It took about a half hour for all preparations to be made: Percy to make as many slow-to-spoil rations as he could while preparing a list of helpful culinary and health tips; Malcolm and Retti to select the plainest of clothes to help the two blend in with the common folk – most outfits coming from the staff's own wardrobes, and while Mias discussed the manor with Marius, Elle watched Abernos compose a quick list of edible flora in the region and where to find them.
"Not really sure what I c'n offer ya. I know they're yer horses an' all, but Aeries and Aerys be too fine a' beasts to think 'em common work horses," Gale told the two as he joined the rest of the group out on the front lawn.
"It's a fair point Gale, and besides, the less mouths we have to feed, the better," Mias appreciated the man's honesty, but the idea of walking with their packs already sounded exhausting.
"Oh, um, Mias?" Abernos spoke up. "If you're unsure of where exactly to go, you could go see my brother. He knows more about survival than any of us."
"You plan on staying here, Stag?"
"I like it here," the stag said honestly. "I'll stay and help out."
Elle couldn't help but wonder if Abernos had been brainwashed by living indoors all this time. Agreeing with Mias, not wanting to go home – was he mad? This was his chance to escape too, wasn't it?
"And we know it's a bit last minute, but we couldn't have Percy bake a cake in time, so we swiped one good bottle from the cellar," Malcolm grinned as he presented his master with a wine bottle, complete with ribbon. "Congratulations, sir; madam."
"Congratulations!" The others joined in, each smiling like their nuptials were something that ought to be celebrated.
Elle couldn't have known how'd they seen their master change and fall in love over the past few months, all she felt was the pain of loneliness and the sting that none of them seemed to give a damn how she felt about it, but as a test of her acting skills, she put on a somewhat gracious face and thank them for their kindness.
"Ooh, this is a very good year," Mias said as he examined the bottle on their way off the grounds.
"Wonderful," Elle answered with little enthusiasm.
"I know it'd be odd to celebrate, but we should none the less, don't you think?"
"I'm hardly in the mood," she said as she adjusted her pack and continued forward. "Just drink it yourself if you want."
"It was given to both of us, so we have to share it," Mias said as he reached back to tuck it safely into his own pack. "A later time then."
Elle didn't retort, choosing to stay amongst her own thoughts if only to ignore the conversation provoking questions relating to the weather and countryside. She wasn't sure if she should ask about their destination, not that it mattered any given the fact she knew only a handful of locations in the region. Still, she felt her steps were aimless, and yet at the same time the most productive thing she could do. Once they did settle somewhere, it'd be about maintaining a home and while it had to be done for survival, it painted a very traditional picture of how any ordinary family began. She wanted to avoid that role for as long as possible, or maybe…
The thought came to her as they stopped to take a break along the cliff side overlooking the sea. A beautiful enough scene, but one that enticed the darker thoughts in Elle's mind when she glimpsed Mias admiring the view near the edge. With no magic, one push would be all she needed, and he'd have enough time to realize before his death that she did it with her own two hands just as she once threatened months ago. No one was around. No one could prove anything. She could be free in a matter of minutes.
"It's not like he doesn't deserve it…" She thought as she found herself quietly approaching him. "You know he's not going to change, and you'll only end up hurt again… you'd be doing it to save yourself!"
Mias had on his thinking face as he studied the coast, debating whether or not they ought to continue on this road or take the next inland path when he felt a tug on the back of his shirt. "Hm?"
"You're standing too close to the edge – it makes me nervous," Elle explained as she pulled him back. Her nerves of course stemming from the dark thoughts the opportunity presented her with.
He smiled unknowingly and let her lead him further up the grassland where he boldly grasped her hand to both catch her attention and have some small and hopefully unoffending touch. "Thank you."
"It's not what you think," she explained, trying to pull her hand free.
"No, truly, you have my gratitude," he said seriously. "I'm very grateful for what you did to get us both out of there. I'm not unaware this once again required sacrifice on your end, and I apologize I haven't been more sensitive to that, but you cannot understand the amount of relief I feel to be out of that house, and to be with you."
"I'll take credit where credit is due, but my relief isn't entirely mutual so would you let go of my hand?"
Disappointed, but obedient to her wishes, Mias reluctantly eased his grip to let her go. He knew when to push Elle's comfort with him and clearly the rift between them was far deeper than he realized, leaving him to ponder how he could make amends when he couldn't even transform into something cuter and cuddlier to win her affection.
