Hey guys hope you enjoy this! I manage to squeeze it in before I will be living in the Uni's library for the rest of my days! Hee hee heee
Chapter 16 – Confusion
Thom was enjoying teasing Emilie immensely as she tried to eat her porridge. Every time that she lifted her spoon to her delicious lips, Thom would slip his hand onto her knee and squeeze gentle which brought an instant red face and a glare in his direction. After the fourth time that he did this, Emilie kicked him hard in the shin and he cried out.
"Ouch", Thom said rubbing his leg while looking up to a very smug Emilie who eyes gave the message "do that again and it while be your family jewels".
No wondered Emilie said that she could handle those male at court…I think I will be limping for a fortnight…what a woman! Thom gave an apologetic smile across the table and reframed from returning to his sport.
Bored since he had finished, Thom took this time to glance around the hall to find it half empty. The early patrols were out since Sir Merric weren't sitting. Neal was rubbing his eyes tiredly which made Thom wince in sympathy. I'll have to offer my help today…he needs a day off.
"Love," Thom ventured, "I think I better help your brother in the healers' hall. Wouldn't want him to die before wedding."
Emilie laughed quietly. "Very subtle put …but a sweet gesture just like you!"
"You won't be lonely?"
"I think I can find something to occupy my time", Emilie rolled her eyes, "have been doing so for the last twenty years of my life."
"That's the spirit", joked Thom.
"I really do wonder how your parents thought that you could ever be normal", muttered Emilie as she drank her cold tea from taking ages on consuming her food.
"Don't know what you mean", Thom stuck his nose up in the air which made Emilie nearly snort in her tea.
"I think it would be wise if I escape now", Emilie said as she stood up from her place. "I meet you here for dinner since I won't know where I'll be?"
Thom winked mischievously and captured her hand, not allowing her to move away. "Did I forget to mention that your engagement ring is a personal finder?" Emilie gave him a quizzing look to explain himself. "Magically I can find you anywhere unless there is another magic barrier stopping the magic."
"You don't trust me?" stated a hurt Emilie.
"Oh no", Thom replied kissing her hand to beg for forgiveness, "it's your directions that I don't have faith in!"
Emilie stuck out her tongue, "So I got my right and left mixed up …"
"Which left us wandering Corus for an hour in the freezing cold", Thom interrupted with a roguish look, "anyway it's a useful little thing…I know when you're having a shower, getting dress and…"
Emilie clasped a hand over his mouth. "Don't say anymore Thom or I might have to throw this tea over you as well as reveal embarrassing stories about your childhood to everyone to save myself some dignity."
"My lips are sealed", Thom closed his lips and pretended to throw a visible key behind his shoulder.
"Good." Emilie nodded and straightened. "And if I find that you use this," wagging her ring on her finger, "improper again…you will be sorry."
"Spoil my fun", pouted Thom as she walked back to the kitchens to hand in her tray. His eyes eagerly lingered on her figure until the sound of someone sitting next to him broke his enjoyment.
With a good morning on his lips, Thom faced his visitor and stopped short.
Nataila.
She smiled at him seductively ignoring the other men staring at her with hunger. Thom had to admire her- with her tight black trousers hugging her hips and a white shirt allowing her chest to be visible - she was sight to be hold.
Thom kept his face bland as he laughed inwardly at her obvious attempts to entice him. Emilie beats you hands down…with her beautiful soul and mind. What are you up too Nataila?
She dainty fingered her hand across to Thom's before coquettishly looking up into his violet eyes and breathed, "Good morning Thom. Did you sleep well?"
The hairs on the back of his neck shivered at her comment. Thom whole body was on alert and his worriness for Emilie increased. She can't possible know about my dream…although it was so real…no…no she doesn't have the Gift. Taking his hand away from Nataila's playing, his eyes hardened considerable. "What do you want Nataila?"
"Nothing dear Thom", Nataila said fluttering her eyelashes and moved her hip to touch his side, pressing against him, "except for you to realise the mistake that you have made. Do you really think that I believe that charade you are pulling?"
