The Problem?

The half-elf was held hostage for almost a month, refusing to eat or drink more than just to survive till the next day. That fact worried Ma’ena who was the only one who was visiting him daily with a little Ma’ob in her arms. Even though Rob loved to hold a baby earlier, however, the mistrust he experienced earlier made him think he didn't deserve it. The tribe people were looking suspicious at the leader's daughter’s behaviour, but she stepped back from leadership for that matter, so they let it pass for the time being.

Ma’ena was done when she found out that nothing diminished from the plate she brought Rob in the morning.

“What are you punishing yourself for?!” She hit with all the desperation and worry that was growing in her heart since he came to the village. Rob didn’t say a word most of the time. “Are you the one who created that plan?! Are you the one executing it?!”

“I am not!” The healer let it all out too. All that frustration of not being able to do anything other than waiting. The disappointment towards himself. The confidence that Alan would feel the same about him!. The fear that people will die because of his incompetence. “But my father is!”

“You are not him!” Ma’ena slapped him in the face, hoping the shock would finally bring him back to her. Rob was holding his cheek for a moment before he realised what happened. “For me you are my dearest friend and I don’t want to see you in that state.”

“But…”

“Don’t try to say something stupid, or I will talk you out of that mindset with my very own fists.” She tried to smile at him, and saw that it could start working. “And don’t forget this little helper, whose tiny fists are even stronger than mine.”

“You know you are scary.”

Rob carefully reached for a piece of a fruit and started to slowly eat it. Ma’ob was trying to get his attention so the healer asked if he could hold him for a moment. Having the little one in his hand reminded the half-elf about the fact that he helped him come to this world and that he decided to choose healing as his mission, if he wasn’t supposed to be the hero. That took his mind to Alan, who must have been doing something important in opposition to him. Little fist squeezed his finger and for the first time since coming to the village he smiled. That’s why he came there to warn them, to fight alongside them later, so they could live in peace.

“I am happy to see you finally.” Ma’ena whispered, seeing a change that happened in her friend.

“I can't do anything.” The visible improvement was only for a moment.

“Don't worry about it. The other tribes’ leaders are already back to prepare for the battle.” She smiled. “We will be there on time.”

“What do you mean?” Rob was surprised that everything was probably going in the right direction.

“I mean that how could you expect us ogres to just sit and wait when we are stronger united than. The leaders could confirm, what Ma’ut also had seen, that the monsters were behaving weirdly. The heroes they trust, who don't belong to the king’s one also mentioned that something is going on in their opinion. We are leaving in three days.” Ma’ena explained like it was going about a walk not war.

“Why do you keep saying we?” Amazed Rob was looking at Ma’ob who was taking a nap peacefully in his arms.

“I am a warrior Rob, of course I am going and you are going with us, as a prisoner for now unfortunately.” She laughed cheerfully.

“I understand myself, but what about him?”

“Don’t worry he will be safe, but I feel like that is the thing that I had to do, for him too. I am not going to ask for your permission.”

“Will my opinion as your friend even matter?” The half-elf smiled too.

“Not at all.”

They were sitting for a while in silence. Rob tried not to move so the little ogre's sleep wouldn't be disturbed, however his stomach neglected for a long time reminded of its emptiness quite loudly. His efforts to eat with one hand while trying to keep the other as steady as possible and holding a child with it was funny for Ma’ena to watch. However there was still something that couldn’t leave her alone.

“I think there is also something else troubling you?” She asked carefully, Rob looked away, but nodded a moment later.

“I heard from someone that Eric could still be alive. That’s impossible, he was an ordinary human…” He got sadder. “Doesn’t matter how much I think about it. I just can’t believe it, but at the same time part of me is overjoyed.”

“Honestly I think it’s possible, I don’t know exactly why, but it is. Actually I have a theory that Ma’Alan is Ma’Eric.” She looked at Rob angrily, when he was getting ready to tell her that she went crazy. “Listen carefully. You know Ma’Alan for a while too, but I have known him for my whole life. I have grown up, my father got old and my mother died but he is still the same. Even the smallest thing changed in him since I remember him as a little kid. The tattoo was not given by my father, so it has to be my great-grandfather’s decision, that means he has to be old, but it’s like time forgot about him. He took you to the cemetery right, but do you know whose grave he is always visiting?”

“He didn’t tell me this.”

“It’s Eric's parents. He brought them here, because my great-grandfather was his friend and they were in danger after the kingslaying thing.”

“Eric was innocent.” Rob’s almost aggressive defence was reflexive. Ma’ob woke up scared and started to cry so the panicked half-elf gave him to his mother.

“I know, but none of the things I have told you concerns you?” Ma’ena was rocking the baby, while walking around the room.

“Of course it does. You have no idea how much I am conflicted about my feelings and all of this situation.” The healer’s face was all red, but looking at friends face made him sure that he could finally also let out everything of that matter. Even though that was extremely embarrassing he was looking down most of the time afraid of Ma’ena mockery. “I was admiring Eric for so long that later I misunderstood all of that for love, I have never met him again, so all I had were stories about it. I know how stupid it sounds to fall in love with the creation of your own imagination. When I started to feel something for Alan it seemed like a betrayal for me, so I tried to surpass it, but I couldn’t after all. And at times I also thought that Alan reminds me of Eric, and that was just more confusing…” Ma’ena face lightened up. “But that is the least important of my problems.”

“There is no problem, if I am right, don’t you think?”