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Chapter 9:- Little somethings
Robert reappeared a few days later. Amy awoke one morning to find him sitting on the foot of her bed, toying with the leather strings and green beads Anne had gifted her.
"Good morning." She'd muttered, unsurprised to find him there.
He, on the other hand, was startled out of his wits and fell off the bed. Amy couldn't stop laughing for a good five minutes.
"It wasn't that funny." He mumbled, rubbing the back of his head where he'd hit the floor.
"Sure it was." She giggled again, and then turned her attention to the craft in his hands. "What are you doing?"
Robert rolled his shoulders like a ripple, and cocked his head to the left. "I was making you something."
"Is that so? What is it?" Amy ambled across the bed to see the project.
"It's not finished. Just wait." He held it out of view and reach.
Amy waited for a few minutes, watching him tug and knot the strings. But when it didn't appear he would finish in the near future, she slipped off the bed and tugged on her warm clothes over her pajamas. She tied her long hair up with some of the blue ribbons Silene had given her, and when she had tied the last bow, Robert was sitting in patience, watching her.
"Are you done?" she asked.
In response, he held out his balled up hand. Amy skipped over and held her hands out. He dropped an intricate Celtic-looking knot into her hand. It looked smooth and elegant. He had attached it to a long braided trio of strings, and the green beads glittered throughout the entire necklace. It was beautiful.
"Wow!" She looped it around her neck, dazzled. "This is amazing!" Amy admired it for a moment, then hugged Robert with a fierce squeeze, "Thank you, Robert!"
He blushed and looked embarrassed, but smiled nonetheless, hugging her back.
"Knock knock," said Shelly, having appeared in the doorway.
Robert dropped his arms from around her, though with more reluctance and less speed than he had reacted in the past. Amy smiled to herself over it.
Shelly smirked and folded her arms, "Mimi and I are going to hike up to the salt cave. Micah hasn't complained of being low on it, but you can taste it in the food."
Mimi poked her head in, "Or, rather, not taste it."
They both laughed without control, and Shelly wiped her eyes, adding, "You guys want to come? Amy, you've never been there and it's pretty impressive."
Amy agreed to go, as did Robert, and the group trekked out of the tunnels and up the steeper slope of the mountain. The trees were sparse here, unlike the gentler incline of the forest, and Amy was too winded to even talk after a few minutes of climbing. She listened to Mimi and Shelly banter back and forth, and smiled with appreciation up at Robert as he helped her ascend and keep up pace.
But the climb leveled out after a while, and Amy felt it was easier to stay with them.
"Robert?" Amy turned to look at him, and saw he was scanning the ground for something. That distracted her from her intended question. "What are you looking for?"
He glanced at her, "Rocks." He glanced up at her, "To avoid. So we don't trip."
She pressed her lips together to suppress the smile. After it felt stifled, she continued, "I have a question."
"About rocks? I'm afraid I know very little about them."
"No, I was wondering..." She nibbled the inside of her lip and traced her fingers over the necklace he made her. "What's it like to be a dragon?"
Robert stopped walking and he swallowed, sending his Adam's apple bobbing, "What?"
Shelly and Mimi had paused to investigate the hold up, and Shelly asked, "What's going on?"
"I asked Robert what it's like to be a dragon. I think I made him uncomfortable." Amy felt quite guilt-ridden.
But Robert consoled her, "No, I'm not uncomfortable." And he started to continue up the mountain, letting the girls catch up.
Shelly and Mimi were now interested in the answer he would give, and the three waited with extreme patience for him to respond.
"It's normal when you're human. After you first change, you forget for a while that you can change. There are a few difference, such as feeling warmer inside. Not outside, just inside. I get cold, but I don't freeze. And you are less afraid of things... " He leaped onto a fallen tree and walked along it over a long and deep crack. "... and your body has much better stamina."
He back tracked and helped them all climb the fallen tree, as well.
"But when you are actually a dragon... Well, that's a very different feeling." He helped Amy climb down last and lingered his hold on her hand for a moment, "Have you ever been reading a book while tired, and the words seem to be far away and small from your eyes? In a dragon state, everything seems smaller and further away. And you feel so warm. Pleasantly warm. And everything looks sharper; light seems brighter; dark is less of a hindrance." He dropped her hand and continued on.
