Chapter Eleven: Alvar the Hero
A whole day's worth of riding passed, and Alvar and the two women found themselves riding into the night, as well. Close to midnight, Alvar stopped the horses, for the tenth time during the journey, and had the women get off. He also slid off Excalibur and then informed the women that they were to make beds for themselves on the ground and get some sleep. The horses needed to relax, and so did they. Everly and Jack found some thick, soft moss, and they lay down on that, quickly falling asleep. Alvar didn't like to sleep while journeying, especially not with an infuriated lord and his posse after them, but he forced himself to sleep for a little over an hour before he woke up and began the travel again.
The sun was well risen in the sky when the weary riders found themselves in a thick wood, seemingly lost.
"Do you know where we're going?" Everly asked, blinking to stop herself from falling asleep again.
"Of course," Alvar answered flatly, more exhausted than the women were.
He rode Excalibur through a great tangled mess of vines, rode him alongside a creek, and then stopped the stallion beneath a large alcove full of grapes.
"Here we are," he said, pointing ahead.
Before them lay a beautiful stone path, and on both sides of that path were humble, comfortable homes. The path led as far as anyone could see, and surrounding the homes were beautiful willow trees and a friendly stream, promising fresh, cold water.
"Where is here?" Everly asked as the horses trotted onto the path and through the village.
Alvar may have said something, but no one heard him, for quite suddenly, one of the house doors slammed open, and a lovely, plump woman sprang outside, ringing her hands in her apron and shouting at the top of her lungs.
"Sir Alvar is home! Sir Alvar is back!"
Every door in every house opened, and out rushed masses of people and hundreds of questions. Alvar tried to answer everyone, but found that it was just simpler to tell the excited people that he would be visiting home for a short while and then he would be off again. The people didn't leave him alone with those answers, but escorted him through the village, over the creek, across a lush field full of apple trees and sheep, and straight towards an exquisite little home covered with beautiful flowers.
The door to the home opened, and out stepped an older woman with hair white as snow and a very kind disposition.
"Alvar!" she cried, dropping a basket of apples and rushing towards Excalibur. "You're home!"
The people of the village echoed her cries, all shouting excitedly and dancing about the warrior as he dismounted Excalibur and opened his arms to embrace his mother.
"Hello Mother," he said sleepily, letting her nearly choke him in her embrace.
"Oh, I'm so glad you're back! It's been too long my son! And who is this?" His mother inquired, looking up to see Jack sitting astride Excalibur.
"Mother, this is the Lady Jacqueline. Jacqueline, this is my Mother, Abigail."
He offered his hand to Jack and submissively, she took it and slid off the horse. She curtsied prettily and then said quietly, "Hello, Miss Abigail."
"I've heard much about you, my dear!" Abigail cried, clapping her hands together and then smiling gently when Alvar shot her a warning look. "How pretty you are indeed! Quite the long journey you must have had, and just as beautiful as I've heard you described! How kind of you to visit us!"
"I am indebted to your son," Jack said weakly, nearly asleep from the journey and her wild emotions.
"Aren't all the women?" one of the townsmen laughed, and everyone around him cheered.
"This other young woman," Alvar said, pulling the attention off of Jack and turning it to Everly, "Is Lady Everly. She has come a long way as well."
Everly took his offered hand and slid off Lincus' back.
"Hello," she said shyly.
"Alvar, you're just constantly collecting the gorgeous women, aren't you?" Abigail teased, enveloping Everly in a warm hug. "And all of you are exhausted! My dear friends," she addressed the crowd, "I suggest a celebration dance sometime later, in honor of my son's return and his guests. For the time being, though, I do believe they need some rest."
The townspeople understood her meaning and left, leaving Alvar and the ladies with his mother.
"I'll take care of the horses, Alvar. Show these ladies to a room and get some rest. Lady Everly can be given our one guest room, and Lady Jacqueline is, of course, welcome to share your – "
"We aren't married, Mother," Alvar said impatiently.
"Oh, dear me, yes, well, she can share the room with Lady Everly then."
"I can't let you get the horses, Mother. They're in need of a good grooming and some good rest," Alvar said, moving to take the horses from her.
