"Up." Beth looked up from where she sat next to Carol at the edge of the camp. Daryl Dixon was standing directly in front of her and it was clear who the order was for as his eyes remained fixed on her. No one had bothered her since the evening before when she had challenged Daryl at the camp fire. He had not spoken to her all morning since she had come out of her tent. Merle had sent her a wink of approval when she took a few steps on her own. Daryl had glared at her still, but made no move to approach her.
Now, he was looking down where she sat in annoyance. She hadn't even seen or heard him coming, as she had been completely distracted by the massage Carol had been giving her injured ankle to keep the blood flow going. The woman seemed to know quite a bit about treating injuries. Beth wondered if she had been trained in the medical field. Whether she had seen Daryl coming or not, he was certainly in front of her now and didn't seem intent to move until she obeyed. She, therefore, decided not to.
"That foot ain't going to get any better unless you walk on it." Daryl declared, motioning with his finger that she should just stand up.
"He's right, Beth." Carol said, reassuringly. "You should take a walk. I would go with you, but I have to get dinner ready. You'll be safe with this one." Carol added, touching Daryl's shoulder lightly as she rose.
"I'll walk by myself then." Beth said, arrogantly brushing away the offer. She used her hands as a propellent, pushing them down from behind her onto the forest floor as she moved upward with her front half. She propelled too hard though and gravity did the rest, sending her face forward towards the ground. Strong arms enveloped her tightly around the waist and pushed her upright once more. Daryl was looking down at her in his arms. She expected him to look smug, so she was surprised to find he looked-there was no other word for it-uncomfortable. He shrugged and slowly let her go, as she took a hobbled step back. Daryl remained there in front of her, but refused to meet her eyes. Instead, they seemed to be very interested in a small stick that he was now kicking back and forth at his feet. Beth wanted to smile at how adorable this would look if it was anyone but the arrogant man in front of her.
"I think it's clearly best if Daryl walks with you, dear." Carol said, patting Beth's palm encouragingly. Beth would have huffed, but she didn't want to look childish. And whether she liked it or not, she knew they were both right. Even though the barely present smirk on Daryl's face made her grimace, she began to follow him as he walked into the woods away from the camp.
"I don't see how tripping over a fallen branch is going to help me walk better?" Beth called back to Daryl, who was now walking a few paces behind her. Beth marvelled at how easily flowing her quips were becoming. It was almost as if running away from home had created a whole new person. Had it really only been one day? Beth didn't understand herself. To go from being the quiet, obedient young woman she had always known herself to be, to smarting off to a man she hardly knew in such a short time just didn't make any sense. All Beth could surmise was that perhaps it was the man himself who was the cause of her personality shift.
There was no sense of falsehood in Daryl. What he wanted to say, he said. No matter how crude the feeling or comment was, Daryl didn't hold back. He was genuine in a way Beth had never seen a man be. She had even caught her father in dishonesty for the sake of proprietary a time or two. She was certain she would never find Daryl asking for another piece of a charcoaled cherry pie simply to avoid hurting Maggie's feelings as her father had done on more than one occasion.
"It'll strengthen it." Daryl said, matter of factly as she stopped to wait for him. She didn't have to wait for long. Daryl's large strides caught up to her seconds. When he drew level, she stared up at him.
"Just ask." Daryl said, looking away as if he could see something far ahead.
"I don't know what you're talking about." Beth said, moving forward again. She was stopped when Daryl's large hand wrapped around her upper arm, halting her. His hold was firm, but still gentle.
"That's your problem, you know that?" He said.
"Will you let me go?" Beth said. She could feel her face growing red from his touch. She told herself it was annoyance.
"Tell me to." Daryl said, stepping just an inch further into her space. "For once in your life, demand what you want." That hit a little too close to home for Beth.
"You don't know me."
"Keep telling yourself that, princess." Daryl sneered, before pushing past her.
"I ran away, didn't I?!" Beth shouted to his back. Daryl's eyes shot back to her. Her own had bulged when she realized her mistake.
"Ran away, huh?" Daryl asked, triumphantly raising an eyebrow. "Why?"
Beth couldn't keep the charade up any longer. "I was being forced into a marriage I didn't want."
"So, you ran away?" Daryl asked in mock shock, moving closer to her.
"What was I supposed to do?" Beth said, bristled by the judgment in his tone.
