Chapter 7- Leaving
1603 Words
Aurora woke up earlier than Gruó, she slipped out of bed and watched him as he slept. He made no movements or showed no signs of wanting to wake up.
She decided she’d have herself a nice warm bath, apply some oils and probably take one of his shirts without permission. Then she’d go and make him something to eat, as he was always the one making for them and though his cooking was pleasant, so was hers.
After she was done bathing and had taken his shirt, she walked to the kitchen. She saw many things she’d never seen, she didn’t even know where to begin.
“ Good morning.” He said, she turned around and smiled at him.
“ Good morning, I wanted to make you something to eat before you had woken up but-“
He smiled at her, dimples made his smile even better than an ordinary smile.
“ But you’re a pumpkin expert.” He mocked her, “ it’s okay, I’ll handle the breakfast before I go wash. Seems you know your way around my wardrobe now.”
She pulled his top, “ yes, do you mind?”
“ not at all, help yourself. I do have a dress you could wear, I was thinking we’d go to town to pick up a few things.”
“ Town...” she said, “ I’ve never been to town.” Hesitant.
“ you could always stay behind.”
She didn’t really want to stay behind, this was probably her one chance to go to town, her sister never let her do anything. Then after town and one more day with Gruó she’d have to return home.
“ Okay, we can go to town, and tomorrow I must return home.”
“ Okay, you got yourself a deal. I’ll go take out the dress, and get busy with breakfast. When you’re all dressed I will wash up and we’ll leave, okay?”
She nodded, watched him as he made his way to the room. He returned and started getting busy in the little kitchen. For a moment she took it in, this young handsome boy who was so independent and so great with cooking. Then she blinked, remembering to go get changed.
She got in the room and found a lovely purple dress. The material was smooth, not silk but smooth enough. She took off his shirt, neatly folding it and putting it back in the cupboard. She put the dress on, and every inch of it hugged her curvy body.
She wore her shoes she made her way to the kitchen.
Placing the plates on the table, Gruó looked up. Mesmerized by what stood in front of her.
“ You look charming.” He said, she couldn’t help but smile.
Brushing her long hair so it wouldn’t be in the way she did a pose. Gruó couldn’t help but laugh, “ I see.”
“ let’s have breakfast, then I’ll go wash up and try my best to look as good as you.”
She sat down and picked up a fork, jabbing into the eggs and bacon he had made. She had never had these things before, she ate while looking at him,
“ This is good, what is it?”
“ Egg and bacon.”
“ Uh I see, where do egg and bacon come from?”
“ egg from a chicken, bacon from a pig.” He said it seemed she really wasn’t faking about not knowing much.
“ finish up Aurora, I’ll go wash up so we leave.”
He stood up and left her, she finished her breakfast. Cleaned out the kitchen and waited for him so they could go to town. Eventually, he finished up too, collecting his leather sling bag and putting it over his shoulder. He pulled her by the hand and they walked out of his cottage.
She took in her surrounding, the weather was lovely. The birds chirping, the trees swayed slowly as the wind accompanied their every movement. Aurora inhaled and exhaled the lovely air, so fresh and calming.
Gruó let go of her, making his way to pick some berries for her.
“ Try these.”
She took them and took a bite, the juices exploded in her mouth like an atomic bomb of goodness.
She looked at him with a smile, “ amazing.”
She was fond of food, it seemed. She hasn’t been exposed to a variety of it but she loved to eat.
When they got to the market she started seeing people looking at her funny, like they had never seen someone like her. Everyone would turn their heads at the sight of her, at the sight of her blazing orange eyes.
“ Why are they looking at me?” She whispered to Gruó
“ They’ve never seen a beautiful girl, don’t mind them.”
After the uncomfortable stares, Gruó finally finished his shopping and he was ready for them to head back.
On their way back she was awfully quiet, it wasn’t like her. Gruó held her hand, gave it a tight squeeze.
“ I’m sorry...” she whispered out, “ maybe I was just overwhelmed as I’ve never seen so many people.”
“ It’s okay.”
They got to the cottage and she sat down and watched him unpack everything he had gotten. Some eggs, bacon, fresh herbs as he called them. Vegetables, and meat. Lots and lots of meat, and of course some pumpkin for Aurora. He didn’t forget the lovely drink that made Aurora let loose, that was her special request.
He handed her a glass of water, “ hydrate.” He said, as she took the glass and finished it all in the blink of an eye.
“ I’d like more.”
As the day progressed, they had a lovely dinner that Gruó had put together. She had a lovely bath before they slipped into bed.
She didn’t have much to say this night, he only cuddled her. She opened her eyes, like fire amongst the black sky.
She sat up, her heart hammering in her chest.
“ Gruó, I hear something.” She said, shaking him gently.
Gruó woke up and took a sword in his cupboard, “ stay back.” He instructed as he made his way out of the room.
He had a sword? Interesting she thought. She climbed off the bed and followed him, standing by the corner.
He went outside and before she couldn’t even take it in she heard a scream. Running outside she found men pressing Gruó against the wall, hard on his neck.
“ You have that devil, we saw you two at the town market. Where is she, where the little devil.”
They saw her, pushing him to the ground. He struggled to get up, his back had taken way too much beating.
The men went for her, pinning her against the wall.
“ The little devil is a pretty devil.”
Placing her head sideways, she struggled to move. She felt them pulling her dress up, Gruó stood up and pushed them forcefully off of her.
“ Grab that stupid boy, do whatever. Kill him if you must.”
“ No! Leave him alone!” Aurora screamed out, struggling.
She closed her eyes and felt her blood boil, her skin started to glow.
“ What the-“
Before the two men could even swallow it all, she pushed them with a current mixed with magic, they went fumbling to the ground.
Gruó too, not much damage happened to him but he looked at her, stunned.
She walked slowly towards them and her skin was a luminous orange, without even thinking she held out her hands and controlled their bodies without even touching them, “ I’d say stay back and never return but I know that will never happen, so this is goodbye.” She said, folding her hands into a fist and snapping their necks.
She collapsed to the ground, and Gruó went running towards her.
“ Are okay?”
“ Gruó, it’s not safe here with me around. I need to leave.”
“ Aurora no-“
“ No please, go back in the house. I can’t be with you as I’m a danger. I’ll-“
“ They’ll just come back anyway.”
Aurora looked at him, tears fell from her eyes,
“ I’m sorry you saw me kill-“
“ You saved my life and your own, who knows what those sick bastards would’ve done.”
“ Look, they’ll come here and if they don’t find me then they’ll leave you alone. Just say that we had met but you don’t know much about me or something...”
She stood up, “ I’ll get rid of the bodies.”
“ No! I’ll get rid of them Aurora. I hope to see you again.”
She bent down and kissed him gently, “ Of course you will.”
She stood up and looked at him one more time before running off into the night.
- Writer
