Darkthorn’s Blog

Days past by and Julia steadily became stronger. Blackmain and Ishton continued to watch her closely, especially when she ventured outside to wash in the nearby stream. It was on one of these occasions that she decided to confront Blackmain about himself. He was often gone, apparently tending his horses and visiting the townships nearby. Julia had often wondered at this, since he came back often as not during the night, having left in the late evening. The question was foremost in her mind as to why he had been there to rescue her from the woods. What man would walk those woods? Granted, he did appear to have some kind of immunity from the elves, given that Ishton was still staying with them.

Julia wondered when she had accepted the future with Blackmain, she thought of the little cottage as home now. Blackmain had seemed to be glancing at her more frequently when they sat in the evening, she preparing the evening meal, while he and Ishton sat in front of the fire. Nights were getting colder as winter drew closer and soon she thought that they would be bound to the house. That would explain the increased visits of Blackmain to the village and surrounds.

Blackmain felt Julia watching him and he turned away. He, a full-grown man watching a girl bath, it wasn’t right. He consoled himself; he just had to make sure that she wasn’t thinking of running away. Ishton had warned him that she was possibly unstable, although he hadn’t related any more episodes like the first. She was gradually becoming a solid part of their household, cooking and cleaning, tasks that Blackmain often neglected when he was working. Ishton was often too busy preparing tinctures to clean up after himself in the stillroom. It was lucky that Ishton could track Julia by her distinctive thought patterns. It wouldn’t do for her to wander off by herself; it could endanger everything he was planning. If only they could enlighten her. But perhaps that would make things worse. The last thing they needed right now was for her to leave.

Julia herself wasn’t even considering leaving. She was the happiest she had ever been, her days were filled with helping Ishton and doing all those things that had been neglected while the two men had been living there. She smiled to herself. So typical of any bachelor. Not that she had ever had much contact with men, but the stories she had overheard from the maids had typically been justified in the world outside. Julia felt an odd urge rising up in her. She felt like singing.

The fresh water was cold on her skin, and she shivered slightly. She didn’t feel self-conscious, she knew Blackmain was too much of a gentleman to watch too closely. The need for release was too great for her to worry about the consequences. She needed to maintain her calm, she couldn’t fall again. Letting everyone down was no longer an option, she respected Blackmain too much to become a disappointment. He and Ishton had accepted her into their home, and she needed to make the most of the opportunities laid out for her. What could they do to her anyway?

The rocks under her feet in the stream were sharp, and she bent down to pick one up, caressing it along her legs, reveling in the bloody pools quickly washed away in the free-flowing water. To anyone else, it would seem as if she had cut herself while shaving. If Blackmain had thought more closely about it, he would have realized that no one shaved in winter. It was redundant, wearing all your clothes to stay warm, not taking off your under-things except in emergencies. Men didn’t understand. Blackmain might not even care if she was hairless or not. Julia thought that Blackmain was too rough and unpolished to understand her need for cleanliness, she never saw him bath.

Blackmain started as Ishton’s ‘voice’ prodded at his mind. He unshielded for a moment. It was dangerous to let your thoughts hang in the open. One never knew who could be listening.

~ Come. I have found something to be of use to us. News from the city. ~

Blackmain considered leaving Julia alone. He thought she would be fine, anyway, Ishton could sense if she left.

“I’m going inside, June.” Briefly he wondered why he was holding up the charade. Ishton had already found her background, the nightmares she had in her sleep were a rich source of information. He must be careful not to slip up.

“Ok,” she called back, “I will be here a while yet.”