‘You draw?’ Adonia asked with a small smile.
‘Well I can’t read.’
‘It’s just I never expected someone like you to draw…You’re actually very good.’
Adonia was always taught the arts from a young age, sketching was never really her talent but the drawing of a woman’s portrait was beautifully done, the black and white image graced her features, showing a true image of what this woman looked like.
‘Friend of yours?’ she asked as she held up the drawing, Fenrir only glanced over but gave a sigh.
‘Sister.’
‘Oh, this is your…Sister…?’ she looked at the image again and saw the similarities, the same white hair, the same face just more beautiful and feminine. ‘…She’s very beautiful.’ Adonia said as she approached his bed.
‘Last time I saw her that’s what she looked like…She was eighteen when she was killed.’
‘What was her name?’
‘…Melda.’ Adonia continued to look down at him even as he kept his eyes off her, she could hardly tell if he was saddened but finally his gaze met hers. ‘What about you?’ she stared at him confused. ‘You lost your family too, what actually happened?’
‘…We were attacked in the middle of the night by soldiers wearing Reckson armour, at the time no one knew Griffiths sent them…They killed everyone, men, women, children, my door was locked for some reason but Greymire managed to break it down and rescue me, he took me to his camp and trained me how to fight.’ Fenrir stared at her, examining her emotions as she described the event, similar to his own experience with his sister, the story no longer seemed to cause much pain, not on the outside at least. ‘I should let you rest.’ she said as she placed the drawing back to where she found it and prepared to walk out of his room.
‘Adonia.’ his simple call made Adonia stop dead in her tracks and look over her shoulder. ‘Thank you.’ she gave a soft smile as a reply before leaving his room to let him rest.
Over the next couple of days Fenrir remained bed ridden even with his best efforts to stand and walk on his own usually resulted in a loud thud from his room. Adonia would often sit and watch him sleep, every night without failure he would have night terrors, he thrashed in his sleep, sweat poured down his skin with the expressions of pain and suffering etched on his face.
‘Has he always suffered like this?’ Adonia whispered as she and Barmic watched his condition, Fenrir violently thrashed his head side to side while he gritted his teeth, letting out faint whines and hisses.
‘Aye, ever since A found him, boys got a lot of demons in that heed of his.’
‘…I know.’ she sat on the dresser table next to Fenrir’s bed and continued to watch him.
‘Ye staying ‘ere?’
‘Yes…Need to make sure he doesn’t hurt himself again, last time he nearly pulled his wounds open.’ Barmic gave a soft scoff before handing her a small book.
‘In case ye get bored.’
‘Thanks, Barmic.’ she gave a tired smile and curled up her legs on the table while she read the small tattered book. It was nothing fancy, just a brief history of the mines and the families that worked there. As time passed Barmic also brought Adonia a blanket to keep her warm while she continued to watch over Fenrir’s condition. She occasionally glanced up from the pages to see him continuously thrash, she felt sorry for him, unable to find one moments peace. Her eyes became heavy as the flickering candle by the bedside prepared to die down, she curled up into the blanket, trying desperately to read, but her heavy eyes got the better of her.
The blanket that loosely covered her shoulders slipped and fell to the floor with a light thud but enough to wake Fenrir from his deep sleep. He shot up either from the thud or his nightmares, Fenrir instantly clenched the wound remembering the pain that he escaped from in his dreams. He wiped the sweat from his brow but looked to his side to see Adonia on the table, she was fast asleep at an angle, her head leaning against the wall.
How long has she been there? He questioned himself. He saw the thick blanket on the floor and gave a sigh, quietly he shuffled out of his bed and leaned over to pick up the blanket, Fenrir gave a sharp hiss of pain as the wound clenched at his body. But he bit his lip and forced himself to place the blanket over her shoulders once more, she curled up into the new found warmth without waking up, but as she moved there was a new thud, Fenrir looked down to see the small book on the floor. He quickly glanced at Adonia then at the book before picking it up and sitting back down on his bed. He scanned the pages before him, touching the words that made no sense, it was all a jumbled mess of lines and illustrations, he didn’t even know where to start.
Adonia’s eyes began to flicker open, she gave a faint yawn but saw Fenrir sitting there trying to make sense of the book she had dropped.