Maybe it simply wasn't possible this time, his pessimistic side suggested, much to his displeasure. Elle was right about fortune favoring him and never accepting an unmet desire, but he never had cause to think any other way. Now that he did, he felt even worse. He had no means to mend their situation other than who he was as a man, and with his natural charm now useless against her, there was scarce else for him to make use of – and that was truly frustrating. It must have been similar to how Elle felt since Day 1, relying solely on her wit and stubbornness to live as she wanted.
He disliked this empathy as it only made him feel worse, and the memories of their happier times together only tasted bittersweet now. They were closer than they'd ever been, and yet she was more distant than the stars in the night sky, a beauty he could only admire now.
And still he was unwilling to accept this as their new reality. His nerve to speak to her resurfaced a couple hours later after the path they were on led into the woods and out of the summer sun.
"Is this really how things are to be between us?"
Elle paused long enough to turn her head back at him. He sounded rather pitiful and pleading, a sight her bruised ego couldn't resist.
"What must I do?" He asked directly. "I cannot believe your heart is completely closed off to me, so tell me what it is I must do to prove I wasn't lying when I told you I love you."
"You can believe whatever you want, but it won't make it a reality," she said flatly, unmoved by his words.
"But I do love you," he insisted. "And I'm a fool for not telling you sooner."
"And talk is cheap. If you love me, show me," she dared.
"…How?" He asked. If she didn't trust his word or desire his touch, that didn't leave many options.
"If you don't know, why the hell would I tell you? Clearly it's impossible for the likes of you, so save yourself the trouble and forget it. We've got enough to worry about."
Mias was pushing it again from the tone of Elle's voice and made the wise decision to back down and return to his thoughts.
His behavior was extremely suspicious in Elle's mind. He was clearly desperate, but not forcing the subject – why? Sure, it was possible for him to control himself for the sake of winning her favor, but she knew how easily frustrated he was with rejection and his temper was not easily controlled in the past and she doubted he gained that much will power over the course of a few short weeks.
She wasn't entirely steadfast in her belief all his words were lies. He probably did think he loved her, and yes, if he had told her a great deal sooner, things probably would be different. She might not have had as many insecurities about their relationship, maybe she'd even be able to understand and forgive his past actions, but that was a strong maybe.
"I don't think we're going to find Berenos' cottage before nightfall," Mias informed her later that after noon.
"Is that where we're heading?"
"Seemed a fair place to gain a bit more knowledge of bare knuckle survival skills," he said as he scanned around. "My only hesitation in making camp is the last time we were in this forest, we were preyed upon."
"That ghoul seemed more interested in you than me," Elle recalled.
"Rightly so. My cousin Caius was eaten by that ghoul back in my youth…" Mias informed her. "It has a particular taste for Dormaeus men."
"I see…" She responded quietly. Villain or not, being eaten didn't seem a proper death for any man.
"I'm hesitant, but because they prey on larger game such as man, most ghouls won't risk being hunted down by an angry mob and thus prefer to stay on the move. Although it's been a few months now so who knows if it decided to return," Mias shuddered. "And without my magic, we'd be prime entrees."
"Don't even joke about that," Elle scolded.
"It's hardly a joke," he frowned.
"Th-Then let's just keep going," she insisted, quickening her pace just a bit.
Mias followed suit.
The two did have to stop about an hour later given the descent of the sun would make it far more difficult to gather firewood. Elle wished Mias didn't remind her about the ghoul, the last thing she needed on top of everything else was paranoia. Even when they had sufficient wood and kindling, and a humble blaze to both warm and light their campsite, she still kept looking over her shoulder at any rustling bush or snapping twig.
"…Perhaps I shouldn't have mentioned it?" Mias asked, handing her a stick with a freshly baked sweet potato.
"Ya think?" She growled while taking her supper.
"I didn't mean to frighten you, but I feared we'd be in more trouble if I didn't tell you."
"I suppose…" She admitted before cooling the potato with her breath. "But there are other dangerous creatures in the forest too, right?"
"Nothing quite as a large as a ghoul though, and most others will stay away from the fire," he said while tossing on another branch. "Are you impressed I was able to get one going?"
"Heh, with your knowledge of rubbing to create friction and heat, I didn't think it'd be too difficult for you."
"My dear, is that a sex joke?" He slowly grinned.
Elle smiled, ignored him, and took a bite of her potato.
"How is it?"
"It's alright. I think you had it a bit too close to the fire though," she said in between bites.
"It's a bit trickier than an oven," he admitted with an embarrassed chuckle before he began eating his own.
"What time do you think it is?" Elle asked after she finished eating and went to her bag to pull out her blanket.
"Let's see…" Mias looked up at the patches of sky through the canopy to make his best guess. "Eight? Eight-thirty? The sun's down, but it's not that dark yet."
"Still so early…" She said to herself as she wrapped the blanket over her shoulders and sat back down a bit closer to him.
