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The dawn was starting to break as Karlin went to his high-walled kitchen garden to gather more herbs and vegetables, planning to make his guest a nice broth to help her get her strength back. She had felt light and weak when he had carried her into his home hours earlier. He hoped that a simple broth followed by strawberries and cream would make her happy. He did not eat meat and was of the belief that animals should be left alone to live carefree and contented lives. The garden layout was well planned. Fruit bushes, herbs, outdoor tomatoes and sweet corn were on one side of it and the heavier crops such as potatoes and swedes, turnips and beans were on the other side. There was also a large gothic-styled greenhouse at the very back where he grew his more tender crops that needed constant warmth. Usually he took his time and enjoyed this quiet hour, but this morning he rushed - gathering what he needed so that he could get back to his lady.
He quietly opened the bedroom door, and glanced inside to check that she was still sleeping and not wandering around lost with her mind filled with worry. The room was pleasantly warm and he wanted to keep it that way. He had a good store of wood in a wicker basket, which he reached into as he put three logs onto the fire. Then he left the room closing the door behind him before he started the task of washing and cutting up the vegetables. He did not peel them because he liked the goodness of the skin. The broth was ready when the sun was rising high in the sky and he added basil and rosemary to the pot for extra flavour. The recipe had been passed down through generations of his family but it had never been written down. He had a lot of memories, especially about his grandmother whom nobody had understood. Everybody had thought her strange because she liked to live alone with just her garden and books for company. His mother had been totally different and she had wondered if her son was going to follow in his grandmother’s footsteps and be a recluse too.
Rowan opened her eyes and then squinted, as she tried to adjust to the sunlight streaming through a crack in the dark curtains which were only partly drawn. She yawned and stretched just to see if she still could. Then the previous night’s events flooded into her mind and she wondered where she was. The room was large, and the bed she was in was a comfortable four-poster with dark red drapes around it with a velvet quilt in a matching colour. She did not want to get out of the bed as she was warm and relaxed, and yet she wanted to know where the man had gone. He seemed kind and caring, but that could just be an act for something more sinister and she wanted to be on her guard even though her tiny body was no match for his large frame.
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EVENTUALLY ROWAN TRUSTED Karlin and enjoyed his company. Even though he had told her that time had no meaning and just to live each day and night by the moon and sun, she had a feeling that she had stayed here for a while now and he had never hurt her or upset her. He taught her how to blend the herbs into nourishing drinks, make the vegetable broth and how to fly above the cliffs and watch the sea. It had felt strange when he stroked her back and she had changed into a bird and learnt to fly but she got used to it and loved the freedom.