Amy pondered this as she slipped over some snow. "That doesn't sound too... awful."
Robert cracked his jaw, "Except for being very susceptible to emotions."
Amy jolted, "What do you mean?"
"If we lose our tempers, we'll change into a dragon. And likewise, if we get too tired or injured as a dragon, we change back into a human and pass out."
Shelly piped in, "So you can't 'sleep' as a dragon?"
"No, if you fall asleep, you'll wake up human."
Mimi's eyes glittered. "This is so interesting!"
Shelly turned and glared at her. "Don't forget how dangerous it is!"
"Of course not. It's not like I want to be one. Anyway, we're at the cave now." Mimi sniffed, and stomped on ahead around a big boulder. Shelly, still scowling, ran after her.
Amy hurried to follow them, but was stopped by Robert when he caught her wrist in his hand. He looked dark, even when concerned, and seemed even a little pained.
"What's wrong?"
"I'm worried you may fear me again."
That was surprising. "Why would I be afraid of you again? I already knew you could turn into a dragon."
His face fell into an almost piteous sadness. And disbelief.
The need to comfort him was overwhelming. He seemed so worried about her hating, or being terrified of him. So Amy did something she wouldn't have done in her past existence. She stood in front of him and, resting on hand on one of his shoulders, stood on tiptoe to rest a kiss on his cheek.
"I promise, I'll never be afraid of you again." She whispered.
One of his hands rested on his waist for a moment, but was frightened off like a small rabbit when Shelly hollered from the other side of the boulder.
"Amy! Are you coming?"
Amy stepped away from him, and motioned at him, "C'mon, Robert."
She walked the path after Mimi and Shelly and saw the cave entrance.
Without even a double take, Amy was struck by the sight. The cave seemed to be spilling out white, black, and red crystals. They glittered in the sunlight, scattered throughout the snow, and sparkled along the mouth of the cave.
Shelly was breaking off white crystals and placing them into a bag that hung from one of her shoulders. Mimi, though, was waiting for Amy. She held a short, thick piece of wood with a fire burning on the end opposite her hand.
"Ready? Shelly is going to collect the pure stuff out here, and Robert and I will show you the inside."
Robert had appeared behind Amy, looking stoic and distant. He followed close behind the two girls, leaving Shelly behind to gather and break.
The beauty of the cave was apparent from the moment she stepped inside. The outside had been amazing, but the inside was staggering. The tunnel was small, and the light from the torch reflected and glittered off of various sizes of crystal.
"Are these all salt crystals?"
"Yes. We only take the white ones, though. The red and black are still salt, but they have some other minerals in them. And since we aren't quite sure what it is... we play it safe. Though one day we'll probably have to start using the other crystals."
But that day seemed far off. There seemed to be a lot of white crystals--more than there were red or black. Amy could see veins of red crystals running parallel to veins of black and white. And as they went deeper into the cave, the white crystals became fewer, and the red and black increased. The reflecting lights changed to pinks and reds.
All of a sudden, they came into a cavern, and from what Amy could discern from the torch light, it was made up of red and black salt crystals. Huge crystals, to be exact. Jutting out at all angles, reflecting and sparkling. Shadows seemed long and deep, and the smell in the air was thick and tangy.
"We can't leave Shelly alone too long, so we can't stay very long. But take a look around for a minute." Mimi went to stand in the middle of the room, to disperse the light as far as she could.
Amy began to circle the room, eyeing odd formations and shadowy pockets. Robert walked beside her, his hands in his pockets. He'd taken off his hat, so his hair hung over his forehead.
"Was changing horrible for you?" Amy came out and spoke without warning, surprising herself. But Robert didn't even blink.
He nodded, "Yes."
"Did it hurt?"
"No." He shook his head, "But it killed someone."
Amy didn't want to ask, and could see he didn't want to say. So she changed tactics.
"Silene says that in order to change you have to want it, somewhere inside of you. Did you want to change? Even a little bit?"
"I... It's complicated. I'll explain it to you one day. Not today though." He sighed, and looked regretful.
"I understand." And she did. So she didn't ask anymore questions.
