Avalaon

Blankets, Breakfast, and Blue Eyes

Elisabeth didn’t waste a second. A soon as she realized what he was doing with her hand, she acted. Gently, she slipped both hands up around his neck, softly covering his tattoo, letting the warmth of her hands seep into his skin. Her forehead gently leaned against his, words warm and soft. “Ezner, that thing has no power over you anymore. None. It may still be there, but its power is gone. That will never be you ever again.”

His confession about wanting to hold her hand wasn’t expected but didn’t bother her in the least. They were both still a bit raw about assuming the worst had happened to the other so the idea that he wanted to keep a physical connection made sense. The only issue…is that he had refused to communicate that to her in the moment. “Then tell me that. I can’t know what you are thinking.”

He continued to convey how he felt. When he showed her his wrist, she removed his hands from his neck and moved them directly to this wrist, repeating the same act – simply allowing her touch and warmth to seep in. She was no healer, and her touch wasn’t magical…but Elisabeth knew the power of touch itself and hoped beyond hope that it would have a positive effect on him.

Ezner took her hand again and said he liked holding her hand. He had attached her to snow, but not cold. Interesting. Squeezing his hand gently, Elisabeth interjected a few thoughts of her own. “Snow is cold, yet soft and playful. I will show you sometrial – I promise. I won’t let it hurt you. I want you only to have happy thoughts of snow.”

The most surprising comment, however, was his observation about her on a couch and blanket. Curious. She wanted to ask him more about that but Elisabeth also wanted to get to his house so they could pick up his things and get back to her home. Squeezing his hand again, she nodded her head down the road, smiling. “Then hold my hand and we will get through the cold…together.”

Blankets, Breakfast, and Blue Eyes

When he went to release her hand, Ezner would find Elisabeth squeezing a bit tighter, keeping hold of his hand for a few trills more before allowing him to have it back. If pressed, she wouldn’t be able to say why but she suspected it simply had to do with wanting to make sure he was really there.

She noted him rubbing the tattoo – a nervous tick she remembered he had before. Why was he nervous? Nope. No more secrets. Elisabeth had spent a season with mysteries, secrets and enigmas. Gently grabbing his hand as he moved it back to his pocket, she stopped in the middle of the street, forcing him to stop and turn to regard her. Her eyes were always kind, but now he would see a bit of confusion swirling within them. “Why are you nervous? It’s just me, Ezner. You rub your tattoo when you are nervous, and you just did it. I’m no threat to you.”

When that matter settled, she allowed them to move on as he voiced his dislike of the cold. The way he described it, how it hurt him, pinched her a little. Elisabeth knew there were people that would never like cold and it was possible he would be one of them. She would have to learn to accept that. Nodding her head gently, she didn’t say anything, just letting him talk.

What followed was something of a contradiction. He didn’t like the cold, but the snow reminded him of her…and he wished she had been able to talk a walk with him in the snow. The young woman didn’t know what to make of any of it. Luckily, he asked a question that she could answer. “Yes. I left for Viden first and it always is cold and snowy there. Very far north. Then I went to Scavloris and was there through Cylus. Very cold. Very dark. Very snowy. I seem to thrive in that type of environment.” It was a fact she couldn’t deny, no matter how much sometimes she wanted to.

Blankets, Breakfast, and Blue Eyes

She thought for a moment that perhaps she had given him too many choices, but the issue with that was that life didn’t care about things such as that. Ezner was free now and he would have to figure out how to make decisions on his own or ask for help. Elisabeth stood there, gently watching him as he struggled through the thought processes that accompanied such.

It took him a minute to decide that he wanted to clean up and change at his house, but that he wanted her to accompany him. In her mind, it had been the logical choice, but the choice hadn’t been hers to make. Nodding softly, she gently walked past him to grab her cloak and scarf, laying a hand on his arm. “Dinner can wait a bit. This is more important…and I’ll be with you.” Elisabeth was wary of pushing anything with him for the time being. Unaware of just what the emotional and mental toll of his experiences were, it just wasn’t wise to move too quickly in any one direction. Stability. He needed stability.

