Grounded By Love

by Lily Thomas

While she spoon-fed him, Kaeldar wondered again why she was taking care of him. Did she live alone or in a village? Was she healing him so her fellow humans could just interrogate him?

  So many possibilities floated through his exhausted yet active mind. And how could he not question her intentions? She was a human female. All humans should be held at arm’s distance.

  She didn't tremble at the sight of him. Her hands were steady, and she held herself with confidence. Then again, this was her domain. Of course, she would be able to hold her head high.

  He did wonder why she wasn’t terrified of him, a big bad rock giant in her tiny cottage. Unless she was used to saving injured rock giants. That would be interesting.

  Claira busied herself with cleaning up the cottage, until a loud knock came at her door, and she nearly jumped sky high.

  Her heart rate beat against her rib cage, as she frantically looked around. She went over to the rock giant and tucked him in so only his head was sticking out. Then thanked the heavens her cottage was dark inside.

  Taking a deep breath, she opened the door, and let out her breath when she met Robert's gaze.

  “What are you doing here?” Claira asked unable to keep the irritation from entering her voice.

  “To join you for dinner of course.” He gave a long intake of breath, as the scent of her soup drifted on the currents of air.

  Robert stepped forward. When he drew too close, she took a couple steps back, which gave him the chance to walk right into her cottage.

  “Robert!” She almost barked at him. “Please leave. You are unwelcome within my home.”

  He plopped down on the chair next to her fireplace and made no move to leave.

  With a groan, she faced Robert. Why did he have to be so pushy? She couldn't help but take a glance at where the rock giant was laying on her bed fast asleep.

  Robert noticed her glance. He stood and looked at the bed, and his eyes darkened. He marched towards her bed, but she swiftly blocked his way.

  “Is there another man here? In your cottage?” Robert burst out in burning rage.

  “I’m healing him. There’s nothing to be upset about.” Claira begged, but Robert brushed past her and flipped off the blanket.

  Robert’s mouth dropped and his eyes bugged out of his face. He’d thought it was a human man, but he now saw it was a rock giant.

  “What game are you playing at?” Robert whispered heatedly. He backed up as though the truth had slammed into him. It allowed her to shove herself back between the two of them.

  “No game. I’m trying to save his life.”

  “You should slit his throat, where he sleeps.” Robert said facing her. “I can do it for you, if you will only hand me a dagger.”

  “No!” She protested vehemently. Claira covered the rock giant with the blanket again. Then she pushed Robert to the doorway of her cottage. He was still in too much shock to give her much of a fight.

  He turned to face her. “The villagers will not treat you pleasantly, if they find out what you’re doing here.”

  “They won’t find out, if you can manage to hold your tongue.” Claira stared him down. She didn’t have any practice at being intimidating, but she was doing her best.

  Robert turned on his heel and went to mount up on his horse. Turning his horse to face her he warned her again. “You’re playing with fire, Claira. That rock giant will slit your throat, if you don’t do it first.” With that said, he galloped away.

  Claira watched him, until he disappeared. She knew he wouldn’t do anything to endanger her life. Not when he was so intent on trying to convince her to marry him. Or would he? He could be rash at times, and she had seen the fire in his eyes.

  He might let something slip or think he could save her if he told the others. There was nothing she could do about it now, except to help the rock giant out of her cottage as soon as possible.

  She wouldn’t give him another dose of the tea. He needed to get up and out of the cottage, and he would need his mind to be clear. He might very well need to fight for his life.

  Chapter 3

  Within hours, Robert was back at her door, and she could tell he’d been drinking. His breath reeked of ale.

  Robert heaved in a gulp of air, as though he had run all the way from the village. He pushed past her to take a seat on the chair in front of her fireplace. He cast a glare at her bed, before looking back at her. Holding his side with one hand he panted. “They found out, Claira.”

  She froze in place, but clarified. “About what exactly?”

  “The rock giant, what else?” He glared at the sleeping form, got up and looked into her eyes. “It was an honest mistake, I had a few too many glasses of ale with some friends.”

  Claira was floored. He came almost every week to profess his love for her, yet he’d betrayed her. Her emerald eyes flashed with vexation.

  “How could you do this to me?” Claira motioned towards the rock giant. “He is almost better. I have poured so many of my hours into this rock giant. And now because of your mistake you’re going to make it a waste of my time.” She accused him hotly.

  “They’re coming for him, Claira. You must hand him over or else they’ll take you as well. I don’t want to see you hurt.” Robert pleaded to Claira.

  “Then you shouldn’t have told them!”

  “You allow a rock giant in your bed, but you will not take my hand in marriage?”

  “I have explained we would not make a love match!” Claira waved her hands in the air. How many ways did she have to reject him?

  “You would come to love me, in time, like all other women. I would see you well off, if you would just accept me.”

  Kaeldar woke to the sound of an angry female voice. His eyes cracked open, and he saw the human female talking with a human male.

  Tensing, he waited to see what they were discussing. Was she going to turn him over to the human male?

