Mogel-Approved Distance

It\'s a warm morning, the air hot already despite the early hour of the day. Cecilia has been slinking around, trying to avoid people. At the moment she\'s sitting near the riverbank, plucking tall blades of grass from the earth and braiding them together in a rope. It\'s one of the many mindless tasks a villager can do that is useful but leaves them ample time to think. Cecilia is new to this deep level of thinking. It\'s been almost painful for the girl.

[Elaos(#30364)]

He spoke true when he said he washed his own clothes and he proves it today. With a whistle and a skip, Elaos moves down towards the bank, woven basket on one hip and beneath one arm. He skips a moment, hopping back down on foot. His open wove vest overtop the offwhite unbottoned shirt sways with his movements.

His feet in the linen shoes, he uses his walking staff in the other hand to work his way down to the riverside, only slowing when he spots Cecilia. \"Good morning!\" He chimes and continues to move towards the riverside.

Cecilia looks up from the work, her face bright as the morning sun blinds her. \"Hello!\" She says cheerfully, unable to see past the glaring light to recognize who is approaching. The healer has been avoiding Elaos, and when he finally gets close enough for her to identify for a moment Ceci appears startled. \"Oh, Elaos. How are you?\" She asks, some of the smile fading into a more nervous expression.

[Elaos(#30364)]

\"Well enough..\" He says cheerfully, watching more of where he is stepping than looking at her for the moment. \"And yourself?\" He asks though the question might have some weight behind it. Elaos slowly kneels next to the moving Anduin, setting side the lemon basil and then grasping up his first shirt, working on the stains upon it, ignoring the mending work that needs to be done.

\"I am well.\" The young woman answers, toying with the thick blade of grass in her hand. \"I am sorry about the other night. Mogel.. he.. \" She struggles, not used to coming up with apologies for others, \"I think he was just upset about other things.\"

[Elaos(#30364)]

\"Oh, there is no need to apologize,\" Elaos assures, a smile given to her as he looks up from his work. \"No need at all..\" The elder healer looks back down, lifting the lemon basil to take one leaf and press it harshly against the cloth to remove a dirt stain. \"You should have need to apologize for him, but tell me, things are better? I had hoped with my departure they would be.\" He frowns, scratching at the stain.

Cecilia takes a careful breath, obviously still thinking hard. \"No, I should. It was my fault. He asked me not to do something and I did it anyway. That was why he was really angry, I\'m sure. So, I am sorry.\" She gets it all out and looks at Elaos with a hopeful smile.

[Elaos(#30364)]

Turning slowly to her from his fight with the dirt mark, Elaos gives a shake of his head. \"Nonsense..\" He says gently and smiles to her. \"Cecilia, I don\'t expect an apology. Let us just leave it at that..\" The elder healer nods to her, moving to kneel on both knees now, setting back on his heels as he lifts his shirt to gaze at it. \"Besides, it would make things awkward if I did expect one.\"

\"Why would it be awkward?\" The healer asks, still sitting with her braided rope, tightly tying a knot after each interwoven section. Cecilia sounds more detatched, less familiar than usual. But it is early in the morning yet.

[Elaos(#30364)]

\"Well, you did say that you needed to. I don\'t think you responsible at all and it would make you feel..awkward around me to possibly be expected to offer an apology for something that you did not do.\" Elaos works at the stain with some vigour, his head bent and braid over one shoulder.

Cecilia reaches to pull another long blade from the ground and begins working it into her rope. \"I shouldn\'t be talking with you right now..\" The healer says quietly, perhaps not meaning for her words to really carry to him. Her head is bowed down over her work, an uncertain expression on her face.

Elaos hears, but he makes no comment, instead he starts to hum and reaching his shirt down into the water, he winces slightly, his song cutting off. He lifts a hand to his right ribcage and rubs there before grasping at the shirt again, starting to lather it up with the lye he carries. Rolling his right shoulder, he hmms to himself.

Cecilia is watching him again, chewing on her bottom lip in continued mixed feelings. \"Oh! Are you okay?\" She asks suddenly when he shows signs of pain. \"Elaos?\" The healer climbs to her feet and moves down next to him, reaching to light a hand on his shoulder.

[Elaos(#30364)]

\"Cecilia..\' He intones, \"I am well. Just didn\'t see the branch I ran into the other night, shouldn\'t have been walking alone.\" Elaos looks up at her and then nods lightly, wincing, but quick to hide it. \"Shouldn\'t have been out so late..but its easier to find scarlet cup at night.\" It sounds like a hastily pieced together lie.

