Law of Attraction
The next morning I wake full of determination to get the kids' school back on track. I meet with Gray at breakfast and we discuss our plans for the day over Bjorn's homemade bread and berry jam.
After we head to the children's side of the camp and smiling, I call their names, "Bobbin! Wren! Anya and Pasha! Oliver! Leo!"
Gray and I chuckle at the commotion we hear from inside their shelters before the boys come tumbling out in a mess of tangled hair, dirt and clothes.
Bobbin and Anya are the only two more subdued and their muted faces make my heart squeeze.
Bobbin comes immediately to my side and I notice Leo following his movements with concern.
I squeeze Bobbin's hand in my own before turning to the rest of the children, "I hope you are all ready to put your smart brains to use! Gray's going to help me run a couple of the sessions today - including astronomy!"
All of their eyes light up with pure child-like delight and Gray chuckles, "I'll give it my best shot kiddos."
Leo nods excitedly, "and are we doing reading today?"
I smile at his enthusiasm and nod, "yes we are. Come on everyone, let's get sorted."
After a couple minutes of wrangling all the children, mainly Oliver and Wren, to the small grassy patch of forest I've claimed for the school, Gray takes over teaching.
He talks about the constellations and hands out a couple books he sourced from his friend in Boral showing the children several beautiful pictures of the stars.
I sit down with the children listening to the lecture as well and taking mental notes as he speaks, delighted to be learning something new as well. Eventually everyone splits off into pairs to continue self-guided learning.
Bobbin, who's been planted beside me for all of the lecture, turns to me, "Are you feeling any better Miss Julie?"
My heart squeezes at his uncertain tone, "I'm feeling much better thank you Bobbin. And you? How are you feeling?"
He glances away studying the grass beside him, his little face much too grave to belong to a nine-year-old. He shrugs his shoulders clearly not wanting to talk about it.
I frown softly, leaning forward to brush a leaf out of his hair, "you know you can talk to me Bobbin. About anything. I'm here if you need me."
He hesitates before looking back at me, his big blue eyes sad, "It's nothing much Miss, just... when you got all hurt and things it reminded me a bit of my Mama."
I nod assuringly, "What about your Mama, honey?" I try to keep my voice gentle and open knowing that I've never heard Bobbin talk much about his past, excluding when he told me about his 'noble name' being Robert.
He shrugs again looking back down before continuing in a small voice, "not my real Mama. It was my other mama. The one who found me as a baby in Saelen. All those guards and the one who used his sword to hurt you made me think about the night my Mama died."
I hesitate not wanting to push him too far, "How did your mama die Bobbin? The one who found you?"
"We were sleeping one night at home and some guards broke into our house and they took Mama from our bed.
She was screaming and crying and she told me to run.
I... did Miss Julie. I ran and hid in the kitchen and I saw a guard get her with his sword.
Like that one got you Miss Julie. But she didn't keep fighting like you did.
She fell." He sniffs his blue eyes watering and I finally break and pull him into my arms letting him snuggle his face in my shoulder.
"Oh sweetie." I rub his back gently.
He keeps going, "The guard said he wanted to find me and I wanted to stay with Mama but she wasn't crying anymore. So I ran back to our bedroom and got out the window and ran. It was dark." He wipes his face on my shoulder as I keep patting his back soothingly.
Gray gives me a concerned look from where he's partnered with Leo but I subtly shake my head. Bobbin doesn't need more people involved right now.
"I had to sleep in the dark."
"And what happened after that, honey? How did you get to Sholle?"
"Leo found me the next morning and said he was goin' to Boral and said I could join him. We played hide and seek and hid on a hay cart going there and then when we got there we found Wren and Ollie. Cassie found us in Boral two years later. He found Anya and Pasha after."
I sit for a second, absentmindedly patting Bobbin's back and thinking over everything he just told me.
My heart aches at the trauma he went through so young - no child should ever have to lose their mama, especially in such a violent way.
But why would guards attack a random house?
Maybe Bobbin's adoptive mother was a criminal of some sort.
I give Bobbin a squeeze and kiss the top of his head, "I'm sorry that happened sweetie. That must have been very scary."
He nods before whispering, "Will you be my mama, Miss Julie?"
