Eldon hadn't known what to expect when he brought Leanne to Darwyn's inn. It sure wasn't to be greeted with open arms and a, "You've got two nights covered. Courtesy of Her Highness."
Leanne grinned at him. Eldon pretended like he didn't notice anything as he took the key from Darwyn.
They made their way up to their room. Leanne chose the bed next to the window so she could stare up at the stars later. It helped her sleep sometimes.
Eldon closed the door behind him and leaned against it, biting his tongue once again. Still, the corners of his mouth kept twitching upwards.
Leanne plopped down and threw her satchel onto the floor. "Don't bother me again 'til tomorrow." She covered her face with her right arm, and that was that.
Eldon shook his head and moved away from the door. He watched his friend for a moment—until he knew for sure she'd fallen asleep. Then he sat down on the edge of the other bed and exhaled slowly.
Leanne had done all the talking with Sir Aaron. She explained the letter she wanted him to write for them. Although Aaron kept looking back and forth between them and crossed his arms, he agreed to it. Leanne promised him they would write their own letters and send them home in a few days to "follow up."
Eldon had expected Aaron to question them more. So, when Aaron didn't, Eldon found himself confused by the entire situation himself. On their way out, Leanne told him to relax. He wasn't worried, though. He just had a lot of questions and not enough energy to ask them.
Maybe that was why it was easy for him to lie back and close his eyes. And he hadn't expected to sleep through the night. So when he heard Leanne rummaging around the room, he thought he would open his eyes and see a dark room. To instead be greeted by a room brightened by the morning sun had him gasping and sitting upright. A little too quickly, too. The walls spun for a bit, and he groaned.
Leanne whirled around and grinned at him. "Finally, yer awake. Felt bad wakin' you 'cause you were actually snorin'. Must've been a good dream to make you sleep like that." He heard the light teasing in her voice. He huffed, and she laughed to herself.
"Don't think I dreamed anythin'," Eldon grumbled, rubbing his neck. He felt like he'd just closed his eyes for a few minutes. They begged for more rest now.
"Yeah, yeah." Leanne walked up to his side and slapped his knee. "Well, if yer good, let's go out and do somethin'. I didn't plan for us to stay here just so we could sleep all day."
Eldon moved his legs over the edge of the bed and yawned. "It's gonna be busy out there all day. Wanna start explorin' outside the walls first? There's a field of wildflowers you'll like."
Leanne's eyes lit up. "Now yer talkin', Eldon." She stepped aside and gestured to the door. "Lead the way."
---
After checking on the horses, Eldon and Leanne made their way out of town. He walked the same path he remembered walking with Elouise and the princes on the Day of the Boats. Staring ahead, he could almost see Elouise walking in front of them, explaining the importance of the holiday.
When he spotted the wildflowers in the distance, he sighed. The scene played out in front of him. The princes gathering around and getting on their knees to pick flowers. Prince Henry so carefully twisting his bunch into a crown. And Elouise getting closer to Eldon.
Leanne touched his shoulder. Then he blinked hard, letting the imagery fade away, and he turned to his friend. She beamed at him.
"It is pretty here," she said, moving past him. She stopped right where Prince Avery had sat and rested her hands on her hips. "It sure is weird..."
Eldon blinked. "What is?"
"How you and Princess Elouise are the only ones with brown eyes."
He looked away. Right. He'd expected—no, he'd hoped—Leanne wouldn't bring that up again.
"Why didn't you tell me that?" she asked.
"Like you said, it's weird. And it ain't like it means anythin'."
Leanne snickered. "I wasn't thinkin' nothin' like that. But it sure makes you wonder, doesn't it?"
"Whataya mean?"
"Maybe... maybe there's a reason you came here in the first place. Maybe you were supposed to meet her."
Eldon held his breath and raised his head. "You don't really believe that."
Leanne grinned. "I know I sound like Bobo, but I dunno. It's kinda interestin' to think 'bout. Anyway, when do you think she'll give me that tour?" Without waiting for an answer, she started to wander off, occasionally bending down to pick a wildflower.
