Curse

Chapter II: Link

Sky blue eyes squinted before opening to see a brown ceiling and a mind reeled, trying to figure out where it was. A young man with dusty blond hair tried to sit up only to be held down by his wounds, a small yelp passing his lips as he remembered the cause of the cuts and bruises. A pack of wolves had attacked him, trying to make dinner out of him. Yet, that didn't explain the blood stained bandage wrapped around his torso along with the missing of his undershirt and tunic along with his boots. A tanned hand lifted to reach his spinning head, a slight nausea catching him, causing him to growl in slight pain.
"You shouldn't try to get up," a female voice said softly and the young man had to crane his neck to see a young lady with red hair tied up in a bun, a few strands falling over her amethyst eyes. Her navy blue dress reminded him of a lake, like the one he loved to visit at least once a year. A smile curled her lips upwards as she spoke again, he violet gaze turning away to look at her hands, which were wringing a towel in a bowl clear water, "Those wolves didn't miss you."

Her hands set the towel along the bowl to take care of his bandages, slowly taking them off. In a forceful gesture, the young man grabbed her hand, pushing the thoughts of pain into the back of his mind. Aquamarines glared at the young lady who sighed in slight exasperation.
"How do you intend healing if you don't let me take care of your wounds?"
Still eying her suspiciously, he let her hand go so that she could continue. Still, he watched her closely, hissing each time the cold wet cloth would come into contact with his cuts while she dabbed them until the bleeding would stop. Her voice rose again, a smile appearing upon her features as her purple eyes seemed entranced by the task, "My name is Elianne, yours?"
The boy grumbled but didn't answer, earning himself a small sigh as the girl finished taking care of his wounds, putting a bandage over the cuts, got up and took her things before leaving the room.

Cerulean eyes returned to the ceiling, his head sinking into the pillow behind him. He couldn't get himself to trust her, even though she had taken care of his wounds and given him shelter. Although guilt had taken him when he heard her sigh, he knew there couldn't be any other way through it. The hinges squeaked, tearing him from his reverie to see the young woman reentering the room with a plater filled with fruits in her hands. She laid it within his reach before turning away and heading once again to the door. Remorse grabbed him in a vice grip and he sighed out before mumbling something she couldn't hear.
"Pardon?" she asked, spinning around so that she could see him.
"My name is Link," he repeated more clearly, bringing a smile upon her features. She returned to him, kneeling so that she could be at his height.
"Thank you," she voiced, but the young man didn't bother, his eyes focusing on hers and seeking for a trace that would confirm his doubts. She giggled somewhat nervously before asking, "What is it?"

He looked at the plater before taking an piece of apple and putting it into his mouth and chewing on it carefully and swallowing it.
"Forgive me for being so cautious, but I need to know if I can trust you," he said, voice slightly rasped from the few days it hadn't been used. She smiled, not truly understanding what had happened, but glad and honored that he was finally talking.
"Might I know why?" she inquired, making one of his eyebrows rise in confusion.
"Why do you want to?" he shot back, still slightly afraid of falling into a trap. Nevertheless, she laughed lightly, smiling merrily before answering, "I'm curious. One of my biggest faults."
Sky blue left her for the ceiling once again as he hoped he wasn't doing any mistakes.
"I was sentenced to death," he stated darkly, half believing that she would step back at his words. To his great surprise, she didn't, but a face of surprise appeared as she continued her questioning, "For what reason?"
He simply shrugged turning his face away from her, "I don't know."
"So you ran away?" she asked with a small smile.
"I'd rather be eaten by wolves than die for nothing," he mumbled, making her giggle.

The ruffling of her dress made him turn around and watch her as she reached the door, slightly turning so that he could only see her profile. A calm smile was on her features before she spoke, "Well, you can stay here as long as you want. Just wait until your wounds are healed, please." Her words made his eyes go wide in realization. She was far from intending to give him to the authorities, instead making herself guilty for sheltering a man sentenced to death. Her calm grin returned as her amethyst eyes closed.
"I've taken care of your clothes, washed them and did a bit of sewing to solidify. Your leather boots were quite worn-out," she commented, to which Link couldn't help but respond, "Why did you?"
She shrugged, her smile slightly growing, "Because I only have a few visitors. I don't know why."
With that, she left the room, closing the door behind her and leaving the young man to his thought. A small smile grew upon his face without his consent as his mind wrapped itself around the idea that he was safe here, if only for a few days.