Cecilia frowns, kneeling down next to him. \"No.. you are hurt. Let me see it, there\'s no way you could properly examine something high on your chest by yourself. Lay back.\" She\'s very demanding this morning. \"Why didn\'t you have a lantern if you were out at night?\"

[Elaos(#30364)]

\"Because...its easier to see the mushrooms..\" He hesitates a moment, looking up at her before he attempts to wave her off again. \"come now..I am fine.\" Though her tone makes the man regard her. Elaos\' brows furrow. \"You are quite serious aren\'t you?\"

\"What? Of course I am! You\'re hurt.. it could be serious. Lay back or I\'ll shove you, and that might cause you more pain.\" Cecilia looks at him as if he\'s asking her if she\'s really a woman. A healer that doesn\'t heal is unfathomable to the young woman.

[Elaos(#30364)]

He lets out a huffed sigh and sets his shirt down on a rock. Slowly Elaos lays back, his brows furrowing. \"if a healer told you everything was alright, and you don\'t believe him, what would you do?\" He sighs though, not able to help the grin that spreads on his lips. \"But, ahh well.\"

\"I would ask if he is my father, because that is the only one that would convince me otherwise.\" Cecilia answers easily, a wry grin on her face. She reaches to pull back his shirt, looking for a bruise or such to indicate where this mystery injury resides. \"And I already said that you couldn\'t possibly treat it as well yourself, which you -know- is the truth.\"

[Elaos(#30364)]

\"That is besides the point..I am your elder..\" He catches his words with a wussy like gasp as she presses against his top rib. The entirety of his right upper chest is bruised deeply and he twists away from his touch. \"Your hands are cold.\" he complains, though that is hardly the main problem. The rib on the top could be broken for all the time he has given her to check.

Cecilia gasps when she sees how bruised he is, her gray eyes widening. \"Elaos..\" She says softly. \"What happened?!\" The words are quiet but full of shock. \"You are not well! Hold still.. I was not expecting such a wound, I will be careful.\" The healer is known for a few things in particular. She has a very agreeable bedside manner, is wonderful with stitches, and has an exceptionally gentle touch. The last brings with it an empathy for another\'s pain that she seems to have little trouble gaging and being mindful of. \"Please, this looks serious.\" Her plea is full of concern now.

[Elaos(#30364)]

\"Cecilia, I have had worse..\" He insists, attempting to lay still for that moment longer. \"I ran into a broken tree branch..\" He manages to smile softly and then push to sit up. \"I will be okay.\" He insists, trying to assauge her fears. \"You are good for offering to help..\" Elaos gets one hand beneath him.

\"And if a rib is cracked? It is not bound at all and you could damage it further and possibly break it completely.. risking sharp bone edges that could tear things internally. Did you consider that?\" Cecilia\'s more headstrong side is showing itself. \"Do you want me to go chase down my father and tell him?\" She threatens, eying the man. Is that threat even valid?

[Elaos(#30364)]

\"You should take to listening to men for once, Cecilia...I said it was alright.\" Something slips about him and then Elaos realizes. He blinks and turns to her, giving a shake of his head. \"Forgive me..its not what I meant. Its just..\" He frowns and lets out a long breath. \"Please..\" He finally states, \"Take care of my rib, I will lay back down. I didn\'t mean to be disagreeable.\"

Cecilia almost doesn\'t catch the implied criticism, almost. She freezes in place, eyes locked on his for a long moment of stillness, then she pulls her focus away. \"I.. I think I -will- go and find my father.\" She says, her voice trembling as she climbs to her feet. \"Stay here.. don\'t run off.\" She stands motionless, trying to remember where the man said he would be this morning, her gaze unfocused as she thinks.

[Elaos(#30364)]

Cursing himself beneath his breath, Elaos gets up with a wince and starts after her like a young lad. \"Stop..Cecilia..\" He states, grasping at his chest as he nearly falls, catching himself with his right hand. Pushing up, he straightens and jogs the few paces to catch up to him. His hand reaches out then, attempting to grasp her arm. \"Cecilia..\" he says in a softer tone.

