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onthepageoftears · 4 years ago

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Kill Your Darlings Ch. 18 (Jaskier x Assassin!Reader) || Witcher

A/N: Another long chapter! Only a few more to go! I’m gonna be a little MIA while I play The Last of Us Part II, but I’ll still check back and reblog some stuff! So if I don’t reply to your comments etc right away it’s just because I’m crying over Ellie and Joel lmao Enjoy!

Your comments and feedback are always encouraged and mean a lot to me!

Summary: The ones we were once closest to might be further than we remember.

Warnings: mentions of death, killing, blood, wounds, bruises, language, fluff, slight angst/comfort, tensionnnn, and more angst hehe

Words: 3,731

Please Don’t Plagiarize My Work!

Time was slow.

Maybe it was because your adrenaline was dying down. Maybe it was because you just realized the bard next to you was not just…a bard. But sitting in the bandit camp you and Geralt and Jaskier had just cleared out, you were feeling anything but anxious, anything but worried. You were feeling…content.

You practically smiled to yourself as Jaskier reapplied bandages to your wounds. He had found supplies in the camp and immediately offered to help you, despite the fact that you could very easily do it yourself. But still, you let him.

His hands worked carefully as he wrapped the wound on your leg. It was looking better than when you had first got it, which was a plus. But right now, you were focused on his fingers, on the way they moved so particularly, almost like he was playing his lute. It was like every movement of his was calculated and purposeful, and the slight grazes of his fingertips on your skin felt that way as well. You had to practically pray to the gods that he didn’t notice the flustered expression on your face that you so desperately tried to conceal.

“There,” he said, finally tying the bandage so it didn’t undo the work he did. “That should hold for a while longer.”

You blinked and rolled down your pants, slightly disoriented now that he wasn’t as close to you anymore, “Right. Thanks.”

As soon as Jaskier’s touch wasn’t on your skin, your mind flooded with thoughts you were trying to push away. Your mind first went to Hotch. He was a disgusting man, willing to do anything for revenge — even killing his own wife. He would have hurt a little girl at the chance of getting back at the man who seduced his lover; even though you knew he was crazy, you couldn’t help but connect his actions with your own. Despite hating him for what he did — and might have done if you hadn’t killed him — at one point, you did the same. Your whole life you were raised to hurt those who hurt others, in hope that it would fill the hole that was left after your father murdered your mother.

And then you met Jaskier. But honestly, that didn’t change anything. If anything, it made it worse. You would do anything for Jaskier, and had done anything for him. You killed Joneta. It seemed like so long ago that you had…ended her life, but it was only the other day. And you wouldn’t stop there. You would do anything for Jaskier, to get back at those who wronged him. So how did that make you any different from monsters like Hotch?

“What are you thinking about?” Jaskier’s voice broke your thoughts, making you turn to him. As usual, his eyes bore into your own with an intensity that you still weren’t used to. Maybe you wouldn’t have told him if he wasn’t looking at you that way. But of course, you did.

You let out a small breath, “Hotch.”

“What about him?”

You shifted in your spot, keeping your eyes just to the side of Jaskier’s face.“He was…blinded by his rage. His rage for you.” You met his gaze again, a new hardness to your stare, “He wanted revenge.”

Jaskier’s frown turned into soft expression as realization took over, “Y/N—“

You cut him off, “After my mother died, and my uncle taught me everything I know…I did anything for justice. For revenge.”

“But you’re not like him.”

“Why not?” Your eyes stung with tears, but you blinked them away. “I’m an assassin, Jaskier. I kill people.”

“I know that—“

“No, you don’t. I kill people and I enjoy killing people. If I hadn’t known you were innocent, I would have enjoyed killing you too.”

Jaskier faltered, his eyes alleviating as he looked back at you, “But you didn’t. And that’s what makes you different.” He tentatively placed a hand on your knee, watching your face to make sure you were okay with it. When you didn’t flinch, he spoke again, “I know what you’re capable of Y/N.”

And it doesn’t bother me. He didn’t say it with words, but as his eyes searched your own it was clearer than anything he could have said.

Jaskier looked at you like he was about to say something else, but before he could, Geralt’s footsteps emerged from wherever he had previously been in the camp.

“We should probably leave here soon. We don’t know if there are more bandits, and we don’t want to be here to find out.”

It was then that realization struck you. You had to warn Rauf about everything that had happened. Though it was only a couple of days, so much had been revealed to you, to all of you, and Rauf knew nothing about it. He had to be wondering where you were, what was taking so long — but once you told him everything you knew, he’d understand.

You hoped.

“I have to go,” you said suddenly, pushing yourself off the log you had been sitting on.

Jaskier immediately reached towards you, “You have to—hold on, now.” He grabbed your wrist before you could limp away, “Go where?”

“To talk to Rauf. I have to warn him. About everything.” You shifted to face the bard, “I mean, who knows how many other innocent people are being targeted for no good reason.”

Jaskier nodded and stood beside you, “Great. Yes, okay. Then let’s go.”

You stopped, gently taking your wrist from his grasp, “No.”

“No?”

“I have to go alone. You can’t show your face, at least not until I clear everything up.”

“You can’t go alone.” To your surprise, it was Geralt who spoke this time.

You crossed your arms over your chest, “Why not?

Jaskier spoke, cutting Geralt off, “We just…don’t think that’s a good idea.”

You gritted your teeth, “Why not?”

“Maybe we should plan it out first?”

“What is there to plan out?”

The silence that followed was not actually silence. There was an unspoken conversation that hung in the air as Jaskier and Geralt shared a look, one that you were quite determined to bring to light.

You glared at the two of them until Geralt finally spoke.

“Your guild leader isn’t who he says he is.”

You frowned at Geralt’s words, swallowing a lump in your throat as your stomach dropped, “And how would you know that?”

Geralt hesitated before responding, “I followed you to your guild.”

It wasn’t news to you. But his matter-of-fact tone made you feel ten times more defensive.

“And?”

“I went back there after you returned the first time. When you and Jaskier were waiting in the Nowhere Inn.”

You frowned, searching your memory. You guessed he was talking about when you first noticed Joneta lurking around the inn, when Geralt was nowhere to be found.

Geralt continued, “I wanted to see if he was actually checking on the client, like you said he would.”

“How did you know who he was?”

“He stood tall, unafraid. Unlike you, he didn’t slink around when he walked. He didn’t care about being careful.” Geralt relented, “And, he was the only one who came out of the guild without the cloaks like yours.”

Your eyes narrowed, “So you guessed.”

“Was it not accurate?”

You took a sharp breath in through your nose — from his description, it was definitely Rauf he was talking about. No one else from the guild had the same…aura as your uncle, and even if they did, they would have been wearing some sort of cover so no one could see their face.

You nodded your head, still feeling stiff with indignation, “So you followed him. And…?”

“He didn’t come here.”

You frowned, “So? They could have met at another place. It’s not unusual.”

Geralt only quirked a brow, as if to say, do you really believe that?

“He could have been set up as well.” You huffed in frustration, “There’s no way to know for sure until I confront him.”

“And what if it does go wrong?” Geralt crossed his arms over his chest, “Are you going to fight your way out?”

You gritted your teeth, anger seeping through you at Geralt’s patronizing tone, “Yes.”

Jaskier scoffed beside you, “Right, because it’s not like your leg is horribly injured and you can barely walk on it — much less take out a whole guild of assassins.”

It was an understatement to say you were shocked at Jaskier’s bluntness. The frown on his face was enough to make you step back — not from fear, but from surprise. You blinked as he softened his expression, reaching a hand out towards you in comfort. But you shifted away from his touch.

Jaskier spoke again, choosing his words carefully, “We just…need to be cautious, is all.”

“Fine,” you practically spat, turning away from the bard. “But we do this my way. And if you don’t do what I tell you, I’ll knock you out myself.”

Neither of the men responded to you as you limped back towards the horses and out of the camp.

—

The ride back to Novigrad was quiet. At first you had been fuming from what was said — how dare they assume Rauf was guilty when they didn’t even know him? Sure, you had your suspicions, but when they did, it felt like a direct attack. You knew you were wrong to have been so mad at them, but by the time you had gotten close to Novigrad, your previous frustration was taken over by a new anxiety.

What if they were right. What if Rauf never checked the payer — or what if he did, and he didn’t care? Where would that leave you? Where would that leave him?

Once you were at yet another tavern in Novigrad, you slid off the horse without Jaskier’s help; but once your feet landed on the ground, you kept your hands on the horse in front of you.

“Are you sure you’re okay to do this?” Jaskier said once he landed beside you.

You snorted, “Don’t think I can?”

“Of course I do.”

You fought the urge to look at his infamous eyes, instead focusing on Buttercup’s fur under your fingers. For some reason, looking at Jaskier made your stomach twist in a different way — it was like a new fear, a fear of something happening to him. You had felt it before, especially when you faced Joneta. But now, it felt different. Stronger. Like because now that you knew there was something deeper in your relation to him, losing him gained a thousand times more weight.

Before, you had wanted justice for Jaskier. You wanted him to be able to walk the streets again and perform without worrying about someone trying to kill him. Even though you barely knew him, and his personality was not something you thought you could ever miss, you didn’t want him dead.

But now, not wanting him dead had turned into needing him alive. If he died…you couldn’t even think about what it would do to you. And that…that was scary.

