Broken Promise

After sending Raelynn off at the Bravos city gate that night, Elio then pulled out Elani’s letter to check where her house is located and went to the tavern to stay the night. The next morning, he immediately went to a small village on the outskirts of the town, first thing in the morning. On his way, he saw two Bravosian guards coming from the opposite side of the road. Elio greeted them and asked, "Good afternoon, guys! Is the Spartimber village this way?"

"Oh yeah, you just go straight down the road, and you’ll see the village on your left." One of the guards replied.

"Alright, thank you so much!" Elio responded.

Elio followed the direction that the guard gave him until he arrived at the front gate of the village. He then went to the town square and asked one of the shop owners at the square for directions to Elani’s place.

"Hi, Miss, I’m Elio, Elio Pierre. Do you happen to know where Weatherstone’s residence is?" Elio approached the flower shop owner and asked her.

"Yes! You know her?" Elio said in excitement.

"Yeah, Elani, the lass with a banjaxed Da’, poor girl, ‘ave you heard the news?"

"Yea.."

"It’s just right ‘round that corner, right there." She pointed. "You’d like some flowers for that youngwan as well?"

"Oh that would be nice!" Elio spoke. "I’ll take some lilacs."

"Ah, lilacs, ya her husband? She often comes ‘ere for lilacs as well. Thanks a million!"

Elio went straight to Elini’s place after he paid for the flowers. He knocked on the door twice.

"In a second!" Elani yelled. Elio can hear the sound of Elani rushing to the door. She opened the door, and her face clouded over immediately when she saw him. However, Elio does not seem to notice it.

"Oh hi." Elani greeted.

"Hey, Here some flowers I brought from a really kind florist while on my way here."

Elio handed her the flowers, and Elani replied, "Ah, Okay, I’ll put this in the vase."

"So… How is Mr. Weatherstone, Is he doing better?"

"Yeah, he is."

A short moment passed. They were standing awkwardly at the front door.

"Can I see him?"

"My father doesn’t want any visitors right now."

"Oh, Alright." Elio replied. "And how are you…?"

"I’m fine."

"..."

"..."

"Are you sure you are okay?"

"Yes, I said I’m fine."

"Right, right."

"..."

"Oh, here, you said in the mail you joined the chess tournament ‘cus you need money, you can have this, I know it’s not much, but Mr. Weatherstone is like an uncle to me." Elio smiled.

\*\*\*SMACK\*\*\*

"I don’t need your filthy money."

"Wha..?"

"You promised."

"What are you talking about?" Elio was confused.

"I was there yesterday, I was buying some herbs in the city."

"What…?"

"Forget it." She slammed the door in his face.

\*\*\*Flashback\*\*\*

"Elio! Elio! Elio! Stop it!" Elani and Gustaf rushed in to break up the fight between young Elio and some other kids.

One of the kids appeared to have a broken nose with blood smeared all over his face.

"What did you do?" Gustaf pushed him off the kid. "Elani please, take him away, I’ll talk to them, Please knock some senses into his thick skull for me."

"Here, can you walk? Let me take you to my mother, she’ll know what to do." Gustaf gave him a hand and pulled him up.

"..."

"What are you thinking?" Elani raised her voice at him.

"They were making fun of you, you’re the only human around here."

"That doesn’t matter. Violence is never the answer."

"I know, but."

"No, that’s it. No but."

"Alright."

"This can never happen again, alright? Not unless you really have to. Like defending yourself or when you are in danger, but not for other reasons."

"Fine. El."

"No, fine. You have to promise."

"..."

"Promise!" She raised her voice.

"Ok. I promise."

Elani smiled in response and continued to mend his scratches.

## Synopsis

Elio arrives at the Spartimber village to meet Elani, the Bravosian girl he's interested in. He brings her flowers and tries to have a conversation with her about her father's condition and their relationship, but Elani seems distant and abruptly ends the conversation. In a flashback, it's revealed that Elio used violence in the past to defend Elani when others made fun of her, which she disapproved of. Elani makes him promise not to resort to violence unless necessary for self-defense or danger. Despite Elio's assurance, Elani remains wary of him, hinting at an unresolved past incident.