The rain was pelting down, deafening anything around trying to find shelter from the storm. Little pools of water became tiny dams, littering the ground outside until everything was a mass of mud. Even the animals were cowering in little burrows and hollowed tree trunks, shivering against other bodies to stay warm.
She was grateful that she had a roof over her head, watching through the window how the forest beasts scuttled around trying to avoid as much of the falling raindrops. She watched on with slight guilt, wishing she could harbor the poor animals inside the little cottage with her, keep them warm and dry beside the fire place that burnt with a calming ebb in the room.
She got up to stir the pot that hung above the fire, trying to find a distraction from the guilt. The rich aroma of the soup lingered in the room as the wooden spoon worked its way around the pot, swirling the ingredients inside peacefully. She loved making soup, it reminded her of her childhood and how her mother would make the most delicious soup that none could compete with. Her mother had won a great deal of contests at the fair with her secret soup recipe, and now she was the only who knew the secret since her mother passed a few years ago.
She got distracted by her own thoughts when there was a very sudden and abrupt knocking at the door. She spun around, staring at the door in bewilderment, wondering to herself if it was something that had hit the door or some stranger looking for shelter. Another set of knocks shook her out of her daze and she hurried to the door, placing her ear to the wood before asking, "Who is it?"
A voice replied gruffly, obviously annoyed at being denied immediate access, "Let me in, it's terrible outside!" He said loudly to be heard over the thunder and rain, before quickly adding, "Please."
She hesitated, concerned for her own well being on letting a stranger into her home where she stayed alone and no nearby neighbors to call for help by. Her hand wavered over the door knob, still unsure of herself. "Please! It's cold!" Came the man's voice again, more urgently this time, and she couldn't help but let the stranger in.
As she opened the door she was taken aback by the size of the man, who had to duck to avoid hitting his head against the door frame. She knew she wasn't the tallest person either, but he made her feel slightly intimidated as he stood tall next to her, quickly closing the door behind him. She stood there slightly bewildered again and not sure what to do, clicking back to reality as he tried shrugging out of his drenched coat, trying to help him when he struggled a bit.
The moment he was out of his coat he started shivering uncontrollably, his teeth chattering very audibly over the sound of the storm. "Come over here!" She insisted, trying to nudge the stranger into the direction of the fire place. He nodded to here gratefully and sat down crossed legged, rubbing his hands and holding them out towards the flames every now and then for extra warmth. She hung the coat over a chair near the fire to dry it as much as possible, hurrying around the house to find a blanket to help the stranger warm up quicker. She shuffled over quickly was she had found a frayed blanket and cleared her throat as she approached him, "Just for extra warmth." He nodded and gave a small smile in appreciation as she placed the blanket around his shoulders. "Don't want you catching your death tonight." She added with a small chuckle.
She joined him on the floor, close enough to see his face, but still keeping a safe distance. She noticed the contours of his face, creating a strong jawline, and the way it formed a heroic look. His hair was as black as raven wings, glistening with the remnants of rain drops dripping down his cheeks. His hair wasn't long, but long enough to frame his face nicely and just clear his eyes that twinkled emerald green, reflecting the dancing flames in front of him. He stared deeply into the flames, deep in thought, his eyes hardened towards some distant memory. Even though he sat hunched over with the blanket draping over his shoulders she could see he was built strong, probably through years of hard labour. She suddenly became aware of the fact of how incredibly attractive this stranger actually was.
He twitched slightly and shifted awkwardly, obviously aware of her staring. She quickly looked away embarrassed, trying to conceal the blush that spread across her cheeks. A small smile crept onto his face, but he never took his eyes off the flames, "It's okay, no need to be embarrassed about it. I tend to have that effect on people." She turned her head slowly back to face him, surprise taking the place of her blush, wondering if he had just read her mind. He chuckled softly while he shook his head, tilting his chin slightly so he could look at her, "My name's Eric by the way."
She could feel her heart give a little jolt, confusing her thoughts, "I- uhh- I'm Anastasia." She gave a meek smile, trying to keep her emotions in check. It didn't help her much when his smile grew a little and he locked eyes with her, "Beautiful name."
She got up quickly, feeling very overwhelmed, "Would you like some soup? You must be starving." She said, trying to sound calm and avoiding as much eye contact as possible. "That would be lovely." He said, making a move to get up. "No, no, no, don't worry about it, I'll dish up quickly for us." And she hurried into the small make shift kitchen area. She got two bowls and spoons, and walked back over to the pot over the fire. She ladled the thick richness into the bowls, trying to catch as many meat pieces for her guest. She handed the fuller bowl to him, brushing hands as the bowl exchanged between grips. She quickly pulled back, grabbing her own bowl and returning to her seat, blowing at spoonfuls of hot soup before sipping at it and hoping to use it as an excuse not to talk.
