I hope you all enjoy the latest chapter to I See Fire everyone and as always
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Chapter 8: Slight Detour
Traveling along the road Holden watched on as his Queen giggled at something that heathen woman said as they rode together. He had noticed them always sneaking off together, usually that woman El pulling Queen Elsa by the hand. It frustrated him that she would not listen…these were not good people. The travelers that had merged with them temporarily either were probably too scared to say anything considering the amount of fighters The Horsemen had under their command. One way or another he would do his duty to bring them home and protect his Queen even if it meant from herself.
"If ye stare any harder, 'might start a fire." Turning at the voice the young guard glared at the brigand that spoke to him as if they were friends.
"Careful Bear…you might be his first victim." Ajmal teased.
"If I didn't know any better I'd say the boy is jealous." Walter added with a grin, wriggling his eyebrows.
"As if her Majesty would ever think to degrade herself with the thought." Holden scoffed. Though when he glanced back to the riding pair doubt wormed its way into his mind.
"He is jealous…perhaps he thought she would be more incline to stay with him." Ajmal pondered out loud.
"Bah…the woman's happy." Bear chimed in pulling Holden closer to him and motioned toward the pair in their sights. "Tell me boy you ever seen her smile like that before?"
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Elsa swatted the hand at her side trying to tickle her, unsure how they went from speaking of the road ahead to fighting off tickles. "El.." She chastised taking hold of the culprit hand.
"Sorry…I'll stop." El smiled threading their fingers. Elsa hummed at the warmth that spead from the touch as well as the warmth of the body pressed to her back. They rode in silence, the first since heading off for the day, they would travel three more days with their temporary traveling group before splitting off. Only two days had passed since the night in the forest but neither Elsa nor El seemed to have minded what had transpired between them.
The traveling band moved until mid-day stopping only because of the sight that stopped all of them in their tracks. What was left of tents and wagons were nothing but burnt ruins the sight of strewn bodies mangled and broken...forced to lay in their own blood and the blood of their neighbors.
Ajmal called out to the men, "Fan out, check the perimeter and see if you can find anything on who did this."
"We should leave this place…" El's voice was gruff but filled with something Elsa could only attune to as sadness and sorrow.
"What happened here?" The question was breathless as if the sight had stolen Elsa's next breath, blue eyes roamed the carnage….the sight becoming too much for her to see. Her stomach churned and flipped uneasily, mind wandering to thoughts of what kind of monster could cause such merciless death…it was not until seeing the forms of those young and innocent, those who still knew not the true way of the world…the children of these people, even they lay on the blood stained ground brutally beaten and lifeless. In their eyes held the glimpse of shattered innocence as their final memory and Elsa swore she could hear the echo of their dying screams around her…
Elsa flinched at the touch of a warm hand to her forearm and on instinct flicked her wrist a shard of ice formed and immediately the Snow Queen realized what she'd done. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I just-"
Immediately El grasp her own forearm where the cut was made. "It's just a scratch."
Elsa reached for the other woman's arm noticing blood trickle from it. "Your bleeding. It's more then a scratch if I've broken the skin." She moved El's hand finding where she held covered in blood curiously though as she examined the other woman's arm there just seemed to be blood painted on her arm as if it was not her own…there was no wound or cut, not even a scar. She turned then to come face to face with El who explained, "Minor injuries heal pretty instantly. Like I said just a scratch."
Just then Bear rode up beside them. "Our company wants to burn 'em, I can't say I want to stay here any longer then we need to…but…"
"We'll give them their rites Bear. Just secure the area."
Feeling the mercenary dismount Elsa moved to do the same but was stopped when El put a hand to her arm. "I can help."
"Stay here."
"El I can help."
"Stay with Lyra…please."
"El…" She tried again but the mercenary was walking away to join the clean up. Holden rode up beside her then, "As much as I hate to agree but she is right…dealing with the dead isn't something you should burden yourself with…your majesty." He whispered the last part with the slightest bow of the head.
"I am not some invalid."
"Forgive me for speaking out of turn but as correct as that is dealing with the dead isn't something to concern yourself with."
Elsa turned to glare at him, "I do what I must." She chastisted while dismounting. "No task should be beneath what I do for the people. Even if that means this." With that she turned walking over to the group helping with the rite of death.
Instead of burying the dead like Elsa had expected El and some of the others turned the overturned and destroyed wagons into pyres. Mostly what was left was to burn the bodies and see what was salvageable from the intact wagons.
El had seen when Elsa had stubbornly dismissed what she said and came over to help. She didn't chastise the Queen merely nodded in aquiescence knowing that it would be useless to argue. Their work took some time but burning the dead was a done deed. Watching from the sidelines as several of her men and the travelers went through the salvageable items El's attention was taken at the sight of several trying to calm a distressed horse.
Walking over to the small crowd she smirked when seeing Bear laugh at Walter's attempt. "Not everyone can fall for your charm." She teased coming to stand beside them.
"I'm not so sure it can be tamed at all." Ajmal said thoughtfully. "That's no ordinary stallion…that's an Arvyn Blue Ridge."
Bear threw his head back with a loud cackle, "Not worthy of its time are ye Walt." He patted his friend on the back.
Shaking her head El turned to walk back to the horses, "Cut it free so we can go. the snow will come when the night falls."