"I don't know, princess, how about fighting back? Taking control of your own damn life!" Daryl said, standing directly in front of her now.
"You're one to talk!" Beth said, stepping forward. Their shoulders were now touching, but Beth was beyond feeling uncomfortable. She was furious.
Daryl's eyes went cold. "What did Carol tell you?"
"Enough to know you're just as much of a coward as I am." It was cruel of her to say it, and Beth felt the guilt rise up in her immediately. Daryl took a step back as if she had struck him. The hurt in his eyes made her look away, ashamed of herself. "I'm sorry. That was an awful thing to say," Beth began, bringing her hands up to cover her face.
"You think you have control over your life, princess?" Daryl began, still ice. "Good luck." He continued, motioning her onward and away from him with an outstretched hand, "Find your own way out of this life and my woods." With one last glance and shake of his head, he began walked away from her in the direction of his camp.
Beth stared after him for a moment before her pride won out and she began to march through the trees the opposite way with no idea where she was or where she was going.
And as the sun set, Beth only knew one thing, for sure: she was most assuredly lost. All she saw around her were thick, tall trees. Even if she wanted to, getting back to Daryl's camp didn't seem possible as she crunched down dead, decaying leaves that had already fallen beneath her feet. If Beth hadn't been raised in a Christian home, she would have damned that infuriating man.
As she stomped, Beth smugly imagined Daryl Dixon's face under her feet. She smiled despite the fact that she knew she could never truly hurt Daryl. She could never hurt anyone. It just wasn't in her soul. Even if it was, as much as the man frustrated her, she was indebted to him. Knowing nothing about her, he chose to helped her. He could have left her on her bottom when he'd caught up to her that day. Beth knew that spoke to his character, rather he was a thief or not.
Beth looked behind her, wondering if she should attempt going back. She would certainly find the camp eventually, if she walked around long enough in the near vicinity of it. Of course, that would mean being around Daryl once more. She could only imagine his smug smirk as he caught her stumbling through the outskirts of his camp. However, making it back to the camp would be the a point in her favor eventually.
Just as she resigned herself to heading back to the camp, Beth heard a very pronounced whistle behind her. Beth looked to find a group of rough-looking men, walking towards her. One of the men put up a hand, halting the others; clearly he was the leader.
"Does the lady need assistance?" He said, bowing to her as he continued to move her way.
"No, thank you." Beth said, taking an equal step back. She didn't trust this man and she was tired of pompous men taunting her.
"A lady left to her own courses is a storm waiting to brew, dearie." The man said, stopping when he was directly in front of her. Beth took a step back and bumped into a hard chest. She couldn't stop the quick breath of surprise and, if she were honest, fear. The man behind her caught her arms, but let go quickly after she steadied her balance.
"Just keeping you upright, ma'am." The bulky man behind her said, smirking. Beth cursed her amatuer senses for having not seen the man move around her in the first place.
"I need no assistance." Beth squeaked, trying to remain calm. She imagined how her previous companion would handle these men. "Move out of my way." Beth demanded, standing to her tallest and placing both feet solidly on the ground. Pulsing pain shot up her leg, but she hid her agony and glared the leader down in a way she hoped appeared very threatening.
"No need to be so hostile, dearie." The leader continued, bringing up both arms. He was not as toned and wide as Daryl, but, by no means, weak-appearing. His face was tanned from so much time outside and Beth shuddered when she caught the glint of a knife on his hip. The man caught her glance and smiled. "No need to worry, dearie. I assure you I mean you no harm."
"I'm afraid I don't believe you." Beth said, moving to push past him. She was stopped when his hand closed around her upper arm.
"It's rude to leave in the middle of a conversation, love." The man said, tightening his grip. Beth winced from the pressure. "I think we need to have a different conversation about manners. Perhaps somewhere more private?" The man smirked before attempting to pull her towards his men who were now eagerly laughing and throwing their hands out as if to catch her.
"Beth." Beth spun herself around quickly. Even though he was standing at least six feet behind her, Beth could see the deep scowl in Daryl's eyes and the way his lips were stuck together in one tight line. Beth's first instinct was to glare back, but as she continued to look in his direction, she saw that he wasn't even looking at her. His eyes were locked at the center of the group of men, on the man who had suddenly, very slightly, loosened his grip on her arm. Beth flicked her eyes up to him. She saw the apprehension there before the mask of confidence returned. The man smiled in Daryl's direction.
