Chapter 17 A Moment of Comfort

Chapter 17 A Moment of Comfort
Dixon finished preparing lunch, arranging the meal on a rustic wooden trencher and setting it on a sturdy oak table, under the shade of a tree, the scent of roasted meats and steaming vegetables mingled with the pungent aroma.

He moved backwards, glancing at the setting one more time, and he nodded, satisfied to see the meal appear inviting. “Good…” He uttered and headed towards the hut.

As he arrived at the entrance, he glanced at the meal one more time to ensure Izzy would be impressed at first sight. He then entered the room without hesitation.

With a smile, he walked towards Izzy, who was transfixed, gazing at her new self in the mirror. Her beauty awed her. 

He stopped for a moment, a smile playing on his lips as he watched her rub her cheek, and smiled at her reflection.

Izzy sighed deeply. She put the mirror down, resting it on the table. As she turned around, her gaze met his. “For how long have you been standing there?”

“I just got here, but didn't want to ruin your moment.” He responded, his tone tinged with excitement.

“You could have just let me know about your present. How much of silliness have you witnessed?” She asked, changing her sitting posture, shy that he'd made a jest of her.

“That's not silliness—all I see is an excited, gorgeous lady in a new form,” he said, his voice measured to make her feel comfortable. “And even if you call this silliness, I won't mind watching you being in that mood forever.”

Izzy couldn't say anything. His words were appeasing, and she felt relieved, but she wasn't yet comfortable around him, so she kept quiet and stared downward.

“I just want to inform you that lunch is ready. You have to eat so you can take your medicine.” He announced.

“Lunch?!” Izzy repeated, surprised. 

“Yes,” he responded. “I've set the table outside. Come eat, please.”

The memory of Izzy's past still lingered in her mind, and she wasn't used to the life of being pampered, making his offer sound like a trap, but before she could decline, her mind got back on track. “Oh, okay.”

He watched her stand on her feet, and he hurried to open the curtain for her. 

She walked out, and he trailed after her, dropping the curtain behind him.

She headed towards the table barefoot, but he stopped her. “Your sandal…” 

She halted, turning to look at him. He picked up her sandal and hurried to meet her, placing the sandal in front of her toes. ”You didn’t wear them.”

He bent in front of her, instructing, “Use me.”

“Uhn!” She toned, unclear.

He gestured at her to use him to support herself, and immediately, as she held his shoulder, he lifted her right foot, wearing the sandal for her. He smiled, softly. “It came out nice…” He uttered, lifting the left foot and gently putting on the sandal for her.

He stood and, looking into her eyes, he announced. “The sandals were handmade by me…” He said. “It’ll be my first gift for you, so I wanted it to be something I’d sweated while making it.”

Izzy couldn’t utter a word, and she kept looking. She felt relieved around Dixon. His calm words made her feel safe, and after a moment of looking at him in the eyes with a blank mind, her lips released the only words that appeared in her mind. “Thanks…”

Tears welled up in her eyes, but she refused to release them. “Thanks,” she repeated, still struggling to cage the tears. “It’s the first time I received kindness from someone, so I don’t know how to react. Also, these are the first sandals I’ll be wearing in my entire life. They never make me shield my feet with anything…”

The tears finally flooded out of her eyes, but before they got to her cheek, he drew her closer, hugging her warmly. He relaxed her head on his shoulder, rubbing her head. “It’s fine…” He said, his tone cool. “You’re with me now. You shall know no pains ever. I promise.”

She sniffed, trying to stop the tears, but the more she tried, the harder it got to stop them. “All that everyone I’ve ever crossed paths with in the past wants for me is pain. They made me walk with my bare feet—when the ground was cold and hot.”

She wanted to stop talking already, but a part of her mind wanted her to pour out her mind to Dixon, loosening her mouth, so she further narrated. “They inflicted suffering on me. They never show mercy, no matter how much I begged,”

Her face was wet with tears, and mucus was already coming out of her nose, while Dixon didn’t stop rubbing her back, his hug still warm, making her feel safe. “Everyone I had known in my entire life made me a mockery. They laughed watching me roll in pain. I’ve always been a mere tool to test whatever they can’t even use a real object for.”

Dixon's eyes blazed with a fierce intensity as he uttered the words, his voice low and resolute, like the rumble of thunder on a stormy night. "You have me now, Izzy. I’ll always be by your side, and I swear to the moon goddess herself—no one, no matter their wealth, power, or position, will ever dare to harm you again….” 

“You are mine, and I will defend you with my life, my honour, and my very soul.” His words resonated through the trees, echoing through the landscape, as if the land itself was bearing witness to his vow.

He waited for a few minutes, giving her enough time to calm herself, and after her tears had stopped falling on his shoulder, he decided she was done. Without lifting her head from his shoulder, he carried her from the ground and walked to the table. He gently sat her down and, without a word, he placed a plate in front of her and served her meal.

“Is that okay?” He asked.

She nodded with a beam. “Yes.” She responded.

“If it’s not okay, I’ll serve you more.” He said. He gave her a spoon and waited for her to start eating before he walked to the other side and took his seat.

As she hurried to consume her meal, his gaze was fixed on her, his smile getting brighter after every spoonful of meal she took. After a minute of rushing the meal, Izzy raised her gaze, and seeing his front was empty, she asked, “why aren’t you eating?”

Dixon's eyes burned with a quiet fervour. “The whole meal is for you…” He said, his voice gentle. 

As she opened her mouth to protest, he added, “I have a meditation ritual coming up, so I must eat a hearty meal beforehand, or risk not being able to focus…” 

“So, everything on this table is prepared with you in mind. Please, eat. Let me see you nourished. All I want is to  savour every moment."