‘Thought you couldn’t read.’ she sighed as she rubbed her eyes.
‘I can’t.’ she shuffled off the table and sat down next to him, still wrapped up in the thick blanket and her eyes still heavy from her uncomfortable sleep. Even though she was tired Adonia tried to help him to learn, she pointed at the letters and words and said them, encouraging Fenrir to read along with her. Slowly he started to recognise some of the smaller words, but larger ones were still a bit of trouble. Her eyes became heavy again and without realising it, she was leaning on his shoulder. Fenrir looked at her and could tell she was tired, but he didn’t shove her away, she felt warm and soft but above all, comfortable. He gave a gulp and softly laid down the book before gently laying Adonia down on his bed. She almost instantly fell asleep, but he knew he couldn’t stay here, not in the same bed as her. Fenrir forced himself from the bed and tried desperately to walk on his own, even if he was hunched over. He gripped onto the railing and his side as he continued to walk down the stairs, Barmic looked up from the tavern as he wiped the bar and seemed amazed at Fenrir’s recovery.
‘Finally decided tae get oot of bed eh?’
‘Didn’t have much of a choice.’
‘Why? Where’s Addie?’
‘Asleep in my bed.’ Barmic’s face held an expression of shock but also glee.
‘Fenrir ye didn’t.’
‘No! That’s illegal and you know it, besides, she’s a Hardgrave- highest nobility in Alexander why on this earth would she pick out an elven slave?’
‘Stranger things have happened Fen, ye ken she’s been watching ye ever since.’ Fenrir slumped over on the bar, leaning his face in his folded arms.
‘Why?’ Barmic chuckled as he readied a drink for Fenrir and slid it in front of him.
‘She likes ye.’
‘…She’s nobility.’ he sighed, barely moving his face from his arms. Barmic gave a low chuckle and leaned on the bar in front of Fenrir.
‘Ye ken, A have a question for ye.’ Fenrir just lifted his head up so only his eyes were visible from his arms.
‘Why put up this whole “cold wall” act with her?’
‘What?’
‘The broody act can only take ye so far.’ He chuckled. ‘Wummin love that shite, so stoic n mysterious.’ He was met with Fenrir’s glare. ‘Ye can deny it as much as ye like but A ken ye like her, but ye act so cold tae her, can A ask why?’ Fenrir remained silent for a moment then gave a sigh as he reached for his drink.
‘To protect her.’
‘From whit?’ he scoffed.
‘The very day I met her she was attacked, she’s gotten into so many fights here, I tried to push her away, show her that it isn’t safe here that I’m not safe. But the girl’s so persistent, I regret the stuff I did, I just wanted to keep her safe even if it meant driving her away.’
‘Never took ye fae a softie, but A’ve seen the way ye two look at each other, it’s as clear as day that she likes ye.’
‘There’s no point Barmic.’ He sighed more out of aggravation then slowly began to drink. ‘Whenever this shit blows over Adonia will go back to where she belongs and I’ll still be here, and if that didn’t happen, she will be killed.
There’s plenty of people in this village alone that despise me and Arthur as it is just for being elves, could you imagine the outrage if someone found out that Adonia and I…’ he restrained himself, he couldn’t admit the thought of themselves even being intimate. ‘So, there’s no point…I admit.’ he sighed. ‘She’s one beautiful woman, so strong willed…Once she has a goal…Nothing can stop her.’
‘Like lookin’ in a mirror ain’t it.’ Fenrir gave a confused glare which only made Barmic chuckle as he made his own drink to join the elf. ‘A mean look at ye, all those wounds ye should be deed, yet ye keep fighting, ye both stubborn as mules, maybe that’s why ye clashed so much…Yet maybe that’s why ye two never gave up, A’ve ken ye fae years n if anyone even looked at ye the wrong way ye’d kill ‘em on the spot, ye n Addie have beaten each other tae a pulp yet ye two still kept coming back fae mere.’
‘I know she tried to avoid me.’
‘Only when ye nearly killed the girl but whit dae ye expect?’
‘Not for her to seek me out again.’
