Eleven Months
Chapter one
Tia glanced out the snow covered window and sighed silently to herself. It had almost been a year since she had departed from Maxim's party and she regretted ever leaving his side. At the time, she knew he would never love her - not in the way that he had loved Selan. The memories came flooding back, all except the happy ones. Even as she reminisced about her time with Maxim, she couldn't will herself to cry.
She wanted to cry - she needed to cry, for all the anguish inside was taking over her life. Crying, she had always thought, was the only way to ventilate herself, but right now, she could feel it wasn't the right time to release all that was inside her.
"Why?" she said softly, "Why can I not let go of the past?"
The window was beginning to cloud over, preventing her from looking at the world outside the inn. She quickly realised and turned her attention to the gentle fire slowly warming the room.
"You will one day," said a pretty blonde haired lady, "But you must have the will power to do it."
Tia smiled weakly at her friend - Hilda always knew what to say. Ever since the tragedy that happened on 'Doom Island', Hilda had took her in, knowing that she needed all the support she could get. She knew Tia had lost someone very dear to her heart and it would be a while until she could stand on her own two feet and face the world once again. At first, she had refused her help but then Guy convinced her to come and stay in Tanbel with them for a while … that while had turned into eleven months.
"Thankyou," Tia said as she gave Hilda a hug.
"Hey! Not so tight, I can't breathe!" she joked.
The both shared a laugh for a moment, until the room went silent once again. Before any of them could say another word, there was a loud knock at the door. Hilda immediately rose from her chair and approached the door with caution. Who on earth would be crazy enough to be out in the blizzard at this time of night? Hilda thought to herself as she opened the door.
"About time! It's freezing out here!"
"Guy? Wha-"
"Are you going to let me in or what?"
Hilda looked at her brother in bewilderment. She looked out into the street but could only see white mist and small snowflakes dancing furiously in the air. She moved out of his way so he could enter the inn. Tia peered over her armchair at Guy and stared at the floor below him in shock. Hilda noticed her expression and looked down to her brother's feet. None of them dared to speak a word as he dragged a motionless body into the centre of the room. He released the man's wrist and slowly crossed his arms in triumph. Tia was now by Hilda's side, staring down at the frozen body.
"Look what I found," Guy said to both of them.
Hilda raised her hand and slapped him on the arm as hard as she could.
"He's not dead is he?" she asked him.
"Hilda, would I drag a dead person in here just so you could get all worked up?"
"Want me to hit you again dear brother?"
"If you like. It didn't hurt the first time."
"Why do you always talk to me like this!"
"I so do not! Why do you always get angry at me?"
"You big-headed buffoon! I have good reason to!"
"So do I."
"Why you-"
Tia had no interest in her friend's quarrel, it was always like this and she used to it. She was more intrigued by the man lying in front of her feet. She knelt down gently and rolled him over onto his back. Her eyes widened as she jumped backwards in disbelief. There could be no mistaking the athletic body, handsome face and the red streak through his bluish-purplish hair … it was Dekar.
"Hilda!" she managed to say as her eyes darted back and forth from him to her friend.
"You don't even act like a brother!" Hilda shrieked at her brother, completely ignoring Tia.
"Hey, I saved your life! Remember that dear sister?"
"Hilda!" Tia cried once again.
"It wasn't just you. And how dare you use that for an excuse!"
"Hilda!"
"Then why-" Guy started to say.
"HILDA!"
She finally heard Tia and whirled around to see her startled face.
"It's Dekar…" she trailed off.