They explored the cavern for a few more minutes, and Amy found a pretty cluster of crystals to keep in her room. It had some of all three colors in it, and was able to stand on its own. She held it close as they traversed the tunnel back to Shelly.
Shelly was waiting under a tree, licking a small crystal of salt. She jumped up when she saw them, smiling.
"Ready?"
And they went back down the mountain.
* * * *
Dinner was heavy on salt that night, but everyone enjoyed it, most not even realizing they had missed the flavor. The deer was fine and soft, and they all ate their fill. Amy felt herself swaying in her seat, sleep catching up with her.
Micah was kind enough to help her to her room, and as they walked Amy then recalled the day in the tunnels when she had collapsed from her leg injury.
"Micah, did I ever thank you for carrying me back to my room that day?"
"What day?"
She reminded him of her running, and falling, Robert appearing, and the misunderstanding.
"Oh, that day." He looked at her, confused. "I didn't carry you back to your room. Robert did."
"He did?" That was surprising.
"Yeah. He--He didn't tell you? No, I guess he wouldn't."
Amy pouted. Robert was so shy sometimes, he would allow things to go misunderstood rather than draw attention to himself.
"Well, thanks for helping me in the past. And tonight." She leaned against his arm and sighed. Exhaustion was taking its toll, and she was considering all the ways to get Robert to open up.
She said goodnight to Micah at her door, and slipped through the flap of fabric that Anne had hung over the opening while Amy was scaling the mountain. She made a mental note to do something wonderful for Anne soon.
As she changed out of her snow clothes, Amy contemplated what Robert had said today. Robert had always been very willing to share whatever information he had with her, whatever the subject was, but fell silent when it came to himself. And the conversation with Micah had, in fact, made her realize that Robert had some deep running insecurities and secrets. Oh how Amy wanted to see him be free and open with her, without the expressions of concern or worry creeping in. She wanted to sooth the fear he had of losing her trust; to convince him she would never be afraid of him again. And she was determined not to be.
But despite the intense thoughts and worries, she fell asleep right away.
And was woken up just a few hours later by a soft call of her name.
"Amy."
Opening her eyes to the dim light of her room, the fire having crept down to a dying ember, she could see the glowing outline of Robert's face. The light glittered in his eyes, and she felt her heart skip a couple beats.
"Robert?"
He flashed an unguarded smile, and Amy wondered if she was dreaming. Robert took her hand and pulled her to sitting position.
"Get your coat and boots. I want to show you something outside."
And he slid through the flap over her door.
So Amy climbed out of bed, tugged on her boots, shrugged on her coat, hurrying to fasten it shut and snatched her hat. And joined him in the dark hall.
He grabbed her hand without hesitation, and they ran up the incline towards outside. She slipped just once on the ice, and then they were in the brisk night air. He continued to run her over the next hill so the tunnel entrance was out of sight.
Then he stopped, catching his breath and biting his smiling lip.
She waited.
But he said nothing.
"What?" She gave in and asked, laughing at his piercing gaze.
"Look up." And he raised his face to the sky.
Amy directed her own line of sight upwards and lost her breath for a moment.
It was meteor shower. An infinite number of lights streaked across the sky, disappearing past the horizon, over and over they flew. And the stars themselves were bright and dazzling.
Amy then found herself laughing. She dropped Robert's hand to raise her own palms to her cheeks, laughter pealing out into the air. Robert turned, surprised and still smiling.
"What's so funny?"
But Amy couldn't stop laughing to tell him, so she caught his forearms in her hands so they were facing each other. She calmed enough to tell him, still giggling between the words.
"Just when I think there's no getting through to you..." she laughed, "Just when I think you'll always be a little distant..." And looked up at him, sighing the last laugh out. "You show up in my room, smiling like a little boy to show me shooting stars. It makes me feel like I'm doing something right."
"You're doing everything right." He raised a hand in hesitation to her cheek, resting it on her jawline.
The humor of everything fell away and the night air seemed to enhance everything. Amy's heart quickened, and adrenaline filled her veins. And because she did not push him away, Robert raised her other hand to her face and took a step closer.
Why was this moment dragging by at such a slow pace? She willed it to come sooner. But to also take its time so she could enjoy the seconds.
He leaned down and just as his lips were brushing hers, there was a crash from the other side of the hill.
