In Spring's Garden

by snowflakes and ink

Erik was left heartbroken after the departure of Christine and the Vicompte, but will a 14 years old girl able to change his mind? Will the sleeping bud burst into bloom?

21. Chapter 21

Chapter 21 (warmth)

Lavender's eyes suddenly opened. She realised, for an instant, was not in her own room. She could no longer detect a faint lavender smell and of spring, instead, all around her was a familiar scent: roses. She tried to sit up, but found her arms tangled in layers and layers of black blanket, though tight, they were warm, Lavender could no longer feel the stabbing cold anymore. She tried to sit up.

"You are awake?" a kind voice said beside her. Lavender sprung around. It was Erik, resting his head against the head of the bed, a pillow beneath his head. He was dressed, as Lavender realised for one moment no longer the black, formal suite anymore, but in a simple white shirt which opens slightly at the front. He looked at her, concerned. "I was getting worried about the temperature, so I took you to my room," he said quietly.

Lavender suddenly sat up straight, "Oh my god, am I sleeping in a coffin?" she asked. No! Not me! She thought, I still want to live!

"No, you are not, since the day you, er, budged into my room, I had thrown it away," Erik said reassuringly.

Lavender relaxed. To her, a coffin stood for a symbol of death, a symbol of dread, and now, the symbol was gone. "Are you hungry?" Erik asked, though he was sure of the answer. "No," he was right; Lavender denied food, once again.

"What's on your mind?" he asked gently.

"Why did you-nothing," Lavender had stopped herself, but caused Erik to raise an eyebrow.

"Something's on your mind obviously, come on, don't be afraid to tell, I am your brother, not a monster," Erik paused, he was not entirely correct, he had being called a monster several times in his life. Lavender slid off the bed, before starting to her room.

"Wait," Erik tried to stop her, but with a graceful swish, her long, elegant dress had slipped out of sight. Erik lay back in bed. Her knew, that he must help Lavender, but how? She was not the open sort of girl, instead, she would keep all the miseries and angst to herself. She was not trying to bother Erik, but Erik knew, that if the miseries were not revealed, she would be mentally destroyed one day. Sadly, Erik closed his eyes and went back to sleep, completely aware of the soft sobbing coming from his sister's room.