10. Chapter 10

10

Chapter 10

D ahlia, thankfully, did not stay away long. Ilex knew her excuse of checking on Misty was a lie and that she had felt the need to flee for some other reason. They only hoped they had not made her uncomfortable.

While she had been outside, Ilex had risen from their spot in the nest and tidied up a bit. Their leafy mane had grown a bit wild as they had slept, so they put it to rights and set about washing their soup bowl in the basin of water under the small water pump at the corner of the cottage.

Dahlia came back while Ilex had their back turned to the door, so they pivoted to look at her, assess her. She was breathing a bit fast, and her round cheeks were a bright pink. So was the tip of her tiny nose. Ilex thought they had never seen anything so pretty.

"Oh, you're up!" She exclaimed as she took them in.

"I'm up, thanks to your excellent care," Ilex said. Her blush deepened.

"I'm so glad you're feeling better," she said, true relief in her voice—but Ilex detected another emotion underneath.

"And you, Dahlia? Are you well?" They asked.

"I…Yes, I'm well, thank you for asking," she said and paused. They waited for her to continue. "Ilex, if it's alright with you, I think I should stay a few more days. Just until we are sure you're fully recovered, you know? I wouldn't want the fever to take you again when you're all alone out here with no one to help. Would that be alright with you? Of course, I don't want to intrude, and I know you live out here because you like your privacy, but," she stopped and took in a breath as Ilex closed the short distance between them. They took her dainty hand in theirs and looked into her amber eyes as they spoke.

"Dahlia, you are welcome here as long as you'd like to stay. I find I quite enjoy your company. Please do not worry about intruding. I am grateful for your help, more than you know," they said.

"Oh," Dahlia said, clearly surprised at Ilex's openness. They found they could not help but be open with her. Her face softened after a moment, though, and a smile graced her lovely rosebud lips.

"Thank you for saying that, Ilex. I…" she paused, glancing away to collect herself before turning her amber eyes back on them. "People generally do not seem to enjoy having me around. I talk too much. My voice is shrill. I don't act with respectable seriousness for my role…the critiques never end. It is, in fact, very meaningful to me that you enjoy my company. I find I enjoy yours too, Ilex."

A content quiet settled over them then as they both let their honesty sink in. Ilex couldn't look away from Dahlia, this dainty flower of a necromancer who had floated into their life on a rogue breeze. They were glad she wanted to stay with them, if only for a few more days.

* * *

The next morning, Ilex awoke with the dawn and immediately noticed Dahlia's soft snoring from where she slept on one of their mossy benches. They rose from their nest and walked quietly over to take in her sleeping form. Her expression was so soft in her sleep; they couldn't believe this tiny force of a woman had taken down those bandits singlehanded. Ilex was grateful she had been there to save them.

They were usually self-sufficient—had been for the last three decades—but having someone to help when they needed it wasn't the worst thing. In fact, it made Ilex's heart ache in a way it never had before. They wanted to hear her voice again, to get lost in her words and thoughts.

Ilex didn't know what was happening, but they knew they needed to get some space. They turned away from her and strode out into the dewy morning. They didn't know where they were headed, but they needed to think and get this budding attachment to Dahlia out of their mind.