“We’ll be fine,” you said, the words surprising both you and Jaskier. You looked back at him, your eyes trailing to his lips, which were slightly ajar. He placed his hand beside your own on the side of Buttercup’s stomach.

His eyes stayed on yours, “Of course.” He smiled, the playfulness in his tone not meeting the fear in his eyes, “All you have to do is…not die.”

You huffed out a laugh, despite the constricting in your chest, “I would never.”

The smile on your face fell almost immediately, but instead of turn away from Jaskier, you placed your hand over his.

The look he gave you made your stomach flop, but you kept his gaze. “I’m going to fix this.”

After a moment, he sent you a small smile. “I know.”

—

The torches outside of the new fellowship gates flickered in the darkness as you lifted a fist to knock on the raggedy wood.

The small eye hole slid open, revealing a predictably gruff face.

“I’m here for the fellowship,” you stated, ignoring the nerves bundled in your stomach.

To your surprise, the face in the eye hole broke into a smile. Almost hastily, the man slammed the small door shut and eagerly opened the gates for you.

His smile was just as wide when he grabbed you in a bone crushing hug, “Y/N, how are ya?”

“Terrific,” you mumbled into his shoulder, praying to the gods that he would let you go before you stabbed him right then and there.

Thankfully for him, he did. His smile was smaller, but still present. “Remember me?”

You hesitated, but nodded, “You’re the same guy who let me in last time. Uh…”

“Androu.”

“Right. Androu. Cool.” Talk about a new recruit, you mused as he watched you step forward, only to hold an arm out in front of you.

“Ah, not so fast. Gotta leave your weapons at the front. New rule.”

Your heart pounded in your chest, but you frowned at your own nerves. It won’t have to come to that anyway, you thought, but your gut was telling you otherwise.

You huffed at the new guard and started removing your knives from their sheaths despite your inner protest. One hour and Geralt and Jaskier will come in. That would give enough time to talk to Rauf and figure things out before it got too crazy. If it got too crazy.

At the last second, you decided to leave one knife in your boot hidden. What they didn’t know, they couldn’t find.

After the guard — er, Androu — secured your weapons, you decided to test the waters of his overt friendliness, “And what idiot made this weapon stripping rule?”

“Me.” The two of you snapped your heads to the side, where Rauf was standing with a charming smile.

You looked at him, your spine stiff. It hadn’t been too long since the last time you saw him, but somehow, now, he looked…foreign. More confident than you’d ever seen him, which was saying something.

Still, you snorted a laugh, “You’ve lost your touch, uncle.”

“That’s not what the brothel women told me last night.”

The guards around him laughed hesitantly, making you roll your eyes. Even though his presence made you a bit uneasy (and apparently the guards as well), you couldn’t help but shake your head at his humor. Maybe he hasn’t changed that much. Maybe it’s just…paranoia.

His infamous smile lay comfortably on his face. “Care to join me in my office?”

You nodded and followed after him, quirking a brow at the two guards that followed behind you.

“You have guards now?”

Rauf chuckled, “The guild is growing, Y/N. We’re not a small fellowship anymore. And with more people, there is more potential for…threats.” He looked at you from the corner of his eye, “You understand that, don’t you?”

You simply nodded, swallowing the lump in your throat. You couldn’t wait for this to be over. And whatever this was, you couldn’t say.

Surprisingly, when you got to Rauf’s office, the guards waited outside. You almost expected them to stand on either side of Rauf at all times, like he was royalty or something. But that relief was soon extinguished when the door was closed behind you and you were left with just your uncle. You felt like you were getting ready to be lectured, even though he was the one who needed to be informed.

“Are you here to tell me good news?” Rauf sauntered deeper into the room, his eyes twinkling with a certain mischief that used to comfort you.

“Afraid not,” you said, watching as he leaned his hands on his desk. You opened your mouth to continue, but found yourself at a loss for words. How were you going to explain everything to him? Where would you start? What would make him actually believe you?

And why were you doubting him so much?

But before you could speak, Rauf sighed. “Joneta went to claim your target. Never came back. Do you know anything about that?”

You clenched your jaw, nearly drawing blood as you bit your tongue. You didn’t expect her name to come up so early in the conversation. You had hoped you could bring up what happened with her after he understood why you didn’t kill Jaskier, why you couldn’t. And why that meant you had to kill Joneta. But right now, looking in his disappointed eyes, you knew it wasn’t the time.

So, you lied.

“No.”

Rauf clicked his tongue, “But, I’m assuming you do know that your target is still out there.”

You shifted in your spot, trying to cease the fire that had begun spreading across your skin. “I know it’s not him.”

“And let me guess. You decided this on a gut feeling?”

“No.” Your outburst startled you; it was something you hadn’t done since you were young. But this tone Rauf was using with you — that reminded you of your childhood. He was treating you like an insubordinate child, like a rebel without a cause. Despite the anger filling your veins, you tried to remain calm.

After a moment, you cleared your throat, “I found the payer—“

“You found the payer?” His own anger surprised you, but you stood your ground. “And how did you manage that?“

You involuntarily shifted your gaze down to his desk of still unorganized papers. His eyes followed your own before he let out a scoff of disbelief, “You disobeyed a superior based on a gut feeling—“

“And I was right—“

“But you knew what you did was wrong, because you went behind my back to do it.”

You clamped your mouth shut. The feeling of shame twisted in your gut as Rauf looked at you and tilted his head.

“Is that not true?”

You spoke through gritted teeth, “Yes.”

You held his angry gaze before he let out a sigh and turned away. You released a breath, composing yourself before he turned back around.

“How many times in the last few times we’ve met have I had to ask you to trust me?” You opened your mouth to speak, but he held a hand up to stop you. “Rhetorical question.”

“I wasn’t going to answer that.” You spoke despite the glare he sent you. “I was going to say that this isn’t about not trusting you. It’s about trusting myself.”

“Y/N—“

“I followed all of your lessons. Your rules. I heard them in my head, being relayed to me over and over again as I made these…decisions. But still, my…gut—“ Rauf rolled his eyes, but you continued, “My gut was always right.”

Rauf considered you for a moment. You thought you could see was a flicker of sympathy in his eyes.

But you were wrong.

“Did your gut tell you to kill Joneta?”

You froze, any hope of getting through to him dissipating and being replaced with…guilt. Your breath was caught in your throat, making you unable to form words.

“Now, that was not a rhetorical question.”

Rauf’s smile made you sick to your stomach. You turned your eyes away from him, unable to keep yourself together as your eyes teared up.

“I know you mean well, Y/N. I do. But you need to know that you can’t just go around breaking rules because it’s what you think is right.” By then, he had made it over to you and placed his hand on your shoulder. Still, you couldn’t bring yourself to look at him. “You’ve been different lately.”

So have you, you thought, but before you could say anything, the door behind you slammed open.

You and Rauf turned to see it was the two guards.“Sir, we found one of the targets lurking around the guild. Some of the new recruits were roughing him up before we brought him in.”

Your heart skipped a beat. You specifically told Geralt to come after an hour, and to leave Jaskier behind. It couldn’t be one of them, could it?

Rauf seemed to be thinking the same thing, as his eyes were glued to you. “Is he dead?”

“No sir. We stopped them before it got too bad. We thought it best to bring him to you to figure out how to deal with it.”

“That’s good, that’s good. Though maybe it would have been better to just kill him there.” You watched as Rauf’s face scrunched in contemplation. Then, he shook his head, “No, no. You were right. Bring him here.”

To say you were holding your breath was an understatement. You and Rauf stood in silence as the sound of grunts echoed from the hallway, nearing closer and closer by the second.

You didn’t want any of this to be real. It didn’t feel real; Rauf treating you this way, the guild becoming something it never was — everything was falling apart, and you couldn’t seem to catch your breath. For once, you felt completely out of control.

As the footsteps got nearer, you silently wished they had left the door open so the suspense couldn’t give you the heart attack it already was. At the same time, you didn’t want to see who the target they had found was. Though, deep down, you already knew.

Finally, the door swung open.

Rauf clapped his hands together, “Well, well. Look who it is.”

One guard held each of his arms as they dragged him into the room.

You almost didn’t recognize him with all the blood. From what you could see, his face was covered in bruises that had already begun to form, blood was soaking into his shirt — whether it was his or the assassins’, you couldn’t tell. His feet were dragging on the floor as the guards brought him in, his head hung over his chest. But despite his injuries, you could hear the low wheezing of labored breathing — he was alive, which was something.

But it wasn’t enough. You clenched your fists, digging your nails into your palms as Rauf walked over and lifted his bloodied chin.

“The famous Jaskier. To what do I owe the pleasure?”

———————————————————————————————————

Sorry for the cliffhanger…but also not >:) let me know your thoughts!

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asunafairywizardessheart · 7 years ago

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Thanksgiving in the Country: Part 2. Farm Hands.

Elias/Asana

This continues from the last post.

Warning: There’s a slight make out scene it’s not to NSFW but putting it there just in case.

Morning, and a soft sunlight filled her bedroom.

Slowly awakening, she didn't remember how she managed to get to bed or when she changed but at least she only suffered some memory loss as her head wasn't throbbing. She wondered if the expensive and higher content of alcohol she usually drank with Elias and his family strengthened her tolerance. It didn't matter though since she enjoyed mornings like this.

