Erudessa continued staring at Lanik even as he propped her up and threw a cloak over her. He met her gaze and lifted his hand. She winced, preparing herself to be struck. Instead, he gently pushed stray locks of her hair behind her ears. Her eyes fluttered as his fingers trailed her cheek, calming her until she found it difficult to stand. Then he pulled over the hood and murmured, "Shh, keep your head down, don't look anyone in the eyes." Erudessa nodded, still holding his gaze. Lanik grabbed her wrist and made to lead her through the crowd, but the strength in her legs failed her, and she dropped to her knees. Unwilling to stay a moment longer, she rallied her strength, looped her arm in his, and pulled herself back up until she could walk side by side with him.

But it was grief, not obedience, that forced her head down. [i]Frandur is dead. My friend is dead. I will never see him again. I will never hear his wisdom, his kind words, or his honest advice. Frandur is gone. It's my fault. I couldn't save him. It was my responsibility, and I failed him.[/i] A wet sniffle punctuated the silence. [i]I'm so, so sorry, Frandur...[/i] As they weaved through the crowd at a brisk pace, her thoughts grew even darker. [i]I let them skin you, let them take your beautiful face, let them take you from me. Forgive me.[/i]

She barely noticed when Lanik put her on the horse, only remembering when he issued the command to hold on. So she wrapped her arms around his waist, laid her head on his shoulder, and held tight. As they weaved through the city, her thoughts drifted back to a few minutes prior, to the moment his fingers brushed her tresses from her cheeks. [i]He was so gentle. Might he actually care for me? He bought me for an outrageous amount, right before the captain hurt me, and covered my nakedness as if concerned for my dignity. Maybe he's actually a nice person. But what if he doesn't actually like me? What if he hates my guts and is just acting purely out of guilt or duty? Or what if he just means to use and abuse me? Please don't let it be that. I want to like him. He's cool.[/i]

"You're lucky I arrived when I did," he said suddenly. "Captain Moor is skilled at what he does, however sick you may think it is."
[i]I'm lucky...I'm lucky he says...that must mean he thinks his intentions for me are nicer than what that Captain Moor had in mind. Thank goodness.[/i] Her response was to squeeze him harder. [i]He's so cool.[/i]

The horse slowed to a stop, a signal that they arrived at some place significant. Still, she caught a grip on his sleeve and didn't let go until she was safely standing on the ground. The paralysis had worn off enough that she could walk, albeit with concentrated effort. He led her into the house and straight to the bedroom. Her cheeks flushed as she considered why he would bring her here. It didn't help that he expected her to sit on the bed. She instinctively pulled his cloak tighter.

"Rest here while I...decide on what to do with you," he commanded. Erudessa shifted to the far side of the bed and started looking for escape routes. A flapping noise drew her attention. It was an old shirt. A pair of pants soon followed. [i]Well. If he was going to use me, he would hardly make me dress up, now would he? Unless he has a fetish for ripping things off. I know a couple elves like that.[/i] She shivered at the thought and picked up the clothes.

A knock on the door echoed through the house. Erudessa looked up. [i]That had better not be guards.[/i]
"Get dressed," Lanik ordered, and went to go get the door. Erudessa closed the bedroom door and undressed, taking a moment to assess her body. A few squeeze tests here and there revealed less body mass than she liked. [i]Wow. Depression really took its toll on me. I need to eat. I can eat because Frandur made it possible.[/i] The thought darkened her expression for a moment. [i]No. I mustn't let sad thoughts plague me forever. That's how they win. I can't let them win.[/i]

With renewed determination, she put on the shirt and pants, belted the pants with one of the straps, and placed her hand on the doorknob. Voices rose to meet her. One was Lanik's. The other...she'd know that voice anywhere. It was the man who teased her back in the forest. She backed away to the bed and threw herself under the covers.

[i]Nope nope nope nope[/i]
__________

Erudessa blinked.

[i]Did I fall asleep?[/i]

"Ow!" she exclaimed as something pinched her ear. She sat up to find the source to be a human child - a girl, to be exact. Her dark hair swished with her deep blue dress as she studied the elf with almost scientific curiosity. "You're an elf! A real elf!" the girl exclaimed.

Erudessa blinked again. "Why yes, I'd imagine so," she replied at length. She leaned forward and met the little girl's gaze.

The girl's grin suddenly turned upside down. "But...you couldn't be. Uncle Darian told me that..." She assumed a pompous pose and said in her lowest voice, "You nasty elves are stinks with horns and claws." Erudessa raised an eyebrow. "The stink part I agree with, but I don't know about the horns and claws," she replied.

The girl must have found something funny, whether it was her own impression of Uncle Darian or the elf's reply, because she cackled until she plopped to the floor. "But...you're definitely not that," she said when she finally composed herself. "You're very pretty. You're a very pretty elf."

Erudessa leaned back and flipped her hair. "Do you think so?"
"Don't tell father I said that."
"Don't worry, I'm sure he already knows I'm pretty." She winked and tapped the girl's nose with one finger. "But he needn't know you agree with him. It'll be our little secret."

The girl paused to stare at the ceiling. [i]Uh oh. Did I say something wrong?[/i] Then her gaze snapped back to Erudessa.
"My name is Marië. Do you want to see me do a magic trick?" she whispered.
Erudessa cocked her head. "A magic trick? Okay, sure."