"Dixon, I see you're acquainted with the lady here." The ogre of a man stated, nonchalantly.
"Hands off, Martin." Daryl responded, raising his hand up and flipping two fingers towards them, as if he were dismissing the group. "That woman is no concern of yours."
"She's concern of yours though?" Beth didn't care for the way the man's eyes squinted and stayed solidly on Daryl. In that moment, her assailant, Martin, looked like a cat that had been out maneuvered too many times and had finally cornered the mouse. It chilled her and she instinctively shrunk away from him. Both men noticed. Daryl only allowed a quick glance in her direction, but Martin's eyes now rested solely on her.
"She is a skittish little bit, am I right?"
"Like I said before, she's none of your concern." Daryl repeated, but Beth noticed the frustration rising in his voice. "Now, let her go."
"Daryl, we've known each other too long. In the years since we met, I've never seen you so much as glance at a woman, let alone concern yourself with one's safety. And, not that it matters, she is perfectly well. We were just having a conversation." He looked down at Beth, as if she would confirm his statement. Beth just glared back and yanked again at the man's grip on her arm. She would have a bruise there later.
"Conversation's over. Let her go." Daryl repeated, lifting his bow off his shoulder to cross in front of his body casually. "Don't expect me to ask you again."
Martin just smirked as his men drew their own weapons out. Daryl was very clearly outnumbered. As the men behind Martin stepped forward with their weapons raised in Daryl's direction, Beth acted quickly and without thinking. Raising her good foot, she aimed a good, solid kick at Martin's knee. She kicked out with all of her body's force and was rewarded when the man let her go to grab at his throbbing knee. For a moment, Beth stayed where she was. Shock at what she had done kept her feet from moving.
"God almighty, girl, move!" Daryl's exasperated voice called from where he was still standing feet away from her. He now had both hands in the air, ushering her impatiently to him. She hobbled as best she could in Daryl's direction and he caught her just as her strength gave out. Beth felt his arm muscles twitch as her hands wrapped around them to steady herself. He helped Beth right herself, but kept one arm wrapped around her middle as he turned to the other party.
Martin was now standing upright once more, but still hadn't put any real weight on the leg that Beth had kicked. Beth felt herself smirk in his direction. Perhaps she was wrong about herself. She could hurt someone, if she had to and not feel even a hint of remorse at that.
"Not as skittish as you thought, Martin." Daryl said, smugly. "Remember that." Daryl's voice dropped to an almost growl as he spoke the words. Beth didn't miss the threat and she doubted Martin did either. The possession in Daryl's voice sent a thrill through her system that she enjoyed more than she would openly admit. For his part though, Daryl didn't try to push her behind him, but let her stand parallel to him at his side. Beth appreciated the gesture, even though she was certain it was more for Martin's benefit than hers. "Well, we have to be going." Daryl continued, looking at Beth before guiding her with his eyes to start moving behind him.
"I hardly want to wait until we can cross paths again, Daryl." Martin said, tipping an imaginary hat, not disagreeing with their exit. Beth still wasn't trusting of the situation though and only walked a few paces before turning back for Daryl. He was moving away from the group of men backwards. He clearly didn't trust the situation anymore than Beth did.
Apparently, Daryl scoffed slow progress towards here was no longer interesting to the group, and they turned their backs on the two and walked back the way they came. It was only when their backs began to fade into the trees that Daryl turned to her. He looked at her for a moment before looking away and then back at her again. It was as if he were trying to sort out what words he wanted to use. Finally, he looked at her and didn't look away. "Are you okay, Beth?"
The sincere concern in his voice pulled Beth back a bit. She was prepared for more teasing humiliation, but there was not a hint of falsehood in the words. "I will be fine."
Daryl stared at her a minute longer, before nodding. "Let's get back to the others." He said, motioning for her to lead the way back the way he came.
"How am I to know where to go?" Beth asked, staying where she was.
"I'll show you the way. You need to know how to get back on your own merit. I can't rescue each time you need help." Daryl said, smirking at her as he stood directly in front of her.
"I hardly think you rescued me, Mr. Dixon." Beth said, "You said it yourself. I'm not a skittish little bit, remember?"
"Yes, princess. I remember." Daryl said, motioning her forward with a small smile. "Get moving."