**The Big Secret**
A cool evening breeze blew through the camp rustling the foliage and sweeping it up and around in a complicated dance. A solitary cricket played out its forlorn tune as Natalia made her way through the few tents toward the bright flames of the fire. When Natalia came upon the men, William smiled and stood up.
"I knew you would come," William said still smiling at her grimace. Turning to the men he publicized cheerfully, "This is Natalia, the lass I was just talking about."
"You heal quickly," one commented, "I didn't think someone could heal so fast with a wound like that."
Not knowing what to say to that, Natalia just nodded politely enough. A slight sweat broke out around her temples What's wrong with me? Natalia thought to herself I have never been around so many people for two years that's why she frowned to herself. Why did I come out here anyways? Oh, of course, food.
"Do you have anything left to eat? I'm starving." Natalia declared.
"Sure, just made some stew. Hi, I'm Jonathon. It's a pleasure meeting you," Jon said, he stood up to his full height which seemed to be seven feet. He was large but seemed friendly with a willing smile. He stuck out a hand and flashed a grin.
"Natalia," she said more confidently and gave a tiny smile while her hand got lost in his.
Jonathon's grin widened. He turned around and quickly scooped some of the stew into a wooden bowl and handed it to her accompanied with a spoon.
William then started to announce everyone's name while Natalia stared at the slop of goop they called food and set it to the side with a face. She nodded at everyone he introduced politely and studied each of them covertly. There was Daniel who was the one that retrieved the herbs for her wound. He was short and round with shortly cropped brown hair and rosy cheeks; he seemed like a cheerful sort. Then there was Baldric who was the one who commented on her healing. He had light blonde hair, dark grey eyes, and long limbs to go with that. The last to be introduced was Durant. Natalia's eye lingered on him longer than the rest. He had dark brown hair with dark blue eyes almost black that shined from the firelight. He smiled and nodded his head to her when William introduced him.
Natalia guessed it was Baldric and Durant who stood over her when she woke up, but her head was so messed up at the time that she didn't remember them at all.
Natalia smiled secretly, she promised to herself to get to the bottom of this big "secret" and she'd start right now. She announced to the men, "William here has answered much of my questions, but there is a few that he has been a bit brief on. I was just wondering if any of you could tell me why you men are traveling down this road and who, pray tell, you all are?"
Natalia could have sworn that all the faces in front of her either blanched or blushed slightly but still quite noticeably at her question.
"Uh. we are.-"Jon was about to say but William cut in, "just travelers. I thought I told you about that before Natalia."
"Well I was just hoping that one of your friends could have elaborated on it just a bit more," Natalia said smiling innocently.
"Well that's all you need to know," William said stubbornly.
"I don't see the harm in a bit more emphasis on the subject."
"It is none of your business," William said even more stubbornly.
"Oh give it up, Will. I know you are not just a "traveler", fancy me, tell me the truth."
Both glared at each other in a silent battle but Natalia won the fight. William sighed and turning to his comrades he said, "If we don't tell her she won't stop till she knows."
Durant cut in saying, "Natalia, if you don't mind could we speak privately for just a moment."
"Don't mind at all," Natalia said smirking slightly, "I'll be in my tent when you all are done."
Natalia stood up and exited the little circle formed around the fire. When William saw that she was far enough away he turned back to the other men, he said bluntly, "I say we tell her."
"We can't tell her," Baldric guffawed, "Nobody should know, you know what he said."
"She's of no harm. She's not one of them; she saved our skins that's proof enough," Daniel stated.
"I agree," Jon said.
"Baldric, give it a break. Let's just tell her. We owe her at least that for what she did for us," Durant said from across the fire.
"If you say so Durant then I guess I'm out numbered, but it's not going to be my fault if he finds out," Baldric declared.
Durant let out a quick sigh and said, "But we can't tell her who I am. Everyone can agree on that."
"I see your point. We won't tell her that." All the men nodded in agreement.
"Alright I guess I'll go and get her," sighed William.
"No need. I'm already here. Now have you all decided whether you are going to tell me this 'big secret'."
"You didn't hear anything did you?" Durant asked suspiciously.
"Of course not," Natalia said, all smiles, nothing to reveal. She looked around expectantly, waiting for someone to reply.
William sighed and said, "I guess I'll tell her."
"Please do the suspense is killing me," Natalia feigned.
"This is not something to joke about Natalia. Now I need you to promise me that you will not speak a word of this to anyone. It is very vital that it is kept secret."
"Just get on with it Will, I swear I will not tell a soul about this big secret," Natalia said impatiently.
"Alright then, the thing is we are not just travelers as you expect, we are.
A/N- Sorry I had to stop it there, but the temptation of a cliffhanger was just too much for me to bear.
I am really really really sorry it took me so long to update but my muse it playing tricks on me.*(sorry, sorry, yes I know, excuses, excuses)*
But again, I am going to ask for at least five reviews before I can post up the next chapter. Remember if my muse doesn't inspire me, reviews certainly do, so the more the merrier.