He gave her a look, but shrugged it off and did the same, taking his first spoonful of soup, and his eyes widened in surprise. "Wow," He said, staring at the bowl in his hand, "This soup is amazing! You made it yourself?" He glanced at her as she had taken a very large spoonful of soup, filling her cheeks like a chipmunk at the sudden question directed at her. He couldn't help but laugh at the image, enjoying the way she struggled to swallow it without spitting it out in a laughing fit. She had to clamp her hand over her mouth while her body shook with giggles fighting to break out. She finally managed to swallow without messing and they sat there for a while laughing, enjoying each other's company.
When the laughter finally died down, Anastasia wiped the tears from her eyes and smiled fondly at her own bowl that sat in her hands. "My mother's secret recipe, I make it as often as I can."
"She still around?" He asked, obvious curiosity on his face.
She suddenly felt the sadness spread, her heart wrenching at the thought of her absent mother. She had to clench her eyes tight to fight back the tears that threatened every time her mother was brought up in conversation unexpectedly. She felt the lump rise in her throat, coughing slightly to clear it before she spoke again, "No, she..." She paused, not trusting her voice completely, "She passed away a few years ago."
Eric looked at her, sincere concern directed at her, "I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to be so rude..." He looked away, not sure how to comfort her.
She laughed despite herself, choking on the tears that were on the verge of spilling. "It's not your fault, no need for apologies. It's just one of those things." She smiled at him, trying to reassure him, "So where are your parents?"
He smiled back, glad for a topic change, "Well my father travels a lot, and my mother stays at home helping with the other villagers."
Anastasia looked at him curiously, "But I Haven't seen you around town before, have I?
"No no no," He chuckled softly, "I'm not from around here. I come from a far away village. I just happened to be passing by on a journey myself when the storm suddenly hit. Does this kind of flooding happen often here?"
"Every year about this time the storms do tend to get quite violent." She replied as a strike of thunder emphasised her statement. "But tonight is particularly terrible for some odd reason."
"Maybe something special will happen." He said in a matter-of-fact tone.
Anastasia looked at him now in a curious way, "What do you suppose will happen?"
Eric smiled back staying silent for a while before replying. "Maybe a miracle."
She just laughed, enjoying his boyish charm. The fire had started to splutter, slowly taking its time to die. Her smile quickly faded, "And to think there is no dry firewood lying around at this moment in need." She pouted her bottom lip, dreading the cold that would seep through everything once the fire was snuffed out. "Here," Eric said as he removed the blanket from his shoulders, "I should be fine now."
He winced softly as he stretched out his arm to hand over the blanket, recoiling slightly from the pain. "What's wrong?" Anastasia was instantly alert and her motherly instincts were tingling.
"Nothing, nothing, I'm fine." Eric tried again, but his body protested against his movements from sitting still for so long.
"Let me see." She moved towards him, gently lifting the blanket off of him. As she knelt down behind him she noticed the shredded material of his shirt. She gasped, noticing how the dark areas were not wet patches from the rain.
"What happened to you?" she managed to whisper eventually. "It looks like you were attacked by a bear, and a big one too." She continued to gently pry the ripped material from his back despite his protests. "No need to worry yourself, I'm fi-." But was cut short from the jaw clenching pain.
Anastasia worked quickly but gently, lifting his shirt off and cleaning the wound. Two deep cuts, almost the length of his back were gaping back at her. Her father had been the Town's doctor, so she knew how to handle such difficult injuries. She left to find a bottle of ale and her bone needle with some thread, returning to a very quiet figure.
"Here," She offered him the ale, "Should help with most of the pain." His smile was small, but he took the bottle from her and took a large swig. She tried to ignore the fact that she would be hurting him now while she threaded the needle, and with slow and precise hands began stitching up the wounds. She could feel how his body tensed up, but not once did he make a sound.
Once she was done she leaned back, admiring her work and making sure it was neat. "That should hold it for now." She said, happy with her work. She shuffled around him so she could look at how he was feeling. It almost looked as if there were tears in his eyes, his chiseled jaw clenching against the pain.
"Are you alright?" She was really concerned for him, wondering if it was the physical pain that was getting to him or if the memory of what caused it was.
She was caught off guard when she suddenly felt his hands at the base of her skull and in her hair. She was about to yelp out in surprise, when she was cut off by his lips pressing against hers. At first she was frozen solid, not sure what to do, but quickly melted into the kiss.
As quickly as it started, it ended too. Anastasia sat there, completely stunned and unsure of what to do or think. Eric however seemed quite embarrassed, "I'm so sorry." He began, almost pleadingly. "I didn't mean to do that. I-uh-I mean, it's not that I didn't mean to either, it's just..." He seemed completely lost for words.
