Not Allowed To Leave

It had now been a few months since Daphne had arrived at the home of her mother's blood relatives, and she was becoming increasingly homesick. Her aunt Berarna knocked gently and entered her room as she was packing her belongings.

"Daph, what are you doing?" She crossed her arms and frowned at her niece, who was kneeling on the floor at the moment. "You're not leaving now?"

Daphne sighed and stood, looking back at her bags. "Soon. Not..right this moment." She rubbed the back of her neck. She'd never really visited somewhere where folks wanted her to stay. Now, with the Company, she lived in such a place. But never before had she experienced a pleasant visit.

"Why? What's calling you away so urgently?" At her aunt's question, Daphne scowled in confusion. She didn't know the exact reason. She could guess, but she didn't want to.

"Does it have to do with that letter you're working so hard to learn to read for?" She jumped and stared at her aunt's smirk. "I...no. Not only that, I mean." Her aunt chuckled and lowered herself onto Daph's bed, then patted beside her. "Talk to me."

Daph reluctantly sat beside her and sighed. "I have a family in Bree. Not just the man who wrote that letter." She paused and looked at Berarna with narrowed eyes. "How did you know about the letter?" Her aunt laughed again.

"Your hand is often in your pocket. I can hear crinkling sometimes. You also sleep with your most special belongings nearest to you. That letter is always on the small table near your bed."

She couldn't help the suspicion that seeped into her voiced as she inquired, "Did you...read it?" Her aunt shook her head firmly, still chuckling. "Of course not! Why...would I be scandalised?" Daphne scowled. She didn't even know that word, but she could guess its meaning.

Her aunt chuckled a little louder before sighing and leaning back. "Well. You shouldn't leave until we finish your reading lessons, then. You're doing better than expected. You should be able to read his letter very soon."

She shook her head and covered her face with her hands to cool it. "It's not that. I just want to be able to read if anyone else sends me a letter, or he writes me any more. I've already decided I'm going to ask him to read it to me. Or at least I'll read it with him there. He's not getting off that easy and I know he's not a coward."

Berarna raised a brow and smirked before hugging her niece tightly. "You are a special woman. I hope he sees that. I'm sure he does." She leaned back again and fixed her niece with a firm look. "But you need to promise you won't leave for Bree-land until you can at least read enough to read normal letters with decent handwriting." Daph sighed and then nodded, opening her mouth before her aunt covered it.

"Annnndd...And you must promise to come back someday." This she said with every ounce of sincerity Daphne had ever seen her use. It brought uninvited tears to her eyes and all she could do was nod for a moment.

"If I am able, in this life, to visit you and Gimmer again, I promise I will. And I'll stay until I can read."  Gimmer, she had learned recently, was the special name her grandmother wished to be called by all of her grandchildren.

With that promise, she hugged her aunt tightly.