| |
EVYN LEFT THE CAMPFIRE, unable to handle the conversation and everyone’s attention any longer. She grabbed her satchel and headed for the farthest bedroll in the tunnel-like tent, clutching the bag to her chest tightly.
Each memory from the day weighed on her eyelids, her heart, her shoulders, pushing her down until she reached the bedroll, landing on her knees and folding down to her side, curling around the satchel.
She barely noticed him at first, until his words split the silence open. “Evyn?”
“Yes?” she whispered, unmoving.
“Do you want to talk?”
She thought about it, breathing in through her nose to calm her racing thoughts. Instead of answering, she sat up slowly and turned to face him.
As she situated herself, he did too, moving from kneeling on one knee, to sitting with one leg bent up, the other bent down to the side. He draped an arm over his upright knee and leaned forward. Her gaze caught on the scabs and bruises on his hands.
“You’re hurt,” she said, reaching out for the hand he’d set on his knee.
Enloris lifted it, holding it up just out of her reach. “I deserve to be.”
Evyn faltered. The wounds came from interrogating that soldier, she realized latently. She also knew the only reason he refused her healing was because of how she felt about what happened. It was unfair though, because she knew their lives and tolerances were different. Just because she couldn’t be the warrior, didn’t mean he couldn’t.
“No, you don’t,” she argued, gently reaching for his hand again. “I know you only did what you thought would keep me safe.”
He stared at her for a moment, then shook his head, lowering his hand back to his knee. “Every time I think I’m starting to understand you, I’m proven wrong.”
With his hand in reach, she pulled it to her, knowing full well she was only successful because he let her be.
“That makes two of us,” she replied, holding his hand in both of hers.
Touching wasn’t necessary for her to heal him, she didn’t even need to see the wound, but something instinctual within her couldn’t let go. In the low light of the tent’s lamps, the bruises looked black against his golden skin and the scabs shone like little embedded gems. His hand felt somehow both soft, yet calloused, like worn leather. She found herself turning the hand in different angles to see all the small scars and the way the veins rose subtly across the back of his hands over his bones.
She put the base of her wrist to his and the tops of her fingers barely reached the line above his second knuckle. He clenched his fingertips down on hers and she gasped, returning to herself, to her actions. Their eyes met and the right corner of his lips lifted in a small smirk, though his eyes looked... curious.
Evyn cleared her throat and pushed his hand down again to focus on the bruises and scabs. He didn’t ask, so she didn’t bother to explain. Even if he had, she wasn’t sure she could explain.
Closing her eyes, her cheeks warm from embarrassment, she tried to instead focus on his energy. He was tired, which made sense considering what all had transpired. It had been a long, long day for all of them. But, other than his hands, he was otherwise remarkably healthy. She couldn’t help smiling a little at that.
She tried to corral her attention, keeping it only on his vital health, as fear held her back from diving deeper, knowing more—the fear of discovering how he might feel about her. It was hard to tell, however, which answer would be most terrifying to find. Despite holding just the one hand, she healed both of them simultaneously, including any joint and muscle soreness throughout his body.
When she opened her eyes again, she found him staring at her, only this time with the softest smile on his face she’d ever seen. For a moment, gazing back at him, she felt like the most special creature in all of the universe. Heat rose up her neck to her cheeks at the idea. It had to just be his relief, or gratitude, she thought, but her heart raced in her chest.
His gaze left hers to look down at their hands, his still cradled in her own. He lifted them, slowly manipulating her fingers upwards, uncurling and opening them, before sliding his fingers through. She could barely breathe. His fingers played slowly with hers, mesmerizing her, and the gentle friction of them somehow sent shivers all over.
“Stay with me,” she found herself whispering, her voice a little raspy.
He paused and returned his gaze to her face, head tilting slightly. His expression was so unreadable, she could no longer hold his gaze.
“Stay next to me,” she said, face warm. “Tonight.”
Instead of replying, he let go of her hand, sitting back slightly, and her heart sank, but then he turned around. She looked past him to see Otsana entering the tent and heading their way. The Faunomancer stopped just behind Enloris, off to the side a little bit, wearing a concerned expression.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t know,” she began. “And we should’ve told you about the possibility of the amulet being planted on purpose.”
Evyn shrugged and tried to smile, but was certain it didn’t look genuine.
“It’s fine.”
“It’s not. You’re a part of this quest, too, and—I don’t know about them, but I see you as a friend, if–if that’s alright with you.”
At first, Evyn felt shocked, but then a smile grew across her face, and she quietly nodded her head, unable to put her feelings into words.
“Well, friends are meant to share things, not hide them, so I’m sorry.”
Evyn shook her head. “I already told you, it’s fine. You didn’t know what was going on because you were unconscious, which was no fault of your own, and as for the amulet, well, this one,” she pointed at Enloris, “didn’t tell me either, and I’ve known him for much longer.”
His eyes widened, before he grimaced slightly. “You’re right. I didn’t and I should have. Honestly, it slipped my mind that you didn’t know, because you were in the amulet when we talked about it. My mind was... otherwise occupied.”
He didn’t look at her when he said the last part, which was odd, because he wasn’t usually shy, but she wondered if things had changed between them now in a way that was irreversible. A small shiver ran through her.
Evyn shrugged it off. “I forgive you. All of you. I’m just... tired and need this day to end, and a new one to begin.”
Otsana smiled sadly. “Hear, hear. And... you promise you’re not mad?”
She nodded. “I promise. We’re friends and I’m not mad.”
The Faunomancer grinned and then ran past Enloris to hug Evyn, both of them falling over upon impact, and then laughing. They sat back up, still chuckling when the others began to enter the tent. Otsana looked over at them and then back at her.
“Don’t worry. I’ll tell them for you.”
Evyn smiled shyly. “Thank you.”
She grinned as she got up, giving a swift nod goodbye to Enloris as she left, who returned the gesture. He turned back to face Evyn and they smiled at each other.
“So,” he said quietly enough that only she could hear. “What was it you were asking of me again?”
Evyn felt her blush travel from head to toe before she looked away. “I can’t recall.”
He hummed low in his throat. “I believe it was something to do with sleeping next to you tonight?”
She shook her head. “Sleep where you wish. I’m going to bed now. Good night.”
Evyn laid down with her back to him, hearing his soft chuckle behind her. And it was the last thing she remembered before falling deeply asleep.