We walked out amongst the garden's of the castle. The wind seemed to tiptoe through the air, carrying soft murmuring from the bustle of town-square as it went. We walked slowly, allowing all the different scents from the different flowers to reach our senses. Aurelius made no sound, not even his foot steps would give him away. In the midst of all the flowers I could not even make out his scent, which usually smelled like a musky tree right after a rain storm. Most may not appreciate its smell, but it reminds me of nature, that Aurelius is grounded and strong.
Aurelius sat on a stone bench next to a rose bush with roses that have yet to bloom. He made no motion to me, but simply stared off into the distance. He seemed very heavy.
I sat next to him and gazed at his sullen posture. "Does something trouble you, Ari?"
A smile broke across his face and he looked over at me. "Did you just call me Ari?" He asked. I nodded. He paused for a minute and gazed again towards the trees of the forest. "I feel very troubled, but I will not burden you with such things." He straightened up, losing his sense of brooding for simple seriousness. "You should know I will leave in a week's time. The saxons are approaching, just as we have predicted, and will reach the border within a week or so. I suppose I may feel troubled that I have been scolded for training, but Merlin knows how necessary it is, I can't just sit here!" He stopped himself and took a deep breath. "Sorry, that was irreverent of me." He gave me a half-smile, filled with so much sorrow I thought it to be contagious.
"Do not fret, you are the strongest and bravest man I know. The saxons will flee the moment they lay eyes upon you, I am sure of it."
Aurelius gave a real smile that time. "You do know how to cheer someone up." He looked away again. "Hmm. I suppose if I must rest, I shall not mind spending that time with you. You really are quite fascinating." He chuckled. "Plus I do not have to sit through hours of unnecessary details like I do when I speak with Merlin, or that rabbit friend of his... what was his name? Edger? He really needs to be more careful, if a servant sees him no one will be able to protect that oddly dressed rabbit." My eyebrows furrowed at his words. "I met him when I visited you yesterday, my how he goes on.... But as I was saying, about others finding him, it really would not be good. Magic may not be punished like it is in most places, but a talking rabbit would not go over well with the people. I have no doubt they would either go after your brother or Edgar himself." Aurelius shook his head, "Enough about me, I would like to hear about you. I have decided to learn as much about you as I can before I depart."
I did not know what to say to this man. It would seem Merlin has told him a lot, so surely I could trust him by now. After all, he saved my life, he deserves to at least know the person he saved. Yet, there was something I knew well, and that was that he was keeping something from me, but what it was I haven't the slightest clue. You could just see it in his eyes, the way they seemed downcast, even when he smiled.
"So, tell me miss Fia, what kind of things do you adore?"
What did I adore? "The way the earth smells after it rains." I said, it being the first thing to come to mind.
"Ah, so you like the smell of earth after it rains, but not the rain itself?" He asked.
I looked at him for a moment, trying to put my thoughts together of what I know of myself. "The rain makes me weak, therefore it is unfriendly to me. Yet, sometimes, I wish to dance in it, and do not even know how to dance." I said, a strange kind of smile crossing my lips.
Aurelius smiled. "Tell me something else."
"I do not care much for dragons..." I started slowly. "I feel they haunt me, in the woods and in my dreams.... I do not understand what it is they want, and my brother wishes to protect them. I do not care much for dragons, and I do not think they care much for me."
"Yes, I do not think they care much for you, not in the way everything and everyone should."He murmured.
No comments:
Post a Comment