"Uncle Albert and I will take care of them, Alvar. Go get some sleep. That's an order," Abigail said firmly, and Alvar sighed and nodded.
"Come along," he said, leading Jack and Everly into the house.
It was a very humble building, with the first floor accommodating a kitchen, small sitting area, dining area, and one bedroom. The second floor was composed of two bedrooms, both looking out onto a great field full of flowers and cattle.
"This will be your room," Alvar said, waving his hand to one of the rooms. "There are two beds in there that I'm sure you'll put to good use. And don't take my mother's high thoughts of you too much to heart, Jacqueline," he said, a familiar glint in his eye. "I don't need you getting flattered by her assuming we're married."
He had hoped to spurn some cold remark from her, but over the past day, Jack had been strangely submissive and quiet. She hadn't argued with him once, hadn't once questioned him, and it was bothering him greatly. He didn't like to see her to sedate and calm. He preferred to see that spark in her eyes, but since he had rescued her, she had treated him with the utmost respect, almost like another master, and it bothered him to no end.
"Thank you, Alvar," Jack said quietly, walking into the room with Everly.
Alvar turned away from their room and went to his own, the smallest room in the house, but just right for him. He immediately collapsed on his bed and fell instantly to sleep, sprawled out and stretched comfortably. In the other room, Everly and Jack followed suit.
Neither woman woke up until the morning of the next day. The past couple of weeks had been difficult and trying and both of them needed their sleep.
Everly woke up first, and she went downstairs to find a plate full of warm food waiting for her on the kitchen table. She ate quickly and then walked outside, wanting to view her new surroundings.
The place was beautiful. The grass was lush and green everywhere, the pastures were full of wild flowers and were closed in with perfect white fences, and the sky was a brilliant blue and friendly. Everly found Miss Abigail picking apples from a tree, and the older woman immediately employed the girl's help.
Abigail was the most wonderful woman Everly had ever met. She taught the young princess about every bird that came into view, about every flower that colored the ground, and about every wonderful part of her farm. She showed Everly the sheep, let her hold the little lambs, encouraged her to help feed chickens, and laughed with her when the ducks tried to crowd her for bread crumbs. Abigail was exactly the mother Everly had never had. Victoria had been harsh and unmerciful, but Abigail had love to spare.
Children from the town joined them on their excursion across the beautiful farm, giggling and laughing, tugging at the sleeves of Everly's dress and hugging her nonstop. She hadn't had much experience with children, but she instantly fell in love with them and completely let herself be at peace.
Alvar wasn't seen anywhere, and Abigail explained that he was out herding cows for milking. Half an hour into her time with Everly, she brought the girl into a small, pleasant barn just in time to catch sight of Alvar tying a cow's lead rope to a post and kneeling at her side.
This was a side of Alvar Everly never thought she would see. He was shirtless again, dressed in leather boots, soft suede leather pants, and a hat that looked suspiciously like a cowboy hat from the United States. His back was turned to hers, showing strong muscles in his shoulders and arms, and he didn't acknowledge her as he placed a bucket beneath the cow and proceeded to milk her.
"Good morning, Alvar," Abigail said, walking over to her son and wrapping her arms around his shoulders.
"Good morning, Mother," Alvar acknowledged her. "I see you have my little princess with you."
"How did you find these precious girls?" Abigail asked, hugging Everly.
"Mm…Everly I just chanced upon. Jacqueline, well…"
"She took a bit of a chase, but you succeeded," Abigail beamed.
"Mother, really."
"Would you perhaps show Everly how to milk Lana?" Abigail asked, changing the subject. "I do believe it would do her some good to learn."
"Certainly," Alvar said, gesturing to an overturned bucket beside him. "Have a seat, Everly."
He proceeded to show her how to milk the cow and then gave her a chance, chuckling when she let out a squeal of delight when she was successful. He didn't speak much, but let the young woman enjoy herself, petting the cow and treating her with complete grace and gentleness.
When the milking was over, Alvar, Abigail, and Everly went back into the house to find Jack coming down the stairs, a hand pressed against her forehead.
