Leaving the library he headed directly to Amarna's office. Knocking on the door he waited for her reply. He understood she may still be in conference with the last group of successful pupils of the day's lessons. While waiting he continued his stretches. A few minutes later the door opened with several leaving. He was getting ready to head over when the door was closed again. Noticing that Amy had not left, his heart fell. This meant she was still in trouble.
When Amy finally emerged from the office there were tears running down her cheeks. The look she shot at Eldrick was full of daggers. Turning her face away from him she ran up the stairs. Eldrick could tell she was crying harder as she went because of the hitching of her shoulders. Eldrick felt the urge to go after her when Amarna called to him.
Entering the room he closed the door behind himself. "I figured you would like my report."
"Very true. Now, about Amy... The others were not kind to her. I have dismissed her. She was warned and tried to pull the bullshit again after I left. I heard you handled it well, though not how you prevented her from leaving." She gave him a quizzical look. "They did say you sounded like me. They were shocked."
"I used magic to prevent her from leaving, the spell that originally brought me to your care. This time I wasn't rushed, I took my time. I started the spell the moment she started acting out." Eldrick subconsciously tried brushing his hair out of his eyes. "Then I prevailed upon her pride. If I may say so, I think it is a mistake to throw her out right now. She has the skill and can learn. We just need to get her to give a massage to induce the trance." He paused thinking. "She probably hates me now. She seems rather entitled, but she has a deep-rooted desire to achieve the full rank of a healer."
"Very well she can stay," Amarna blew hard. "I do believe it is dinner time, go and eat."
"May I tell her she can stay, before I eat. She was running for the stairs when she left."
"Granted, maybe it will mend bridges. I doubt it. She has a tendency to hold a grudge."
"Thank you. If I may be dismissed."
Amarna gave a negligent hand wave indicating his dismissal. Turning quickly, he left. In the entryway, he gathered his skirts and ran for the stairs. Hurrying down the hall he let his senses range ahead looking for Amy. Finding her in her room at the end of the hall, he gently knocked on the door.
"GO AWAY!" A loud shattering crash following the words.
Eldrick knew there was going to be no easy way to deal with this. Instead of knocking, he eased the door open. The scent of jasmine exploding through the open door. Carefully stepping inside to avoid the shattered glass on the floor, he cleared his throat.
She turned to glare at him, "What?? Are you here to gloat? Amarna's new favourite evicting the only person who actually understands how to give a decent massage." She threw another bottle at him.
Catching the bottle instinctually. "I am not here to gloat. I am here to help you unpack."
She stopped what she was doing to turn and look at him in shock. "What do you mean unpack. Amarna told me I was done here."
"Exactly what I said. You are staying. You have drive and passion." Eldrick looked around nervously. "I never wanted to see you lose your position here. I am not going to be here all that long. You see, I am supposed to be in Shay at the druid conclave by the Feast of Servalin." He took a step forward and placed the bottle on the vanity. "This is likely going to be the only skill I can teach. I hope you will forgive me for threatening your position. Now let's get this stuff back where it belongs and go get dinner." He started to carefully remove the gowns and respectfully hanging them. "You have some very lovely dresses," he spoke with awe. "I only have a few gowns myself and they were given to me by a lady I accidentally knocked over a few days ago. Her name is Beth."
Amy's eyes widened at this. "Is that one of the gowns she gave you? A blonde? From Gaullium? Giggles a lot?" Amy came over and gave Eldrick a hug. "I am sorry I was a bitch earlier. I was jealous. You can't be bad a person if Beth is willing to part with gowns. She has a habit of knowing who needs help. I was wondering why we are to call you Ellie and not Eldrick." She stepped back and looked him in the eye.
Eldrick's eyes were tearing up with the hug. He thought he had lost Amy's friendship. "I am in hiding, I guess. Sigmund and Sergei have gone to do something and I don't know what it is." He started to bring his arm up to wipe his nose on the sleeve of the gown.
"NO!" Amy cried, handing him a kerchief. "Never wipe your nose with your sleeve. That will ruin the dress." She handed him a couple of extra handkerchiefs as well. "Take these, I have so many. You showed me that we can learn from those we never expected to."
Eldrick took the handkerchief and wiped his nose. "I hope we can still be friends. I never meant to get you kicked out."
"Oh silly, I actually like you but your tone today scared me. You are younger than I am, but you project so much authority." She ducked her head bashfully. "I hope you aren't mad at me?"
"No, I am not mad at you. I was frustrated earlier because I was trying to explain something I don't fully understand myself. Sergei keeps telling me I need to learn how to do that for when I have apprentices of my own." Eldrick swallowed. "I am not even sure I will be able to pass the trials to become a master and be able to take apprentices. I mean I am just a foundling, no family, no position, no real power. All I have is knowledge." Raising his hand to his face he stroked his chin. "To answer the questions you never gave me a chance to. Yes, this was one of the gowns, yes she is a giggly blonde from Gaullium. Apparently, you know her?"
"Oh yeah, she's my cousin. Her father is Duke Marcelle. I guess she is here because Uncle wants to marry her off. Neither she nor her intended are going to be happy." Glancing around she shook her head. "She is into girls, not guys."
"She left a note in the gowns and I wasn't sure what to make of it. She wants to see me again. I don't know how to respond. I don't know if it's a good idea." Eldrick shrugged, "I mean... she said in the note she wasn't normally attracted to men, but there was something about me which has her interested. And, she gave me the gowns. I guess she saw the desire in my eyes while I was helping her change," he could feel the heat rising in his cheeks. "I don't really know if I am interested in her, but I was considering sending her a note via page."
"You are 'with' Sebastian aren't you? I mean I saw your face when you mentioned him. So I assumed the two of you were a couple." She blushed while mentioning it. "I also heard his outcry the night you worked on the injured guard."
Eldrick's blush deepened, "Yeah, we are together. I can't hurt him by showing interest in someone else. I had a dream the other night and saw him with someone and I became jealous." Shrugging, he motioned towards the door. "Well, everything's put away and dinner is getting cold. We should join the others before they start talking."
Amy nodded. Opening the door, Eldrick bowed, "After you."
Chuckling, Amy grabbed his arm, "Let's go eat."
