He wondered what other abilities she was hiding until her question rang in his ears, interrupting his thoughts. Before answering her, he wanted to be sure that the weather was clear, which was confirmed by the happy chirping of the birds. There were a few wispy clouds from which the sunlight managed to pierce through and provide a beautiful rainbow marking the end of the rain. But who could say for sure that the weather had calmed down? It was late summer, and that meant one thing... Unsettled weather.
Duke looked at her, thinking for a moment, before standing up and leaning down, slowly reaching for her hand.
"The weather has calmed down. We can go outside." He said kindly, and he lifted her hand. He was holding it very gently, still worried about what she said. "I do not have shoes for you at this moment. Should I carry you?" He asked.
"No need for that, my lord, but if it pleases you to do that, I won't reduce,"
"There is a grass field nearby. I will leave you there and prepare some sandwiches. But first, we should take care of your lips. Do not move. It will take a moment."
He asked her as he sat next to her and turned her face towards him. Richard removed one of his gloves. He reached to the pouch, where he kept all his golden coins, picked out one of it and placed it on his lips. He took a deep breath and swallowed it. His eyes and hair suddenly shone gently with a golden light. He placed his index finger on the stitches that held her lips, brushing against her lips slightly. The threats started to fall slowly and disappeared as he slid his finger across them. That gentle touch of his made the innocent heart of the princess skip a beat. It offered her warmth and goosebumps at the same time. This kind of " magic " she unfamiliar with it made her relax and trust him a little.
"Thank you"her beautiful, strong voice echoed in his mind again leaving a sweet, pleasant feeling in his heart.
Once Richard finished healing the princess's hand, he felt her touch. It froze him in place, but it was not from fear. The gentle, thin fingers seemed so small and fragile compared to his hand. Slowly his dark eyes traveled from her hand to her face... She was wearing the brightest smile anyone could have.
"Um....Th-thank y-you"
Hearing her sweet, stuttering voice melted the ice around his heart a little. Still, he remained unexpressed. His work was not completely done. He knew very well that the scars from the continued stitches had left multiple marks. He had to heal them.
"No need to thank me. This will be beneficial for both of us." He replied, allowing her to enjoy the freedom for a moment. "Let me heal the wounds on your lips." He requested as he gently put his finger under her chin, trying to turn her face towards him again. Being this careful with her reminded him of taking care of a flower with gentle plum petals that will fall if he touches them too hard.
"Th-there is n-no need, m-my lord... E-Either way, y-you will n-need to st-stitch them a-again" She took a deep breath and moved his hand away from her chin. "T-too m-much touch, m-my lord... I-I-I don't l-like it." She added, then turned her back on him as her hand touched the wooden walls of the carriage.
"My apologies. Is there a reason why your mouth must be stitched?" He asked rather curiously. He found her weak voice rather sweet and charming, when she spoke using her mouth. He wondered how it would sound if she gained strength.
She shrugged her shoulders and then turned to him as she opened the door.
"I will be outside enjoying the rain..."
She used her magic again, walked outside and stood barefoot on the wet grass... it made her feel so free... Smelling the rain that had ended filled her lungs with the hope that she might not need to return to that tower... She walked gently into the center and smiled. Richard looked at her as walked so fluently, as if her eyes were not closed. She was strong-willed, proud and capable; that is how he viewed her at that moment. The driver looked confused through his window as he saw her walking away on the field. He rushed outside to his master, who waved his hand.
"It's fine. Return to your cabin. I will call you when needed."
Richard instructed, and his servant bowed his head before walking away. Richard looked at his hand. The golden energy still remained on him, and his hair kept shining.
"It seems I absorbed too much. How clumsy of me."
He said to himself as he reached to a compartment above the seats and took out a bag. Inside were bread, meat, fruits and cheese and two plates. He sat down with all those ingredients on the plate and rested his palm on each. The bread sliced itself into even pieces, the same went for cheese and meat with the addition of heating up. The cheese was placed first on the bread, then the vegetables that were also cut, next was the meat and another slice of cheese. Richard, in total, made four sandwiches before placing everything back in the compartment. He took the plate and stepped outside towards the princess.
