Completed Seeking Comfort

[Noah Amuel]

32 Summer, 515

Noah took the lead quickly, looking for some form of landmark to guide him to the Stallion. It had been some time since he had been there, having had delivered a package there only once in his time as a courier. He scanned the little skyline that Syliras had and looked for a familiar point in the sky where the sun stood. If he was here, and the sun was there, then the Stallion had to be this way, he deduced. He stopped short of the crowd and looked to Elann. Whatever was the matter with the girl, this could only make things worse so he offered his hand for her to hold as to not lose track of one another in the torrent of people.

The gesture was non-romantic, and he hoped that she took it as such. If she didn’t take his hand, so be it, he’d continue anyway. The first steps into the crowd seemed to be the worse as he had to find his own footing before following the rhythm that was already put into place. “Excuse me.” “Apologies.” He would mutter as he nicked passersby with his long arms and otherwise lanky frame. The Kelvic kept glancing skyward for another landmark and when that wasn’t found he’d listen to the voices of shopkeepers and those who stood idle off to the side of the river of people for a sense of direction.

He turned off the main road of Syliras and paused, hoping Elann was with him. If she did take his hand, he’d grip it tighter it in an attempt to reassure her all was going to be alright. The Benshiran woman’s red eyes had taken the Kelvic aback previously. To see that such a person felt a pain that caused her to cry made his heart heavy. A knot seemingly formed in his own throat that prevented him to talking clearly. He took a breath and dove back into the crowd. “This way,” he would say to Elann.

He peered back at her, hoping that she was still going strong and fast in the rush hour. Their destination would be seen soon or so he hoped. He glanced upwards again and caught the last words of a directional sign. They’d have to make another turn here soon, he thought. He chugged onwards not deterred by the bustling brook of people. It would appear that he had adapted to the rapids of people quite quickly, matching their pace step for step and eventually found his own rhythm within the tide. He dodged people this way and that, even saved a woman’s precarious box of things from crashing to the floor when she was bumped quite hard by another hurried person.

Syliras was full of life in these moments and oddly enough, he found himself liking it. It differed greatly from the traffic-less skies he usually traversed yet he felt he could blossom here much like he did in the Woods. Finally he spotted the white and red sign that was the Stallion’s. On the sign was what seemed like a bronze horse rearing up with the simple word ‘Tavern’ beneath it in brown writing. “There,” Noah would say to Elann if she could hear him. If not he’d simple lead the way, eventually breaking loose of the crowd and coming to the door of the establishment. He’d take a breath, surprised by his own memory before holding the door open for Elann.



This thread is a continuation from here.

[Elann]

.

There must have been a terrible curse upon her soul to have been through what she had, but regardless there was always a hand to help her up. At the moment it was the arm of Noah, who's lengthy arm and taller height matched her shorter arm's length. Bringing her arms from where she hugged herself to having one upon her chest with curled fist and the other reaching for his. As her skin touched him she could feel the cool skin of his that was shortly matched with warmth far exceeding hers. He may have even been shocked at how cold her hand was. While she never sweat regardless of the heat, her skin felt clammy in the cooler temperatures here. She nodded at his directing and showed by nod that she was ready.

While she felt she could handle the crowds, she wanted some comfort and some directing at the moment rather than having to figure out where she was. She could now leave that to Noah and just focus on trying not to trip. As he moved through the crowd she observed the various people she passed. Each of them were busy in their own regard, having business that took them to and fro within the castle. She then considered the happy place she just left and slowly as she walked a smile snuck back upon her face. When he eventually started to trip over people she reacted a bit, trying to dodge backwards a little bit while still holding his hand. Eventually they made it though, albeit not the most graceful amongst the travelers on the road.

Once they turned off she took her hand that was at her chest and reached up, then tucked some hair that had fallen loose back behind her ear. He gripped her hand tighter and she gave him a smile in response. She seemed to be doing better on all fronts and the strength in her seemed to return to her back to her old self by the time they arrived at the tavern. She could barely hear him over the crowds of people talking nearby and the odd business nearby hawking goods. Elann followed and once he looked to the sign, she did as well. A large horse in red was upon the it and was rearing back. It reminded her of the horses of the desert and how fast they were and with great endurance. There were faster than they, but it reminded her of home.

