The Unsuccessful
Thorn sat in front of the window, her splinted leg propped up onto the chair across from her. It had taken her several moments to get into this position. Thank the gods for the cane one of the servants had dropped of. Elsewise, she probably wouldn't have made it one step pass the bed.
She stared out the open window, glancing into the courtyard.
::You should come out here.:: The tree outside said to her. ::The cool wind feels nice on your trunk.::
She smiled. ::I'm sorry, but I'm in no shape to just wander on outside.:: Actually, she was. Her leg felt wonderfully better. It was only the fear of breaking it again that kept her from taking off the splint.
::Too bad.:: The tree said. ::It's so relaxing to be out here in the sun.::
Thorn leaned drowsily onto the window sill. She might have fallen asleep afterwards. Or maybe not. She didn't know.
But what she did know was that when she opened her eyes, she found herself looking straight into a pair of piercingly blue eyes.
"Oh god!" Thorn jumped in her seat. She placed a hand over her chest and tried to slow her rapidly beating heart.
"Not a god. Just me." Evin said with an easy smile.
She rolled her eyes. "What do you think you're doing? Hiding in trees and scaring people?"
Evin pretended to give an offended huff. "Most women would be flattered to find me hiding in trees outside their window."
"Yes, and once you entered the room through the window, you've probably had to leave the same way when the husband came banging on the door." she said.
His eyes widened. "I don't have affairs with married women. I maybe be a rogue, but I'm not that dishonorable."
"Oh?" She raised a sardonic brow. "Then I suppose that you're the type to chase after the untouched virgins?"
He raised an eyebrow of his own. "No, I--"
"Oh, but then you must be a rake who only consorts with disreputable women?"
He sighed exasperatedly. The leaves of the tree he was in shook at his response. "Are you going to attack everything that I say?"
She pretended to think about it. "Yes." she said flatly.
"Well, maybe I should come into your room so that I am in a more comfortable position in which I can say my words."
Her eyes narrowed and she leaned away from the open window, starting to close it. "Or maybe you shouldn't say anything at all."
"What's this?" a voice she did not recognize said from somewhere outside.
Evin glanced down from his position in the tree. He grinned. "Good afternoon, Thom."
"Does my father know that you're climbing all over our trees, Evin?" the voice said with curiosity.
Evin shook his head. "I suppose you're going to tell him, since he doesn't know?"
"Oh of course. And he will also love hearing about this very interesting conversation you're having with the lady from the guestroom."
Thorn's curiosity finally got the best of her and she stepped forward. She glanced over the sill and saw a young, red headed boy standing on the grass and looking interestedly up at the tree and window.
"Hello." he said shyly to her. "My name is Thom." He looked to be about thirteen.
She gazed down at him. "My name is Thorn. And I'm not a lady."
"Oh? Then what are you?" Evin asked her.
She paused a moment. "A prisoner."
"That's not exactly --"
"A weapon." she went on as if Evin hadn't spoken. "A thing to be used and abused." she said quietly. She leaned away from the window again and closed it, silently pulling the curtains shut afterwards.
~~~~~
A.N. - Yes, I know, another short chapter. Sorry, but it just had to be done. Review and tell me what you think!
~Krizsta
