by Elisa Menz
Maeve lived! How could it be possible?
They ran to the village, his eyes roaming in a frantic search. He almost fell on his knees when he spotted her. The matriarch was treating a few cuts in her arms, but besides those, Maeve returned virtually unscathed. He pushed through the crowd, ignoring the protests. As soon as Hakken reached her, he took her in his arms, hugging her tight and burying his face in her curls. Oh, how he missed her! “You’re safe... Maeve,” he uttered.
While he felt happy beyond reason, Hakken realized he wasn’t the only one relieved. The tribe gathered around. He couldn’t care less about them, but deep down, it pleased him to see they accepted Maeve.
“That is too tight, Hakken! I promise you I’m fine,” she smiled. And when he stared into her eyes, he knew she was glad to be with him as well.
“What happened?” he asked.
Safe in his arms, Maeve winced, like expecting Hakken to scold her. “I’m so sorry! I was being stupid, and I got too close to the edge. I slipped.” A chill went down his spine. She fell! The current was terrible. How did she survive?
“Regn saved me,” she said.
And for the first time, he didn’t like the warmness in her eyes or the sweet smile she sent to the irritating nomad. He fixed his eyes on Regn, sensing Maeve’s scent all over him. The young man returned his gaze nonchalantly while the matriarch tended his wounds. Hakken couldn’t help letting out a menacing growl.
Two soft hands landed on his cheeks. Maeve’s gaze turned serious. “He jumped after me and protected me, Hakken. If not for him, I’d be dead.” Well, he didn’t like it!
Why had they been so close? And why was Regn near her in the first place?
What happened after was a gigantic pile of stupid mistakes, and he paid the price. Thinking back, it wasn’t the best idea to order her not to leave the cave without him anymore. Blocking the entrance with rocks was perhaps a tad tyrannical.
He now sat at the edge of the village, freezing his ass off. Enduring Kniv’s scolding while he still recovered from all the insults Maeve had thrown at him. Kniv groaned, rubbing his forehead. “What did you expect? You cannot do that to her. Of course, she’s mad at you!”
“What am I supposed to do? She could have died! I must keep a closer eye on her from now on.”
“Well, good luck! I’m telling you, boy. If you don’t want rocks thrown at you every night, you need to go back to Maeve, apologize and let her be. She is a woman, you cannot treat her like a child!”
Hakken blinked at him, annoyed. Kniv didn’t make any sense. “A woman? Are you blind? She’s tiny. Why would you possibly think of her as a woman?”
Kniv stared at him for a second, stunned, before smacking him in the face. “Are you damn stupid now? I swear if you tell anyone I raised you, I will deny it!” He sighed, rubbing his eyelids before taking a deep breath. “She is a grown woman, and you better treat her with respect, or I’m warning you, she will cut your balls while you sleep.”
A woman? It took a few seconds to understand what Kniv said, but once everything made sense, Hakken’s expression changed from a slight surprise to absolute panic.
Maeve
The night covered the world. She could tell because the sunshine filtering through the stones Hakken piled up went out.
That morning after arriving at the village, Hakken took her to their cave and established new rules. These included her not leaving his side and staying put while he hunted or patrolled. She refused, and that led to the worst fight they had so far. Once Hakken realized he would not get away with it, he decided the most practical thing to do was to force her to stay inside.
Maeve spent the day cursing and screaming, stopping only to eat fruit and shed angry tears. The few rocks she dragged away cut her hands and accomplished nothing but increasing her frustration.
Mynte stopped by for a while to comfort her, promising she would kick Hakken into sense as soon as he came back from wherever he was hiding. Her imprisonment allowed her some time to think. Laying on their bed after abandoning any hope for escape, Maeve realized her life was far from what she had imagined. “Is this going to work? Am I going to spend the rest of my life like this? Like a toy...” Talking her mind out loud helped to clarify her thoughts. While twisting a strand of her hair, Maeve’s anger simmered down. Hakken would return at some point, and she could resume her shouting.
