HIDDEN DANGERS

Lord Arvis' cheek was red from where the arrow struck it. She hadn't been paying attention, stepping on a button that, in hindsight, was embarrassingly obvious to see. He'd taken the brunt of the plunger-faced arrow, frozen in place for a moment before he pulled it off. Neither said a thing, beginning to walk down the stone corridors again.

It could've been her, very easily. Her error, her arrow. Admittedly non-lethal, but an arrow all the same. He took it for her.

When they reach the daylight again, she reached for his sleeve. "Wait a moment, Lord Arvis." He did, eying her curiously (dare she think warmly?). Naga's tome was heavy under her arm. Still, she stood up on her toes, pressing a kiss to the splotch mark. "Thank you."

HEORIC DEALS

"Deirdre. Do you know what mold is?"

"I am telling you when I buy the bread it is fine!" The bread looked mighty pathetic in her arms, even she admitted. "We can always eat around-"

"Deirdre."

"You are very casual today." Lord Arvis - no, Arvis most certainly did not roll his eyes, but the crease of his brow softened. "Once more. I will avoid the bakery all together this time."

SUDDEN DOWNPOUR

A frog hopped by. Presently, they were trapped under a tree with no provisions to show for their day out. He'd put his foot down on bringing the bread with them. "Who taught you how to shop?"

"How would I know?" He sighed.

She looked up at him, as he'd so politely offered his elbow after she rescued the both of them. "This is not the worst place to be, you know," she tried. "We are mostly dry, and the company is good."

Thunder shuddered overhead. "Good company?" he echoed. "For you, perhaps."

"What have I done? The bread does not count." Lord Arvis almost smiled. She wanted the whole thing. "That's what I thought."

MEAL PREPARATIONS

With the scare provisions they still had, dinner could be worse. The stew bubbled in the large pot, the lid bouncing. For two people who could not cook, they did good for themselves, if she could be so cocky.

Lord Arvis sat with her on the ground. He'd given over his cloak to keep her warm, shoulders stretched beneath his blouse. Between them, she laid her hand palm side up. "Lord Arvis?"

"Princess Deirdre."

"None of that. Perhaps when this mission is over, we could have a good meal. I've heard good things about one of the restaurants near the Order's castles."

He touched her hand, heel of his hand brushing against her outstretched fingers. She curled her fingers up to catch him. "Dinner?" She nodded. Why not? Persistent companions, and maybe more. "All right."

CAMPING COMFORTS

The first time they set up a tent, she didn't want to think about. This time went better, considering it didn't collapse. There was not much in the way of privacy, however, and she had to coax him into sharing it with her.

"I do not think this day was bad at all!" Deirdre decided. An arm's length between them for modesty at his insistence. Her brush caught a tangle in her hair, but considering all they got up to today, it was a win. "A well earned rest."

"All to do it again tomorrow."

With him on his back, eyes trained towards where the walls of the tent met, she nearly wished he wasn't so shy, longing for him to look, but could not bring herself to say it. "Again tomorrow," she said. "I promise to avoid the traps."

"And when you don't, I promise to be there."

Her stomach fluttered. "You do?"

"Yes."