Do leave...? Chapter 8

Nel and Aiel were each carrying a pot of water home. "Hey Nel, I've heard some rumors..." Aiel stopped talking waiting for Nel's response. "What have you heard?" "That you are .. you know, involved with the general of the knights." Aiel was conflicted, confused, and anxious.

Why did I ask that question??

"I was." Aiel was shocked, Nel gave such a cold and short answer, this was odd.

Let's change the subject..

"Anyways, I feel like Mrs. Asuka hasn't been in good health these days, I'm quite worried" Aiel said trying to ease the mood. "Yes she does... I hope she gets better soon." Nel started worrying for Mrs. Asuka's health.

None of her children have even bothered to visit her!

Both girls shared the same thought, now they were both filled with rage. They had finally made it home and placed the pots in the back. "Hey Nel, can you get some tea ready for Mrs. Asuka? I'll go collect more tea leaves." Nel nodded and so Aiel headed off to gather more, but first her basket. Aiel headed to get her basket. She went inside and walked down the stairs, into her room, and grabbed the basket that was sitting on top of the small table she owned.

Should I collect one weeks worth of tea leaves today or two?

Aiel stopped moving and thought about her question some more.

Two. Two weeks worth for now, just in case she falls ill some more.

Aiel went out to collect the tea leaves, she walked behind the house and headed straight to were there was a small lake. She looked around and saw no leaves, she walked near the little river looking for some leaves when she finally spotted some. She carefully dug the leaves by the roots and put them in her basket so that Nel could do the rest of the process. She started walking back, then all of a sudden she heard some rocks being kicked. She looked behind her and there was a knight, she panicked but stayed calmed knowing it was a knight. All of a sudden anxiety struck Aiel.

What if this knight came for me? Have I committed a crime or framed? Or..

Aiel did not want to have her last thought come true at all.

What if he wants me to be his wife or concubine..

Aiel did not want that to happen due to her sister and Mrs. Asuka. She started remembering what Mrs. Asuka had told her some time ago as the knight approached Aiel.

"Aiel if you were ever asked by a knight to marry them and you don't want to.. be as careful as you can with your wording. They can lash out, take you by force, or worst of all kill you on the spot. They will not be reprimanded but just warned. Please do be careful."

Aiel tried to look at the knight when he started getting closer. Aiel started preparing a whole speech in her head on how to reject the knight as best as she could, but then the knight took off his helm and showed himself. It was the general, Aiel's anxiety turned into anger but it quickly subsided. Perhaps he didn't want to ask her to marry him, what if it was Nel? The general stood infront of Aiel and started speaking. "Has Nel still in the village?" The general asked, Aiel furrowed her eyebrows a bit but answered, "Yes she is, why?". "I haven't seen her around that's why, I'm worried about her." A light tint of pink appeared on his cheeks. Aiel now glared at the man.

How dare he? After all those rumors and Nel saying she "was" involved with him he dares act like such?!

"If that's all I'll take my leave general. I wish you the best on your departure." Aiel had referred to the departure of the knights, they were leaving the village and going back to the capital.

Nel will not be one of the women you knights take back home!

Aiel quickly hurried leaving the general stunned at her actions.

Dusk had set in and soon the knight's were leaving, Nel looked out her small window and stared at what she could see, the ground. She soon laid down on her bed and started getting ready to fall asleep. She then heard knocks at her window, she ignored it knowing who it was. There were more and more knocks till she finally got up and quietly but angrily made her way up stairs and through the front door to where her eyes set up to a familiar man's face. He looked at her warmly, it was the general. Yin stretched his arms out to her to hug her, but Nel ended up side stepping his hug. "What is it you need?" Nel looked to the side refusing to look at his face. "Well as you know Ill be leaving very soon, I was maybe hoping to take... to take you with me?" Nel turned around and looked at him. She didn't want to make a ruckus so she grabbed his hand and led him near the small lake. Yin had been blushing lightly from the moment Nel grabbed his hand and made him follow her. She let go his hand and turned around to face him, the general is certainly taller than her but nothing would stop her from doing what she wanted, now that they were alone. Yin was about to say something when Nel yelled at him, "HOW DARE YOU SAY SUCH THING TO ME?!" Nel had now started to let out all the things she had been thinking of then. "You dare not only mess with me but other women too?! Not only that because of you my life had turned into hell while staying in this village! I had only been here for such many weeks yet I'm bullied more than ever! You dare come to me saying you wish to take me from this place, from my sister, from Mrs.Asuka!" Nel glared at the man, "it's best you leave now." Nel gave him a look in which she showed that she despised him. "From now on we have nothing to do with each other." Nel walked passed the general, she had not let him speak at all during that short conversation, a one-sided conversation. As Nel walked closer and closer home she felt tears in her eyes.

I am nothing to him, he is nothing to me! We were never anything!

Nel hurried up the path back home and soon saw the small house, she walked around the house and through the front door. She opened and slowly and walked in closing it slowly behind her, she proceeded to walk downstairs to her room and opened her door. As she walked in she closed the door behind her and hurried to bed. She laid down on the bed and looked up at the small window, she hated that window. It was the reason someone was able to seep into heart that was only intended to love and care for Aiel. Nel wiped her tears away and started to try and fall asleep.

No longer shall I care for such man.