"The ale is on tonight, Islinda!" A hunter announced, lifting his tankard in the air so the others joined him and there was a raucous celebration.
Islinda had no choice but to give out a smile that did not touch her eyes, lifting her pint glass, cheering with the people and there was more drinking.
One would think that after such a stressful day that Islinda would be left alone to deal with her emotions, but the reversal was the case. She was displayed around the village instead like so trophy. Islinda might as well have beco a celebrity because everyone wanted to touch or confirm that she was alive.
From what she learned from all the stories being fed to her all day, Madam Alice and her daughters ca under severe backlash for sending her away. Over the years, the village had endured the woman’s brash and obnoxious attitude until the incident. Yeah, the village didn’t react till she was dead, or so they assud.
However, what shocked Islinda the most was Ryder’s death. She had a tight knot in her stomach the instant it was ntioned that a wild animal attacked him on his way back ho, drunk out of his mind.
It was the work of a Fae, that was the first thought that crossed Islinda’s active mind. How was it a coincidence that Ryder was killed barely a day after she was chased away from ho? But it couldn’t be Valerie’s handwork. She only told him what happened when she woke from her sleep, which was two days after the incident.
In that case, who killed Ryder? Was it really a wild animal - which wasn’t uncommon - or was there more than one Fae in their village? Had Valerie been the only Fae to cross over to the human realm? If that’s the case, why kill Ryder though? She and this Fae have never t before. Or have they?
The thought of another Fae should scare her, but Islinda was more relieved Ryder was gone, eliminating one problem from her list. There were a lot of things on her mind. But the most important question was, how did the news of a Fae living in the cottage spread in the village? This was no coincidence. Islinda knew she had been careful. Sothing did not add up.
Islinda had asked around about the rumor and while her investigation seed to progress at first, she ca to a dead end. Just like every typical rumor, everything was exaggerated and no one seed to know who had started it. On the bright side, the village no longer believed a Fae was around to threaten them, all thanks to her cover-up.
Instead, Islinda was now a brave warrior who had stayed in the abandoned cottage for days all by herself and made history - that the n of her village couldn’t. She was fearless and the young one idolized her now. There was no doubt a few reckless ones would be risking it to the cottage pretty soon. Hopefully, a real Fae doesn’t appear and fulfills their worst nightmare.
If only they knew their fearless warrior was broken on the inside. Islinda had been swept away by the events of the day that she had no ti to think about Valerie, but night had fallen and with the alcohol taking apart her defenses bit by bit, the mories and sense of loss returned, beginning to suffocate her.
Yet, she refused to show the pain she carried on the inside, choosing to drown herself with more drinks which the people were willing to provide for her without charge. Tonight was for her, they had said. Nor did Islinda need to return ho either, they provided boarding for her. Free boarding.
The music was loud and all around her was laughter and drinking - and flirting. Female entertainnt was abundant and the hunters had taken advantage of the celebration to go all out. Not that Islinda was interested. Even with all the people surrounding her, Islinda was alone.
A lot of n had approached her tonight, and when they weren’t asking for a dance, they outrightly flirted with her. But she turned them all down. The thought of laughing and responding to advances from other n with Valerie away made her sick to the stomach. She did not get to say goodbye to him, that paid her most.
"Not even the drink is helping," Islinda muttered in disappointnt, slamming the glass down on the table.
She wanted to forget Valerie, at least for tonight, and deal with the emotion tomorrow, but it was not working. Instead, the tightening in her chest increased and she couldn’t breathe. Islinda needed to take off the clothes and see if she could breathe a little - the sa clothes he claid to have stolen righteously, the mories tornted her.
She staggered up to her feet, drawing attention when she stood and began to make her way out of the pub.
"Where are you going, Islinda? The celebration is still not over," One of the n hollered at her, obviously drunk out of his mind.
"Thank you but I think I’ll go in for the night," She said and gave a little ungraceful bow thanks to the alcohol taking effect in her body and left.
The room was on the first floor and she walked into a simple yet comfortable space. The room was two tis better than the rat hole she lived in back ho. Without a word, Islinda took off her boot and laid down on the soft bed to sleep.
It just never ca.
Eli was fine as she had been told. Perhaps, if she hadn’t co back for the boy, she and Valerie would have left together.... And then what? Islinda had no idea how the Fae realm worked and while Valerie was kind to her, it didn’t an others would be the sa. Moreover, what about Eli? She made a promise to unite him with his parents, would she abandon him too?
"I don’t know...." Islinda choked out.
When she had seen the cottage raided by the hunters and no sign of Valerie, it had taken her everything to hold herself together and not break down in front of the hunters. Now that she was alone, the despair took over.
At first, it was just a sob as if Islinda didn’t want to lose it yet, but the more she thought about Valerie, she broke down in uncontrollable tears. Why did her heart hurt so much? It made it difficult to breathe.
What if she and Valerie never et again? What if he’s unable to find his way back to her? What was she going to do? Would she remain this miserably for the rest of her life? By the gods, she needed to see him just one more ti.
Thus, Islinda curled up in a ball and sobbed until she fell asleep.
It must have been in the middle of the night when Islinda felt a shake and ignored it, refusing to wake up to her miserable existence - she didn’t want to face reality. Not yet. But whoever that was, did not give up and shook her vigorously this ti.
"Islinda...."
At first, she whimpered, Islinda didn’t want to wake and face the ache in her chest until she heard that voice. No way. It can’t be, her brain started functioning even before her eyes opened. Islinda could recognize that voice even on her deathbed.
"Valerie..." She whispered, her eyes snapping open to a blurry sight of soone hovering over her. It cleared, and Valerie was standing over her.
"Valerie!" Islinda shouted, jumping up to her feet only for her vision to swirl and she stumbled, but he caught her in his arms. As usual.
"How is this possible?" Her lip quivered and a sob threatened to choke off her voice.
Islinda reached out and touched his face, he was real. She was not dreaming. Valerie was here. He was real.
Without a word, she stood upright and wrapped her arms around him, pressing her lips against his and kissing him with a strangled cry, ecstatic to be in his arms again. She deepened the kiss, sliding her hand into his hair as pleasure shot through every nerve in her body.
Valerie kissed her back with a fiery passion, his arms tight around her waist as if he didn’t want to let her go. It wasn’t until the tears slid down her cheeks that he pulled back, wiping them with his thumb.
"I thought you were gone," Islinda whispered, her eyes swollen with tears.
"I don’t know how but they found , I had to leave."
"But you’re back, right?" Islinda asked hopefully, ignoring the nagging feeling inside of her that things aren’t so simple anymore.
Valerie couldn’t answer, swallowing nervously instead.
Her blood ran cold.
"No..." Islinda took a step back, shaking her head stubbornly, "You promised!"
"I don’t have much ti here Islinda and I don’t want to say goodbye this way," He said to her with a pained expression.
"You said we would be together...." She whimpered, "What am I going to do now?"
"You do nothing but wait for ," Valerie took her hand firmly, "I am going to be back for you, Islinda. I just need to return ho and figure things out for us." He begged her.
"When? I don’t know. I’m scared. Can’t I co with you, I -"
Valerie silenced all of her insecurity with a kiss and while Islinda was too worked up and needed answers, she kissed him back knowing this was their final mont together. She hated this but had no choice.
"I’ll be back for you, Islinda. It’s a promise."
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