Emotion overtakes me and before I can help it tears are gathering in my eyes. "Of course I will be Bobbin. I can't ever replace your Mama but I want to be another mother for you. I'll keep you safe. I promise."
Bobbin hugs me tightly, "I know."
After the emotional beginning to the morning and a long day of lessons, I announce dinner to the children who giddily jump up from their study buddies and race off in the direction of the campfire. This time Bobbin joins them, his usual bright smile in place as he bounces after Leo and Oliver.
Gray sidles up to me as we walk towards the campfire, "'Everything okay Juliette?"
I nod even as I feel the previous emotion welling inside, "Yes. Everything is fine. Bobbin was just struggling a little after the campaign. He seems better after our conversation."
Gray nods and leaves it at that, joining the children at the massive pot where a fresh stew is cooking. I leave the group and head to Bjorn's side where he stands wearing a leather apron and looking every bit a chef.
Bjorn smiles when he notices me approaching and I take the moment to appreciate his rugged beauty.
Men from Hrishmnak all wear similar fashion, although Bjorn has forgone some of the usual fur layers outside of the perpetual freezing winter there.
He also wears his hair in the traditional style of their people - long and messy, shaved on both sides in such an intensely masculine way that it makes me long to run my fingers through his locks.
"How is your chest, Darling?" His low voice wraps around me like the most comforting of blankets as he tugs me gently to his side, pressing a kiss to the top of my head, "Are you feeling any better?"
"A bit, it's definitely still sore but manageable." That's an understatement. My whole body aches but I refuse to be slowed down by my injuries. Oddly enough the pain in my chest is almost enough to distract me from the constant throbbing of my knee.
He gives me a side look like he knows I'm lying but doesn't mention it.
Caspian and Nik walk over together in deep conversation that fades when they make it to Bjorn and I. Nik immediately walks over to me, lifts my chin and kisses me firmly before pulling away. My eyes widen in surprise at the gesture and a laugh slips out, "Well this is better than ignoring me."
Nik's face dulls a little with guilt and in turn guilt festers in me, "I'm only teasing."
"I know but I'm still sorry, Princess."
Caspian rolls his eyes and comes to my other side that's not currently pressed against Bjorn's warmth.
I melt into his touch as he also briefly kisses me before he pulls away and gives Nik a look that rivals Bjorn's, "Stop with the self-flagellation Love, it's not very attractive."
Nik raises an unimpressed brow, "I don't think you ever find me unattractive Cas."
I giggle at his confident tone and I hear Bjorn's soft mutter by my ear, "Hear we go..."
Caspian leaves my side to stand face-to-face with Nik, well really face-to-shoulder given Nik's height advantage, "Cocky aren't you? "
"Is it being cocky if I know I'm right?" Nik's smug grin is sultry as he gazes down at Caspian.
Nik's hand gently wraps around Caspian's throat, not hard enough to choke him but with enough pressure that Caspian is forced to lean forward into his hold.
"Do you find me unattractive right now baby?
" Nik's whisper is low and heavy in Caspian's ear and I bite my bottom lip as I watch Caspian shiver.
"M-Maybe."
Nik's responding laugh is devoid of amusement and full of promises, "is that so?" Nik's other hand comes up to cup Caspian's face, brushing his thumb over Caspian's plump bottom lip.
"You sure blush pretty for someone who's not turned on."
Caspian shakes his head forcing a bratty smile, "It's a sunny day. Maybe I've just been very active. Maybe you're not as hot as you think you are, Love."
Nik's large hand tightens slightly around Caspian's neck making him gasp. His voice lowers so only Caspian, Bjorn and I can hear, "So if I reached down right now I wouldn't find that pretty little cock of yours hard for me, pretty boy?"
Caspian's face turns blank with pleasure and a foggy haze of lust, shivering slightly at the dominance in Nik's tone.
Bjorn steps forward leaving my side cold with loss, "Perhaps we should take this somewhere more private."
His words make me tune back into reality with a blush as I glance around the campfire. We are off to the side in an isolated corner but it's dinnertime and men are milling about although not paying us much mind.
Nik releases Caspian's throat and steps back. Caspian sags slightly at the loss but perks back up at Nik's next words.
"Yes. I think we should."
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