Equilibrium

Chapter Twelve

"Who is Enoch?" I ask, allowing myself to be dragged by the young girl. Her hair is the same rich dark brown as Nehemiah's, curling at the ends. She slows down a little, looking up at me as she talks instead of where she is going.

"He is a really excellent cook. Nehemiah usually visits him today, but Mason said it would be too dangerous." Grace starts to bounce a little in her steps.

"Yes, I suppose it is." I muse, my attention drawn to the bandage on my other arm. It aches a little, but not too badly. Yet.

"Nemmy says that you're really brave. He says that you saved him. Is that true?" Her eyes, a deep amber and green color, search mine and I know that she will sense it if I lie. Most children that live in a palace can. It is something that has to be learned, has to be in place. You don’t survive without it. As king and wonderful as people at the palace can be, there are always those that wish to do harm. My arm aches at the thought.

"I guess so." I offer her a smile and she smiles back.

"He also says that your smile is really pretty. I think so too. You don’t smile very much though" She begins to skip as we reach the door, where I pause to take a cloak from the various hooks. There is a row under my name and the cloak can conceal my arm. I keep it tucked against my chest. My other hand is occupied by Grace's.

“What else does Nemmy say about me?” I ask wryly, shooting Mason a look that makes him grin, despite how hard he tries to hide it. Grace nearly stops walking to consider this.

“He says that you’re really nice. And safe.” She shrugs her delicate shoulders and I almost laugh.

“Safe?” I ask, and now she sighs, exasperated dramatically because I don’t immediately comprehend.

“Yeah. You’re safe for me.” At that, I stop asking questions.

It takes us ten minutes to reach the marketplace, where a few stares and whispers follow me. I try to ignore them. Grace is oblivious to them, skipping along and pointing out people and things to me. She is a constant chatterbox.

"Enoch!!" Grace cries suddenly, running ahead to see a man standing at a sweets stand. He turns with a shocked and worried expression, nearly terrified, which quickly morphs into a grin. Mason stays behind me, watching warily. Someone approaches and taps me on the shoulder. Another vendor, a young woman, bows quickly.

"Rise, rise--there is no need for that." I reassure her quickly and she straightens.

"Did you bring Lady Grace here?" The woman asks, and I am beginning to feel as if I am missing something.

"Yes. I did not know how to reach Enoch's stand." I smile, trying to mask my confusion. What is going on?

"Thank you." She bows again, despite my protests, and then she scurries away quickly. I turn to ask Mason what that meant, but Enoch has spotted me and I remember where I had seen him before--the day Nehemiah announced me as his bride. He was one of the kinder ones, one that helped put me at ease.

"Lady Emmaline. It is a pleasure. I see that Nehemiah is not with you?" His questioning look asks the question he cannot say aloud. Is Nehemiah okay?

"He is preoccupied, but he remembered your...appointment, for lack of better word. He asked me to come for you, and he told me to give you this." I hand him the pouch and Enoch grins. His smile falters at the sight of my arm, but he knows better than to ask.

“And you?” He inquires carefully, without looking at me.

“I am well. I am happy.” Again, I reassure him.

"So his trade came through. That is pleasing. Here, take these. There is one for yourself and one for the King. Give him my best regards. And you as well have my best regards. You’ve brought us many blessings." He is looking at Grace, but his eyes keep drawing back to where my arm is hidden by my cloak. Grace catches him looking and gets suddenly serious. She pulls him down so she can whisper in his ear.

"Thank you?" It comes out as a question and he only smiles. So cryptic. I will have to ask Nehemiah about it when I return. Grace finishes whispering and Enoch nods, giving her a look. She returns it with a grave serious face that lasts all of three seconds before she loses her focus.

"Emma! Can we dance? Prettiest please?" Grace bounds up to me and I hand off the packages to Mason, who smiles reassuringly and waves us off. He stands with Enoch and they converse casually as Grace pulls me to a small, sectioned off area where a band plays a lively tune. At once, we begin to dance. I use both of my hands to twirl her, ignoring the small throb of pain that digs into my arm. I am having too much fun. I had never danced like this before--so free and wild. Grace shows me a few steps and I mimic her, which reduces her to giggles because I am not quite as adept as her.

I am surprised to find that, even in front of so many eyes, I do not care.

Nearly an hour has passed when I finally return to Nehemiah. He gives me a very odd look that warms my already flushed cheeks. My hair is slightly windswept and I am smiling. I must look ridiculous, but I have had the time of my life.

"Sorry that I am late. Grace and I were dancing in the square and then she wanted to go dress shopping. It was odd, now that I can finally think about it." I hand him his box, and when I look up he is still staring at me. I blush a little more and self-consciously run a hand over my hair. He is still staring.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" I ask, at last, and he shakes his head at me in...is that wonder?

"You took Grace into the marketplace."

I freeze.

"Was I not supposed to?" I inquire, wary now. Nehemiah actually laughs at this. He has a good laugh at it. I think I may have reduced him to tears, to my delight and concern, and I find myself chuckling lightly, though I don't know why.

"Grace has not been to the marketplace in nearly two years, since it was destroyed. She was there and it terrified her. She has not even left the palace walls." He laughs again, with utter delight, and I smile now. I take a bow.

"Happy to be of service, finally." I tease, handing him the box from Enoch's. I have not yet peeked inside of either of our boxes, and they have piqued my interest.

"You are amazing. In the middle of a war, you find the strength to save the wounded of your enemy. When faced with marrying the enemy, you do not even bat an eye! You can get a seven year old to face her fears without even knowing it. You saved my life, too. Twice, actually. You are such a miracle." He shakes his head at me incredulously. There is one second, one moment, where my heart lurches and something curls in my stomach, tightening, but then he breaks my reverie and opens his box. There is a thick, rectangular piece of chocolate in the box and when he snaps it in half, there are almonds in the center.

"Marvelous. Enoch was struggling to make the chocolate with the caramel and the almonds together, but it appears that he has succeeded. He is always making odd concoctions with candy."

"Is it good?" I ask when he takes a bite, and he nods eagerly. Him and his food. I shake my head at him. If he notices that I don’t eat mine right away, he doesn’t comment on it. Instead, he returns to his desk and I take his perch at the window and we remain in each other’s company for the rest of the day.