Day 19

After I ended the last scene in this section, I really didn't feel like writing anymore. I think writing about the argument put me in a bad mood. :(

Etana was feeling annoyed. It seemed like people weren't certain she should have saved Birom when she'd put herself very much at risk. It was ungrateful! Finally, she decided to talk to Birom--he at least would be appreciative. She found him in Ma Belda's wagon.
"Birom?"
"Etana!" He started to rise, then groaned and fell back on his mattress. "Uh, I'd get up to hug you but I really hurt..."
"It's okay." She moved to his side.
"Thank you so so much! I really thought I was going to end up giant food!" He looked a little thoughtful. "You know, I wonder how they'd have cooked me?"
"That thing didn't look like it could be much bothered with cooking."
"Yeah, you're right. But still! Thank you!" He beamed up at her, then noticed the expression on her face. "What's wrong? Did you get hurt too?"
"Ma Belda says I injured my wrist, but it'll heal."
"Better than a leg! I can't run anymore! Who'll carry messages between the wagons while we're travelling now?"
Etana smiled at that. "I don't know. Maybe we could get you a little pony of your own so you can keep up with your job."
"Hahah! Like I'm going to get a horse of my own ever."
Etana looked at Birom for a long time, and then finally said, "Some people don't seem to be too happy about what I did."
"What? I'll knock their blocks off! I'm happy!"
"Well, the giant totally destroyed the props wagon, and damaged a lot of other things."
"The props wagon? Isn't that where all your things were?"
Etana nodded.
"Does that mean you've lost everything because of me? Oh no! I'm sorry!"
Etana calmed him. "There wasn't much in there that I needed. Most of it I can carry with me, and I lost my dyes when I flung them at the giant."
"Yeah, that was a good one. You've got a lot of guts!"
"Thanks."
"You still look worried."
"Yeah, I talked to Ma Belda and she seemed more worried about the things that got destroyed than about you. And Dacore was willing to let you be eaten as long as the giant didn't eat anybody else. And Aleth..." She looked away.
"What about Aleth?"
"He refused to tell me anything in a straightforward manner, so I left."
"He has a lot of trouble talking straight, you know."
She sighed. "I've noticed. But it just bothered me more today than usual, since he seemed more concerned about the props wagon than about you!"
Birom shrugged. "Dunno. But Dacore always used to warn me that things could get dangerous, and he apologized in advance for if something happened that couldn't be avoided."
"How irreplaceable were the props?"
"The props? They're mostly just painted wood. We can make them again, mostly, though I don't think there's anyone now who can paint flowers like the ones on that meadow set. I guess the swords and jewels and stuff might be harder to replace." Birom looked up at her and smiled sheepishly. "I don't know, Dacore handles all that."
"Ahh."
"Aww, you look so sad! Come here." He gestured, and she bent closer. He grabbed her in a big squeeze that hurt more than she'd expected it to. "Thank you for saving my life!! I wouldn't be here without you! And even if nobody else is, I'm glad you did that!" He let her go and blushed. "Um, Ma Belda says that sometimes the best thanks is a good hug?"
"I can believe that." Etana smiled now. "Thanks, Birom." She got up. "I feel like I should leave you alone to recover."
"No, don't! If they're not calling for you yet, they don't need you. And I bet you'd just get more lectures from Dacore, anyway." Birom made a face. "So sit here by me!" He patted a place on the bed. "So, do you know any good stories?"

(possibly insert the fairy tale here, told by Birom to Etana)

It was some time later before Ma Belda returned to her wagon to find Etana curled up in a ball on the floor near Birom's mattress, her head resting on it. Birom was asleep as well. Ma Belda tsk-ed and shook Etana awake.
"Huh?"
"Why don't you take my bed for the night, child? I think right now you need it more than I do."
"Oh. Okay." She got to her feet groggily, and Ma Belda helped her into the bed and tucked her in. She ran a soothing hand over Etana's forehead.
"It has been a rough day for you, I know. But I want to tell you that I am thankful for Birom's safety."
"Thanks," murmured Etana before slipping back into sleep. Ma Belda left the wagon, closing the door on her way out.

