Page 9 of Grounded By Love
Seeming proud he had, perhaps, swayed her mind, he sauntered off. Only to turn around and tell her, “Just let them take the rock giant. He isn't worth your life, Claira. Many in the village would love to get their hands on a live rock giant.”
With that he strolled off to where he had left his horse. He struggled to get into the saddle with how drunk he was, and she smirked. He had no chance with her.
She glared daggers at his back, wishing he would drop dead. Robert could be such a pain in her neck. Which shocked her, she’d never felt that way before. She was really starting to change. First, helping a rock giant, and now she was wishing ill on someone else.
Once he disappeared, Claira went to tend her vegetables in the dark. She was thinking of making a heartier soup for the rock giant. He would need it for his recovery.
Then she frowned to herself. He was as good as a dead. Why was she concerned with feeding him? Plopping down on her butt Claira racked her brain for what to do.
She could let him fall into the villagers’ hands, but she wouldn't be able to live with herself, if she did that to the rock giant. They would torture him for days, just to get their frustration out on something.
If she didn't turn him over, then she would be the one to take his place at the stake. It wasn’t a thought that sat well with her. The villagers wouldn't blink an eye at burning her. She wasn't really considered part of the town’s people.
She was a witch who lived alone on a hilltop. Someone they feared, but also needed, until she was determined to be too dangerous.
The rock giant still had an infected wound. Without the attention of a healer, he could relapse and die. Claira chewed her bottom lip, as she debated everything with herself.
She would have to get him out of here before tomorrow morning. The villagers would need time to get their pitchforks ready and gain enough courage, but they wouldn’t stay away for long. Hopefully, they didn't decide to come this night, because she still needed a little bit of time.
Happy with herself she plucked some vegetables for their dinner. She almost felt giddy, even though she knew this was going to sign her own death warrant. She would figure a way to save her life, but she couldn't watch the giant die, not with all the effort she’d put into saving his life.
Once inside her cottage, she cut up the vegetables and plopped them into a pot of boiling water with some spices and a leftover chicken carcass.
Looking over at the rock giant who was sleeping soundly she decided she would have to stop giving him the tea. He needed to be awake, if she wanted him to ride to safety.
Claira would have to make sure her horse was ready, before morning light pierced the sky.
Once the soup was cooked, she served a small bowl and went over to the rock giant. Though she hadn't given him any more of the tea she knew it was still in his system, so she’d have to spoon feed him.
But her fingers trembled slightly. Eventually, he would be able to get up on his own, and she just hoped he would remember she’d been the one saving his life. She was under no delusion he could easily kill her with his bare hands, if he found her to be a threat.
Sitting next to his head she gently sat him up a bit.
He woke slightly at her touch, and she sat the bowl of soup in her lap. Taking the spoon, she did her best to suppress the tremors in her hand, and pressed it against his lips. Claira was delighted, when he took the soup into his mouth and chewed the vegetables. It meant he was indeed doing better, and the tea was wearing off.
After three whole bowls of the soup, he finally went back to sleep, and she was able to get herself some dinner.
Claira couldn't stop fretting about when the villagers would come. The slightest noise from outside had her jumping, even though she doubted the villagers would come at night. They probably didn’t want to risk battling an enraged rock giant in the dark of night. They’d most likely wait until first light.
It would also take them some time to gather, and then travel all the way to her cottage, since she lived quite a distance from the village. But when they came, they’d be out for blood.
Chapter 4
Before the rays of early morning showed over the horizon, Claira rushed to bring her horse out of the stable. She was going to miss her horse. He’d been her only companion for years, and she thought they’d have many more to come.
But now was the time to get the rock giant to safety. Her healing was not going to be a waste of time, not if she had anything to say about it. One kind deed could go a long way.
She came back into the cottage, grabbed a bowl of warm soup. and walked over to the bed. Looking down at the rock giant she couldn't help but smile. Whether or not he realized it, she’d worked a miracle here. If she hadn’t noticed him moving on the battlefield, he would be a rotting corpse.
She wished the rock giant had more time to rest. He would still be sore and exhausted. The blood loss had been almost impossible. Unfortunately, time was running short for them.
She woke him, hoping he would take the spoon from her. Then she might believe he had a chance at riding a horse away from her cottage without falling off in the woods.
It felt like there was sand in his head, scratching his brain and eyes. Whatever drug she had given him, it was starting to wear off. Thank the gods.
He could feel her sitting next to him on the bed, his head cradled in the crook of her arm. A warm spoon was placed against his lips, and the scent gripped his stomach in hunger. At this point, he could care less what it was she was offering him, because all he wanted was to gulp it down in ravenous bites. He hoped his appetite meant he was on the mend.
Strangely enough that meant he had the human female to thank. He was still bewildered why she was healing him in the first place. Why wasn’t she blinded by rage? Every other human could barely stand the sight of a giant, yet here she was.
