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Part 4 – Wavering Feelings
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Rhen stumbled into Elini's house, breathing raggedly.
"Ugh, you weigh a ton!" Rhen exclaimed, glaring halfheartedly at the faltering man still hanging on her shoulder.
"S'ok… you're nice 'n stroooong," Lars slurred, grinning. Rhen rolled her eyes, though she couldn't help but feel flattered by the comment.
The house was deathly quiet. It looked like the others had yet to return.
Rhen stumbled over to Lars's bed in the guest room, trying to shake Lars off.
The boy clung tighter.
"Lars! You're heavy… get off!" Rhen groaned, twisting an elbow into his stomach. Lars moaned in protest before falling down on the bed.
With Rhen still securely in his arms.
Rhen squeaked upon their new predicament.
"Le- let me go!"
"You're comfy," Lars protested, burying his face in her hair.
Rhen's face flamed.
"Eh heh… see this?!" Rhen exclaimed, wiggling an arm free to give the pillow a firm pat, "This is lots more comfy than I could ever be!"
'Dear Lord, I'm resorting to baby talk… someone could come home at this moment and walk in and totally get the wrong idea and… gosh, this is warm and… I NEED TO GET OUT OF HERE!'
Oblivious to her inner panic, Lars just shook his head.
"Nothing can replace you."
Her resistance dulled and everything, for a moment, was still. Beneath her cheek, she heard the heavy, metrical beating of his heart, and she forcefully swallowed a lump of painful emotion. She heard his soft breathing, not yet even, above her head. She felt the warmth from those arms wrapped tightly around her, desperately coaxing her to stay.
And then she felt her eyes start stinging, her heart twist, and her head throb before she suddenly pushed against his body with all her might. Caught off-guard, Lars was pushed backwards before he could secure his grip.
Rhen nearly fell to the floor while scrambling off the bed, but she righted herself just on time and whipped around, shimmering eyes glaring daggers at the baffled-looking Lars staring up at her.
"Stop it! You're under a love potion… you're drunk!" Rhen exclaimed hysterically, trying her hardest not to make a fool of herself by crying in front of him, "Do you understand that you aren't thinking right, right now?! And I'm… I'm starting to like you like this, you idiot! Everything will be back to normal tomorrow so just… stop screwing with me!"
Tomorrow.
The word cut sharply, as if her tears weren't enough to render him anguished.
Lars desperately tried to clear his muddled head. He knew the moment was serious… more serious than anything in his lifetime… but the alcohol was still clutching at his senses, giving him a massive headache.
But he had to try.
Especially if he only had…
Tomorrow.
"Rhen," Lars began, sitting up slowly to avoid the room spinning, "Please… I'm not screwing with you! I love you. And you… you just said you liked me…"
Lars trailed off, eyes widening. His heart fluttered in bliss, but the feeling was soon shattered by the sound of Rhen's voice.
"I wish I could believe you," Rhen muttered, a small, bitter smile claiming her lips.
It broke his heart all over again.
"You can," Lars replied gravely, wanting to walk over and take her in his arms, but his throbbing head rejected the idea, "I love you, Rhen. I don't… even if these feelings go away tomorrow… I'll fall in love with you all over again if I have to!"
Rhen shook her head in denial and left the room.
Lars flung himself back onto the bed, watching blindly as the world spun and faded before his eyes.
Was there nothing he could do about this? Was he really going to lose Rhen without even knowing it?
'I won't accept that!' He thought stubbornly, helplessly staring at the ceiling in thought.
--
Elini sat just outside her house, busying herself with studying the stars in the sky.
She had seen Rhen and Lars return around an hour ago, and had decided to give them as much time as possible, waiting for the others to show up before going in herself.
With the snap of her fingers, she had made her Red Demon disappear, and she knew Dameon would be marching back at any time now.
She smirked.
"Ugh… I'm so tired…"
Elini turned her head, taking notice of Galahad and Te'ijal walking up.
"You are of the undead now, my husband. You should relish in the nighttime," Te'ijal scolded. Galahad just hung his head in defeat. Te'ijal took notice of Elini sitting against the house, "Why are you sitting out here?"
"Just admiring the stars," Elini spoke, avoiding the real reason with a smile, "Did you enjoy your time here?"
