Unknown L (Book 1)

~~ Actions And Reactions ~~

L was content to sit in the peace and quiet of the meadow after being constantly accompanied the last few days. She would have liked it better if it had been dark, but that wasn't for a few hours yet. Bryce didn't try to find something to talk about, either. He seemed happy to just sit in companionable silence and eat his sandwiches.

He hadn't bothered to put his beanie hat back on, and L was still curious as to why he wore it in the first place. Surely everyone here knew what he was. Staring shouldn't have been a problem for him, and humans couldn't see him. She found him so very strange and not for the reasons most people would.

She was finishing her second set of sandwiches in thoughtful silence when she heard movement behind her. She stood up quickly. Bryce, on the other hand, didn't move except to look up at her with a grin. L watched as tree branches were moved aside, and two huge figures trudged out into the meadow. Gart and Lort were smiling when they stopped in front of Bryce. They looked exactly the same as when L had last seen them.

They peered down between L and Bryce. "We came quickly, time to go?"

"Ready to help get your friends."

"Not quite yet, guys. we're still waiting on a few more. Sit tight for now."

L couldn't help smiling up at them both. They may not have been the best speakers, but the sentiment in their voices was genuine. She felt Bryce watching her and turned to look at him. She was unsure what he was expecting to see from her, and she didn't feel like asking. She was grateful for the distraction when someone else came out from between the trees, behind the Ogre brothers.

The figure walked silently through the grass towards them, and L's eyes widened when she registered the face. It was a female Elf and one L had met before. It was the mother of the little girl, Illiana, the one who had given her the flute as a present; L had laid it out on her bedroom windowsill as soon as she got back. 

The woman walked towards them, and L noticed she had her sword sheathed at her waist. She was wearing robes that were a little less regal, this time, they were green and brown. It looked like she was trying to blend in to her surroundings, but also, like she was ready for some unknown battle.

She smiled at L, who couldn't seem to bring herself to smile back through her confusion.

"Hello again... You're not coming on this rescue mission, are you?" L didn't want to sound rude, but she couldn't understand why she was there.

Bryce looked at L in alarm, and L felt like she might have crossed some kind of line with what she said. She was about to apologise when the woman laughed. L thought it sounded like wind chimes. She was almost too distracted to hear what she said.

"Yes, I am coming with you. Brycathlen asked me, and I agreed. I like your bluntness, though. It's rather refreshing. Illiana was most impressed, by the way. She wouldn't stop talking about you all day."

"Wait, you two know each other already? And Illiana, too?" Bryce asked.

L thought his eyebrows were going to disappear into his hairline when she nodded. She didn't think he ever got that surprised- by anything.

"Yes, why is that so shocking? You told me to go out and explore," L replied, and she heard the woman laugh again. It was such an incredibly unique laugh.

"Brycathlen doesn't expect his sister to be capable of meeting new people. He thinks I stay inside all day sewing while he goes off gallivanting."

"Sister?!"

After everything she had seen and heard already that day, this surprised L the most. She felt the need to sit down in the grass again while the woman laughed and Bryce rubbed the back of his neck.