Her large window gave her a view of the grey blanketed sky above and the fresh snow which fell across the vacant fields. Even though she was back in her childhood bed, she wasn't alone for the cold air to strike her body. With the comfort of the blankets around her, she found Elias' strong arms cuddling her and felt his warm breath on her back as he tucked his body close to hers as he slept. To her, this was not only the warmest and happiest place but also the safest.

She had several places she wanted to show him and share her stories but last night's events eventually began crawling back to her. A part of her was still upset that her parents couldn't bring themselves to see how their relationship would work because of how different their lives were. They saw his name and not the kind person he was. Tracing her fingers up and down his arm, she wanted to see his face and gently tossed onto her other side.

Feeling her move, Elias' arms accommodated her like it was some instinct to do so and then they embraced her body as warm and secure as their last position. She smiled and studied his handsome god-like features as the soft sunlight kissed his velvety smooth skin, shimmered through his golden blonde hair and highlighted the length of his golden eyelashes. His expression was gentle and warm but seeing him sleep was a rarity for her since he was usually up before her.

“Thank you for last night,” she whispered, leaving a light kiss on his cheek, “I'm sorry they were being rude,” she said it quietly so not to disturb him and then, resting her hands on his chest, nuzzled her face into the fabric of his shirt and allowing herself to relax again.

She could hear his healthy heartbeat and could feel the steady rise and fall of his chest as he breathed. His scent of cinnamon and melted chocolate wrapped in the warmth of his body that she inhaled deeply, captivated Despite the stress of introducing him to the family and the challenge to convince them to accept him, she felt soothed in this moment. Smiling in his embrace, she remembered something her grandmother once told her when she was little.

Most of the townspeople turned out to a celebration honouring her grandparents’ long marriage. Held on her Uncle’s vineyard, Asana was only fourteen when they celebrated her grandparents’ fifty years of marriage and wanted to know the secret since Joel’s parents were going through a divorce. “What’s your secret, Nan?” she approached her grandmother nibbling at cheese and crackers on the food table.

“My secret to what, darling?” Edith always spoke to her grandchildren with gentleness that they tended to approach her to talk openly about any topic whereas her grandfather was a little rough around the edges as a result of the war.

“Your marriage to Grandad,” she asked happily, “You still love him even after fifty years of marriage, there has to be some secret.”

Edith laughed with amusement at her serious question, “There’s no big secret sweetie,” she pinched a piece of cheddar cheese from the wooden platter on the table, “I still love him as I did fifty years ago, if not more.”

“Is that all it is?” Asana was confused, “You just love him. There has to be a reason.”

“Oh, there are several reasons,” she counted count just one and thought carefully on how to word her response to her young and curious granddaughter, “Your grandfather can come across as a strict and complicated man but he is very kind and would do absolutely anything for his family, but it’s because he wants to be so strong and never wants his family to see his weaknesses that he comes across as strict and harsh. So, there are several sides I know of him that not many other people do, and a person only shows you their weaknesses when they trust and love you.”

“I see,” she tried to understand but her head was tilted with confusion.

“Your father and Uncle and our precious grandchildren are the most important people in your grandfather’s eyes,” Edith continued, “Our family we built together makes us love each other even more because our children and grandchildren are our legacy.”

“I still don’t get it.”

Edith chuckled at her again, “You are a beautiful and wonderful girl and someday when you meet someone you will understand what it means to love somebody more than yourself,” she promised.

“How would I know?” Asana wasn’t sure she would, “Is it how you know you love Grandad?”

Edith didn’t agree, “Not always. Think of a relationship like a fingerprint,” she began to explain it in a way that was easier to understand, “Marriage is, on the surface, the same concept but the markings of each relationship are different because the people in those relationships are different. In my own experience and opinion, I could not imagine my life without your grandfather and I love everything about him from his strengths to his greatest flaws. More importantly, I enjoy his company and I still miss him when he’s out for hours on the farm. He relaxes me, makes me feel safe and loved and always helped out with the kids too.”

“…What you’re saying is,” she tried to make sense of her words, “Grandad is the one person you can’t see yourself without?”

“That’s one way to look at it,” Edith agreed, “What I can tell you is a marriage works when the love is alive and communication is still open and natural. When I sleep next to him, he still holds me the same way he used to when we were younger. When I feel his breath and heartbeat, I still feel how much I do love him. That’s my own experience though, you will have yours too.”

She was about to walk away and then turned around to her granddaughter, “Love is an energy, Asana, and it has to be felt all through your body and with the entirety of your heart and soul. If you can’t, then the love has died. As our own life is ours to decide, not even we are in control in how long it lasts. Love is similar to that because love is life, your Grandfather and I have our children and if your parents didn’t love each other they wouldn’t have you and your brother. You won’t understand now, but you will when you find that one person you can make a life with.”

Looking at Elias, she finally understood what her grandmother was trying to tell her fourteen-year-old self. The sound of his heartbeat, the gentle rise and fall of his breath, the feel of his warming in embrace and skin and his welcoming scent, soothed her heart and stirred her deep feelings of love for him, “I get it now,” she murmured and smiled, moving her face to take in more of his profile.

He looked somewhere between cute and handsome while he slept through the morning. Peering over his shoulder, she tried to read the time on her alarm clock, her mother had it set her room in order in lieu of her arrival. It was only quarter to nine but she was in no hurry to wake up, “…Good morning,” Elias’ morning voice had a sexy deepness to it that made her heart leap. As she looked over his shoulder to the clock on the bedside table, she looked down into his violet eyes as he greeted her.

“Good morning, did you sleep well?” she relaxed in his arms again.

Elias pulled her closer to him, “I did, you sure did too.”

“…Ah,” she blushed, “I drank a little too much last night, didn’t I?”

He smiled at her gently, “Well, if I wasn’t already well aware how much your parents didn’t like me, asking them where your room is because you passed out on my shoulder topped off the most awkward dinner I have ever been a part of,” his arms circled around her body warmly since it still felt too cold to leave the bed.

“I’m sorry,” she desperately apologized turning onto her back, “…God, I feel so selfish,” she hid her face behind her hands with her cheeks bathed in red embarrassment, “Here you are being amazing and I ended up getting passed out drunk on you because of how horribly they spoke to you. Mom even called our relationship a mistake,” she felt angry.

Raising his body up and covering half of hers, he peeled her hands away from her face, “Hey, don’t be that way,” he kissed the back of her hands, “I understand why they were being protective of you. You are very loved by your family for your smile and cheerful personality and they just don’t want to see you sad.”

“But, I’m not sad,” she argued, “I’m incredibly happy with you, Elias.”

“I could tell but how you were watching me sleep,” he teased and dipping his hands under the mattress to press her boy against his, “I’m happy with you too and sometimes actions speak louder than words,” his face came closer and he felt her arms wrap around his neck to accept his morning kiss.

“Were…,” they kissed while they spoke, “…Were you awake?”

“I woke up when I felt you toss over,” he admitted and smiled as they kissed.

“Sorry,” she whispered her apology, “I was trying to be quiet.”

“It’s fine,” he kissed her again, “These k-kisses are making up for it. But, I’m curious.”

Their kisses were light and gentle but she could feel her body igniting, “About?” her fingers combed through the small hairs on his neck as she smiled at him.

“You said you ‘get it’, what did you get?” he searched her dreamy pink eyes only to see the desire he had stirred up with his kisses on her lips.

She felt her cheeks turn red as he became surprised to see her dreamy eyes looking up at him. It felt silly to become this work up over his kisses but it was the feelings of love which had bubbled earlier that really sparked her mood, “…Ju-Just remembering something my grandmother told me once.”

“Tell me,” he prompted her with his lips travelling from her lips to her jaw and teasing her neck. He could hear her breathing hitch as his lips applied light kisses across her face and his hand gripped at her thigh to bring her right leg around his as he positioned himself right over the top of her as he felt his desire for her climb.

Cuddled into her soft and warm skin as she was pinned underneath him and seeing her eyes wet with desire for him had awakened his own feelings of love. Her hair smelt like fresh air and her body had an alluring fragrance of rose, strawberry and coconut that attracted him to her femininity. Her angelic voice and pink smile also captivated his attention and his heartbeat began to race slightly.

“Well,” she decided to tell him because she never wanted to keep things a secret, “When I was fourteen we celebrated my grandparents’ fiftieth wedding anniversary and at the time, when Joel and I were still best friends, his parents were going through a divorce. So, I asked her how it had survived so long, what was the secret,” Elias’ lips travelled across to her ear where he applied light kisses underneath it where her skin curved to connect her face and neck.

“What did she say?” Elias whispered in her ear.

As Elias kissed her, she found it increasingly hard to concentrate on anything other than him, “…She…she said there was no big secret other than feeling that love is alive and communication is open. Where a person can relax and be themselves with no hesitation around each other, showing their weaknesses and strengths. Loving the pieces that make up a person’s personality, even their flaws. At the time, I didn’t understand what she meant but…now…now I do.”

“…!” Elias’ lips stopped kissing her and he pulled his face away so he could look at her, “…You mean because…of me?” he turned a shade of pink.

She nodded and felt embarrassed too, “…When you cuddle me while we sleep, it makes me feel safe, warm and happy, but when I feel your heartbeat, feel you breathing, smell your scent, and kiss you…I can’t describe in words how much I love you but I feel it through every inch of me. I could say how much I love and I can show you but I always feel like it’s not enough.”