Old habit die hard, and as he stepped out her door in front of her, she almost wanted to stop him from the involuntary act of leading her out…but she stopped at the last minute. It was actually…nice? Elisabeth was aware that what he was doing was something that had been trained into him and she felt guilty about enjoying how that one small act made her feel. He was protecting her…and that was something she wasn’t used to. It made her feel like she mattered.

But then, the surprise came. His hand held out to her with a smile, to help her down the steps. Without any hesitation, she accepted, squeezing the proffered hand gently as she made her way down to the ground, speaking softly. “It’s a nice night for a walk, I think. I wish I had returned before the snow melted. I would have loved to take a walk in the snow with you.”

Blankets, Breakfast, and Blue Eyes

Elisabeth watched his reaction carefully as she showed him the ‘s’, noting the broad smile on his face at knowing how to spell her name. Giving his arm a gentle squeeze, they went inside. Her new house wasn’t very different than the old one. Spartan with possession, there were a few books strewn around in different places, but it was obvious she didn’t view it as a place that needed to be decorated. It served a utilitarian function, allowing her a place to keep things. It was a place to sleep and escape anything that needed escaping as well…but a place like that didn’t need ornamentation or things for that purpose.

The couch, however, was the same one he remembered. Vin and Rilith had given it to her when she moved out. There was nothing special about it really. It was a simple, comfortable couch…but it was one that had given her endless nights of comfort from the realities of life. Maybe she was sentimental after all.

It was only when they stepped into the house did, she notice how dirty he was. Of course, he was on his way home from a job. At least that is what she presumed. Thinking quickly, she spoke. “Well, we could do a few things. I don’t have any clean clothes that would fit you…otherwise, I would let you clean up here. If you have clean clothes someplace else, you could go grab them and bring them back…or I could go with you?” The last option was borne of the fact that she didn’t think he would willingly let her out of his sight right then…and she was a bit curious as to where he was living.“If you don’t like either of those options, you are welcome to clean up the best you can here without a clothing change. I don’t mind, really” The smile she gave him reinforced that Elisabeth was truly fine with anything he chose to do.

Dinner could wait for a bit. She wanted Ezner to be comfortable so whatever that took, Elisabeth was willing. It was a conversation of two equals, discussing the course of the evening...and that felt really good.

Blankets, Breakfast, and Blue Eyes

Elisabeth knew she had asked a difficult question. If the answer hadn’t been important, she wouldn’t have. But never in a million arcs would she have expected the answer that he gave her. Nor would she have expected him to look her directly in the eyes when he told her…with a smile.

And that was when he dropped the bombshell on her. It was truth to him but to her, she really didn’t know what to make of it. He needed her. Need. It was something that every person had to determine for themselves – what they needed in their life. Ezner had decided that she was an essential need and spoke it plain, simple, and straightforward. No one had ever told her that they needed her. Ever. No one needed her. Maybe...maybe... wanted her…but need was a very different thing.

Squeezing his fingers back softly, the young woman smiled at him, finding the words she was looking for. “Ezner, I’m your friend. I will always be here. Now that you are free, we can do all the things you want. I told you that sometrail, you would see the world through your own eyes and now you have that chance. I would consider it an honor to be with you when you see things for yourself.”

The movement of his hands caused her to look down, watching as he spelled out her name – almost – in her palm. Breaking into a wide smile, her slender hand gently took his finger and traced out the letters again in her hand, but instead this time, drawing an ‘s’ instead of a ‘z’. “EliSabeth. It’s an ‘s’. It’s ok though, the two letters sometimes sound the same and there is a version of my name that uses a ‘z’. Arguably, it’s more common than the way my version is spelled.”

Rising, Elisabeth kept hold of one of his hands, giving it a soft tug. “It’s cold out here. Would you like to come inside? I was about ready to make dinner. No doing my dishes, alright?” A soft grin accompanied the comment, recalling what she had told him the first time he visited her house.

