The Light of My Hearts
A Wager

Later that evening...

Gillam landed on the branch of the tree in front of Twillow’s garden house, carrying Helia. He set her down and Twillow landed beside them, carrying some more blankets.

“You don’t have to do this you know.” Helia protested, “We’ve got bed rolls and it’s a nice night.”

Twillow was already rushing inside to prepare a bed, “Nonsense! This is a perfect little guest house and this is the first time I get to use it for company. I’m just so happy you are going to stay!”

Gillam smiled and leaned to whisper in Helia ear, “You won’t win.”

Helia shrugged back, knowing it was true. Despite how sweet Twillow was, she could be tenacious as a badger.

It didn’t take her long to make up the large wooden bowl bed with the added padding and blankets for her guests.

“There we go. All made up. There’s a fresh pail of water in the kitchen for drinking. I have a bathing tub situated at the back. I just warmed the water. In the morning just come in and we’ll make you breakfast. Ok?”

Gillam and Helia both nodded, thanking her before she hugged them and flew back into the mountain home. For a few moments, an awkward silence fell as the pair stared at the single bed. It was easily king-sized but sharing a bed was not something they had planned and neither wanted to sound ungrateful to Twillow.

“You can have the bed.” Gillam offered, “I can sleep in the tree outside.”

Helia shook her head with a gesture, “No. No. This is fine. We can share. It’s big enough.”

Gillam lowered his huge wings, folding them neatly across this back, “No. That wouldn’t be proper. You have it.”

Helia pointed firmly. “You’re not sleeping outside. That wouldn’t be proper. We’re sharing the damn bed.”

The tall fae nodded, unable to argue. (Secretly he felt grateful...and nervous.)

Helia began removing her wrist guards, “But...I’ll pull woman’s privilege and call the bath first.”

...

“Well, I got them all settled.” Twillow announced to Kendrick as she reentered their home.

Kendrick was sitting in his chair, just beginning to take off his boots. When Twillow landed on the table in front of him he smiled at her as he leaned back and stretched his arms.

Twillow giggled, “I think there’s something going on between my brother and Helia.”

Kendrick came out of his stretch with a blink. Then got an odd look on his face as he glanced back toward the back doorway.

“Really?”

She nodded.

The giant arched a questioning brow, “How do you know that?”

“My brother is usually so aloof around women. Like he doesn’t know they exist. He’s being attentive to Helia. I think he really likes her.” Twillow smiled.

Kendrick mused on her words until he got an alarmed look in his eyes, “But...if he...if they...gods!”

“What?” Twillow laughed.

He sighed with a disconcerted expression, “I’m not going to be overly pleased if your brother makes me related to Slayer.”

A giggle came out of Twillow, “I’m sure you’ll be fine.”

He blew some air through his lips, uncertain of that assertion. There was a pause between them until Twillow decided to ask something she’d been meaning to ask for a while.

“Kendrick...I need to ask something of you.” Twillow requested in a serious but subdued tone.

The giant’s huge body lowered so he could be at eye level with her as he rested his head over his crossed arms.

His tone and expression was gentle and receptive “Name it, my light.”

Twillow shifted on her dainty feet and finally requested, “I...I want you to make peace with the humans.”

The receptive expression was overtaken by one of disbelief, “You can’t be serious.”

“I am.” She stared up at him.

Kendrick shook his head with a deep sigh that ruffled her hair, “Your brother put you up to this didn’t he?”

“No. But he did bring it up...and I agree with him.”

He shook his head again, cynicism tainting his tone, “You know that’s not possible.”

“No. You don’t think it’s possible.” She corrected, “But I think it is.”

Kendrick stood up slowly and paced away a couple steps with his hands braced against his hips. His demeanor reeked of contention for her idea.

“I’ve been hoping that after trusting Sig more you’d begin to mend the relations with the other humans.”

“There’s nothing to mend, Twillow.” He stated in a flat tone. “Sig and his family are an anomaly. Humans fear and hate me. And they’ll always fear and hate me. End of story.”

She pursed her lips and bat her wings, “The humans who hurt Alec are long gone.”

“I know that.” He tried to keep his voice from sounding too annoyed, “But their feelings for my kind will not change. They’ll always fear and hate me because of what I am.”

“Because you’ve never given them a reason to change.” She defended her point.

His brows shifted with skepticism, “A reason?”

“Yes. You’ve only ever shown them a giant who is...”

“A monster.” he filled in the blank.

With a quick buzz of her wings, she flew over and landed on his shoulder. He regarded her presence with a small turn of his head.

"Dangerous to them.” She corrected stepping close to touch the side of his neck, “Maybe if you showed them this side of you... the gentle side...they’d learn you’re not a monster.”

His expression was cynical, “Or they’d see it and realize I have a weakness and come to kill me with even more fervor.”

“Being gentle isn’t a weakness.” Twillow argued. “I think it’s your greatest strength.”

A heavy sigh escaped him like a slow gust of wind. His hand slowly traveled up across his chest and took her up delicately. She relaxed in his light grip, trusting him as no one else could.

