Gaaaah, I'm so tiiiiired. Testings are over with, and now I just have to get over with my birthday before I can start looking forward to the end of school. Summer is going to be great, seriously. I can't wait…

Chapter Twentyone

The Lines Between

It was the first snow of winter. Strange how days seem to pass by without notice, but right now, he had no concern towards the icy wind.

Sparrow had sat up in her bed, awake and well rested. She had a bad dream, but she was okay. That's all that mattered.

Sitting at a table, Garth himself seemed to be a statue. He refused to sleep while such conditions were being made. Rational action or not, Garth didn't want to risk the Hero of Albion's life, because if Albion were to discover their great hero had fallen into death's strong grip, then the vacancy of security would be filled with fear and panic.

Then again, maybe she could cheat death one last time… Hell, who lives after being shot twice at point blank range?

A tingle and shiver ran through Garth when he watched Sparrow awake from her sleep. He had watched her stir in her sleep and whimper at times, he watched her fall to sleep before and he watched her open her eyes to the morning… Why did he suddenly have a tremor of chills run to and fro?

"Good, you're awake."

Sparrow's blue eyes went to Garth, not expecting him to be waiting for her. She glanced to Jack of Blades' mask briefly before looking at Garth once more. He felt the hair on his neck stand on end, like when he casts off lightening and his body becomes smothered with static, only there was no lightening or static taking place…

"We've got to hurry to Oakfield. Threats have been stated and we can't jeopardize the situation."

"Garth…" Sparrow questioned softly. "… You look very tired."

"I know… Don't worry for me." He said to her, getting up from his chair and walking to the doorframe. Sparrow had gotten up and a strange feeling came over Garth. He couldn't define it.

"The mask." She said, and his hand dropped to the object and he held it tightly. "You're not going to give it back, are you?"

He wasn't sure if he wanted to give it back or not. It gave her nightmares, made her appear ill and sickly. He wondered if she had gotten shorter within the past few days. Not that she was really six feet tall, but regardless…

"Garth, are you alright?"

He snapped out of his thoughts.

"Yes, of course."

"… You didn't sleep at all, did you?"

No, not while there is danger lurking around the river bend. Garth's lips became stern and his gaze was solid. Sparrow's dull stare suddenly became hard and just as serious as Garth's. As if he did something to displease her.

"What were you doing all night, Garth!?" She shook her head suddenly, ignoring Garth's delayed reactions and she sighed. "I'm not going to try and persuade you into take a nap, because I know you wont, but I'll tell you that if you want to be prepared for what we're going to face—you should rest up—" Sparrow's lecture was cut short.

"I understand." Garth said abruptly.

Sparrow's glare became soft, not in an admiring way though. She nodded and began to prepare for the travel to Oakfield today.

The rest from there seemed to be a slight haze to Garth. Things weren't as vivid, mostly because of the lack of sleep. He did not notice things that his senses presented to him. He noticed other things though. He did, however, jump at sudden things that came to his attention. He jumped the gun when he saw a bunny scamper out from under a bush.

Of course, the bunny got away before Garth could collect himself to actually cast a lightening spell… (Seems to be his signature spell, ne?) Sparrow did take notice, much to Garth's disappointment.

"You know, I don't think I have a potion for what you have, but if you were well rested, maybe—…"

"Hero." He spoke to her with such soft words. She became quiet, only nodding with the idea that maybe she was irritating him.

Garth stared at the temple as they came to pass the large haunting structure. There was little else they could see other then the tall ruins that still stood, defiant against nature's erosion process. Garth expected a troll to come jumping out of the spiral stair case and run with unbelievable speed towards the girl he traveled with.

He expected it, but it did not happen… thankfully.

"Talk to me, Sparrow." He said after more walking. "I think I may just nod off if I continue on without saying another word…"

"Alright… What would you like to talk about?" She asked carelessly.

"Anything."

"Okay… Um…" Sparrow was silenced as she tried to summon a thought, any thought, from the depths of her mind.

"Before I came to Bowerstone, I told you I lived on a farm." Yes, that's right. She did live on a farm… Must've had many fields and some cattle, chicken and other things… "Do you remember your home? Before Albion?"

Well, he wasn't prepared for that question.

"I remember… I didn't have a home like yours but… I found someone who would let me stay without pay if I would stay and work with them." Wow, that was ages ago… He was surprised he could still remember.

"He was somewhat of a collector. He'd let me read books he found over his own lifetime. After a few years and some advances I made, I got here."

"Reasonable story." Sparrow replied, nodding. She seemed to have put some thought into Garth's past. Of course, he couldn't help but notice.

"You were expecting something else?"

"No, just couldn't help but wonder. Mind you, you're a myth to people here. I don't know what to expect from you half the time."

"Understandable explanation." Garth shot back at her, and she smiled. Garth didn't notice, but when he saw it, his tense shoulders suddenly dropped in a moment of relief. His relaxed state did not live long, his shoulders became tense not but a moment later.

She did not notice.

"Reaver." She said, and Garth's state of peace shattered into a miffed emotion.

"What of him?"

"Did you know… he's the reason Wraithmarsh is in the state it's in?"

"I gathered a portion of that information." Garth said carelessly. "Hammer and I were both there when Theresa stated Reaver's connection with The Shadow Court."

"Hn…" Sparrow did not voice what she was thinking, which made Garth curious sometimes.

"Why mention him?"

"I was just wondering what his childhood must've been like… He wasn't Reaver all the time. Reaver, the man he is now, doesn't have a family or hometown… I read some journal entries… but they don't give a name. I find it a little disappointing."

"I thought you said he was after you." The Will User said suddenly. "Why speak of him?"

"A lot of people are after me, Garth. I was just talking about him for the sake of you not falling face forward in the middle of a road."

"… We should've taken a carriage."

There was a drifting silence between them after Garth had spoke word of a different topic, changing the subject between the two of them. Sparrow would bring up Hammer, but right now…

Who knows what brought Sparrow to even utter these words.

"I don't think he really means us harm."

Garth abruptly stopped, making Sparrow turn at her traveling companion in question.

"Incase you have forgotten, he's a pirate. Someone like you is a princess in his eyes."

"What do you mean?" Sparrow asked naively. "He is only after us because of the mask…"

"No, he's after you. Compare yourself to those who live in Bloodstone. Those are the people Reaver uses to get what he needs and wants. He's not just interested in your body… Sparrow, he's a heartless monster. If he were to even touch you—"

"Garth." There was a dangerous tone in her voice. "I'm here for the good of Albion… What are you here for?"

The Will User found himself at a loss of words momentarily as the heroine waited for an answer. What was he here for? He seemed to have forgotten somewhere along the travel. Oh… Oh, the conversation last night made sense… but Garth dared not accept that thought.

"I'm beginning to question your purpose here." Sparrow explained. Moments of silence, and Garth's hand fell to the mask, holding it tightly as he cringed on the inside.

"I'm here so that innocent people don't get hurt."

"… Let's go then."