Love Unending - Reader x Leedo - ONEUS 18+ - By writer 'Cha'

LEEDO

The horses pulled up to the front of the castle. I walked up to the door and knocked,the sound echoing. The same housekeeper I had met last time opened the door and looked surprised. "Oh dearie, it's you" she smiled "Please do come in". I walked in the door and looked around. Everything was the same, except for a few new paintings. "Let me go get the Master" she said "sit down". She motioned to the large chairs in front of the fireplace. Nights were still chilly so there was a fire going. "I thought I would never see you again" I heard behind me in that familiar deep voice. He came and sat in the chair next to mine, "But I'm glad I was wrong". I began to apologize for not coming, explaining what had happened in these past few months. "I know, and I'm sorry about your father" he said. "But how did you know" I asked. As if on cue, the raven came in the window and stood in front of the fire, almost as if it was warming it's shiny black wings from the cold of the night. I looked down at the bird and smiled "Have you been spying on me?". The bird let out a caw as if to say yes. "People talk" Leedo said. "I overheard the news from people who live in town". "They do love their gossip" I laughed. He put his hand on mine and looked into my eyes, "I know how much he meant to you," he said as he looked me in the eyes. I had been holding back the tears, trying to stay strong. But something just broke inside me, and the tears started to flow. Leedo leaned over and put his hand on my shoulder, "It's ok to cry" he said. I began to apologize and tried to pull my tears back in. He handed me a hankerchief of the finest silk. I felt bad for using it, but thanked him and wiped my eyes. "I haven't cried since the funeral" I said "I've been trying to stay strong, keep the buisness running,and keep men away from me. They think just because my father is gone I will all of a sudden want to marry". "If you don't mind me asking, why haven't you married yet?" I told him of how much my mother and father loved each other, and I wanted to marry for love, not just because. We sat there talking for hours,so much so that I hadn't noticed it had become dark. "Don't worry" Leedo said, "You will dine here,and leave in the morning". I accepted his offer, and took his arm as he led me to the dining room. The aroma of the food made my stomach rumble with hunger. We sat down and I was served a large plate of food. Once again, he wasn't eating. "I know you must be hungry, so why aren't you eating?" "I'm sorry, I just feel uncomfortable eating in front of others" he said. "Why? Bad table manners?" I asked. He just said that he had always been nervous eating in front of people, he didn't know why or what had caused it. I imagined something had to have caused it, perhaps he was so young he couldn't recall it. But I was hungry,so I ate and we talked. He told me about growing up in Romania, and his family. It seemed he knew my pain of losing both parents. Once again time flew by, and it was time to go to bed. This time he led the way to the large bedroom and asked if I needed anything. "No, I will be fine. Thank you for everything" I said as I wrapped my arms around him and gave him a big hug without even realizing what I was doing. I went to pull away in embarrasment,but he pulled me closer. I could feel his strong arms wrapped around me, and in that moment I felt safe. As if nothing bad could touch me as long as I stayed in his arms. I could feel him inhaling the scent of my hair, normally that would be strange, but nothing he did felt wrong. He finally pulled away from my embrace, and hurridly turned. "Good Night, and I will see you in the morning", he sounded so formal all of a sudden, and cold. I wondered what I had done to upset him. "Was the hug a little too much?" I wondered. Never mind, I was much more tired than I had realized, so I went in the room, and got ready for bed. I lay down on the huge, soft bed trying to fall asleep, but couldn't. I couldn't stop thinking of him. I could swear I heard a sadness in his voice as he tried to get away from me. The thought of him wouldn't leave my mind. I couldn't sleep. So I got up and grabbed a candle. I opened the large door,and tip toed into the hallway. All was dark and quiet, everyone had gone to sleep. Except for one room. I could hear his deep voice talking to someone, and someone was answering him. I walked to where I heard the voices and noticed the door was slightly cracked. I peeked in the door and saw him speaking to a handsome young man I recognized as my father's apprentice! I had no clue they knew each other. I must have made a sound because they both turned and looked in my direction. I must be dreaming because the young man appeared to turn into the raven that had followed me, and was the same as Leedo's pet. I turned and ran down the hall to the bedroom, closing the door behind me. "This is just a dream" I kept repeating to myself "just a dream, I will wake up at any moment". I had almost convinced myself it was a dream when Leedo came knocking on the door. "I know you are awake, and I know you probably don't understand what you saw. Please let me in to explain". As I said before, I never felt unsafe around him, so I slowly moved and let him in the room. "I don't even know what I saw, if you weren't here I would swear it was a dream". He sat in the large chair by the fireplace and motioned me to sit in the chair next to him. I sat down and looked at him. His dark eyes and hair shining in the glow of the fire. There was something different about him I couldn't put my finger on. I should have ran out of there and never looked back. I should have left Leedo and Ravn alone, then I wouldn't be in so much pain now. But I also wouldn't have known such love, either. But I'm getting ahead of myself here. Now, where was I? Oh, yes, Leedo. He began to explain in his deep, hypnotic voice that there were some things that were true in life, even if we don't believe in them. "Magic is one of those things. You see, Ravn was a warlock, trapped in a bird form by a witch who was in love with him, but he felt nothing for her". As he said that, the large bird flew in the door and transformed right in front of me into the man my father had hired. "I'm sorry for lying to you" he said. "But Leedo begged me to watch over you". I looked at Leedo, "But why? I mean the first time we met was after I was attacked on the road". Leedo just smiled, "That was the first time you noticed me. I had seen you many times before as I came to your father's shop" I blushed, thinking about how many times I missed seeing him. "You were so beautiful, I sent Ravn to watch over you, and keep you safe" . "I tried to warn you on the road, but I couldn't show my true form. When they attacked, I flew up here and told Leedo what was going on". "So, that's how he knew where to find me" I said. "I know I should be freaking out right now, I mean a bird turned into a man right in front of me. But to be honest I am more curious than frightened". Leedo smiled, the whole expression on his face went from worry to relief. "What other things are true that we are told are just stories?" I asked, curious to know more. "I told you she was the one" Ravn said before he changed back into a bird and flew away. "What did he mean by that" I asked, looking at Leedo. "I will explain all in due time" he said. He went on to explain that many of the stories we are told come from truth. Werewolves, magic,and witches were real. "As well as other things that go bump in the night. But sometimes the truth gets turned around to make these things sound like monsters" he said. "Take Ravn for example, he is one of the kindest souls I have ever known, yet you are taught to fear him because he is evil. But as you can see for yourself he means no one any harm". "And what about you" I asked Leedo. "What do you mean" he asked in return. "What are you? You are a man unlike any I have met before. There is something different about you" I told him. He looked at me as if he was staring into my soul, wondering if I could handle the truth. "I will tell you, but first you must promise me that you will let me fully explain myself before making any judgement". I laughed "I had a man turn into a bird right in front of me, if that did not send me screaming into the night then I think I will be ok". "Yes" he said "But I am much more than a man of magic".