haebin

And it is another Sunday... and you know what that means, right? ;)
Yeah, time is flying, lol. It's time for a new chapter *o*
It is not a long one but the next one will be! I hope you'll enjoy it nevertheless :) ♥

All Chapters

Trálír raised his hand in greeting as he rode into the small courtyard and spotted Conall and Ulthred busily sawing the wooden planks to the correct length and width for the final run that had already been marked out. Both half-elves returned their master's greeting and then turned back to their work, while Trálír swung off Arod and patted him on the neck, to which he responded with a satisfied neigh.
He opened the door of the old stable and led the stallion into the large stall where the donkey and the goat stood. Oksa pricked up his ears and scratched his hooves in a friendly manner as Arod trotted up beside him and gently nudged him with his nostrils. Trálír watched with a smile as his stallion and the donkey feasted together on the fresh hay in front of them and closed the gate behind them. But before he left the stable, he reached for a linen bag attached to his saddle and untied it.
With a smile on his finely curved lips, Trálír left the stall behind him, walked to the house and knocked on the door. Since he had not discovered Anwyn in the yard or with the animals, he assumed that she was busy inside with some housework or something similar. Perhaps she busy with sorting out her herbs.
But the door was not opened for him, nor did he hear any noises from the house. Frowning, Trálír opened the door and stepped into the room only to discover that there was no one inside. Trálír pulled the door shut behind him and turned towards the two half-elves. When they heard the approaching footsteps, they both looked up at the same time and nodded again to Trálír in greeting.
"Do you know where Anwyn is?" Trálír asked and Conall replied with a nod: "She went into the forest a while ago in search of some herbs."
"It probably won't be long before she comes back," Ulthred added. "She told us not to worry about her."
"Should there be any reason for us to worry?" Trálír inquired, raising an eyebrow questioningly. He watched as Conall and Ulthred exchanged an uncertain look.
"I don't know if it's my place to say this," Ulthred began hesitantly.
"But?" asked Trálír and an unnamable apprehension rose up in him.
"But she looked a little pale," Conall said, shrugging his shoulders apologetically.
"Did she look ill?" The half-elfs could clearly hear the concern for Anwyn in the high elf's words.
"Rather depressed," Ulthred slipped his lips. "It seemed to me that something was bothering her, something I couldn't put my finger on."
Trálír nodded. "Thank you for entrusting me with this. I really appreciate it," he said in a grateful voice and then pointed to the unfinished wall. "Then I guess I'll get on with building the wall."
He smiled at the two half-elves, turned away and walked to the wall that was also under construction. Trálír knelt down and put the linen bag to one side before he set about mixing the lime and sand already in storage with water so that he could make the mortar he needed to build the bricks.

As Trálír mixed the mortar, he wondered if anything in the last few days had indicated that something was troubling Anwyn. But he couldn't remember a moment between them when she had been unhappy or depressed. Perhaps she had had another argument with her father yesterday, when he had had to pay a visit to the wood elves? That would certainly be a reason for Anwyn's obvious gloom, which the half-elves had also noticed.
The ruler's son resolved to do everything he could to stop Anwyn feeling down.

Concentrating, Trálír placed one brick on top of the next while the sun burned down on him relentlessly. Spring was not yet over and the hottest weeks were yet to come, but Trálír, who had been laying brick after brick for some time now, was still sweating. The sweat collected under the long, black hair on the back of his neck and ran slowly down his spine, dampening the fabric of his tunic.
Suddenly he heard Ulthred's voice and glanced over his shoulder. When his gaze found Anwyn's, a smile stole onto his lips. He straightened up, patted his hands on the fabric of his trousers and brushed his long hair out of his face.
Anwyn greeted Conall and Ulthred and then became aware of Trálír walking towards her. She gave him a gentle smile which he returned tenderly. As they stood in front of each other, Trálír leaned forward slightly, placed his right hand on her cheek and gave her a long, tender kiss which Anwyn returned with her eyes closed. A sigh escaped her lips as Trálír pulled away and he noticed that she looked exhausted. Her skin was pale, dark shadows lay under her eyes and the look in her brown eyes was tired.

