Chapter 30

**Merianna**


The sun filtering in through the leaves was warm. Drowsiness kept creeping in on the corners of my mind, but I needed to stay awake. It was almost time to start making dinner, but I also wanted to enjoy the weather for a little longer as Lenro kept chopping wood around the back of the house. Sometimes I would even hear the excited chirps of the hatchling from over there.

It was still just a baby after all, it always found the wood splitting apart extremely interesting. I half dreaded the day that it would start wanting to set the wood on fire just to see what would happen.

A sudden rustle to my left made me tense and look over. My eyes landed on a tall blonde man that stepped out of the foliage and into the light so I could see him better. He stood there for a second, looking like he recognised me. Although usually the only people that came this way were those that wanted to trade goods directly with Lenro.

“Hello?” I greeted cautiously. “Are you here looking for my husband Lenro?”

The stranger seemed slightly disappointed and confused but nodded quickly as he came a little closer. “I am indeed. Is he perhaps busy at the moment?”

Since I now knew why he was there, I relaxed back against the tree with a smile. “He’s busy chopping some wood around the back, if you don’t mind waiting he should be done soon.”

“Certainly, that’s no trouble at all. May I have your name? I don’t think I’ve had the pleasure of meeting you yet.” He asked with a friendly smile and outstretched hand.

I smiled back and gripped his hand with mine. “I’m Deena, and you?”

“My name is Hezerial, it’s nice meeting you ma’am.” He answered.

The name sounded somewhat familiar to me. It might have been that Lenro spoke of him before. He must then be a regular down at the main village trading hub seeing as he managed to find our house. Only the regulars sometimes made the trek all the way to our home. Lenro’s wares were always regularly sought after, after all.

“Nice meeting you as well.” I responded and let go of his hand.

“For how long have the both of you been staying in this area?” Hezerial asked as he sat down close by.

“Oh, not too long. We’ve been here for about five years now I’d say? Lenro is much better at keeping track of time than I am.” I smiled. It was ridiculously true. I tended to not think or care about the amount of time that passed by anymore. Just living one day at a time was enough for me. Lenro on the other hand had to take the seasons and passage of time into consideration for his trading, so he was much more inclined to keep track of it.

“That’s quite a long time seeing as how isolated this area is.” He commented as he took a look around the area.

I smiled again. This was something that many people always commented on when they came to do trade at our home. “That’s true. It would obviously be much more convenient to live closer to the local village or in a community, but this is just a lot more comfortable.” I said while turning my face up into the breeze.

Hezerial chuckled next to me. “I can most certainly see the appeal.”

I gave a chuckle of my own and just relished the fresh air that made me feel drowsy all over again. I quickly blinked my eyes open again however, Lenro would be finishing up soon, and I still needed to start preparing supper.

As if he noticed my dilemma, Hezerial pulled my attention to him. “You can take a rest if you need. I shall wake you up when it’s time if you want.” He offered gently.

I gave a sheepish smile. “Is it that obvious?”

He grinned. “It is indeed. And when the body needs something, it’s always wisest to listen to it.”

Shaking my head I chuckled again. He was indeed a very generous person. I was glad to know that Lenro had good people like him to do business with. “If that’s the case, then I shall take you up on your offer Hezerial.” I said while gently leaning back against the tree again.

“When would you like for me to wake you?” He asked as he also made himself comfortable on his spot.

I smiled when I noticed that the sound of cutting wood had not even come close to stopping yet. “As soon as Lenro is finished with his errand, and comes back around this way. I think that would be the best time to wake me up then.” I breathed as my eyes seemed to close all by themselves.

I heard Hezerial move closer. “If that is what you wish, then I will do so. Have sweet dreams, My Lady.”

I frowned for a second at his use of words at the end, but a soft and warm palm brushed over my brow before I could react. The warmth quickly spread all over my body, making me feel utterly relaxed and safe. And after that, nothing…

***

**Hezerial**


I watched worriedly as My Lady relaxed back into a deep sleep. Looking back around the clearing, I couldn’t imagine what it was that she could have seen in her own eyes. There was nothing left in this area but vegetation and woodland. Some stones peeked out from the underbrush that seemed slightly out of place if you actually paid attention to them, but other than that, nothing at all remained of what might have been here once before.

Her memories must have been the cause for her wandering to this place. She clearly didn’t remember me when I walked up to her. So it would have clearly been the same for Thyrion if she had seen him in the room earlier.

I was mostly grateful that she had come to this place of her own volition and that she hadn’t in fact been taken.

Looking back down at her, I brushed a hair out of her face and frowned. This memory she just had was clearly a time before the cataclysm, and before she merged with Denaue.

She clearly had happy memories in between those that were truly horrible. I hoped that she would not be swept away by the bad memories as much as she had been swept by this good memory in this instance.

The implications of what could result from something like that was immeasurable now that the restrictions on her deeper power had come undone. Whatever she chooses to do with a clear mind though, was something that I would assist with no matter who or what she’ll choose to be going forward.

“Let us go back home, My Lady.” I bent down and gently scooped her up into my arms. Thyrion was already half out of his mind with worry earlier, Noch was probably the same by now.

Even though I could care less, there was no need to keep them worrying for much longer.