Late morning sun pierced her solitude in the form of a small bar of light, through the drawn curtains by the time Delilah stirred. It had been two days since the events at the dock with Lachlan, Mavrik had left her be to her slinking around the house the day before. Clearly treating her with caution as she licked her wounds, she let her head fall back onto her pillow. Eyeing the arcane book she had fallen asleep reading.
Her door swung open after a gentle knock.
"Delilah?"
She recognised the voice, feeling the bed sag as Rose sat on the edge and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Will you do me a favour today? You don't have to if you don't feel up to it" She cooed in a motherly tone, reaching out a gentle hand to flatten down the devil kin's unruly hair. Drawing Delilah's panicked attention to her exposed features, causing Rose to quickly shake her head "it's okay! Mavrik explained everything to me. You're safe."
"Mavrik told you?" She pulled herself to sit up.
"I found him pacing and talking to his horse in the stables" The older woman laughed lightly as she stood and pulled open the curtains. "He was rather concerned when you didn't come out of your room yesterday and thought you might need another girl to talk to" She continued.
Mavrik had asked Rose to talk to her because he was worried?
"You said you needed my help?"
Rose beamed brightly "That's right! I have some errands I need to run in town and the others are busy with all the staff change overs. I was hoping you'd accompany me."
Delilah wasn't a fool, she knew this was likely a ploy to get her up and out of bed but she embraced it. Nodding, "I'd love to" pushing aside the flash of terror at the thought of running into Lachlan and his friends.
"Excellent! Get ready then and I'll meet you at the gate."
Delilah shook her head, gathering herself up and steeling her thoughts as she threw on her freshly cleaned and folded clothes. This time slipping on her brigandine and weapons, before stepping out, finding Rose exactly where she promised, basket in hand.
"So, I want to pick up a cake from the baker for Alec. His birthday is today, you inspired me with how you made dinner for Mavrik. I want to surprise Alec, and a few other things from the square."
She listened intently to Rose as she rattled off various things to keep an eye out for on her errand list, making their way towards the main square. Hefting random sacks of food into her arms as Rose made various stops.
"I'm sure he'll appreciate the cake, he won't be expecting it" Delilah beamed, relaxing as she felt the warmth of the sun push through her cloak.
"So, Delilah if you don't mind me asking. How did you end up traveling with Mavrik?"
She smiled in assurance, knowing it didn't reach her eyes as she lightly licked her lips. "I was adopted by a cook in Crowview. But she was killed, Mavrik found me and promised he would help me find out what happened to her. I've travelled with him ever since." She explained.
Rose nodded, rubbing her stomach as if trying to picture her own child without it's parents. The two fell into an awkward silence as neither woman knew what to say, while they continued to weave their way through the street.
Delilah could sense the words on the woman's tongue, she wanted to talk about what had happened the other night with Lachlan.
"You can ask" she assured.
Watching the tension ease from the woman's shoulders, she caught Delilah's hand and guided her to stone bench so they could sit.
"Did that man lay a hand on you?"
She blinked, realising what the protective mother to be was asking.
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
"No. Nothing like that" a sly smile sneaking across her face, "I kneed him before he could get too close."
"That's my girl" she pet her back in relief, laughing lightly.
"They just said some cruel things and ruffled me up a bit. Really he did me a favour, turns out Lachlan was not the type of person I want to waste my time around" She shrugged, feeling a small weight lifted off of her as she opened up to Rose.
"Good, he's not worth your tears or the power to kick you down" Rose affirmed, looking across the street. "Will you wait here with the shopping while I pick up the cake? I'll be just over there." She assured.
Delilah nodded, gently setting the sacks of food on the ground and adjusting them, picking at the burlap, when she heard the crunch of boots in front of her.
"That was fast?"
Following them up to the face of their owner she froze at the sight of Lachlan, entire body tensing, moving to leap to her feet, until she hesitated. He looked like absolute shit, lip swollen and sporting a black eye. His open good eye was darting around, pupils dilated with sheer terror as though he was looking out for something, or someone.