“…You…are making it very hard for me to be a gentleman to you right now.”

She didn’t mean to stir him but she wanted to be honest, “Sorry,” she apologized and brought her lips to his, “…I just wanted to be honest with you.”

“Ah,” he struggled to control himself, “…Thank you, I love you too,” he was glad she said it because he felt the same way, “…To be honest, I feel the same way when I watch you sleep too.”

“…When do you watch me sleep?”

“Well,” he felt shy to admit it but since she was honest with him, he wanted to be honest with him, “…I’m usually up before you and you have kind of moved into my apartment but I never have it in my heart to wake you up and let you sleep longer. Sometimes, I just…get captivated by your beauty…and, yeah…” he trailed off shyly, “…I think about how deep I am with you and often think about our future together. I never felt this way before, not even with my ex. You…you’re special to me.”

He wanted to look away but Asana gently turned his face so he would look at her, wondering if the reason why it was so easy to pretend to be engaged was because that’s what they really wanted, “…You’re special to me too,” she raised her head to meet his lips, “…I really don’t want you to be a gentleman right now,” she pulled him closer to her and was ready to make love to him that morning.

“…I want to,” his head rested on her chest, fighting the temptation to touch her, “…However, I feel I would be disrespecting your family by making love to you in your childhood home and bed. Not that I don’t want to, I just don’t want to ruin any chances of earning their acceptance.”

She understood but she needed to do something about her urges, “I understand,” she said and accidentally nudged her nose against his as she sought a kiss from his lips, “I want to kiss you though,” she cutely brushed her lips against his.

They smiled and Elias could comply with her request, “I can do that,” Elias pressed his lips against hers passionately and hungrily, following her lips as her head gently fell against the pillows beneath her head.

For several minutes, their bodies moved together as they touched each other’s skin and their lips hungrily sought out each other’s taste. Positioned between her legs, his clothed body pressed against hers and felt her gentle hands feel the muscles in his body moved with him. Likewise, she felt Elias’ large hands disappear up her top to her breasts. “Ah!” she moaned and tried to arch her back in reply to his touch in her sensitive area and his lips descended her neck. He didn’t want to stop but after several minutes of passionately kissing and touching each other’s bodies, he finally pulled away leaving her partially satisfied.

Panting breaths filled the quiet room as Elias laced his fingers through hers and he came to rest his forehead on hers, “That will have to do you for now,” he breathed but his words betrayed his desire, he wanted more of her but couldn’t bring himself to have sex with her in her family home. He closed his eyes to regather whatever control he could and she studied his expression with a smile.

“…Are you okay?” she asked, stroking her fingers up and down the small of his back where she had raised his shirt above his waist.

He nodded, “…Yeah.” Rolling off her body, he rubbed his hands down his face and inhaled and exhaled deeply to calm his racing heart, “…I just find it difficult to control myself when it comes to you.”

“Likewise,” Asana agreed but didn’t press him into anything he was uncomfortable doing, “…I didn’t want you to stop either,” she admitted and reached out to hold his hand, “But, I understand why you don’t want to you and I’m not going to pressure you to do anything you’re uncomfortable with.”

He squeezed her hand, “Thanks,” he leaned over a gave her a gentle kiss, “It’s past nine, should we make an appearance for breakfast?” Elias questioned since he didn’t hear much movement beyond her bedroom.

“Dad and Grandad are probably out on the field and Mom has probably gone into town to help with the festival preparations,” Asana thought out loud, “Though, I’m going to have a shower first but feel free to head down if you want. My brother should still be hanging around if he’s not out on the field too.”

After speaking with her brother for a few moments last night while carrying Asana to bed in his arms, he felt at ease talking to Tobias, Edith and Lucas than he did the rest of her family. Her mother was sweet and kind like Asana but she made it very clear last night that she didn’t like the idea of him being involved with her daughter while her father and grandfather were two men he didn’t want to be alone out of fear of what they could say.

“Okay,” Elias liked her plan and simply put on a change of fresh clothes for the day.

Finding a long sleeved grey cotton shirt and a pair of warm jeans, he quickly changed while Asana showered. His eyeline attracted to the row of photos lined across her bookshelf that he had noticed last night. There were several school photographs and commemorative photos of her champion strength in gymnastics. Next to her holding her high school graduation certificate, he found her dressed beautifully in her prom dress standing next to a black-haired boy, he assumed was Joel. Nothing had really changed about her appearance only that she had matured into her beauty.

Setting the photographs gently where they stood, he smiled towards the bathroom and heard the running water splash onto the floor and travel through the drains. He left her room and shyly and slowly padded his way across the hall taking in the framed photographic art along the way, most of it he assumed was Tobias’ handiwork from all his adventures. However, one image caught his eye and that was a little girl about ten years old, smiling and bonding with a tiger cub and kissing the tip of its pink leather nose. Remastered in black and white, the portrait had a powerful image but he didn’t need to read the art’s title to know the little girl in the image was Asana.

Her smile, he recognized it immediately.

“Like it?” suddenly, he heard a voice from beside him and saw Tobias stretching his limbs into the air as he exited his bedroom to begin the day only to see Elias gazing warmly at the portrait.

“…It’s a powerful image,” he could see the meaning behind the image, “A little girl bonding with a different creature happily, and even after all these years she still has the same love and passion for animals as she does here.”

Tobias couldn’t argue with those words, “…You’re right. Asana told you what I do for a living, didn’t she?”

“You are a wildlife and natural landscape photographer, right?” Elias had seen several of his publications because Asana has a large folder in her apartment and is an avid subscriber to the many magazines he has been published in, “Asana collects all your photos when they are published in magazines, even subscribes to the magazines you are prominently published in. She’s very proud of your work.”

“I didn’t know she did that,” Tobias cocked up an eyebrow at his comment, “That’s a small part of my job though. I am a photographer as well as a cinematographer too but I am also an ecologist and biologist. My job is to study and assess different habitats, record population numbers and research the behaviours and characters of different animals. I’m a firm believer in my photographs doing the talking rather than writing three-thousand-word research papers.”

“A picture can paint a thousand words,” Elias could see what he meant just by looking at the black and white portrait of Asana with the tiger cub, “Where was this taken?” he pointed to the portrait.

“Our cabin in the research facility of the Sikhote Alin mountain ranges on the reserves for Siberian or Amur Tigers,” he answered, “Asana went with Dad out on the track with one of the other research members and along the way they found a dead tiger with two of her cubs hiding behind some dense shrubs. Unfortunately, the mother’s death was poachers who had shot her but one tiger cub, I think, adopted Asana as its surrogate. She held it as they took the two orphans back to the hospital but when she left it just cried for her.”

Elias smiled, “Animals just follow her, don’t they?”

“Animals have always loved her, more than Dad and he’s a vet too,” Tobias chuckled but returned to the story he was sharing, “Asana and the cub had an instant bond and the doctors tending to the cub coped with the cub’s anxiety by letting it come back to our cabin. They trusted Asana because of how gentle she was with it and because Dad would be with her. I think, in hindsight, it was this experience and bond that ignited her passion for animals. Sure, Dad and I might have had something to do with it, but I think the trigger was this cub. I was only experimenting with taking photographs at the time but when I rediscovered this I couldn’t keep it part of our private collection. It carried a strong and emotional message about interactions between humans and animals, especially now when this breed of tiger is in danger of extinction.”

“You do exhibits too?” Elias remembered Asana mentioning it once.

Tobias nodded and began to walk down the stairs, “You drink coffee?” he asked.

“I do,” Elias followed him comfortably to the kitchen.

“Great, come down and have a cup with me,” he invited, taking a likeness to his little sister’s fiancée, “Is Asana awake?”

“She’s showering,” Elias answered him.

At the bottom of the stairs, the ash white and grey fur of Asana’s cat met the two men and began meowing and rubbing up against Tobias’ legs. “Are you hungry Casper?” he picked up the large feline and rubbed his hand against the fluffy fur, “Come on then.”

Disappearing into an adjacent room next to the kitchen, Elias could hear the rattle of cat nuts and Casper’s happy meow as he dived his head into the bowl to soothe his hunger. Not sure if he was invited to help himself to a coffee, Elias waited for Tobias to reappear before turning on the kettle already full of water and slightly warm with two dirty mugs sitting in the silver sink.

“Feel free to help yourself,” Tobias called from the room where Casper’s food bowls were, “Just going to quickly feed the dogs. We have two German shepherds and a border collie who help us tend to the livestock, won’t be a moment.”

He flicked the switch to the kettle and heard a loud rumble as it began to boil the water inside. He wasn’t sure where they kept their mugs but opened several cabinets overhead and under the benches. He heard footsteps behind him and a cheerful voice which belonged to her mother.

“Oh, are you looking for a mug?” she asked.

Quickly, he closed the cupboard like he had crossed a line since her parents made it very clear last night they didn’t not approve of his relationship with Asana and he was sure her father didn’t like him as a person. Elias spun around and blushed with embarrassment, “Oh, yes,” he was surprised to see Charlotte since Asana was certain she had gone to town to prepare for the festival, “Asana’s in the shower and Tobias just went to feed the animals. They said I could help myself but they did not tell me where the cups were,” he desperately explained himself.

