The sun was high in the sky when Ginny woke up the next day. She yawned
and stretched, making a soft noise of satisfaction.
She made her way to the lake which was no more than half a mile away and looked at her reflection in the water: She was dirty and she could feel her pores filling with filth after sleeping on what could be considered the ground. So she made sure that no one was watching, stripped her dress and moccasins off and jumped in the water.
It was cold, sub-zero, and she felt her fingers going numb, but she let her Weasley stubbornness take over before her whole body wouldn't be able to move, and swam. It wasn't a deep lake, and the width was only a few metres. If she stretched, she could just feel the sharp rocks and cutting shells at the bottom if she tried, cutting at her pale, sensitive skin, making her wince in pain.
The water smelled of fish, which Ginny tried to ignore but failed with a frown when she realised this was what she was going to smell like when she got out.
Ginny swam for a while, giggling when the fishes brushed against her body, diving in the water, rolling over, everything she could think of!
But little did she know she was not alone.
"Virginia, if you don't mind, other people use this lake, too!"
Ginny jumped! She had been under water and as soon as her ears came out of the water, she heard the amused voice. She covered her body and spat, "Draco, you pervert!" blushing furiously.
"Has anyone ever told you that you look cute when you blush?" Draco asked.
"Flirt, Malfoy, and you'll find yourself castrated!" Ginny threatened with an evil glare.
"I very much doubt you'll get the courage to do that," Draco assured.
"I'm a Gryffindor, Draco, and in case it slipped your mind, we're known for bravery," Ginny clarified.
Draco chuckled. "But you'd never hurt a soul unless it's for a good cause."
"I don't see your point. . .this is a good cause," Ginny said mockingly. "OK, I'm naked over here, do you mind?"
"Not at all," Draco said impishly with a smirk, a mischievous glint in his eyes. Ginny splashed some water all over him, making him soaking wet. "Ooh, low low, Virginia," Draco complained and jumped in the water for the coming water fight.
"At least let me put my clothes on before you see any more of me, OK?" Ginny pleaded.
"Fine!" and with that, Draco turned around and got under the water.
Ginny quickly on the grass and put her dress on, making sure that Draco wouldn't peek. Draco stayed underwater like he belonged there, swimming around aimlessly.
She stepped into the water silently to surprise Draco, but by some chance, she couldn't find him. That was until a strong hand grabbed her from behind, covering her mouth with another strong hand and pulled her underwater with him.
Ginny was very much taken by surprise and she was scared before she realised that this was Draco taking her under. She struggled to break free to get some air, giggling. Much to her disappointment, except for the gasp of air, he let go.
"Draco, are you mad?" She asked, trying to look terrified but failed because of her giggles and she couldn't do anything else but laugh.
Draco laughed with her, giving her a smile that she never thought a Malfoy would possess. His smile reached his eyes, showing off his perfect, white teeth and a sparkle in his eyes.
He splashed her with water, only to be kicked in the shin by a surprised Ginny, who splashed him back. There was a huge water fight that followed before Draco got tired.
"I'm going to rest for a bit," he said, getting out of the water.
"Well, I'm going to swim a bit more," Ginny said, taking sharp intakes of breath, and started swimming.
As she got her head out of the water, she saw something big and brown coming towards her at a rapid speed. She gave out a long, high-pitched scream and covered her face with her hands. She heard a splash and strong arms take her, and then a thump when she was put on the ground. She was still screaming when he shook her, telling her to stop. She did and removed er hands from her face, opening her eyes.
Draco was lying on top of her, carefully moving a hair out of her eye. "It's OK. It was a log, and it's gone," he told her soothingly.
"Y-you saved my li-life," she breathed. Draco smiled. She studied his face and memorised it. Grey eyes, elegant-looking nose, high cheekbones, a thin line for lips, pale skin. . .she realised just how perfect he was. Draco lowered his head a bit, stopping mid-way as if trying not to scare her. He lowered his head more. Their lips were brushing when they heard a voice.
"Jighast fler ftriak," said a young man, dressed like Draco, only his clothes were a bit better looking. He was very good-looking, muscled and tall, his six-pack showing as much as Draco's.
Draco got off her and replied something, and Ginny guessed the man was asking what the screaming was about.
"What'd he say?" Ginny asked when they walked back to the village with the man.
