The Girl from the Valley

Chapter Eleven - Serena

I woke up to the sun beaming over the mountain peaks, casting a shadow over the entire valley. Sounds of people walking by the building, starting their day, meant that Adrian was going to be leaving soon. I had only met him yesterday and now I was going to have to ask him to take me away from the only life that I knew. A part of me was so excited to leave. I had always wanted to get away from the boring life of Penin and now it may actually happen. The other part of me was sad that I was leaving. I hadn’t grown attached to Penin specifically, it was the people I was going to miss. I was going to miss the only two people who made Penin feel like I was home. I would miss Aunt Kathy and Hannah, who I would be saying goodbye to later if Adrian agreed to take me.

I got out of bed and stretched, feeling my muscles ache from all of yesterday's events. I walked over to the tub where I had last used the brush and combed my long hair, tying it into a high ponytail with one of Kathy’s ribbons I found on her bedside table. Walking over to the center of Kathy’s room, I tightened the drawstring to the pants that had loosened while I was asleep. Once I was satisfied with how I looked in the mirror that hung on the door to her room, I opened the door and walked out behind the tavern bar and saw that it was completely empty. The tables and chairs that had been moved around by Roan last night had been placed back in their proper location. Each window looking out to the street had its curtains drawn closed. The tavern door had a wooden plank held up by two bars preventing anyone from entering inside the building.

“Kathy?” I called out to the seemingly empty room.

Footsteps from the second floor walked to the stairs, making their way down, when an auburn-haired lady appeared, taking a final step to the ground floor.

“Serena, sweetheart.” Kathy smiled, “How are you feeling?”

“Much better, thank you.” I smiled back, then shrugged, “What happened to the tavern?”

Kathy walked over to the storage closet located beneath the stairs, putting away a broom and dustpan I hadn't noticed she was carrying. “I had to clean up the mess that boy did last night and I couldn’t do it with folks coming in and out, wanting me to serve them, so I closed up the tavern. The drapes are pulled close just in case Roan decides to poke his nose in here again.” She closed the storage door and walked toward me. She gripped my chin with her finger and thumb, turning my head as she examined my face. “He really did a number on you. That bruise is going to take a few days to heal even with all the oil and herbs I put in your bath water.” she tsked, “I’m glad you broke his nose as payback.”

I shrugged again.

“Are you hungry?” Kathy walked to a small kitchen that was located on the opposite side of the stairs.

“I’m starving.” I trailed behind her, “Last thing I ate was a glass of wine.” I laughed.

Kathy tsked again as she put on an apron, “Wine isn’t food, Serena. Why don’t I cook us some breakfast while you go upstairs and have a little chat with Sir Kaiser?”

My eyes widened. I had nearly forgotten that I had to talk to Adrian. “Yes.” was all I said to Kathy as I walked to the stairs, preparing my mind about what I was going to say to Adrian.

Should I cry? Would that make me look desperate enough so that he takes me? I bit the side of my lip that wasn’t cut. Should I beg him? What if he says no? I can get on my knees and cry. I think that would make me look pitiful enough, right? I chuckled as I imagined myself wiping my crying boogers on Adrian’s tunic as I begged him to take me with him. That was a stupid thought.

Just as I took my last step to the second floor, I nearly bumped into Adrian wearing the exact same tunic he was wearing after Kathy and I left his room. His hair looked like someone had been running their hand through it all night and the dark bags under his eyes were very evident on his toned face.

“Oh, Adrian,” I said, “I was about to go to your room. Do you have a moment to talk?”

He cleared his throat, “I was actually just about to ask you if you wanted to talk as well.” His face was serious, different from the Adrian at the celebration but the same face as the Adrian that hid me from Roan. Whatever he wanted to talk to me about was serious.

“Alright, lead the way.” I stepped aside, allowing him to walk down the stairs as I followed.

Adrian looked around the room, he must have noticed the same things about the tavern that I did earlier but didn’t say anything. We walked across the tavern to the middle booth along the wall. The booth’s leather-cushioned benches that sat on either side of the center table had been wiped clean as they reflected the little bit of natural light that seeped through the window curtains. Adrian motioned for me to sit down first as he followed me inside, sitting across from me. Adrian was a foot taller than me and even while we sat face to face, I was still tilting my head up to look at him.

“What did you want to talk about?” I broke the silence.

Adrian ran a hand through his hair before lacing his fingers together, resting them on the table. His posture stood tall, shoving the muscles in his chest forward against the fabric of his tunic. I couldn’t help but blush as the memory of Adrian’s bare chest embraced me. The touch of his warm skin was so comforting that I wanted to feel it again.

“I want you to come with me to Brimsworth.” His eyes met mine, “I would like to recruit you to The Capital’s army to begin training as a soldier.”

“Wh-What?” My eyes widened as my mouth dropped.

“I would like to recruit you,” not one ounce of him seemed to be joking, “I saw potential in you and would like to bring you to Brimsworth to begin your training.”

Potential? What potential in me did he see? I was glad that he was giving me an opportunity to leave, but I would be leaving to join the kingdom’s army.

“I don’t think I have what it takes to join the military.”

“I think you do.” He continued, “Training won’t be easy, but with your potential, I believe you will be able to do it.”

I was about to disagree with him but he spoke before I could speak.

“I am giving you an opportunity to leave Penin, to leave Roan before he hurts you again.” He leaned forward, keeping his hazel eyes hard locked on me, “You will be trained in combat. You’ll learn how to defend yourself and if you ever do return to Penin, that human won’t be able to hurt you like he did yesterday. You’ll be stronger than you are now. He won’t be able to touch you ever again.”

I blinked my eyes, thinking about the words Adrian said. Everything he said was right. He was giving me an opportunity to leave with him. An opportunity that meant that I wouldn't have to beg for work, potentially leaving me homeless in a city I didn't know. I liked the idea of me becoming strong, being skilled enough to protect myself. He was offering me an opportunity that would allow me to be stronger so that I wouldn't be attacked again like Roan did. I wanted to ask Adrian if he would take me anyway and was scared that he would object, but here he was, giving me an even better option than just running away. He was giving me the opportunity to grow stronger, an opportunity that would be leaving with him if I didn't accept his offer now.

When I focused my eyes on Adrina again, Adrian was still staring at me, his eyes never wavering.

“It’s funny,” I broke eye contact with him and looked out through the translucent curtained window, unable to identify anyone that walked past the building. A smile on my face.

“What’s funny?” His voice was just as serious as he looked.

I turned my attention back to him, trying not to distract myself with his muscled chest.

“I was going to ask you if you would take me away from Penin to whichever city you were going to.” I laced my fingers together as well, placing them on the table in front of me just as he had. “But I guess, I’ll be going to an Army Camp to train as a soldier instead.” My smile was still on my face.

Adrian blinked a few times before his face relaxed, the corners of his lips curled into a smile, “You know Serena,” He licked his bottom lip then pinched them together, “You have a habit of surprising me,” He relaxed, sinking into the bench as he leaned his back to the booth, “I look forward to more surprises from you.”