Robert reappeared a few days later. Amy awoke one morning to find him sitting on the foot of her bed, toying with the leather strings and green beads Anne had gifted her.
"Good morning." She'd muttered, unsurprised to find him there.
He, on the other hand, was startled out of his wits and fell off the bed. Amy couldn't stop laughing for a good five minutes.
"It wasn't that funny." He mumbled, rubbing the back of his head where he'd hit the floor.
"Sure it was." She giggled again, and then turned her attention to the craft in his hands. "What are you doing?"
Robert rolled his shoulders like a ripple, and cocked his head to the left. "I was making you something."
"Is that so? What is it?" Amy ambled across the bed to see the project.
"It's not finished. Just wait." He held it out of view and reach.
Amy waited for a few minutes, watching him tug and knot the strings. But when it didn't appear he would finish in the near future, she slipped off the bed and tugged on her warm clothes over her pajamas. She tied her long hair up with some of the blue ribbons Silene had given her, and when she had tied the last bow, Robert was sitting in patience, watching her.
"Are you done?" she asked.
In response, he held out his balled up hand. Amy skipped over and held her hands out. He dropped an intricate Celtic-looking knot into her hand. It looked smooth and elegant. He had attached it to a long braided trio of strings, and the green beads glittered throughout the entire necklace. It was beautiful.
"Wow!" She looped it around her neck, dazzled. "This is amazing!" Amy admired it for a moment, then hugged Robert with a fierce squeeze, "Thank you, Robert!"
He blushed and looked embarrassed, but smiled nonetheless, hugging her back.
"Knock knock," said Shelly, having appeared in the doorway.
Robert dropped his arms from around her, though with more reluctance and less speed than he had reacted in the past. Amy smiled to herself over it.
Shelly smirked and folded her arms, "Mimi and I are going to hike up to the salt cave. Micah hasn't complained of being low on it, but you can taste it in the food."
Mimi poked her head in, "Or, rather, not taste it."
They both laughed without control, and Shelly wiped her eyes, adding, "You guys want to come? Amy, you've never been there and it's pretty impressive."
Amy agreed to go, as did Robert, and the group trekked out of the tunnels and up the steeper slope of the mountain. The trees were sparse here, unlike the gentler incline of the forest, and Amy was too winded to even talk after a few minutes of climbing. She listened to Mimi and Shelly banter back and forth, and smiled with appreciation up at Robert as he helped her ascend and keep up pace.
But the climb leveled out after a while, and Amy felt it was easier to stay with them.
"Robert?" Amy turned to look at him, and saw he was scanning the ground for something. That distracted her from her intended question. "What are you looking for?"
He glanced at her, "Rocks." He glanced up at her, "To avoid. So we don't trip."
She pressed her lips together to suppress the smile. After it felt stifled, she continued, "I have a question."
"About rocks? I'm afraid I know very little about them."
"No, I was wondering..." She nibbled the inside of her lip and traced her fingers over the necklace he made her. "What's it like to be a dragon?"
Robert stopped walking and he swallowed, sending his Adam's apple bobbing, "What?"
Shelly and Mimi had paused to investigate the hold up, and Shelly asked, "What's going on?"
"I asked Robert what it's like to be a dragon. I think I made him uncomfortable." Amy felt quite guilt-ridden.
But Robert consoled her, "No, I'm not uncomfortable." And he started to continue up the mountain, letting the girls catch up.
Shelly and Mimi were now interested in the answer he would give, and the three waited with extreme patience for him to respond.
"It's normal when you're human. After you first change, you forget for a while that you can change. There are a few difference, such as feeling warmer inside. Not outside, just inside. I get cold, but I don't freeze. And you are less afraid of things... " He leaped onto a fallen tree and walked along it over a long and deep crack. "... and your body has much better stamina."
He back tracked and helped them all climb the fallen tree, as well.
"But when you are actually a dragon... Well, that's a very different feeling." He helped Amy climb down last and lingered his hold on her hand for a moment, "Have you ever been reading a book while tired, and the words seem to be far away and small from your eyes? In a dragon state, everything seems smaller and further away. And you feel so warm. Pleasantly warm. And everything looks sharper; light seems brighter; dark is less of a hindrance." He dropped her hand and continued on.