‘Ye kids will sort it oot eventually.’ Fenrir took another sip out of his drink before slowly swirling the tankard in his hand then gazed at Barmic. ‘A ken why ye left that night, even a fuckin’ blind man could see that.’
‘…I left to distract myself yes.’ He sighed, leaning his head in his hand. ‘I never expected to nearly die though.’ Barmic chuckled again. He looked on at his adopted son and gave a sigh as he watched him drinking, barely keeping any eye contact with him, it wasn’t like Fenrir, he was never intimidated by looking into someone’s eyes.
‘Fen?’ Fenrir glanced at him again. ‘Why ye scared?’
‘I’m not scared.’ Barmic raised his eyebrow, which made Fenrir groan. ‘Can’t we please talk about something else? I swear none of you will be happy until I run up there and confess my undying love for the woman for Divines’ sake.’
‘Give us a laugh though.’ Barmic replied with a smile which made Fenrir sigh and shake his head, but he remained silent. If it wasn’t just the fear of the act being illegal, it was his own personal experiences within slavery. Being a slave trained for bloody fist fights was nothing compared to the fear a young elven girl would experience. They were their master’s playthings, objects, he’d seen his fair share of young women going through such a hell of a life until the inevitable caught up with them, both the girl and child killed. Some girls were bought for this very reason, Fenrir often wondered in disgust if that’s why Griffiths bought his sister in the first place, knowing Griffiths’ history, it didn’t surprise him.
‘A’m going tae Nebine fae a couple of days, trade n such, ye want tae come?’ Barmic said as he leaned forward, breaking the silence.
‘…No, take Arthur with you, he likes the trips…I’ll set up the wagon.’ he said as he slid off the bar.
‘With ye injuries?’
‘I’m fine.’ he walked off with a wave which made Barmic slowly shake his head.
‘Stubborn as a fuckin’ mule…The pair of ye.’
Adonia slowly awoke, she softly stretched out but suddenly realised that this was not her bed, as she sat up, she expected to see Fenrir beside her, but he was gone. Embarrassed that she had fallen asleep in his bed she quickly stood up and went to see where he was.
He couldn’t have gone far, she thought to herself. The tavern downstairs was already starting to fill with patrons and travellers, Barmic was at his usual stance at the bar with other workers.
‘Barmic where’s Fenrir?’ he didn’t even respond, he only pointed to the door outside. She hastily walked outside to see Arthur and Fenrir stocking up a small wagon, Arthur had trouble trying to lift a heavier box which Fenrir took hold of for him and lifted. Adonia could see the pain on his face as the weight caused a lot of strain on his wounds.
‘Fenrir stop!’ he glanced over his shoulder while keeping the box on an angle against the wagon.
‘What?’
‘You’re going to open it again.’ she rushed over and helped to push the box up and into the wagon, she could tell he was trying to hide his pain.
‘Take off your vest.’
‘Why?’
‘Just show me your wound.’ with a sigh Fenrir lifted his vest to show the wound that was dotted with blood.
‘You see? You have to be more careful.’
‘What’s the worst that would happen?’
‘You could die.’
Fenrir folded his arms and leaned against the wagon, Arthur nervously stepped back, expecting them to argue once more.
‘I’m not dying any day soon, besides, why would you care?’ she stood silently for a moment, trying to think of a suitable answer.
‘I don’t want any of my friends to die.’
‘Friend? Is that what I am to you?’ her face turned red.
‘Well we’ve lived together long enough, and we haven’t killed each other yet.’
‘And what do you mean by yet?’ Fenrir shifted his weight from the wagon and stood over her, arms still folded but now Adonia hardly seemed intimidated by him.
‘Please Fenrir one hit to that side of yours and you’ll be on the floor.’
‘Well then, I best have a bodyguard, Arthur show Adonia who’s boss.’ Arthur gave a horrified stare until it was met with Fenrir’s gentle smile which melted Adonia’s heart, his stern eyes half closed yet still focused on Arthur gave a soft, welcoming approach and his barely noticeable side smile even made Arthur calm down. Fenrir grabbed a wooden cane from the wagon and stood behind Arthur but encouraged him to hold on and follow his movements. Adonia stood there with a smile but her heart turned cold, that’s how Greymire used to teach her. Fenrir taught the young boy how to position himself to try and playfully strike Adonia which she happily complied. The three played out in the opening like young children, no one in the entire village had seen the elves like this before, they usually worked either in solitude or silence. Overcome by the joy of her play, Fenrir gripped Adonia tightly, pinning her against him.