"Enjoying yourself?" He asked as he saw her smile.
She turned around fluently as if she was dancing with someone. Her long black dress was waved in the air along with her hair.
"Y-y-yes..."
She spoke kindly, then walked to him and stood a few feet apart. Richard cracked a small smile as he saw her happily embracing the feeling of freedom. Oddly, he was reminded when he was a young boy, he took in a wounded bird. He spent weeks watching over it until it was healed. The moment he let it go was heartbreaking, but the sight of it flying away, after seeing it in a cage for so long, filled him with happiness. Princess gave him the same feeling even though he took her just a few hours ago, but it was obvious she was happy to be outside.
The smell of the food caught her attention. It was something new, something she had never had for years... Homemade sandwich. Her stomach growled once again, causing her cheeks to turn red "M-ma-may I-I-I have a b-bite?" She was shuttering, but she was trying her best not to show that she was placed in a difficult position every time she tried to speak a word or even make a whole sentence
"I made them for you." He answered her question after hearing her stomach growling. "May I approach you and hand them to you, Princess?" He asked politely, remembering she has a limit of how close one can be with her, which he planned to respect.
She nodded as she walked to him and then reached her hand to him with those fragile fingers of hers, she tried to touch the plate first and then slowly picked one of the sandwiches... She had a small bite. Slowly she started to chew , enjoying all those new flavors that were filling her dry mouth. It was so new. They felt like small fireworks exploding inside her mouth. Slowly she swallowed it and had another bite, and another and another. Richard looked curiously as she deovoured the sandwich at a steady pace. Of course, Aravis searched the plate for another one, and once she found it, she did not lose another second of thinking whether or not she should have that one too. She just happily picked it up and started eating at the same pace. Her stomach was so happy to finally have a normal human food and not some raw meat or a very old expired cheese. Richard was still standing there holding the plate for her, which surprised his driver, who looked at them from his little room in the carriage. Such care shown by his master was very unusual but also made the Dwarf smile.
As the girl was finishing the second and the third sandwiches, Richard was about to reach for his, but then she went for it and took it to munch on. The man was stunned and did not say anything as he was thinking about how to respond to this kind of behavior... Until Richard remembered he hadn't told her, that he had made two sandwiches for himself, hence the confusion. There was still the last one, but as he saw her eating with delight and appreciation, he allowed the hungry girl to eat all four of them. Once, she finished them and smiled at the Duke, Aravis kindly bow
"thank....you" once again she used her magic avoiding to show her weakness in speech.
"I can't allow you to walk around hungry, can I ?" He said rather casually and without any investment in his voice. "Do you wish to stay outside for a bit longer?" He asked.
She only smiled at him, then opened her mouth, took a deep breath and slowly exhaled... The gray clouds disappeared, and more sunlight came on the surface, warming the cold skin of the black-hair princess. Aravis then walked to the Duke and faced him.
" Am I allowed to?" She asked him kindly as her voice echoed once again in his mind
We still have a little time to enjoy the weather, though I wish to return to my land as soon as possible." He explained calmly.
"Then we shall go back in the carriage?"
She asked him kindly. Richard looked a bit surprised when she suggested going back. He assumed she would want to enjoy the outside a bit longer, but that was convenient for him, so he did not oppose it.
"Very well, let us continue our journey, Princess."
He spoke politely and with respect when stating her title. He stood to her side and watched over her as they slowly walked back to the carriage. She seemed rather thoughtful, even if her expression did not change, not even for a singe moment. Watching those stitched up eyes made him wonder if she would have as beautiful eyes as her voice. All those stitches made him want to help her out, but the girl showed a desire to do things on her own when she could, and she had already proven to him that she was capable. Her steps stopped and the young princess tried her best to speak about what was bothering her.