"If you're tired, get some sleep. I'll stay up and keep watch."
"I'm tired, but I don't know if I can sleep," she admitted.
"I won't take it to heart if you put your pride aside this time and come to my side," he offered, only to receive a suspicious look from her. "What? Do you really think I'd scare you to get you closer to me?"
"I wouldn't put it past you."
"Elle," he said gently and calmly. "Come here and get some rest."
She pouted unhappily, but never-the-less scooted to his side for the sake of safety in numbers. He sat higher than she did since he seated himself on a log much too large to be used as fuel, thus making one of his legs the part she decided to lean against. He didn't react to this either, remaining still to tend the fire while she left herself grow weary against him. He shouldn't be this comfortable, she thought as she closed her eyes, but he was. Even without his magic, he still had a convincing aura of protection she knew he wouldn't let waiver.
Asleep, her subconscious decided to plague on her fears further by showing her the horrors of earlier thoughts. Pushing Mias off that cliff was indeed satisfying, for only a moment until she saw the pain of her betrayal reflected in his eyes as he plummeted to his death. She screamed, and felt her eye sockets burning as if they were on fire. Then silence and a sudden absence of pain, and from a third person perspective she saw Mias' marks on her own face. The image lasted only a few moments before the scene was engulfed in darkness and a large, toothy mouth opened beneath her and snapped shut with a gush of blood.
"Nn…oo… NOOOOOOOOO!" She bolted upright, soaked in a cold sweat and panting for breath. Her hands came to her face, praying it all had been a dream, but without a mirror to know for sure, she lowered her hands to look for Mias.
He wasn't there.
"…No…" She whimpered, fearing the time before sleep had been the dream. "Mias…?"
No answer.
"Mias, where are you…?" She called a little louder and stood up. "MIAS!"
"Wh-What is it?!" She heard him answer and turned around to see him bolting out of the bushes, trying to keep his pants and trousers up.
"Oh…" She blushed out of embarrassment, and began laughing out of relief.
Mias assumed it was the other way around and turned a bit red himself as he finally finished refastening his trousers and buckling his belt. "Where else am I going to do it?"
"No, no! It's not that," she calmed down a bit and sunk onto her knees. "Damn it, I thought…"
"What's wrong?" He asked, hurrying down to her when he noticed little beads of tears in her eyes. "Afraid I got eaten?"
"I thought I killed you…" she confessed.
"Heh, that's taking it a bit far, don't you think?"
"I thought about it… earlier today, I… was so close to…"
Mias knew she must have meant when he was standing near the cliff. A frightening admission indeed. Blades might not be able to harm him, but Mias doubted his shackles would shield him from a fall. "You… wanted to kill me?"
"I thought I did… but I didn't… I… I don't want to become like you, but I think… maybe I have… a little… to even have such thoughts…"
"…Do you think it would make you happy if I were gone…?" He asked.
"…What are you saying?"
"Clearly you hate me much more than I realized… I'd rather not be around if it causes you such thoughts. Dying is a bit extreme, but if you still want me to leave you, perhaps I should…"
Elle was quiet for a moment.
"After we're through this forest of course. I need to be assured you're safe."
She slowly shook her head. "So what? Are you scared I'll actually do it?"
"I don't think I'd mind it if I died by your hand, but that's not something I want you to live with. You're far too good to have blood on your hands, especially mine."
She sniffled and wiped her eyes and nose on her sleeve. "Yeah…"
"May I comfort you…?"
Elle looked up at him and gave a slight nod of her head.
Mias smiled and wrapped his arms around her torso, giving her one tight squeeze before gently embracing her.
"Heh… I thought you never 'just hugged'…" Elle commented.
"I'll make an exception this time," he kept smiling and gave her back a comforting rub.
"…You didn't wash your hands…" Elle realized a few seconds later, and the hug promptly ended.
Much to Elle's relief, the remainder of the night was uneventful, save her being the one after awakening to tend the fire while Mias got a few hours sleep. It never ceased to amaze her how chill a summer morning could be despite the earth being cloaked by a thick fog in the early hours. A fire and blanket were very much appreciated, but further shelter from the wind and perhaps some insulation on the ground were going to be necessary sooner than later, she reckoned. They could maybe get by for a month camping out like this if the transition from summer to autumn held favorable temperatures, but she doubted it. This region of Alteria was all too similar to the climate of the British Isles, a country that was far from famed for its warm, sunny days.
A grunt-like snore escaped from Mias as he rolled over in his sleep, causing Elle to giggle before she put the last of their gathered kindling on the weakening flames. For a man who was used to a posh living, he certainly slept like he was comfortable enough.