Elann gave Noah a kind look as he returned her hand and opened the door for her. It was strange to be treated as such because at home she lived in a tent. When you wanted to go in, you just go in. You never really thought of holding open a door for someone as there was no door to do so. For that reason it took her a moment to understand what he was doing. It was only due to his beckoning look that she made an excited "oh" face and walked in first. As she entered the first thing Elann noticed was the smell. There was an overwhelming stench of ale, food, and sweat. While it was perhaps more tolerable than the sewage smell outside and who knew what else, it was still something she wasn't used to. She paused inside and looked backward to Noah to make sure he was coming.

There were wooden chairs scattered about the room along with tables of normal make. People were chatting with each other and playing games in the distance, doing something she didn't recognize. They were throwing something at a strange designed board. The light was low in here and the patronage seemed to consist mostly of burly muscular men and the occasional woman. Being the place that the Syliran guards would rush off to after being done with training, most of the men in here looked as though they could handle themselves in a fight. Her eyes traced to the fireplace that was shooting rays of light through the various chair legs and tables. She decided she would like to sit near it as she was cold and had been for a long time. As she made her way inside with Noah hopefully in tow she noticed the man behind the bar and his missing arm. She considered how hard it must have been to do his job. It was at that moment Brucila, one of the barmaids, greeted them and as she could see which table Elann had picked out she gave it a quick wipe for them and asked what she could get them. "I think we wanted some lunch? Maybe an ale? " she looked to Noah to confirm.

Other's Words ~~ My Words ~~ My

Thoughts

[Noah Amuel]

Noah entered the establishment after Elann. The door closed with distinguishable thud that alerted the current patrons of the bar that newcomers had arrived. Some eyes glanced their way and Noah was met with friendly nods from the men and smiles from the few women there were. He brought his hands together to warm one another. The one that had held Elann’s grew cold, no doubt aided by the woman’s own clammy hand. It wasn’t as if the day was any colder than usual for an Syliran summer. Noah chalked it up to Elann being from a desert area where it probably was way hotter than Syliras on any given day.

The tavern hadn’t changed much since Noah had last been here. If anything a chair or two had been moved but that was all, if he even noticed that in earnest. He followed Elann’s lead, skirting around the perimeter of the bar until they happened upon their table by the fireplace. The warmth was welcome. Before he could sit in his chair though, one of the barmaids had come and gave it a quick wipe down with a dingy towel.

He sat across from Elann and set his hands on the table, curiously searching for something to play with and occupy his mind while they waited for their order. He did smile though at Elann’s words. “Some ale,” he corrected quietly. The barmaid shared Noah’s smile.

“It’s alright, dear. I knew what you meant,” she said in a friendly voice. She tossed the dirty towel from one hand to the other and gazed about the main room. “So, two lunches and some ale for the both of you?” She looked at Noah to confirm.

“Yes,” he answered.

“Alright then. Today we’ve prepared roasted quail, freshly baked bread, and potatoes mashed with butter.” She seemed proud of their options today. “I’ll bring it out to your shortly. In the meantime, make yourselves at home and welcome to the Rearing Stallion.”

With that she was off and Noah occupied his hands with one another. Nothing loose on the table caught his attention. His sights settled on Elann. He wondered if he should wait for her to speak first. What would she have to say? he wondered. The Benshira appeared stronger than earlier, the trek through the crowd seemingly toughing her up. He cleared his throat. He did not have a great way with words especially in what he deemed a delicate situation. It was always his mother that dealt with emotions that ran high in their home. His father would just grunt in agreement.

To mimic his mother he cleared his throat again as she always did before she spoke in her calculated way. “Are you alright?” he asked, cutting right the point. His words nowhere near as delicate as his mother’s. “You seem…” he searched for the right word, “sad.” He scanned her face for some sort of reaction. “We could’ve stayed at the orphanage a little longer if you wanted.” He wondered if that was the problem that caused her so much heartbreak.

[Elann]

.

Elann had her hands under the table rather than on it. She observed Noah as he seemed to search for something. She didn't know what ever for though. She gave a quick glance to another table opposite of them to see if something was missing. When she realized there was nothing different about their table than anyone else's she considered what he was looking for.

Silently she listened to the barmaid when Noah spoke to her, nodding at what he was saying. When he corrected her common tongue she flashed the barmaid a grin and said, "Yeah". The barmaid appeared to be a kindly person for the most part and though this place was like nothing she had been in before, she understood the concept. Once their order was taken and she had left their table Elann looked to Noah. A thwack was heard and she jumped a bit. The people playing darts occasionally would get their angle wrong and the dart would smack loudly against the board. Over time she would have gotten used to it and had to be honest that she was a bit curious about what it was exactly, but it scared her slightly in that instance. When she looked back to him, he was looking at her, and he seemed calculated with his hands together as they were like he was going to ask her something serious. He then asked her if she was alright.

