the Half Blood Princess

(My writings continue)

It had been raining for a week straight and didn't show any signs of stopping.  It was a relentless, harsh kind of rain.  The force of it pounding against the roof sounded like thunder, and the windows rattled and shook from the wind.  On the couch across from Arhada, Qifrey twitched in his sleep, his eyebrows knitted together in a permanent expression of distress and his head slumped to the side awkwardly.  He seemed to be having a bad dream.  Arhada was sitting in a seat closer to the fireplace, quietly doodling in her sketchbook when she noticed Qifrey had fallen asleep while reading, a rare display of vulnerability born from sheer exhaustion.  She couldn't help but mirror his discomfort with a similar expression of her own as she wondered what dream he was having that might cause him such unrest.  “He doesn't like the rain.”  

Arhada looks up to see Olruggio, who was standing a few paces behind her with his hands dangling awkwardly at his sides.  “Never has.”  Arhada nods at his statement, her gaze returning to Qifrey and watching as the corner of his lips curled downward.  A bad dream indeed.  

“I don't either.  I don’t know what Qifrey's reasons are but, I just don't really like storms.  Specifically thunderstorms.  I suppose since rain usually comes along with thunder and lightning, I associate the two.”  She wasn't sure why she was telling Oruggio this, but something about his presence always made her want to tear open her heart and pour its contents on the ground.  He was kind in a reliable way, steady like a rock before the tumultuous waves that she, not unlike Qifrey, seemed to bring with her.  “I know it's silly but it just makes me feel small.  Trapped.  Something in my animal brain says I'm not safe, I need to escape.  But the storm is all around me.  Probably goes on for miles.  I could try to run, but really I would just be at its mercy until it decides to dissipate.”  

“It's not silly.”  Olruggio responded immediately, his voice gravelly in a way that made Arhada jump.  She looked up at him, meeting his deep blue eyes with a questioning gaze.  Olruggio cleared his throat, looking away awkwardly in the way he always did during moments when he finally dropped his grumpy, intimidating persona.  “I mean, Qifrey’s afraid, you think that's silly?”  He questioned.  

“No, of course not!  I'm sure he has a good reason.”  

“Why do you automatically assume his reason is better than yours?”  Olruggio pushed, cutting straight to the point.  Arhada looked down at her hands, tracing the veins underneath her pale skin with her eyes.  He was right.  Of course he was.  After a moment of silence, Olruggio softened.

“He usually comes and sits in my office when the weather's like this.  Makes up some bullshit reason for why he's there, pretendin’ he's fine ‘n all.”  Arhada lets out a soft laugh, the image of Qifrey conjured in her mind vivid from the times he had insisted he was OK to her when he very clearly wasn't.  

“Yeah?  Why's he not there today?”  

“Well, you’ve been following him around all week like some sort of lost puppy, only leaving his side to sleep. Seems he's found a kindred spirit.”  Arhada flushes, embarrassment creeping up from the thought of Olruggio observing her somewhat clingy behavior.  

(Another short little tidbit of writing. Once again, feedback is welcome and appreciated!)

It was a beautiful afternoon.  The sky was clear and bright blue and filled with puffy clouds as far as the eye could see, and the sun shone down from high above.  Arhada could feel the gentle heat on her face even through the kitchen window as she finished cleaning the last few dishes in the sink and placed them on the drying rack.  Nearby in the living room, Coco and Tetia could be heard chatting excitedly as they poured over their textbooks on the floor, Qifrey's gentle voice occasionally interjecting from his spot in between them.  It was in those moments that she felt full, warmth welling up in her chest until it spread to the rest of her, a smile that wormed its way onto her face and made her cheeks ache from the sheer force of her happiness.  She had not been there for long, yet the Atelier already felt like home.  As she turned away from the sink, she was startled to find Qifrey standing a little bit behind her.  “Oh!”  She exclaimed, a breathy laugh leaving her.  “You just keep sneaking up on me, don't you?”  Qifrey scratched the back of his neck, looking sheepish. 