How absurd to think less than a month ago, she was ready to get married and become the lady of a castle. The Callums had been awful, and Maeve didn’t regret not marrying into their family. But they were her only chance to have a simple, homely life.
Until that moment, a family was never a priority for her future. Maeve worried most about caring for her lands and her people. Now, it was clear she would never have children or a husband, and she would spend the rest of her days living with Hakken. A man too hard to understand.
She couldn’t even understand herself. Why was she sad about losing the opportunity for family life? Since when she cared about those things?
With enough time to shed some tears and no one around to bother her, Maeve wallowed in self-pity, and her sobbing somehow helped to unload her heavy heart. She hadn’t cried since her arrival.
After the tears washed away some of her anxiety, her mind wandered into a pair of very intense gray eyes. He was an odd one. She had told everyone in the village Regn saved her, and that was the truth. He protected her when they were in the water. But she kept for herself the fact he tried to push her first.
After he pulled them out of the river and passed out, she had to be cautious. Most half-breeds had accepted her and were friendly enough. A few others did not hide their displeasure, but no one had tried to hurt her. Not until now.
She was defenseless if he attacked her. Maeve could risk walking back to the village following the river, but they were far, and there were dangers along the road. Not like she wanted to leave him unconscious, either.
Maeve attended his wounds, lit a fire, and made him comfortable. She stood guard throughout the day. When it got dark and the temperatures fell, she curled up beside him to keep him warm.
Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. A piece of advice the old overseer once gave her. So she followed it. When he woke up, she jumped to his arms, acting as sweet and friendly as she could. “I’m so relieved! You were bleeding so much, and you wouldn’t wake up! You will be all right now. I will take care of you, I promise!”
It was clear he wouldn’t hurt her after her show. He looked so panicked she almost laughed. Maeve smirked in the dark, remembering how pale he became before reaching a magnificent tone of red. Hakken warned her about him, but Regn seemed like a nice boy, all things considered.
A rumbling noise came from the entrance when Hakken removed the stones. She remained still, her back turned. Her foul mood simmered down, but she would not let him off the hook so easily.
Soon after, she sensed Hakken sitting at the edge of the bed. “Maeve, are you still mad at me?”
She was! Hakken should acknowledge the impressive effort she made to ignore him.
He let out a long sigh, stuttering a little before speaking. “I-I’m sorry, beautiful, I shouldn’t have... this was... stupid. I promise you I won’t treat you like this again. It’s just that...”
He didn’t sound like his usual self. Maeve turned, surprised to find him so dejected.
“I thought I’d lost you. I was so scared I would never see you again and... I can’t go back to the way things were before you came.”
She sat in silence, careful not to interrupt him. All her anger vanished at the sight of Hakken looking so vulnerable, and now she wanted nothing more than to comfort him.
“I used to lie in bed every morning thinking. I didn’t want to live for another day. Now, I can’t wait to wake up only to listen to what you have to say.” He smiled sheepishly.
Maeve’s heart clenched as the need to reassure him became overwhelming. She jumped to his arms and held him tight, rubbing his
back. “I’m sorry! I won’t be reckless, I swear!” Maeve fought against the lump in her throat when he hugged her back, rocking her body and letting out a shaky breath. “I’m here, Hakken. I don’t want you to feel like that ever again.” She planted a clumsy kiss on his cheek, making him chuckle.
They held each other for a moment, basking in their warmth. This was the first time she touched him without restraint, and her hug came out a little stiff but heartfelt. After the original emotion quelled, Maeve didn’t know what to do with her hands. Should I let go now? Nervousness gained on her. This is beyond improper. She thought, blushing and suppressing a nervous giggle.
What would lady Callum say if she caught her in the arms of a man? A half-naked man. Oh, the thoughts crossing her mind!
Before dying of embarrassment, Hakken stiffened and pulled away with a troubled look. “Maeve, how old are you?”