Elann's head dipped down, letting her precious locks of dark brown hair flow down in front of her face. She looked through them at the table as he spoke. She brought her shoulders up defensively and leaned her head slightly to the side so as to show shame. She said in a sad tone. "I'm alright. I am just...compassion?" she asked to clarify her meaning. She wasn't sure what the word was exactly or if that was how to use it but it didn't stop her. She continued saying, "It makes me sad because they are so happy. It makes it harder. I think they were wonderful though." she flashed a smile to show it was all okay. "I think we left at a good time. I just think..."she sighed and lifted her hands a little bit before flopping them back down into her lap in fake-frustration, "I would take them all home and ...love them forever." She had a smirk on her face, showing she didn't like the situation and the lacking realism to do such a thing as take them all. The topic of conversation made her fidget a bit with the muslin cloth on the back of her hand, running her hand up and down her other in a stroking motion. Now she considered if that was why he was looking for on the table, something to fidget with.

Other's Words ~~ My Words ~~ My

Thoughts

[Noah Amuel]

When her head dipped Noah couldn’t help but notice her locks of hair as they dangled before him, the lantern above giving off a glow to compliment the sight. They drifted to the side as she moved her head in that way. Noah listen attentively to Elann, studying her lips as she spoke. Her voice was quiet but maintained the gentle twang and charm that he adored. Her accent, although present, did not get in the way when she spoke, even when she tried her hand at words foreign to her.

He noted that she talked with such a body language that could portray how she felt without her needing to say words at all. She was an expressive person, whether she knew it or not. He liked that too. Her reasoning for being sad struck a chord with Noah’s on sullenness on the topic. He agreed wholeheartedly that he’d like to guarantee the children a home where they knew someone loved them unconditionally, besides their current caretaker Aenysa. The woman seemed kind enough but the Kelvic couldn’t tell if it was just her mannerisms that made her appear as if she really loved the children or if there was truth to it at all. The woman could, for all he knew, just doing her job and doing it well.

He was glad that Elann thought they left at a good time. Even though he had said they could’ve stayed longer, he didn’t know if his appetite would agree. His empty stomach was scolding him now, the hunger paining him now as it grumbled in agitation. Noah didn’t put it past Elann to be the loving, motherly type with the way she talked and behaved around children and even Noah himself. He remembered them in the kitchen of the Welcome Home, she tending to his face with the rag making sure he was spick and span before allowing him to re-present himself to the children and Aenysa. She even went as far to wipe the excess oil from his face so that he didn’t appear to be a shiny mess.

He felt his face now. It was soft to the touch, the oil seemingly absorbed since then. When Elann finished talking, he remained quiet for near a chime or two as if deciphering what was said. He gazed to and fro across her face with his own olive eyes in this light. “You could adopt one…” he suggested. “Or donate to the Home when you can spare the funds.” He thought that was the better option. Guessing by the look of Elann’s age, she appeared way too young to be considering adopting a child half her age. “We can continue to visit too,” he continued. “So that they have someone to play with.” He smiled now, signature dimples showing as he did so.

“Also, you meant to say that you’re compassionate,” he would add. With a lack of things to fidget with Noah preoccupied one of his hands with a curl in his hair. He would play with it, pulling it out until it straighten before releasing it and feeling as it snapped back into its curl.

[Elann]

.

Spare the funds he said. It would be a while before she got paid. It was not an option for what she could do, yet perhaps his other options were much more able to be accomplished. She nodded in thought at them, at the thought of adopting one of them. "Wouldn't that be delightful" she thought to herself. Suddenly a rush of the images of children filled her head and for really the first time she considered what it meant to have children. She seemed deep in thought as he continued to speak, her eyes staring at the grain of the wooden table and interpreting its pattern. A feeling of happiness and yet sorrow filled her mind as she stared at the table and she was forced to look away.

"Next time we will have to stay longer. Maybe there is a way we could spend the night there and sleep with the kids. Or..." her excitement came back and she happily said, "we could bring all the little girls flowers for their hair. They would like this." she sat back in her chair, leaning up against the wood of it so that she looked smaller in the chair. He played with his hair in a cute way and it really reminded her of the bow in his hair so she seemingly chuckled at random. Her cheeks turned red once more, flush with excitement at the thought, she eyed his hair, seemingly pointing to the object of her laughter.

After a little bit she brought her hands up from her lap to her stomach as she lay there leaned back in the chair. She wanted to ask him some things as they had been piling up from the moment she met him. This really was the first boy she ever really desired to talk to so it was somewhat of an interesting position that she intended to make the most of.