Charlotte giggled at him, “Relax, Elias,” she walked over to an overhead brown timber cupboard in between the pantry and stove but above the bench where the kettle was rumbling, “Here you go,” she dragged four cups out of the cabinet including a cup that had the design of a cat. The handle curled like a cat’s tail and the print on the side of the cup was a black and white image of a panther.

Elias heard a door close somewhere in the distance and heard another one shut nearby. Snow was dragged through the kitchen as Tobias completed his chore of feeding the dogs while upstairs he could hear footsteps creaking along floorboards.

“Oh Mom,” Tobias expressed his surprise seeing his mother was still at home, “I didn’t know you were still home,” he put away the dog food and went to the fridge to pull out the milk for their coffees.

“I can make you coffee if you would like, Mrs Way?” Elias offered as he watched her spoon sugar and coffee into each cup.

Kindly, she shook her head, “Oh, I can’t ask you to do that Elias,” she smiled, “You are our guest. How many sugars do you take?”

“Three please.”

“Three?!” Charlotte had to double check that is what he said.

Elias shyly replied, “…Sorry, I have a slight sweet tooth.”

“No, no, don’t apologize,” she wasn’t judging him but his answer surprised her, “I have a regular customer in my café who orders a cappuccino with a vanilla shot and three sugars. I was just surprised because you look like the kind of person who likes bitter and sour foods, I didn’t take you for a sweet tooth.”

It didn’t surprise him since many people thought that of him, even Asana when she discovered his sweet tooth was surprised and now found his sweet tooth adorable, “I get that reaction quite a lot actually, even Asana was surprised when she discovered that side of me.”

“She can’t talk,” Tobias laughed.

With a click, the kettle turned off and Charlotte poured hot water into each cup and stirred with expert skill. She handed Elias his and Tobias grabbed his for himself, “Elias, I want to apologise for last night,” Charlotte sincerely apologized as they hung around the kitchen, “I know I upset Asana but if I touched on a sensitive issue, I would like to apologise. I can see how special you are to Asana.”

“It’s alright,” Elias didn’t mind, “If I am going to be a part of Asana’s life I want those important to her to know me to.”

“So, you there is a sensitive issue present when it comes to you and your family?” Tobias asked.

Elias sipped from his coffee and then quietly answered him, “…My father and I have never exactly seen eye-to-eye but we are starting to rebuild our relationship. My brothers and I figured out when we were children that money is a good thing to have to make life comfortable but it is not the most important thing about life.”

“That’s very true,” Charlotte agreed, “Has Asana met your family?”

“She has, yes,” Elias nodded, “My family are very fond of her. They look forward to seeing more of her in the future.”

“Are you the youngest of your siblings?” Tobias asked.

“I am,” Elias answered honestly and comfortably as he felt relaxed now the tension from last night had disappeared, “My eldest brother Julius, he’s a lawyer too, is seven years older than me and he’s married to my sister-in-law, Elaine. My second brother Klaus is five years older than me but he’s a junior lecturer now but he’s studying to become a professor teaching politics, business and law at the same university Asana and I attend.”

“I see,” Charlotte sipped from her coffee cup but still her mind was full of doubts, “I remember a few years ago reading about a story in the newspaper regarding you and an ex-girlfriend going through quite an ugly break-up. I would hate to see the same thing happen to my daughter, that’s why I worry if she marries you and you divorce what she would lose?”

Elias didn’t expect her to bring up the ugliness of his last relationship. Emotionally, it prevented him from opening his heart up for a long time and would usually hide from dancing with other girls at events. “She…was a mistake,” Elias stared into the brown warm liquid of his mug, “…A very big mistake.”

“Is she what you meant when you said girls born into wealth are after nothing but money?” Tobias wondered.

“…I loved her, always had a crush on her,” Elias began, “She blinded me with her kindness when she was a manipulative and deceiving person. Similar to Asana and Joel, we were lovers in high school. After about a year and a half together she started sleeping with the star of the football team behind my back and had filmed and photographed us together in bed. She posted photos of us around school and used the footage to extort me for my family’s money. I said no, so she played the footage during a fundraiser my mother and sister-in-law organized to assist victims of sexual assault and abuse. As a result, my mother and sister-in-law both suffered money loss and support for their causes and I was hounded by the media. My father’s career suffered too from the humiliation. Of course, she took advantage of the attention, gaining some fame, and making money from it. Eventually, my father stepped in a sued for defamation seeking damages. I found it hard to trust again.”

“How horrible to treat someone like that,” Charlotte disapproved of his ex-girlfriend now that she knew the whole story, “Is Asana your first relationship since your ex?”

Elias nodded but his past relationship with his ex-girlfriend no longer played on his mind now that he found Asana, although he had his reservations when they started to know each other, “She is,” he sipped from his coffee, “My relationship with my ex-girlfriend ended in high school but it did prevent me from getting close to her when I first met her. We didn’t get along straight away because I think we were both overcoming the pain our ex-partners caused us but after getting to know each other I think we gradually opened up to each other and fell in love with each other.”

He didn’t know it but Asana lingered in the hallway listening to him opening up to her mother and brother. Elias continued to speak while sipping at his warm coffee, “I understand why you are worried about Asana becoming involved with me, but even if this didn’t work out it wouldn’t be because of something as cruel as being cheated on or exploited for money or fame. Asana’s not the kind of girl and I’m not that kind of guy. Honestly, I despise my world much more than anyone else here but I can’t help being born into that world so I try to live my life the way I want to and so long as Asana stays with me, I will protect her.”

Pressing her hand over her heart, Asana tried to calm it as it beat hard from the happiness she felt hearing his words. Charlotte happily replied, somewhat relieved of her worries as he was honest with his words, “…In that case, how can I argue?” she rhetorically questioned, “Every time I have spoken to Asana over the phone, she always speaks very highly of you and I can see you are a nice man. Even if we end up talking about something else, it’s as though she spends every minute of her day with you. She loves you, so I guess I’m just going have to trust you to make her happy and trust her decision. My husband and his father might need quite a bit of convincing.”

Asana tried to hide her wide smile as her mother finally accepted Elias but she had to enter as casually as possible because she didn’t want them to know she was eavesdropping as they spoke. She then heard Tobias, “I have an exhibit coming up next year in the city and I will be auctioning off my images. Usually, I do it so I can raise money to fund my travels but this time I will be raising money to build a nature reserve for lions and leopards as well as other animals too. Feel free to come by and check it out, Mom and Dad will be coming so it might be a good opportunity for both parents to meet?”

“That sounds like a wonderful idea,” Charlotte agreed, “Though, your father might be apprehensive about meeting with Elias’ father after all these years. He still hasn’t forgotten the last time they had met.”

Elias had no response since he knew how complicated his father could be. He would most likely has forgotten all about representing the agricultural college during his younger days as a lawyer but he could surprise Elias with his extraordinary memory. Silence briefly fell between them until Tobias looked to his mother, “Did Uncle Lucas go home last night?”

“He left early this morning,” Charlotte narrowed her eyes, “That Bradley Aston came by the winery again to inspect his winery. Walking around the place like he already owned the place.”

“Lucas isn’t selling,” Tobias chuckled, “He’s determined to get him to sell.”

“I know,” Charlotte agreed with Tobias, “He called your father to vent about him. Apparently, the man threatened him to sell and promised he would receive proper payment for making his wine an international best-seller among the high class. Lucas told him where he could go but the guy still hung around inspecting the place.”

Asana used the opportunity to enter the room, walking up to Elias, “Your coffee’s probably cold by now,” he said, “Do you want me to make you a new one?”

“It’s okay,” she declined, “I really want to show you the farm before we head to town. I just heard you say something about the guy trying to force Uncle Lucas to sell his winery, Mom.”

“Persistent is what I would call him but if he’s not careful, Lucas and your grandfather will lose their tempers at him,” she could guarantee Fred would pull out his shotgun to scare the pants off the city man, “That’s all this family needs, a lawsuit because your grandfather pulled out his shotgun on him.”

“It’s more than what he deserves,” Tobias sided with his grandfather but understood they couldn’t afford to be sued by some pretentious rich man from the city, “But, if Grandad pulled out his shotgun, even fire a warning shot, he’d get done for it. He’d lie and make up some reason to sue him and take this land from out underneath him.”

“Why is he so persistent to acquire the farm and winery?” Asana curiously asked.

“It’s worth money,” Tobias shrugged, “Lucas’ grapes are rich and ripe and the soil here is full of nutrients. Dad said this Aston guy wants Grandad and Lucas to sign ownership of the properties to him, they would retain the right to live on the land and make money from the harvests but they can be forced from the property any time and this Aston fellow can sell to foreign buyers for investment.”

“In other words, he wants to evict your family from their land,” Elias summarized, “Can’t say I have ever heard of this Bradley Aston guy, does he have a company name he works for? If he’s trying to bully and intimidate your Uncle and Grandfather into signing, it’s an illegal contract.”

“I think he said he’s the CEO of AgIndustries International,” Charlotte answered, “He’s also hanging around for the festival but the mayor has already told him it’s for community people only. That’s how much the farmers around here despise him.”

“So, he’s not just after our property?” Asana asked.

Tobias thought carefully, “Dad said Bill and Judith have been approached by him but they have no intentions of selling up either.”

“Why would he be interested in those farms?” Asana didn’t get it, “They only focus on growing one thing. Judith grows olives and Bill is experimenting with aquaponics to enter the vegetable market but he’s a cattle farmer.”