She wondered how it was possible after last night. Sure, it wasn't the first time she tried to kill him, but the first time was in the heat of the moment and during the less-than-civil point in their relationship. He could sleep just as well knowing Elias was out there plotting, but her? A woman he shared his bed with and proclaimed to have feelings for? Wouldn't any ordinary man be bothered by that? Of course Mias was not an ordinary sort of man, and even if she had made him uneasy, would he want to show her that weakness? Probably not.
Still, watching him sleep kept provoking such questions, leaving Elle to wonder her curiosity would be the chink in her otherwise flawless armor. She best not think about it then and forget all mental inquiries. She wouldn't receive the answers necessary to satisfy her anyway, so there was no point torturing herself. She didn't care about Mias any more than what common humanity allowed her… or so she hoped.
"Mnn…" She heard him groan as he awakened, followed by a sharp hiss. "Bugger, it's cold…"
And of course he'd begin complaining the moment he woke up, Elle thought.
"Aaaahhh…" He continued to groan as he sat himself upright and stretched his arms and back. He then yawned while his head turn to look for her. "Ah, you're there…"
"Where else would I be?" Elle shrugged and turned some of the sticks closer to the fire with one spare branch she saved for such purpose.
"First night on our own and well supplied… I thought you might return to old habits," he said while wrapping himself up in his blanket and moving as close to the fire as safely possible.
It honestly hadn't crossed Elle's mind to run away, though now would be the ideal situation to do so. Maybe next time he was asleep, she'd—
"I see I'm giving you ideas," he noticed the wheels turning in her head when she didn't respond.
Both of them held their tongues for a minute or so, the light crackling of the fire being the only sound between the two. It was an awkward silence, but one Mias finally broke by clearing his throat.
"How are you feeling?" He asked.
"I'm alright," she answered quietly. A little cold, a little tired, but nothing that wasn't manageable.
"Would you like to get a little more rest before we start walking? It'll be a couple hours before this fog lifts."
"I don't think the fire will last that long. The ground will grow cold quick," she said as she pulled her blanket a bit tighter.
Knowing any offer he gave would be refused out of stubbornness, Mias braved to stand and move behind her, and caught her off guard by picking her up and lifting her into his lap as he sat back down.
"Mias! We've been through this!" Elle squirmed, only to find her movement restricted by a tight hug.
"And you're the one being foolish," he said. "You can still be mad at me, but if I offer you some warmth and comfort when you need it, you should accept it. Neither of us can afford to be so stubborn anymore."
"Says the one who clearly benefits from this," she murmured.
"It's a mutual benefit, my dear, and we both know it. Now get some rest or I'll make this position more provocative than innocent," he lightly threatened and watched Elle reluctantly snuggle up to him.
He'd stop at nothing, Elle sighed to herself as she tried to make his chest a comfortable place to lay her head, and of course it wasn't difficult. She missed this, not that she'd admit it. She'd concede he felt better than the ground, but his scent was far more present in his nostrils. It wasn't unpleasant, but likely a bit dangerous. Her inhibitions were significantly weaker when they were this close, and not for lack of will power. It's just how she was when she was with him, and experience told her Mias knew this too.
What if his intentions were less than honorable? It'd be just like him to take advantage of this intimate hold and kiss her… and kiss her again… keep kissing her until they both were on the ground unable to keep their hands of each other. The very idea already had Elle's heart racing and her mind furious – apparently not even anger could make her sexually repulsed, and just as well. Sex was one of the few good memories she had of him.
Yet nothing happened.
Eventually her pulse calmed and sent her to sleep for a few short hours, leaving Mias to just sit there with nothing else to do other than hold her until she woke up. Unless he did something while she was asleep, it was peculiar for him to be so well behaved. Elle comforted herself by assuming he must have at least given her bottom a squeeze or something of that nature. It was the only way she could keep her mind satisfied and off the subject entirely.
"I don't suppose this forest is mapped, is it?" She asked around mid morning as their walk down the road didn't seem to be leading them anywhere.
"Not extensively," Mias said, holding up a folded bit of parchment that contained their geographical location. "This is primarily a road map."
"It didn't take me long to find that stream last time I was here," she recalled. "Berenos' house wasn't too far from it."
"In all fairness you said you came in from the west from the coast, didn't you? We're on the wagon trail that comes up from the southern border."
"Yeah, but assuming I didn't confuse my directions, we've been walking long enough for us to cross it by now."
"We still have enough water, Elle," Mias assured her.
"It can't hurt to fill up as often as we're able, and to be able to wash up a little."
"We can either take a risk and go off path, or keep going and likely not encounter the other stag at all.