"She lives," Alvar said curtly, sitting down at the kitchen table as his mother moved about to get him and Jack some food.
"Did you sleep well?" Everly asked her friend with a smile.
"I'm afraid I'm still really tired," Jack said groggily. "And I have a searing headache, but I'll be fine."
"No wonder you've been acting so ridiculous," Alvar said coolly, sitting back with a mug of coffee. "You must have been hit in the head somewhere along the way. That would explain the sudden insanity."
"Really now, Alvar," Abigail scolded, putting a plate on the table for Jack. "You should be pulling her chair out for her."
"She didn't appreciate it last time I tried," Alvar said coldly.
Jack blinked a couple of times, and Alvar sighed as he stood up and pulled her chair out for her. She then sat down, again, without complaint or retort, and let him push her in.
"You really were hit in the head!" Everly exclaimed, catching sight of the blue bruise on Jack's face.
"So much for keeping you in mint condition," Alvar grumbled.
"What happened, child?" Abigail asked, giving her son a plate of food.
"I was hit," Jack said quietly.
"Lord Garris does have an interesting way with his servants," Alvar commented.
"A man hit you?" Abigail gasped. "Alvar, please explain where you were!"
"Mother, let's just stay off that particular subject, please. I'm still debating over bringing her back to where she came from."
"Please don't," Jack pleaded softly. "I'll do what you want, just don't send me back."
"Of course he won't," Abigail crooned, pressing a damp towel to the woman's sore face. "Why would he?"
"Would you please explain to me why you're being so submissive? I didn't rescue you so you could go limp on me," Alvar said, leaning towards Jack.
"Why did you rescue her?" Everly asked.
For once in his life, Alvar didn't have an answer.
Over a week passed, and in that time, Everly learned so much more about being a gentlewoman, a true lady. Abigail was a wonderful instructor, training the princess without the girl even noticing it. She taught the young woman how to plan and make meals, how to feed and care for the animals on a farm, and how to harvest fruits and vegetables. The village people were planning a celebration dance, in honor of Alvar's return, to be held ten days after the warrior arrived home, and Abigail insisted that Everly have a new dress for it. The wise older woman took Everly to the village, helped her pick out fabrics of her choosing, and then proceeded to teach Everly how to sew so that she could make her own dress just the way she liked it.
Everly enjoyed every bit of time she had with Alvar's mother, and she grew much closer to Jack, who was her roommate and learning companion. She could see the drastic change that had overcome Jack's behavior towards Alvar, and while it troubled her, as it did the warrior, Jack was completely herself with Everly.
Over the course of nine days, Jack lowered herself entirely to the position of a household servant. She helped Abigail clean and tend to the house, cooked meals, and cleaned whatever vegetables and fruits Abigail and Everly brought into the home. She tended to the dirty laundry, cleaning it and hanging it to dry, then folding the laundry and putting it away when it was finished.
Alvar tried his best to strike some fire into her. He didn't like her submission at all. He appreciated everything she did, but she was now too quiet, no longer matching his quips and humor. He tried to provoke her to defying him, tried to tease her into slipping and losing her temper, but he never succeeded, and it drove him to exasperation. When he was in a particularly foul mood, he would try to frighten her, telling her that if he really wanted a servant it would be for his own physical benefits, and if Jack didn't want to be that type of a servant, than she may as well stop with the servant act, but the woman took his defiance with calm and didn't waver in her submission.
"She is probably afraid you'll give her back to Garris," Abigail said one evening, sitting at the dining room table with Alvar and Everly and watching as Jack cleaned dishes in the kitchen.
"Why would I? I already rescued her. He'll be most put out with me," Alvar sighed, sitting back in his chair.
"Because she was promised to him. You know that, Alvar. Whether you rescued her or not, that betrothal cannot be extinguished until Garris calls it off or is killed."
"The least she can do is show a little fire, that way she'll at least be able to fight him off when he comes for her," Alvar grumbled.
"You really are concerned, aren't you?" Everly asked, an eyebrow arched. "You don't want her to get hurt."
