They waited the whole day with out saying a word to each other. The cold river only made the climate more unbearable for the tired and weary women and children. Aiya stayed awake next to Edan. He was still sleeping off after being up all night. They waited, for any sign of the king's royal guard.
Wrapping her arms around her knees, Aiya tried to stay warm as possible. They were fairly close to the highlands, where it was always snowing making it difficult for her to maintain her heat. After a moment of shivering she was shocked to feel a warm coat placed over her shoulders. Beth had come behind her and wrapped it around her. "I just went back to get some supply's, we might be here longer than we think." Aiya looked up at her in question "How long?" Beth sat by her and covered her son with a coat similar to the one she gave to Aiya. "It could be another night. I think the kings men are coming today though." She continued and handed her a small loaf of bread. "Wake him up soon so he can eat some lunch." She said as she went around the makeshift camp and handed out bread and coats.
Aiya took a good bite of her bread before attempting to wake Edan. She literally attempted to make him up; he was out like a dead man. She finally began to shake him only to have him inhale deeply and stare at her like she was a mad woman. "You mom wants you to eat something, here." She said as she handed him a loaf. He stretched throwing his long arms in the air inhaling a fresh yawn. She felt sorry for him, being one of the only males in the camp. He must be so exhausted from staying up all night. As he ate his lunch, Aiya firmly stated "I want to help you tonight, keeping watch." He looked at her in shock and gulped a piece of bread. With a shake of his head she sighed in defeat. She figured he would disagree but that wouldn't stop her. "I can help you know, we can take shifts. That way you are more alert on watch." He continued to shake his head. She said in frustration "I am going to watch tonight, either you can take shifts with me or I will be up all night with you." He sighed, feeling she wouldn't give in he finally nodded and finished his bread. He tapped the spot where she was sleeping, motioning her to get some rest. She blushed slightly but nodded and lay next to him. The cold ground caused her to shiver and tighten the coat around her body. She suddenly felt a warm relief when she accidentally brushed her leg with his. She quickly retracted her leg and looked at him in fear of personal space issues. He was sound asleep. His chest raised slowly much like Soren's did that one time. Seeing him there by her made her feel homesick. She hugged her stomach and curled her body feeling slightly better. She looked up at him to see him still sleeping peacefully. She reached her hand to brush his cheek and felt his warm breath against her hand. She sighed and gave in to herself. Pulling herself close to him she boldly curled herself into him and stole his warm heat. Edan's eyes slightly opened when he felt her against him. He didn't move away from her like he thought he should have. Instead he was shocked when he moved his own arm around her to pull her even closer to him. This was dangerous he thought. She was not his, and he knew it. Although she never talked about having another lover, he could tell she belonged to someone else. His own desires weighed over his morals for that one moment. For this one moment, he wanted to feel this pleasure of just having her in his arms. The past few weeks he had began to care for Aiya. This bond he had for her was making him feel slightly fearful of the thought of loosing her. Even his mother was beginning to care for her. She would have to leave someday though, he knew it was coming. He could feel it. How he wished he could stop it, and just stay in this one moment.
The night was much colder than the day. Aiya wanted to start her first shift with him so she knew what she was looking for. They quietly took positions around the camp checking for any sign of the guards or anything that posed a threat to the vulnerable camp. The dark eerie night sent chills down her spine, along with the cold breeze that came with it.
After hours of waiting for nothing to happen, Edan tapped her on the shoulder and gave her a look. "I am not going to fall asleep, I swear." He shook his head and pointed to a small light coming from down river. She focused her eyes and saw two guards mounted on black horses, fording downriver to them. Their long wet legs trampled through the water furiously as they approached the alert pair. The guard dismounted his horse and approached them with his staggering stature. His large shoulders crossed his body like a large crane. His armor expanded to fit his build making him seem even more intimidating. Edan's back tensed as he stared at him directly in the eye as if he was nothing more than a mere child. "The king has orders to summon the person extracted from the Highlands a few weeks ago." said the tall soldier while Edan's expression turned defensive. Aiya hesitated about saying anything. How did they know about her? She assumed rumors of her rescue must have spread through out the small village but it seemed odd that the king would want anything to do with it. Maybe the fact she came out of a magical tunnel could bring up some interest. Edan shook his head and turned away pulling Aiya along with him. The soldier looked at him offended and yelled at him "Hey! I am talking to you boy! I know your mute, but you will dam well pay your respect to me as a night to the king!" Edan didn't even look back; Aiya glanced over her shoulder to see the soldier following them. "Boy! You will show me where this person is! Your king demands to speak to them." Aiya hesitated and looked at Edan for an answer. He shook his head and had them continue to the heart of the camp. They were abruptly stopped when Edan was forced to turn around by the angry officer. He held a sword to his neck and grabbed his arm in a fierce death grip. Aiya gasped and tried to free him only to be pushed down to the ground by the other soldier.
By that time, the commotion caused the entire camp to awake and wonder what was going on. Beth was awaken by one of the other woman and began to quickly run through the camp to the center of the issue.
"I'll give you one more chance, his majesty demands to see this person! I have no problem killing a snotty lad like you if it means to make an example of this poor foolish village." He snarled while driving the blade closer to his skin. Edan remained stone, his mouth furled tight as his fists clenched. The guard tested his limits by drawing a small amount of blood across his neck. Aiya couldn't just sit their and watch him get hurt like that and tried to attack him again "Let him go! He has done nothing wrong!" The guard snorted and the other man grabbed her and drew his own dagger to her neck. His armor pinched her sides as he held her firmly. His stench caused her nose to cringe and try to look away. "I would be quiet lass, or you will be getting much worse done to you than your friend." He said in a snaky scratchy voice. Edan's bearing broke as the guard held her. He tried to free himself only to be reminded of his own captor. "Now lets try this again, before things get.." he glanced at Aiya and smirked and back at him "a little bloody. Where is the one from the forest?"
"What is going on here?" Beth's voice appeared through the crowd of frightened villagers. The soldiers recognized her and released the two and bowed slightly. "Lady Beth... the king requests an audience with the one brought from the highlands. Immediately." Beth looked at her son and Aiya in fear and question. She shook her head and said "I see, well if the king's wishes…" Edan looked at her in anger. "Then it must be done." She said in a monotone voice. She walked up to Aiya as if she was convicting her to the gallows. Edan stormed away into the crowd making Aiya's heart sink." I do not know what he wishes of you but know this; the king is not a kind man. His heart is dark and cruel. Your presence must have triggered the recent attacks and the king may want to eliminate the problem. If for any reason this is true, you must run. Do you understand?" she said in her ear. She nodded and bit her lip. The idea of her causing these people pain was more than enough for her to willingly leave them. The only thing holding her back was…
"Is this her?" the guard said nervously. Feeling slightly dumbfounded that the person he was manhandling was the person they were looking for. Beth nodded and said softly "Yes". The guard nodded and placed his hand on her back and began to lead her to his horse. Aiya looked back as if she was waiting for someone to stop them. The crowd of people looked at her as if she was one of their own children. Beth's cheeks were slowly trickling with tears as an elder woman embraced her. The night picked her up and placed him on his saddle giving her the feeling of being taken away from her home. She looked for Edan, and wished he would say good bye to her. Those false feelings of hope made her heart ache in pain. She already lost Soren, now she was loosing another friend that made her feel safe in the world, well in this world at least. She wished she could at least say goodbye. The nights heals drove into the sides of the horse making it rear in defiance and gallop into the darkness of the night towards the castle in the distance. As they left she looked to the river and saw her new family disappear through the night.