"He was asking about the screaming," Draco explained. Ginny asked who he was. "He's the prince, and the heir of the village. He's eighteen. His name's Ali. It means The highest."
Ginny nodded and followed The highest to the village, thinking about what would've happened if The highest hadn't come.
*****
The night was cold and Ginny's clothes hadn't dried yet. She was sitting next to Draco around a fire where everyone in the village were sitting around. It was a big bonfire, which was just fine, concerning her still- wet clothes.
The chief made an announcement which Ginny didn't understand, so she asked Draco. "I don't think you want to know," he told her. "Besides, I thought I already cast the spell on you." Ginny groaned, knowing that she wouldn't get any more out of him. Some of the men cheered, whereas the women protested, holding back their husbands when they tried to join the dance that had started around the fire. "Besides, I thought I already cast the spell on you."
"Well, you didn't. Draco, can you please cast that spell on me, so I can understand what they're saying? Pretty please with a cherry on top?" Ginny begged.
"OK, fine!" Draco said and took his wand out. As soon as he was finished casting the spell on her (he did it so no one could see), she could understand what the people were saying.
"NO! Please Ambush, you cannot! We need you!" A woman sitting quite close to Ginny begged her husband.
"I am sorry, Snowbird, the village and our brothers need me," he replied and joined in the dance.
"Please, Draco, tell me what's going on!" Ginny beseeched, feeling a bit too scared for her liking.
Draco sighed. "Well, you'll eventually find out anyway. There is going to be a war against the English. We're helping another tribe to fight. Any man who joins that dance must go, and can never turn back, or he would be considered a coward."
At that moment, Sacred Dancer stood up. "Cold as Ice, why don't you join them?" she asked. Many of the men agreed. "Prove yourself by surviving a war!" she said.
Ginny saw Draco grit his teeth as he glared at the girl. He stood up and started walking towards the fire, but Ginny stopped him by grabbing his hand. "Draco, no! Don't leave me! Please!" she begged him on her knees.
Draco bent down and whispered into her ear: "As long as I know you're alright, I'll live." And he joined the dance.
*****
The night went by slowly as Ginny watched Draco dance around the fire, Indian style. After about two hours, she couldn't take it anymore, and headed for their tent.
She tried to sleep but the beat of the war drm kept her awake for hours. She tried covering her ears, putting flowers in them, she tried pulling her sheets over her, but the beat travelled with the ground, and the cheers of the men was loud enough to wake up a bear in the spring.
At last, Ginny gave up and decided to tidy up the tent. . .the only problem was that there was nothing to tidy up! So she picked up a bag of shells and feathers, and made a necklace with the brown leather string provided.
It took her an hour to make the necklace and decided to make another one because the dance was still going. After doing that, she was about to make another one when Draco stepped in. His face was covered in war paint: There was a red line across his right cheek, a white K on his other and a brown Bear's paw pattern on his forehead. He had a feather hanging from his hair and he had been given a picture of a bear on his left cheek.
It meant the Bear clan. Draco had told her about that when he told her about their traditions the afternoon after the log incident, but neither of them belonged to a clan then. Members of the same clan weren't allowed to marry, Draco had told her, and in certain tribes, if they weren't married, they had to live with their clan. Draco had been put into the Bear clan just after the war dance.
"Draco, how could you?" Ginny asked in disbelief and stood up to face him. "You'll be leaving me here with no one to turn to for help!"
"Listen, Virginia-" Draco started.
"No, you listen!" Ginny interrupted. "Were you sent here to save me or to get yourself killed?!?!?! You'll go to that war and get yourself killed, and then what am I going to do!"
"Virginia, listen, please! Let me explain!" Draco attempted to calm her down, but failed. "Virginia, that was the princess who suggested it! She threatened to kick me out earlier so I would have gone anyway!"
"But at least you would be safe and I could find you, but this way-"
"This way I'll go with credit! People getting kicked out of a tribe doesn't happen everyday and they don't go easy on you! It's a very dishonourable way to leave!"
"Damn your pride, Draco! Why do you have to die rather than lose your pride! I want you to stay!" Ginny shouted, and then lowered her voice to a whisper. "I need you."
"I know. I'll find away. I'll come back for you." And with that, he left her, going with the other warriors to war.
A/N: OK! Now one of my action/adventure/romance is coming! OK please read and review!!! I live on them! pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeez!
