Chapter Twelve

Freddy

" A s I always say, ‘The two things in life most important to protect are your heart and sole, so be careful who you marry and make sure to keep your shoes in good repair.'"

Freddy laughed as he looked down at his new boots then over at his wife. "Excellent words of wisdom, Mormor. Thankfully, I can say now that I have been successful on both counts." He bent down to give the old woman a hug. "Thank you for looking after my princess."

She patted his cheek. "You're a good boy, Kai. I wish you could have met my grandson Jem; I think the two of you could have been good friends. Take good care of Eliza. There's more to her than meets the eye."

"I will," he promised, stepping back as Norva took Mormor's place.

She handed him a covered basket. "Just a little something for your journey. Remember, the best way to a woman's heart is through her stomach."

He chuckled. "I always heard it the other way around."

"You've not heard it the Norditch way, then. As Mormor always says, ‘The tears of a woman are dried with a snack and her anger soothed with a soft pillow.'" She smirked up at him. "That one I do have embroidered on a pillow."

After a final round of goodbyes, Freddy and Lizzie were finally on their way. The bright sun took the edge off the freezing air, and the cloudless blue sky seemed to stretch away endlessly. Mormor and Norva had ensured that they were properly dressed for the cold, and between the sunshine and the soft, thick scarf around his neck, Freddy almost felt too warm.

He tried to keep his enthusiasm in check, but it was hard to temper his joy at finally being homeward bound with Lizzie safe at his side. Her cold demeanor still puzzled him, but for the time being, it was enough that she was there.

They crossed the ferry to the mainland of Eukarya without trouble, receiving a warm welcome in Cabriole from the ferry worker who recognized Freddy from his initial crossing. With Norva's rhubarb pie in their belly and the wide road in front of them, the miles passed quickly under their feet and Freddy found it easy to be optimistic about the future.

Until nightfall.

Lizzie stood on the side of the circle of ground he had cleared for their camp with her arms crossed in front of her chest. "What are you doing?"

He pulled out the rope that would support the top of their tent and began tying one end around a branch. "Making camp." He pointed with his chin to his pack. "There's a roll of canvas in there; could you get it out?"

She wordlessly did as he directed, first in setting up the tent and then in gathering wood for a fire. He tried to engage her in conversation as they shared a meal, but after his first questions were met with silence, Freddy gave up. He pulled out his lute, playing and humming along as the sun was setting, and still she said nothing.

She finally broke her silence as the first stars began to appear in the sky. "I'll sleep out here."

Freddy was so surprised that his fingers slipped on the strings, striking a dissonant chord. He set the instrument to the side. "What? No."

She folded her hands primly in her lap. "There's only one tent."

"Yes, but there are two blankets, and it's too cold for you to be sleeping on the ground out in the open air."

"The cold doesn't bother me."

Freddy scrubbed his hands down his face and took a deep, calming breath.

She doesn't know that it's me. As far as she knows, I'm just some stranger that she's known for two days. It makes sense that she would be cautious.

"I'm not letting you sleep outside, Eliza." He gave a defeated sigh. "Take the tent."

Her head tilted to the side. "But it's your tent."

"Are you offering to share now?" He quirked an eyebrow.

"I have nothing to give you in exchange. This arrangement brings you no benefit."

Yep. Definitely sleeping outside tonight.

"You're my wife. The benefit is that you won't be frozen to death in the morning."

"But won't you freeze to death, then?"

He waved her concern aside with a bright smile. "My warm, cheery personality will keep me alive."

The firelight danced over her face, making her expression hard to read. He thought he saw a flash of concern in her eyes, and he softened his expression. "I'll keep the fire going. Just let me grab a blanket from inside, and then it's all yours."

Her murmured thanks were barely audible as he held the tent flap open for her to duck under, and then Freddy was left alone under the stars. He added a few large logs to the fire and dug out a small divot in the ground to keep himself from rolling into the fire while he slept. He wrapped his blanket around his shoulders and lowered himself to the cold earth. The sound of shifting and turning inside the tent told him that Lizzie was having just as much trouble finding a comfortable spot as he was. He sighed.