Cecilia is just moving away and only makes it a few steps before Elaos catches her arm. She\'s forced to halt, and looks back at him. There\'s a wounded expression on her face that\'s clearly struggling to fight away with a more practical attitude. \"What? I could get my brother instead.. Dagur wouldn\'t mind. He is older.. twenty-six.\"

[Elaos(#30364)]

\"Cecilia..I am sorry...my frustration was not at you...\" Elaos\' expression is on of regret as he move about her so he can face her fully. \"I am sorry.\" He says again, studying her face before his head dips with a sigh. \"Mogel..I just.\" He lifts his gaze and looks over her head. \"Those words were not meant for you..they were not meant to be directed at you.\" He tries to keep hold of her arm as he speaks, though for once, the elder man seems far younger, he seems lost for words.

\"No.. no. You\'re right. I should listen more. I do not pay attention. This has nothing to do with Mogel. You\'re older than I am, you have more experience. I will find my brother or my father to look at the bruise.\" Cecilia speaks quickly, avoiding his gaze as much as he is avoiding hers. \"I understand.\"

[Elaos(#30364)]

\"No..you don\'t...you are talented.\" He states in a gentle tone and moves a step closer to her. \"I just, I know you are not happy with Mogel and I can not help you.\" He states, looking frustrated now. \"My words today did not come out as they should have..I would not mind actually I would be happy to have you help me wrap my rib.\" Elaos lifts a hand if she allows him and rests his hand upon her shoulder.

Cecilia attempts to tug her arm away now, her breathing faster as she looks away towards the village proper. \"I am not as talented as my father and you should have the best care.\" She argues, sounding more upset as his words push against sensitive topics and feelings. \"This doesn\'t have anything to do with Mogel. Why are you speaking of him? He is to be my husband and we will be happy.\" When his hand rests upon her shoulder, it\'s trembling with the beginnings of tears. Cecilia has reached her emotional limit and it\'s not even lunchtime yet. This doesn\'t bode well for the rest of her day.

[Elaos(#30364)]

Seeing her reaction, Elaos releases her, drawing his hands back. Not having made a woman cry since he had last seen his wife alive, the elder healer is at a complete loss. He looks about him, as if the trees would offer some assistance. Finally he does what he think he can, what he remembers doing. If she allows he reaches out, stepping forward to wrap his arms around her and pull her against his chest to comfort her. \"Cecilia...its okay..I am sorry.\" The says softly.

The tears begin flowing and Cecilia blinks furiously to try and clear her vision, stumbling a step when he lets go of her arm. Before she can freely see again, she feels him wrapping her into a hug. She\'s not supposed to be talking to him, let alone in an embrace. \"Noo.. I can\'t do this. He will be angry, and I promised him I would be more careful.\" Ceci says with a sob, \"Please, let me go find someone. I wasn\'t thinking.\" The healer tries to work free of his hold.

[Elaos(#30364)]

Before his hand can lift to smooth her hair as he had done once a long time ago, Elaos loosens his hold on her. The man looks lost, as if he can\'t fix what he broke. Slowly he draws his arms back, leaving them wide of her. Finally his warm voice breaks ever so softly, \"Very well Cecilia..\" He blinks and nods, taking a step back. \"Go get them then.\" Eyes watch her, looking down upon her form. A sadness settles deep within his gaze before he attempts to cover it up with that usual smile of his, though lacking it might be in fullness.

Cecilia backs away a few steps, putting a safe, respectful, Mogel-approving distance between herself and Elaos. Well, perhaps Mogel might not approve, but more than enough space to prove no shenanigans are going on to an onlooker. \"He wouldn\'t understand and I don\'t want him to be upset with me all the time. I never should have said the things that I did before.\" She lifts a slender hand, wiping her face of the tears. \"I\'m going to find my brother. He will not ask any questions, he will not say anything. Just wait here.. okay?\"

[Elaos(#30364)]

\"If you say so..\" He states evenly to her words and then merely nods, his gaze turning away from her to look out over the Anduin. \"I will wait..right here.\" Elaos says, still looking out, his gaze growing more distant before he closes his eyes, letting wind their is brush over him, stirring his hair. He sighs then and looks back to her. \"I promise.\" He offers her a smile, his usual as it spreads across his face. The elder healer says nothing more, his arms falling back to his sides before he moves towards the stream, returning to the cleaning of his clothes.

Cecilia watches him, seeing the change in his demeanor but perhaps not understanding it as well she should. She nods quickly, then turns to rush off. There are still tears in her eyes. It\'s likely that if someone asked both of them separately why the healer is crying, though, they would get very different answers.