Marigold

Chapter 13 - Meira

When the knock sounds on the door, Meira climbs up from the couch and carries her mug with her. Tugging to door open, she finds Desmond leaning on the door frame. 

"Mind if I come in?" he ask. 

"It's the least I can do," says Meira stepping back, "Do you want coffee? I was about to make another cup."

"And how many would that be?" asked Desmond looking at the sip left in her mug. 

"Not enough," says Meira with a shrug.

"Four," calls Ashton coming out of the bathroom, "but I don't think anyone has ever told Mer no to more coffee."

"I'm good," said Desmond, "but maybe we both could drink some tea?"

"Tea is for the weak," says Meira pouring fresh coffee into the machine and hitting start, "but you can make tea, I think there's some in the cabinet over there." She points to the other side of the kitchen. 

"How about I drink the coffee you just made, and you drink something else, anything else," Desmond suggest. 

"Touch my coffee and I'll cut your balls off!" Meira says reaching toward the knife block.

Desmond puts his hands in the air palms facing out as Ashton calls out, "See I told you not to try and take her coffee away." She laughed and picked up a book off the table. "What's this?"

Meira took her coffee and headed back to sit by Ashton, "Some romance book that Violet recommended while I was researching dragons."

"This doesn't look like dragons," says Ashton flipping through the pages. 

"No, and she has four guys! Why would anyone want that? I can hardly imagine one!" Meira told her with a laugh. 

"So you've been reading it?" asked Ashton.

"I mean it gives me something to do before I fall asleep," shrugged Meira. 

"Speaking of which," Ashton yawned, "You've been pounding coffee to stay awake but I'm beat. Do you think you can stay up if I go home and hit the sack?"

"Why are you trying to stay up?" Desmond asked.

"In case I have a concussion. It's not my first head injury and if your brain is hurt and you go to sleep, well you may not wake up. But go ahead Ash. It's not the first time I've had to stay up by myself," Meira waved her friend toward the door. "The coffee pot and I will keep each other up all night." 

"Mkay, night," Ashton said yawning again, "I'll keep my phone on, call if you need anything."

Meira stood up to lock the door behind her. "I can stay," Desmond offered. 

"It's fine," said Meira, "I'm used to it."

"Why do you say that?" asked Desmond, "if you're willing to share."

"It's not a happy story," said Meira, "But I have a feeling you won't take 'I'm fine' as an answer and go home?"

"You can tell me to leave, but I'll just sit outside to make sure you are okay," said Desmond with a soft smile. 

"In that case, you can stay, just sit over there," Meira tells him pointing at the chair adjacent to the couch.

"Okay," Desmond says moving to sit where he was told. "So you've heard my story, do I get at least part of yours?"

"I guess so, it's the least I can do if you are staying up all night with me," Meira sighs pulling blanket around herself like armor. 

"I grew up out west. And as I've told you elves don't have mates. In our clan the only thing having a wife was good for was having your needs met and producing children. The only positive  of a daughter is that you can marry her off to strengthen or form an alliance. All my life I was trained in how to be the perfect daughter and wife. Don't say no, Don't interrupt the men, Don't be in the way. Anticipate what the men need before they know it so they never have to wait." She looks up and sees Desmond focused on her face. She tears her gaze down again. "When you reach maturity, the faster they can get you married off the better. Men want pure wives so they like to secure their hand before they can be sullied."

"Barbaric," whispered Desmond.

"I was a late bloomer, didn't reach maturity until 18, I delayed it by skipping meals and trying to run my body down. My father and brothers weren't happy about it. They had several people they wanted to barter me to. My mother kept taking me to doctors trying to find a way to bring it on. Anyway, eventually nature caught up to me and my family got their wish. There was a bidding war. I learned about the man who won when we had to sign papers announcing our intentions. From what I have heard, he is vile. Tortures the women he can get his hands on, I couldn't let that happen so I had to leave. I had to! I ran and didn't look back. I changed my name since my family only ever called me Marigold or Goldie. I haven't been in any place more than three months until I came here. I think the wards are helping me hide, but I should move soon. If I stay ahead, they shouldn't find me and shouldn't be able to force the marriage."

Desmond just stared at her without saying anything. 

"Yeah, it's fine. You can go," Meira whispered.

"No," said Desmond in a quiet but firm whisper. "I'm not going anywhere. And when you're ready to face them and get rid of this black cloud hanging over you, I'll be by your side to deliver whatever justice you think fits." Meira just nodded not looking up. "Can I sit on the other side of the couch. We can watch a movie or something to pass the time. Do you need another cup of coffee?"

"A movie would be good, but can it be a comedy?" Meira ask, "And I'm good on coffee for now."

"Just let me know if you want more. I want my balls left where they are, so I will fetch it for you. Do you have a movie in mind?" Desmond moved to the couch leaving plenty of space between them. 

"Have you ever seen Mean Girls?" asked Meira with a small smile.

"No, but to see your smile I'm willing to try it," Desmond said.

"Okay," said Meira, "I'll pull it up on Amazon."