Instead of following her, Eldon plopped onto the grass and mindlessly picked his own flowers. As much as he tried not to, he started to think back on his time here in the north.
Mostly, he thought about those he hadn't seen yet.
Like Lady Marigold. His last conversation with her hadn't been the best. He'd learned about her connection to Haven, and she seemed uncomfortable in his presence after that. Eldon wondered what she was doing now. Was she teaching someone else how to read and write their own name?
Then there was Kandi, Gidget, and Everild. Eldon had actually been surprised he hadn't seen any sign of them. He hoped Everild had recovered well. He knew her wound had to have healed completely since. But the scar left behind would probably stay with her—and not just the physical one.
Eldon noticed Leanne sitting down on the grass, right where Henry had been.
Henry...
Eldon lowered his shoulders and swallowed hard. He wished his last memory of him had been here in this field. Where Henry had looked carefree as he concentrated on his creation. Instead, Eldon's last memory was seeing him being talked down to by his brother.
Then... then he had that vision.
Eldon widened his eyes. Shit. He'd almost forgotten—
"Hey, Eldon!" Leanne called, waving her arms.
He shook his head and met her gaze across the field.
"Got lost in yer thoughts?" she asked, putting her arms down. He noted the flowers tucked into her hair, and he smiled.
"Guess so," he said. "You look... good. Happy."
Leanne chuckled. "Did I look sad to you before?"
"Kinda. Mostly bored. I don't think I've seen you smile and laugh this much in a while."
"It's weird, actually. It's like I'm doin' somethin' wrong by still bein' here, and that excites me. My whole life, I've done whatever's been told of me. There was never any 'no' to any chores that needed to get done. The fact that I sneaked out of Ilsen to follow you is one thing. Now bein' here and knowin' we ain't leavin' soon is... it's just—"
"Weird, yeah." Eldon nodded. "I felt that way the first time. I sure hope you get your fill of adventure like I did." Just without bein' attacked so many times...
Leanne let herself fall backwards with a delighted sigh. It almost sounded like a soft laugh from a child. Eldon smiled some more and also got himself comfortable on the grass.
The breeze was starting to pick up.
He stared up at the gray clouds slowly rolling in, covering the endless blue atmosphere that matched the color of Leanne's irises, and blocked the sun's blinding yellow glow. It wouldn't be the blooming season without the occasional somber skies.
His eyelids felt heavy again, so he let them fall.
"Eldon," he thought Leanne said.
He hummed in response, but when nothing else was said, he peeked an eye open. Leanne had gotten up and was too far away from him. She would have to yell for him to hear him. And her voice... her voice wasn't that light either.
Eldon opened his other eye and glanced around, panic rising within him.
Oh, he thought. It's you. He wondered if Tea had possibly known he'd started to think about their last conversation, or if this just happened to be a coincidence. A real good one, if that was the case.
"Eldon," the voice repeated. Paying better attention now, he realized it sounded like the wind was carrying his name along with it.
Something was wrong.
The hairs on his arms and neck rose. Quietly, he asked, "What is it?"
"I... cannot speak... for too long."
Eldon swallowed uneasily, feeling a sudden burst of urgency. "Why not?"
"You... cannot leave..." There was an abrupt break.
Eldon concentrated harder, leaning toward the right where he thought he heard it better. He knew other words were being spoken, but he couldn't make them out. He cupped his right ear, and the voice eventually became clear enough for him to hear, "... a mistake... he's coming."
"What?" he questioned, dropping his hand and frantically looking around, even though he knew already he wouldn't see anyone except for Leanne.
Silence followed.
No, no... don't leave yet!
"Hello?" he tried, louder this time. But all he did was capture Leanne's attention.
Leanne stopped picking the petals off a purple flower in her hand and wrinkled her freckled nose as she stared over at him. Eldon got to his feet and shrugged his right shoulder.
Dammit.
He then forced the corners of his lips to rise. Leanne narrowed her eyes at him, but she said nothing and just continued her walk.
Eldon turned around and stared in the castle's direction as he felt his pulse quicken.
Who? Who was coming?
He couldn't even guess what kind of warning that was supposed to be. But he knew he had to tell Elouise.
Now.