Page 31 of An Arrow to the Heart

When he’d first questioned her about the books, she’d told him she was in need of information for a particular elixir, she didn’t expand further than that, aside from telling him to make note of ingredients used in any curse unbindings.

She had begrudgingly agreed to allow him to scour the books in a bid to make himself useful. He still loathed the fact that he had to rely on her, the feeling only intensified as his love for her took a hold of him. He wanted nothing more than to provide for her, be useful to her and for her to allow him to surrender to that need.

The heavy front door swung open and Phelan detoured right toward it, tail wagging frantically as he let out a joyous bark greeting Sylvie as she entered the home. She dropped her bags by the door as she let out a large sigh and gave Phelan a quick pet and Ardál chuckled to himself, he had rarely seen the dog so starved for attention.

“Welcome home honey,” Ardál said cheerfully as she made her way over to him.

She quickly kissed him on the cheek whilst keeping her body back from his embrace, “sorry, I absolutely stink, one of my patients - don’t ask,” she said and she walked off towards the washroom.

“You hungry? I can cook up something,” Ardál called down to her.

“Ah, yeah but first I gotta get cleaned up,” she called through.

“Let me know if you need help with that, I’d be more than happy to lather up that body of yours.”

“As much as I like the sound of that Ardál, I’m not joking when I say I stink and I’d much prefer to spare you that. Besides, since you mentioned it, I am actually very hungry. I skipped breakfast this morning. And I didn’t get the chance to eat anything while I was out.”

“You mean to tell me you haven’t eaten all day Sylvie?” he said, his tone worrisome as he now leaned against the washroom door frame, watching as she undressed. He wasn’t watching her in a creepy or leering way, it was just that he couldn’t not look at her, she was a sight he knew he’d never get tired of. It was akin to when he hiked down a mountainside at sunrise, it always brought him a sense of overwhelming gratitude and awe at the innate beauty of nature. The way the crisp morning air would fill his lungs and remind him he was alive. He felt like that in Sylvie’s presence, like she was a promise of boundless wonders waiting for him to explore. She was like sunlight and he wanted nothing more than to bask in her light.

She sat on the edge of the copper tub, pulling her socks off as she threw him a look that told him not to get into it, she knew she should have eaten and she was old enough to not need a lecture about it so he offered instead, “take your time, I’ll get started on the food,” as he went over to her, kissing her gently and longingly before embarking a quest to make something edible for them. He was rather impressed at his ability to walk away from her then, but he knew she needed a minute respite and he also knew he could have his wicked way with her later.

Bacon, eggs and bread. Not culinary finery but a hearty meal nonetheless. They’d eaten on the kitchen island, Sylvie telling him about her day. He listened intently, loving nothing more than the sound of her voice.

“So, I started on those new books,” he started, “and tell me if I’m overstepping here, but what do you need the elixir for?”

“It’s complicated,” she said, not looking up at him.

“I’m not as dumb as I look, try me.” he chuckled softly, trying to ease the tension that had crept its way between them.

She toyed one of her necklaces as she reluctantly said, still not looking at him, “believe me, you do not look dumb,” she seemed to be struggling for words as she continued, “it’s not that, It’s…”

Fuck, he’d made her uncomfortable, he had definitely overstepped. He hadn’t realised the topic would be so bothersome for her.

“Forget it,” he said quickly, interrupting her as he waved his hand, “you don’t need to tell me if you don’t want to, I just want to help and I thought if I understood what you needed exactly that I’d be better able to help.”

“It’s for my brother,” she said quietly.

Oh.

“I didn’t know you had a brother. Is he here in Wyrmwind? Ah never mind, you don’t need to answer that.” Gods he felt like an idiot, he shouldn’t have encroached on her like that, she would have told him in her own time when she was ready to. Why couldn’t he just stop talking.

“He’s…. He’s, ah yeah, not very social and,” she paused letting out a sigh as though the words struggled to come out, “he was cursed a long time ago. So he lives in the woods. Away from folk,” she said, her face sullen. He understood it then, her drive for finding something to help her brother.

He placed his hand over hers as he said, “it’s okay you don't need to tell me more, but whatever you need, anything at all and I’ll be there. Let me help.” He’d meant every word of it, anything she needed from him he’d happily oblige. He hated seeing her like this, and he wanted nothing more than to take that pain from her. He’d bear any and all pain for her.

“Thank you,” she said, a weak smile upon her face as she lifted her hand from his and ate the rest of her meal.

After that revelation and with little else to do they silently sank into reading the rest of the books. He supposed she had her reasons for keeping it from him, that didn’t stop his mind from wandering through. Did the folk at the Alehouse know? Why hadn’t she mentioned him, not once in all this time. And a curse, what kind of curse? He wanted to ask, but he got the sense she didn’t want to talk about it so he decided he’d wait for her to tell him in her own time.

A weathered looking piece of scrap paper fell from the pile Sylvie had been looking through and it caught his eye. Picking it up he realised it was a handwritten note and it wasn’t a part of one of the books like he’d initially thought. It was a location with a time and date hastily written. The date being only two days from now, though he wasn’t certain on the location given. But he surmised it must have been in and around one of the surrounding villages.

“What’s this?” He asked curiously.

She snatched the paper off him, and snapped, “none of your business.”

Taken aback he furrowed his brow, holding up his hands, “I didn’t mean anything by it. I was just curious.”

“Curiosity killed the cat, you know. You don’t need to know everything,” her tone was suddenly full of malice.