Anastasia just burst into a laughing fit, breaking the awkward tension with her giggles. In all her eighteen years she had not been kissed by anyone other than her mother, and the fact that this one was on the lips with such passion behind it threw her off her wit. She felt like a harlot even though she had done nothing wrong, but her innocence bombarded her with guilt and the giggles were the only way she knew how to deal with a guilty conscience.
When she had finally come to her senses, she straightened up while trying to get her words together. "I'm really sorry, I really didn't mean to be so rude." She looked up at him, seeing the embarrassment strewn across his face, "You look like you could use some rest. Come, the bench is a lot more comfortable than the floor." With that she stood up and walked over to the nearby bench, puffed up the pillows and walked back over to help Eric to his feet. His hand was tough but had a certain gentleness to it as she pulled him up, again realising just how tall he was. She wrapped his arm around her shoulder for extra support, and they hobbled to the bench. Eric practically collapsed onto the bench, curling up on his side to fit on the slightly small perch.
His eyes were already drooping the moment it hit the pillow, "Anastasia?" He drawled, his voice thick with exhaustion.
"Yes?" She replied with a small smile while she covered him with another blanket.
"Thank you." Was all he said before he drifted off into a deep sleep.
727Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiWrYWhsKFz
She had been sitting for a few hours watching him sleep, making sure he was comfortable and stayed warm. She sat poking at the fire now, making sure the last few logs she had put on the embers didn't die out too quickly. Once she was happy with that, she got up and filled a small bowl with water and got a cloth out and moved over to Eric's side. She knelt down and began dabbing the wet cloth on his forehead, trying to prevent a fever from disrupting his sleep. The rain had stopped about an hour earlier, so the only sounds now were the last few drops of rain falling to the ground outside and the crackling of a fire inside. It was peaceful and serene, just like the face sleeping on her bench. She got up and walked over to the window, watching the first few rays of sunlight breaking out over the horizon. She always loved watching the sun rise, all the beautiful colours that scattered across the sky.
Suddenly there was a light rapping at the door, snapping Anastasia out of her day dream. She hurried to the door, carefully maneuvering around the furniture as not to wake Eric up. She whispered out, "Who is it?"
There was slight shuffling and then a reply, "A friend."
Raising an eyebrow to the door in confusion, she opened the door to another smiling stranger, "May I come in?" He asked politely.
"Of course. Come in, come in." She ushered him in as he did a slight bow and entered gracefully.
He shuffled in far enough to see the fire, "Ah, the warmth of a good home. You were expecting visitors?" His voice calm and inviting.
Anastasia tucked a few stray hairs behind her ear before replying, "Actually, I had a visitor knock on my door last night. He's fast asleep now, poor man, was practically dead on his feet when he got here." Her voice trembling slightly at the thought of him dying if she had not helped him.
The stranger turned around and looked at her with a strange look, one of almost pride. "I'm grateful for what you did for him, he looks like he really needed the help." He turned towards Eric and walked over, kneeling beside him.
Her heart started racing, unsure of what this stranger wanted with Eric, "Sorry to be so rude and forward, but do you know him?" She struggled to keep her fear under control.
The stranger smiled but kept looking at Eric's face, "I do indeed." He looked at her now, "He's my brother."
Her jaw dropped slightly, her brain still trying to process what she had just heard. "Your... Brother? How did you know you would find him here?"
"Just a feeling I had." He placed a hand on his brother's shoulder, "He always loved being around here."
Anastasia just stood there, confused at what the stranger had just said to her. Meanwhile he gently shook Eric's shoulder, cooing him awake. "Come on little brother, it's time to go home."
Eric began to stir, beginning to stretch out but quickly realising he was still injured, and recoiled into the fetal position. With a few inaudible grunts he sat up, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. As he sat there waiting for his eyes to adjust, he did what little stretching his body would allow. As he realised who was kneeling in front of him a huge smile broke out across his face. "Samuel? What are you doing here?"
Samuel began to chuckle, enjoying the atmosphere. "I've come to take you home."
Eric's smile faded, his expression matching the confusion of Anastasia's. "But... I'm not allowed to yet. Not until I complete my mission."
Samuel looked at him with soft eyes. "Oh but brother, you have." He looked back to where Anastasia still stood a little sheepishly, " She redeemed you."
Eric's gaze followed his brother's, looking at Anastasia in awe. He got up awkwardly, now fully aware of his injuries again, and hobbled over to where she stood. He placed a hand on her cheek, seeing the fear and confusion in her eyes, and smiled at her. Her expression quickly matched his. Her hand went up to his, holding it in place.
"Thank you." He said, not sure of what else he should say.
"You still haven't told me what for." She said a little shyly, looking away as she did.