She stared back, blinking at the odd question. “I will be 19 in a month or so. Why?” Hakken’s lips tightened, which only caused her curiosity to increase after watching his reaction. What is it with all these men panicking around her?
Regn
He couldn’t be around anyone. What a mess!
After the matriarch recommended rest to heal his ribs, he left the village to have some peace. To clear his mind.
The human girl told everyone he saved her. His people thanked him, Hakken growled at him, but at least his head remained still above his shoulders. Kniv gave him an enigmatic look. Regn couldn’t keep a straight face, so—for his own safety—he left the village.
What the hell was she thinking? Luckily for him, she was stupid enough not to realize his murderous intent. But she was throwing herself at him like that! He tried hard not to think about her soft arms around his neck. Her warm body pressed against his chest. The golden locks framing her face. Her bright smile. Her plump lips. “Oh, come on!” Stupid, treacherous mind.
He slapped himself to focus. “You hate her! You hate her! Stop thinking about her!”
He should lie low for a while and worry about planning before trying to kill her again. He had to come up with something better. Today had been a ridiculous failure, and only he was to blame. Why did he react like that? She was as good as dead. Why did he take her hand?
It was getting dark, so Regn headed back to the village. On his way, he came across three half-breed men, whom he recognized as members of the Red Moon Valley tribe.
“Greetings travelers, my name is Regn. What brings you to the Children of the River tribe?” The first emissaries had arrived.
“Greetings, young Regn. I am Vorka from the Red Moon Valley. We learned the news of danger in the mountain, and we came to seek counsel from your matriarch.”
“Allow me to welcome you. Thank you for answering to this menace.”
“Yes... so you say. We came to reach the truth.” Regn immediately disliked Vorka. Something about the man rubbed him the wrong way.
“Another thing is... troubling us,” Vorka continued. “Is it true you keep a human in your village? In our sacred Forest?”
Regn frowned at the thought of her. Or did Vorka talking about Maeve bother him? “True. One of our men kept her as a pet,” he answered.
“Well... most disturbing news.” Vorka displayed a wicked smile. “We should meet your matriarch at once. We will deal with your little trouble.”
CHAPTER XVIII
OPEN WOUNDS
Hakken
Some things had to change. That was a given.
After his stupid assumption, Hakken now faced the fact he had kidnapped a young woman. Maeve was no helpless child or a pet. A pet! He cringed at the thought. How dense could he be? Completely oblivious of her discomfort, he treated Maeve with so little delicacy, it was harrowing to think about. Every detail since the day they met came back to haunt him, sinking him deeper into a state of utter embarrassment.
No wonder she had objected so vehemently to most of his dumb ideas. Hakken groaned, hiding his face behind his hands and turning on his bed once more. He listened to Maeve working on her garden, but he didn’t find the strength to face her. Not after spending the entire night clinging to the farthest end of his bed, straining to keep his body away from her.
I should put an end to this... I should climb a mountain high enough so I can jump and smash my thick skull! His stomach churned, and he grimaced, wondering if hunger or uneasiness might be the cause. But after a loud growl, he established it was midmorning already, and he was starving.
He sat, alarmed. Maeve has eaten nothing either!
The time for moping had ended. Embarrassed as he was, it was still his responsibility to look after her.
Children’s laughter made him stop in his tracks. Some village children talked and giggled nearby, and Maeve’s voice chimed in soon after. Curious about their interaction, Hakken sneaked towards the entrance, witnessing a sweet exchange.
Three little girls offered fruit and a bowl of roasted meat to Maeve. From his hiding spot, he strained his eyes and nose to detect something odd with the food, but everything appeared to be fine.
He sighed. I need to stop being so paranoid. They are children. They won’t hurt her.
“Thank you. Would you like to join me?” she asked. But the children smiled and ran away, overcome by shyness.
Maeve’s eyes followed them until they disappeared behind the bushes, heading to the village. The clouds parted, allowing the sunlight to shine on her braided hair, hanging loosely over her shoulder. A faint layer of dirt covered her cheeks, and her dirty hands showed her work in the garden began early.
