shoulder.

“As well as a slave can go,” he replied bitterly. She recoiled slightly.

“I’m sorry for that,” she murmured. “But Father refuses. I can’t change his mind.”

“Because you don’t try.”

She lifted her chin, insulted. “I do!”

He sneered at her. “Prove it.”

She made no response, and turned to leave. However, he caught her by the wrist, making her flinch. “Let go of me,” she ordered.

“In a minute,” he replied absently, and pulled her into his clearing, where, true to his word, he did let her go.

“What do you want?” she hissed. He smirked at her, and stepped closer, gripping her arms. She struggled slightly, but he didn’t let go. She tensed, fear filling her. “Please,” she whispered. “Let me go.”

He held her for a moment longer, and then obeyed, releasing her and stepping backwards. She didn’t move, trying to control her fear.

“You fear me?” he asked, almost scornfully. She looked up at him, and shook her head.

“Not you,” she replied softly. “But what you could do to me.”

“I’m not that type of person.”

“I know,” she answered. “But I still fear.”

He moved closer, careful this time not to scare her, and tilted her head backwards, baring her throat. Her breath came quicker, but she forced herself to stay still. He kissed her gently, and then moved away, dropping his hand. She was shaking.

“Why?” she asked, watching him.

“Need there be a reason, flodyn?”

“What does that mean? You’ve called me that before.”

He smiled, briefly. “Flower,” he answered. “Because you are as pretty as one.”

She flushed, and looked down. She hadn’t thought he would say something like that. “Oh.” She didn’t know what else to say, and heard a soft chuckle. She looked up again to see that he had come closer.

“Is that all you can say?” he asked quietly. “Usually you are full of words.”

“You’ve stolen them from me,” she retorted. “Usually, you don’t speak at all!”

“Very true. Should I do this again to restore the balance?”

Before she could make another sound, he kissed her again. However, she still couldn’t speak afterwards.

“Then that wasn’t the problem.”

She caught a glint of humour in his eyes, and tried to glare at him. It didn’t work.

“You have elemental blood.”

She blinked in surprise, and then nodded. “From my mother,” she answered. “Caoilha said her grandmother was an elemental.”

He nodded, watching her closely enough that she flushed again.

“Having fun?” she asked pointedly. “Studying me?”

He gave her a crooked smile. “Yes,” he answered simply. She was rendered silent once more. He lifted a hand and ran it down her cheek softly.

“What do you want?” she whispered, hating herself for letting her voice shake. This wasn’t like her at all.

“Nothing,” he replied. “Yet.”

She swallowed nervously. “Yet?” she repeated.

He nodded once. “I cannot give you anything in return,” he said softly. “It is not fair for me to demand anything from you.”

Suddenly feeling reckless, she stepped forward. “I don’t care.”

His dark eyes revealed his surprise. “I wouldn’t be so sure,” he warned.

“I don’t care,” she repeated. “It will work out eventually.” Before she could think about it, she kissed him. He was frozen in shock for a moment, and then his hands came around her body, pulling her closer as he kissed her back.