Chapter 9

Freya's

The next morning when Moira came in with my breakfast I was already awake and dressed for the day. After the horrible nightmare I couldn't sleep again and so I tossed and turned until the first light of day broke through the window.

"You're up early." She said as she gave me the tray, but her eyes widened when she took in my appearance.

"Freya, oh my goodness! What happened?" She asked frightful.

"Nothing to worry about. I couldn't sleep that's all." I said before I started to eat my breakfast.

"Why not?" She persisted.

"I think I might have been too tired to sleep." I lied. I didn't want her to worry because of some stupid nightmares.

"Oh well then maybe you should rest for today. I would tell the king-"

"No, I'm perfectly fine and I'm sure that I will be able to read a few books. Thank you for the breakfast. And now if you would excuse me I need to go read some books." I said with the biggest smile I could manage before running off to the west wing.

When I entered the library I noticed that the lounge area was bearless and a frown etched on my face.

"Over here." I heard Ronin's voice call from down the library and I followed his voice.

Ronin was standing infront of a bookcase scanning over all the books. I went to stand next to him and started to read some of the titles.

"What are these books about?" I asked.

"They're books about skin-changers. I though that since I knew so much about your kind it was only fair that you learn more about my kind, except if you don't want to learn about skinchangers?" He asked.

"Of course I would love to learn about them. Now where do we start?" I asked and he started to gently pull out some of the books.

Once he had a few he turned around to face me.

"Well let's get-" his words stopped as soon as he looked me over, probably noticing the dark circles under my eyes.

"Are you alright?" He asked.

"Yes I am, couldn't sleep. Now let's start to read." I said as I carried the books back to the lounge area.

The day went the same as yesterday. I read the books and would be interrupted by Ronin from time to time and that would usually result in us bickering about the smallest things.

This is how the next few days went and with each passing day I could feel the tension and stiffness that was between us dispersing.

With each passing day Ronin would become more and more friendly. He treated me much better than the first time we met and I grew rather fond of our time together.

Our bickering would always turn into teasing and I soon learnt that the mysterious king had quite a sense of humour. There were many times that I wanted to ask him more about his curse, but everytime I wanted to do it something interrupted us.

After a while I completely forgot about the curse and I let the subject go.

Over these past few weeks I discovered that I had more gifts just then three. Ronin also told me about the ability of skin-changers to sense powers and he told me that my powers were stronger than the average faery.

The other gifts I've discovered was fauna and flora(that happened when I touched a flower in the library I was watering and the thing started to grow at a unnaturally fast.) I also discovered that I could manipulate elements such as water, air, fire and earth( I discovered this gift when I accidentally almost burned down the entire castle. Luckily Ronin was there to coach me through it and I could shrink the flame.) I also discovered that I could control weather to some limit. I also discovered that my sight was just as good as my hearing. That was all the other gifts beside my hearing, healing and mindreading. And did I mention I was afraid of lightning.

Ronin and I read as many books as we could find on all my powers and he and the rest of the servants tried their best to help me control it.

My nightmares also only kept getting worse by the day, but I kept it to myself. My memories were still blank and I still didn't have a clue on who my parent were. Or why I was in the woods in the first place.

I was currently in the study reading one of my favorite stories to Ronin who was sprawled across the ground. After these last few weeks we became friends just as I hoped for and he was more relaxed around me.

"The end." I read the last part of the book before I closed it.

"Wow you were right, that was an amazing story." Ronin said as he opened his eyes.

"Yes I'm always right aren't I?" I said.

"Quite modest aren't we?" He teased and I just stuck my toung out at him.

"Aren't you a proper lady." He said and I threw the book at him causing him to chuckle. It sounded quite strange to hear a bear chuckle.

Then I suddenly had this thought of how funny it would be if he suddenly started to hiccup. I didn't even finish my thought when I heard Ronin hiccup. And my eyes grew wide.

"Freya are you alright." Ronin asked.

"No. I just thought how funny it would be if you hiccuped and you just did." I explained.

"Freya, you don't think you might have mind manipulating abilities, do you?" He asked.

"I don't know."