  By the tone of her voice though, Kaeldar doubted she wanted the male to be there at all. She seemed irate with the human male, but the drug in his system was making it hard for him to understand what they were talking about. He knew the human language, but right now all he could make out were jumbled words.

  When the human male reached out to touch her arm, Kaeldar felt rage spark through him. Then he took a mental step back. Just because she had cared for him, didn't mean she was his or that he wanted her.

  He just wanted to help her get away from the male, who she clearly held distaste for. Her face scrunched up, as she continued to talk with him hotly.

  Looking to the window Kaeldar saw it was night, and he wondered how many days he’d been here under this female's care.

  As her voice got louder, he struggled to piece together their conversation. Kaeldar wanted to know what was going on around him and if he should fear for his safety.

  Eventually, his mind cleared enough so he was able to glean a little into what was being discussed.

  She’d saved him and brought him to this cottage by herself. Then she’d tried to keep him a secret, so the villagers wouldn’t know. Then this scum of a male had decided to get drunk and let her secret spill. After hearing their discussion, he knew the male had put them both in danger just to get rid of the rock giant threat.

  Growling he rose up on an elbow. “Human female.” He managed to get out from between his stiff lips.

  He could tell he had shocked them, when both of their spines stiffened. They turned in unison to stare at him in astonishment. The female’s eyes were wide with unease and surprise, while the male’s were filled with hatred.

  There was no way this human male had spilled the secret on accident. Kaeldar could tell the human male despised him and wanted to see him lying lifeless on the ground.

  With yet another growl, he let himself fall back onto the bed. He wasn't about to talk to the human female with the male standing right there to hear every word. He had to convince the human female to let him go, for her safety as well as his. He needed to
get back to his people to rejoin the war efforts against the humans.

  They were a plague on this land… except for maybe one.

  He eyed her, as she led the human male out of the cottage and closed the door.

  Grabbing Robert by the arm Claira dragged him out of the cottage.

  She was still shaken by the gravelly words of the rock giant. He’d spoken in their language. She had to wonder if he knew more. Maybe she would be able to talk to him at some point.

  “Thank you for letting me know.” Claira said, trying to play it off. She needed him to leave, so she would have time to think.

  Robert followed her though, as she made her way to her vegetable patch to stare at it in the dark.

  “What will you do?” He inquired.

  She shrugged. She had no idea what she was going to do. What was the next step to this mess she’d brought down on herself? Sometimes she wished she had a friend, or a family member, someone she could talk to and know they had her best interest at heart.

  “Nothing, I suppose.” Claira whispered, more to herself.

  Seeming proud he had, perhaps, swayed her mind, he sauntered off. Only to turn around and tell her, “Just let them take the rock giant. He isn't worth your life, Claira. Many in the village would love to get their hands on a live rock giant.”

  With that he strolled off to where he had left his horse. He struggled to get into the saddle with how drunk he was, and she smirked. He had no chance with her.

  She glared daggers at his back, wishing he would drop dead. Robert could be such a pain in her neck. Which shocked her, she’d never felt that way before. She was really starting to change. First, helping a rock giant, and now she was wishing ill on someone else.

  Once he disappeared, Claira went to tend her vegetables in the dark. She was thinking of making a heartier soup for the rock giant. He would need it for his recovery.

  Then she frowned to herself. He was as good as a dead. Why was she concerned with feeding him? Plopping down on her butt Claira racked her brain for what to do.

  She could let him fall into the villagers’ hands, but she wouldn't be able to live with herself, if she did that to the rock giant. They would torture him for days, just to get their frustration out on something.

  If she didn't turn him over, then she would be the one to take his place at the stake. It wasn’t a thought that sat well with her. The villagers wouldn't blink an eye at burning her. She wasn't really considered part of the town’s people.

  She was a witch who lived alone on a hilltop. Someone they feared, but also needed, until she was determined to be too dangerous.

  The rock giant still had an infected wound. Without the attention of a healer, he could relapse and die. Claira chewed her bottom lip, as she debated everything with herself.

  She would have to get him out of here before tomorrow morning. The villagers would need time to get their pitchforks ready and gain enough courage, but they wouldn’t stay away for long. Hopefully, they didn't decide to come this night, because she still needed a little bit of time.

  Happy with herself she plucked some vegetables for their dinner. She almost felt giddy, even though she knew this was going to sign her own death warrant. She would figure a way to save her life, but she couldn't watch the giant die, not with all the effort she’d put into saving his life.

  Once inside her cottage, she cut up the vegetables and plopped them into a pot of boiling water with some spices and a leftover chicken carcass.

  Looking over at the rock giant who was sleeping soundly she decided she would have to stop giving him the tea. He needed to be awake, if she wanted him to ride to safety.

  Claira would have to make sure her horse was ready, before morning light pierced the sky.

  Once the soup was cooked, she served a small bowl and went over to the rock giant. Though she hadn't given him any more of the tea she knew it was still in his system, so she’d have to spoon feed him.