“Judith makes sense since she manufactures her own olive oil but Bill has no international market for his cattle,” Charlotte could see the potential in their farms, “Neither want to sell up either since Judith’s son is going to take over the family business and Bill’s grandson and his wife are thinking over taking over for him.”

It was a hot topic of conversation around town as it seems but Asana couldn’t help but express her worry that this man’s threats and harassment of her family was stressing her grandfather out and it made her mad, “This property has been in our family for generations, does he not care that he’s trying to steal a war veteran’s farm?”

“War veteran?” Elias tilted his head, “…Is that where he sustained those burn marks on his hands?”

Asana nodded, “Yeah, Grandad handled explosives in the mortar platoon against the Japanese. He doesn’t talk about the war often and doesn’t like it when people stare at them or mention it, but he’s not afraid to pull a gun out on someone to scare the hell out of them,” she explained and felt sympathy for her beloved grandfather, “I know he’s a harsh and strict man, but he’s kind and I hate that someone is trying to exploit him like this. It’s not fair!”

Seeing the anger flicker in her eyes, Elias reached for his cell phone and sent a text to his brother asking for him to look into this Aston and his company as a favour to Asana and her family but he would keep an eye out for this guy and if he caused any more trouble for her family could help to protect them.

However, he didn’t want her to stress either and looked out to the snow-covered fields. He could see her grandmother’s figure going between a shed and the barn and her father tending to a horse, “We can deal with that guy when he gets here,” Tobias followed Elias gaze out the window with Charlotte noticing the determined flicker in his eye, “Go give him a tour of the place, if he’s interested.”

Already dressed for the outside, Asana wore a pleated white long-sleeved sweater with a black puffer jacket and grey scarf, “Would you like to come out to see the farm?” she asked and then turned to Charlotte, “But, aren’t you going into town soon to help with the ball preparations. I can help you?”

Charlotte shook her head, “No, no, you go on ahead,” she swallowed the last of her coffee, “However, if you don’t mind Elias, could you move your car? You parked behind me.”

“Oh, of course,” he would have to grab his keys from Asana’s room and smiled over to her, “If you don’t mind, I would love to see the farm. I want to know what those white shed things are.”

She laughed, “Have you never seen greenhouses before?”

“Those are greenhouses?” he felt silly in not realizing sooner.

“Grandad invested in them to shield his crops from the snow,” she reached for a thermos cup and reheated her coffee in the microwave, “After you move your car, I’ll show you. Bring a jacket and a good pair of boots,” she warned.

“Tobias, you can help us prep the town for the ball,” Charlotte volunteered him despite his protest expressed through his facial expression, “Come on, and Asana bring him into town for the festival.”

“Okay, Mom.”

Elias ran up to her room and grabbed his keys, tucking them into the pockets of his jeans. Around his neck, he wrapped a woolen grey knit-scarf around his neck and covered his body with a black cotton trench coat. His grey scarf filled the open collar but he tied the circular buttons to hug the coat to his body. He cut a clean and city-like look as the fabric accentuated his straight and fit posture. After moving his car, Asana waited for him outside, excited to finally show him her family’s farm and he found that he was rather excited too. He had never seen a proper farm before and it was a new side to Asana he would see.

“Have you ever been on a quad bike?” she asked, “Grandad is probably down in the greenhouse right now, so he could tell you more about the plants than I could,” she pulled a set of keys from her pocket and guided him to the a two-person quad with two seats, a roof and a back tray that made it look more like a golf caddy than a farmer’s quad bike.

“Can this thing even go through the snow?” he asked.

“Yep,” Asana nodded, “Grandad and Dad usually forge a track with the tractor to make it easier to get down to the greenhouses and the cows up the back.”

Turning on the ignition, she put the quad in gear and gently drove away from the house. Smoothly, the engine purred meaning the vehicle was kept in running order. Strolling past the barn, Asana stopped to greet her grandmother a good morning and made eye contact with her father tending to her horse.

“Morning Nan,” she greeted her with a smile, “What’s going on with Estelle?”

“I’m not too sure but your grandfather woke your father up early to take a look at her,” she replied and looked to Elias, “Good morning Elias, hope you slept well?”

“Slept very peacefully,” he said happily, despite hearing Asana’s light snoring next to him. Of course, she wasn’t loud enough for her snores to rumble through her room, but he was cuddled close to her to hear her breath wheezing through her nostrils but rather than waking him up he settled into a slumber while hearing it. He decided not to mention it though, and instead compared the noisy city streets with the peacefulness of the country night, “I am used to hearing sirens or people through the city at night but out here it I find it very peaceful.”

“Since you’re here,” Edith wondered if he’d like a tour of the barn, “Come meet some of the animals in here,” she invited him and Asana turned off the ignition to the quad.

All his life he had pictured barns like they did in children’s books where they were bright red and dome shaped. It wasn’t close to the house but was still in eyesight of the colonial homestead but even closer to her grandparents’ little cottage but still at a distance where the stench wouldn’t disturb their living quarters. Made of smooth pine, the barn resembled an alpine cabin and close by were the compost bins, a winter chook pen and the horse stables and exercise ground they used when the fields returned to green and wildflowers.

Usually open to bring in fresh air for the animals, Edith had the doors closed and opened some large windows and turned on the circulation fan to keep up the supply of fresh oxygen while keeping the chickens warm from the icy cold. Holding hands with Asana, he analysed the design of large interior. Floors were wooden but dark steel frames scaled from floor to the high-scaled roof. Stretched across the left side of the barn was a fence wired with mesh to keep the chickens from escaping.

Covered in a warm layer of yellow-brown straw, he felt nervous entering the chook pen because of how sharp their beaks were, “I haven’t checked if they have laid eggs Asana, do you mind looking for me,” Edith asked, leaving her with Elias.

“Sure Nan,” Asana smiled, “Would you like to help?”

“…Sure,” he was nervous as their little heads bobbed back and forth as they walked around their feet, “…Um, they aren’t going to peck me, are they?”

She giggled as he nervously and carefully crept around the chickens of black, brown and white coloured feathers, “They might but it’s not intentional,” she assured him, “They tend to jump out of the way when you walk near them,” as she said, a brown feathered hen jumped out of her way as she held Elias’ hand leading him towards the back of the coop.

A cube of hand-made shelves covered the back wall. Separated into nine separate laying beds, shredded hay and paper made a comfortable bed for laying hens with a small ladder helping the chickens up to the higher beds. Four hens were resting in different beds and he became scared they were going to leap at him if he disturbed them, “How do I check to see if there are eggs?” he asked and followed Asana as she crouched down to inspect the lowest laying beds, though he looked behind him in case a chicken decided to peck him.

“Relax,” she giggled and thought he was adorable the way he was being cautious and gentle around the hens, “We don’t disturb hens which are resting just in case they are in the process of laying. There are no roosters in here so we don’t have to be concerned if any of these eggs have young.”

“So, I just search the beds without chickens for eggs concealed in the straw?”

“Exactly,” she nodded and proceeded to rummage through the straw to find any eggs, “You have to really look because some of the chickens like to cover the eggs in straw or they accidentally kick straw over them. You try it,” she encouraged him.

He rummaged through the laying bed next to the one she was inspecting and felt a hard shell under his fingertips, “There’s some in here,” he excitedly announced and collected three eggs out of the one bed. Unlike the eggs in the supermarket, the shell felt incredibly smooth and the pigmentation varied between white, deep brown and golden brown and varied in size with the white eggs being smaller than the brown ones, “Where do I put them?”

Asana stretched out her shirt to create a sling basket, “In here, and check the rest.”

He became comfortable around the chickens as he helped find eggs through the laying beds. Studying his expression, she couldn’t help but smile at the adorable excitement expressed through his violet eyes and face. It reminded her of a child looking for chocolate Easter eggs during a treasure hunt but this was a brand-new experience for him and she was happy to see him helping. Unknown to them, but they were being watched by Edith and Owen.

“She’s very happy Owen,” Edith tapped his arm as he eyed Elias evilly.

“…I still don’t like him,” Owen huffed but could see how happy she was with Elias.

“He’s even willing to help us out,” Edith acknowledged he was trying and didn’t complain.

“Children can collect eggs,” Owen didn’t buy it and helped his mother prepare the feed for the horses.

“You shouldn’t judge him just because he’s born into a wealthy family and he grew up in the city, that’s not his fault,” she lectured her son to be more welcoming of Elias for Asana’s sake, “If she has fallen for him we must respect her decision. You can’t tell her who to marry just because you have a problem with people from wealthy backgrounds.”

Owen sighed and looked up to his mother, “…I know that.”

“Then give him a chance,” she argued with him and looked over to the chook pen as Asana held one of the chickens in her arms and encouraged Elias to pet it gently, “After all, he came all the way out here to meet us and has been honest with us the moment he got here. A man wouldn’t do that if he didn’t love her.”

“Until her heart gets broken,” Owen muttered.

“Owen,” Edith stared at him naggingly, “For your daughter’s sake, get to know the boy before you judge him. Your grandfather never approved of me marrying your father but after spending some time with him, liked him and gave us his blessing.”

“…I will be keeping an eye on him but I don’t see myself liking him anytime soon.”