"I do weaving...what do you do for work Noah?"

Other's Words ~~ My Words ~~ My Thoughts

[Noah Amuel]

Noah was glad to see Elann sit back in her chair, seeming to relax some. He allowed himself the luxury as well, and slouched over on the table, propped up by his elbows and forearm. The Stallion’s loud noises slowly dulled as he became use to the thud of darts, clank of mugs, cheers of men, and babble of nearby women.

He had mixed feelings of Elann’s words. He wasn’t sure if they’d even be allowed to stay with the children and even if they were, where would they sleep? He doubted there were guest bedrooms especially with the amount of children there at this time. It would have to wait, especially now that new children had recently arrived at the Welcome Home. Aenysa was no doubt still getting them settled in. Still he smiled at her words. If it was possible he wouldn’t want to do it with anyone but her at this moment. “I think they’d like the flowers,” he would add after her suggestion.

The one hand that was twirling with his hair came to a pause as the Benshira looked at it. After he realized what she had chuckled it, he set his hand down partly embarrassed by her laughter. His cheeks flushed with a twinge of red at her laughter, he had wanted to ask her to stop but didn’t want to damper her mood in anyway. He’d rather she be laughing at his expense rather than wading in sorrow for the children. Her happiness and normalcy seemed to balance Noah’s, which felt odd to the man.

He fidgeted with his fingers, tracing up his exposed forearm and shoulder. His hand came to rest at his shoulder where he then rolled his head. He felt his neck crack before lowering his hand, tension relieved. Elann told him of her occupation and it seemed to fit her. From what he saw of her hands and fingers and personality, they seemed to compliment her work. He wondered now about the makeshift bandage on her hand. Is that where she got the wound from? Weaving?

It took him a moment to realize that she had asked his occupation too. “I’m courier,” he answered. “I deliver mail and parcels to people that need them.” He added the extra for the sake of Elann, in case she didn’t know exactly what a courier was. “Did you hurt your hand weaving?” he asked in quick succession. He attempted to lock his own eyes with hers as he awaited an answer. He hoped his stare wasn’t too intense for the Benshira.

[Elann]

.

Elann was glad he thought the flowers were a decent idea. She considered how kind he was and how that differed from her initial view of him. He came across as almost cold, dark, and thoughtful. Now he seemed almost like a fun child comparatively. It was good to see that like her perhaps, he was shy around others and yet had a courage in him to overcome it. She was guessing of course but she thought about these things as he played with his hands and popped his neck.

Thinking of Noah as a courier did seem to fit. He was lanky like a runner, and when he hopped off to get his bag he did move somewhat swiftly. He also could keep up with her walking speed so it all fit. Her thoughts were interrupted however as in quick succession he asked her about her hand. "My hand?" she looked down at it thinking about what to say. She then presented it to his sight from where it rest, still keeping her hand on her end of the table. He could see it clearer now that it was dormant and lie in his sight in the light of the fireplace. Around her wrist there was wrapped the muslin cloth and it did so a few times. It then proceeded to be wrapped up between her thumb and index finger so that the bandage wouldn't slip down. She turned it over so he could see the other side of her hand and then back again. With a voice that indicated hesitation she said, "No...I fell upon a fire pit?" she couldn't think of the common word for Brazier and continued, "it burned me all down to here." She points out past the bandage where there surely was some light scarring, though very hard to see.

She brushed it, feeling slightly embarrassed about the flaw upon her. She spoke further on it saying, "I could not feel right here" she points to her thumb pad where the gash was that could very lightly be seen through the cloth and was a shade of red being revealed through the white cloth. "So a doctor came to my place at Travelers Row. She cut this and now I can feel just tiny things." meaning that she could feel a little bit. Being burnt on the surface didn't destroy nerve endings, but a deep horrible wound could last months and the scarring could cause such temporary nerve loss. She had such a wound.

Other's Words ~~ My Words ~~ My Thoughts

[Noah Amuel]

His steady gaze shifted from his companion to her hand as she lay it on the table. The cloth’s body wrapped around her wrists in an overlapping way to keep it tight before securing anchors in the nooks between her thumb and index finger as well as between her middle and index finger. It seemed to hold tight to her delicate, tan skin. He examined her wrist with a calculated stare. Below the body of the cloth was a scar, only visible against her skin due to it being minute shades light than the rest of her. He was sure when her skin paled, come autumn and winter, the scar would fade until Syna’s rays brought her skin back to its luxurious and tan texture.