Blankets, Breakfast, and Blue Eyes

Elisabeth did not realize she was holding her breath. Not unit she felt his arms slowly embrace her. Then, and only then, could she finally release the tension built up inside. It was then she knew that yes, it was still the Ezner she knew…and he was fully present with her. That he remembered their connection and was a willing participant.

He remembered.

His heartbeat slowed and soon, things settled. For her part, she was afraid of saying anything that might upset him further, but she knew there were more questions to ask. A balancing act for sure.

It was then he made a promise to her to never be lost from her again. She understood the words but needed to know what they meant to him. Sometimes things could have different meanings for different people. What did the promise mean in Ezner’s soul? Promises were a funny thing. Balthazar did not like promises and generally disliked the times in the past that she had made them to him. Something about them not being worth very much when forces greater than one’s self were at play. The young woman had taken them to mean that despite that, one would do everything in their power to keep them. Elisabeth had tried to argue the point a few times but had finally given up. Still, she made promises to other people in her heart, even if they did not want to hear them out loud.

“Ezner, tell me what that promise means to you…so I understand? Please...” The question was posed softly, inquisitive sapphire gaze rising to meet his as she leaned back a bit, letting her head lift from his chest. While her arms no longer wrapped around him, her hands found their way to him, tangling fingers with his. Despite his newly found calm disposition, he still needed to know she was there. Touch was the best way, so she fostered the physical connection best she could as she waited to hear what he had to say.

Blankets, Breakfast, and Blue Eyes

Sighing softly as he spoke the words he needed to, Elisabeth understood. She understood. For so many arcs, she had felt alone…but it had been by choice. How would she feel now if everyone she knew and cared for was taken away?

Alone.

Taking her hands away from his face, she did the one thing that the young mage knew she needed to. Ezner had been feeling alone – and he needed to know he wasn’t anymore. Slipping her arms gently around his torso, she settled her head against his body, just holding him, closing her eyes, and listening for his heartbeat. She didn’t speak for a few bits, letting her presence ground him. He needed that, more than he needed words.

After a few bits, she finally allowed her gentle voice to reach out to him. There were things he needed to know.

“Before I left, I went back to that little stairway behind the Marketplace. I talked to you…and I left the blanket you had the night you stayed at my house. I felt like I needed to tell you things, like how I wanted to help you and that I was sorry I couldn’t. I felt like I let you down. But I promised you and myself that I would help someone else. I told you that you were my first friend and that I would never forget you…and I never did. I told you that you changed my life and that the two trials we spent together were special. You had no reason to trust me and yet you did. You allowed me to start trusting people. There are a lot of things I wouldn’t have now, if not for you and those two trials.”

Gently raising her head, letting her sapphire gaze find his eyes, Elisabeth told him the last thing she had said. “And I told you that I missed you. And I did. You are not alone anymore. I’m here. Whatever is hurting you, we will figure it out. I promise.”

She simply held him, waiting to see what his reaction would be to what she said.

Blankets, Breakfast, and Blue Eyes

Squeezing his hand softly, Elisabeth sat there and listened to his story. Even before the words came out, she knew there would be trouble. Pain was evident on his face, but she didn’t know why that would be. They were together again – wasn’t that a good thing?

He got the words out…somehow. Ezner was free, she couldn’t believe it! It was only trills before he completely broke down in front of her. Elisabeth moved quickly, instinctively. There was no thought – just movement. Slipping between his legs on the step below the one he sat on – the position ensuring he looked at her and only her – Elisabeth gently took his face in her hands, head softly pressed against his forehead. He needed to feel her there, the weight of her presence. The young woman let him sob, knowing the healing power of such things. He needed to acknowledge what he was feeling but she wasn’t going to let it go on for long. She was done with tears where he was concerned. He was there. He was free….and she was going to help with whatever he needed help with. Speaking softly, she gently caressed his face.