Edith rolled her eyes at her stubborn son, a trait she was sure he had picked up from his father. Having said what she wanted to say to him, she carried a small bucket over to the entrance of the chook pen and watched as Asana placed the brown feathered chicken in Elias’ arms.

“How do I hold her?” Elias panicked because the hen was very light that he worried the tightest squeeze would break its fragile body, “Is it supposed to be this light?” he wondered as he felt the weight of a chicken for the first time.

“Just relax,” she giggled as she instructed him and shaped his arms accordingly, “Cup one arm under her belly and keep a light but secure hold on her leg otherwise she will scratch you. With your other hand, you can gently pet her or lightly hold her chest so that she can relax.”

Gently, Elias felt the chicken’s soft brown feathers underneath his fingertips while Asana watched his face light up with the new experience. She had deposited the eggs they had collected into a laying bed and had just over a dozen. She heard footsteps approaching and looked to the entrance where her grandmother handed her a bucket for the eggs. Followed by her father, who needed Asana’s help tending to the horses.

“How many eggs did you manage to collect?”

“I got fourteen but there are some hens still laying,” she said, hoping there were more later when they came to check, “Elias even helped me change the straw in the beds.”

“I take it this is your first time on a farm?” Owen asked quite harshly.

Elias gently set the chicken back down, “…Y-Yes, sir. Though, I’m enjoying this.”

He looked at him unkindly and immediately moved his attention from Elias to Asana, “Asana, could I borrow you to help with the horses,” he wasn’t asking and she gave Elias a small smile.

“I’ll talk to him,” she kissed his cheek, “Could you give Nan a hand to feed the chickens?”

He nodded and Asana raced after her father out to the stables. She raced after him as he slipped through an open side door to the barn and past the room where they kept all their feeding stock during the winter so it wouldn’t get wet. Edith showing Elias how to mix together the feed for the chickens.

“What’s wrong with Estelle?” she asked her father as he monitored her closely.

“I’m not sure yet,” he answered shortly and finding it hard to look his daughter in the eye, “According to your grandfather said she looked bigger than usual so he asked me to give her an exam.”

“You think she might be pregnant?” Asana wondered.

Owen nodded and the atmosphere was tense between them as Asana assisted in giving her mare a pregnancy exam. She knew how to do it and learnt many things about veterinary medicine from her father. Her father was never usually short with his words towards her and they had a close bond since she was little that it was almost hurtful that he was in a bad mood because she brought Elias home.

“Dad, can I try doing the exam myself since she’s my horse?” she wondered if he would let her conduct the exam under his guidance, “Please?” she gave him those pleading eyes he found difficult to say no to.

“…Alright,” he kept Estelle comfortable inside the horse crush, “Do you know what ultrasound we need to be conducting?”

“An internal examination through the rectum,” she answered.

“Good,” Owen nodded, “It’s warm enough in here to conduct the examination.”

They were in a room with sufficient lighting and Owen had kept an eye on the temperature because he couldn’t conduct the test under the sunlight and in the cold and wet snow. He took all precautions necessary to ensure they could perform the exam and handed Asana the probe once he was satisfied Estelle was calm.

Elias could see through a window what they were doing but he was confused, “What are they doing to the horse?” he asked Edith and she followed his line of sight.

“Looks like an early pregnancy test on Asana’s mare.”

Owen gave Asana the right instructions to conduct the exam and watched her confidently follow his orders. Looking down at the screen, a clear image appeared on the screen with Estelle remaining relaxed as they examined her. Studying the image, Asana could see the embryo of the foal, “She’s pregnant,” she announced and showed her father the images.

“Looks like it,” Owen didn’t seem to happy, “Alright, that’s enough. You did good.”

“Thanks Dad,” she appreciated his compliment but he walked away from her.

As they tidied up the crush and attended to Estelle, beginning to plan around her pregnancy, Asana decided to speak to her father about Elias, “Dad, why don’t you like Elias?”

He sighed, “…Should I like him?”

“…I wish you would give him a chance.”

“Why?” he looked up at her, “So that he can hurt you and break your heart.”

“He’s not like that type of person,” she argued, “Dad, please, I really love him.”

He sighed but his trouble wasn’t Elias but the insecurity of losing his daughter to that high society lifestyle and forgetting her roots, “...You’re young Asana. Don’t use terms like ‘love’ loosely.”

“I’m not,” she gritted her teeth, “You don’t even know him enough to judge him.”

“I don’t need to know him to know that he’s the same as all the other rich city boys,” Owen said quietly but frustratingly at her persistence to convince him that Elias was the man she’s going to marry, “You are both from different backgrounds and on the paths towards different careers. Like your mother said last night, he’s a mistake.”

Feeling hurt, she didn’t imagine he would be this difficult to persuade. Biting down on her quivering lip and fighting her tears, she stared down at him as he cleaned Estelle’s feet, “…We will compromise,” she trembled, “…But why can’t you see past his name and background to give him a chance and get to know him before you judge him. He’s a smart and wonderful man who came all the way out here just to meet everyone for me.”

He looked up to Asana and saw the tears in her eyes, “…I have a lot of work to do,” he lead Estelle back to her stable. Estelle’s hooves clacked against the hard floor covering the sounds of Asana’s ragged breathing as she shed a few tears, feeling hurt by her father’s stubbornness. Seeing her rubbing away tears, Elias put a sack he was carrying for Edith down on the ground, “Excuse me,” he said and Edith watched him hug her as she cried a few tears.

“What did he say to you?” Elias asked.

“That’s the thing, he said nothing,” she said, “Dad and I have always been close but he won’t even look at me or talk to me.”

Edith overheard her and walked across to the stables where Fred was waiting for the news from Owen about Estelle’s condition. “She’s pregnant,” Owen announced, “Asana conducted the examination by herself too,” he smiled proudly.

“Why couldn’t you show her that proud smile?” Edith scolded him in her motherly tone of voice.

Owen sighed, “I’m not having this conversation Mother.”

“Well I am,” she slapped him on the back of the head for making Asana cry, “I don’t know what you said or did to her but the poor girl is in tears. You’ve never spoke to her the way you just did so go apologise before you make things worse.”

Edith angrily walked away and shot a glance across to Fred to talk to Owen. He felt guilty for making his daughter cry and let out a sigh, “…She’s my only daughter and I don’t want to see her get hurt,” he muttered, “Is it so wrong a father to protect his daughter?”

Fred shrugged, “I think what your mother is trying to say, Owen, is not to judge him before you get to know him. I know you have a strong opinion of the rich and wealthy but it wouldn’t hurt to give him a chance or risk damaging your relationship with your daughter.”

Despite her fight with her father, Asana continued to show Elias the rest of the farm. “Does your family sell all this in the markets?” he curiously asked as he watched some employees milk dairy cows in a separate barn to the chickens and horses. Lined up on a stand and facing the wall, machines extracted milk from utters.

“My family grow various fruits and vegetables and milk to the market. Wine, if you include my Uncle’s winery,” she explained, “We are one of the largest farms in the region and everything grown here is organic and the animals are well looked after. My Dad is also the region’s primary veterinarian too, so I suppose we are a vital component of the community which is why that business man is targeting them relentlessly.”

Holding hands, she lead him through the milking stations and explained how the machines work to extract milk to the cattle and how they raised them during the cold season when the paddocks of grass they graze is completely covered in a thick blanket of snow. After they finished, Asana drove them down to the greenhouses and let him eat a ripened strawberry to taste its sweet succulence, “That’s good,” he licked his lips.

After seeing Owen about the mare, Fred had returned to continue the irrigation processes of his greenhouses and watched as Asana showed Elias the plants and he took interest in their family operations. As Fred came closer, Elias asked a question, “So, the glass windows up there are cold resistant to protect them from the winter but help to filter photosynthesis to continue the growing process?”

“Correct,” Asana smiled at him, “Grandad invested a lot of money into these greenhouses but once winter is over and spring and summer return, he likes to go sow the fields the old-fashioned way.”

“Was his father a farmer too?” Elias asked.

“Many farming families around here follow after a long generation of farmers,” she answered happily but her smile was concealing the sadness of her fight with her father.

Elias felt guilty that his presence had created a rift between father and daughter, “…I’m sorry Asana,” he apologised after seeing her trying to mask her sadness.

“Why are you apologising to me?” she was confused and saw her grandfather spraying the plants in ear shot of their conversation, “This isn’t the part where you say my family’s too much and leave, is it?”

“Did it sound like that?” Elias didn’t intend on sounding like he was leaving, “I would never do that,” he assured her.

“Then, why are you apologising?”

He looked over at her grandfather who had his back turned as he tended to his crops and looked to Asana, “Because, my presence is causing arguments between you and your father. Whenever you spoke to your parents over the phone or told me stories about them, and being here, I can tell how close you all are. Makes me envious really.”

“Envious?”

“My relationship with my parents is…complicated…,” he compared their parents, “…Our fathers are very different. You’re close to yours and are following him because you idolise him. My father and I aren’t close but I’m entering law to get closer to him and fit into my name.”

“Are you apologising because you think you’re causing a rift between my father and me?”

“He loves you Asana,” Elias said.

“I know he does, but I still don’t get what you’re saying?” she was confused.

Elias had no intentions of leaving but traced the ring on her finger, “I’ve always said that I want to marry you under the blessings of both our parents. I don’t know how I am going to gain your father’s acceptance but I will try talking to him.”

“By…yourself?”