His finger stroked her side fondly, “Twillow, I won’t live as long as you will. But I want to be the oldest giant who has ever lived so I can share all my years with you.”

He could see tears glittering in her violet eyes.

His tone became serious, “But if I make peace with the humans I’ll become complacent with their presence...and if I do that some humans wanting to make a name for themselves could kill me when my guard is lowered. I won’t allow that to happen.”

“I don’t want you to be hunted anymore, Kendrick. I don’t want you to come home bleeding anymore. I don’t want you to be killed.” She cried, wrapping her arms around his finger.

“I won’t let them, my light. And I won’t let them hurt you.” He said with assuredness.

“But if you make peace then there won’t be that price on your head and you wouldn’t have to endure that anymore.”

He set her down on the ledge of the fireplace mantle with a frustrated look, “Twillow...they’ll never make peace with me! They’ll either run away or bring out their weapons. It’s always been that way!” He moved away. “It will never happen.”

Twillow buzzed her wings loudly, “Won’t you at least try... for me?”

Kendrick winced, struck by the spear of guilt in her statement. His jaw slid to the side as he leaned into the arch of stone near the doorway with thought.

Finally, he sighed, “You really think it’s possible?”

“Yes. But you won’t know unless you try.”

“You believe it will work...I know it won’t.” he retorted in a hiss as he tapped the doorway with his fist. “Seems we’re at an impasse.”

Kendrick was silent for several minutes, thinking deeply. A large portion of him didn’t want to let Twillow down nor make her upset. He would do anything for her. But this...this wasn’t something he felt was possible. There were too many unknowns and too many radicals to consider.

Fear had always been the best deterrent to keep the humans in check. Still, he couldn’t deny the fact that driven by greed for his bounty, the humans would grow more ingenuitive. They were a dangerously clever species. He could remember as a boy their arrows weren’t as sharp and didn’t puncture as deep as they currently did. And that ballista weapon he was attacked with almost two years ago... He never let Twillow fully realize how close he came to being mortally wounded. They’d get smarter...more deadly in their attempts.

But trusting humans to keep peace with him? Never. Even if by some miracle a peace treaty was created how long would it last? A decade? A century? Just long enough for him to grow complacent?

No. What he needed was to convince Twillow beyond all doubt that peace with the humans was impossible but still placate her wishes.

At last, he turned back to his mate, “Then... I’ll make you a wager.”

“A wager?”

Kendrick nodded, “For thirty days I will do one good deed a day for humans. If in that time just ONE human approaches me and thanks me for said deed, I will make peace with the humans. But if that doesn’t happen, I will not and we will forget about his entire idea.”

“Why a wager?” Twillow was puzzled.

“Because I know that no matter what I do, no matter how I act, I’ll always be a monster to them. They will do as they’ve always done and prove that peace is not possible with them. But...I will try as you suggest.” He quirked his head, “Is that acceptable to you?”

Twillow could tell by his tone that this was his compromise. It was small and unconventional, but if there was a chance, she would take it.

She opened her mouth but Kendrick quickly interrupted, “And Sig, his family, and the Slayer don’t count.”

Twillow guessed as much. That loophole was closed.

“All right, Kendrick. I’ll agree to that.” she gave him a semi-stern look, “But you had better try very hard and not cheat.”

“I would never cheat you, my light.” He assured. “Why would you believe I’d cheat?”

“You don’t like to lose.” The fae pointed out.

His eyes moved sideways a bit, “True...but I won’t have to resort to such tactics. I swear you will have a fair attempt by me.”

....

The next morning...

When morning came, Gillam’s nose was itchy. That’s what woke him. The fae sleepily reached up and gave his nose a rub, only to discover what was causing it. His violet eyes opened to thick, red hair piled before his face, tickling his nose. A faint womanly scent seemed to awaken his dull senses. With a quick jerk he pulled away to realize how close he was to Helia. The woman had her back to him but was curled in a fetal position, encroaching into his half of the bowl bed. She was only in her undershirt and clothes.

The fae couldn’t help but stare at her. Asleep she appeared so content, relaxed, and... beautiful. Her arm was lolled over her head, showing off a red scrape as well as a small bruise on her forehead. Most likely from her near fall after getting sneezed off the table. Gillam reached over and lightly touched the scrape. His hand flashed with healing magic and the redness faded to nothing. As he leaned to reach over and heal the bruise on her forehead, Helia’s hand suddenly shot up and clamped onto his wrist.

She opened her blue eyes, looking defensive, ”What are you doing?”

“He-Healing you. You have a bruise.” he explained with a flustered tone.

He was startled by her sudden reaction and now felt rude for touching her without permission. The woman stared at him hard for a couple moments before releasing his arm.

“I told you not to waste your magic on silly things.” She groused, climbing out of the bed slowly, “Save it for something really important.”

Helia moved to put on her more casual clothes which were in her pack near the door. She put her pants on, rearranged her thick hair, and then turned only to be startled by Gillam standing right next to her.

The tall fae’s violet eyes focused into hers as he brought two fingers to the bruise on her forehead, seemingly wiping it away.

