11 A feast

He walked me into the enormous dining hall and pulled out a seat for me at the end of the table, The stunning mahogany dining table was big enough for at least 40 guests, but today it was just the two of us.

Taking a seat opposite me he relaxed into the chair, one hand resting under his chin as he looked me. We hadn't spoken on the way up to the mansion and now we sat in silence. He had a puzzled look on his face and as he stared at me I got this strange feeling of being watched the way a wolf would watch its prey.

Unable to take the pressure of him staring, I looked down at my lap.

Two servant girls had entered the hall now carrying trays and discretely began placing plates of food in front of us. The aroma made my mouth water. There were succulent roast pork and freshly baked bread. An assortment of delicious looking cheeses and fruit. Mini tart-lets and bowls of mouthwatering broth.

I noticed one of the girls smile at Caleb as she set down a plate in front of him, She was slender and beautiful and had red hair. His eyes flickered towards her for a moment and then back at me again.

I couldn't help but feel a tinge of jealousy when I looked at her, I wonder if she and Caleb had been intimate. With the way she looked at him, it was safe to assume that was the case.

"Eat," he commanded, holding out a hand towards the table.

I noticed that his plate remained empty and I felt awkward dishing food for myself. "Are you not going to eat as well?" I asked as I placed a piece of pork into my mouth.

He smiled closing his eyes for a moment. "I'm not hungry." and then he looked at me, his emerald eyes shining brightly. "I hope the food is to your liking."

It was delicious, I had never tasted such delicious food and wondered where his cooks had learned such skill. "It's lovely."

Although I was rather hungry, I did not want to seem like a glutton. Finishing the pork on my plate I set down my knife and fork and dabbed at my mouth with the napkin.

"Surely you want a little more than that." he frowned.

"I've had enough, thank you." to which he placed a bowl of broth in front of me and handed me a spoon. Nudging his chin forward as if to say 'finish it'.

"You're very demanding, you know." I chirped taking a mouthful of the broth.

"I can't send you home starved. Your mother will think me a poor host."

As I finished the broth he sat silently watching me, he seemed pleased with me eating at his command. By the time I had finished I was uncomfortably full.

"would you like to walk through the gardens? My father and his guests won't be home until later so it is rather peaceful at the moment. I think you'll enjoy it."

"That would be nice." I smiled, trying to conceal my discomfort from overeating.

The gardens were even prettier now during the day, with the sun illuminating all the vibrant colors of the flowers, light reflected on the water features making the water sparkle like diamonds.

Birds hovered in the trees singing sweet melodies.

I sat down on the bench, observing a swallow nearby swoop down and catch something in its beak.

"You're fond of birds?" Caleb took a seat next to me,

I nodded, "Swallows in particular. I think they're beautiful."

"They are rather beautiful." He remarked, but he was looking straight at me and not at the bird flying above us.

I couldn't make out the expression on his face. It was a mixture of admiration and sorrow.

It was warm out in the sun and after the large lunch I had, I began feeling drowsy. Unaware that I had leaned my head onto Caleb's shoulder I closed my eyes for a moment.

I woke, confused. I didn't remember going to bed. When I sat up I realized that I wasn't on my bed. It was a strange bed in a strange room. I must still be In Mistwood.

In the corner of the room, Caleb sat with his legs crossed on a small table, reading a book.

Without looking away from the page he was reading he spoke to me, "You fell asleep while we were in the garden. I did not want to wake you so I carried you up here to rest."

He spoke as though it was just a simple task for him to carry me up here, surely he must have strained to carry me up the stairs. After all, I wasn't small and slender like his little redhead.

"I'm sorry," I said, dropping my head into my hands. Covering my face from the embarrassment

"It's no problem. It's late, I should see that you get home." He closed the book and stood up, gracefully walking towards the door.

I took this as a sign to follow him.

Waiting for us at the entrance stood Shadow, Caleb climbed up onto him and then grabbed my arm to pull me up behind him.

"How are you going to get back if we are only taking one horse?"

"Don't worry about that, I enjoy walking."

"But it's so far."

He scoffed as if it were a joke and continued riding without another word. we rode in silence the entire way, I rather enjoyed it.

There was something intimate about being in his company and not having to speak. To just be near him was enough. I flattered myself in hoping he felt the same and wasn't simply silent because he was bored of my company.