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Apparently this was not so simple after all. Spending time with Essie was easy. Even talking with her was mostly easy.
But truly opening up in a way where his heart could actually be hurt? That was much, much harder.
Fingol leaned a little closer to his wife. “You need to be concerned about her needs and not just your own. It means you will need to make changes, and I know how difficult that is for you.”
Now Farrendel was struggling to keep his breathing even past the rising tension inside his chest. Could he even change? Change was bad. Change messed with his head until he could not think straight. Change meant venturing out of the safe routines into something that could send him tumbling.
“Farrendel, amir.” Fydella’s voice remained gentle, and yet was firm enough to yank him from his spiraling thoughts. She gave him another one of those sympathetic smiles. “Take it one step at a time. You are already married, and that means you both were thrown into the deep side of the pond right away. But you can still take your time and build a relationship that is strong and lasting.”
One step at a time. He could do that. Right?
“What we are trying to say is that it looks like you are taking the right steps.” Fingol shook his head. “Perhaps you needed some advice. But all you really needed was someone to tell you that you are doing things right.”
That eased some of the tension twisting Farrendel’s throat. He gave a small nod. “Linshi.”
Fingol gave a sigh and slumped against the back of his seat, as if relieved to get that conversation over with.
Farrendel could not blame him. He was relieved it was over as well.
But, uncomfortable as it had been, Fingol and Fydella had been helpful. Now Farrendel could formulate a battle plan and approach this with some strategy instead of flailing about in panic.
ChapterEleven
Farrendel held Essie’s hand as they strolled from the lift back to his suite of rooms.
No,theirsuite of rooms. He was not quite sure when that had changed, but Essie seemed to belong here. With her at his side, the world was painted in brighter colors. Especially when she smiled.
Yet, as he neared the main room, something tugged at his senses. He froze so quickly that Essie ran into him.
Her grip on his hand tightened as she remained tucked behind him, as if instinctively seeking safety in his presence. “What is it?”
“Someone is inside.” He reached out with his magical senses, searching for danger. Instead of danger, he recognized something even worse. “My brother.”
Essie stiffened as well, and he could not blame her. Weylind had been particularly grumpy lately.
Not to mention that if Weylind was here, a mere two days after Farrendel’s wedding, then it could not be for a good reason.
Even knowing Weylind was waiting inside for them, Farrendel kept his firm grip on Essie’s hand. Let Weylind see and get even more grumpy. Farrendel did not care.
He strode into the room and spat the word to turn the lights on, because of course Weylind was dramatically waiting around in the dark for them.
As the lights flared on, Farrendel spotted Weylind. He had been sprawled on the cushions on the far side of the room, all of his limbs stiff, his gaze hard.
“What are you doing here, Weylind?” Farrendel did not try to keep the bite out of his voice. Weylind had always been a little overprotective, but he had turned downright smothering lately. He had sent Iyrinder to spy on Farrendel and Essie. And if he was here merely to hover, then Farrendel might be tempted to show him out the door with a little bit of magic to help him hurry on his way.
Yet, as Weylind stood with a heaviness slumping his shoulders and slowing his motion, Farrendel’s stomach tightened. This was not about Weylind’s hovering, even if Weylind’s gaze hardened at the sight of Farrendel holding Essie’s hand.
Farrendel tugged Essie closer, his chest squeezing until he could barely force the words out. “What is it?”
Weylind’s gaze swerved away from Farrendel, sighing. “There has been a raid on one of our border encampments, and the troll raiding party has remained just over the border.”
Which meant both that the troll army was planning another raid and that they were within striking distance, if the elven army had Farrendel reinforcing them.
Farrendel wanted to pull Essie closer. He wanted to stay here with her where everything was bright and warm.
But he could not. It was his duty to defend Tarenhiel. If he did not fight, then other elven warriors would have to do so. Warriors who did not have his magic and who would die in the fighting.
He drew in a deep breath and faced Weylind. “When do we leave?”
