Page 55 of Legends and Librarians
Roan walked in with a towel around his neck like he’d just been working out. “Being abandoned isn’t easy to forget about.Maybe the library is still worried it’ll happen again.”
Of course it was, how could it not be? Us being here for a few weeks didn’t make the past few years disappear. I glanced at Roan, who’s eyes were downcast. Was his pain still just as prevalent?
“You know,” I said softly, “the library and you have a few things in common. Maybe you could talk to it?”
His eyes widened. “You want me to talk to the library?”
“Yeah, but call it Misty. It likes that.” I smiled as the books quivered in excitement nearby. “See? Let us handle the well, you handle the library.”
Lisa nodded. “Agreed.”
Roan walked over to me, holding out his hand to help me up. “Are you sure about this? What if I screw it up?”
“Just be honest,” I said, running my thumb over the back of his hand. “You’ll do fine.”
We stood like that for a few moments, just holding hands and staring at each other, before he nodded.
“Just don’t blame me if the well gets even dryer,” he said with a little half smile.
“Deal.” I squeezed his hand one more time before letting it go. “Now, how do we dig a deeper well?”
I leaned over the edge, not sure how far down it actually was.
“We don’t.” Lisa gave me one of those looks like I was missing something obvious. “We let Roan talk to the library like you said. Once it’s ready, it’ll dig the well deeper itself. And if it’s never ready, then we’ll respect that decision and stop all this festival talk.”
I wanted to argue with her, to tell her that there was no way I’d give up on the festival, but watching Roan awkwardly lean up against a bookshelf and try communicating with Misty tugged at my heart. Everyone here was trying so hard to understand each other and make this place better.
“Okay,” I said with a nod. “But I believe Roan can turn this around.”
Lisa smiled. “So do I.”
So instead of jumping into the well with a shovel, we watched Roan chat with the library. He picked up a book, flipping through the pages as he talked in a voice too soft to make the words out, but it was comforting and warm.
What was he telling Misty?
I wanted to go over and listen too, but this felt like a moment just for the two of them. The library deserved to have more people on its side than just me and this was the perfect chance for them to get to know each other better. I could always talk to Roan about it later.
“You look jealous,” Lisa said, amusement coloring her voice. “That’s how I felt when you first showed up.”
My gaze jerked to her. “Really? Why?”
“The library is my best friend, my only friend if I’m being honest,” she said, tracing her finger along the edge of the well. “I was worried that it would think real people were more important than us story spirits and it would forget about me eventually. Like one day...I just wouldn’t come out of my book anymore and that would be that.”
“That would never happen,” I said vehemently, grabbing her hand. “You’re a Misty Mountain librarian, just like me. You’re too important to disappear and Misty knows that. Besides, the library isn’t your only friend. I’m your friend too.”
Silence stretched between us as she studied me. Had I said something wrong? Maybe we weren’t actually becoming friends like I thought. I dropped her hand and smiled at her even as my face warmed.
“You matter to people, that’s all I meant.” I cleared my throat, turning around to watch Roan laughing as books flew around him excitedly. “Looks like things are going well overthere.”
Suddenly, Lisa’s arms were around my shoulders, pulling me into a hug. “I’d gladly be your friend. Thank you.”
The sound of rushing water drowned out anything I might have said in return, pulling all of our attention to the well. Shimmering water flooded it, surging toward the surface beautifully. Magic thrummed under my fingers as I leaned over to see my reflection in the water.
I had a big stupid grin on my face. We were really going to save the library.
“Hey Roan,” I shouted, “come over here!”
Lisa trailed her fingertips through the water, smiling. “I knew the library didn’t want to be reborn anywhere else. It just needed a little kindness and warmth. Just like all of us.”
