haebin

Please enjoy my newest chapter and I really hope you'll like it! And like always, I am very grateful for you reading this. It means the world to me.
Thank you!
♥

“Only three days,” Trálír whispered in a soft voice, tenderly caressing Anwyn's cheek with his fingertips as she looked up at him, a hint of sorrow in her warm brown eyes. “On the fourth day, I will leave the castle at sunrise and ride directly to you so that I can pick you up and we can make our way to Krautbach. As this is just over the border, it will take us some time to reach the village, but we will be able to spend the last two days of the festivities there.”
As Anwyn listened to her beloved's words, a smile appeared on her lips, but her expression seemed strangely empty and absent.
The usually warm smile on her face did not seem to reach Anwyn's eyes and when Trálír realized this, he frowned.
“Anwyn? Is there something that worries you?” he asked in an irritated voice and she looked at him in surprise.
“No,” she replied, shaking her head. “Why are you asking me that?”
“Because it seems like your mind is somewhere else,” Trálír replied and tilted his head slightly to the side, his gaze questioningly directed at her.
“Are you not looking forward to our time together?” His voice was quiet and there was a hint of uncertainty in his words.
“But of course! I am so happy to have the opportunity to spend so much time with you,” Anwyn replied quickly, placing her hands on his chest as a confirming gesture of her words. She looked up at him and felt his strong, steady heartbeat under her fingertips.
“I was just thinking about the next three days I'll be without you and it feels unfamiliar to me. I'm going to miss you, Trálír.”
An understanding nod on his part as he listened to her words.
“I know, because I feel the same way,” Trálír replied in a low voice and leaned down to Anwyn. His kiss was gentle and tender as his right hand slid through her wild curls that fell over her shoulders.
It reminded him of how Anwyn had always tried to tame her hair when they first met and for a long time afterwards, usually in a bun or a ponytail gathered at the nape of her neck, as she had been ashamed of this flood of hair since childhood. It had been incomprehensible to Trálír because he loved her hair, this wild and untamed splendor that was also an expression of her strong personality. When he was around Anwyn, he took every opportunity to touch her hair, to run his fingers through her curls and tell her how beautiful she was. He loved to compliment her, even if she was embarrassed by his words at first.
Anwyn found it hard to believe him, because she had never heard a compliment in her whole life like she had once confessed to him in the past. She was used to other children making fun of her looks. Most villagers actually ignored her most of the time and spoke as little as possible to her and her father. They had never really been part of the village community.

But then Trálír came into her life and through his trust and love for her, Anwyn herself became more secure.
It took some trust in Tralir’s words when she wore her hair down for the first time, because she remembered the taunts of the other children, a wound that still festered inside her. But with time, Anwyn also found confidence in herself and she began to let her hair down more often. She was afraid that others would treat her like they did back then, but her worries were unfounded.
And the more often she wore her wild curls loose, the more confident she became.
There were still some jobs on the farm where it was an advantage to tie her hair up, but when she spent time with Trálír, she let her hair fall loose over her shoulders.

Trálír tenderly stroked a curl of hair from Anwyn's face that was falling into her forehead.
“This summer also felt to me as if I had started a new life here with you, on this farm, Anwyn. The nights in the castle are just a duty I fulfill. As soon as I leave you, I long for the moment when I have the opportunity to leave the Blackwater Castle again and make my way to you.”
“Are you not surprised that your father allows you to do this, Trálír? He just lets you come to me without any trouble...“ Anwyn broke off, cleared her throat with a heavy heart and continued quietly: “That he doesn't seem to care that you spend so much time with me, a human he hates so much?”
Trálír shrugged his shoulders.
“Maybe he doesn't seem to care anymore or he's given up? Maybe he's just tired of having to deal with me? Because whatever he says, there's nothing to stop me from coming to you. Does he want to give me more tasks? Go ahead, I'll do them all the faster to have enough time for you.” The high elf laughed confidently, put his arms around Anwyn's waist and pulled her gently towards him. “The only way to stop me from coming to you would be to imprison me. But how would that make him look? The ruler's son, the firstborn in the dungeon? I don't think he would take that risk and bring that shame on our family.”
“Hm.”
Trálír raised an eyebrow questioningly and looked at Anwyn.
“You don't believe my words?”
“No, I didn't say that,” Anwyn replied with a shake of her head. “It's just that I don't trust your father's intentions, Trálír.”
“You don't have to trust them. But you can trust me, my Love.
She felt his fingertips press into the fabric of her pale overdress, gently massaging the skin beneath.
The smile that now slid across her lips was loving.
“Three nights, three days, then I'll be with you again,” Trálír promised and kissed her long and hard once more. Anwyn closed her eyes and surrendered to his tender kiss, knowing that her father, Conall, Eleri and the children were standing in the courtyard. She felt Trálír lean into the kiss as he gently circled his tongue around hers. He broke away from her kiss with a sigh on his lips.
“I'm going to miss you.”
Anwyn laughed lightly.
“Now go on, noble lord, leave your sweetheart behind because if you don't take your chance now, you'll never be able to leave me”, she said with an amused grin and bowed playfully to him.
Trálír laughed out loud and grabbed Arod's reins, as the horse had been standing in front of the stable for a while, patiently waiting for his master to say goodbye to his beloved. The elf suddenly took a step forward, pressed his lips to Anwyn's cheek and whispered: “You have already cast a spell on me, herb woman. I will always find my way back to you.”
Suddenly Anwyn and Trálír heard Arod whinny impatiently and the elf shrugged his shoulders helplessly.
“It seems even Arod is getting impatient,” he said with a grin.
Anwyn laughed.
“Will you also go to the village and celebrate Aine's blessing?” Trálír asked with interest and she shrugged her shoulders.
“Possibly,” she answered him. “Eleri and Conall have been talking for dozens of tens of days about spending every moment with food, drink and dancing.”
“Ah, I see.” Trálír grinned knowingly. “Which means that you will sit in the house and watch over the children. And when they're asleep, you'll bury yourself in the many books you can now call your own, won't you?”
“Maybe?” Anwyn chuckled.
“Three days, three nights,” Trálír repeated and then swung himself into the saddle. He didn't have to say a word, for his stallion trotted instinctively with his master on his back to the courtyard gate, which Conall had already opened.
“I'll be waiting for you,” Anwyn called out in farewell, raising her hand as Trálír gave her a beaming smile and then rode out of it.

