A Day at Camp
RYATT
The next morning after the bonfire I wake up to the sound of dirt crunching beneath a group of boots in the distance. It seems like only hours ago that the camp finally settled down and got to sleep after the music stopped playing. For a moment I worry that I have overslept, a habit that I detest in others and hold myself to strict standards when it comes to my early morning routine. I move quickly to stick my head out of my tent flap to take a peek at what is causing the sound.
I am relieved in an instant when I see just a sliver of light as the sun barely breaks the horizon line. So, it seems I am not a lazy Commander, but rather someone else is up way too damn early. My relief quickly turns into disbelief as I squint at the figures that are lightly jogging towards me in a group of familiar faces- mostly soldiers from the Right Flank, including Lu and Inga. The Right Flank is notorious for being the last to wake, so what in the Gods damn world could they be doing jogging together at this hour?
Then I see a figure run up the side of the group and easily overtake the few in front to become the leader, all the way calling out encouragement to the jogging soldiers. Swishing red hair, although this time it is tied up in a high tail on top of her head, tells me that it can only be Alanna, when her mellow but commanding voice calls out to the others "Way to go, we only have one more mile and then we're done for this morning!"
Upon seeing Alanna approach my tent I can't help but step further outside, until I realize that I only have my blanket wrapped around my waist, since I tend to sleep in the nude. I don't regret my attire when I notice that Alanna's gaze zeroes in on my bare torso once again and she gives me a lascivious look over. An easy smirk graces her lips, and she turns to say something to Lu before speeding up to head directly up to me. As she stops we both watch the rest of the soldiers run by and I give a shake of my head and a snort.
"How in the hell is Right Flank up this damn early, going on a run of all things?" I ask her. She looks at me with feigned innocence, her arms crossed in front of her.
"Well, I inadvertently started a running regiment the second morning I got here. I find that a light jog helps loosen up my muscles for any training to come later in the day. I had decided to sleep in the tent with the Right Flank soldiers and when I got up to go for my run some of them decided to join me." I furrow my brow in confusion at her explanation which prompts Alanna to continue, "It also helps that I brought some of my exotic herbal tea that is to be drank immediately after the run, I find it helps invigorate one's body for the day. I decided to share it with the others, and they took a strong liking to the flavor."
"So, you bribed them to go running with you?" I smirk back at her, making sure to hold tight to my blanket and that it doesn't go slipping.
"I don't love the word bribe," she quips, "but I suppose yes that is exactly what I have done. I bet you didn't know that the Fae tea was my other secret weapon, only second after my gorgeous breasts." I can't help but laugh at the hilarity in her outrageous statement. Somehow the topic of Alanna's breasts has made its way into this conversation. I dare to take a look at said, secret weapons, when I find that they are completely unmarked. The gold touch of Auren's lips is no longer visible. "Eyes up here, Commander," she teases me, "even though I could talk about myself all day, I have to catch up to my soldiers."
Before she sprints off, Alanna grabs one of my hands to open it face up as she plucks a small bloom from her hair and places it in my palm. I see another flicker of desire in her eyes as she closes my fingers around her token. Then her touch is gone along with the heat, I miss that warmth already and I wish I could have invited her inside the tent with me. I shamelessly watch her figure jog away, the swaying of her hips having a lot of sway with certain other parts of my body as well.
The way she said "my soldiers" tugs at me, she said it in an affectionate tone. First, I find out that she organized the bonfire last night and graced us with her ethereal violin music. Then this morning she somehow has the Right Flank up and moving as a unit. I didn't hear even one groan or complaint from the group. I can't decide if I am suspicious of how Alanna has infiltrated my camp or in awe at her ability to coax and command others. When the cold morning air sends a shiver over my chest, I recognize that I might as well go in and properly get ready for the day.
…
"Get back in line or I'll kick you in the arse," I hear Keg shout at the queue of soldiers standing in front of his breakfast pot that sits simmering on a coal of fire. "There won't be seconds for anyone until every soldier has had their first helping".
