"He's fine," Iris said, shifting the tray again. "He's just bored. We've not given him anything to entertain himself. He's got to be dependent on me for everything. Now sit back and watch, darling."
Moving to the door into the makeshift bedroom, Iris unlocked it with her wand before setting the magical instrument on a nearby shelf. Though she hated to be without it, they could not risk him taking any opportunity to steal it away from her. Then she gently eased the door open and stepped inside, shutting it behind her.
Kellan immediately looked up, his face an odd mix of emotions. "You came back," he said, hope in his voice.
"Of course I did, love," Iris said, her voice markedly different than before. Higher, softer, more like how one would speak to a young child. "I promised you I would. I just had to wait for my beast of a husband to leave the house. I'm so sorry I didn't come earlier."
"He didn't come yesterday," the young man said quietly, looking back down at his hands. "Did you stop him?"
Iris gave him a soft smile and moved into the room fully, setting the tray on the bed and perching up there herself. "I did," she lied. "I distracted him, gave him something to focus on that wasn't you. Now come up and get something to eat."
Kellan paused, clearly not yet comfortable accepting generosity from Iris. But he relented when she reached down and laid a gentle hand on his shoulder. His movements were stiff, not fully healed from Sebastian's sessions with him, but he moved up onto the bed, and stared at her for a moment before grabbing the bread, ripping a piece off and greedily stuffing it into his mouth. She waited calmly as he ate, just letting him get used to her company.
"Please let me go," he said, not meeting her eye.
She sighed. Not a sigh of annoyance, but one of pity and defeat. "I wish I could, Kellan. You know I do." Her voice hitched slightly, with practiced emotion. "But I can't. He has the entire property under wards. He'd kill us if we tried." He sighed to match hers, and ripped into the bread again. Seeing an opportunity, she reached forward and set a hand on his knee. "But I might be able to do something for you. Would you like a book? Perhaps a pen and paper? I can't bring your journal, but I can do something? I hate thinking of you in here all alone, with just your thoughts."
He thought for a moment, then nodded his head as he reached for the pitcher of water to have a sip. "Wonderful," Iris said. "I'll find something to bring you when I bring your dinner tonight. And we're having stew. I can try to sneak you out a bowl. Better than bread, I promise."
He nodded again, looking down at his food. "Thank you," he muttered after a moment."
"I should go," Iris said then. "I'll be back after dinner." She got up off the cot then, and picked up the empty tray at the door before leaving.
Once out of the room, she locked the door and gave Alecta another grin. "What do you think?"