| Cove was quiet. Most of the guards were enjoying the games in Vesper. JT kept to the forests. He didn't care much for large crowds and the peace and shadows of the woodland soothed him as he made his towards the city walls with a simply crafted box under his arm.
When he entered the healers he was a little surprised to see Estel already up and about. She was just finishing the elven phrase book he had brought from Trinsic and though she had picked up more of her kin's tongue she had remembered very little else.
"I've bought you a something little one."
"Ooh! A box! I can keep all my things in it." Estel beamed.
JT smirked a little. "There's something in the box for you Estel."
She opened the box and her face lit up. "Apples!"
"Aaannnnnd...." JT prompted her, now chuckling softly.
"A dress! No-one ever bought me a dress before. Diola lle JT."
"Lle creoso little one." He blushed. "Why don't you try it on? I hope you like the colour?"
She nodded eagerly and turned her back as did he.
"It's green! It reminds me of trees. I like trees."
"Me too!" He smiled softly and glimpsed over his shoulder for a moment and what he saw saddened him greatly.
Estel's back was covered in scars from the many floggings she must have endured from her orc master. There and then JT swore to himself that he'd kill the orc if ever it came with range of his axe or bow.
The wide smile on Estel's pretty face dissolved the frown on his and they set out once more to explore the Covian buildings so the little elf girl could get used to her surroundings.
They walked and talked as they made their way around the buildings and then into the shire. The time JT spent with Estel was always happy and he felt comfortable and at ease in her company. He couldn't stop himself from gazing at her from time to time and becoming embarasesed, not knowing whether she noticed.
He also found himself longing for the brief embrace they would share before she would return to the healers.
Although he had once again tucked her up in bed that eve, when he walked from the healers back to the gates he glanced back to see her at the window waving. |