A cool evening breeze blew through the camp rustling the foliage and sweeping it up and around in a complicated dance. A solitary cricket played out its forlorn tune as Natalia made her way through the few tents toward the bright flames of the fire. When Natalia came upon the men, William smiled and stood up.
"I knew you would come," William said still smiling at her grimace. Turning to the men he publicized cheerfully, "This is Natalia, the lass I was just talking about."
"You heal quickly," one commented, "I didn't think someone could heal so fast with a wound like that."
Not knowing what to say to that, Natalia just nodded politely enough. A slight sweat broke out around her temples What's wrong with me? Natalia thought to herself I have never been around so many people for two years that's why she frowned to herself. Why did I come out here anyways? Oh, of course, food.
"Do you have anything left to eat? I'm starving." Natalia declared.
"Sure, just made some stew. Hi, I'm Jonathon. It's a pleasure meeting you," Jon said, he stood up to his full height which seemed to be seven feet. He was large but seemed friendly with a willing smile. He stuck out a hand and flashed a grin.
"Natalia," she said more confidently and gave a tiny smile while her hand got lost in his.
Jonathon's grin widened. He turned around and quickly scooped some of the stew into a wooden bowl and handed it to her accompanied with a spoon.
William then started to announce everyone's name while Natalia stared at the slop of goop they called food and set it to the side with a face. She nodded at everyone he introduced politely and studied each of them covertly. There was Daniel who was the one that retrieved the herbs for her wound. He was short and round with shortly cropped brown hair and rosy cheeks; he seemed like a cheerful sort. Then there was Baldric who was the one who commented on her healing. He had light blonde hair, dark grey eyes, and long limbs to go with that. The last to be introduced was Durant. Natalia's eye lingered on him longer than the rest. He had dark brown hair with dark blue eyes almost black that shined from the firelight. He smiled and nodded his head to her when William introduced him.
Natalia guessed it was Baldric and Durant who stood over her when she woke up, but her head was so messed up at the time that she didn't remember them at all.
Natalia smiled secretly, she promised to herself to get to the bottom of this big "secret" and she'd start right now. She announced to the men, "William here has answered much of my questions, but there is a few that he has been a bit brief on. I was just wondering if any of you could tell me why you men are traveling down this road and who, pray tell, you all are?"
Natalia could have sworn that all the faces in front of her either blanched or blushed slightly but still quite noticeably at her question.
"Uh. we are.-"Jon was about to say but William cut in, "just travelers. I thought I told you about that before Natalia."
"Well I was just hoping that one of your friends could have elaborated on it just a bit more," Natalia said smiling innocently.
"Well that's all you need to know," William said stubbornly.
"I don't see the harm in a bit more emphasis on the subject."
"It is none of your business," William said even more stubbornly.
"Oh give it up, Will. I know you are not just a "traveler", fancy me, tell me the truth."
Both glared at each other in a silent battle but Natalia won the fight. William sighed and turning to his comrades he said, "If we don't tell her she won't stop till she knows."
Durant cut in saying, "Natalia, if you don't mind could we speak privately for just a moment."
"Don't mind at all," Natalia said smirking slightly, "I'll be in my tent when you all are done."
Natalia stood up and exited the little circle formed around the fire. When William saw that she was far enough away he turned back to the other men, he said bluntly, "I say we tell her."
"We can't tell her," Baldric guffawed, "Nobody should know, you know what he said."
"She's of no harm. She's not one of them; she saved our skins that's proof enough," Daniel stated.
"I agree," Jon said.
"Baldric, give it a break. Let's just tell her. We owe her at least that for what she did for us," Durant said from across the fire.
"If you say so Durant then I guess I'm out numbered, but it's not going to be my fault if he finds out," Baldric declared.
Durant let out a quick sigh and said, "But we can't tell her who I am. Everyone can agree on that."
"I see your point. We won't tell her that." All the men nodded in agreement.
"Alright I guess I'll go and get her," sighed William.
"No need. I'm already here. Now have you all decided whether you are going to tell me this 'big secret'."
"You didn't hear anything did you?" Durant asked suspiciously.
"Of course not," Natalia said, all smiles, nothing to reveal. She looked around expectantly, waiting for someone to reply.
William sighed and said, "I guess I'll tell her."
"Please do the suspense is killing me," Natalia feigned.
"This is not something to joke about Natalia. Now I need you to promise me that you will not speak a word of this to anyone. It is very vital that it is kept secret."
"Just get on with it Will, I swear I will not tell a soul about this big secret," Natalia said impatiently.
"Alright then, the thing is we are not just travelers as you expect, we are.
A/N- Sorry I had to stop it there, but the temptation of a cliffhanger was just too much for me to bear.
I am really really really sorry it took me so long to update but my muse it playing tricks on me.*(sorry, sorry, yes I know, excuses, excuses)*
But again, I am going to ask for at least five reviews before I can post up the next chapter. Remember if my muse doesn't inspire me, reviews certainly do, so the more the merrier.