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1917 Words
“How was your sleep?” asked Henry.
“I slept,” answered Merena.
The blankets slid from Merena’s body as she stood on unsteady legs. All four legs separated then her forehead rested against his chest.
“You should transform,” conveyed Henry.
“How long have I been out?” questioned Merena.
“A few days. You’re healing well,” responded Henry.
“Why should I trust you to transform?” probed Merena.
“This village is henkan protectors. We hide that because the hunters would kill us,” replied Henry.
“You might be henkan protectors, but you just said you hide that fact. You realize the arrow that hit me was from hunters,” inquired Merena.
“Yes. The hunters are always after magical beings. It is a law for us to help magical beings,” conveyed Henry.
“So that’s why you’ll help me?” asked Merena.
“Yes,” answered Henry.
His fingers rubbed her jowl, then he continued, “You can stay here as long as you need to. In fact, we want you to stay.”
“It would be nice to stay longer than a day or two,” commented Merena.
“Just remember our job is to die protecting you,” said Henry.
“You hid yourself not to die, but you’ll die protecting me? Why?” asked Merena.
“We don’t want to die for something useless. We would die for a henkan,” answered Henry.
“Give me time,” requested Merena.
“We know you need time to adjust,” remarked Henry.
“Thank you. For the time being, I’ll stay in this form,” related Merena.
The next few days, her shoulder mended as she stayed in the form she felt comfortable in.
“Your horse form is pretty,” commented Henry.
“Thank you,” said Merena.
“Have you decided if you’re staying?” questioned Henry.
“No. You say I can stay, but when the hunters come, you will betray me,” whispered Merena.
“No. Our job is to protect you no matter what,” conveyed Henry.
“Even so, you can’t risk the village. There are children here,” muttered Merena.
“We are your guardians. We are to protect you and others like you,” declared Henry.
“Really. Most people are afraid of me because I’m a changeling,” expressed Merena, and her head hung low.
Without hesitation, he placed his hand on both sides of her jowl and made her look at him, then said, “You are special. You deserve to be happy.”
“How did you know I was a changeling?” asked Merena.
“Your eyes,” answered Henry.
“My eyes?” questioned Merena.
“Yes. I’ve never seen a horse with pale blue eyes,” responded Henry.
“The thing I was never taught how to change. I didn’t have enough time to get taught everything,” said Merena.
“Also, a visitor has a guard on them at all times,” stated Henry.
“That does make me feel better,” commented Merena.
After her words, he spread a dress out on the gate then said, “I thought this would be nice.”
“It has been a long time since I wore one, but I like the pink,” remarked Merena.
“Good. After you dress, I’ll introduce you to the village,” reported Henry.
“Turn around, and I’ll dress,” conveyed Merena.
“Are them lights from you changing?” asked Henry.
“Yes. I’m in my human form,” answered Merena.
“So many different colors of light. Amazing,” uttered Henry.
“To me, that’s normal,” expressed Merena.
“It would be,” said Henry.
She slid her injured arm inside the dress and followed with her uninjured arm; then, the dress flowed down her curvaceous body, “Can you button the dress for me?”
“You are amazing,” uttered Henry while his eyes scanned over the pale face of the waist length raven-haired beauty.
“Thank you,” whispered Merena as red formed on her cheeks and her eyelashes lowered.
“Your eyes are as pale as the palest blue sky,” remarked Henry.
“My whole family had these eyes,” commented Merena.
She looked at his face and asked, “What’s wrong with you? You look like you’re in a daze.”
“Nothing. I just got lost in your eyes,” answered Henry while his kind brown eyes stared into hers.
“Oh. Okay. You know we’re just friends,” reflected Merena.
“I know. It blurted out. I have to say you look like an angel,” commented Henry.
“As long as you remember, we are friends,” said Merena.
“I will remember,” remarked Henry.
“Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate what you have done. I have a faint memory of someone,” whispered Merena.
“Very well,” stated Henry.
“I’ll tell you later what I’ve been through. You’ll understand why I’m telling you we’re just friends,” related Merena.
“When you’re ready,” conveyed Henry.
“Yes. How do I look,” asked Merena.
“Like an angel,” answered Henry.
“By the way. Thank you for everything. I hope you don’t live to regret it,” said Merena gradually, her arm encircled his waist.
“It’s my pleasure. Thank you for the hug. Now it’s time for a tour,” conveyed Henry.