Toodles!
She made her way to the lake which was no more than half a mile away and looked at her reflection in the water: She was dirty and she could feel her pores filling with filth after sleeping on what could be considered the ground. So she made sure that no one was watching, stripped her dress and moccasins off and jumped in the water.
It was cold, sub-zero, and she felt her fingers going numb, but she let her Weasley stubbornness take over before her whole body wouldn't be able to move, and swam. It wasn't a deep lake, and the width was only a few metres. If she stretched, she could just feel the sharp rocks and cutting shells at the bottom if she tried, cutting at her pale, sensitive skin, making her wince in pain.
The water smelled of fish, which Ginny tried to ignore but failed with a frown when she realised this was what she was going to smell like when she got out.
Ginny swam for a while, giggling when the fishes brushed against her body, diving in the water, rolling over, everything she could think of!
But little did she know she was not alone.
"Virginia, if you don't mind, other people use this lake, too!"
Ginny jumped! She had been under water and as soon as her ears came out of the water, she heard the amused voice. She covered her body and spat, "Draco, you pervert!" blushing furiously.
"Has anyone ever told you that you look cute when you blush?" Draco asked.
"Flirt, Malfoy, and you'll find yourself castrated!" Ginny threatened with an evil glare.
"I very much doubt you'll get the courage to do that," Draco assured.
"I'm a Gryffindor, Draco, and in case it slipped your mind, we're known for bravery," Ginny clarified.
Draco chuckled. "But you'd never hurt a soul unless it's for a good cause."
"I don't see your point. . .this is a good cause," Ginny said mockingly. "OK, I'm naked over here, do you mind?"
"Not at all," Draco said impishly with a smirk, a mischievous glint in his eyes. Ginny splashed some water all over him, making him soaking wet. "Ooh, low low, Virginia," Draco complained and jumped in the water for the coming water fight.
"At least let me put my clothes on before you see any more of me, OK?" Ginny pleaded.
"Fine!" and with that, Draco turned around and got under the water.
Ginny quickly on the grass and put her dress on, making sure that Draco wouldn't peek. Draco stayed underwater like he belonged there, swimming around aimlessly.
She stepped into the water silently to surprise Draco, but by some chance, she couldn't find him. That was until a strong hand grabbed her from behind, covering her mouth with another strong hand and pulled her underwater with him.
Ginny was very much taken by surprise and she was scared before she realised that this was Draco taking her under. She struggled to break free to get some air, giggling. Much to her disappointment, except for the gasp of air, he let go.
"Draco, are you mad?" She asked, trying to look terrified but failed because of her giggles and she couldn't do anything else but laugh.
Draco laughed with her, giving her a smile that she never thought a Malfoy would possess. His smile reached his eyes, showing off his perfect, white teeth and a sparkle in his eyes.
He splashed her with water, only to be kicked in the shin by a surprised Ginny, who splashed him back. There was a huge water fight that followed before Draco got tired.
"I'm going to rest for a bit," he said, getting out of the water.
"Well, I'm going to swim a bit more," Ginny said, taking sharp intakes of breath, and started swimming.
As she got her head out of the water, she saw something big and brown coming towards her at a rapid speed. She gave out a long, high-pitched scream and covered her face with her hands. She heard a splash and strong arms take her, and then a thump when she was put on the ground. She was still screaming when he shook her, telling her to stop. She did and removed er hands from her face, opening her eyes.
Draco was lying on top of her, carefully moving a hair out of her eye. "It's OK. It was a log, and it's gone," he told her soothingly.
"Y-you saved my li-life," she breathed. Draco smiled. She studied his face and memorised it. Grey eyes, elegant-looking nose, high cheekbones, a thin line for lips, pale skin. . .she realised just how perfect he was. Draco lowered his head a bit, stopping mid-way as if trying not to scare her. He lowered his head more. Their lips were brushing when they heard a voice.
"Jighast fler ftriak," said a young man, dressed like Draco, only his clothes were a bit better looking. He was very good-looking, muscled and tall, his six-pack showing as much as Draco's.
Draco got off her and replied something, and Ginny guessed the man was asking what the screaming was about.
"What'd he say?" Ginny asked when they walked back to the village with the man.