Alvar, deciding that now was not the time for anyone to think him sympathetic, leaned forward on the table and gazed darkly into Everly's wide eyes.
"Your companion, my dear Everly, has a body that any man would want, and a soul that any ruffian would like to tarnish. I'd rather not see Garris taint such perfection."
He smiled, to Everly's complete discomfort, and continued.
"If the girl's to be harmed by anyone, after all the fight I've had to put up with from her, I'd say she should be harmed by me. I rather like having some power over her, and she amuses me with her constant escape attempts. Garris would fast destroy her spirit, therefore taking all the fun out of her. I'd rather be the one to do something like that. Need I continue?"
"No," Everly said quietly.
"Good. I'm glad."
"Alvar, were you planning on assisting with the preparations for tonight's celebration?" Abigail asked, mercifully changing the subject.
"Perhaps, after I give Everly a lesson on self defense," Alvar said, biting into a biscuit.
"What am I to learn today?" Everly asked excitedly.
"All about daggers. How to throw them, how to fight with them, etc. We'll start when I'm finished eating, so you need to get changed into breeches," Alvar instructed.
An hour later found Alvar and Everly in the barn, both dressed in breeches. Alvar had gone back to going shirtless, but Everly (to her secret disdain) was now accustomed to the sight and it didn't bother her much.
Alvar handed her a dagger and then steered her towards a large pile of hay in the corner of the barn.
"Your job today is to learn how to throw that dagger and get it right into the center of the hay bale," Alvar instructed, pulling out a dagger of his own and gesturing towards the red ring painted in a circle on the bale. "I want you to be able to hit that target from all angles and all distances. I've watched you throw food to the animals and play catch with the children. I know you can throw, and I want you to find a form of self-defense that you can fight well with. Let me demonstrate to you how to throw these daggers, and then I'll let you figure out the rest on your own."
He took Everly's dagger from her, drew it back, and then threw it, making it hit the dead center of the target.
"It's not that difficult," he informed, pulling the dagger out of the hay bale and handing it to Everly. "Try."
Everly took the dagger again and toyed with it in her hand, feeling its weight and getting familiar with the feel of metal in her hands. She then drew the weapon back and threw it, hitting the wall above the hay bale.
"Make it a smooth motion. Flow with it," Alvar said. "Let me show you."
He turned his body, Everly turning with him, and then threw the dagger. Jack had just stepped into the barn with a basket of bread, intent on offering some of it to the warrior and his student, and she let out a sharp gasp and jumped back when Alvar's dagger hit the wall directly next to her head.
"There. Soon enough you'll be able to hit anything," Alvar said, his eyes burning into Jack's as he spoke to Everly.
"You were going to hit her with that!" Everly shouted.
"If I had wanted to hit her, I would have," Alvar said coolly. "Jacqueline, get that dagger out of the wall."
Without a word, Jack put her basket down, grabbed hold of the dagger hilt, and then drew it out of the wall.
"Here," she said simply, holding it out to Alvar.
"No. Keep it. You and I are going to demonstrate how to battle for Everly. Everly, watch for a minute or so, and then go back to throwing those daggers."
"My lord," Jack spoke hastily. "I'm in a dress. I can't fight. And even if I could fight, I wouldn't. I don't wish to fight with you."
"I'm not giving you a choice," Alvar said, drawing his own dagger from the sheath on his forearm. "You will be meeting with Garris again, and if you have any desire to defend yourself from his dark desires, you'll learn how to fight in any type of clothing."
He turned his back to her and took Everly's arm, leading her to a corner of the barn where she would be safe.
"Why are you making her fight? She really doesn't want to," Everly questioned as he told her to stay put.
"Because," he said, dropping his voice so Jack couldn't hear. "She needs to stop with this submission. This is entirely out of her character, and it's going to get her killed. I want her to put her heart back into something, and if it's from getting hurt by me, then that's all the better. She'll be ready for Garris when next they meet."
He left Everly and came to a stand in front of Jack.
Jack's head was bowed, her face half covered by her hair, and she was twiddling with the dagger in her hands, uncertain. He could see the look of confusion on her face, and she didn't raise her head when she spoke again.