Elias would be lying if he said he wasn’t nervous but he wasn’t about letting Asana go, “…He doesn’t like me because of my name and background but I want him to see beyond that so I will talk to him. Not today but after everything today has settled down.”

Turning around to spray water over the leaves of his crops, Fred watched Asana gently wrap her arms around him and gently kissed him, “Thank you, Elias,” she whispered, “You’re amazing to even be putting up with this.”

“If I didn’t stay I would be liar if I said I love you,” he wrapped his arms around her back and cuddled her back until his eyes met Fred’s as he watched their embrace, “…Sorry,” he apologised to Fred.

“Don’t mind me, just spraying my crops,” he didn’t want to interrupt them.

Asana pulled away from Elias and turned bright red as her grandfather cocked up a rare smirk. It was unusual for him to smile like that unless something truly moved him, “Um, did you want some help Grandad?”

He shook his head, “I’m fine but if you could turn on the trickle over there,” he pointed to a set of switches on a pole that controlled the irrigation supply, “Set it on two,” he asked and she did as he had instructed.

Asana continued to show Elias more of her family’s farm. Showing him some of her secret places in the woods and around the property using the quad bike, time was ticking away and the morning began to change to the early afternoon. Driving back to the house, Asana smiled at Elias happily, “Well, that’s my home,” she concluded her tour.

“Thank you for showing me,” he jumped out of the quad once she had parked the quad out of the snow and switched off the ignition, “Seriously, I really appreciate you showing me this side to you. I feel closer to you now than I did before.”

She happily jumped out of the driver seat of the quad and checked her phone for the time and at the same time Elias’ phone notified him that he received a text message. “Who’s that?” Asana asked as Elias’ lips curled into a victorious smile.

“My brother,” he replied and showed her the text message, “I had him check into this Bradley Aston and AgIndustries International but I have some very interesting news to tell your family.”

“What did he find?” she was desperately curious and tried to read over his shoulder.

Elias peeled his screen away from her eyes. “All will be revealed,” he teased.

“Come on,” she giggled, “Tell me,” she begged as they walked into the warm house.

Her father was inside the kitchen fixing himself a sandwich for lunch when he heard her laughter fill the room. “It’s a surprise,” Elias didn’t want to say as he saw an opportunity to genuinely help her family but also gain some level of acceptance from her father, “Put it this way, I’m going to make him sorry for ever disrespecting your family.”

She loved the fire in his eyes because it meant that whoever this guy thought he was, he was going to be taken down a notch by a man more powerful and intimidating than any threat made towards her uncle and grandfather, “I can’t wait to see what you’ll do, but are you sure you want to get involved?”

“Anyone who threatens and bullies my fiancée’s family have also threatened and bullied my fiancée,” Elias saw any attack on her family as an attack on her, “As your fiancée, I will not stand by and let someone dishonour you.”

Owen heard him make this promise and was conflicted. Entering the kitchen, Owen and Asana made eye contact with Asana stopping in the doorway. She turned to Elias, “…Maybe we should go into town. You should try my Mom’s bakery,” she began to push his body to leave but Elias stopped her.

They had not spoken since their earlier argument and could not stand to let a father and daughter be reunited after a long time only to fight. Elias gently pushed her back into the kitchen, “Talk to him,” he encouraged her as his eyes met Owen’s in the reflection of the window he was staring out of while he ate and looked over papers from a kitchen bench next to the sink.

Elias peeled away from sight and went into the living room where he attempted to make friends with her cat, Casper. An awkward silence came over the kitchen as Asana began making lunch for herself and Elias. Owen heeded the warnings his parents gave to him about damaging his relationship with her, and he didn’t want to lose her.

She had her back to him as she began to make two sandwiches. Was he blind to how quickly his daughter had transformed into a beautiful young woman? All he knew was he found it difficult to accept and harder to let her go. He felt the same way about his son, he usually spent years away from home travelling abroad on his many adventures but it hit home with Asana because she was his youngest child about to marrying into the second wealthiest family in the kingdom. He had strong opinions about the wealthy and the elite because of his several interactions with them throughout his career.

“…Estelle is quite healthy so I think she should be able to bring the foal to term without much complication,” he broke the ice by talking about the news of her horse being pregnant.

As he planned around Estelle’s pregnancy, a sudden thought hit him. If Asana was going to marry Elias it was highly likely they were going to have children of their own. He started to choke on his food at the thought of it and spat out his food.

Asana heard him choking and rushed to his side, “Are you okay, Dad?”

He nodded and signalled for a glass of water. Asana fetched him a glass. Desperately, he gulped down a large mouthful of water to push the food down his throat by lubricating and softening it. Once she was sure he was okay, she returned to making lunch.

“Asana,” Owen hated this tension between them but he created it by upsetting her, “…I want to apologise for how I spoke and behaved to you before,” he meant his apology and she turned around and leaned against the bench, finally they made eye contact.

“…Apology accepted,” she wanted to know why he did it though, “…Are you…disappointed in me, Dad?” her voice sounded sad.

His brown eyes widened and he hated that he made her think that way. Dropping his food and his papers, he wrapped her up in a hug to apologise, “Of course I don’t!” he couldn’t even bring himself to feel disappointed in his son or daughter, “I’m incredibly proud of you and your brother, what on earth possessed you to think that?”

“…Well,” she knew he never liked her studying in the city and bringing Elias home made it feel like she was mad at him, “You’ve never liked the idea of me going to school in the city and now that I’m engaged to Elias…it’s like you’ve been avoiding me since I came home. You barely spoke to me last night and you were short with me in the stables, even harsh with your words when you were guiding me through the ultrasound. I know you’re mad at me but…I don’t want us to fight.”

“Sweetheart, I’m not mad at you,” he assured her that was not the case and tightened his arms around her, “…I could never be mad at my little girl, not even if she’s a smart, bright and beautiful woman now. I hate this tension between us too.”

“…So, why?”

He sighed and thought being honest with her was the only way to resolve this, “I have an amazing son I barely see or hear from because he’s travelling the remotest places on earth but I’m glad he’s making something of himself. Then, I have my beautiful daughter who lives eight hours away in a dangerous city taking the first steps in following her dreams. As a father...I’m insecure that once my children spread their wings they’re never going to come back to visit their old man.”

“You’re scared you’re going to lose us?” she summarised and felt her heart melt as her father nodded his head to answer her question, “Dad!” throwing her arms around him, she couldn’t imagine her stubborn father being insecure and struggling to let them go, “I’m always going to be your little girl and I’m never going to forget my roots. Even when Elias and I marry, we’ll come home to visit. I couldn’t imagine never seeing you or Mom again.”

“I’m more worried that Elias’ world will change you,” he was scared he was sounding selfish, “I know you’re going to change but I don’t want you to. You’re my little Asana and all I want for you is to be happy and healthy but I don’t want to lose my little country bumpkin.”

“You won’t lose me, Dad,” she promised and smiled when she heard Elias trying to coax Casper to let him pet him, “…Elias won’t let that happen and he’s not your typical snobby rich boy. Please, Dad, I really, really love him and I want you to give him a chance. Talk to him alone, get to know him better. When I was showing him around the farm, he was helping out and enjoyed the experience of working on a farm. He’s even got information on that business man threatening and harassing Grandad and Uncle Lucas.”

Interested in what information he had, Owen turned towards the living room when he heard Elias verbally grimace with pain, he guessed Casper scratched him, “What type of information?” he seemed interested in whatever information Elias knew and considered, for his daughter, giving him a chance and try to know him better.

A relaxed atmosphere returned to their relationship as she answered his question, happily, “He won’t tell me but all he said was that he’s going to make that man sorry for harassing our family,” she wore a proud smile, “Elias is a sweet and intelligent man but mess with him or anyone he cares about…well, you’ll see,” she could tell Elias had something planned.

Emerging from the kitchen, Elias cradled his finger in his hand nursing a bleeding cat scratch he sustained trying to make friends with Asana’s cat while he waited for them to talk things over, “Sorry to interrupt but do you have plasters?” he showed her the wound, it was a nip of the claw but red blood poured out of his finger, “Your cat does not make friends easily,” his comment made her laugh as she fished the first aid kit from a draw in the kitchen.

Wearing a softer expression, Owen watched Asana as she applied antiseptic cream to his wound so it didn’t get infected and then covered it with a cream coloured plaster to stop the bleeding.

“Is Grandad coming to the festival?” Asana asked her father.

“We’re going to the dinner but why don’t you take Elias into town and have fun,” he finally smiled at Asana and extended the gesture to Elias too but was not ready to shake his hand. Owen was old-fashioned and believed a handshake represented respect and acceptance between two men. He hadn’t accepted Elias yet but promised to get to know him better before they left for the city.

“Shall we go get ready?” Asana asked Elias.

“Sure,” Elias nodded but then his stomach growled.

Asana laughed and remembered she was in the middle of making sandwiches for lunch, “After we eat then we can go get ready,” she spun around happily on her heels and Elias helped her finish their preparing their lunch.

Owen continued his work as he listened to their conversation and heard their laughter from where he stood in the kitchen. Maybe, he could make an exception with Elias but first he wanted to speak with him alone but not today as there had been enough drama on the Thanksgiving festival day.

#elias goldstein #asanawayMC #wizardess heart #wizardess heart fanfiction #country #farming #family #love #fatherdaughter

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