"I suppose it's not worth the risk, huh?"
"If you want to see him, we'll see him. It makes little difference to me where we go."
"I'd like to see him," Elle admitted. "Not for survival tips, but it'd be better for someone to tell him in person his brother's okay, wouldn't it?"
"Your kindness never ceases to amaze me," Mias smiled proudly.
"It-It's not anything that extraordinary, Mias," Elle blushed defensively and stepped off path. "Let's go then if you're in agreement."
"Alright, alright," he chuckled and followed after her, mindful to reach up and snap a twig every so often to keep track of their route just in case they got lost.
The detour took them into the deeper, denser part of the wood and though they tried to keep their path a straight one, the twists and turns in the terrain did their best to disorient them making Mias' forethought to mark their way helpful when they found themselves atop a steep incline with no safe way down. They doubled back and tried a different direction, trying to at least get on an animal trail that would likely lead them to a water source, and sure enough, the sound of running water met their ears and brought a particularly happy smile to Elle's face.
"HA! I knew it! See, I told you there was a stream in here!" She boasted as they made their way through the brush and to the opening where the modest river gently flowed through.
"Yes, but does any of the wood look familiar?"
Unfortunately it all looked the same to Elle, bringing her enthusiasm down just a bit. "Still, it's a good find, isn't it?"
"It is," he smiled and walked with her down to the embankment. "Did you follow it upstream or downstream last time?"
"Upstream," Elle said as she unhooked her canteen from her pack to refill it to the brim.
"Hmm…" Given Mias' knowledge of the forest's size and their present location, he didn't know which direction they should follow this time.
"If we're close, let's just start shouting for him," Elle suggested, taking a deep breath to yell first. "BERENOOOOOOOOOS!"
Mias, having first plugged his ears, unplugged them and eyed her to question if that was the only option they had.
"What? He found me last time because I was screaming."
"Screaming…? Why?"
It hadn't occurred to Elle there were things she hadn't told Mias about the times she found herself off on her own in this world. Maybe they weren't worth sharing at the time, but he'd never asked before now. "Oh… well…. That second night, I couldn't get a fire going so I hunkered down as best I could to sleep, but… I kept hearing unnerving things and despite not knowing about ghouls, was plenty petrified and so I screamed. A few moments later Berenos showed up with his spear and lantern and took me to his house, gave me food and drink, and a warm place to sleep."
"And you met Abernos then too?"
"Abernos was sound asleep," Elle giggled. "I didn't meet him until the next morning when I was wa—er, washing my clothes."
Mias raised a suspicious eyebrow at her pause.
"Fine, if you want to know he saw me as I was bathing," she confessed. "But he was out there naked too, so it was embarrassing both ways, although I never actually saw his cock – he was promptly stuffing it into my panties."
"And this meeting is completely innocent to you?!" Mias shouted, clearly both jealous and enraged by the tale. "Why were you bathing in the open?!"
"Because I had to swim up the coast at parts! Retti had me thinking the village she suggested I go to would be an easy walk, but I never even saw it! I found myself on a selkie beach and ended up playing with a mum and some pups and cute as they are, they smell like fish and put that stink all over me and my clothes! Once I had the chance to take a bath, I took it!"
"For those brothers to see?!"
"It wasn't intentional! And it's not like I made a show out of it. Berenos was already out for the morning and Abernos was fast asleep. I thought I had time."
"And why did he have your knickers?"
"Well he slept naked like you do, came out for a piss still dreary eyed, noticed me, panicked, grabbed my washing off the line and put them on."
"You honestly expect me to believe that?"
"Why would I make something like that up?"
"To irritate me!"
"Haaa…" Elle said dryly and pointed an accusatory finger at him. "You're not irritated, you're jealous!"
"Of course I am," he didn't bother to deny it. "Is it wrong for me to covet you? I'm so used to being spoiled by women, and you… you who wanted nothing to do with me… to know that you're so open around anyone else but me… back then I can understand somewhat, but once I had you, I still never saw that side… never got to be completely yours… it's irritating, and I'm jealous because even though the Stag didn't seek you out to be a lover, you're far more natural with him than with me."
"It's because we're friends," Elle explained and sat down to rest a bit while they continued their conversation. "And while you and I were certainly intimate, I never felt like were anything more than acquaintances. I don't know you… and I tried, but you're the one who never wanted to tell me anything, so you have no one to blame for your irritation other than yourself."
"I still don't understand," he admitted, taking a seat next to her.
"…You don't have anyone you'd call a 'friend', do you?" Elle guessed.
"I have people I like and can get along with… but usually it's for a purpose, so I suppose that's accurate of you to say."