Her explanation for the cloth caused a noticeable frown to pull at Noah’s lips. He tilted his head and thought of a scolding, one that he knew all too well growing up as a boy. He shifted in his chair as she pointed at the nearly invisible scar.

The weaver’s hands were much too delicate -- in Noah’s opinion -- to be harmed in such a way. He imagined Elann stitching with her bandage and wondered if it would slow her progress at all. Surely the girl was quick and gentle with her fingers if she was a weaver, but perhaps weavers weren’t the best at balance? Maybe they focused too much on their hands and not enough on their feet and center of gravity. Noah then imagined a weaver trying to walk a tightrope while stitching. It was an amusing thought that was soon sent away when Elann began to speak again.

This time the woman spoke about her thumb losing feeling. He wondered what that was like, unable to feel the things he touched. It seemed to be a terrible fate, for he could not even begin to compare it with the touchlessness of Zulrav’s winds against his skin and feathers. The speck of blood that pressed through the white cloth caught his eye and another thought of his mother came to mind. She would kiss such wounds and wish the pain away with a quick melody. The melody was what came to mind and he was tempted to open his mouth and let a chord or two come from his throat but, Elann’s further speech of a doctor put a stop to that.

Noah wondered when the altercation had happened and where was he? If the physician had visited Elann in her home, was Noah not at his or in the lobby when such a visitor arrived? He must have be working or, better yet, hunting. The doctor had cut into her thumb in, what Noah assumed, was an attempt to relieve the pressure and inflammation that surely occurred after the incident. He wondered now if it pained her at all. Even if it did, he was glad that the brazier had only harmed her hand and not the face he adored so much.

He tried to remember if Elann had held his hand with her own bandaged one. Did he not feel the cloth or not remember what the cloth felt like? He couldn’t judge the material that made up the thing, even from this close. He was not well versed in the different types of cloth but could tell a few of them apart from their touch and texture in his own hands. With the thought of hands his mind wandered over to the thought of Elann’s. When he had led her to the Stallion they were cold and clammy. They even transferred such feelings onto Noah’s hands and cold was something the Kelvic had not known since early Spring.

He brought his hands together and rubbed them within the other attempting to warm the more chilled of the two. The fire they sat beside aided in the task immensely. The man wondered about Elann again. Was she still cold? Had the fire helped her in any way, shape, or form? Noah soon realized that Elann was finished talking. “When did you hurt yourself?” he asked harder than intended, leaning in on the girl slightly.

[Elann]

.

It perhaps seemed to her that Noah very well avoided her questions, or not avoided them, he definitely answered them. But what she wanted was the embellishment. She wanted some details. What did he do as a courier? What did he like best about it? She found herself curious as to whether he didn't like to talk about himself that much or if he was just a bit cautious. She considered now his question about her hand. Retracting it from where it lie, she closed her fist with it and gently moved her thumb to rest on top of her hand. She replied thoughtful, "Two months ago." His insistent tone and leaning forward that made it almost spring to her mouth but then she slowed herself after the comment. She considered leaving it at that, to let the poor boy writhe in the curiosity of her not giving out information, but while she had a little bit of fire and wrath in her heart, she also had love. She considered Noah a good friend so far and did not want to betray those feelings. To have malice for a stupid reason was a waste of her emotions.

She just wanted him to express himself more, somewhat like with the kids. He seemed so lively, but whenever they talked, the few times that they did, she found him very short. Did he seem kind and interested in her? Sure, but it was perhaps the underlying message he was giving that bugged her a little. She continued despite her internal feelings by saying, "I was hurt before the boat when you saw me first. I had it mostly healed by then, but it wasn't right. The doctor. She helped." She reiterated to him and she honestly felt better talking about it anyways. She was wanting to know more about him as a friend and didn't know how to go about it. It wasn't like she had anyone really to talk to all day and night. All her family and friends were man days away from here.

It had only been a few minutes since they ordered food but the barmaid came back with their drinks and set them down on the table. She then hurried off to another table to drop off four more of the many cups she carried in her hands. It seemed like she was very proficient at this and Elann grinned at the thought, then looked to Noah. "Do you drink any thing? What is your umm..favorite?" she took her ale and took a small sip of it. It was more to wet her throat and she didn't feel like having water that she did not prepare herself. She was careful when it came to her water since a young age when her mother caught her drinking out of a stream and slapped her. It put a firm lesson in the back of her mind to clean it first.

Other's Words ~~ My Words ~~ My Thoughts