He moved her face back so she could look him in the eye, "For saving me." With that he kissed her again, but this time it was soft and gentle. She looked up to him for a moment, and then folded herself into an embrace with him, careful as to not touch his injuries. They stood there for what felt like forever.
Samuel cleared his throat, breaking up the couple in front of them. "Time to get going little brother, you don't want to miss your own ceremony."
"What ceremony?" Anastasia asked, looking back and forth between the two faces in the room.
"Eric gets his wings back." With no further explanation he walked out the door, a smile plastered on his face.
Anastasia looked to Eric, the thought of him leaving making her tear up. "What's going on?"
Eric wiped away a stray tear that ran down her cheek, smiling sadly at his own words. "I have to say goodbye."
"But you'll be back, right? Will I see you again?" The tears falling freely now.
"Not in the conventional sense, you won't. But I'll always be by you, like I have since you were born. And by that look, no I'm not a stalker," He chuckled at her quizzical expression, "But if I told you the truth, I doubt you would believe me."
"Tell me anyway." She replied, trying to enjoy his presence for as long as possible.
He looked away, struggling to find the right words. "Well..." He began, looking back at her,"The easiest way to explain would be to say that I'm your guardian angel."
She just looked at him, trying to comprehend what she was hearing, letting the pieces fall into place. "So the back injuries?"
He chuckled softly, a little embarrassed. "Well you see, I was a bad boy. I broke a few rules and had my wings taken away from me."
"What did you do?" She subconsciously started tracing the wound on his back as he held her.
"Well..." He struggled to find the right words again. "I fell in love with a mortal."
Anastasia gave him a dirty look, "Oh, and who is this person?"
He laughed and kissed her again, erasing the anger and distaste from her thoughts. "It was you, silly."
"So how did it all happen?" Feeling a little less jealous.
"My brother had been your mother's guardian angel, and when you were born I was entrusted to you." He smiled at her tenderly, caressing her face while he spoke, "You are my first mortal, and I was very unsure of what to do. Most of the time My brother and I would sit and watch you and your mother play out in the fields, how she took care of you as best she could as a single mother. And when you got hurt, I watched as your mother tended to your wounds, being so careful with you. She sometimes even kissed them better for you." He smiled at that memory, "And when I was alone with you, I would kiss them better too, help you heal quicker so you could get back to being your happy self. But I started falling for this happy girl who smiled all the time, who loved life regardless of her situation. I was able to keep it a secret for so long, until your mother passed away." Anastasia tried to pull away, tried to hide from the memories, but Eric pulled her back and held her cheek. "I became obsessed with trying to help you find your smile again, trying to bring back some of your happiness. With my brother not around anymore, I was able to stay by you for longer. Eventually I stopped going back home, stopped doing my other duties, and just kept my sole focus on you. It was inevitable that someone would start realising my secret."
Anastasia just looked at him, mostly in awe, but there was an underlying sadness to it. "So they ripped off your wings and cast you to this world?"
"You're pretty smart, you know that? And just pretty too." He winked at her, trying to lighten the mood."
"So what is Samuel going on about you having to go home?" She had to swallow hard to keep the tears at bay.
"In order to get my wings back and redeem myself, I had to prove that you would love me unconditionally, just as I do for you." His smile beamed, and he hugged her tightly. "I proved that there is still unconditional love in this world, and I have you to thank for it."
She hugged him back, enjoying the warmth of his embrace. "But now you have to leave again. And I won't get to see you again." She sniffed, realising she was crying again.
He cupped her face in his hands, forcing her to look at him again. "I will never leave you, I'm always with you. Maybe not physically, but I'm always in your heart. And who knows, maybe I get the chance to let you see me more often now that I have proven myself worthy. I'm sure Samuel will put in a good word for me." He smiled reassuringly at her.
She smiled back, wiping the tears from her face. "Okay, fair enough. But promise me one thing." He looked back in expectation at her request. "You have to give me some sort of sign that I will be able to see you again, if I don't get one then I know this is the final goodbye."
"It's never goodbye, just until we meet again." With that he kissed her on the forehead, and he was gone.
Anastasia opened her eyes again to an empty room, trying to adjust to the empty presence. She suddenly felt drained, the emotional stress taking its toll on her. She dragged herself to the bench where Eric had been, feeling her heartache for the missing piece in the puzzle. She crawled under the blankets, enjoying the warmth and comfort. As she began dozing off a chirping bird caught her attention, it hoped in from the window and perched itself on the pillow beside her. "Hello little fellow, what do you have there?" The little bird dropped its treasure on the pillow and flew out the window again. She sat up and fumbled around looking for it, and gasped when she saw what it was.
In the middle of her palm sat a ring with the engraving my guardian angel on the inside.
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