"Aww Keg, but today your porridge actually tastes good-"
"Don't you dare finish that sentence boy or I'll-"
"Let me guess, you'll kick him in the arse?" I interrupt their back and forth as I come to stand by Keg and assess the soldiers in line. "Isn't that a good problem to have this morning, rather a compliment to your, er, amazing culinary skills?" I look at Keg who doesn't look at me as he continues to dole out portions of porridge to each solider in line. The porridge itself does not look outwardly different than any other time Keg has served breakfast, yet the most mouthwatering smell hits my senses each time he uncovers the pot to ladle out a portion. It smells like a morning delicacy from some far-off place. "Is that the scent of-"
"Cinnamon and maple syrup Commander," Keg cuts me off and continues with a wave of his ladle, "our girl Alanna was kind enough to share some of her spices with me along with the maple syrup and brown sugar that I put in this porridge."
I narrow my eyes at his use of the words "our girl" to describe Alanna. I raise my hand to my chin to contemplate as I cautiously say to him, "How kind of 'our' girl to share such luxuries with us." Keg can catch the emphasis I put on the word 'our' and I see his ears turn a bit red in embarrassment.
"She also helps with the dishes after breakfast most mornings," Twig says as he comes over to us with another stack of clean metal mugs in his arms. He is a slight young boy who looks about to spill the entirety of the contents in his arm. I raise my eyebrows again and turn my gaze back at Keg to ask, "is that true?" Keg takes a gulp and nods his head in assent.
"After I served Alanna her first breakfast last week, she noticed little Twig over here had tripped and spilled a stack of dirty dishes on his way to the washing station. Before I could huff and get up to smack the boy upside the head," at this Keg makes a wry smile, "I mean before I could get up to help Twig, she had already swooped in to pick everything up and help him along."
After Twig can set down his stack of mugs he chimes in, "She tells the best Fae stories while we wash dishes together. There's one about her brother and the duel and another about the forest serpent and-" I put up a hand to stop Twig's rambling voice. I grit my teeth before I say to Keg and Twig in an even tone,
"Well thank you for sharing that remarkable information with me. I didn't realize that our new camp guest was so keen on helping." A feeling of unease knots in my stomach at hearing just how easily Alanna has ingratiated herself with the members of my camp. I simply don't know her well enough to decide if her intentions are friendly or if she is trying to win over the others to get at something else. I decide I need to immediately address this potential problem with Osrik and I turn to stride away from Keg and his breakfast line without saying good bye.
…
Lost in my growing concerns about the intrusion caused by Alanna's presence at camp, I stride quickly between the tents looking for my second in command, Osrik. My mind is mulling over a couple of potential key facts here that have to do with the Fae tradition of gift giving. First Alanna said that she gave the Right Flank some of her herbal tea after going on their morning jogs. I have no idea if herbal is code for something more along the lines of magic.
Before I can spiral around the idea that herbal is code for poison I think about the second gift which she gave to Keg- the spices and the syrup. So far each of these things is something ingestible. I have no way of knowing what properties- good, evil or benign- these ingredients might possess. Yet no one questioned where they came from. Perhaps I'm jumping to conclusions and maybe someone actually had the sense to do a quick check of the edible items. It's always better to be safe than unknowingly ingest something dangerous.
I clench my jaw harder when I realize what the first gift actually was- the bloom that Alanna gave me from her hair. And then just this morning she had gifted me a second one. I try to rationalize with myself that there is no way a tiny flower can be a sign of danger. I do tend to get paranoid quickly when things out of the ordinary happen- but isn't it better to be paranoid than caught off guard I ask myself?
I'm so consumed with the thoughts of my paranoia and need to find immediate answers that only a putrid smell is able to cause me to look up and behind me. Of course, the horrible smell is coming from Hojat's tent, as the camp mender he is always working on some new medical concoction. Unfortunately, most of his concoctions, while effective, are of the disgusting smell and taste variety. Because my attention is behind me, I am unable to pause before I collide with someone in front of me. I hear a squeal of surprise come from the person that I have accidentally knocked over and unfortunately knocked over the entire contents of their large basket. My eyes widen when I recognize who it is immediately, thanks to that Gods damn fiery red hair.
"Apologies Commander, I did not see you there," Alanna looks up at me as she focuses on collecting the bandage wraps that are strewn about the ground. This time I don't see any hint of humor in her eyes, only the furrow of frustration in her brow. I stoop down to help her pick up the items and murmur,
"No apology necessary Lady Alanna. It seems I was the one who knocked you over. Or perhaps, I just can't seem to keep running into you all over my camp." Her shoulders stiffen as she catches the hard emphasis I put on the words 'my camp'.
"Why do I feel like there is an accusation in your voice?" Alanna asks bluntly with an arched brow. Her demeanor is calm, but I can see the frustration in her face. She truly has no qualms with speaking her mind, although I already knew that from our first encounter.