"Okay how about we test it. Make me do something stupid." He said and I thought of him hitting over the flowerpot that was standing on the table and he did it. Exactly as I imagined him doing it.

I gave him a frightened look.

"Ronin I have the power all fae fear." I stated.

"Well we helped you to control all your other powers, we can do it again." He said as he gave me his grimacing smile which I returned with a small smile.

A small knock echoed in the silent library before Moira and Ella stepped inside with trays of food. They greeted us both before placing the trays on the table.

Moira asked Ronin something about the castle that I didn't hear because I was just to focused on my food. Ronin replied and they left.

"Freya!" Ronin suddenly shouted causing me to drop my breadroll that was halfway to my mouth.

"Yes?"

"Are you alright? I've called you three times." He stated.

"Sorry I was just enjoying my meal." I said with a toothy grin.

"Moira was right."

"Right about what?"

"You and your food." He said as he chuckled. I grabbed my breadroll and threw it at him. He was quite taken a back when the breadroll made contact with his head. He immediately stopped laughing and gave me a very scary glare. A glare so scary that if I didn't know him I would've fled the castle to get away as fast as possible. Instead I just stuck my tongue out at him and continued to eat. Ronin did the same. It took weeks before Ronin became comfortable enough to eat infront of me.

A while after we finished our meals Moira came back to fetch the trays. When she was gone I continued to read the story we were busy with. 

I don't know how long I was reading, but with every letter I read I felt drowsiness overwhelming me. I felt so tired and I blamed the nightmares for it. With all these constant nightmares I barely got a wink of sleep.

A few moments later blackness started to cover my vision and I was off to dreamland.

-*-
Ronin's POV

I heard Freya's voice becoming softer and softer with each word she read. I stared at her as I saw her eyes starting to flutter close. I wanted to tell her to go to bed, but then I saw how peaceful she looked when her eyes were closed and I couldn't bring myself to disturb her. And afterall she needed the sleep.

I was worried about her. She said it was nothing, but the dark circles around her eyes told a different story. Something was bothering her, but I had no idea what it was.

I waited a few minutes until Freya was fast asleep. I quietly walked towards the couch were Freya was peacefully resting. Her gorgeous brown tresses were caressing her face and I had to stop myself from moving it behind her ear. I was to afraid of hurting her with my claws. There was a small smile on her face that made me smile. I wondered if she was dreaming of me.

Who was I kidding, she could never like a beastly bear like me.

I quickly shook my head to clear my thoughts before I gently scooped her into my arms. It was times like these that I was extremely grateful for my strong hind legs that made it possible for me to walk like a human.

As soon as Freya was securely in my arms she snuggled closer to my fuzzy chest. She squirmed before she made herself comfortable in my soft fur.

I started to walk to her room as slowly as I could. When I reached her door I softly turned the door knob before slowly opening the door.

I gently placed her on her bed and slowly covered her with the blankets. She snuggled into her bed as a small sigh escaped her lips and I couldn't help but smile. What was this faery doing to me? I couldn't help but wonder.

I gave her a last glance before I turned around and left the room. I closed the door behind me. When I turned around to leave I was stopped by Moira who stood in my way.

"Getting close are we?" Moira asked as she wiggled her eyebrows.

"Don't be silly." I said in a gruff voice before I walked past her to my room. I thought she would leave me alone, but she started to follow me.

"Ronin she could be the one who we hoped for." Moira said as we reached the west wing.

As soon as she said those words I stopped in my tracks before turning around to face her.

"No, she can't be the one and she won't be the one. And you may not tell her about how the curse can be broken, am I understood?" I asked.

"Ronin-"

"No, Moira. Promise me that you won't tell her?"

"Ronin-"

"Promise me!"

She gave me a sad look before she sighed in defeat.

"Good, I will see you tomorrow. Goodnight." I said.

"Goodnight." She replied. I gave her a last nod before I slipped into the dark hall and made my way towards my room at the end of the hall.

Once I was settled in my bed I felt my eye lids slowly closing and the last thing I saw was the picture of a certain blue eyed faery who was slowly breaking down my walls.