Page 15 of The Dark Elf's Surprise Baby
“I try.” I shrug.
After breakfast we take a walk through the gardens. My mother established these gardens years before I was born.
Some of the trees are older than I am.
Harper carries a basket, and as we walk through the gardens, she picks fruit and flowers.
“Can you get that one for me? It’s too high.” I help her pick some bright, fresh fruit and we ensure that her basket is full.
I pick flowers to add to her loot and we start snacking on some of the fruit. I only realize that we have spent the entire day outside when the sky starts darkening.
“I guess it is time for dinner now.” Harper looks almost upset that we have to go back.
I pull her towards me.
“You know that I would spend the whole day here with you if I could.” My voice is gentle.
“Of course I know that” She smiles up at me.
We head back to the dining room where dinner has been served. We are halfway through dinner when Ivrir arrives.
I am instantly irritated. This is my time with Harper. No one should interrupt.
“What is it, Ivrir?”
“There is an urgent message for you master. It cannot be ignored.”
7
HARPER
“Your presence is requested by your Commander, sir,” Ivrir says. Demethys sighs deeply, pinching the bridge of his nose.
“Tell them I’ll be along shortly,” Master Demethys says slowly, glancing back at me. After our lovely day together too. Part of me regrets telling him not to quit his job a few days ago when he jokingly suggested it.
“Go ahead and eat, surri,” he says, leaning over to give me a kiss on the forehead. “I’ll be back for you later.”
“Okay, I will,” I promise, watching as he straightens his jacket and stands up, heading out of the dining room.
I stare at my plate of food that looked so appetizing just moments ago. I can’t bring myself to take another bite though, as I’ve suddenly lost all desire for the food in front of me.
My appetite is gone. I stand and ball my hands into fists. It’s not fair! It’s so unfair whenever Master Demethys is called away from me, having to answer to his commander every time the dark elf calls.
Taking the stairs quickly, I head for my room and start undoing my carefully pinned hair. I had so much fun withDemethys today so naturally, of course the cosmos decide to yank him away just as we’re about to end our lovely day.
It’s not like either of us were bad people. We weren’t sneaking around having an illicit affair. So why does the universe feel the need to punish us for some reason by tearing us apart so often?
I decide to try to connect more with Demethys by studying the books he’s given me, the dark elven ones. Some of them are primers on the language but others are simple children’s tales, meant to teach young children how to read and I pick one of them up, deciding to take my mind off things by translating the story of Cirsheco the Wild.
It’s getting late, and I have to rise and light my lamp to continue reading but I’m determined to wait up for Demethys to get home. Though I do my best, it’s hard to get through very many pages because I keep getting up to check out the window to see if he’s returned.
When the clock chimes midnight, I close the book and set it aside. He must not be coming back. The thought has my eyes tearing up and I press my palms to them, trying not to cry. Demethys will be back, won’t he?
I should go to bed. It’s late. He won’t be coming back if he isn’t back by now. Maybe the commander has delayed him.
What if he’s being made to leave again, just after he got back? What if they’ve made him ship out tonight, without warning? I lay down in my bed but I feel restless inside, unable to relax thinking of Demethys leaving without saying goodbye.
The pillow feels too lumpy, the bed too cold. I want to be in Master Demethys’ arms right now, cuddled up to him so I can drift off. I can’t sleep without him.