“Sorry.”  Arhada shook her head with a smile. "I was actually going to ask if you wouldn't mind running an errand in Kalhn for me,” Qifrey said.  Arhada stiffened at the request.  She didn’t like going to Kalhn alone.  It was loud and bustling, so many people moving this way and that and street vendors constantly shouting about whatever sale they had going, not to mention the many narrow branching streets that Arhada had always found impossible to navigate.  It wasn’t that she hated the city.  She actually found it quite enchanting to visit with friends when she could or her parents when she was younger.  The bakeries with their delicious breads and sweets, the many shops with all sorts of interesting trinkets and books, and the weekend market always had something in store, whether that was the juiciest of fruits sold by local farmers or beautiful gems from faraway lands.  Alone, though, all of that wonder and excitement seemed to fade, replaced with the inescapable urge to curl up into a ball and hold her ears until the cacophony that surrounded her and made her feel small finally faded away into a distant hum.  Of course, Qifrey knew none of this.  It had never come up in conversation, despite the fact that she knew it was inevitable that at some point she would have to brave the journey to get whatever supplies Qifrey might need for himself or the children.  She was surprised he hadn't asked sooner.  “Of course!”  She said, making a great effort to keep the cheerful smile she had had earlier on her face.  “That's what I'm here for, after all, to help you out with whatever you need.”  A tender expression crossed Qifrey's face.  The one that said he saw straight through her, in the way he always did when she was trying to put on a brave face so as not to worry her companions.  Arhada tried to ignore the way it made her heart squeeze.  “Do you have a list, or?”  Qifrey nodded, handing a small slip of paper to her gingerly.  

“I need more conjuring ink from the Starry Sword for the girls, and a couple of other supplies, too.  Just hand this to Mr. Nolnoa and he’ll take care of everything for you.”  He said, nodding to the list she now held in her hand.  He then handed a small pouch of coins to her.  “That should be enough to cover everything, plus some extra in case anything else catches your eye.”  Qifrey winked at her as she took the pouch hesitantly, feeling awkward at the prospect of spending his money without him present.  “Don’t worry, I trust your judgement.”  

Arhada nodded and smiled in return.  “Alright, I’ll be off, then,” she said, walking towards the entrance and reaching for her bag she had hung up by the door.  

“Wait, before you go,” Qifrey started, and Arhada turned back around to look at him curiously, her bag half slung on her shoulder.  Some part of her hoped that he would tell her he was actually coming with, or maybe that she didn’t have to go at all, but she knew that was good to be true.  “Why don’t you take Olruggio with you?”

Arhada blinked, wondering if she heard him right.  Olruggio?  The grouchy hermit who only ever seemed to leave his room if Qifrey needed him for something?  Qifrey laughed softly at her expression.  “I know he’s not always the most cheerful company, but he’s reliable and can be soft once you get to know him.  Besides, going with him would be better than going alone, right?”  Arhada looked away shyly, her cheeks reddening at how Qifrey always seemed to be able to tell exactly what she was thinking.  

“Yes,’ she admitted quietly, “but only if he wants to.”  She didn’t want to force him.

“Only if who wants to do what?”  A gruff voice suddenly spoke up, and Arhada looked up to see Olruggio emerging from his room, as if summoned.  Qifrey clapped his hands together excitedly, turning towards his companion witch with a beam on his face.  “Olruggio!  Perfect timing.  Arhada was just about to leave for the Starry Sword but is worried she won’t be able to carry the supplies back by herself, but with your help that’ll be no problem at all!”  Olruggio opened his mouth as if to argue, but as he looked between Qifrey’s freakishly joyous expression and Arhada, who nervously fiddled with the zipper on her bag while avoiding his gaze, he seemed to decide it wasn’t worth it to argue.  His shoulders dropped and a large exhale left his mouth.

“Fine,” Orluggio huffed, going to put on his cloak and hat.  

“Wonderful!” exclaimed Qifrey.  “Safe travels, you two, I’m going to go check on how the girls are fairing with their studies.”  Arhada watched as he turned back towards the living room, her gaze unabashedly wistful.  

(Hello! I've recently started writing again, inspired by the writer of Ink Stained love Letters on AO3 and their crazy commitment to a thirty day writing challenge. Just short little vignettes all set in the same AU with my Witch Hat OC and Qifrey, to help warm up after a long break from writing fanfic. So, I figured I'd post them here. Feel free to let me know what you think, friendly critique/feedback is welcome and much appreciated!)