fantasyanimegirl283: Thanks for the compliments! Initially I was afraid that this was too slow but I'm much encouraged by quite a number of reviews, including yours of course, stated they like the slow pace of their relationship ^^ As for Raelyn, expect more sides of her to come out in future chapters! Expected or not, rather than OOC, I'd rather say that Raelyn is quite a complex personality with many layers... well, I guess don't just take my word on it. I guess it's best to leave the judging to the readers, right?
Raelyn followed Marian and Angela who rushed Eda to the Clinic, completely forgetting about the ceremony and the prize she was supposed to receive. There were Fritz and Otmar, too. Angela urged them to wait nearby the doctor's desk and there was nothing they could do or say when she drew the curtain surrounding Eda's bed; completely blocking their view.
She folded her fingers together and shut her eyes.
Please, Harvest Goddess, save Granny!
She repeated the prayer again and again, only stopping when she heard the metal hooks that held the curtain slid across the railing. She was the first to spring on her feet. "Dr. Marian! How's Granny?"
"Yeah, how's she?!"
"She's well, isn't she?"
Raelyn hoped that Dr. Marian would grin as say—of course she's fine—or anything along that line, but instead his face looked solemn. "She's still breathing for now… but I can't be sure."
Hearing that, Raelyn held her breath and tears. "Oh, no…" she murmured.
Fritz slumped back to the chair, groaning, while old Otmar chose not to say anything, his head bowed down.
Angela emerged behind the doctor. "Mr. Otmar, I think you should go home now… I'll update you on Madam Eda's condition if there's any change."
The old man nodded. "You're right, Angie, I'll go back."
"The same goes for you, Fritz and Raelyn."
"Okay…"
"May I stay?" Raelyn asked. "My farm is far uphill… I'd rather stay with Granny."
Angela glanced at Marian, who finally said: "I'm staying overnight here as well, the more the merrier!"
The pinkette forced herself to smile. "Thanks…"
Just a short while after Otmar and Fritz left, Veronica entered the Clinic. "How's everything?"
"She's stable… for now."
Despite the doctor's best effort not to be loud, Raelyn heard the last the words and her heart clenched. The guild master walked over to her and put a hand on her shoulder. "You're going to stay here, aren't you? At the very least, you should eat."
"You can eat with us," Angela suggested.
Raelyn shook her head. "No, I'm okay… the three of you should eat… I'll stay here."
"Raelyn…"
"Someone has to keep on watch, right?" she insisted. "I'm fine, Madam Veronica."
The guild master sighed in defeat and nodded. "I will send some food."
Raelyn bowed her head. "Thank you very much."
The three of them went out from the Clinic; Raelyn could hear their footsteps getting further away. She moved to sit next to Eda's bed and touched her hand; it was cold.
"Granny…" she murmured. "Please wake up…?"
Her stomach was rumbling quietly and Raelyn sighed. She had to stay.
A moment later, someone knocked the door; it couldn't be Veronica, Angela, or Marian since they would just walk in.
"Is there anyone inside?"
Mr. Klaus? Raelyn walked towards the door and opened it slightly. "If you're looking for the doctor, I believe he's eating upstairs."
Klaus smiled. "I'm looking for you."
Raelyn opened the door slightly wider so they could see each other full body. "Me?" she asked. "Anything I could help?"
Klaus showed the wrapped lunch box he was carrying. "Raeger asked me to give it to you while he goes over to Fritz's."
"I bet you haven't eaten, have you?"
Raelyn was about to decline when her stomach took charge and grumbled louder than before. She blushed as Klaus smiled understandingly. "I'm sure Marian wouldn't mind you to eat inside of the clinic. It's rice rolls, so it should be easy to eat."
"How about you, Mr. Klaus?" she asked. "Have you eaten?"
"I haven't."
"Let's eat together, then."
Klaus took a moment to ponder before agreeing. They sat on the chairs near the desk and Raelyn carefully unwrapped the lunch box while Klaus set down the thermal flask with iced tea. There was only one pair of chopsticks and the girl offered it to the older man. "You should use it."
"No, it's fine," Klaus declined politely as he wiped his hands with his handkerchief. "You should."
Raelyn could smell a slight scent of coffee from the piece of fabric, which wasn't a surprise at all. Feeling bad for him, Raelyn put the chopsticks away and took her own handkerchief, which smelled just like coffee as well and wiped her hands. Somehow, the knowledge of them having the same scents on their handkerchiefs brought this warm and fuzzy feeling in her heart… like the feeling of knowing that this was their own secret code.
"You're not using the chopsticks?" he asked.
Raelyn shook her head. "It isn't fair."
She put the box between them and took the first slice; it smelled of seaweed, rice, cucumber and crabstick. Klaus followed soon after. They ate in silence, which Raelyn appreciated greatly. Her thoughts went back to Eda from time to time, but having Klaus in front of her was just calming.
"Raelyn…"
She looked up at Klaus quizzically. "Yes?"
