dazed and confused.

Elijah Grace. 29. Blacksmith. I guess you could call me a commoner, and I guess I could play by the rules, but where's the fun in that?

[ellaggrace]

You won’t ever lose me, Eli, I promise! It’s you and I until the very end, remember? I–I won’t ever allow anything to tear us apart, you know that! But I can’t…oh, big brother, please; you can’t just expect me to abandon Avery, to–to not go searching for him. It isn’t just that he’s the father of my child, Elijah, he…now he’s my fiance as well, and–and I have to make sure that nothing happened to him! Please, Eli, please…Avery is the air I breathe and the water that I drink, and–I won’t be able to rest until I know that he’s safe and sound and alive.

[eliijahgrace-blog]

And it needs to stay that way, Ella, and in order for that to happen, you’ve got to stay alive...okay? So that means you’ll need to forget all about this debt you think you owe to Av--wait. Wait a minute. Did you just...did you just say that he’s your fiance? You two are fucking engaged?!

[janeopheliaporter-blog]

“Do you have a picture of her for me to see? Then I can know exactly what face to look for. I can go around outside of town if you want to stay close, bring her back if I spot her. Poor little thing, she shouldn’t have left during this mess.”

[eliijahgrace-blog]

Not on me, no; my sister and I never really had any portraits of us made...it wasn’t exactly a top priority for either one of us growing up. She’s got like auburn hair, though, pretty small and petite...aside from the massive baby bump and all. We don’t look much alike, unfortunately, but she’d be pretty impossible to miss.

[melaniederrieux-deactivated2015]

“Yes, she’s the only pregnant woman I know right now actually, and her features were beyond lovely, as lovely as her heart I assume.”

She was glad he accepted her request, not that it would have stopped her had he said no, but at least this way they could help each other and find Miss Ella faster. “I don’t know what’s going on either Monsieur but its nothing good. Do you know of any places she would go to for comfort? Or any locations that made her feel safe? Or we could double check your home?” 

[eliijahgrace-blog]

“She does have an extraordinarily lovely heart...something for the vicious and foul men at play today to prey on, no doubt,” Elijah said, bitterness twinging his tone by the end of his speech. The thought of Ella being lost, afraid, or hurt out there in the village tore her older brother to shreds. He, who had been her sole caregiver and provider since practically infancy; he, who had gone out of his way to give her comfort, food, and shelter.

Would it all be for nothing? Would Ella be lost to him forever, as his parents had been so many years before? The thought was enough to have his stomach churning in anxiety and disgust.

“The only thing I can think--and it makes me sick to say it--is to look for the father of her child...Avery,” Elijah choked the boy’s name out with a great deal of reluctance, and immediately, his heart began to beat faster and faster at the thought.

“In which case...I haven’t the faintest fucking clue where they’d be.”

[janeopheliaporter-blog]

“Fuck, your kid sister. I can help you find her, maybe go after her while you see if she returns? I mean, I don’t know the girl but she’s in a lot of danger. Everyone out there is going mental and a girl like her could get caught in nasty crossfires.”

[eliijahgrace-blog]

I’d appreciate that, actually; I’m out of my mind worried about her. God only knows what the hell someone would do if they came across an eight month pregnant girl with nowhere to turn and no one to go to. It makes me ill.

[ellaggrace]

Eli, no, please, I…not without Avery. I can’t go back home until I find him; he–he could be hurt, Elijah! He…he has dealings with pirates, which is something that I’ll explain to you later when we aren’t being attacked by them, and–we can’t just abandon him like this! Please, I…let me go, big brother, let me find the father of my child. I–I’m not going back to the cottage unless I have both of you by my side!

[eliijahgrace-blog]

Ella, you aren’t listening to me! You’re letting your hearts and feelings cloud your judgments, and with a baby on the way that you’ve got to protect--that I’ve got to protect--that isn’t good. Go inside, Ella; go inside and forget about Avery Wakefield. For once in your life, do not let him ruin you. He’ll...please, Ella, I can’t lose you, too.

[melaniederrieux-deactivated2015]

“Oh god, I just…I had the pleasure of meeting her a while back. She was so kind and….” The thought of the new expectant mother being in any kind of danger made her sick. “I haven’t seen her at all lately but do you mind if I help you look for her?” It might be an odd request but Melanie would have no peace of mind if she didn’t know how the girl was faring.

[eliijahgrace-blog]

“...So you know my sister; you’d know what she looked like,” Elijah breathed, a mixture of emotions warring through his frame. The woman was kind--kinder than he’d expect from a total and complete stranger--when she offered to help him find Ella. Ordinarily, out of politeness, he might have gently refused the gesture. Now, though? He was desperate.

“I’d really appreciate your help, actually; I couldn’t find her at home and she wasn’t supposed to work today, so I just...I don’t know what’s going on.”

[ellaggrace]

I–Eli, Eli, I’m right here! I didn’t mean to worry you, it’s just…I couldn’t stay inside of the cottage without you and Avery; I was so scared, and–I’m sorry, I’m sorry, don’t be mad! Are–are you okay? Has anyone hurt you? Oh, Eli, I don’t know what’s going on!

[eliijahgrace-blog]

Go back inside, Ella...now. I don’t give a flying fuck if Wakefield’s pacing near the damn docks looking for you, you go inside and don’t come back out. Are we clear?

