Episode 173 Now I Feel Guilt
Now I Feel Guilt
“I don’t think he’s coming back,” Rominy says as he pulls his jacket on again.
“It does seem unlikely.” Elowyn presses her ear to the door, but all she can make out are indecipherable murmurings from Taliel and Jonas across the hallway. “Master Lanadil doesn’t even seem to be in this part of the shop anymore. I don’t hear him, and he talks so loudly that I’m certain I would.”
“I’ll check with Jonas. See if they’re finished.”
Elowyn nods and moves out of the way as Rominy steps past her into the hallway.
A moment later, Rominy laughs. “Sorry. I should have knocked. I was wondering if you were done. I’ll just...yeah. I’ll be out here.”
Their door closes again, and Rominy reappears. His face has a pink tinge to it.
“I think they’re getting along just fine,” he mumbles, and Elowyn bursts into laughter.
“I can’t believe you didn’t knock!”
“Momentary lapse in judgment. It will not happen again. His shirt was off, so I’m guessing Master Lanadil has come and gone.”
“Do you want to go back and ask?” Elowyn sends him a teasing smile, and he shakes his head.
“Funny. I’m pretty sure I interrupted them about to kiss.”
“Aww. What if that was their first kiss, and you ruined it?”
He crosses his arms. “Now I feel guilt. Thanks for that.”
Before Elowyn can respond with anything but more laughter, Fiarese appears in the hallway carrying Jonas’s jacket. It looks mended.
Fiarese knocks on Jonas’s door, and Elowyn turns to Rominy. “Observe this elven custom called knocking.”
“Thanks. I’ll file that away for next time.”
Fiarese turns to them next. “Princess Arisanna is finishing up. Then you’re free to go. We’ll have your new clothing delivered to Windhaven before your journey. Have a wonderful day.”
“Did you catch that?” Elowyn asks Rominy.
“Most of it. I’m staying right here until someone tells me Arisanna is actually done. Because walking in on her would scar me for life.”
“Shall I go check?” Elowyn offers, and he gestures to the open door.
Elowyn makes her way back to the front of the store. It’s quiet. She carefully peers around the curtain blocking the main room from the back of the shop, and a smile steals across her face.
Arisanna is wearing leather.
And Cerian looks like he’s about to catch fire as he stares at her.
Elowyn pulls the curtain back into place to give them privacy. They clearly need a little more time.
But where did Grandmera go?
Voices drift from the work area, and Elowyn follows the sound into a room with several large tables strewn with fabric, along with dress forms in various stages of use.
Master Lanadil concentrates on the garment on the table before him, oblivious to the goings on around him.
His fingers fly in a repeating pattern as the plant-based thread weaves in and out of the fabric.
An image of Tharios and Cerian sewing clothes side-by-side fills Elowyn’s head, and she almost laughs.
Grandmera and Fiarese converse in front of an adorned dress form, and Elowyn steps closer.
It’s silver silk with a high waist and a one-shoulder design. The slender skirt falls sleekly to the floor.
It’s stunning. Even more beautiful than the gown Fiarese designed for Elowyn’s binding ceremony with Rominy.
Elowyn reaches out a hand to touch the silk before pulling back.
Look with your eyes, little one.
Grandmera’s words from Elowyn’s elfling days repeat in her head.
Beside her, Grandmera chuckles. “I believe that answers that question.”
Elowyn glances up in surprise. “Is this for me?”
“Just a little something I whipped up this morning, my princess,” Fiarese says. “I thought perhaps you’d appreciate it.”
“It’s beautiful.”
“And you made it to fit her?” Grandmera asks.
“I did, though your illness seems to have affected your weight, my princess.”
Elowyn sighs.
“I’m sure she’ll be herself again soon enough,” Grandmera says. “If it needs taking in, we’ll visit a clothing shop in Celesta.”
“Very well, my queen,” Fiarese says. “I’ll have it delivered along with Princess Arisanna’s purchases.”
“Don’t let Rominy see it,” Elowyn whispers.
“Of course not,” Grandmera says softly as she tucks a wisp of hair behind Elowyn’s ear.
“I’m done,” Arisanna says behind Elowyn. Cerian grips her hand, and they both look happy.
“And how did it go, young one?” Grandmera asks as she lifts Arisanna’s chin to see into her eyes.
“It went well. Thank you for understanding.”
“Always, and I am glad to hear it.” Grandmera wraps an arm around Arisanna’s shoulders and squeezes before letting her go.
