The First Book of Adeline: Freedom

Chapter 5: Recovery

The next several days, the weather was as dreary and damp as the trio's mood. Nobody said or signed much of anything, the weight of what happened at Grandma Meranne's settling over their hearts. Isabel made some attempts at continuing Adeline's lessons in the trader's tongue, but quickly gave up when Adeline proved unable to focus.

The second or third day after the attack, once they'd made camp while Ophelia was out gathering firewood, Adeline noticed that Isabel was staring absentmindedly at a ring, turning it around in her hands. Her face seemed sad, softer than Adeline had ever seen it before.

After watching in silence for a long moment, Adeline approached Isabel and asked, *Where is... ring from?*

Her musings interrupted by Adeline's question, Isabel sat back, not answering for quite a while. Finally, she replied sadly, "It... was my mother's. She gave it to me not very long before..." Her voice drifted off, sinking into silence for a while before she continued, "They're gone, now. My parents, the village... Other than Ophelia, this is all I have left."

Peering closely into Isabel's palm, Adeline was able to make out the detailed engraving on the ring much more clearly. *It's very beautiful,* she commented.

Isabel chuckled drily. "I guess not beautiful enough; my mother actually turned down the man who gave it to her, and married my father instead. That man visited us once or twice, when I was little, although I can't remember it very well. I'm actually heading to see him; I'm hoping that as a family friend, he might be able to help me and Ophelia find a job, or something else." The entire time, instead of meeting Adeline's gaze, she kept her eyes fixed on the ring in her hands.

Adeline nodded sadly, unsure how to reply. After a moment, she finally went and hugged Isabel as tightly as she could from the side. Isabel gasped in surprise, and seemed on the verge of protest before she finally relented and hugged Adeline tightly back. After a moment, they separated, Isabel stowing the ring away just as Ophelia returned.

Noticing the unusual atmosphere, Ophelia glanced at each of them and asked, "Everything alright?"

With a small smile at her lips, Isabel nodded. "We're ok," she said quietly, leaving Ophelia to wonder what had happened.

That night, sometime after midnight, Adeline catapulted awake, the remnants of a nightmare she couldn't remember clinging to her like cobwebs. The night was pitch black, even the stars blocked by the unending drizzle, further deepening the gloom under the outcropping where they'd sheltered.

The darkness seemed to press in on Adeline, trying to smother her. Fear swelling within her chest, the young woman began to hyperventilate, trying to hide away from her own thoughts. For what seemed like an eternity, all she could do was huddle in a ball, shivering, tears flowing like the rain outside.

Eventually, though, the rain drove a family of ducks to find shelter, including a mother and four chicks. The chicks clambered onto Adeline, completely unafraid of her, their mother honking softly at them. As they nestled in with her, her chest began to loosen up, and her breathing slowed enough to let her slowly drift back to sleep.

The next morning, Isabel and Ophelia just watched in wonder at the curious sight. The mother duck looked up from her sentinel in front of the huddle and quacked at them, and the duo decided to let Adeline sleep a while; based on the streaks down her face, she could use it.

Perhaps an hour later, Adeline finally stirred, causing the displaced chicks to squawk indignantly. Sitting up, she was surprised to see it was nearly midmorning.

Ophelia took note and came over from the fire she'd restarted. "Good morning!" Isabel waved, but her focus remained on the pan she was tending.

Adeline wiped the last vestiges of sleep from her eyes. *Good morning.*

Ophelia hesitated, debating how to continue before asking, "Are you feeling alright?"

After a moment's thought, Adeline shrugged. She certainly felt safer than she had during her panic attack, but she still felt a little unsettled. Ophelia nodded, then tipping her head to the campfire invited, "We've got some breakfast getting ready, if you feel up to it."

Adeline slowly made her way over to the campfire, reluctantly getting up from where she was nestled. She sat down next to Isabel, watching the older girl try to cook for a while. It wasn't very long, however, before Adeline had to sit on her hands to keep from taking over.

Getting an idea, Adeline pulled out her pack, grabbing one of the little jars Grandma Meranne had left her with, presenting it to Isabel triumphantly.

Looking up from her cooking, Isabel glanced at the jar and asked, "What's this?"

Adeline thought for a moment, then signed, *Time.*

Isabel raised an eyebrow and quipped, "So they can bottle time? How much would be in there, a year?"

Adeline slumped exasperatedly, then took a pinch of thyme and sprinkled it over their breakfast. Isabel chuckled herself, then called over to Ophelia, "I believe the food is ready."

Ophelia waved to show she'd heard, and several minutes later, they were all gathered around the fire eating contentedly.

As they were eating, Adeline asked hesitantly, *Why...wait?*

Ophelia cast a questioning glance at Isabel then asked, "Why wait for what?"

Adeline fought for the signs to express herself. *I...woke...late. Why wait?*

"Why didn't we wake you up sooner?" the older girl clarified, and Adeline nodded. "Primarily, it was because it seemed you had had a rough night, and we figured you could use the extra rest. Since no one appears to be chasing us at this point, we're not in any real rush."

"Besides," Ophelia added, smiling widely, "that mama duck was quite adamant you shouldn't be disturbed." The duck in question gave a well-timed quack, and Adeline laughed, even Isabel giving a ghost of a smile.