Page 19 of Marked

Damien didn't respond, so Blair shrugged, "Suit yourself." She began to walk back in the direction of their room, only pausing as she passed the door. Damien continued to follow her, and when he made no effort to go inside, Blair continued toward the town with him beside her.

As they approached, she felt his eyes on her, assessing.

She went to talk, but her attention was caught by something else.

A small group of girls, no older than seven, sat in a circle on a patch of grass.

Their laughter was light and carefree, their hands busy at work.

Blair took a few steps closer, intrigued by the ribbons they held.

The girls, with their untamed hair and bright eyes, were focused on weaving colorful ribbons into intricate braids.

Some had already formed delicate patterns, their little fingers nimble as they worked.

Others sat next to them, watching and practicing with each other still trying to master the motions.

The sight was charming, like something out of a storybook.

Blair stood for a moment, watching them, a soft smile curving her lips.

This is why she loved being a teacher, small moments of child-like innocence.

One of the girls, a little one with a crown of daisies in her hair, noticed her watching.

Her eyes brightened as she stood up, her hands still clutching a bright blue ribbon.

"Would you like us to braid your hair?" she asked, her voice full of eagerness .

Blair hesitated, her fingers absently brushing through her long hair.

It had been a long journey, and it was still tangled, even after the hot springs.

She had always worn her brown waves loose, often too tired to bother with much more than tying it back at the end of the day.

The thought of it being braided with flowers made her heart flutter a little.

"I would love that," Blair said, her voice soft and inviting. "You'll have to brush it though."

The girls erupted into excited giggles and chatter, their eyes wide with glee. It was as if Blair had granted them some great privilege. They scrambled around her, hands outstretched to touch her hair, their laughter like the tinkling of tiny bells.

The little girl who had spoken first, her daisies still perched in her wild curls, guided Blair to sit down on the soft grass. "You have such pretty hair!" she exclaimed, reaching up to gather a section. "We'll make it beautiful, just wait!"

Blair sat still, her chest swelling with a kind of warmth she hadn't felt in a long time. She closed her eyes for a moment, just taking in the soft breeze, the sound of the girls' chatter, and the distant clatter of the town waking up for the day.

The girls worked in unison, their small hands gentle and sure.

As they braided, they wove tiny wildflowers into the strands.

Daisies, Buttercups, and Lavender, each flower adding a touch of color and sweetness to Blair's hair.

One of the girls hummed softly, her voice like a melody that blended with the soft rustling of the leaves above them.

Blair could feel the energy of their joy in every tug of the braid, and in every flower they carefully placed.

The simplicity of it, of sitting here, letting them create something beautiful for her, was more soothing than she could have imagined.

It was like she had stepped into a small, perfect moment where nothing else mattered but the warmth of their hands and the soft laughter that filled the air.

Pretty soon, they had even convinced Damien to be a part of it.

He sat on the ground; legs crossed beneath him as two girls stood on their tip toes behind him.

He knelt back, sensing their struggle, and allowed them to put a crown on his head.

As it was placed, Blair noticed how it twisted and held firm.

The crown was made from broken twigs, vines, and random flowers.

As he stood, the girls stepped away, giving him a unified curtsy.

He smiled and bowed at them, thanking them for the gift.

As they finished Blair's hair, the little girl with the daisies decorating her own braid stepped back to admire their work. "There!" she said proudly, her eyes shining. "You look like a flower queen now!"

Blair chuckled softly, her fingers touching the delicate braids, feeling the soft petals of the flowers against her skin. She could feel the weight of the flowers in her hair, but it wasn't heavy. It felt like a crown; a symbol of the kindness these girls had shown her.

"You've done such a beautiful job," Blair said, her voice filled with warmth and gratitude.

The girls beamed up at her, their faces flushed with pride. "Thank you for letting us do it!" the little one with the daisies said .

Blair's heart ached a little at the sincerity in their eyes. How many times had she seen this in the eyes of the children she used to teach?

"No, thank you," she replied softly, her fingers tracing one of the flowers in her hair. "You've made my day brighter."

The girls giggled again as if pleased by her words before they began to run off toward the town square, their laughter trailing behind them like the scent of flowers in the wind.

Blair watched them go, trailing joy with each step. She stood up slowly, running her fingers through the braids once more. Marveling at how something so simple, a group of girls, some ribbons, and wildflowers- could feel like such a gift.

She took a deep breath, looking at Damien, who was standing next to a tree.

"I think my students would have liked you.

You would probably play ball and have tea parties with them.

" Blair stated, as she curtsied at him with a dramatic flair.

This action caused a large smile to break on his face as he bowed back, both laughing as they walked toward the stalls and shops.