Elowyn swallows the urge to ask questions. It’s probably none of her business.
Besides, thoughts of Rominy keep intruding on her mind. He must be wondering what happened to her.
“Collect the others,” Grandmera tells her. “Then we’ll get some lunch before returning to Windhaven.”
Elowyn frowns. “Lunch? Here in Darlei? I thought—”
Grandmera guides her gently out of the workroom as Cerian and Arisanna follow.
“It’s important for our people to see us among them, patronizing their businesses and not living holed up in fear. We’ll visit the Riverside Rooms and stay on alert. But we will not hide. Not here and not in Celesta.”
Elowyn nods. The Riverside Rooms dining establishment has private dining nooks along the shores of the Waters of Pendarra. It should be easy enough to guard.
“I’ll be right back,” Elowyn says.
As she hurries down the hallway, thoughts of Rominy fill her head. What will he think of Lostariel’s dining establishments?
“There you are,” he says when she approaches him where he stands with Taliel and Jonas outside their fitting rooms. “I wasn’t going crazy worrying about you or anything.”
“Curious,” Taliel says. “You just lied to her.”
Rominy’s eyes slide closed as he laughs. “Thanks.”
“Perhaps the magic can sense sarcasm,” Elowyn says as she melts into Rominy’s side, and relief at being with him again fills her. “We’re ready to get lunch.”
Jonas stiffens. “Lunch? Here in Darlei?”
“Grandmera says it’s important for us to be seen patronizing businesses. And the Riverside Rooms should be simple to guard.”
“She’s probably right,” Rominy says. “Everyone will take their cue for how to react to the current situation from us.”
“I believe it will be all right.” Taliel rests a hand on Jonas’s chest, and Elowyn holds back a smile at the touch.
“All right, then,” Jonas says. “I’ll stand guard along with the warriors we brought, and—”
“Hey, Jonas,” Rominy says. “Remember that talk we had about the captain’s prerogative?”
“I do. Do you remember our talk about adequately guarding you in the future?”
Rominy clears his throat and nods. “Right. I suppose I should let you do your job.”
“That would be appreciated.”
“But you should take dinner to yourselves tonight.”
“We’ll be dining with my brother tonight,” Taliel says as she looks up at Jonas.
Elowyn almost bursts into laughter at the dismay that crosses Jonas’s face before vanishing.
Rominy does laugh. “Have fun, Third Jonas.”
Jonas shakes his head as his mouth twitches, and they go find the others.
Rominy holds Elowyn’s hand while they move down the street as a group. Grandmera is her same stately self, gliding along as if she walks on air and offering kind words to everyone they pass. She seems to know each elf by name, and they all carry on with lighter steps afterward.
He could probably learn as much about public relations from spending a day following Grandmera around Darlei as he learned during his public relations classes at the university.
The classes Father insisted he take despite not being a communications student.
Not that they weren’t useful. It was just awkward learning how to manage public opinion in a class full of his future subjects.
He pushes thoughts of his university classes away as they approach an elaborate structure grown along the edge of the riverbank.
“Each of those glass doors is a private dining nook,” Elowyn says quietly to him. “It feels like you’re eating right on the water.”
“I bet it’s romantic at night.” Rominy wraps his arm around her shoulders, and she smiles as she leans her head against him.
“I’ve never had anyone to romance me. Until you. But that sounds delightful.”
Maybe he’ll bring her back someday when this is all over. Reserve a room just for the two of them. Take her somewhere private afterward.
And light her on fire? Literally?
Rominy frowns. One of them should probably talk to Lorial about this.
Or Grandmera. Rominy glances at Elowyn’s grandmother. That sounds even more awkward.
“Is that man running across the river?” Jonas asks, and Rominy follows his gaze to an elf who appears to be doing exactly that.
He must be a water wielder.
“Impressive,” Elowyn says. “Take my word for it when I say that is a challenging skill to master. I still get wet nearly every time I attempt it.”
Rominy turns toward her. “You can run on water?”
“It’s easier to pull the heat out of the water and run across ice, but I’ve done it just using my water magic a few times.” She shrugs.
Before he can respond, Taliel gasps. “Rafelis. Rafelis is chasing him. Wasn’t Rafelis supposed to accompany Tharios to the healing center today?”
Dread pools in Rominy’s stomach as they all stand frozen, watching.
Then Grandmera rushes into action. “Elowyn, take Taliel and help Rafelis. Cerian, with me. We need to find Tharios.”