"There's a rice grain stuck near your mouth." Before Raelyn could react, Klaus reached out to her and brushed the corner of her lips lightly and she could feel the grain of rice rolled across her skin before being removed. It was a simple gesture, very much like how her brothers would look after her, but when it was Klaus her heart almost literally went into an overdrive.
"Raelyn honeeey~ I come with some soups~"
Raelyn gasped and turned around almost simultaneously with Klaus pulling his hand back. Marian stopped just in front of the door when he noticed the additional visitor. "Oh, Klaus, I'm not expecting you!"
"Marian—"
The doctor smirked and flicked his free hand. "Mm, mm, say no further, I'm sorry for interrupting your dinner date," he said. "Although I'd say Raeger's place is more conducive than my office… you sly old wolf." Marian winked at the end of his sentence and Raelyn's blush couldn't be more obvious.
"It's not a date," Klaus told him calmly. "Raeger asked me to deliver this to her and she offered to share it, is all."
Marian laughed. "You know I'm just messing with you," he said good-naturedly. "And Raelyn honey, it's nice to see your gloomy expression has been replaced with something better."
Raelyn looked away, blushing, not able to deny what the doctor had pointed out.
It was then they heard the sound of the bed sheet rustling. Marian immediately put down the bowl and rushed over to Eda's bed together with Raelyn and Klaus.
"Granny!" Raelyn squealed in delight when she saw that the elderly woman was conscious.
Eda chuckled meekly and scooted up. Marian and Raelyn came to her assistance and leaned the pillow upright against the headboard so she could sit more comfortably. "I must've worried you, I'm sorry…" she said. "But I'm so happy you've won. You've done me proud."
Raelyn grinned as her eyes glistened with tears of relief.
"Let's go home, sweetheart."
Raelyn cocked her head to the side. "But, Granny… are you sure? The way back is long…"
"Oh, of course I am! Nothing beats the warmth of a home, right?"
"But…"
"You could use one of the town's steed," Klaus suggested.
"That's a great idea!" Marian agreed. "I'll come along just to check things out."
There was a brief silence before Klaus turned to Raelyn. "Let's go and ask Madam Veronica's permission."
Raelyn nodded and they left the room together.
Veronica allowed them to borrow the horses as long as they were returned to the origin station before night. Since there was no way Raelyn would leave, Klaus agreed to come along. Veronica asked them to prepare the horses on the town's station as she went to visit Eda. "Won't it be too much of a bother?" Raelyn asked as they took two of the available three horses in the station. "I mean… we could just call Fritz over."
"It's fine with me," Klaus replied. "I'm worried about you as well."
"Huh?"
"We shouldn't let them wait," he reminded her. "Let's go."
They led the horses back to the Guild's building where Marian and Eda had been waiting together with Veronica and Angela. Klaus and Raelyn mounted the horses first and Marian chose to ride with Klaus while Angela and Veronica helped Eda to mount Raelyn's steed.
"We'll head off."
"Please be careful," Angela cautioned.
They rode slowly side by side. Raelyn was being extra careful in riding, sometimes asking how Eda was doing since she couldn't see her behind her back. However, she could feel her weight since the old woman was leaning against her back.
"Sweetheart, you must take care of the farm well," Eda said suddenly.
Raelyn's grip on the rein tightened, but she held her emotions at bay and replied. "Yes, Granny."
"But… don't be too caught up with work, dearie," she reminded. "They will never be finished… you have to stop yourself from working from time to time."
"Okay…"
"Eat well, sleep well… don't shy away from town's festival."
"…I'll try."
"Sweetheart… I'm thankful I met you. The days when you're training with me really reminded me of the times I spent with my son and grandson… it felt like I have a granddaughter," she said, lightly pressing her arms tighter around the young woman's waist. "You have such a big heart… find someone worthy of it."
They passed through the grain and paddy fields and started to ride uphill.
"You're still young, sweetheart," the old woman continued. "There'll be many… many things you want to do, but you won't have the time. You have to choose wisely… and if you'd take a word from this old lady, to love is the best. There's nothing like too early to love… or too late, for that matter."
"I understand…"
"Good…" she murmured. "…good…"
They finally reached the farm area. Marian and Klaus dismounted first while Raelyn sat still on the horse. They were supposed to help Eda dismounting herself.
She could feel the weight of the older woman against her back.
"Madam Eda? We've reached your place," Marian said.
There was no answer.
She could feel Klaus gently tugged Eda's hand away from her waist, but he said nothing. However, again, his silence told her more clearly than words.
"Granny…" Raelyn called softly as her voice started to drown in her sobbing. "You're home…"
A/N: I have a confession to make: I get the timeline wrong. I remembered the Harvest Festival to be held on the last day of the season. However, after some tweaking, I feel that this scene is more suited to the story overall. And why I put Eda's storyline on this story? Because, I don't know whether I'm doing a good job at it, I think Eda is crucial in shaping Raelyn's character (or at least to show to other people, those in the story and the readers, that Raelyn isn't simply your shy next-door-girl)
"There's nothing like too early to love... or too late," guess Eda wasn't just speaking to Raelyn, huh?
As always, thanks for taking your time for reading this ^^ I'll be so happy to read your comment on this chapter ^^