The Girl and The Gift

Chapter Four

MILO

Milo rubbed his temples and squinted his eyes. He'd had a splitting headache ever since Fae and him had talked. Communication magic was never his specialty.

"Hey! What's the matter, golden boy?"

Archidus spilled into the booth where Milo was sitting, laughing and splashing beer across the table. He slammed a pint down and slid it towards Milo.

"You look lost in the ether bro, come back down and drink with me."

Milo chuckled, and took a deep swing from his pint.

"Fine, fine. I'm fine, okay? Let it go, drunken councilman."

Archidus narrowed his brows indignantly and huffed.

"I'm not a councilman yet, you old man. Let me have my fun! My responsibilities don't start for at least another week or two."

Archidus let out a rumbling burp as he finished his thought.

"And quit talking about the council here, you're killing my buzz."

Milo rolled his eyes and patted Archidus' back.

"Okay, you got it. My lips are sealed. Can't promise the same for your little girlfriends though."

Milo gestured across the tavern to a table of young elven women. They were whispering and giggling, looking back and forth between each other and Archidus. Archidus laughed, shaking their table and the empty one next to it.

"Ah, yeah yeah. One or two of them might be bewitched by my future title."

Archidus wiggled his eyebrows as he put extra emphasis on the word ,"bewitched". Milo huffed and leaned back into the booth, letting his head fall over the back.

"Damn. No one said it would be this hard having a soulmate you know. We talked earlier tonight but I didn't get a chance to ask her anything. She ran off right away."

Milo blew his blonde bangs out of his face, and lifted the pint carefully to his mouth. Just as he prepared to take a drink, a heavy fist landed on the table, spilling droplets of beer down Milo's front. Milo bolted up, ready to leap across the table. When he looked up, however, he was staring at the smiling face of his younger brother. Theodore laughed and rasped his knuckles on the table. He looked obnoxiously polished, standing there still clad in his leather guard outfit. His auburn hair glowed slightly in the dim light of the bar, making his mischievous blue eyes look all the brighter. Milo scowled and shook his fist in the air.

"You're lucky you're in uniform Theo, or I'd knock you clean across the table."

Theodore laughed again and took a seat on the opposite bench.

"I'm shocked to see you here brother, I figured you'd be locked away in your room after what I heard from Ma when I got home."

Archidus raised an eyebrow and looked at Milo.

"So she told you then? Well there isn't much to tell you if that's why you're here."

Theodore sighed.

"Look, don't treat me like a kid okay. I can understand whatever it is you're going through, I'm not stupid. Plus, I won't tell anyone. Blood is thicker than water, right?"

Theodore raised his pint in the air and looked between Archidus and Milo. Archidus smiled and raised his pint to meet him. Milo hesitated a moment and then reluctantly raised his pint as well.

"I know, Theo. You've grown up a lot haven't you?"

Milo smiled at his brother as he took a sip. Theodore was a rowdy troublemaker growing up, always getting into fights and slipping out of lessons, but he was a gifted student. It had taken him no time at all to graduate from the academy and climb the ranks of the Elven guard. He was now a decorated warrior, his markings to prove it, and a Captain at that.

"What do you want to know?"

Theodore sat pensively for a moment before answering.

"Well, I guess I want to know what you're going to do? And, if you don't mind me asking, do you love her?"

Milo was startled by the depth of Theodore's questions. Frankly, he hadn't given it much thought until now.

"Uh, yeah, well I have no idea what I'm going to do. It doesn't seem like it can be undone or severed. Archidus did a ton of research today, it was a bust though. I tried talking to her today too and she ran off. So, we're back to square one on this."

Theodore nodded slowly, considering the information thoroughly.

"Okay, that settles that. Doesn't answer my second question though."

Milo sighed, clearly having hoped to avoid that topic all together.

"How could I love her, I hardly know her. I mean, I feel connected to her in a way, and she seems special...but that isn't the same as love. I like her enough, I guess."

Theodore smiled cheekily.

"Aw, my big brother has a little crush."

Archidus kicked him under the table but it hardly seemed to bother him. Milo hung his head back over the booth and stared at the ceiling.

"Come on, I'm just teasing. Look, get your mind off it, you know? There are plenty of eligible elves right here in the village and we all know half of them are holding out for the eldest son of the Chief."

Milo sat upright again and glared at Theodore.

"Okay, okay, so I'm right then. You do have a crush!"

Milo snorted and rolled his eyes.

"Sure whatever, but it doesn't matter. She's a witch, I can't trust her. It doesn't seem like she's that interested in me, anyway."

This time Theodore and Archidus both laughed, a thundering sound that drew the attention of several nearby tables.

"Keep it down, please! This is supposed to be a secret you know."

Milo was getting exasperated from this and was starting to consider heading home.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, we'll stop!"

Archidus pleaded, in between quiet laughs and sips of his beer.

"Look, you just said you can't trust her because she's a witch. Don't you think she feels the same way about you? I'm sure this is terrifying for her. I know you're not much of a charmer, but consider her feelings. I doubt she ran away because she's not interested. I mean you're soulmates, right?"

Milo considered Theodore's words carefully. He was probably right, he hadn't stopped to think that she might be scared, not of him, but of their situation. If she was feeling half of what he was feeling then he could definitely understand where that was coming from.

"You're right, and you know what, she was the one that reached out to me earlier. Maybe I should try to talk to her. I can't use communication magic as well as she can but maybe I can use my teleportation magic somehow. I think I'll head out now and try to figure something out."

Theodore nodded and Archidus slid out of the booth letting Milo pass him.

"That's a good idea. I'm wishing you luck."

Archidus smiled and gave him a thumbs up.

"Me too, but, let me ask you a question first?"

Milo hesitated seeing a hint of mischief twinkling in Theodore's eyes.

"What?"

"You're not a virgin are you, brother?"

Milo's face flushed red with anger and embarrassment. Of course he wasn't, but he didn't need Theodore or anyone else in his family to know that. He kept his personal business private for a reason. It was the same reason he didn't date in the village, too many people in the tribe liked to start rumors and gossip.

"Obviously not numb-nuts, and I'm trusting you to keep that information to yourself. Otherwise you've got the slug of a lifetime coming to you."

Milo pointed an accusatory finger at Theodore, and in response he threw his hands up and proceeded to mime, locking his lips and throwing out the key.

"Your saucy secret is safe with me."

Archidus and Theodore both chuckled as they watched Milo sulk out of the tavern. Milo traveled home as quickly as he could. He felt a sense of urgency about seeing Fae again, now that he better understood her fear. Maybe fate was right, maybe this was the new adventure he had searched for his entire life. He couldn't help but feel that every decision he had made since they talked was done with the goal of seeing her again. He rushed through his kitchen waving to his mother, who was sitting at the kitchen table with Archidus' mother as well.

"Hi Milo, Bye Milo!"

The women giggled as he whizzed past, seemingly un-phased by his lack of response. Milo silently thanked the stars that his father wasn't home, or at least not downstairs. He wasn't in the mood for a lecture on drinking during the week or an interrogation on why he was in such a hurry. When he reached his room he quickly closed the door and sealed it with a protection spell. Without wasting a moment he began to pull books from the shelves that bordered his bed and fling them to the grown. Bingo, there it was. Tucked behind a few poetic works was a tiny book labeled in Latin. Archidus' had stolen it from his father's office for him after sealing his mark. It appeared to be a small collection of spells based on witch magic. It was exactly what he needed right now. Milo closed his eyes for a moment and pictured Fae, it was all he needed to be sure that he wanted to do this. Milo started in on his research, determined to find a way to communicate with his soulmate. One way or another he would see her again.