"You've saved my life. Why should I fight with you?"
"Because I'm considering handing you back to Garris, and I'd rather not have you come crawling back to me for help," Alvar said shortly.
Jack lifted her head quickly, complete terror in her eyes.
"You wouldn't send me back!"
"I don't have too many choices," Alvar sneered. "You belong to him. That's final. Now pretend I'm Garris and fight, for goodness' sake. The minute you submit yourself to him is the minute your sweet innocent life is over. Now start moving."
"But I'm not against you, I'm against him…"
Alvar let out a cry of rage and lunged at her, startling her, making her jump back in surprise. She raised her dagger just in time to protect her face from his blade. He brought his dagger crashing against hers and then shoved his face closer to her own, glaring into her eyes.
"I have absolutely no good intentions for you," he snarled. "You're nothing but a servant, so why should I have any respect?"
He spun away, and then turned back, slicing through the air, bringing his dagger sliding across the top of Jack's bruised cheek. She cried out and then raced away, running towards the door, only to find it closed.
Everly loved Jack dearly, but she knew that what Alvar was doing was for Jack's own good, and so she herself had closed the door. She wanted to see her friend enjoy life again, wanted to see her act like she always did, and if that required Jack to do battle with Alvar, then so be it. The warrior knew what he was doing. He was trying to anger Jack, trying to force her back into the way she was before.
Before Jack could turn the handle and get out of the barn, Alvar was there, his hand on the door, forcing it to stay closed. He swung his blade up, threatening to catch her in the stomach, but she grabbed her own dagger and intercepted, keeping his weapon away from her.
He was trying to scare her, trying to get some spirit out of her, and so, instead of trying to fight her again, he slammed his hands down on either side of her, trapping her in. She panicked and dropped to the floor, scurrying away from him. She then moved first, swinging her dagger at him, hoping to get his shoulder, but he blocked her again and shoved her back with his weight. She fell into a hay bale and then scrambled to her feet, tripping over her skirt in the process.
"Come on, Jacqueline!" Alvar snarled. "You aren't showing even the faintest touch of defense!"
"I don't want to fight you!" she exclaimed.
"Would you fight me if I was Garris?" Alvar demanded, stalking towards her, dagger poised to throw. "Or would you submit to him, too?"
"I can't fight him, just as I can't fight you! I haven't the strength!" Jack cried, dodging low as he threw the dagger at her and then procured another one.
"Don't give me any of that!" Alvar shouted. "You've got enough spirit to save yourself with if you'd just knock off this ridiculous depression of yours and get back to being the defiant woman you are!"
"You'll only send me back!"
"If you keep up this nonsense, I myself am going to hurt you like Garris was going to," Alvar snarled, closing in on her again. "I'm not your rescuer," he sneered. "I'm every inch a man, just like Garris, and I do have my struggles with acting appropriately. Right now I want you to fight, I want you to regain your spirit. Physically I may be stronger, but you avoided me for four years, so I'm not accepting that as your excuse. Now fight!"
"No," she said, holding her dagger still at her side. "I will not."
"Jack! Please!" Everly called from her corner. "You're acting just about as sissy as you can."
"There's no need for me to fight him," Jack frowned. "He already knows he can beat me."
"He doesn't want you slaving away for him, and he wants you to be able to defend yourself," Everly said, for once siding with Alvar.
"I don't need his help," Jack said. "Everyone knows that once I'm with Garris and you both are gone, I'm done for."
Alvar hissed between his teeth, and without warning, he lunged forward and tangled the fingers of his left hand in her hair. She cried out as he pulled her head to the side, showing her neck, and let his blade rest against her skin.
"You aren't stupid, Jacqueline," he snarled. "If someone had you stuck in this position, what would you do? What would you do?" he shouted.