As Anwyn watched Trálír ride west towards Blackwater Castle and disappear around the next curve behind the dense, tall trees, she felt her eyes suddenly fill with tears. Surprised, she wiped them from the corners of her eyes with the back of her hand and sniffled unhappily when she suddenly felt two small arms wrap around her thighs and Brin pressed against her. Puzzled, she stared at the blond head of the little half-elf and asked in an astonished voice: “Brin, what are you doing?”
The boy looked up at Anwyn and laid his head low on his neck. Despite his young age, she recognized the compassion inherent in him, the same she often saw in the eyes of his mother Eleri. His bright green eyes focused on her when he replied: “You are crying. When I cry, mother always hugs me and that feels good. So I do the same for you.”
Brin's words touched Anwyn deeply and warmed her heart, which felt so heavy. She gently stroked his shoulder-length hair.
“Thank you, Brin,” she replied with a light smile. Anwyn's throat tightened and she cleared her throat, trying to prevent Brin's words and loving gesture from making her burst into tears. She heard the voices of her father and Conall at her back as a sudden touch made her flinch against her upper arm. Anwyn looked to her right into the worried face of her friend Eleri.
“Anwyn?” she asked quietly and looking at her hesitantly. Before Anwyn could say a word, Brin looked up at his mother and said without a care in the world: “Anwyn was crying, Mother. And since she was so alone, I ran to her and hugged her. Just like you always do this with me and Elyan.”
“You did well, Brin. I'm sure Anwyn is very grateful for your help,” she replied and stroked her son's cheek, then she turned her gaze to Anwyn and asked softly, ”Is there something you want to talk about?”
But her friend shook her head and forced herself to smile, which Anwyn managed more badly than well. In her eyes, Eleri recognized an unspoken apology for her next words. “It's nothing, Eleri, do not worry about me.”
The half-elf looked at her, frowning, and Anwyn guessed that Eleri knew her words weren't true. You could hear it not only in her subdued manner and voice, but you could recognize it also in her body language, as her shoulders sagged and her head was lowered. It seemed to Eleri that Anwyn wanted to hide from her, from her father and from the whole world.
But Brin's mother accepted Anwyn's decision and didn't intrude any further, instead she skillfully changed the subject. At least for now.
“Well, is it okay for you if I take care of the laundry then?” Eleri asked and Anwyn nodded with relief.
“Yes, it is. I'll take care of the successful catch,” she replied, pointing to the three full nets lying in the shade next to the front door. “My father also expects them to come back successfully in the late afternoon. There seem to be a lot of mackerel in the area.”
“Do you need my help gutting the fish, Anwyn?”
“No, take your time, Eleri. It's a lot of fish, but I should be done by supper time if you take care of the washing.”
“So be it,” the half-elf replied in a gentle voice, tapping her son on the shoulder and letting him know without words that he should follow her. But before she left Anwyn, she squeezed her hand affectionately, a sign of wordless understanding. Anwyn thanked Eleri with an embarrassed smile and then walked past Conall and her father, who were engrossed in a conversation about the next fish delivery to the Blackwater Castle.