When she abruptly stopped, his eyes landed on her and asked, “Are you alright?”
“It’s been a while since I was in direct sunlight,” answered Merena while a hand shielded her eyes.
When her eyes adjusted and she lowered her arm onto the waiting outstretched arm. While she grew familiar with the people and the village, people approached them and gave her gifts. They welcomed her with open arms, and she smiled at the friendly villagers. After some time, a sigh departed her body.
“Are you getting tired?” questioned Henry.
“I’m sorry. Yes, I am,” responded Merena.
“Let’s go back,” commanded Henry.
He tugged on her gently when she tried walking for the barn, “No. I have a room for you in the house.”
“That’s so sweet. It’s been a long time since I’ve been in a house,” remarked Merena.
“Have a seat,” ordered Henry with a wave of his hand.
When she sat in the chair, he walked around the house as item after item disappeared. Soon plates and cups sat on the table, and she smiled as her stomach responded.
“Thank you. I was getting famished,” commented Merena.
“I heard your stomach complaining,” retorted Henry.
He sat in front of her and continued, “I put the blankets, clothes, and personal items in your room.”
“I can stay,” whispered Merena, then the corner of her lips lifted.
“Has it finally sunk in?” asked Henry.
“Yes. I have a bed and friends. I’m still afraid they will find me. It’s happened before,” expressed Merena.
“You’re wrong. We left a false trail,” conveyed Henry.
“You think he’ll stop when he doesn’t find me? He knows I’m alive,” questioned Merena.
“He will if he finds a dead body,” responded Henry.
“I hope,” whispered Merena.
“Since you ate, take a bath, then get some rest,” commanded Henry.
“You have a bathtub?” asked Merena with eyes rounded from the news.
“Yes. The water should be warm,” answered Henry.
“Really? Where?” questioned Merena, her eyes grew wider and lips curved.
“You are happy about that news,” remarked Henry.
“Yes. The only way I got a warm bath is a hot spring,” said Merena.
“It’s the corner door,” responded Henry as his finger pointed toward a door close to the corner of the house.
“Thank you. Unfasten my dress,” requested Merena.
Immediately she walked toward the while the dress fell on the floor in a heap. Without wasting time, she stood in the bathtub, then her body gradually lowered into the water with a sigh.
“I placed clothes and a towel on the desk,” conveyed Henry.
“This feels wonderful,” muttered Merena.
“Enjoy it,” said Henry.
When she finished with her bath and dressed, they laid in their beds, and she stared at the ceiling.
“Good night Henry,” commented Merena.
“Good night. Sleep easy. You’re safe,” conveyed Henry.
“I hope this isn’t the calm before the storm,” said Merena.
“It isn’t,” declared Henry.
“By the way, Henry. What is this extra room for?” asked Merena.
“When I get married and have children,” answered Henry.
Soon he heard her steady breathing, and he breathed in rhythm with her. Later in the night, an inaudible noise stirred him awake. He stayed in his spot and listened for the sound that woke him. Finally, he heard the noise, a whimpering. His feet touched the floor as he rose from his bed and crept toward her bed.
He held her in his warm embrace, and fingers slid through a strand of hair, and he whispered, “Shhh. I’m here, Merena. You’re not alone. You’re safe.”
Gently he wiped the moisture from her cheeks and continued holding her while she settled in his arms. His breathing harmonized with Merena’s steady breath. Her eyelashes fluttered opened and closed then her hand ran across the arms that enveloped her torso.
“Hmmm,” muttered Merena.
“You had a bad dream,” related Henry.
“I did,” muttered Merena.
“Yes. I held you. I was going to leave, but I fell asleep,” conveyed Henry.
“Okay,” said Merena.
After a few days, Merena developed a routine with the villagers and Henry. Her lips curved at the thought of the tranquil atmosphere around her. The smile grew when she saw Trip, a boy in the village. Immediately, her hand swayed through the air.
“The day grows late, Trip. You should get home,” commanded Merena.
“I wanted to say good night,” said Trip.
“Good night, Trip,” remarked Merena.
“Good night,” replied Trip.
“He is attached to you,” commented Henry.
“Yes. He is,” replied Merena.
“How are you feeling after all the work?” asked Henry.
“Sore but good,” answered Merena.
“You’re healing fast,” said Henry.
“I always have,” remarked Merena.
“Let’s go to bed,” commanded Henry after they finished eating.
- Writer
