Verange

Chapter 29

Hayden had retired to his bed as soon as they got back. However, he could not get to sleep. His shoulders ached and his mind was spinning. Being beaten in a sword fight by Elis, he could understand. Her technique was so much different than his and she was much faster. It only made sense for her to beat him. For her to be able to physically overwhelm him in a hand to hand fight was incredible.

He had been dominated by a woman. Not that she was truly a woman after all, being an elf and such, but she looked human for the most part. He sighed and rolled onto his back, staring up at the wooden ceiling. He was getting tired of all the trees around here. The sunlight that leaked through the leaves was rare and he felt like if he didn’t see some bare plains or piles of rock soon, he would lose his mind. They’d only been here a few days and he already wanted to go home. Was this normal? Is that why Elis left? Did she too crave the wild open lands more than all these stupid trees?

He laid there for another hour or so before slightly muffled sounds woke him. He slowly climbed out of his bed and crept to his door. The sound seemed to be coming from the living room or Elis’s room. When he opened the door, an empty room greeted him. The sound however, continued. He walked across the floor in his bare feet and pushed on the door to Elis’s room. Unlocked. So much for her not trusting people.

She was asleep, but she wasn’t still. She was curled up in a little ball, shaking, vulnerable, everything she wasn’t when she was awake. He questioned just how stable she actually was. Usually, her anger was controlled and her fear never showed. Emotions were never the first thing you saw from her.

He slowly and carefully made his way over to her bed. Where was Albit? A quick glance around assured him that the large cat wouldn’t leap upon him for touching his protector. He gently touched her shoulder and shook her, lightly. All he got in response were a few mumbled words. Something like, “Don’t.” and "Stop." He shook her again, harder this time, and stepped back when she stirred. He had hardly blinked before she was up, out of bed, and pulling her boots on.

She mumbled thanks as she pushed past him. She walked through the living room and into the kitchen. Not knowing what else to do, he followed. “Elis? Are you alright?” He stood awkwardly in the doorway and watched her. Already, she had a fire in the stove and a kettle on its top.

“Fine. Go back to bed.” She didn’t look at him as she spoke. She just had her hands on the edge of the counter, her arms straight and her muscles taut. Her face was stony, but there was something about her that worried him.

“Do you need to talk about it? My brother always told me about his nightmares. He said he felt better afterwards. I would listen if you wanted me to, if you thought it would-“

She cut him off with a glare. “My troubles are no concern of yours Hayden. Just let it be.”

He looked down at the ground for a moment until a surge of courage coursed through him. “You know what Elis? You can’t just push people away your whole life. You’ll grow old alone, and eventually, maybe not soon, you’ll die alone. I’m trying to help you. Why can’t you accept that?” His voice grew louder as he spoke until he was almost yelling at her.

He expected her to yell back, so he was surprised when her voice grew very quiet. “Everyone I allow in gets killed. It’s not because I don’t want company.  Honestly, I crave it. But I just don’t want you to get killed. Being close to me has far more risks than it does rewards.”

He took a small step forward. “What if I don’t care? My life has risks as it is. What’s a few more?” A small smile touched him when she lifted her gaze to his. He didn’t look away this time. His eyes met hers and he was finally able to hold them. With the dim light from the stove and the sadness etched on her face, her eyes didn’t look threatening. Instead, they almost looked like normal. No hidden fury or secrets. Just unhindered sadness.