"I-I-I have a q-question, m-my lord."
"What is it?"
"W-will I h-have a b-bed t-too?"
Her question sounded rather silly to him, but then he remembered she had nothing a few hours ago.
"Yes, Princess. I will provide you with the basic needs to live comfortably." He replied rather seriously. "I think this will be a good time to discuss the terms of your stay at my estate now that you are fed and rested." He added halfway to the carriage.
She nodded as she began walking with him on her side to the carriage until they finally reached it. Her hand reached for the knob and slowly opened the door, taking a careful step on the stand, but little did she know that it was not safe... The wooden rung was somewhat slippery, so it only made her trip and fell back. Thankfully Duke's reaction was fast, precise and calm. He caught her softly so her fall would be as painless as possible. It was then that he noticed how lightweight she was. It was unbelievable. It was like he was holding a porcelain doll with hollow insides. She needed much care and healing, but he was not worried that she would get all of that with him. Her cheeks at that very moment took the color of the deep, rosy red color, feeling embarrassed of being clumsy.
"Are you alright, Princess?"
He asked kindly, helping her stand properly straight on the ground. The young princess only nodded, knowing that the cause was a slight swelling on her ankle. It happened during her stay on the tower. She tried to escape from those silver chains having as a result to sprain her ankle as a punishment, but she didn't mention it at all, trying her very best not to be a weight on the shoulders of the young Duke.
"th-thank y-you"
She replied. A deep breath echoed in the forest silence. It was the only way to remove her peti body from the pain. Once she calmed herself down, her hands touched the wooden door and this time, she used her unhurt leg to step inside and take a seat. She did her best to cover the swelling area of her hurt leg with her long black dress. The driver saw the commotion and stepped outside to see if he could aid his master and his companion, but before the dwarf could say anything, his monster raised his hand. The two men stood still as both watched the young princess gain complete control of her body and make herself at home. It was amazing how easily she could do so many things with her eyes shut. Of course, in the back of his mind, he could only imagine how hard it must have been on the first days and how much she had practiced mastering her sudden blindness.
"Everything is under control; prepare for departure. We will head toward the port without any stops."
Richard instructed. His servant bowed his head and climbed back to his diver's seat. The Duke ensured that Aravis had made herself at home before sitting back on his seat. With fast movements, he closed the doors and pulled the string attached to the small bell, signaling they were ready. Without losing another minute, the driver rushed the horse. The courriage was back on track.
Richard looked at the girl, thinking about how she changed the weather and held he held her. Such tremendous power in a frail body like that, maybe it was the reason why she survived such abuse for so long.
His hair was still slightly shining with a golden color. He noticed it in his reflection.
'Hmm. Still have some energy, it seems my control has improved. I should take that into account in the future.'
His golden pupils gazed the princess, who had curled into a small, dark ball. She was quiet, which made him wonder if she was also like that in the battlefield.
"How do you feel?" He asked politely.
"g-g-good"
"I am glad to hear it."
He said. Obviously, not mind the stuttering. Her ability to speak through mind was helpful, but he praised her desire to practice speakings.
Although it might seem a little bit easier to others, for her to try to speak a word again was something fresh and new. It wasn't easy to get used to both the sound of her voice and the way her lips were moving to form a word. In other words, it felt like she was a kid again and had only started to learn how to speak. She hated that her tongue was letting her down and made her unable to speak as fluently as she walked with her eyes closed or how she could almost manipulate her holy gift.
In despair, the young princess held her enormous black dress tight as she started to get shivers from tiredness; it was only a matter of just a few seconds before she fell asleep. It was one of many bad habits the war had caused her. Soon light snoring echoed in the carriage, mixed with the birds' song and the road sound.
"Now that you are rested, I would like to talk about your future."
He addressed her and waited for a sign that she was paying attention, but he quickly realized she dozed of almost immediately.
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