"He was asking about the screaming," Draco explained. Ginny asked who he was. "He's the prince, and the heir of the village. He's eighteen. His name's Ali. It means The highest."
Ginny nodded and followed The highest to the village, thinking about what would've happened if The highest hadn't come.
*****
The night was cold and Ginny's clothes hadn't dried yet. She was sitting next to Draco around a fire where everyone in the village were sitting around. It was a big bonfire, which was just fine, concerning her still- wet clothes.
The chief made an announcement which Ginny didn't understand, so she asked Draco. "I don't think you want to know," he told her. "Besides, I thought I already cast the spell on you." Ginny groaned, knowing that she wouldn't get any more out of him. Some of the men cheered, whereas the women protested, holding back their husbands when they tried to join the dance that had started around the fire. "Besides, I thought I already cast the spell on you."
"Well, you didn't. Draco, can you please cast that spell on me, so I can understand what they're saying? Pretty please with a cherry on top?" Ginny begged.
"OK, fine!" Draco said and took his wand out. As soon as he was finished casting the spell on her (he did it so no one could see), she could understand what the people were saying.
"NO! Please Ambush, you cannot! We need you!" A woman sitting quite close to Ginny begged her husband.
"I am sorry, Snowbird, the village and our brothers need me," he replied and joined in the dance.
"Please, Draco, tell me what's going on!" Ginny beseeched, feeling a bit too scared for her liking.
Draco sighed. "Well, you'll eventually find out anyway. There is going to be a war against the English. We're helping another tribe to fight. Any man who joins that dance must go, and can never turn back, or he would be considered a coward."
At that moment, Sacred Dancer stood up. "Cold as Ice, why don't you join them?" she asked. Many of the men agreed. "Prove yourself by surviving a war!" she said.
Ginny saw Draco grit his teeth as he glared at the girl. He stood up and started walking towards the fire, but Ginny stopped him by grabbing his hand. "Draco, no! Don't leave me! Please!" she begged him on her knees.
Draco bent down and whispered into her ear: "As long as I know you're alright, I'll live." And he joined the dance.
*****
The night went by slowly as Ginny watched Draco dance around the fire, Indian style. After about two hours, she couldn't take it anymore, and headed for their tent.
She tried to sleep but the beat of the war drm kept her awake for hours. She tried covering her ears, putting flowers in them, she tried pulling her sheets over her, but the beat travelled with the ground, and the cheers of the men was loud enough to wake up a bear in the spring.
At last, Ginny gave up and decided to tidy up the tent. . .the only problem was that there was nothing to tidy up! So she picked up a bag of shells and feathers, and made a necklace with the brown leather string provided.
It took her an hour to make the necklace and decided to make another one because the dance was still going. After doing that, she was about to make another one when Draco stepped in. His face was covered in war paint: There was a red line across his right cheek, a white K on his other and a brown Bear's paw pattern on his forehead. He had a feather hanging from his hair and he had been given a picture of a bear on his left cheek.
It meant the Bear clan. Draco had told her about that when he told her about their traditions the afternoon after the log incident, but neither of them belonged to a clan then. Members of the same clan weren't allowed to marry, Draco had told her, and in certain tribes, if they weren't married, they had to live with their clan. Draco had been put into the Bear clan just after the war dance.
"Draco, how could you?" Ginny asked in disbelief and stood up to face him. "You'll be leaving me here with no one to turn to for help!"
"Listen, Virginia-" Draco started.
"No, you listen!" Ginny interrupted. "Were you sent here to save me or to get yourself killed?!?!?! You'll go to that war and get yourself killed, and then what am I going to do!"
"Virginia, listen, please! Let me explain!" Draco attempted to calm her down, but failed. "Virginia, that was the princess who suggested it! She threatened to kick me out earlier so I would have gone anyway!"
"But at least you would be safe and I could find you, but this way-"
"This way I'll go with credit! People getting kicked out of a tribe doesn't happen everyday and they don't go easy on you! It's a very dishonourable way to leave!"
"Damn your pride, Draco! Why do you have to die rather than lose your pride! I want you to stay!" Ginny shouted, and then lowered her voice to a whisper. "I need you."
"I know. I'll find away. I'll come back for you." And with that, he left her, going with the other warriors to war.
A/N: OK! Now one of my action/adventure/romance is coming! OK please read and review!!! I live on them! pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeez!
Toodles!