"What about Malcolm? I know you employ him, but you too seem to have a bond that's a bit deeper than the others."
"Malcolm helped raise me, but he's always been a bit… I like the man well enough and he's competent when he actually does work, but he's not the sort of man I feel I can let my guard down around or be entirely comfortable with."
"Because he's gay?"
"Of course not, and he's not technically gay. He'll fuck anyone if he finds them pretty enough. Gender is irrelevant. Although, he said he ideally prefers blood from a male."
"So he and Percy…?"
"Percy is his meal, and Percy's very tolerant of Malcolm's flirting, but he doesn't reciprocate. I don't believe my chef has any desires here or there when it comes to sex. It's all about cooking meals and medicine with him. He's also not the sort who can hold a conversation either."
That was true, Elle thought to herself with a small smile on her face. Had they ever really done this before? Talked like normal human beings about normal human being problems and not just some chitchat that revealed no more about the other? It'd been all Elle wanted of Mias, to get to know him, and even this small conversation, started out of the blue without any coaxing, suddenly became another good memory at it's end when they got back up to walk downstream.
Still, to have it only be her third day with him and to have things going this smoothly raised her concern of what fate might have in store for her. Maybe she was wrong to be so suspicious of pleasantries, but where Mias was concerned made it impossible for her to fall into old ways of thinking. She couldn't abandon her resolve on the off chance this would be the time everything turned out alright – her heart couldn't be risked like that again.
"BERENOS!" Elle shouted for the Stag again once they'd been walking a ways.
"I'll admit this is probably our best chance of finding him, but I rather dislike you screaming another man's name," Mias pouted.
"You pick the strangest things to be upset about, especially at a time like this."
"Would you prefer I dwell on the fact I have no home, means, or power?" He crossed his arms at her.
"I was merely making an observation," she smiled and proceeded ahead of him with a slight skip to her step.
Her good mood was refreshing and Mias didn't dare to spoil it by noting it out loud. He liked to watch her be at times like this: the playfulness and carefree abandon that truly suited her good nature, like a fairy when the light caught her hair just right to make it shine. Her less than cheerful self had its own appeal too, but this was certainly the mood he preferred. If he had his magic, he'd let her float on air and walk on water to help suit the lighthearted aura she emitted.
However watching Elle meant significant focus was taken from watching his step, and he paid for it by stepping on a bit of mud on the embankment and slipping down. He was able to catch himself somewhat, but his trousers were now covered with the brown muck and half soaked, along with half the length of his arms.
"Are you alright?" Elle trotted back to inspect the damage. She didn't take Mias to ever be absent minded enough to fall, and so it was a sight to see.
"Yeah, just cold and muddy," he groaned as he got back to his feet and trudged up more stable part of the embankment and plopped down on his arse. "It happens."
"At least you're not soaked. Do you want to stop here or hope you'll air dry quick if we continue?"
"Might as well stop. We didn't take a proper lunch break after all," he sighed as he began to scrap off the mud.
"Okay, I'll gather some wood while you see to yourself."
Mias didn't watch her leave in case the distraction cost him another embarrassment. He kicked off his boots and loosened his trousers before stripping them off. A little mud was one thing, but there was still a fair amount caked to the material. Nothing a quick wash in the stream couldn't solve, but then he had to wait for them to dry. He wrung them out as best he could before choosing a suitable tree branch to hang them from, and by then Elle was already back with a few fallen branches and twigs.
"I'll give the forest credit for making kindling so easy to come by," she said as she began placing the sticks into the standard cone shape.
"Do you want me to light it?" He asked as he approached her.
"Let me try first," she insisted as she began rubbing sticks together. It seemed to take forever until smoke finally rose from the bit of bark she'd used as a base. After slowly adding some dry grass and watching the smoke increase and finally set fire to the kindling, she carefully moved it under the cone of twigs and slowly feeding it more fuel until it took to burning the thicker branches.
Mias donned a proud smirk as he helped her raise the young fire with the addition of fresh dry wood. "Not bad."
"It's still rather difficult," Elle admitted, leaning back to admire her work.
"I'm certain we'll both have plenty of practice," he said as he warmed his chilled arms and legs.
"You didn't pack spare clothing?"
"I wanted to save as much room as I could," he explained.
"An extra pair of trousers isn't going to take up that much room," Elle shook her head. "What'll you do when they're rank enough and need to wash them?"
"I'll walk around in all my naked glory of course," he grinned, but only earned a roll of Elle's eyes.
Elle made sure to continue her calls for the Stag every so often, to no avail. With Mias' trousers nearly dry, boredom compelled Elle to roll up her trouser legs to have a quick wade in the stream to combat the heat from the afternoon sun. "Do you think there are any fish in here?"