She gasped, her neck hurting as he held her in that awkward position, and then she shoved his free hand away from her and brought her knee up, intending to catch him in the stomach. He was ready and caught her leg, pulling her towards him, making her fall hard to the floor. She shouted in anger as he landed on top of her, still keeping his dagger at her neck. Thinking fast, Jack pulled her dagger up, pressing the point against his stomach, and then grabbed his occupied hand and pulled it away from her neck. She slid out from under him, moving quickly just as he did, and then struggled to her feet. He got to his feet at the same time and brought his dagger across her shoulder, ripping the fabric of her shirt, showing her stitches. She lunged at him with an angry cry, slamming one fist against his chest as she flung her dagger at his throat. The force of her lunge sent Alvar falling back against the wall, stuck in between her and the wood.
"Stay off me!" she hissed, pressing her dagger firmly against the skin of his neck.
He looked angry for a moment, but then a mischievous sparkle appeared in his eyes and he nodded his head.
"Very good. That's what I wanted to see."
He caught her wrists in his hands and pushed them away from him, forcing her back as he stepped forward. She struggled to get her wrists out of his hold and glared up angrily at him as he pressed her against the barn door.
"You can't give up," he said, going back into instructor mode, speaking to both Jack and Everly at the same time. "The minute you give up, you're a goner. Keep fighting, and you'll make it."
He released Jack and then moved towards Everly.
"Back to throwing daggers," he said, coolly ignoring the fuming woman standing behind him.
"How can you be so arrogant?" Jack demanded in exasperation. "You treat me like a pawn and then throw me away to pick back up on a lesson!"
"What did you want me to do?" Alvar asked, watching Everly throw her dagger. "Hold you against the wall and kiss you until you're senseless?"
"Why…why…" Jack sputtered, her cheeks turning flaming red, and Everly just had to laugh. "Ah!" Jack said in exasperation, stamping her foot and then turning towards the barn door.
"I think it's about time we took those stitches out," Alvar said absently, helping Everly get a better hold on her dagger. "If you'll go in the kitchen, Jacqueline, I'll be there momentarily to help you."
"I don't want or need your help!" Jack hissed. "Your help would send me right over a cliff!"
"And I think we've got the old Jack back," Everly giggled, laughing even more as Alvar winked at her.
Jack stormed into the house, angry and frustrated, and then collapsed in a chair in the kitchen. The sleeve of her shirt was draping off her shoulder, from where Alvar had struck her, and she let her fingers dance across the stitches, wincing slightly at how tight her skin was.
"Jacqueline, shall I get you a drink? You look flushed," Abigail offered, stepping into the kitchen with a basket of flowers. She put the basket on the table and then smiled lovingly at the young woman.
"No thank you," Jack sighed.
"You seem exasperated. Is something the matter?" Abigail asked, sitting across from her.
"Your son is the most confusing man I've ever met," Jack sighed. "I don't know what he expects, or what he wants from me. He treats me like a child, flinging me about at his own pleasing, making me do things when I don't want to. Why does he treat me like a child? I may be significantly younger, but why? Do I act like a child?"
"It's because you have the innocence of one," Abigail said gently. "And when he first saw you, you were little more than a child."
"When he first saw me, I was fleeing from Garris," Jack sighed. "He didn't see much of me."
"That's not the first time, Jacqueline," Abigail said gently, getting up and stroking her fingers through the woman's long dark hair. "The first time he saw you was when you were fourteen. It was shortly after the death of your parents, and he attended one of the banquets your brother hosted."
"I don't remember him being there," Jack frowned.
"It's because he never introduced himself to you," Abigail said softly. "My son saw you there, so young and innocent, and he knew there was something special about you. Two full years went by, before you and your brother turned sixteen. It was then that Bendel began to go insane. Do you remember?"
"I do," Jack whispered. "It was shortly after our sixteenth birthday. The curse came on him quickly, without warning, and he began to be bitter and hating."
"On your sixteenth birthday, you had another banquet. It was the last you were to have at your own home," Abigail nodded. "Alvar was there, Jacqueline. He hadn't seen you in some time. When he came home the next day, I noticed there was a great change in my son."
"Why? What happened?"
"He saw you and knew he wanted you," Abigail said, braiding Jack's hair and then sitting down next to the woman and looking her in the eyes. "He watched you grow from fourteen to sixteen and saw you become such an innocent, pure woman, that he desired you. He wanted to dance with you, hold you, talk to you, but you were so young, and he knew he was too old for you. So instead of introducing himself, instead of becoming part of your life, he left you alone. He respected you, even as he does now."
