Grabbing the fresh bandages, Elisabeth began to apply them while listening to his questions. [b]“Not really. It’s just the way they were created.”[/b] Her soft hands moved along the lines of his body as she wrapped his torso, laughing a bit at his question. [b]“I’m sorry about ‘E’. That’s a really hard one. I shouldn’t have tried to teach you it so soon. I just thought, with it being the first letter in both our names. ‘B’ is like ‘F’ – it doesn’t change much.”[/b]

His question about the appearance of the ‘B’ in the sign triggered the realization that she hadn’t introduced the idea of capital letters yet. Leaning over and grabbing the parchment again, she drafted a ‘b’ next to the ‘B’ and showed it to him. [b]“Each letter has a big form…and little form. They always look similar. It’s not important for you to know why there are two forms yet.”[/b] Pointing at the little ‘b’, she glanced at him with a smile. [b]“Do you remember seeing this letter on the sign?”[/b]

His excitement for learning made her smile brightly, nodding. [b]“Both correct.”[/b] She thought to point out that the ‘b’ in ‘Elisabeth’ was a little ‘b’ but again, no need to confuse him again.

Finished with wrapping his torso, the young woman did something she had never done before. Elisabeth leaned over and gently pressed her lips against his forehead. Why she did that, she didn’t know. Something about his happiness at learning letters inspired her and that was how she chose to express it. Leaning back up, she reached out and caressed his cheek gently, sapphire eyes simply choose to get lost in his earthen gaze for a moment.

When the moment passed, she heard his new question and grabbed the paper again, nodding. Settling down on the log next to him, she wrote out all 24 letters with their ‘big version’ and ‘little version’. Carefully, she put a diagonal line over the ‘a’, ‘e’, ‘i’, ‘o’ and ‘u’ – for now. Pointing at the ‘e’, she explained. [b]“These are the really hard letters. That’s ‘e’ right there. Those need to be left until later.”[/b]

Smiling at all the sudden questions, she explained her education. [b]“I was abandoned when I was very little. The two people that found me, taught me. They are teachers – very smart. When I was old enough, they saw to my education and made sure I knew lots of things. I always thought I would be a teacher like them some trial but that doesn’t seem to be happening.”[/b]

His mention of the time he showed up at her door – it had been special to her too. It had been the first time Ezner had been aggressive in caring for her. It had surprised her in a way she hadn’t been expecting, adding a new perspective.

Listening to his story about being at the Order, she noted his somber tone when he mentioned hating having to admit he couldn’t read. Nudging him softly with her shoulder, she grinned. [b]“Don’t worry. We will have you reading in no time. I have some books with me that we can work on – together.”[/b]