Elizabeth

A few days after falling asleep during a reading at University, Lizzy started to feel better. The blood results from her last hospital check-up were fine and a few good nights of sleep seemed to have brought her back to normal. Colour returned to her face and her skin and hair tone weren't the same anymore. At least that's what Diana said to her when she saw her on her first day back at Uni - that she looked as if someone had given her a greyish glazing all over. Now Lizzy's ashy blonde hair was a nice contrast to her rosy cheeks and naturally pink lips.

She rolled over once, twice and surely there was enough space for a third time in her super king size bed but Lizzy stretched and kicked off the ivory silk duvet. One of the presents her parents bought her when she moved into her first own flat about 7 months ago. They gave her loads of overly luxurious presents for the occasion, most of the stuff so embarrassingly decadent that she had a habit of hiding it in her cupboards when friends came over.

This morning there was no reading and no meetings for her group project - the perfect day for a relaxed library visit and a good catch up with the material she'd missed whilst in hospital. With a big yawn she got up and walked over to the French windows leading to the balcony. A beautiful spring morning. No clouds in the sky. The street was still quiet, only a dog walker up so early. Her road was mainly residential and the little park between her row of houses and the one on the opposite was almost exclusively used by people from the neighbourhood. It was only 7am, early indeed, but Lizzy wanted to make to most of the day so she got dressed in casual jeans and t-shirt and left the house with her take-away travel mug filled with deliciously aromatic coffee. The best smell in the world, she thought.

Both the university and the library building weren't far from Lizzy's apartment and she took her time to stroll through the city, sipping coffee and absorbing the first rays of sunshine. Sun was a welcome change from all the miserable rain they had over the past few weeks. The city of rain, that's what she called London. In all fairness, it wasn't much better up north but with all its tall concrete buildings, London's inner city looked much gloomier in bad weather than the historical little town with all its streams and trees that she called her home.

It was almost eight o'clock now, the doors of the library would open any minute. She wasn't the only one waiting outside the impressively tall, washed out looking stone building. A young men was also waiting to gain entrance. His wavy raven black hair, pale olive skin and glasses looked familiar. Where had she seen him before? He glanced over to her. Once. Twice. Did she know him?

The door opened and a short man with polished head and striped shirt said good morning. The young man was waiting, seemingly intending to let her go inside first. Lizzy walk towards the door but instead of walking through it like a normal person would, she ran into the door frame, bounced back, coffee flying everywhere. There was only about a third left in the cup, but enough to make a mess and stain her top with little brown speckles. The man was now right behind her, trying to supress a laugh.

"Are you okay?" he asked. Looking clearly amused and not worried about her in the slightest.

Lizzy turned around and looked at him. "Ehm, yea...I guess I need another one of those" she said as she waved her empty travel mug.

"You know what, me too. I barely slept last night."

And indeed there were dark circles under his eyes. She really didn't have an excuse for being tired Lizzy thought. The guy though, he looked as if it would be totally justified for him to walk into a door frame.

Lizzy wasn't normally one to speak to strangers, especially men, but she felt strangely familiar and confident with him.

"You do look exhausted..."

"I'm shattered. Fancy a caffeine top up?"

"I've got a lot of work to get on with today...but I guess I'll function much better after a second coffee."

He smiled.

Together they went to the second floor café of the library. It was slightly awkward to walk up there with someone she just met a few minutes ago but also exciting somehow. They were the first people there. The barista took their order - a latte with two sugars for her and a flat white without sugar for him. They found a table at the window overlooking the campus.

"What's your name?" Ravenhair asked. A name that Lizzy had made up for him in her mind.

"Lizzy, nice to meet you" she extended her hand to him with a smile and he shook it.

"Amar"

Amar had the biggest smile ever. He exposed his big shiny teeth and Lizzy could only admire how perfect they were.

"So Amar, why do you look like a zombie this morning?"

"So charming"

He was clearly amused by her cockiness.

"...but I have to say, it's a very apt description of how I feel today" he added.

"Sooooo...?"

"Well, I had an important exam yesterday, been studying for it days without end...or sleep. I've passed with distinction but feel like half a person now."

"Where and what do you study?" Lizzy wanted to know.

"Medicine. I'm specialising in Neurology. The centre for Neuroscience and Neurology is just around the corner."

Lizzy knew just too well. She was always interested in Neuroscience. She told Amar about it and how and why she ended up studying law instead. He showed genuine interest and asked her loads of questions. But talking about herself was boring and depressing. She wanted to know more about him.

"What's your plan?"

"I'm working towards becoming a brain surgeon. Still a lot of research involved but I want to do the practical work too."

"You are amazing." Lizzy just splurted out without thinking.

Amar smiled one of his wide smiles and thanked her.

"I feel flattered" he said.

"Well, you know, I mean because you are following your dreams. You are doing what you are passionate about....whereas I'm just doing...my duty. Kind of."

Within a short time, their conversation had turned very personal and for Lizzy slightly sensitive. He looked in her eyes and noticed her feeling of discomfort.

"I need to go" she said, suddenly realising the time. They sat there talking for over an hour.

"I've got so much work to do. It was really nice meeting you."

"Shall we do it again sometime?" Amar looked at her with warmth and a crooked grin. A strange look. Again, Lizzy felt an eerie familiarity. A stranger, yet there was something about him.

"Yes, sure. I'll see you around".
And Lizzy hurried out of the café, off to find the section with the law literature.

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Now I know this chapter was rather uneventful but necessary for what's to come! Stay tuned and thank you so much for reading Nine Realms!