Amy pondered this as she slipped over some snow. "That doesn't sound too... awful."
Robert cracked his jaw, "Except for being very susceptible to emotions."
Amy jolted, "What do you mean?"
"If we lose our tempers, we'll change into a dragon. And likewise, if we get too tired or injured as a dragon, we change back into a human and pass out."
Shelly piped in, "So you can't 'sleep' as a dragon?"
"No, if you fall asleep, you'll wake up human."
Mimi's eyes glittered. "This is so interesting!"
Shelly turned and glared at her. "Don't forget how dangerous it is!"
"Of course not. It's not like I want to be one. Anyway, we're at the cave now." Mimi sniffed, and stomped on ahead around a big boulder. Shelly, still scowling, ran after her.
Amy hurried to follow them, but was stopped by Robert when he caught her wrist in his hand. He looked dark, even when concerned, and seemed even a little pained.
"What's wrong?"
"I'm worried you may fear me again."
That was surprising. "Why would I be afraid of you again? I already knew you could turn into a dragon."
His face fell into an almost piteous sadness. And disbelief.
The need to comfort him was overwhelming. He seemed so worried about her hating, or being terrified of him. So Amy did something she wouldn't have done in her past existence. She stood in front of him and, resting on hand on one of his shoulders, stood on tiptoe to rest a kiss on his cheek.
"I promise, I'll never be afraid of you again." She whispered.
One of his hands rested on his waist for a moment, but was frightened off like a small rabbit when Shelly hollered from the other side of the boulder.
"Amy! Are you coming?"
Amy stepped away from him, and motioned at him, "C'mon, Robert."
She walked the path after Mimi and Shelly and saw the cave entrance.
Without even a double take, Amy was struck by the sight. The cave seemed to be spilling out white, black, and red crystals. They glittered in the sunlight, scattered throughout the snow, and sparkled along the mouth of the cave.
Shelly was breaking off white crystals and placing them into a bag that hung from one of her shoulders. Mimi, though, was waiting for Amy. She held a short, thick piece of wood with a fire burning on the end opposite her hand.
"Ready? Shelly is going to collect the pure stuff out here, and Robert and I will show you the inside."
Robert had appeared behind Amy, looking stoic and distant. He followed close behind the two girls, leaving Shelly behind to gather and break.
The beauty of the cave was apparent from the moment she stepped inside. The outside had been amazing, but the inside was staggering. The tunnel was small, and the light from the torch reflected and glittered off of various sizes of crystal.
"Are these all salt crystals?"
"Yes. We only take the white ones, though. The red and black are still salt, but they have some other minerals in them. And since we aren't quite sure what it is... we play it safe. Though one day we'll probably have to start using the other crystals."
But that day seemed far off. There seemed to be a lot of white crystals--more than there were red or black. Amy could see veins of red crystals running parallel to veins of black and white. And as they went deeper into the cave, the white crystals became fewer, and the red and black increased. The reflecting lights changed to pinks and reds.
All of a sudden, they came into a cavern, and from what Amy could discern from the torch light, it was made up of red and black salt crystals. Huge crystals, to be exact. Jutting out at all angles, reflecting and sparkling. Shadows seemed long and deep, and the smell in the air was thick and tangy.
"We can't leave Shelly alone too long, so we can't stay very long. But take a look around for a minute." Mimi went to stand in the middle of the room, to disperse the light as far as she could.
Amy began to circle the room, eyeing odd formations and shadowy pockets. Robert walked beside her, his hands in his pockets. He'd taken off his hat, so his hair hung over his forehead.
"Was changing horrible for you?" Amy came out and spoke without warning, surprising herself. But Robert didn't even blink.
He nodded, "Yes."
"Did it hurt?"
"No." He shook his head, "But it killed someone."
Amy didn't want to ask, and could see he didn't want to say. So she changed tactics.
"Silene says that in order to change you have to want it, somewhere inside of you. Did you want to change? Even a little bit?"
"I... It's complicated. I'll explain it to you one day. Not today though." He sighed, and looked regretful.
"I understand." And she did. So she didn't ask anymore questions.
