A Broken Promise

Dalindo finally woke up. Faewyn took him out of the clinic as soon as he was recovered enough. He acted strange. He seemed to be lost and broken, and he was even in a state of mind of where he couldn’t remember who she was. It was very upsetting for Faewyn, but she pulled through it and kept going and eventually, after taking Dalindo to her room at the boarding house, he eventually came back to his senses. He then slept in the bed for a long time, a very long time until he was fully healed. All that remained of his stab wound to his stomach was a scar, one of many to add to his collection upon his body.

When he had awakened, Faewyn was sitting on the edge of the bed, looking deeply troubled. A lot had happened to her since Dali had been resting.

For one, Faewyn was caught and questioned by a cloak named Dayne for her having a backpack full of gathered materials from the forest when she had only a level one gathering permit for the area. She never did take more than she was suppose to for each day she gathered, but she kept everything within her backpack and let the goods build up over the course of several days. She knew she should of known better, but it was too late. She was charged ten pounds for the violation, and she, of course, could not pay it. Faewyn had to choose whether she wanted to serve her sentence in jail or do community service. She chose the latter, of course. Unfortunately, the community service runs for a course of four weeks and, until that time has passed, she was not allowed to gather or to work at a craft at all until then. She had no way of earning money to feed herself and to pay her rent until then. That, however, was the least of her problems.

There was more serious trouble, something far more concerning, and she felt she had to tell Dalindo. She always wanted to be honest with him, to be truthful about everything.

She grew extremely tense with worry, and of fear, as she spoke in a very serious tone of voice to Dalindo, “I need to talk to you, it’s very important.”

He sat up in bed, in an indian style position as he looked briefly confused. He nodded and murmured, “Speak then, Fae. Easier ta let it out then beat ‘roun the bush.”

Faewyn sat down beside Dalindo as she took his hand and rubbed her thumb gently over his knuckles. She then took a deep breath and began talking, “It’s Cavinaar. He… He lost Elana. She left him, you see. He’s been very upset since then. And,” she looked fearfully into Dalindo’s eyes as she continued, “He became infatuated with me and he… He tried to force himself on me. He tried kissing me… Three times,” her lips tightly pressed together, “I pushed him away all three times, and we are not on speaking terms any longer. He has apparently left Seahaven, but then he came by here last night… Knocking on the door. When I opened it, he tried giving me this pound.” She then reached into a small bag that was attached to her belt, pulling out the single silver coin and holding it within the palm of her hand, “I tried to throw it back at him, but he left before it could reach him. I… I can’t take it any more. I’m going to speak with the cloaks about this. I just… I just wanted to let you know, because I love you so much and I want to always be honest with you. I also don’t want you to get the wrong idea…” She then stopped and closed her eyes to embrace herself for Dalindo’s reaction.

Dalindo remained silent for a moment, shaking his head before he said, “Keep the pound. Keep the cloaks outta it. ‘ll talk with Cavinaar. Mean time, stay back from him. Remind him I ain’ dead, an’ he isn’ Kelindel,” he then squeezed Faewyn’s hand, “He’s a good man. Jus’ confused. Let me talk with em firs’.”

“Someone may have gone to the cloaks already… I personally haven’t yet, but… It may be too late,” Faewyn said as she looked up into Dalindo’s eyes, attempting to read his reaction, “You are not angry or upset with me, are you..?”

He shook his head, a tired expression crossing his features, “’m tireda bein angry.” He then gave a strained grin as he took Faewyn’s hand, brought it up to his lips and kissed the back of it.

Faewyn let out a sigh of relief and closed her eyes as her hand was kissed. It was the first time that Dalindo had ever made such a romantic gesture, and having her hand kissed was something that deeply moved her. It made her want to melt right then and there. She then took his own hand and softly brushed her lips against his knuckles before she leaned in towards him and gave his right, branded, cheek a tender kiss and murmured, “I love you.”

“Lotta work tado,” Dalindo murmured suddenly and then attempted to climb out of the bed. As he stood up, his trench coat opened up and the scar that formed from his injury to his stomach was made visible.

Faewyn became troubled by his reaction to her words and said, “Dali… Why didn’t you respond to me back? Are you not happy with me?” She paused, attempting to suppress the tension that was flooding her body as she reached down into her bag again and pulled out a single iron key, not waiting for his response before she added, “This is yours. It is the key to this room. If… If you still wish to be with me, please take it.”

Dalindo looked down at the key and squeezed his fist around it and said, “I wanna stay, but more, I gotta. ‘m so worried ‘ma mess up. ‘ve broken most alla the promises ‘ve made lately, an’ I haven’ ment too. I even planned on dien, couldn’ keep a promise ta m’self…’ma failure, an’ I gotta make this last thin’ work. Ya migh’ thin’ I don’ love ya, but I never thin’ I foun’ out what love is. Affection isn’ love. But I thin’ it leads there. We’ll have ta see…’m jus’ not sure.”

Color drained from Faewyn’s face as she became stunned by his words, “… What are you saying..?  That you don’t love me..?”

Dalindo’s expressions looked sad, confused and still tired, all at once, “’m sayin I care fer ya, but I don’ thin’ ‘ve found what love is. ‘m jus’ a failure tha’ won’ ever figgure anythin’ out. Not yer fault, mine.” He made no move to walk away from her but only gazed down sadly upon her.

Faewyn raised her hands up to her face, burying herself in them as a feeling of despair rippled through her, “… After all we’ve been through. You… You promised me. I- I can’t believe this.”

“‘m not leavin,” Dalindo said softly and sighed as he squat down in front of her, “I gotta stay with ya. Yer all I got left ‘sides work. But ‘m sayin that I don’ know what love is. ‘m answerin ya honestly. ‘m confused about everythin’ in my life, an’ feal broken. I need time ta think. ‘ma go out fera walk. ‘ll leave m’stuff here so ya know ‘m comin back.” He then kissed Faewyn lightly on the lips, rose back up to his feet and turned away, walking out the door without saying another word.

Faewyn continued to sit there on the bed, still feeling completely shocked. She felt so confused and uncertain of everything.

He wants to stay with me, and yet… He doesn’t love me. Not yet at least, she thought to herself as she reached up and wiped away at her eyes as they began to fill with water, What am I going to do? What if he decides in the end that he can’t love me after all? I can’t… I can’t believe he broke his promise to love me always. Am I a fool? He said he is broken, but can I help mend him? There is… Still hope. She then made a decision, I need to give Dali time. Show him that I love him, but not try to force him to feel the same way back. … What am I saying? This doesn’t make any sense. Nothing does anymore. Am I smothering him? Will my feelings for him push him away? Faewyn feared the last thought most of all amongst the others.

Will he leave me in the end?

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