"Isn't it a bit shallow?" He made a lazy attempt to eye the depth, but didn't move from his comfortable reclined position against a tree trunk.
"Hm, it seems to drop a good yard or so near the middle," Elle said, careful to keep her steps in the shallows near the bank. "We have some line and a few hooks in one of our packs, right? Couldn't hurt to try. It'd mean something a little fresher for supper."
"And with what bait?" Mias asked.
"Can't be too hard to find a worm," she said while bending down to dig into the mud, all the while unaware of something swimming up behind her.
Mias' eye did however catch the shadow as it swam closer and got to his feet right before it sprung up from the water; a scrawny, two foot tall creature with scales for skin and long, thin fangs for teeth. "ELLE!"
She screamed as the creature grabbed her with surprising strength from its boney arms, tipping her back into the deeper part of the stream.
Mias was after them in a split-second, securing one arm around Elle while grabbing the creature by the neck with the other, and given the bluntness of its attack, thought nothing of squeezing it until he felt a snap and its little brown-green body fall limp. He tossed it onto shore as he emerged with Elle, both of them coughing, but for the most part unharmed.
"Wh-What was that?" Elle asked as they sloshed up to look at the creature.
"Grindylow," Mias heaved a sigh of relief and kept Elle close to him for the moment. "Nasty little water buggers… be grateful it was just the one."
"I think it bit me…" Elle admitted, tilting her head down for Mias to confirm.
There were puncture holes in her shirt, but upon pulling back the material, her skin was only scratched. "You're alright. I had it before it could sink its teeth in."
"I thought we only had ghouls to worry about," Elle said as she finally caught her breath and slumped against him out of the crash from her adrenaline calming. "Thank you…"
"You never need to thank me for protecting you," he smiled, taking advantage of the moment to hug her as tight as possible.
It was a brief moment of danger than turned into a couple hours inconvenience as the two ended up stripped down to nothing and huddled against the fire wrapped in their blankets.
"Um… sorry…" Elle said after a few minutes of silence between them. "It wasn't intentional, but I feel my negligence has delayed us."
"No more so than my own," Mias sympathized. "It's not like we're in a hurry to get anywhere, so I'm not bothered by it."
She agreed, and while prodding the fire had Mias' attention, she quietly moved closer to him until they were side by side.
"Hm?" He asked, sensing her presence but not physically responding to it yet.
"I'm beginning to remember your more admirable qualities…" she said, opting to lean her head against his arm.
"You make it quite easy for me to play the hero when you always find yourself in trouble, my dear," Mias chuckled.
"Half the trouble I find myself in is caused by you," Elle reminded him with a scolding brow and slight smirk.
Mias smiled back and lifted his arm to bring her closer, which Elle didn't object to surprisingly. He wondered what fate had in store for giving him this opportunity so readily, not wishing to chance their bond when left to his own devices. At least she was no longer hesitant to get close to him, though no signs pointed to further intimacy any time soon no matter how desperately he searched for one. Elle seemed content enough to be at his side for the time being, and he wasn't about to look this gift horse in the mouth.
With their clothes dry and a few hours left in the afternoon, they returned to walking along the stream, but further inland given they both were now mindful of grindylows. Elle still called for Berenos despite Mias' increasing doubt the stag would answer and concern that something less pleasant might approach them instead.
"Perhaps we should have gone downstream after all," Elle said in hindsight. "I'm far less eager to spend another night here…"
"That would make two of us," he agreed and looked to the sky. The thickening of grey clouds didn't bode well. "At the very least it'll be overcast so it wouldn't be wise to walk through the night."
"At the very least?"
"I imagine by morning we'll have some rain," he guessed.
"Great, and we're already hard pressed for shelter," Elle groaned before sucking it up and putting her hands to her hips. "So what's our best plan of action?"
Mias held his hands against both sides of his mouth and calling as loud as he could. "STAAAAAAG!"
"…Really?" Elle asked when he finished.
"I'm louder than you," he winked.
"My pitch is higher; his stag ears probably would hear me better," she argued. "And I called his actual name."
"So? He's the only Stag in these woods to my knowledge."
"Well it gives my call more credence, don't you think?"
"I've never met the Stag – how can we be on a first name basis?"
Elle rolled her eyes and gave him a light shove. "Dismount from your high horse, Lord Dormaeus. You sound like you're looking down on him when you call him by his species."
He didn't answer, and his failure to look her in the eyes confirmed it.
"Listen Mias, I can imagine the most difficult thing for you is to humble yourself, but there's no shame in it, but you're going to make a fool out of yourself if you still act the same without money or power to back you up."