Thom glared at her and decidedly shifted his body further away. "Believe it Nataila," he spat out, "you and I are over."
"You never gave me a reason", Nataila retorted sharply as she stopped all flirting. "After your exams, you just left without even a goodbye! After all that I did for you!"
"You are hurt over my hasting departure?" scoffed Thom. "I was forced away from the only place I thought of as a second home because of your attentions to me…and others."
Anger with clearly displayed on her face, although his words paled every colour on her face.
"You did the damage yourself", Thom whispered violently, "I didn't think it was convenient to leave a letter when you were freely consorting with others."
"Thom I love you", begged Nataila, her hand slipping under the table to his leg. "I know that you do too!"
Thom wanted to scream and hurl abuse at her and run far away but he shook that image away, knowing that there were too many eyes focusing on him and Nataila. He breathed in deeply. "Did", he said tersely, "did…until I realised that what I felt wasn't love."
He stood up and gave a small bow and headed outside for fresh air. All the tension that had been built up from the time he left the City of Gods dissolved into the wind which wrapped around him before heading eastwards. The great weight disappeared from his back and Thom leaned against the structure with ease and closed his eyes.
He never thought he would ever reveal to Nataila the reason of his leaving; he knew that it would ruin her reputation if it ever became public but it all spilled out …And for the better, he concluded.
"Thom?"
With one eye peeking, Thom turned his head to note that Neal was standing a few feet away from him with a queer look on his face. "Are you feeling well?"
"Never better", Thom smiled and moved away from the wall. "In fact I'm going to give you a treat!"
Neal raised his eyebrows in disbelief and crossed his arms. "What kind of treat?"
Thom threw his arm around Neal and steered him towards the healers' hall. "I'm going to take over for the day as chief healer while you remember what a bed looks like."
"I couldn't possible…there's operations I should…" Neal rambled on completely lost for words and in the end a simply, "Thank you" showed how grateful he really was to Thom.
After, reaching the hall and spending an hour of understanding everything that Neal thought would be important and he repeatedly asked if Thom memorized where he would be if Thom needed him for anything.
"Neal", Thom sighed with annoyance, "if you ask one more time I will do something nasty…even if I promised Emilie that I wouldn't become evil, there is a limit." Thom gave Neal a pointed look.
Neal laughed and rubbed his hand over a tired face. "I apologise…I'm like a mother hen."
"Yes you are!"
They both looked at each other in silence before bursting into serious chuckling.
"Tell me," Neal choked out as he wiped tears from his face, "what was that at breakfast all about."
Thom went red. "I was trying to put Emilie off her breakfast…that's all." Goddess! How embarrassing being caught pinching your fiancée by her brother! Mirtho's help! I will never foreplay in public again!
Neal offered a confused expression to Thom's declaration. "I was referring to you chatting with Lady Nataila."
"Oh that!" Thom was totally revealed and slumped into a chair in Neal's office. "It's complicated but all in the past."
"Do I have to remind you Thom that even you are a black mage, I will hurt you if Emilie becomes heartbroken", Neal said it all in jest but behind the words was a visible threat.
Thom straightened up. "I would and never will hurt Emilie intentionally."
"Good", Neal stated, "because there is already rumours going around about you and Lady Nataila from this morning interlude."
Thom sighed loudly. "Emilie knows about Nataila and knows that it is completely over."
"Well Emilie might", Neal conceded, "but the other is sure not giving up. Thankfully she has gone for a ride to the forest near here…so there won't be any more confrontations. I would advise staying away from her…"
"Believe me…I would love to be as far away as I could", Thom said bitterly, "I have no idea why she is here!"
As Thom had walked out, Nataila knew that nearly all the people in the mess hall was staring secretly at her, wondering what was happening.
I've got them now! She thought smugly as she stood up and made a fake wiping of her nose and eyes before heading in the opposite direction. Half way to her rooms a familiar figure appeared from another corridor.
Lady Emilie of Queenscove, she spat out and turned to follow her. Now is my chance since everything is in place.
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