His fingers lingered against her skin as he said quietly, “You are important.”

For some inexplicable reason, Helia was frozen like a statue, unable to react beyond blinking like a stunned deer. In her short twenty-seven-year life, Helia had never felt the tingling flutter that she was experiencing in her stomach. She was no stranger to the unwanted attentions of men ogling or trying to coerce her into relations. She had grown quite good at thwarting any and all attempts. But now...she didn’t know exactly what to do. For the first time she truly didn’t want to push the fae away and tell him not to touch her.

She was suddenly snapped out of her emotional freeze when the whole tree house shook, making them both stagger into each other.

“Wake up you two! Breakfast is ready.” Kendrick’s deep voice announced, giving the tree branch a gentle shake.

“We’re up! We’re up!” Helia shouted back at him.

The giant’s large amber eye peeked into the window, seeing Helia leaning into Gillam’s chest and he was holding her.

His black eyebrow lifted, “Hm. Shall I... give you a few minutes and just keep it warm for you then?”

Helia leaped back slightly, with a flustered tone, “No! We just...ARG...we’ll be right behind you, ok?”

Kendrick shrugged and walked back into his home.

Helia was flustered again until Gillam offered his hand to her, “Shall we go to breakfast then?”

The woman sighed and gestured for him to follow her outside, which he did. Once they were out the fae’s clear wings snapped up and open, glistening in the morning sun. With a smooth motion Gillam picked her up and flew out of the tree and into the mountain for breakfast.

Upon entering the mountain cavern, they were greeted by the rich, sweet smell of pancakes as well as the scent of boar meat. Twillow was flitting about busily like a butterfly in a flower field trying to manage the plating of their breakfast. Gillam set Helia down on her feet and flew over to help his sister.

“Kendrick? Can you get me a strawberry please?” she requested.

He nodded and went for their shelves which were now guarded by a transparent magic barrier that was designed to keep bugs out and keep the food fresher longer. (A nice contribution from Twillow.) His hand passed through effortlessly, rummaging around the bowls of fruits that he had.

“Hm. Need to pick some I guess.” He frowned.

Gillam’s wings lifted him from the counter, “I can get one quick. I saw some when I flew over. Be right back!”

The fae darted out the back tunnel in a flash whilst Twillow and Kendrick managed breakfast preparations and Helia sat at the little table.

Kendrick approached and delicately set a pancake the size of Helia’s shield on the table.

“Holy...geez. You think I can eat all of that?” she commented.

“You won’t go hungry.” He replied.

“You’re getting better at making food smaller though.” Twillow praised as she scooped fruit pieces into little bowls.

Kendrick sat himself down with his massive plate of breakfast, but he waited for Gillam’s return.

In the silence he seemed to think a moment then he asked, “So...you and Twillow’s brother, hmm?”

Helia stared up at him, “Wh-what are you talking about?”

He ate a smoked boar, eating it like a single chip, “You seem...happy with each other.”

“He’s my apprentice and he’s done a good job so far.” Helia replied curtly. “That’s all.”

“Now that’s awfully hypocritical of you, Slayer.”

“Hypocritical?”

He smirked, “As I recall, you chastised me for not confessing my feelings for Twillow.”

Despite her best efforts Helia’s cheeks grew pink which she tried to cover with indignation, “This is nothing like that! You’re making shit up that has no grounding!”

“Then why do you smell strongly of pheromones?” he pressed with a cocked eyebrow.

Helia seemed to grow a bit redder in the face. Kendrick lowered his head and then tipped it like a curious dog at the change in her color.

“What’s wrong with your face?”

“Nothing! Just-just drop it!” Helia turned quickly.

Twillow fluttered over to the table with the fruit bowls, “Kendrick, stop embarrassing Helia.”

“Huh. I didn’t think Slayer ever got embarrassed.” Kendrick sat up.

“Shut up! I’m not! He’s... my apprentice...that’s it! That all.” Helia tried to insist but wasn’t very convincing.

It was odd to hear her sound so flustered emotionally. She typically kept a stoic, no nonsense edge to herself. But it seemed her normal stoicism had cracks in it.

At that moment, the sound of Gillam’s wings in the tunnel could be heard and soon he appeared toting a huge strawberry in his arms.

“This one looked good.” Gillam announced as he landed on the table, completely unaware of the conversation.

“Good! Can’t have a fruit bowl without some strawberry.” Twillow agreed, trying to mask the earlier conversation.

With a quick flick of her hands several discs of the fruit were cut from the large piece and floated over into each fruit bowl. Kendrick took the remainder, eating it in a small bite.

“Goodness.” Gillam stared at the huge pancake as he took a seat next to Helia who was trying to hide her red face behind eating her fruit bowl, “That’s a week of breakfast!”

Helia nodded in agreement, stuffing more fruit into her mouth.

She nearly choked when Kendrick asked, “So...Gillam?”

Her blue eyes shot up at him, pleading and wishing instant death in the same look should he ask the fae what she feared.

He noticed the look, smirked, and then asked, “Would you like Hel...er...honey with your pancakes?”

Helia could’ve died.

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