| Sect eleven: restless By Richard LeBlanc Within a forest a few days travel away from Torann - the two were camped out. Julia was doing her best to bandage up his swollen shoulders and arms. "Stop squirming," she stated. "It hurts," he retorted. "I gathered as much. I am just trying to help. I mean - you did get hurt because of me," she pointed out. He sighed and shook his head. "I'm not blaming you," he stated. "I know - I just want to help," she replied. he sighed and motioned for her to continue. She moved behind him to secure the bandage. It was then that she noticed a picture that was tattooed onto his back. The head of a small red dragon. "What is that?" she asked curiously. He looked over his shoulder at her. "What?" he asked. "The dragon?" she asked curiously. "It is my rank in the order I served," he replied quietly. She nodded and gave the bandages a tug. He tensed up but said nothing. "All done?" he asked. She walked over and sat down before him. "As done as I can do. We should get you to a cleric soon though - just in case," she replied. Drake moved his arms around - they were feeling a touch better. "When the chance arises - I will," he reassured. "I'm sorry I am dragging you through this mess," she apologized. "Do you hear me complaining?" he interrupted. "No," she answered. "There's a reason," he added with a wink. "A reason? Do tell?" she asked. "Well - you would be lost without me," he teased - she playfully slapped his leg. He pretended that it hurt. "Joking," he reassured. "Then why?" she asked curiously. "Because if I left I would be worried about you - facing all these dangers alone. Because if I left I would feel as though a piece of me was missing - if I looked and you weren't there," he began - looking up at the light clouds that were drifting across an otherwise cloudless sky. "I know it must sound silly as we have just met and all," he dismissed. "Why do you think it is silly?" she asked curiously. "I don't know," he answered. "Like I said before - I'm not used to feeling this way," he added looking over at her. "Like what?" she asked. He quietly chuckled and remembered back a bit. "I don't know - love?" he replied with a wink. She didn't catch on at first but soon recognized the answer. "If you are joking," she began. "I'm not," he interrupted seriously. "You love me?" she asked hesitantly. Drake blushed and looked away. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't," she began. He looked over and shook his head. "No - don't be. Like I said - this is new to me," he reassured. "I guess we have much in common," she replied. "I guess so," he added. "So - what - will you do when all this is over?" she asked curiously. "Not used to thinking that far ahead. What about you?" he retorted with a smile. "You answer everything with a question. That is very annoying," she remarked. "Is it?" he playfully asked. She hit him on the shoulder - his face forced back the jolt of pain the light hit caused. "Sorry," she muttered. "I deserved it. So have you thought much of the future?" he asked sincerely. "Promise you won't laugh?" she hesitantly asked. "I swear," he answered. She smiled and looked up at the sky. "I have lived in seclusion for so long - I have seen so little that," she began but was at a loss for words. "You want to see it all?" he suggested. She nodded. "Is there room in your future for another?" he asked. "Had you asked - a month ago - I would have said no. All the boys I knew - they either acted like the world owed them something - or thought that women had just one use," she replied - rolling her eyes. "I know the types," he commented. "But you - you aren't like that. You risked so much for me - done so much for me and asked nothing in return. Around you I feel and say things I never thought I would or could," she said as she looked over at him. "Not to mention the fact that you have the most amazing deep blue eyes I have ever seen," she added on an almost subconscious level - realizing all too late that she had in fact spoken the words out loud. She blushed and quickly covered her face with her hands. He reached over and gently moved her hands down. "And you - have to be the most beautiful woman I have ever seen," he whispered. Slowly he leaned forward. She closed her eyes and did the same. The two kissed. It was as if time had stopped for both of them and that nothing real existed save that moment. When they slowly moved away from each other - bother were mildly entranced. She placed a hand over her rapidly beating heart and looked over at him. "You like?" he playfully asked. She nodded. He leaned over and began to kiss her neck. She felt a shiver run down her spine - and slowly the two laid down on the ground within the shadow of a an old tree. Some time later - most of the day had passed. The sun was in the sky - beginning its final descent. Beneath the tree - Julia and Drake rested. Julia was fast asleep - resting her head on his chest. Drake felt her shiver a bit so he covered her with more blanket. Upon doing so she sighed contently. He was tired too but something bothered him. It was then that he looked into the branches of the tree above - perched on a branch looking down was a black falcon. "I will not let you hurt her," he whispered to the dark bird. The bird seemed to smile but flew away none the less. He sighed and closed his eyes. "You okay?" Julia asked. He looked down and saw her smiling at him. He ran his fingers through her hair and smiled as well. "Just thinking," he replied. she rested her head on his chest and sighed. "About us?" she asked. "Yes," he admitted. He expected more questions - but looked over and saw that she was once again fast asleep. He put his arms around her and held her close as he too drifted off to sleep. Morning came. Drake opened his eyes and saw that Julia wasn't there! "Julia? Julia!" he called out in a mild state of panic. Within moments she hurried over and looked at the pale look on his face. Seeing her alive and well help put his fear to rest. "What's wrong? You have a bad dream?" she asked. "Yeah - a real bad one. I feared that something had happened to you," he answered - slowly sitting up. "Where were you?" he asked curiously. "I woke up early to watch the sunrise. I didn't want to wake you as you looked so peaceful. I'm sorry if I scared you," she answered sincerely. Drake sighed and shook his head. "Don't worry about it. Sorry I slept so late," he replied. "It's okay - gave me some time to get breakfast ready," she remarked with a smile. He smiled as she skipped away to where the animals and campsite were. He shook his head and quickly got dressed. "So what did you make?" he asked - sitting down beside her. "Leftovers. I'm afraid I'm not quite the cook you are," she answered humorously. "When all this is done - I'll teach you everything I know," he replied. A short time later - the two had finished eating and had everything packed up once again. Julia sighed as she looked around. "What's wrong?" he asked. "I'm going to miss this place. I don't think I will ever forget it," she replied as she got onto the wolf. Drake hopped up onto his horse and rode over to where she was. "The feeling is more than mutual," he replied. The two leaned over and quickly kissed each other. "Next stop Triar?" he asked. She nodded. The two then began to ride down the forest path that led to the ruins of the fallen kingdom of Triar. As they went forward - the vegetation began to change. Instead of looking alive - the plants and trees began to look withered and decayed. The sweat scents of the forest Julia remembered were replaced with the stench of death. "We must be getting close," she commented - covering her nose. "Unfortunately so," he replied. Just then the wolf began to snarl - Midnight reared back - almost throwing Drake off him. Julia and Drake looked around - hoping to see what was upsetting the animals. Unfortunately - they did. Before them - half-buried corpses began to rise up from the ground - groaning with each effort of movement. To either side of them - dirty skeletons began to pull themselves up from the filthy swamp-like ground. "This - is going to be a pain," Drake muttered. To be continued... |