DEVOTION - THE WEEPING MONK [PART 2 COMING IN AUGUST 2023]

CHAPTER ONE

"Piss off, half-wit!"

They both turn to look at Nimue who held a sad smile. Squirrel spoke up, "Are you heading to the pyre? I wish, I could go." Nimue smiled for a moment. Gwen placed her hand around Squirrel's shoulders giving him some comfort.

"Someday little knight," she laughed out ruffling his blonde messy hair.

"Gods, I forget the offering. Mother will kill me," Nimue blurted out soon after moving around only to turn to face them, sending them a smile, and she quickly handed her white horse to Gwen. "Would you please?" Gwen took the leash giving her a smile as approval.

~ ~ ~ ~

That evening, she returned to the small cottage, where she lived in up the mountains. She left the white horse outside the cottage tying it against a tree, nearby her home. Once she stepped in, she found Boro sitting on one of the seats, worried. As soon as she stepped in, Boro got up immediately rushing towards her.

"Where have you been?"

His strong pair of arms embrace her for a hug. She got taken back. "I've been in the village." Boro smiled at her response. "Were you with Nimue?" He asked.

She shook her head confused but lied. "No. I have her horse. She told me to hold it for a while since she has been summed, " Boro couldn't help himself from smiling. "I thought she hurt you. Haven't you heard Benum was attacked by Nimue today? She attacked him. His mother has been pouring her thoughts to the elders to cast that girl away." Boro kept talking like he was trying to talk some sense to her. Gwen shook her head refusing to believe it.

"Don't believe, Benum. He has always been exaggerating about things since he was a boy. I don't like him particularly his mother either."
Boro sighed. He knew Gwen would always take Nimue's side. They had been friends since they were young kids but now they seem closer than ever. He knows deep inside it's because Gwen can relate with Nimue, they're both people struggling with inner emotions and are wanted by the villagers to be cast away.

"I'm warning you to be careful," he told her, causing her to smile. She turned to the side and started gathering clothes to wash. "I don't get why you're so worried. You never let me do anything for fun? You're always trying to control me?"

"I'm trying to keep you safe, Gwen." Gwen rolled her eyes. "How? By making sure, I tell you my exact place and whereabouts each day? I won't always be with you, I'm sick of being trapped in this little village." She confessed as she moved around trying to find some messy clothes. Boro trailed behind her trying to come up with some explanations.

"I know that. I'm here. I've kept you safe after all this time."

Gwen finally turned to look at her brother. His name is Boro. He is fifteen years older than her and he honestly has been there most of her life trying to keep her safe. She didn't blame him but she also never asked for this. Whenever she is in the village, people will always critique her for having platinum white long messy hair, she was born like that. Some will even call her an elf but others will end up calling her witch. She never lets those words bother her as much.

"Not everything can last," she simply confessed, sighing finally placing all the clothes on a small basket, she found herself walking out of the small cottage. She had enough. She honestly wanted to leave this village. She wants freedom.

~ ~ ~ ~

She walked alongside Pym who helped her carry the wet clothes that belonged to her brother. "These surely are his clothes." She smiled all lovingly holding it. Gwen laughed seeing her like this.