|
Lin looked at the haunch of meat and the pitcher for a moment in confusion. Why had he brought her food? She had been offering...a paltry offer, she knew, but Gurth had treated it as a request. Why?
Her eyes travelled to the empty plate still sitting outside the bars of her cell, and then naturally to the large dog greedily devouring its portion. Grendel...there was her answer. Gurth was simple, that was patently obvious. But though words were useless, he was not entirely incapable of communication. Relief flooded Lin's heart, and she laughed happily aloud. Words were her refuge and her strength: only when communication failed was she truly helpless. And with Gurth the difficulty was merely a language barrier. Many times had Lin watched her father's dogs nosing at their dishes. Lin had pointed out to Gurth her own was empty, and he had filled it, with foodstuffs of the same quality as he gave Grendel, whom he clearly loved.
Cautiously, but with an open smile on her face, Lin crept forward, eyes locked on the big man, alert for any sign of movement. Did she but know it, she looked not entirely unlike a beast herself, for a moment, before she straightened by the food, carefully picking up the meat in her good hand and tearing at it neatly with her teeth. She was not really hungry, having just eaten, but she took a few good-sized bites to show her gratitude before turning to the milk.
A whole jug, all to herself! Lin smiled happily and poured some into her glass, sipping the rich liquid with hearty appreciation. This gift she would savor, and she sat crosslegged to drink it, her eyes still on Gurth, but now thoughtfully. He'd rewarded her as he would the dog, but Lin was not at all insulted. Rather, she was inwardly almost elated. If Gurth thought of her as a pet, as a lesser member of his own pack, perhaps he would feel protective towards her.
|