Etana woke the next morning feeling much better than she had the previous... afternoon? She wasn't sure anymore. She was sure, though, that she was hungry and needed to use the necessary. She took care of the second, noticing that Birom was still asleep in his bed. She turned her back to him, and began to apply the bruise ointment that Ma Belda had given her before slipping back into her clothing. Then she left the wagon to look for food.
The wagons had moved since she'd last seen them; they seemed to now be in a more protective arrangement than the hasty camp of the previous afternoon. She followed her nose to the cookfire and found Aleth there, drinking what appeared to be a thick stew from a bowl. He noticed her come in, and their eyes met for a moment, but then he looked away, as if ashamed, and said nothing. Etana helped herself to some of the stew and sat down on the opposite side of the cookpot from him. They ate in silence. She watched him surreptitiously through the flames, trying not to be obvious. He seemed to be lost in thought. At one point it looked like he was trying to gather the courage to speak to her, but then he just hung his head and groaned as if he had a headache. Meanwhile, Etana tried her best not to look like she was having trouble figuring out how to manage with an injured wrist. The uncomfortable silence stretched on. Etana finished her bowl of stew, realizing that she was hungry from having skipped dinner the night before. She got up and ladled herself another one. Aleth had finished his and seemed to be looking for answers of some sort in the bowl. Finally, Etana had had enough. She'd intended not to talk to him until he apologized properly, but it looked like that would never happen, and she was impatient. She got up, crossed beside the fire, and sat down beside him. He looked up in surprise when she did.
"Um, hello," he said hesitantly.
"What was that all about?"
"What was what all about?" He tried, unsuccessfully, to look innocent.
"You know what I'm talking about! Yesterday! First you refuse to lift a finger to save Birom, and then you hound me for risking my life and for making the giant destroy the wagon, and finally you refuse to give me straight answers!"
Aleth sighed. "What makes you think I can give you straight answers now?"
"You've obviously been thinking about it."
"That's not true."
"Yes, it is. And yesterday you asked me to accept an apology you hadn't even offered me!"
He looked as if he were considering his words carefully. "Didn't you leave before I got a chance to say anything more?"
"That's beside the point! I knew you weren't going to say anything more useful!"
"Ngh, how can I say this?" He asked, more to himself than to her, staring again at the inside of the bowl.
"I'm waiting."
He let out a sigh. "Don't you think I would miss Birom if he were gone?"
"Well, you weren't acting like it."
"I--" He fell silent, as if unsure how to say what he wanted to say. "Is it not written that when disaster strikes, one should worry about what more can be saved, rather than what is already saved?"
Etana boggled at him for a moment. "I don't know where that would be written."
"Ignore that part," he said a little testily. "Just pay attention to the saying itself."
"So you were following the wisdom of the ancients or some such. That doesn't excuse lying to me. Is telling the truth really that bad?"
"Yes," the word slipped out, and Aleth looked angry with himself. "Urgh!"
"Then I don't think we can talk any more than we already have." And again she stormed off.

Etana went back to Ma Belda's wagon, hoping to find Birom. He was there, but so was Ma Belda. The older woman took one look at Etana and said "Come here and take a deep breath, child. What's wrong?"
"Aleth," she said curtly.
"Is he being annoying again?" Asked Birom. Ma Belda shushed him.
"Is that the problem?" She asked Etana.
"Yes. He as much as told me he would rather lie than tell the truth! How can anyone be like that?"
Now Ma Belda shushed Etana. "Why don't I comb your hair out, dear? I always find it soothing."
"Um, okay." Ma Belda let Etana's hair down and began to brush it. The sensation was indeed somewhat calming.
"Now, what exactly happened?"
Etana took a deep breath and tried to calm herself enough that she wouldn't start shouting again. "I saw him at breakfast. He didn't talk to me, and I didn't want to talk to him until he apologized for yesterday. Then he wouldn't, so I went over and asked him to apologize--"
Ma Belda stopped her. "Asked him, or demanded from him?"
Etana flushed slightly and drooped her head. "Demanded."
"That's not the best way to get an apology out of someone."
"I know, I know."
"Now, don't take that tone of voice with me, girl."
"I'm sorry, Ma Belda."
"So what happened?" piped up Birom.
"He quoted some random saying at me as if it excused him from having to actually apologize. Then I asked him if he even wanted to tell the truth and he said he didn't!" Etana was getting worked up again.
Ma Belda placed both hands on top of the younger woman's head and said "Sh, sh." She turned Etana around to face her. "This is not the way to deal with such problems, all in anger."
"Then how should I deal with them if he won't be reasonable!"
Ma Belda stroked Etana's hair. "Sh, sh. Calm down. Take a deep breath. Yes, that's good. Now let it out. Again. You can unclench your fists." Etana hadn't realized that her fists were clenched. As she followed Ma Belda's instructions, she was able to soothe herself and relax a little bit.
"It's just so-- so frustrating!" She finally said.
"I know," said Ma Belda. "I know."
"Is that all you can say?"
"There are events in Aleth's past that would explain much, and perhaps make him easier to deal with, but you'll have to ask him yourself. They are his secrets to give, not mine."
"I'm not sure I want to talk to him any time soon."
"Then don't."
"Huh?" She looked up in surprise--Ma Belda hadn't struck her as the type of woman to counsel avoidance.
"Right now, you are acting irrationally and letting your anger get the better of you. Avoiding the object of your anger may give you enough breathing room to figure out how to deal with it intelligently--and what its true cause is."
"I would love to do that."
Ma Belda smiled. "I know you do, and it will not harm you. In the meanwhile, would you like to continue your voice lessons?"
"Ooh, can I help?" Asked Birom.
"Only if Etana is willing."
"Can I help you in your voice lessons?" he asked Etana.
Etana smiled at Birom's eagerness. "Sure you can."
Ma Belda grinned. "Excellent! But given that his voice is breaking, you may find yourself regretting that decision!"