"Why do I feel like you've infiltrated my camp- in only one week no less." I wave a hand in the air indicating the tents. "First you have somehow managed to get Right Flank up at the crack of dawn, then you have the men actually wanting to eat Keg's poor excuse for food and you have been doing the dishes after meals-"
"You make those sound like terrible things, have my actions somehow offended you?" She cuts me off. "Or I suppose you are somehow prejudiced against the Fae like so many other humans?" Her words have an edge of bitterness to them and it stops me in my tracks. I am damn well not prejudiced against the Fae, my own damn brother and father are part Fae. Am I resentful that I didn't inherit any Fae powers, probably. It's not the Fae in her that I'm worried about, I would be this paranoid about any newcomer in my camp.
I run a hand through my hair before I sigh and say, "Please don't ever make that assumption of me. I know that you and I have just met, I am surprised by how much you have done around camp already." I didn't expect the simple truth to come out of me, stripped away of all my negative paranoia. When I look at it that way, I think I can't believe that in one week she's been able to do this much…good at camp. I literally just got promoted to Commander of the Army and here she is making everyone love her instantly. Gods, I'm jealous somehow and it stings in my gut to acknowledge that. The expression in Alanna's eyes soften as she tries to make out what I'm thinking. While she may not have a filter, I certainly tend to be more of a closed book.
"Ryatt," she says my name softly, hearing it on her lips instantly makes my heart do a leap, "I'm not the only one who knows what it's like to be scared of the need to prove oneself. I know that many of the stories and legends of the Fae tend to cast us in an evil, malicious light." She places one of her hands over her heart before she continues to say, "I hope that I'm able to change that perception good deed at a time. Especially since your soldiers have welcome me so kindly to camp. I hope to only repay their kindness."
Between her saying my name and the confession from her lush lips, I take a chance and place my hand over hers on her heart. I instantly feel a warmth radiate from her skin and I use my thumb to stroke soft skin there. Her shoulders relax and Alanna lifts her beautiful violet eyes to gaze into mine. I decide to hold her gaze as I murmur, "I am truly sorry for my overreaction just now. I just feel like it has been one surprise after another with your arrival here and maybe I'm not the best with those types of things. But," I offer her a smile, "I could learn to adapt and enjoy your kind gestures. Although there's no way a guy could get a warning before the next one?"
Alanna smiles back at me and her teasing reply, "I will consider your request, Commander, although surprises are literally the spice that I add to life."
"I think I recall you calling yourself 'a lot to handle' at one point." I joke back at her. So many questions start bubbling up inside of me that I want to ask her to dinner tonight, but before I can get the words out, we are both startled by Hojat when he pops his head out of the tent to ask,
"Are ze clean bandages ready yet, Lady Alanna? Oh, hello there new Commander, I did not expect to find you here." Hojat looks between the two of us and he sees my hand is still on Alanna's…which is still on her breast.
"Sorry for the delay Hojat," Alanna says to him before smirking at me, "I thought I had a spot on my breast so I thought I would ask the Commander for a quick inspection." Damn, not the breast joke for the second time again today! I can tell that Alanna knows exactly the effect her words have on me as I almost combust into a blush. The key word is almost.
She quickly gets up with the basket full of bandages again to hand them over to Hojat. I stand up after her and only give a nod to Hojat in greeting. Alanna has the audacity to smile at me and simply say, "See you around camp soon Commander," before she turns and veers off in the other direction.
"Hojat, how many times has Alanna helped you at camp?" I quickly look to him and ask.
"Hmm, at least every other day she comes to help prepare or clean supplies. Ze Lady is a High Fae, did you know that?" Yes, I think to myself, I am acutely aware of just how extraordinary and Fae the woman is. "She often stays an hour or more and we trade medicine recipes and tips, or we swap battle wound stories. In the Fae lands there are a lot of fascinating creatures that cause all sorts of injuries-"
"I'm so sorry to interrupt Hojat, but I need to head off to find Osrik. Please don't hesitate to let me know if you need any new supplies and I'll be sure to order them as soon as possible." I dip my head in goodbye and before I turn to walk away my eye catches something on the ground. Right where Alanna had been sitting is yet another small white bloom, again with the thin purple lines. I know I had just spent a chunk of time doom spiraling thanks to my paranoia, but I decide to pluck up the flower and put it in my pocket along with the other two.