In time the rain stopped.

I left for the fields and gathered, what I could. My mind wasn't there. I kept mixing in useless weeds and even some that can actually harm a person if ingested.

Why I'm so preoccupied with what they doing?

I kept imagining them returning hand in hand laughing and it hurt my heart. Damn it..

I never should've talked to granny. Now she made me feel these annoying feelings, that didn't even exist this morning.

I was so lost in my own thoughts time slipped by me. I couldn't gather a lot of useful stuff..but I didn't care. I hurried home to see if they returned.

In the house was only those I left.

" You seem pale Lylly. Are you ok? " - Demelza turned to me.

" I'm ok Demelza..just hungry. Did Eleanor returned yet mom?" - I walked past them and headed closer in.

I sat down and picked up an apple and took a bite. It felt like swallowing tree bark. My stomach refused food.

" She did. She is inside with your grandmother. " - mother was busy with dinner, but nodded towards the inside. " Go help them, they taking account on supplies they need from the city."

I slowly went inside expecting them together with granny. But he was not here.

" Hey Lylly is there anything you want from Malai? We doing the summer trip with some of granny's council friends." - Eleanor turned to me without any indication where is the man she left with. " It's still weeks away but, I rather have the things you need first on the top of the list. Bare in mind our budget is..not great. We probably won't go again until early winter."

I wanted a bunch things my coin purse was light though.

I wanted to go with them. I always enjoyed the life and energy of that city. First thing first..

" How come your back? Did you found Ilianna?" - I stepped further inside and tried my be nonchalant expression.

I couldn't come out and just ask where the hell is he? Can I?

Eli seemed supper upset for a second. She saw through my cleverly worded question?

" We did...she refused to come near us until, I left! " - she squirmed and punished the a bag of innocent calendula. " He is with her probably, he promised her some lessons. I can't believe she didn't let me stay!!"

I felt a relief that made me ashamed. I need to go and check upon them.

"..Where are going Lylly?" - I heard Eleanor voice, stopped in my tracks.

I almost left without a word.

" I'm going to check on Ilianna. You must've frightened her." - I pointed towards the outside. " I left your work outside the house. Go sort through them will you?"

Then, I left without hearing her reply.

I run past some people who looked at with strange eyes. Me running wasn't that big surprise right?

Why do I run?

I did stop half way panting, stamina was not one of my strong points. I walked the rest to Alexander house.

Once closer enough, I heard the noises from afar, the clashing sounds swords made. Is he fighting?

I went around the back and saw two boys from this morning sparing in the middle of the field. Doing there best imitations of actual fighting, now I don't know a lot about swordsmanship but, this looked pitiful.

Where are they?

" Lylly?"

I turned to my side and there they were.

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

Ilianna clinging to his neck seems sleeping with a blanket around her. Her hair still damp from the rain.

She looked so peaceful though, safe.

" H-hey...I heard what happened from Eli. " - I did my best to wipe the sweat off from the earlier run and, hid my eagerness. " She is distrustful..but not with you huh? You two seem close already. "

I went closer to them and gently caressed her back careful not rob her from this moment.

He smiled happily and rested his head on hers. There it was.. his real smile.

" I don't know why but, she seems to trust me. I need to be careful not to break it." - he looked up with more life in his eyes than, I saw since he woke up.

'She might with our help change his heart.'

My granny's words rang in my ears. He only meet her a few hours ago. Yet he so clearly cares already.

Remembering his wounds, maybe it's a blessing he doesn't remember. He must've had a terrible childhood. Maybe even a terribly hard life as a whole...so why not stay?

Why not at least try? Reach.

" Then maybe..you shouldn't.. Maybe you should just stay.." - I kept my hand on her back and tried my best to sound impartial. " At least until she is better, you promised her lessons, no? "

He looked straight into my eyes with an unreadable expression. Then looked at little Ilianna sleeping face. He looked so long and to deep in thought I was afraid he just say no...

Before he could answer though, Eli arrived with her friends.

