Try and Catch Me

He says – The Aftermath
Lia remained where she was seated as the medic finished the bandages on her forehead wound. Eldric had just finished instructing his men to clean up the area and do an investigation the next day before coming back to where Lia was seated.

“How is she?”

“Her wounds are taken care of but it would be best to let a physician see if it affects her internally.” The medic gestures at the bandage around her head.

Eldric nodded and dismissed the medic. He remembered how his blood surged when he saw her wounds. If he knew things would escalate to this, he would have brought the physician. He really underestimated the people.

“Hey,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper, afraid to startle Lia.

She gave him a vacant stare and then went back to staring at the remains of the cottage. Deep inside him, a pain shot through when she looked at him like that. He sat down beside her and looked out to his men who were busy carrying through his orders.

Just last night he was here saying his goodbyes with Lia. It was only yesterday when he was talking and laughing with both Lia and Tamara. It was in this house that he felt home in the past week. And now, like what Lia said, it was gone along with Tamara. He would not lose Lia too.

After she calmed down, Lia let him do what needed to be done – the resting and the bandaging. It was as if the life in her died the same time the fire in the house was gone. She looked hollow inside. Eldric had the urge to place her inside his arms again and shelter her from all the pains of the outside world. But he did not know if his gesture would be welcomed.

“You need to rest. Come with me to town.”

There was a long pause. Eldric was afraid he lost Lia too. But then she shook her head in a way that showed that single movement took more of her very little energy.

“I promise it would be safe for you there.” He tried coaxing her once more. She really needed it and Eldric would not rest until he made her agree.

In a small voice, she replied, “Nowhere is safe for me.”

She turned her face slowly until her eyes met Eldric’s and he saw tears threatening to fall from her lashes. She removed her gaze and went back to the house as the tears fell. Eldric’s chest constricted.

“I don’t know if you will believe me, but I didn’t order this.”

“…I know. I’m sorry I blamed you.”

“The guards said that you were looking for me earlier.”

“It was the cure. But now that my mother was…,” he watched her swallowed the words, “it went with her. Now no one gets the cure. Serves them right. And no, I don’t know how she made it.”

Her voice was hoarse from crying. Eldric clenched and unclenched his fist, fighting down his anger to whoever subjected her family to this catastrophe. “Alright. You don’t have to help. In fact, you don’t have to do anything at all. But please, come with me. You could really use some sleep. And I would be at ease to know that you are safe.”

Lia’s face remained blank but that did not discourage Eldric.

“Think of it as me paying back what you did to me. After this, we’re even. So please.”

“Fine.”

Lia did not speak after that. Even as they shared a ride to the town. Even as the servants assisted her in her room. It was as if the person he met at the fruit stall that day was anything but a phantom.

With a heavy heart, Eldric came to the meeting room.

Tim approached him when he came in. “The mayor has been taken into custody.”

Eldric nodded. They proceeded to study maps and talk about the preparations for the attack. It was almost morning when they finished. He retired to his room but not before stopping by Lia’s room to check on her before taking his leave.

Morning came and he ordered the servants to bring foods to Lia’s room, thinking that she might still not be feeling well and would rather stay coup up in the room.

“You really took a liking to her,” Tim noted as they eat their breakfast.

“I was just paying a debt. She saved me.”

The servant he sent came back right away looking pale.

“Miss Lia is not in her room.”