[melaniederrieux-deactivated2015]

Ella? The name seemed familiar but it was hard to recall a face with all the chaos surrounding them. “I’m sorry I don’t think I have!” A sudden detail sprang to mind, reminding Melanie that perhaps she has met the girl in question, “Oh god, is this Ella pregnant?” 

[eliijahgrace-blog]

The woman seemed to be genuinely thinking over whether or not she’d seen the youngest Grace, and for that, Elijah was grateful. In such a time of chaos, it would’ve been so easy for someone to answer “no” flippantly or just disregard him entirely. But then she was saying no, and...his heart sunk.

“She is, yes,” he managed, turning to gaze at the blonde more fully. “Why?”

[eliijahgrace-blog]

The minute I find out who the hell did this, I’m coming for blood. Does anybody know where my sister is?! Has anyone seen Ella?

[gwenmarsh]

Did you know that this “beer” stuff gets better the more you have? I almost like it.

[eliijahgrace-blog]

I knew this was going to happen. I knew it!

[melodyylark]

You aren’t ever able to take a break or two, monsieur? Surely there’s got to be a way for you to find a bit of time to relax every now and again. 

[eliijahgrace-blog]

Well I own my own shop, so in theory I could, but I need the money.

[janeopheliaporter-blog]

“Kid sisters are complicated to say the least. I know mine can protect themselves, but I still want to keep them safe. Even if that means staying far away from them. I, oh my that is rather scary. To be young and with child. But, you seem the type of big brother to keep her safe. Keep her happy. That’s something she probably needs right now.”

[eliijahgrace-blog]

You can say that again, blondie. It’s good that your sisters know how to protect themselves, but you know as well as I do that being well-equipped in self defense doesn’t stop us from worrying. Thanks for your kind words, blondie; I hope I’ve done a pretty decent job of keeping her safe. But, well, you can’t protect them from everything.

[gwenmarsh]

Well, I’m not at Carstairs’ Apothecary more than one or two days a week, so either you’ll need to be really lucky to catch me, or you’ll have to let me know what days you’re stopping by. Unless you’re really good at holding your breath a long time?

[eliijahgrace-blog]

That’s a pretty light work week, kid; what do you do with the rest of your time? And I’m afraid not, I’m shit at water games.

[blacksmith-buvalu-deactivated20]

Buvalu was not an expert when it came to reading people. He could get to know just about anyone, and thoroughly enjoyed it, but reading the emotions of others and picking up on nuances was not his strong point. It didn’t take a genius to see that Eljah was about ready to drop, though. He looked exhausted, tired to the point of sleeping on his feet, and Buvalu couldn’t blame him. When he had been Elijah’s age, he was likely the same. He’d worked hard to establish himself and be accepted among the people of Ronsanella. It wasn’t easy, given the fact that he was a foreigner and he was unskilled, but it came in time. Just as it would for Elijah when his business evened out and a new normal settled over the Grace family.

“How much work do you have left for the day?” He asked, glancing around the smithy before he brought his gaze to Elijah. The question had a double meaning; not just a curiosity for his young friend, but because an offer for help was sure to follow if it was a large amount. He had little to do with the rest of his own day, after all, and he was more than willing to lend a hand. 

Waving his hand, he shook his head and laughed a bit. “Oh, please. No need to get formal on me. Buvalu, Elijah. Not sir.” He shrugged and looked around again, resting his hands on his hips. “Besides, the two of you are practically family. It’s nothing at all to help when I can.”

[eliijahgrace-blog]

Buvalu had been a great friend, mentor, and aid to Elijah when he felt as though his entire world had been black. And before his death, so had Joshua Wakefield. Though Elijah Grace prided himself on earning everything for him and his sister honestly, he knew he would’ve had one foot in the ground by now if it hadn’t been for the two men who stepped up and helped him in their own unique ways after his mother and father fled and left their two children alone and to fend for themselves. So for Buvalu to express concern now caused Elijah to be eaten up with guilt; how could he express how completely exhausted he was to the man who had helped show him so much? Who had introduced him to the trade he now revered and held as his pride and joy?

“Not much,” he said evasively when Buvalu asked how much work was left to be tended to. Elijah busied himself with cleaning the grime off his hands, casting his gaze down at his work bench and refusing to meet the elder blacksmith’s gaze. It wasn’t that he didn’t appreciate the unspoken offer for help as it was he didn’t want to ask for it. Not when Buvalu had already done so much for him and Ella over the years. “I can get it done, honestly, it’s just been a long week.”

At least that part was the entire truth.

“Still, it’s nice to have someone around here friendly and willing to help,” Elijah said kindly, his lips stretching into a grin at Buvalu’s kind words. “Ella misses the hell out of you, you know; you should stop by one day, see how big she’s getting. I swear, the baby’s twice her size.”

[mancandykings]

[janeopheliaporter-blog]

“Sounds like someone could use a day or two off. Go see some scenery besides your workplace or the tavern.”

[eliijahgrace-blog]

No time for a day off in my life, unfortunately! I’d love one, but there’s just too much to be done.

[owenwren-blog]

Good grief, I know what you mean! The moment you think you have a little room to breath, another wave of work is thrown at you. It’s quite tiring, really. 

It sounds like we’re in the same boat. My condolences for that- it isn’t something I would wish on anyone.

[eliijahgrace-blog]

You’re telling me! I feel like I’ve hardly got a spare moment to sit down anymore, let alone relax. And what with the war and stuff hanging over us like this...

It’s alright, man; we all deal with it. What’s your name, by the way? You look a bit familiar to me...have we gone bar hopping together or something?