In her left hand she carried a basket filled with several plants and herbs. She placed her right hand lovingly on Trálír's hip.
"I missed you," she confessed in a whisper and the elf raised an eyebrow in surprise.
"I was only separated from you for a day and a night," he replied with a smile and gently ran his fingers through her loose, wildly curled hair.
"Too long," Anwyn whispered and stole another kiss from Trálír's lips.
"You were in the forest?" he asked with interest and Anwyn nodded in confirmation.
"Stocking up on dried herbs and plants is always a good decision. Would you like to follow me into the house?" Anwyn asked, pointing to her home.
"I'll be right there."
As Anwyn made her way to the house, Trálír turned and walked back to the unfinished stonework and reached for the linen bag that lay in a shadowy alcove. Excitement filled his heart and he hoped to please Anwyn with this gift. Trálír entered the house and saw Anwyn spreading out the herbs and plants on the table. With a smile, he stepped behind her, put his arms around her waist and placed a kiss on her shoulder. He felt her flinch slightly and a shiver ran through her body as he pressed his lips to her skin that was not covered by her dress.

„Don't keep me from my work," she said and Trálír heard the smile in her words.
He let go of Anwyn, stepped around her and sat down at the table. Placing the bag on the table, he looked up at her.
There was wonder in Anwyn's eyes.
"Did you bring your own food because you don't like mine anymore?" she asked with amusement and Trálír grinned mischievously.
"Open it," he asked her and watched intently as she took the linen bag in her hand to do so. Her eyes widened in surprise.
"I assumed you wouldn't think about it," she confessed quietly, looking at the contents of the bag with emotion.
"Tztz," Trálír replied with mock reprimand. "As if this would slip my mind. You've been talking about it at least every other day."
Anwyn grinned.
"Merdarion is very particular when it comes to his collection, but he couldn't deny his old and good friend his wish. And now you have the opportunity to grow Royal Blue, Red Dragon's Bane, White Seven-Star, Black Bog Leaf and the common Shadow Vine, just as you wished."
"I can hardly believe that you are making this possible for me, Trálír. The wood elves' shade plants are hard to come by and if you want to buy them you need a lot of gold."
In response, Trálír gave Anwyn a radiant smile which she rewarded with a heartfelt kiss.
"How did you get on yesterday, Anwyn?" Trálír asked, hoping that she wouldn't hear the tension in his words. As soon as he had asked the question, he noticed how her eyes clouded over and her smile seemed forced.
"It was a day like any other," she replied and smiled weakly. Trálír grabbed her hand tenderly and looked at her insistently.

"If there's something that's troubling your heart, Anwyn, you can share it with me. You don't have to keep your worries to yourself."
"I... someone visited me yesterday..." Anwyn broke off and bit her lower lip. Trálír noticed that she was avoiding his gaze. He gently stroked her hand with his thumb and gave her the time she needed to continue.
"Someone needed my help."
"That's good, isn't it? It seems that some of the inhabitants have found their way to you through Conall's praises," Trálír replied unconcernedly. "At least one resident. Were you able to help?"
"A little, I think." Anwyn's voice was quiet.
"Do you still doubt your abilities?" Trálír asked her, frowning.
"No, not that," Anwyn replied, shaking her head. "She was... she was so young and the injuries she had were terrible. It wasn't easy for me to treat them."
The elf looked at her doubtfully. "When the Sea Devils injured me back then, neither blood nor open wounds could stop you from treating me. What was so different about these injuries?"
"Nothing," Anwyn hastened to say. "Maybe I was just insecure and emotional because the girl was so young and I felt sorry for her."
"Hmm."

Anwyn turned around and placed the bag of seeds on the bottom shelf above her bed when Trálír suddenly stood up, put his hands around her waist and lowered himself onto the furs with her.
"Trálír!" Anwyn exclaimed in surprise. "What are you doing?"
"I think we've earned a little time out," he replied in a low voice and pulled her into his arms.
"Here?" The elf heard Anwyn's concern in her voice.
"Yes, right here, right now," he replied and nibbled tenderly on her lower lip. "Nothing and no one will disturb us. Now is not the time to think much."
Anwyn looked at him with wide eyes.
"Just feel," he whispered with his lips against her mouth and felt her lean against him and return his kiss longingly.