"It was interesting," Te'ijal responded as Elini stood, brushing the back of her dress off.
"Bed," was all Galahad said, reaching for the door. Elini softly sighed.
'Guess that's all I can do for those two.'
Elini turned on the light as they entered and blinked as her eyes adjusted.
All three were mildly surprised when Rhen looked up from the couch and offered a small smile.
Had she been sitting alone in the dark?
".. Back already, Rhen?" Te'ijal asked curiously, walking over to the girl.
"I've been back for a while. … Lars… got a little drunk," Rhen responded with a small laugh. Elini noticed the hesitation in saying the northerner's name and frowned.
'Maybe I should have spied on them. What did that brat do now?'
"Lars got drunk?" Te'ijal asked, surprised.
"Long story."
"Good night everyone," Galahad said before disappearing in the guest room.
"I think Galahad has the right idea. It's pretty late and we need our rest," Elini mentioned, looking toward the front door, "I wonder where John is?"
"And Dameon," Rhen reminded.
"Oh, I know Dameon's on his way," Elini replied.
As if on cue, the front door abruptly lashed open and hit the adjacent wall with a loud bang before anything else could be said. Dameon stood in the doorway, murderous eyes staring Elini down, vein in his forehead throbbing, hair… singed black…?
"Ah, welcome back," Elini spoke sweetly.
"Dameon…?" Rhen began, a little fearful of the anger radiating off the man.
"I want an EXPLAINATION, Elini!" Dameon shouted, slamming the door behind him.
BAM.
Dameon quickly turned around to find John had unknowingly come up behind him… and was now lying in front of the house, knocked out cold, while the door slowly swung on its hinges. The girls' eyes widened in alarm.
"John!" Elini exclaimed, brushing passed Dameon and kneeling by the unconscious man.
"Uh… I didn't see him!" Dameon exclaimed, placing a hand on his head in distress. Feeling the rough edges of his hair, his demeanor changed again, "But that's not the point! You kept me trapped out there for hours!"
"Trapped?" Te'ijal asked inquisitively.
"Yes, trapped! She summoned her Red Demon and it wouldn't let me go and it b-" Dameon stopped when his eyes fell on Rhen, a blush coming to his cheeks. Did he really want her to hear something so humiliating?
"Is he alright?!" Rhen asked worriedly as Elini carried the pirate into the house, "Let him lie here!"
Rhen hurriedly got off the couch. Elini took the offer, gently placing John on the cushions.
Elini's eyebrows furrowed when her arm touched the arm of the couch.
It was damp.
"He'll be fine. That's a nasty bump, though," Te'ijal replied, pointing at the red knot on his forehead.
"Eli-"
"Oh, quit whining!" Elini snapped, making Dameon's mouth clamp shut immediately, "I'll go get some ice. That's definitely going to swell."
Te'ijal smirked.
"You've injured her potential husband. I think I'd avoid her," Te'ijal spoke slyly. Dameon, about ready to rip out what hair he had left, threw his arms up in the air in defeat and stalked toward the guest room.
This time, minding the two more-than-likely sleeping occupants inside and possibly to avoid any more unwanted injuries, he did not slam the door.
Elini came back in the room shortly after, placing a cloth wrapped around ice on John's forehead. Her eyes were then drawn back to the wet spot on the couch before glancing at Rhen inquisitively. Rhen stared at her, and then glanced at Te'ijal.
Te'ijal raised a brow.
"…I guess I'll turn in, then," Te'ijal spoke, giving the two a curious glance before entering the guest room herself.
"You were crying."
Not a moment after the guest room door closed, Elini's accusation pierced the air, setting Rhen on edge.
"Why did you do that?!" Rhen forcefully whispered, crossing her arms and simply deciding to avoid the subject, "Why would you leave me alone with him?"
"I thought it would do some good," Elini responded vaguely.
"Good?! How can anything good come out of him not even being himself!"
"The love potion doesn't turn someone into a different person, Rhen. It just makes them realize their feelings."
"Realize? It makes them love whoever they see first, regardless of their feelings beforehand! He doesn't love me, Elini!"
"So you say. How do you know that for sure?"
