by Shieba » 02/10/2011 6:06 AM
Ailys indeed slept in the cave behind the waterfall, even though the noise distracted her. But she was still exhausted enough to sleep deeply and it was definitely nice to have water nearby, even though she couldn't drink it. Thanks to the recent weather, the lake was rather warm and she swam a bit in the morning, enjoying the peace the place offered. It was really a nice island and, after some quick inspection of the area, the forest around the lake also offered enough cover. Though it was rather boring, Ailys was used to stay hidden for whole days and so she waited patiently for Hina.
When the sun was about to set again and Hina had still not appeared, Ailys was almost certain she had either walked into a trap or the other Paragon had decided to forget about her, which would be very understandable. But just as Ailys was about to retire into the cave again, she felt Hina’s aura approaching the island. When she was close enough to land, Ailys also sensed great worry.
Hina, indeed with rather sore wings, smiled at Ailys when the other Paragon walked towards her. “Here I am, as promised. Don’t worry, I haven’t been followed. As I thought, there are patrols flying around since the search yesterday turned up nothing, but it’s not that bad. My uncle is still unsure if the whole demon-talk isn’t just superstition and said if nothing happens for two weeks, he’ll withdraw the guards. So that’s how long you have to stay here, it seems. And keep your aura hidden at all times.”
Ailys nodded. “I will, thank you. Did...something else happen? You are very worried, I can tell.”
”Heh.” Hina smiled. “Of course I’m worried. I left so late that I’ll probably get in big trouble when I get back. But I had no idea how to get panicked enough otherwise to provide you some food, so there was little else I could have done. So go ahead and eat now, I can’t stay forever.”
Ailys stared for a moment. Hina had done this much...for her? There had to be a catch somewhere, no one would ever do something like this for a dark creature. No one had ever been that nice to her, period. And so Ailys remained on guard, closing her eyes to fake eating while in fact rather keeping the area in check.
Hina waited for a minute, then growled softly. “You are not eating. Why not? You ate my worry yesterday, so why not now? I know it should be enough.”
Ailys’ eyes snapped open and she stared at Hina. “You can tell?”
”Of course I can! I can feel your aura growing stronger when you eat and I can very easily tell it’s far from how strong an aura should normally be, so you must be hungry. So what is your damn problem?! I told you how stupid you are, not eating when you hurt no one with it and I fully mean it! Heck, I am offering to you right now, so now that you also got me sufficiently angry, go ahead and eat!” Hina sat down slowly, even though all she wanted to do right now was throttling this difficult female.
”I’m...I’m sorry.” Ailys sat down as well, being rather shocked at the reaction she had gotten. “It’s just...no one has done something like that for me before. It’s...nothing I can really believe.”
Hina sighed, but said nothing more. She didn’t really want to calm down, not if it meant food to the other Paragon, so she just kept her anger flaring up right now and luckily, Ailys seemed to have gotten the hint, as she finally started to eat for real.
They stayed silent for twenty minutes; Ailys finally eating enough since days. Hina’s anger faded with the time, but the worry rather grew, so the Halfling had enough of a source for food. Hina herself watched Ailys’ aura carefully and was satisfied to see how quickly it improved over something as simple as a meal, however strange of a meal it was. So when Ailys, sated for the first time in months, finally sighed and stopped, Hina gave her a small smile. “Good. That’s what I wanted you to do.”
Ailys returned the smile. “It’s been a long time since I felt that good”, she admitted. “Is there something I can do for you in return?” There had to be something; Hina couldn’t possibly have done all that for her with no price in mind. She was a princess, after all.
Hina more intuitively sensed the direction Ailys’ thoughts were drifting in than that she knew. “I don’t think there is, really. Stop thinking that everyone is out there to get you, that’s just dumb! Just accept someone being nice to you. I can’t believe that I’m the first one to ever do so.”
”But you are”, Ailys insisted. “I’m a monster, why should someone be nice to me?”
Hina sighed. “I’m glad you’re stuck here for a bit. Maybe I can use the next two weeks to get these silly thoughts out of your head. I have to go now, for my father has issued a meeting for later this evening, but I’ll return tomorrow – late again, so you get enough food – and then we can talk in earnest.” She had to admit, she was curious about Ailys; not only because she was a Halfling but also because she had such a dark view of the world. “If you really want to do something for me, then just tell me your story. I want to know what happened to you to make you think so badly of yourself.”
I know my dreams are made of you
Of you and only for you
Your ocean pulls me under
Your voice tears me asunder
Love me before the last petal fallsHowever cold the wind and rain
I'll be there to ease your pain
However cruel the mirrors of sin
Remember beauty is found within