“M-y family?” I asked trying to hold back the anxiety in my voice. I didn’t want her to know. If she finds out...would she still be here? Would she leave me like everyone else?
“Yeah! I would love to meet them. I want to see where you live.” She asked in such a happy voice. I didn’t know what else to do… So we went.
We passed the merchant towers, around the blacksmiths, and into the darkness of a seemingly abandoned alley. I could understand if she had been nervous, but instead, she followed me without question. We arrived outside of a beaten-down hovel. My home was nothing but a one-room closet that the owner turned into a rentable a few years back. It was big enough to sleep in, so I suppose it could have been worse.
When I approached the door, I was so scared of Aeliana’s reaction… I pushed and the door creaked loudly. Inside it was dark and rather damp. The only light source was a single candle sitting on the table beside my mother’s bed…
My mother… was laying in the bed. The door must have woken her, because she sat up to greet us. Something I knew was a great strain on her. The pain marked her face, even as she tried to smile.
“Honey? Is that you?” Her voice was hoarse as usual. “Who is your friend?”
Mom hadn’t been well for quite some time now. The illness had already taken her body and was just starting to take her mind. She often did not remember who I was, or even where she was. It was painful to watch, but I loved her. I would do anything to see her get better. After she stopped being able to work, I picked up what I could. It was barely enough to cover the rent, and in recent months it was not even that, but I tried. I knew eventually things would get better….
“It’s so good to meet you! I’m Aeliana.” She didn’t make some sideways comment or look. She didn’t leave.
Instead, she walked into our pathetic life and made it better. She spent a long time talking to my mom. I think it was good for her to have someone to talk too. Aeliana had so many stories, which my mom clearly enjoyed. She would close her eyes and picture the things Aeliana would describe. Beautifully intricate stories of Warriors and Queens danced through the one-room shack, as if it was normal for them to attend such a place. It had been so long since I had seen my mom smile like that.
That was the moment I think… the moment when I knew. This girl was the one I wanted. I was gonna marry her someday…
***
My head pounded as my senses began to return to me. The sounds of mumbled whispers, first, then, I slowly felt my strength returning and I forced my eyes open. The room was dimly lit and my vision was still blurred. I blinked away the fuzz in my head and attempted to focus on the scene around me. What happened? I remembered the attackers. I remembered the darkness, the pain. Did they kidnap me instead? Wait… Liam… Where is he?!
I jerked up from my bed. Turning from left to right trying to see him, trying to find him. He needed to be okay. He needed to be alive. I needed him to be… The blood rushed to my head and I felt myself become dizzy. I tossed my legs over the side of the bed and tried to stand. My legs came out from under me and I stumbled to a wooden post.
“Hey! Take it easy there.” I looked up, trying to find the voice. “Beautiful, you need to calm down.” I felt a hand rest on my forearm and I looked over with every intention to fight the man holding me. I swung, but my dazed mind seemed to have caught up with me because I missed. In fact, I nearly fell to the floor as my arm traveled past the face… that face. I knew him.
“ Eák! … What happened?” My voice was hoarse and I could hear my own desperation. “... Liam… is he…” I couldn’t… I didn’t even want to know…
“He’ll be fine. Thanks to you.” His voice was gentle and sweet. Something I hadn’t heard from him before. When I looked up, he was looking at me, no gazing. He was waiting for something.
Without an explanation, Eák turned and sat on the bed next to me. He turned his face away from mine. “You are a fool.” While the sound of his voice lacked his usual playfulness, it didn’t seem that I was being scolded, not how a father would a child. But instead, when he turned to speak again I noticed a small tear in his eye. His face was angry. “How could you put yourself in that situation?! Four on one?! After Liam was down you should have come to me. We should have fought together. Why would you put yourself in that much danger?”
“I did what needed to be done.” My confidence surprised me.
His eyes closed and he took a heavy breath. He grabbed my shoulders, opened his eyes, and I could see something. He seemed conflicted, unsure, battling inside himself with something I did not understand.
He pulled me towards him. My body practically fell in his direction. I didn’t have the strength to hold myself anymore. His arms wrapped tight around me and his face pressed against the side of my head. All around me I was surrounded by his warmth. “... You know you’re not invincible… You nearly died.” The strain in his voice pulled at my heart. I didn’t think.. I was just doing my job.
The door to the room opened and an older gentleman walked inside. His back towards us at first, once inside the doorway he began to turn. “When the lady fully awakes, I should be able to examine her more thoroughly-”
Eák pulled away and stood before the man. I nearly fell backward at his abrupt motion. “She is awake,” he said. He looked back at me, gave me his usual flirtatious smile and walked toward the physician.
I couldn’t hear what he whispered, but he said something and walked out of the room.
The physician turned his attention to me. “How are you feeling?”, he asked while grabbing for something in his bag.
“I’m okay. My head is pounding.”
“Understandable, considering you nearly died. I’m glad it’s not worse.”
“Almost died…, “ I began “, so... how did I… What happened?”
“Hmm... He didn’t tell you then.”, he started. “You and your attending were attacked. The man fought bravely, but was incapacitated. By the time Eák arrived, you had been set upon and nearly lost your life. He finished off the last of the men, and carried you here, so I could treat you.”
Eák saved my life… The memory of him played in my mind. The look on his face, the feeling in his arms, and the anger in his eyes. He saved me.
That’s when the next thought hit me. “And Liam..? What of my attending?”
“Oh. He is recovering well. He received some serious injuries, but I believe he will be able to return to your employ after a few weeks.”
“I want to see him,” I said, sitting up from the bed again. I pressed my hands to the end of the post and pulled myself to my feet.
“My Lady, I really would advise getting more rest before you attempt anything strenuous.”
He seemed to implore me, but I had no interest in his reasoning. Liam was hurt. I needed to see him. I needed to ensure he was alive. Last I saw of him... I needed to see for myself.
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