" I see you're able to bring her out of that cursed forest. Good for you." - she went closer, panting a little herself.

For Ehlite couldn't they just waited 10 more seconds?

I got up and felt my face burning.

" Yes she is a very shy little lady. " - he adjusted her a little and turned to my sister. " I'm sorry, I never would've thought she might ask you to leave."

" Please don't worry. She just needs time, one day we be close I hope. - she shook her head and couldn't decide whether to touch the sleeping girl or not. " You two look adorable together."

" Thank you Eleanor. I'm sure you will be close soon. "

Debatable.. although now that I think, Eli had more interaction with her than me.

I do believe though, that this little girls unconditional love, might be just what he needs to heal his mind.

" We heard this morning little fight with Jartok. - a plain looking brunette, one her friends changed the subject. " Is it true you almost killed him with a single kick?"

She spoke inflated nonsense.

Even if he obviously came out on top at the end. From someone seeing the entire incident no matter how you look at it..it was the other way around right?

" No that's not..it's not what happened." - he looked confused with a hint of annoyance.

He looked at me and this time I understood him perfectly.

I told Eli and her little friends what actually happened.

" I can't believe he almost killed you..." - they were quick to condemn Alexander after hearing the story from me. "...but, sounds like you put him in his place."

The two laughed like seagulls. It hurt my ear.

Eleanor been giving me the evil eye..it didn't let it bother me.

I will fight..in my own way.

When, I saw him smiling holding that little girl gently. Back then I already decided to at least give granny's words a try and see where fate will lead if I fight.

It was sudden..maybe not so sudden, after all.. I did watched him since he woke up.

Granny words just forced me to confront these hidden feelings of wanting to know more about him. Helped dissolve my doubts stemming from my bad experiences with man.

"..hmm.."

Ilianna woke up from those creatures laughs.

She rubbed her face into Zephyr and closed her eyes again.

She felt protected once smelled him and smiled. It was such a change to her morning expression from earlier, like two totally different little girls.

" Hey..you can just go back to sleep honey...I'm sorry we woke you."

She looked at me and stiffened under my gaze, but once Zephyr meet hers, she relaxed again. She still looked somewhat distrustful but ...

" Hmm..okay." - her voice was shy but, not hostile at least.

" Hmmm.."

I felt happier than should've and, the look on Eli and her friends face was priceless.

" Ilianna...she is my friend and granddaughter of my benefactor.. " - he gained her attention and she ended up looking right at me after his explanation.

" Her name is Lylly like the flower."

" Nice to officially meet you Ilianna. " - I offered my hand unsure if she will take it.

" Hmm.." - she shook my finger a little.

She hid back into Zephyr's chest and pulled the blanket over.

She must've done something under the blanket because, Zephyr laughed out loud out of nowhere and lifted her up in the air, blanket and all.

He spun slowly with her having quite some fun and hearing that little girl laugh stopped even the idiots fight.

This scene looked so peaceful..like a father playing with her daughter.

Alexander came over and tried his best to make her laugh or just amuse her a little. It soon turned into a silly tournament of the four trainee and their master making various faces and beating each other up.

It was a tranquil scene.

" You seem to have changed your attitude towards him big sister. What happened?"

Eli walked beside me and smiled at the scene as she talked.

" You know what happened Eli you most likely asked for every second of it since we left." - I enjoyed her puffed up cheeks. " My my, you seem annoyed. Perhaps children are just not your thing. Or is it the man that holds them?"

I pretended to think hard and pushed her over.

" What is this? Are you really interested in him now? - she kept her voice down, but touched my elbow to make look. " ..and the kid didn't look in love with you either if my eyes didn't cheat me."

I didn't wanna upset her that much..and she did have a point, she made her interest clear from the moment we found him. But does that mean she automatically won?

I looked at the wholesome scene in front of us.

" Who wouldn't be interested Eleanor?"

She looked at Zephyr as well. I felt a sense of relief now that it's clear and out in the open.

" I suppose you were right Eli...our boring days truly came to an end."