Hey readers, I present to you Chapter 2. Enjoy
Chapter 2: The Letter
This kind of pleasant routine continued for the next couple of weeks. One day, as the winds began to signal the approach of winter, something happened during one of my visit to the blacksmith's.
As I approach the entrance, I overheard voices from behind the door. The shop wasn't quite open yet, so it must have been from Gaius and Raven.
I stood before the door, listening in on the conversation with reserved guilt.
"Do you know...letter?" Gaius asked, although words were tough to fully make out through the oak doors.
"...o" was all I could hear from Raven's soft spoken voice.
"Whoever sent this...knows..." Gaius continued, my ears trying desperately to hone in on their words.
I moved over by the window to try and hear more, as I peered through the window I noticed their expressions.
Gaius had a look of concern on his face as he spoke to Raven. Who on the other hand looked unfazed, to most people's eyes anyway.
However, I was aware of Raven enough that I could see her hand gripping at her clothes tightly, revealing how distraught she actually was.
There was a lull in the conversation between them, so I decided then would be the best time to enter.
I stepped in carefully, feeling the tension that filled the room. That broke instantly when Gaius noticed me and spoke.
"Oh hey, it's good to see you" Gaius welcomed, speaking as lax as always.
"Yeah, you too." I replied, uncertain at what my next choice of words should be. Should I confess and say I overheard them? Or do I play if off like Gaius was?
I looked to Raven for an answer.
Raven looked distant, hardly registering I was even there. Her eyes were focused on the letter placed on the table.
That single white envelope seemed to be the focal of the entire room.
As if by design, I asked the one question that filled everyone's thoughts.
"Who's that letter from?" I asked, feigning ignorance and feeling awful for doing so.
Raven let out a audible gasp of surprise, and looked even more trouble. Gaius didn't appear all to surprised at my question, but looked at me with a forgiving expression.
"Oh, that..." Gaius began. "We don't know, I guess the person forgot to put their name on it." he laughed.
"Ah, you have to be pretty forgetful to neglect something like that" I laughed nervously, wishing I had Gaius's acting ability.
"Enough..." Raven interrupted, bringing back the tense atmosphere that Gaius and I had tried to cast off.
Before I could apologize, Raven was already on her way out of the store.
I quickly gave chase out the door, managing to stop her in front of the flower shop.
"Raven..." I comforted, gripping onto her wrist to stop her.
She resisted slightly before calming down and turning toward me.
"...I saw you" she stated, looking disappointed.
"Sorry..." I apologized. "I should have been more honest with you..." I added, my apology doing little to ease my guilt.
Raven paused for a moment, during which I released my hand, knowing that she wouldn't run away anymore.
"...I don't want you involved in this..." Raven informed me.
"Why not?" I asked, though I knew her well enough to guess the reason.
"Because..." Raven's hand tightened as she paused, turning her eyes downward to avoid mine. "I can handle it myself..." she finished.
A common habit of hers, but I was determined to help her regardless.
"Raven...let me help you." I offered gently, drawing close and raising my hand to her cheek.
"No..." Raven weakly refused, turning her head to the side, but allowing my hand to remain on her cheek.
I took the chance to close the distance between us, and embrace her in my arms.
"Your not alone anymore Raven, you don't have to endure everything by yourself." I explained to her.
Raven didn't respond, but I got my answer when she tightened her grip around my body.
After a moment of embrace, we walked back to the shop to find Gaius hammering away, and as usual, he didn't even notice us enter.
The morning sunlight that pierced the room reminded me I had yet to attend to my daily chores.
"I need to get going, I have to go feed the monsters before they get too impatient." I chuckled lightly to myself, reminded of how a late meal would cause them to practically trample me for food.
"Ah...me too...I still haven't set out the specials for today..." Raven trailed off, looking distracted by something else.
"Don't worry too much about that letter ok?" I told her, sensing her train of thought.
Raven nodded slightly, giving me a soft smile.
"Thanks..." she spoke sincerely.
Before I could tell her it was no trouble, I felt a warm sting on my cheek.
"Have a good day at work...Woolykins." I heard Raven whisper as her lips parted from my cheek.
Stunned and crimson colored, I was sent out the door and made to walk home, still reeling from the kiss that burned my cheek.
I stretched as I stood up from planting the last of my spinach seeds. I could tell winter was fast approaching, so I opted to play it safe by planting spinach until the snow hit.
Gazing at my watch the time was three o'clock. Most of my day was burned up because my Carrots were finally ready to be harvested.
I took out some mixed juice and chugged it down to get try and get my strength back.
As I finished, I noticed Karina coming onto the farm to collect my shipments.
The moment Karina saw the exhaustive piles of carrots, I heard an exasperated sigh as she came closer.
"There's alot today...(I'm tired just looking at it)" Karina commented, slowly gathering a few into a crate.
"I can help carry them if you'd like." I offered, gathering a few myself.
"Thanks...(I would have never got it done...)" she thanked, as she gathered more into her crate.
By the time we got it all finished it was close to five o'clock. Karina looked half asleep as stood placed the final bin down.
"That's all of it...(So sleepy...)" Karina yawned.
"Sorry for the trouble..." I apologized, feeling bad for always troubling her with my shipments.
"It's fine...(He's too kind...Raven's a lucky girl.)" Karina waved off, not appearing too bothered by it.
With that I made my way back home and crashed on my bed, completely drained from work.
I laid back, trying to ignore the tension in my spine as I thought about Raven. I wanted to see her, but I simply didn't have the strength today.
Thinking back to this morning, I realized I hadn't asked what was written in the letter.
I felt stupid.
Here I told her I would help, but how was I supposed to do that when I didn't even know what was troubling her?
Promising myself to bring it up tomorrow, I allowed my eyes to grow heavy, but not before touching my cheek softly, bringing a smile to my face as I fell asleep.
Hope you all enjoyed the chapter, once again feel free to review and comment.