Melvin the Blind
The Never Ending Quest - Episode 118140
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Lila was alarmed, but for all the theorizing they were doing about her, nobody was paying much attention to her. After a brief conclusion to the conversation, Sir Will pulled her gently along to a nice little house at the end of the road belonging to Melvin, a young carpenter in his thirties who could not see at all. Sir Will knocked on the door and led Lila inside after being called in. The place was dark, but Melvin, mindful of his visitors at once, drew back his curtains to let some sunlight in. The place was cozy, not at all decorated but flush with blankets and throw rugs. A few doors presumably led to his bedroom, a workshop, and probably at least one guest bedroom, if he had been expecting his grandparents in from out of town. As for Melvin himself, he was gangly and tall, with thick carrot red hair and a nose dusted with freckles. His dark eyes were fixed on nothing in particular, but he did turn towards his visitors and asked, "Who's this, then?" "I am Sir Willard Blessington of Pisuge," said Will, "and I'm afraid I have brought some sad news. I have with me your grandmother. She is alive, but seems to be suffering from some degree of mutism. The townsfolk theorize that she lost your grandfather on the roads north of here. I found her up there, alone, and looking quite confused." "What?" cried Melvin. "No! Grandmother, I... Are you all right?" Lila was a bit overwhelmed by all that was happening, and still had no idea how to respond. She realized too late that Will had been watching her closely for a reply, and now shook his head sadly and turned back to Melvin. "She seems unharmed, but certainly scarred by whatever she saw. She doesn't seem to care for being touched at the moment, I'm afraid. I had to pull her along to get here; she kept seeming to try to wander off." Melvin nodded in understanding. "Well, I... I'll prepare some supper for her," he said, still looking and sounding heartbroken. As if on cue, Lila's stomach growled. She had to admit, a nice meal sounded absolutely wonderful. Surely she could at least stay to eat. Sir Will released her at last to ease her down onto one of Melvin's lovely cushiony seats, though it was not lost on her that he stayed close and watched her like a hawk while Melvin busied himself in the small kitchen area in the corner, preparing a soup that smelled heavenly. He tried to spoonfeed it to her, but she waved his hand away and took the spoon herself, beginning to eat ravenously. Once she had finished, she went to stand up, but immediately felt quite dizzy, and sat back down at once. What she did not know was that Melvin dabbled in herbalism, and had taken the liberty of including a concoction in the dinner that would get her right to sleep. Once it was clear the aged woman was feeling the effects of the young man's brew, Sir Will gathered her up in his arms, and she did not resist, her eyes sliding shut as he carried her to the guest room and arranged her in the available bed. He returned to Melvin to help him clean up after dinner and have a long discussion about what moves he might want to take. Melvin desired closure but, being a gentle, compassionate soul, was hesitant to send anyone, even a questing knight, to risk his own skin to go to a dangerous area and investigate. Unfortunately for poor Melvin, it was clear that his journey back to peace would be even longer and harder than he'd thought when all of a sudden, a great swirl of activity concluded with Sir Will placing a warty toad in his hand and informing him that it was his dear grandmother. They assumed that she was mindless, and after overcoming the initial shock, Melvin quickly whipped up a crude enclosure for her out of wood frames and chicken wire. And Lila, once again, was trapped. She hopped about frantically as they stood over her, talking, now much more actionably, about what would have to be done. Lila cringed hearing them; they knew this was a witch's doing, but neither knew that only a witch could undo it.
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5/15/2021 6:08:15 AM
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