Another sigh left him when her lips curled in a peaceful smile. Such a simple gesture caused his stomach to somersault, and this time, hunger had nothing to do. Maeve headed to the cave entrance—a bowl of food in hand—and Hakken scrambled out of the way, racing to reach the bed and pretend he hadn’t been ogling her.
He even put on an act, stretching and yawning as soon as she walked in. Gods, I’m pitiful. He scolded himself.
“You’re awake. I was beginning to worry,” she said.
Hakken turned, forcing his voice to sound relaxed, but failing miserably to maintain eye contact. “Good morning, little—ah... Maeve. I’m sorry about breakfast. I’ll fetch something for you right away.”
His body stiffened when Maeve sat by his side. The warmness radiating from her skin dazed him.
“Don’t worry, the children brought us some food.” She showed him the bowl, grinning. Her body relaxed against him, not minding the proximity and all the spots where they touched. Hakken would have found this endearing before, but now it only caused his emotions to swirl. With so many ways in which he could act inappropriately, he fidgeted and attempted—hopelessly—to settle calmly by her side.
He immediately regretted turning to her because there was no way to deal with Maeve’s face so close to him. As of late, smiles came easier and more often to her. The dimples in her cheeks challenged his restraint to the point he swayed forward. How was it possible those two tiny spots held so much power over him? Swallowing hard, he straightened, barely stopping himself from nuzzling her face.
The whole conundrum in his mind didn’t pass unnoticed, and Maeve raised an eyebrow at him. “Are you all right? You’re acting strange since last night.” Of course he was! How could he not, when reality slapped him in the face with the shameful truth? He had been treating Maeve like a little girl, carrying her around, sitting her on his lap, and sleeping with her curled in his arms from the moment they first met. No wonder she acted so jumpy and scared at first. What did she think of him? Did she ever fear he would take advantage of her? Hurt her?
The horrifying thought made him shiver, and Maeve landed a hand on his arm. “Hakken, what is wrong?”
“Nothing! I... I don’t feel too well.” Liar! “I might be coming down with something.”
A new version of shame washed over him when Maeve stood in front of him and touched his forehead, frowning with concern. Hakken remained
still, almost hoping she called out his lies. But the girl sighed and stared at him, keeping her hands on his cheeks.
“Your face is a little warm. Is that why you slept far from me last night? Do you worry I might catch something?”
Not trusting his voice, he nodded.
“You look good now,” she smiled, “but you should eat and take a day to rest. Can you stay at home?”
After sharing breakfast, Maeve returned to her gardening, and Hakken gingerly followed. Shame and awkwardness gave way to the desire of being around her and enjoying her presence. Maeve gave him the perfect excuse, and he offered to help with her work while he recovered from his imaginary illness.
“See? This is the correct shape.” They busied tying sticks to support the stems of a bright green plant, gaining height every day. At first, Hakken didn’t give much thought to her work, but seeing so many buds growing and changing the barren soil around his cave, he had to admit it impressed him.
“I’ve meant to ask you,” she said, “Mynte told me she learned the human language from the matriarch and she from her parents. Who taught you, Hakken?”
After all their time together, he realized he didn’t tell Maeve anything about his past. Not because he was actively avoiding the subject. He simply didn’t speak about it. “My mother. She came from a family of merchants, and she told me her ancestors had dealings with humans. She taught me your language when I was a child, and after she died, I kept hearing it from the humans living near the border.”
For a moment, only the sound of Maeve’s hoe removing the ground echoed over the side of the cliff. Hakken bit his lip, concentrating on tying the noose around two wobbly sticks to keep them upright.
“I didn’t know about your mother,” Maeve muttered, “I’m sorry.”
A sorrowful note tinted her voice, something Hakken never caught before. Worried about her sudden sadness, he chuckled and shook his head. “No need to feel bad about it, Maeve. She died years ago, and I had Kniv to care for me. I don’t remember her anymore.”