  But her fingers trembled slightly. Eventually, he would be able to get up on his own, and she just hoped he would remember she’d been the one saving his life. She was under no delusion he could easily kill her with his bare hands, if he found her to be a threat.

  Sitting next to his head she gently sat him up a bit.

  He woke slightly at her touch, and she sat the bowl of soup in her lap. Taking the spoon, she did her best to suppress the tremors in her hand, and pressed it against his lips. Claira was delighted, when he took the soup into his mouth and chewed the vegetables. It meant he was indeed doing better, and the tea was wearing off.

  After three whole bowls of the soup, he finally went back to sleep, and she was able to get herself some dinner.

  Claira couldn't stop fretting about when the villagers would come. The slightest noise from outside had her jumping, even though she doubted the villagers would come at night. They probably didn’t want to risk battling an enraged rock giant in the dark of night. They’d most likely wait until first light.

  It would also take them some time to gather, and then travel all the way to her cottage, since she lived quite a distance from the village. But when they came, they’d be out for blood.

  Chapter 4

  Before the rays of early morning showed over the horizon, Claira rushed to bring her horse out of the stable. She was going to miss her horse. He’d been her only companion for years, and she thought they’d have many more to come.

  But now was the time to get the rock giant to safety. Her healing was not going to be a waste of time, not if she had anything to say about it. One kind deed could go a long way.

  She came back into the cottage, grabbed a bowl of warm soup. and walked over to the bed. Looking down at the rock giant she couldn't help but smile. Whether or not he realized it, she’d worked a miracle here. If she hadn’t noticed him moving on the battlefield, he would be a rotting corpse.

  She wished the rock giant had more time to rest. He would still be sore and exhausted. The blood loss had been almost impossible. Unfortunately, time was running short for them.

  She woke him, hoping he would take the spoon from her. Then she might believe he had a chance at riding a horse away from her cottage without falling off in the woods.

  It felt like there was sand in his head, scratching his brain and eyes. Whatever drug she had given him, it was starting to wear off. Thank the gods.

  He could feel her sitting next to him on the bed, his head cradled in the crook of her arm. A warm spoon was placed against his lips, and the scent gripped his stomach in hunger. At this point, he could care less what it was she was offering him, because all he wanted was to gulp it down in ravenous bites. He hoped his appetite meant he was on the mend.

  Strangely enough that meant he had the human female to thank. He was still bewildered why she was healing him in the first place. Why wasn’t she blinded by rage? Every other human could barely stand the sight of a giant, yet here she was.

  But he was thankful she was helping him, whatever her reason. He would’ve been dead by now, if he’d been left out in the woods. Kaeldar also wondered at her strength, both body and mind. She must have struggled with bringing him to her cottage.

  What a feat for a female with such a small frame. He knew her horse had dragged him up the hill, and he’d been conscious long enough to know the work she’d put into him. He wished there was a way for him to thank her. Other than verbally, he had nothing to offer in payment.

  There was still a nagging darkness in the back of his mind, he could feel it calling to him. Kaeldar pushed the shadows away. He wanted, no, he needed to be awake.

  Opening his eyes, he looked up into green pools. Never before had he seen such piercing eyes. Every rock giant had coal black eyes.

  The human female gave a gasp, when she noticed he’d awoken. Then promptly dropped his head onto the pillow, as she got up from the bed backing away with the bowl of soup in her hand.

  Letting out a groan he grimaced in her direction, so much for her taking car
e of him. She’d just given him whiplash.

  Her small hand came up to cover her mouth, as she uttered something that sounded like an apology.

  Now he had a ringing in his head to add to all his other symptoms.

  But he did feel better, and he wondered if his wound was still all that bad or if he would be well enough to leave. He was sure he was making her life more difficult by being around. After all she had done for him, he didn't want to over stay his welcome any more than he had to.

  Claira stared, as the rock giant groaned. She was sure she’d hurt him by dropping his head so quickly, but he startled her. The thought never crossed her mind, he would wake, while she was so close to him.

  She should have expected it though. She hadn't given him another dose of the tea, and by now it's effects should’ve worn off. If anything she should rejoice from this positive sign.

  Mumbling an apology, she tried to get her heart rate down with some deep breathing.

  Now that he was awake she wasn't sure she wanted him to stay that way. She saved his life, but she didn't know whom this rock giant was. There was no telling if he’d randomly decide to kill her.

  Hoping to find out she ventured, “I hope you can understand me, but we need to get you out of here, when you are able to ride.” Claira looked at him hopefully, but he didn't respond. He only kept his steely gaze pinned on her.

  Clearing her throat, she continued on. “The villagers know about you.” She frowned. “Someone I thought I could trust has given you, my secret, away. They will come, and they will want to torture you. We can both be sure of that.”

  He continued to just stare at her blankly.

  Putting her hands on her hips she continued on. “I personally would like to help you, but I’ll need you to assist me or to at least understand what I’m saying to you. After all I have done, I don’t want to see you burned at the stake.”