A Thorn In Their Side
Fenris stayed outside for a long time, and through most of that time, Oren watched him. He wished to go outside and speak to the frightened elf, but he was not as kind and mindful as his sister. Not that he was nasty in any way, but he was more likely to say something back in response to anything mean that was said. It was then he snapped out of his far away mindset and saw Fenris stumble. He ran outside and put his arm around him. Oren knew Fenris would be reticent, and he knew why, but when their eyes met, he knew that the elf was desperately trying to convey his feelings through his eyes, as words failed him in that moment.
"I've got you. Want to sit down again?" Fenris shook his head, but his head hurt and it made him hiss. "Amalie? Is she...is she okay?" Oren knew he should be honest but the elf's state questioned whether the truth of her unhappiness would plague him, or he wouldn't have any reaction at all. "She will be". The now shaking elf worried him. Oren almost felt fatherly over Fenris, as to most of the male slaves, as he had bathed them, clothes them, helped feed them. They were like children, adults in frail and terrible disguises, babbling and crying, no Mother or Father's to cradle them at night. Oren looked again at Fenris who was looking at a lone flower on the ground. "Sorry, I lost my train of thought there. Lunch shall be made soon. Would you like to come in? It feels colder now than before". The elf nodded and they walked back inside.
Amalie had stopped crying, and was downstairs, cutting some paper and making paper hats and flowers. She put the hats on the slaves heads, and it was like a happiness bubble had burst in the room, as every one of the slaves smiled and laughed. Amalie felt her heart swell with emotion, something so simple had made them happy. She smiled and looked to the front door to see Oren with his arm around Fenris' shoulder. She continued to smile, and Fenris smiled back at her. Oren caught that exchange of smiles, and couldn't help but wonder what had prompted that. Elise walked over to Oren and he took his arm away from the elf, who wandered over to his sister. "Good morning Elise. Are you well this day?" Elise nodded. "I am Ser, but my stomach feels strange". She pointed to her belly as if to let him know where exactly the odd feeling was coming from. She took his hand and placed it on her belly, but he stopped her. "Are you sure you want me touching your stomach? Shall I get Amalie?" Elise shook her head. "No, it's okay". Oren nodded but still felt nervous in case she thought he would try touching somewhere else, he would never do that, but she didn't know that.
He placed his hand on her stomach, and her baby kicked. He looked up, slightly shocked but he cracked a grin and Elise did too. "That sensation is of your baby saying hello. You may be due sooner than you thought". The young girl panicked but his calm demeanor soothed her. "You will be okay, everyone is here for you and we will not leave you. We swear on the Maker". Elise nodded and walked over to Amalie. who was making some more flowers, with Fenris keenly watching her. "Miss? Am I disturbing you?" Amalie knew what she really meant. "Not at all. Would you like a flower?" The girl nodded and sat on a chair. "What colour?" Elise looked at the borrowed dress she had on and answered immediately. "Red please". The younger Talen sibling nodded and coloured in the flower. When she was finished, a piece of hair was dangling from her head and she tried to blow it out of the way. She failed, but had to stop herself from blushing. when the seemingly contented Fenris moved the stray piece behind her ear. "Thank you Fenris, and here you go Elise. It will look very pretty on you". The flower was placed in the girl's hand, but she moved it onto her stomach. Her baby kicked and it fell gently onto the ground. Amalie now grinned when Elise placed her hand on her stomach. The baby kicked softly, much to everyone's notice as they crowded around her. They really had no sense of privacy, but it wasn't their fault that they didn't. "It kicked?" One of the female slaves was staring at Elise's belly in wonder. "It did, it means it is strong". Elise jumped up and down with glee, and it made Amalie sad. She didn't ask to be made pregnant, and she is still a child herself. Yet, the baby and her are healthy, so that is good.
Amalie smiled and stood up, walking into the kitchen to help Stephen make some lunch. "I hear laughter all around, it seems they are all happy, except you. Something is unsettling you my dear, and I don't like it". "Father. We don't even know any of their names. And I don't wish to keep on asking them, as it may just annoy them. But I wonder, do they even know their own names? Or are they nameless through Danarius' repulsive ways? He is no longer alive, yet he has a hold over them, and I really don't like that". Stephen knew his daughter was right, and nodded grimly. "My dear, what matters is the now. They are here, alive, with people who only wish for their safety, health and wellbeing". He walked to his daughter and kissed her forehead before looking around her, to see Fenris, shuffling his feet nervously. "Good morning Fenris". The elf nodded in respect. "Good morning Ser". Amalie walked past him and went to walk upstairs. "Can we talk? I need to apologise". Amalie took his hand and into her chambers.
"I need to explain why I said what I said earlier. I was recalling a memory that made me feel physically sick. And as you were talking about something very bad, my mind lashed out, and I ended up saying something that is very wrong. I...I was running away from Danarius a few years back. How I got out, I cannot remember, but I did. When his men found me, I vaguely remember them telling him that I may not make it overnight. So he whipped me, kept me awake. Healed me, then hurt me again. I survived, but I was even thinner than I am now. I was kept alive with pain, not food. Eventually Danarius realised that he would lose me if he kept on doing that, so I was fed, not much but it was better than starving. When you spoke about what you had seen, my brain dismissed it, even though it happened in front of my eyes too. I am so sorry. I should never have spoken. I did not wish to hurt you, or taint you with what I feel inside. I know my own pain, but became blind to everyone else's suffering. I have opened my eyes, and see now why you try and help us. It isn't through any gain, gain is not seeing people, with degraded minds, skeletal bodies, with thin pieces of skin stretched over the bones, pain in their eyes...". Fenris unknowingly had started to cry. He felt the warm moisture flow down his face and he couldn't stop it, he didn't even have the strength to.
Amalie held out her hands, and the elf put his in hers. She squeezed them gently and spoke as quietly as she could. "The gain are the smiles, the things that take away the sorrow in their eyes and replace it with a brilliant warmth. The times where they realise that they are a person, not a thing. When they see that we respect them, and do not judge. That we shall never leave them, or hurt them. My family do this out of the goodness in their hearts. We don't fight other's or chastise them. We embrace them. Fenris, we will always listen to you, I will because you matter to us, to me". Fenris was now sobbing, and it made her heart ache with wanting, needing to help him. He threw his arms around her, his head finally stopped hurting, as he was letting out the pain through his eyes. Amalie didn't care if her dress was ruined by his tears, emotion staining the cloth, from a suffering man. She knew he needed to cry.
"I'm so sorry". Fenris choked out the words and put his forehead against Amalie's. "I forgive you". She clutched their hands between their bodies and watched as the waterfall of anguish chased away the elf's pain. And she prayed, prayed that she would have enough strength for everyone, not just the two of them.