"Respects me?" Jack laughed. "Miss Abigail, your son chased me down for Garris."
"Because he wanted to see you again, and that's the only way he knew how."
"He taunts me and mocks me to no end."
"To convince himself that he is still too old for you and that you could never want him. It's to hide his pain."
"And he certainly doesn't care for me in the way you're describing," Jack concluded.
"Jacqueline, Alvar hunted out your parents' murderers and killed them. He was employed by King Tristan to find those 'stars' responsible for the death of your parents, and he found that those stars were none other than witches. They deceived your brother into thinking they were stars in the hopes that he would destroy the rest of those heavenly beings. They put a curse on him that only began at sixteen, when he was man enough to be dangerous. Alvar saw you, so long ago, and knew that you were beautiful in ways that few women in this world are. And while you claim he no longer cares for you, he does, he just refuses to show it in ways that you would notice. He rescued you from Garris, leaving behind a large amount of money. And don't tell me it was on accident that he left it. He told me the other night that you were worth far more than that, and he'd leave all the money behind for you. He knows you have to go back to Garris, which is why he avoids getting close to you. It will only cause him more pain. He loves you, Jacqueline."
"I can't believe that," Jack whispered. "He hasn't shown me any of that. There have been our fleeting moments, I suppose, but never did I think he really cared."
"Have you given him reason to show anything? Have you shown him that you're not a child?"
"What if I don't want his affection?" Jack asked.
"Something tells me you do. Maybe it's the sparkle in your eyes when you talk about him. But look inside yourself, Jacqueline, and next time you're near him, think. Test your feelings. And don't let age destroy your thoughts."
Alvar arrived fifteen minutes later, and Jack watched him as he moved past her, grabbed a sharp knife from one of the kitchen drawers, and then pulled up a chair and sat down next to her. He didn't say anything, but pulled her sleeve a little lower and brought the knife to her first stitch.
He was silent as he slipped the knife beneath the thread and then brought it up, severing the knot. Jack cried in pain as the thread pulled through her skin, hurting her sensitive flesh. There were eight more stitches, and she bit her lip as Alvar concentrated on her wound and slit the next stitch.
His eyes drifted up to hers as he worked, gazing into her green orbs carefully, wondering what she was thinking. She took that time to study him as well, trying to believe everything Abigail had told her about this man. He loved her, did he? He certainly gave no indication of it.
His touch was strangely gentle, more so than usual, as he pulled out every stitch and tears of pain streamed down Jack's face. She didn't notice when he had finished taking the stitches out, for her eyes were squeezed shut and she was biting her lip fiercely.
Something soft stroked across her aching skin, and she turned her head to see Alvar's fingertips brushing across her shoulder, his eyes fixated to her wound. It wasn't bleeding, but he was gazing at it with strange curiosity. Jack couldn't find her voice to ask him what he was doing, but watched as he lowered his face to her wound, studying it still. She turned her head away, suddenly ashamed at her scar, ashamed at the way she had treated this man who seemed so intent on helping her and she had never noticed it. Another tear, one of sadness at how he must have felt, trickled from Jack's eye, but then the strangest thing happened.
She felt something gentle on her scar, something with the faintest, most beautiful touch that made her aching skin feel so much more painless. She turned her head to see Alvar moving his face away from her shoulder, and her eyes widened with confusion as his dark orbs once again met hers. He held her gaze for less than a minute, but it was enough to make the faintest flame spring up inside of her, and she knew that that touch had been just the faintest kiss, trying to hide so she wouldn't recognize it, wouldn't think anything of it.
"I do believe your shoulder will recover nicely," Alvar said, hiding under his gruffness again, smirking at her with amusement because of the dumbfounded expression on her face. "Whatever has you so surprised? Did you expect that not to hurt?"
"You…you…"
"The cat has your tongue again," Alvar chuckled, standing up and moving the fabric of her shirt to cover her shoulder. "And you may want to cover that up. You have a banquet to attend tonight, and you might not want to show that scar off."
