The Lazy Life Of Raine

Happiness (13)

Axel left Sabine by herself in the courtyard.  Sabine’s mouth was open and her face was stuck with a look of surprise written all over it.  

Lord Axel Devereux was betrothed to God’s Hands Elise? Since when? This news was legendary, however why is it that no one knows?  Sabine suddenly felt as if Elise was too bright to look at and to be around. Elise’s talents and skills far surpassed her own, which made her feel insignificant.  

She also felt as if she was going to lose Axel to Elise, which didn’t make sense, being that she just met Axel a week ago and they were just courteous towards each other.  She did find him handsome and charming, but there was always a distance between them that she could not cross. She had hope that as long as she spent more time with him, he would being to share his feelings with her then they could fall in love and get married. However now that his betrothed is back, she would no longer have any chances to be with him.  Somehow, everything in her life felt very wrong.

Sabine finally went inside of the castle and into the receiving room where everyone was sitting around the fireplace.  Tea and snacks were served, but Elise was not there.

“Sabine, come and sit next to me.”  Rose said as she patted the seat next to her.  

Sabine did as she was told and looked around again before looking at Rose.  

“Looking for Elise?”  

Sabine ducked her head and nodded yes.  

“She’s freshening up and getting changed.”  Rose told her. “Her travels takes her far and wide.  Helping people along the way. Her constant travels brings her to places I’ve never seen, but she describes them with great detail in her letters she sends to us every week.  Sometimes she doesn’t sleep in an inn, but camps out in the wilderness. My heart hurts knowing that she is suffering when it’s cold or wet outside.”

“She’s here now, that’s what matters.”  Brice said as he smiled. “Everyone is home, now.  Just like how it’s supposed to be.”

“Yes.”  Rose agreed as she took her handkerchief and wipes the corner of her eyes.  “Everyone’s safe and sound.  And at home now.”

Elise walked inside of the room with a white dress and brown fitted jacket.  Her brown boots clicked against the floor as her long hair is swept to the side and loosely braided.  

“You look like you lost weight, darling.”  Rose said as she made room for Elise on the other side of her.  

Elise had to walk around the couch, pass Axel and Brice, before sitting down at her spot.  

“It’s only because you haven’t seen me in some time.”  Elise tells her as she picks up her drink.

“Tell us, Elise.  When you found Axel.  How bad was he injured?”  Derek asked.

Elise’s hand hesitated with the tea cup that she brought to her mouth. That hesitation made some of the tea spill into the sauser, but she took a sip of it before setting the teacup down.

“Not that bad.”  Axel answered not wanting to worry his parents.  

“I was speaking to Elise, not you.”  

“His had several injuries. Two of them were life threatening.”  Elise told them truthfully.

“Thank the Gods that it was you who found him.”  Rose said as she reaches out to squeeze Elise's hand.  “You and your family have always been our family’s blessing.”  

Elise smiled and squeezed her hand back.  

“From your letters it stated that you had been sick.”  Elise said as she felt Rose’s wrist. “But you have a good pink tint to your cheeks, which makes me believe that you have been feeling better.”  

“Yes, I was feeling under the weather, however Sabine came into our lives one day and helped me cure my illness.”  Rose admitted it.

“When I read that you were sick, I came back as fast as I could.”  Elise told her. “Sorry I came late.”

“You didn't come late,  you came just in time. Beside, my sickness was not that bad.  Just a small cough and a slight headache” Rose told her. “What is my body telling you now?”  

“I would need to do a full body check-up to ensure your back to full health.  But from just what I’ve check, it says you’re on the mend. After dinner, I’ll give you a check up.  The sooner the better.”

“Alright, Doctor Elise!  I’ll do whatever you say.”  Rose teased her.

“By the way, Sabine, how did you know how to treat Rose?”  

“I too know a little about healing.  But I didn’t go to school for it. My whole village are healers and medicinal gatherers.  I just know a little bit about it, nothing so fancy that others call me God Hands.”

“I would like to thank you, for saving Rose.”  Elise told her.

“Don’t mention it.  Both Rose and Brice has given me gifts that I could never ask for.”  

“What brings you to this part of the country.  From your accent, I can tell that you were born and raised on the North coast, past the city of Mirkkal.”  

“Correct.”  Sabine said as she looked at Elise with surprise.  “My village has a tradition that every adult makes.  When a child turns into an adult, she or he would have to leave the village for a year and travel.  In that year, we find out who we are, who we want to be and if we want to stay living in our village or live somewhere else.  I am on my journey and happen to come here.”

“Do you have a place you plan to go?”  

“No, I go wherever the wind takes me.”  Sabine tells her.

“Well, if you want to know something about the country, feel free to ask me.  I know the best place to watch the moon rise, the best fisherman of the east sea, the clearest lake you’ll ever see and want to swim in.  The best place to eat fresh seafood, the fields of wild flowers, the lost statue of Yesaha, the hidden temples of Aluah where you’ll meet the monks of Aluna.  My journeys have brought me all around the country and I have found so many little treasures of happiness that I’ll never forget.”

“Sounds amazing.  I will come to you once I have decided where I would like to go.”  

Elise smiled at her and nodded her head.  The group spoke about Elise’s travels and her experience until dinner was served.  They spent dinner was spent in a jovial atmosphere and ended late. Afterwards Derek, Brice and Axel went to Brice’s study to talk about business.  Sabine turned in early for the night, while Elise did a thorough check up on Rose.

When Elise left Rose’s rooms, she did not expect to run into Axel, who had been waiting for her at the end of the hallway.