"He's constantly teasing and harassing me!"
"Many men do such a thing when they like a girl."
"I was his slave! I'm not rich! He looks down on people like me!"
"Ah, but after finding out who you really are, he's apologized and accepted you as a friend."
"He… he…"
"You're running out of excuses," Elini accused, watching the poor girl fumble, "Everything will be back to normal tomorrow, like you said. Why are you taking this so hard?"
"Because it's cruel!" Rhen shouted, before lowering her voice again, "I… I like him like this and… this is not him!"
"There you go with making him a whole other person again," Elini sighed, adjusting the ice on John's head, "… you like him like this. Well, tell him that when he's 'back to normal'."
Rhen looked aghast.
"Are you crazy?! He'd laugh in my face!"
"Maybe. Maybe not."
Her heart fluttered at the thought, and she hastily pushed the feeling aside.
"… I'm going to see if the supplies have come in yet," Rhen said, heading for the door.
"You should sleep. And I doubt they are there yet."
"Aldara said in the morning. We don't know how early that is," Rhen reasoned, walking out of the door without waiting for a response.
Elini sighed exasperatingly.
'It's so much easier to just collect husbands.'
--
The sounds of laughter and music could still be heard as Rhen made her way through town, but both had dulled significantly after many people retired for the night.
Rhen hardly paid any attention to what of it was left, however, as she staring blankly into the stars of the dimming night sky. She vaguely wondered how late… or early, depending how you looked at it… it was.
As soon as he felt her soft flesh in his hold, Lars hoisted the light girl upwards.
He didn't stop there, though.
With another quick tug, Rhen let out a squeak, finding herself flush up against the necromancer, who merely smiled softly.
"Wha… wha… eh?" Rhen spoke all too intelligently, blushing at the proximity. Her nose was nearly brushing his!
She sidestepped a group of kids playing tag.
"Rhen…" He started, getting the girl to look up at him again, "Can I… stay with you?"
Lars nearly smacked himself in the head when she suddenly looked troubled.
"I mean!" Lars quickly amended quickly, "Do you mind if I stick around with you at the festival tonight? As friends!"
She observed the many scattered flowers on the sand.
"AchUU!"
"Lars, take off the flowers! I think you're allergic!" Rhen exclaimed. Lars's eyebrows shot up before he yanked the offending necklace off.
"Great. Since when I have been allergic to anything?!" Lars proclaimed, rubbing the itchy spot on his neck with a vengeance. Rhen swatted his hand away.
"You'll make it worse," Rhen warned, shoving him toward better light before leaning forward to inspect the damage.
Lars flushed at the close proximity.
"This is going to bother you all night if we don't get something for it..." Rhen trailed off, stepping back and looking around.
She opened the door to the Alchemist's shop.
"Lars, this is stupid," Rhen tried to reason, squeezing his hand, "Let's just go!"
He almost gave into that cute little pout.
Almost.
But...
He laced their hands together, surprising Rhen.
"You're getting a cure for this... love potion, right?" Lars asked, placing Rhen in further shock, "I'm not stupid. Not to mention that Alchemist is loud. ... Anyway, if this really is the love potion's fault... and I still refuse to believe it, but if somehow, it is... then let me fight for you while I can."
"Rhen! You're here early," Aldara said, surprised, before turning around and grabbing a small bottle from the shelf behind her, "The shipment came in about thirty minutes ago and I made this right away. Though I still say you shouldn't do this."
"You're comfy," Lars protested, burying his face in her hair.
Rhen's face flamed.
"Eh heh… see this?!" Rhen exclaimed, wiggling an arm free to give the pillow a firm pat, "This is lots more comfy than I could ever be!"
'Dear Lord, I'm resorting to baby talk… someone could come home at this moment and walk in and totally get the wrong idea and… gosh, this is warm and… I NEED TO GET OUT OF HERE!'
Oblivious to her inner panic, Lars just shook his head.
"Nothing can replace you."
After a moment's hesitation, with her head spinning and her heart beating abnormally…Rhen grasped the bottle.
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Don't really have any numbered notes for this part. Lots of flashbacks, there XD
One more part and this story will come to an end! What's gonna happen, oh my?! X3 Hope you enjoyed