“Ezner, I’m here. I’m not going anywhere. I was out of the city for a bit but I’m back now. You found me. You. You walked past my new house, that you didn’t even know I had, and found me. The time for sad tears is over. You have your entire life in front of you now and I’m here to help with whatever is making you feel this way. We can talk and work out everything. I can’t promise I will understand sometimes, but I will always do whatever I can you make sure there are no more sad tears.”

Looking up at him with concerned sapphire eyes, she again began wiping the tears away, hoping that something, anything that she said found its way to him. “Just tell me…one word at a time. Whatever comes to your mind first. What hurts you?” It was going to be a slow process and she had no idea if she possessed the right skills to help him navigate the minefield he was facing…but she cared and sometimes that was enough to effect change.

Blankets, Breakfast, and Blue Eyes

She felt his arms slide around her, remembering what it felt like to embrace him. There had only been one other time – at the Dey’s house – that she had been compelled to do so. His situation, from the start, had broken something inside of her. Elisabeth would be hard-pressed to name one other person that provoked such a strong emotional response within her. Having long thought about the matter, she finally alighted on one component of it – need. Elisabeth absolutely felt that he needed her. What that need was, wasn’t her place to say, but she felt it, and surprisingly enough, returned it. She needed him too and was much clearer on the reason why.

Ezner had known the truest form of the young woman. Having met just after she arrived in the city, he had befriended her, and even though her situation had paled in comparison to his, he had been like a rock, considering her thoughts and feelings. It had been, at that point, a new experience for her but what it translated into was, for her, stability. Of course, his disappearance had upended all that, and yet as she stood there with him, she felt relief that a foundation anchor of who she was now had safely returned.

Finally releasing him, she noticed his tears, streaking down his dirty face. Slender hands gently slipped to his cheeks, wiping away the tears that fell. Sapphire eyes took in everything about him, trying to gauge if she could note any clues as to what had happened in the three seasons since their last encounter. He had gained some sorely needed weight – that was obvious. Ezner looked much healthier, and that was a good thing.

Mustering up as much discipline as she could, a soft smile played about her lips, whispering gently. “I think, you have had an adventure that I need to hear about.” Tangling her fingers through his, she gently led him back to the porch, picking up the dropped book and setting it aside while she retook her seat. Taking a deep breath, she let her eyes search his, curious about what story he was about to tell her.

Blankets, Breakfast, and Blue Eyes

It felt good to be off the boat and back in the city. Having just endured the longest journey of her young life, the mage just wanted to sit on her porch and read by lantern light. The crossing had been difficult, jammed on a ship full of people for so many trials but it was over. After arriving home, she quickly bathed, washed her hair, and slipped into a change of clothing. So much better. Part of her wanted to lay in front of the fireplace and slip off to dreamland like she used to, but she knew better now. Until she was in better control of her abilities, sleeping next to a fire wasn’t such a good idea.

Sitting on her porch with a meditation book, Elisabeth was distracted by the words on the page. She wasn’t paying any attention to the people passing by. It wasn’t until she heard her name being said that her sapphire eyes glanced up…and saw a ghost from her past.

“Ezner?!?

Dropping the book she held, she slowly stood up, as if somehow that would gain her a better look at the man whose face had haunted her thoughts for almost a cycle. The tears came immediately, her chest releasing a pain she had held for so long. Her legs were frozen in place, unsure what to say or do. He looked different, but she knew it to be him.

She had so many questions. Elisabeth always had questions…but this time, they could wait. Her legs swiftly covered the distance between them in a matter of trills, arms immediately wrapping around his neck as her face buried itself against his shoulder, holding him close as her voice struggled to convey…well…anything. “I thought you were dead…” It was the first and only thing that came to her mind to say because she had. In her heart, that is what she had felt for if it had been anything else, certainly, she would have had some sign.

Elisabeth knew words. Lots of words. Yet at that moment, she couldn’t think of anything to say.