Married life so far was not at all like he had thought it would be. Freddy had been left on his wedding day, chased his wife across the continent, and now was sleeping outside on the cold, hard dirt.

Alone.

But then her words from earlier replayed in his mind.

"This arrangement brings you no benefit."

He didn't have to wonder how often she had been told growing up that her only value lay in what others were willing to give for her. He had often heard about it from Lizzie firsthand, and it made his blood boil. Lizzie deserved better than a father who saw her as nothing more than a bargaining tool. She deserved to know that she could be loved— was loved—without being expected to offer anything in exchange.

I suppose this is the same as smiling, isn't it? She just needs someone to show her how it's done.

The sounds of stirring behind him had stopped. Freddy turned over, putting his back to the fire and facing the tent.

His whispered words melted into the darkness. "Sweet dreams, Lizzie." After a moment he added, "I love you."

Freddy nearly regretted his decision the next morning when he awoke with cold, stiff limbs. A headache pounded behind his eyes, as if someone were repeatedly banging against his skull with a hammer.

For the first time in a long while, he found it very hard to smile.

What I wouldn't give for Shea's ability to sleep on the ground right about now.

Lizzie greeted him with an emotionless, "Good morning," as she stepped out of the tent. She sat down in front of the fire, which he had just coaxed back to life, and looked up at him expectantly. "What are we having for breakfast?"

He had thought no further ahead than the fire, and it took him a moment to process her question.

"Kai?"

He gave his head a small shake, then immediately regretted it as the pounding intensified. He closed one eye against the pain. "Breakfast. Right." He blew out a long breath. "I think we have some of Norva's pie left."

Freddy retrieved the basket, smiling a little when he spied the embroidery on the cloth napkin. Norva had stitched Mormor's words of wisdom on more than just a pillow. The smile disappeared when he lifted the napkin and discovered that he had overestimated the amount of pie left. There was enough for one.

Though the travel bread that Mormor and Norva sent with us isn't bad…it's just not pie.

He handed the basket over to Lizzie. "Here you are, my fair lady."

"Aren't you going to have any?" She looked from him to the basket and back again.

"I'm not hungry." The lie was sour in his mouth, but Freddy had no energy for arguing, especially if they were going to be spending the day on the road and on foot once again. His initial plan of securing horses after the ferry had been foiled when the only man with two to part with had asked for more than double the price of what Freddy had left.

And so walking it was, at least until he could either find a more reasonable seller or find a way to make more money on the way.

He set to work refilling their canteens and cleaning up the campsite while Lizzie finished her breakfast. The tent was nearly down; all that was left was to roll the canvas and untie the support rope. Freddy looked over his shoulder while he worked on the canvas and was surprised to find her just standing there, watching him.

"Could you start on one of the knots?" He looked pointedly at one of the anchor points. "That would help us get on the road faster."

Lizzie, as he was coming to expect, said nothing. Freddy turned back to his task with a sigh.

It's only been a few days. I can't expect there to be a huge change overnight.

She was still standing in front of the rope, looking at it with a blank expression when the canvas was stowed away, and Freddy had untied the other side. He walked towards her, using his hand and elbow to roll the rope as he went. "Is something wrong?"

She turned to face him. "I don't know how to do it."

He was tired, his body was sore, his head ached, and his patience was running thin. Freddy finally snapped. "It's a knot, Eliza. You untie it." He lifted his hand to reach for the knot on the branch just over her shoulder.

Lizzie flinched.

She flinched .

And with that tiny movement, all his frustration immediately evaporated as horrified realization washed over him.

Alfred, you miserable bully. You're going to have a lot to answer for.

Lizzie's face still betrayed no emotion, but Freddy felt he could understand now—at least a little—her need to protect herself. The thought of Alfred laying hands on her had him seeing red.

"I've never seen a knot like that. I don't know how to untie it."

He blinked. He was experiencing a storm of emotions, and she was still focused on the knot, as if nothing else had happened.

Of course she doesn't know. She was raised in a palace, brought up to aspire to be nothing more than a prize. She was taught to be a princess, and never given the option to learn to be anything else.

Freddy gave her an encouraging smile. "Let me show you."