Dinner with Lilly

James held the book, debating whether or not he should continue his study in the forest or back at the castle. It seemed pretty clear that Lilly didn't want him around. Maybe didn't want him nosing around about her people. And yet, she had helped him find where, in the book he held, there was mention of her people. He tucked the book in his saddle bag then went through the process of putting the saddle back onto Torta.

They returned to the castle. James took the saddle and bridle off of Torta. He set them aside. The stable hand would take care of them. But care for Torta's coat was his responsibility. Especially if he didn't want Torta acting up when he rode him. James grabbed the brush to do just that. But Torta shied away from him or nudged his hand away when he tried to run the brush down his side.

"You prefer her comb, don't you?" he asked Torta.

Torta squealed and nodded.

'Great, now I'm talking to animals,' he thought.

'And understanding how they talk back,' Lilly's voice said.

He turned to see if she was nearby. But there was only the stable hand and the other horses.

'Don't happen to have a spare comb for Torta do you?' he asked her.

Lilly didn't respond.

He sighed. He patted Torta's neck then took his saddle bags with him to his room. He put his saddle bags away before pulling out the book Lilly had helped him mark. He took it with him down to the library. He was surprised to see Lilly and a stack of ten books, already bookmarked with sheets of parchment.

"Lilly?"

She winced. 'No noises, Human. I already feel like a shredded tapestry.'

'Why did you come to help me?' he asked.

'I didn't.' She removed the comb from her hair and a few tears slipped down her face. 'Torta wanted my comb. I need to go now.'

Lilly started to leave, but James took her hand in his.

'Lilly?' His voice was gentle and she looked at him. 'Thank you.'

She gave a nod then slid her hand out of his. But before she could reach the door, the King came into the room.

"Here you are, James," he father said loudly. "Who's this?"

Lilly bowed to the king and took a step to leave, but he stopped her.

"Is this Lilly?" the king asked James.

"Yes, Father. But she needs to leave. She has work to do."

"That can wait. Bring her to dinner. I want to know more about this woman since she has clearly caught your fancy." He snapped his fingers as he turned to leave.

Several servants came in to take her to another room. But Lilly pushed them off her. The king paused seeing this and James stepped to her side. Lilly's head bowed with a painful grimace on her face.

'Sorry,' he said to her.

'What is your father wanting of me?' she asked in return, trying to understand the situation she found herself in.

'To have you join us in the dining hall for a meal where there will be a lot more noise.'

'And the women trying to take me from this room?'

'To bathe you, change your clothes. Make you presentable according to Human custom.'

She gave a slight nod.

'You don't have to stay. You don't look well.'

"James?" his father asked.

"I'll help her, Father," he said.

The king nodded and the servants left.

James walked with her down to the hall. 'I'll take you to the stables. Torta can take you out of the city.'

Lilly shook her head. 'I don't need a man hunt in the forest because I slighted your father with my absence.'

'My father wouldn't….'

Lilly turned her eyes to meet his. 'Just because I'm Adremedian, doesn't mean I don't understand Human ways.'

'Only if you are sure.'

'I will stay for as long as I am able.'

'Okay. I'll call the servants to….'

Lilly shook her head. 'Have them set out the clothes. I'll bathe myself. The less noise I have to contend with the better.'

James nodded. He led her to a room and left her alone.

Lilly ran a warm bath and washed up. She even used the soaps the Humans did to help with the facade. When she got out of the bath, a dress had been laid out on the bed. She slipped it on. The bodice wasn't horrible, but the sleeves were very tight on her arms. Once she had the dress on, she left the room. An older woman stood just outside waiting for her. She made several noises, smiling slightly as she did. Lilly smiled back, despite the pain the noises were causing. The woman took her to a large room and seated her at the big banquet table.

Lilly's eyes surveyed the room while it was silent. It was open and covered in all sorts of colors. The soft voices returned, soothing most of her pain, comforting her with their familiarity—despite being different from the voices of the forest. She was starting to get comfortable when the doors opened and many other Humans came in. Their noises reverberated around the large space. She tried not to wince. It was difficult. James set a hand on her shoulder as he sat beside her. She tried to smile.

'Are you feeling okay?' he asked her.

'For now,' she replied.

Other Humans came in setting in the center of the table several gilded dishes. They took off the covers revealing their foods. James filled a plate and set it in front of her. She crinkled her nose a little. But hid it again when James set a hand over hers. She patted his hand. The king stood and all the noises stopped. He spoke boisterously in the silence before he sat once more. The other voices joined his and overlapped. Lilly only recognized a few of the foods on her plate and slowly ate them. The things she didn't know she left alone.

Many noises were directed at her, but she could only thank James for the noises he made to answer for her lack of understanding. She tried hard not to cover her ears as the noise rose. The cacophony of sounds tore at every part of her being. She tried to blink back her tears. But she couldn't stop them. All noises ceased, but it didn't stop her from shivering. She tried to curl a little, wanting something to soothe her physical reaction to Human speech. James pulled her chair away from the table then helped her get to her feet.

Her whole body ached and she felt weak. They had just reached the door when all of her muscles relaxed. Her eyes fluttered shut. James called for a doctor and took her to the spare room. Her complexion had paled considerably since she entered the dining hall. A grimace scrunched her face each time they spoke, but relaxed when there were pauses. The doctor could find nothing wrong and suggested that the prince just allow her to rest.

When they were alone again, James took her hand in his.

'Is there anything I can do to help you?' he asked.

'Leave me to rest,' she replied.

'Okay. I'll check in with you in a few hours?'

Lilly nodded.

James patted her hand then left her to rest. He went down to the library to start reading through the books Lilly had gathered for him.

James returned a little while later, knowing only a little more about the Adremedians, to check on her. He was horrified to see the dress torn in several places and her lying on the floor. He woke her up as he checked for wounds. His hands moved across her back and she backed into a corner, not yet alert enough to know who touched her.

'Are you okay?' James asked.

She nodded.

'What happened to the dress?'

'I cut it. It was too tight.'

He nodded. 'Are you feeling better?'

'Marginally.'

She stood and turned to look out the window. She looked down to the courtyard below. A soft smile started to lift her lips before she pressed her hands against the window. James stepped beside her and noticed where she was looking. Once the chicken was dead, she turned to him with a questioning look and tears filled eyes. She didn't understand. Her shoulders began to shake as she cried. James was surprised that he heard no sound whatsoever. Not even the exhale of air. His arms started to wrap around her, to comfort her, but she backed away and created some distance between them.

'Lilly,' he thought.

'I wish to be alone, James.' Lilly sat on the floor in a tight ball.

James took one step towards her and she curled a little tighter into the corner. He stood there and watched her cry. Then slowly he turned and left.

James returned to the library and picked up the books. He read the places marked in the books and took notes on some of the parchment Lilly had used for bookmarks. It seemed there wasn't much known about the Adremedians. They were a race of people that looked Human. They spoke through thought and the Human voice caused pain. In addition to being able to speak in thought, they could also communicate with plants and animals. They were healers and were usually only seen by wounded Humans during times of war. Many believed them to be hallucinations created by the mind of the dying as a way to stop death from taking them. James was almost finished with half the stack Lilly had created when he read.

If exposed to loud noises for a long period of time, Adremedians will become ill. If the illness becomes serious, Replacements are then created to take their place when they finally succumb to death.

James hurried down to the hall to the spare room. He was close to when one of the stable hands ran up to him.