They explored the cavern for a few more minutes, and Amy found a pretty cluster of crystals to keep in her room. It had some of all three colors in it, and was able to stand on its own. She held it close as they traversed the tunnel back to Shelly.
Shelly was waiting under a tree, licking a small crystal of salt. She jumped up when she saw them, smiling.
"Ready?"
And they went back down the mountain.
* * * *
Dinner was heavy on salt that night, but everyone enjoyed it, most not even realizing they had missed the flavor. The deer was fine and soft, and they all ate their fill. Amy felt herself swaying in her seat, sleep catching up with her.
Micah was kind enough to help her to her room, and as they walked Amy then recalled the day in the tunnels when she had collapsed from her leg injury.
"Micah, did I ever thank you for carrying me back to my room that day?"
"What day?"
She reminded him of her running, and falling, Robert appearing, and the misunderstanding.
"Oh, that day." He looked at her, confused. "I didn't carry you back to your room. Robert did."
"He did?" That was surprising.
"Yeah. He--He didn't tell you? No, I guess he wouldn't."
Amy pouted. Robert was so shy sometimes, he would allow things to go misunderstood rather than draw attention to himself.
"Well, thanks for helping me in the past. And tonight." She leaned against his arm and sighed. Exhaustion was taking its toll, and she was considering all the ways to get Robert to open up.
She said goodnight to Micah at her door, and slipped through the flap of fabric that Anne had hung over the opening while Amy was scaling the mountain. She made a mental note to do something wonderful for Anne soon.
As she changed out of her snow clothes, Amy contemplated what Robert had said today. Robert had always been very willing to share whatever information he had with her, whatever the subject was, but fell silent when it came to himself. And the conversation with Micah had, in fact, made her realize that Robert had some deep running insecurities and secrets. Oh how Amy wanted to see him be free and open with her, without the expressions of concern or worry creeping in. She wanted to sooth the fear he had of losing her trust; to convince him she would never be afraid of him again. And she was determined not to be.
But despite the intense thoughts and worries, she fell asleep right away.
And was woken up just a few hours later by a soft call of her name.
"Amy."
Opening her eyes to the dim light of her room, the fire having crept down to a dying ember, she could see the glowing outline of Robert's face. The light glittered in his eyes, and she felt her heart skip a couple beats.
"Robert?"
He flashed an unguarded smile, and Amy wondered if she was dreaming. Robert took her hand and pulled her to sitting position.
"Get your coat and boots. I want to show you something outside."
And he slid through the flap over her door.
So Amy climbed out of bed, tugged on her boots, shrugged on her coat, hurrying to fasten it shut and snatched her hat. And joined him in the dark hall.
He grabbed her hand without hesitation, and they ran up the incline towards outside. She slipped just once on the ice, and then they were in the brisk night air. He continued to run her over the next hill so the tunnel entrance was out of sight.
Then he stopped, catching his breath and biting his smiling lip.
She waited.
But he said nothing.
"What?" She gave in and asked, laughing at his piercing gaze.
"Look up." And he raised his face to the sky.
Amy directed her own line of sight upwards and lost her breath for a moment.
It was meteor shower. An infinite number of lights streaked across the sky, disappearing past the horizon, over and over they flew. And the stars themselves were bright and dazzling.
Amy then found herself laughing. She dropped Robert's hand to raise her own palms to her cheeks, laughter pealing out into the air. Robert turned, surprised and still smiling.
"What's so funny?"
But Amy couldn't stop laughing to tell him, so she caught his forearms in her hands so they were facing each other. She calmed enough to tell him, still giggling between the words.
"Just when I think there's no getting through to you..." she laughed, "Just when I think you'll always be a little distant..." And looked up at him, sighing the last laugh out. "You show up in my room, smiling like a little boy to show me shooting stars. It makes me feel like I'm doing something right."
"You're doing everything right." He raised a hand in hesitation to her cheek, resting it on her jawline.
The humor of everything fell away and the night air seemed to enhance everything. Amy's heart quickened, and adrenaline filled her veins. And because she did not push him away, Robert raised her other hand to her face and took a step closer.
Why was this moment dragging by at such a slow pace? She willed it to come sooner. But to also take its time so she could enjoy the seconds.
He leaned down and just as his lips were brushing hers, there was a crash from the other side of the hill.