"It's not something I consciously think of. I am who I am."
"I know, but you're going to have to adapt. Not everyone is going to give you the same tolerance you're used to, and I say this because my technically being your wife means I'll be judged by your actions as well."
"Well how big of everyone else," he said sarcastically.
"Yes, but that's how it is. You want to make me happy, right~?"
"…Very much so," he said seriously as she leaned against his chest.
"So you'll make an effort, won't you~?" She said temptingly while walking her fingers up his pectorals.
"Yes, darling," he smiled, already completely charmed with her request.
"Good," Elle dropped her sensual aura and turned to continue walking.
"Ah-ah, wait just a minute, my dear," he called, running up behind her and wrapping his arms around her middle. "Care to offer me some 'incentive'?"
"You've had enough 'incentive' for now," Elle blushed. She wasn't surprised she riled him up, but the warm grip around her stomach was a pleasant one she didn't realized she'd missed. She laid her hands over his as she felt the weight of his head on her shoulder. "…Mias, I know you think this is harmless fun, but I don't think I'm ready to get that close to you again…"
"…Forgive me," he said quietly as he unwound his arms and set her free. He hadn't intended any ill will, only to make her giggle and squirm like she used to when he grabbed her. It appeared he took the playfulness of the moment too far.
Elle smiled a bit, believing his reaction to be genuine. She didn't think she wasn't being unreasonable with him, but perhaps she'd been too stubborn to be flexible. Mias' needs weren't going to vanish do to lack of tending, but there were other ways of appeasing him that she wouldn't mind, like holding hands. That was suitable, wasn't it? It was a small gesture, and one that wouldn't harm her, and if he wanted to touch her, he'd make the most of what she would allow and find satisfaction with it, right?
She paused and looked back at him while hesitantly extending her hand. What if it sent all the wrong messages? Or what if Mias didn't see it as a compromise? He wouldn't want her pity hand-holding…
His smile said otherwise.
However, as he reached for her hand a flying object landed in between the closing distance, startling both of them as the object impaling the earth was a spear, and the one who had thrown it was standing across the stream preparing his jump. He only needed a few steps to run and jump the expanse, his lean yet muscular legs well suited for such feats. He landed between them, retrieved his spear, and turned to glare down Mias with fierce emerald green eyes.
"Are you harmed, Miss Elle?" Berenos asked without looking at her, needing his focus to threaten Mias.
"Berenos!" Elle beamed and trotted to the arm holding the spear to insist he lower it. "I'm fine. He's with me."
"Is he now?" He glare didn't falter. "I've heard a great many tale about you, Mathias Dormaeus. The Sixth. The Magician. The bastard who imprisons the helpless to do menial chores for your leisure."
"Believe me, if I was as big a tyrant as rumors suggests, my manor would have been in order long ago," he quipped, only to have Berenos' spear point at his throat. "Elle, I thought you said Abernos wrote to him!"
"Am I to believe the letters sent from my captive brother aren't written at your command? Telling me 'not to worry' – a lie I couldn't possibly believe! For months I've toiled with how to rescue him, but it seems fortune smiles by bringing you to me!"
"Berenos!" Elle grabbed his arm. "Abernos is fine! He wanted us to come see you! For goodness sake, you believe me, don't you?!"
"I mean no harm," Mias added, deciding to raise his hands in surrender despite knowing he could deflect Berenos' blade if necessary. "And I've done none unto your brother."
Berenos' glance shifted between the two before he retracted his spear. "Why wouldn't he come himself?"
"He's become rather fond of Mias' little brother is the main reason I think, and he loves the library."
"A hall of books? Yes, that'd be Abernos…" Berenos conceded. "Then why has he sent you to me?"
"Long story short: Mias has been disowned, but his brothers still want to keep us under a lot of pressure and observation so we decided to make a run for it, only problem is the cuffs on Mias' wrists negate his magic, so we're basically helpless with nothing other than our wits and a few supplies to survive," Elle summed up for him. "…Abernos said you could help us; can you?"
"Falling from man's nobility is harsher than my own experience… but it is not without my empathy. I don't know what assistance I can be to the likes of him, but for you, Elle, it's my duty as steward of the forest to see to your safety."
"Excuse me, but her safety is her husband's concern," Mias said, stepping in to put a possessive arm around Elle.
"'Husband'?"
"…We're married, but terms and conditions apply," Elle blushed out of embarrassment.
"But I still love her and want to provide for her," Mias elaborated. "And even I know there are some things books cannot teach."
"Indeed," Berenos agreed with a slight smile. He fully intended on testing the magician's aptitude.
Version II. Chapters 61-63. Originally written in 2015.