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Later that night they found themselves camped in the sight where they found the ruined caravan. The snow fall would slow them in the morning but it was agreed to be safer in the light of day then to be pushing on in the dark. Many tried not to think of what happened here and most were up to keep their minds from thinking back to what they found.
Elsa walked to El's tent pausing at the entrance before entering. El was sharpening her weapons, "You should be resting." The other woman said not looking up.
"I'd rather not be by myself in a place such as this."
This brought El to pause and look up, "Where's Lyra?"
"Walter wanted her company tonight….the others are much the same…well all except for you."
"Just because I am alone doesn't mean I wish to be. I'm just…preparing."
Elsa walked further into the tent noticing that El didn't have much aside from the fire and her traveling bed. Everything packed away that could be easily saddled on the horse they shared. "You think those things will attack again." It wasn't a question but the look she received was all the answer the Queen needed.
"That could have been us."
"But it wasn't."
"No but would you really allow these travelers to face those creatures again? They're people just like you trying to survive."
"It is the way things are…where they are headed for the winter will set our journey back months maybe half of the cold season if the snow is anything to go by."
"I can't sit by and watch the people suffer…not if there is something that can be done no matter how small the help may seem…can we at least escort them most of the way there?"
With a sigh El lowered her whetstone and returned her gaze to the platinum blonde. Elsa was looking at her with pleading eyes and she turned from the gaze locked on to her. "I can't promise you it will happen but I'll talk to others in the morning."
"Thank you." Elsa gave a grateful smile which was returned. For a moment they did nothing but watch the other until El stood from her spot and walked over. "Will you stay with me tonight?"
"I don't think that wise."
"I wasn't implying anything just…so that my mind will have peace knowing you are safe tonight." El slowly reached for one of Elsa's hands. "I would understand why you would not allow such a thing…it's only a suggestion."
Elsa hadn't the time to answer as Bear came bursting through the tent flap a wide grin on his face, "There ya are. Would you mind in singin us a song your majesty. I think it'd help ease everyone….Sorry did I interrupt something?"
"Not really Bear." El answered causing Elsa to turn her gaze back to the other woman. "Go on sing. It's been a little while since we last heard you."
"Will you join me?" Elsa asked giving the hands in her own a squeeze.
El simply nodded, allowing herself to be pulled along. When Elsa passed him Bear gave her a knowing look to which she ignored with an eyeroll. They were met with smiles walking over to the fire most were gathered around. An older man burly and strong smiled kindly at the pair, "I'm sorry to interrupt your night Miss Laila but one of your companions let slip that you can sing."
"I do. Not often of late but it is a joy for me." Elsa smiled.
"Would you be so kind as to sing for us?"
Elsa smiled ready to answer only to be interrupted by one of the men from the travelers group. "I bet your voice is as beautiful as you." Elsa blushed clearing her throat.
"I'd be careful." Bear warned, "I don't think El would take kindly to you trying to seduce his woman."
Because of the way El carried herself she could pass as a smaller man then most. Elsa remembering that the mercenary told her that when it came to the world of men, that pretending to be a man gave her more freedom then as a woman. Its why she rarely spoke in the company of the travelers and when she did she deepened her voice.
"Take no mind to Tristan here." A large man beside him said with a broad smile, "He'll compliment any beauty he sees."
Tristen scowled at his friend who laughed. Although Bear laughed along too Elsa was able to tell it wasn't a real bellied laugh. El for her part stood by watching Tristen closely before stepping closer to the Queen and wrapping an arm around her waist. Smiling when Elsa turned finding her there.
"How long have you two-"
"3 years." Came El's low sharp answer when Tristan began to ask, but by the look in his eye she knew that wouldn't be the end of it so she added, "Set to wed this cold season. It's why we're traveling."
The older man the one who had asked for Elsa to sing in the first place smiled cheerfully, "Congradulations…I understand your need to keep your lady safe on such a travel with so many swords around. I wish you both blessing and a fetile union."
"T-Thank you." Elsa responded in kind, her blush spreading at his words.
"It's a wonder you can control yourself." Tristan added, "I would be hard pressed to keep my hands off her were she my woman."
His larger friend elbowed him giving them an apologetic look, "Please don't mind him. We are happy to hear such news."
Before Elsa could answer El replied, "No offence was taken." She then turned her gaze back to Tristan. "When you find a woman of your own let us know how she takes to your behavior." Bear laughed followed by many of the others. Tristan just scowled crossing his arms but didn't say another word.
One of their band stood offering 'Laila' their seat by the fire. Elsa gave a thankful smile before looking over to the older man who had asked her to sing. He was speaking to one of the children traveling with him. The young boy nodded with a grin running off. "Are you traveling back to your home or hers?"
"Mine." El answered in a quiet gruff.
"Not much of a talker is he?" the older man teased with a twinkle in his eye. Elsa smiled back in kind, "Only when needed."
"So how did you two meet?"
"Gustave, don't pester." The older man chastised.
"I meant no disrespect." Gustave laughed rubbing at the back of his. "Only curious."
Both El and Elsa were saved from answering or avoiding the question entirely when two of the children came running back, both caring something in their arms. It seemed however just like their night been another interruption came about this one coming in the form of town guard. The band of mercenaries looked to their leaders who gave subtle signs to act normal.
"Travlers, I'm sorry to disturb your night but by order of the lord of these lands were are to escort any traveling to the nearest city or town where you will stay for the night. Should you have means to travel elsewhere a group of my guard will help to escort you."
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