Lachl-"
He stepped forward, shoving a small package into her hands "I'm sorry. Look, there I said it. What my friends and I did was wrong."
She frowned in confusion as he snatched away from her "Now tell him I apologised, please. I swear I won't come near you again, none of us will and we won't tell anyone what you are."
"What?"
"Look. Just call him off. Alright?"
Looking around him frantically as he backed away and leapt behind the side of a building out of sight.
Tell who?
She looked down at the package in her hands, carefully unravelling it, a few cone shaped red fruit flecked with seeds tumbled onto her lap. Delilah stared down at them for a few long moments strawberries?
"Well, that should be almost everything are you ready to start heading back?"
Delilah hastily tucked the strawberries into one of the pouches on her belt. "Uhm, yeah let's go."
She started to head towards the Manor, feeling Rose pull her arm.
"We have one more stop" Proceeding to pull the young woman towards a tailor's shop.
"What do we need here?"
"Our dresses of course!"
Delilah stared at her, tongue tied as she tried to make sense of her words. Causing the woman to laugh "We're throwing a small ball to celebrate."
"Celebrate what exactly?"
"What isn't there to celebrate? It's Alec's birthday, it will be my last party for a while once the little one is born, and we've just taken over the manor as it's new lord and lady. I was hoping you and Mavrik would grant the honour of celebrating with me."
Delilah felt a small smile on her face, perhaps this was just the distraction she needed. Following the eager woman inside.
"I hope you don't mind, I went ahead and ordered you a dress. I took one of your shirts from the laundry for the measurements. I wanted it to be a surprise." She explained sheepishly.
Delilah opened her mouth to reply, stopping in her tracks as a seamstress held out a deep red layered dress etched with gold, it's design resembling a simple elegance.
"Delilah?"
"What about.." her mind racing. She couldn't imagine her cloak looking right over the top of the delicate fabric, feeling trapped as though the walls were closing in on her and whispering taunts. Feet carrying her out of the door, as she took a shaky breath of fresh air, clenching her fists in defeated frustration.
The door opened next to her, Rose stepping out with a concerned frown her arms wrapped around carefully folded fabric, wrapped in paper with the cake box balanced on top.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have sprung all this on you" She apologised.
Delilah shook her head, feeling guilty. "No, I'm sorry for stepping out suddenly. It's just.." She took a deep breath, shoulders slumping. "I can't hide my horns with that dress."
Rose blinked "Oh heavens! Delilah you won't need to. It will just be the Manor staff and us!"
Delilah blinked "I.. thought you were throwing a big ball?"
"I admire you having faith in my ambition, but even I know I can't organise a big to do last minute" she laugh, hesitating as her gaze turned hopeful. "Will you come?"
The devil-kin kicked a loose rock with the toe of her boot "Are you sure.. I will be welcome?"
"Absolutely!" Rose nudged he gently with her hip "You can trust us."
Delilah relented, excitement quickly quelling the anxiety as she nodded, laughing as the woman looped arms with her, precariously balanced fabrics and cakes teetering wildly.
"Rose! The Cake-" She began, a familiar snowy feline materialised in front of the pair catching and righting the cake box with ease.
"Lunar?" Delilah smiled "I didn't know you were still in town?"
Rose looked between them"ah so you two did meet?"
She looked at the woman in surprise "you know Lunar?"
The lady nodded, "she asked after you and Mavrik the day you two came into town."
Delilah nodded laughing as the Tabaxi sniffed the cake box curiously "fruit cake?"
"Ah yes, for my Alec. We're throwing a party tonight, you're welcome to join us. Any friend of Mavrik's and Delilah's is a friend of ours" Rose beamed. The tiefling bit back a laugh at the surprised look on Lunar's face, clearly invitations to high status affairs was not normal for the fellow monster hunter either.
Lunar recovered with a shrug "perhaps, I was intending to leave town tonight."
Rose seemed undeterred "great, we'll see you there." Delilah chuckled at the bossy lady she was still arm in arm with.
"Come on, we have so much to still do."
Surrendering to being pulled away once Lunar carefully balanced the cake back on top of the dresses with a quizzical expression.