‘Quick Arthur the killing blow!’ Adonia felt lost in the tight embrace of his arms but knew full well how to get out of such an attack, she playfully stomped on his foot but barely hard enough to make an impact, Fenrir knew exactly what she was trying to do and played along.
‘Ye three done playing noo?’ Barmic looked on from the tavern ready for his travels. The trio all red in the face from their game, they smiled and laughed but Barmic happily shook his head. ‘Never in me days would A imagine havin’ three grown adults playing like bairns, especially in this shite hole of a village. Ye ready Arthur?’ with a smile still on his face Arthur gave a quick nod and returned the cane to Fenrir before climbing on the wagon. ‘Right, A’ll leave the inn in ye care, A better naw come back tae it burned down.’
‘Can’t promise anything.’ Fenrir said as he crossed his arms again but gave his small smirk.
‘N Addie, make sure he doesn’t get himself killed.’
‘Can’t promise anything.’ she giggled.
‘Ah ye pair will be the death of me.’
‘Barmic a second.’ Jenny called out from the tavern, her attire changed, ever since her night with Barmic she began to wear more clothes and refused customers more often.
‘Aye?’
‘Can you get me a dress?’
‘Ain’t ye got enough?’ he laughed.
‘A nice dress.’ She smiled. ‘The kind a lady would wear.’ He gave a soft smile, he couldn’t care less about how she dressed but Barmic knew it was for them, for their growing relationship.
‘Of course, me dear.’ With his acceptance Jenny smiled as she went to search her purse for coins until he waved his hand. ‘Dinnae worry aboot it, A’ll make sure tae get ye the finest on the market.’
‘Thanks, Barmic.’ She smiled before stealing a quick kiss and returning to her work. He waved them off as he climbed on the wagon and gently whipped at the reigns. As the pair sat off Adonia lightly held onto her arm and looked at Fenrir.
&n
bsp; ‘How long will they be gone for?’
‘Couple of days at the most.’ he held his side slightly before returning to the inn.
Adonia noticed his faint limp as he lightly clutched his side, he tried so hard to mask his pain, she noticed that a lot about his injuries or even his state of mind, how he could just handle the pain in silence she admired it from a bravery viewpoint but she still worried about him.
‘It still hurt?’ Adonia asked as she followed him.
‘Of course.’
‘You sound so used to it; being hurt so badly, how do you manage to brush it off so easily?’ They walked up the stairs but paused as they came to her room.
‘I’ve been beaten and tortured since the age of six, purposely making my skin harder and my tolerance higher. I guess you get used to it after a while, being an elf helps too.’
‘You heal quicker don’t you?’
‘Exactly…I guess that’s why they wanted an elf in the first place.’
‘You fought many elves?’
‘Not too many…People rely on brute strength and intimation; elves don’t normally get as bulky as humans, so they aren’t as intimidating.’
‘What about you?’ Fenrir gave a sharp exhale from his nose as he leant against the wall.
‘I told you my old name, struck fear into all my opponents, Dukan took a gamble, but I guess he won.’
‘At least you don’t have to worry about that anymore…If you don’t mind could you tell me what the Strages was like? I’ve never heard about it until I met you.’ He gave a sigh; she could tell it was a touchy subject with him, but he trusted her enough to comply.
‘It’s a big arena, sometimes dirt, sometimes sand always ends up red at the end anyway. But around it were these spikes that were around the walls and above to stop you trying to run away or they could be your weapons. Most of the time especially in my rank you’d only fight one other person, if you were lucky a noble might throw in a knife or a sword otherwise, you’d have to beat each other to death. The rats were the worst, the older the arena the braver the rats were, they knew that bodies would be left there days at a time but eventually they’d bite while you’re still fighting.’ Adonia winced slightly as she could imagine the barbaric sport and the conditions they were kept in. It made her look at his legs, just the thought of feral rats, jumping, scratching, and biting at your legs, she imagined the pain and made her shudder.
Bitter Wars- Ashes Page 15
