I had spent the last hour wandering around the town, desperately wishing for a glimpse of familiar, golden brown hair, or to meet with those lively green eyes once more. But there was no such luck. And now it was night, leaving me to walk through the dimly lit streets with nothing to show for myself but the uneasiness in the pit of my stomach. The uneasiness not only caused by Aidan but also by the eerie feeling of constantly being watched.
Upon passing the same store for the third time, I decided enough was enough. The darkness seemed to be closing itself in upon me, and wandering around foreign streets was hard enough in the daylight. I quickly spun around and headed for the last Inn I had passed. But now I knew something was wrong; not only did I feel as though I were being watched, but I could prove it too.
"Going somewhere, miss? Maybe we could…help you out."
My heart pounded against my ribs with such force I feared they could hear it from across the street. Two figures emerged from the dark shadows of a nearby building's overhang. Both men were dressed in ragged shirts, with pants that weren't in much better condition. The first man was tall and gangly, with an unmistakable look of famine set deep into his features. The other was slightly larger and looked more than slightly stronger. His porky fingers were curled into tight fists and his head was bent down slightly so that he was now glowering up at me. On both faces lay identical, wicked smiles. I unconsciously began to back up to the opposite side of the street.
"Now now, no need to be afraid. We don't bite...much." The first man leered. I shook my head a fraction to each side.
"No. I don't need your help. Just leave me alone."
The man feigned offense as he progressed towards me. "That's no way to treat us, now is it? We're only tryin' to help."
"Right. Help." I let out a derisive laugh. "Well, in my book, helping someone does not include robbing, raping, murdering or selling into servitude. So are you still helping me?" I inquired acidly.
The second man glanced back to the first. "Well when she puts it that way..."
Both men sniggered appreciatively at what they apparently found quite amusing. I meanwhile was planning my escape. The farthest I had gotten was run like hell.
"Well you're wasting your time." I interrupted smoothly. The panic in my voice was concealed by bitter sarcasm. "I haven't anything of value, I'm carrying a knife, and I don't take orders. So that really cancels out all of your options for me, doesn't it?"
The first man shrugged his shoulders carelessly. "Only if we took your word for it, which we won't."
I felt the back of my heel hit something solid; I was up against a wall, literally. I swallowed hard, having run out of cynical commentary to mask my fear. Now dread pumped through my veins like ice, chilling every inch of my body. The second man reached to his belt, and in the dim light of the moon I saw something silver glint from within his hand. So they really were armed then. That left me more than a little disadvantaged.
As they got closer I realized it was now or never. Soon they would be too near to do anything drastic, and that was the only chance I had. I bit my lip for a moment, collecting myself, before turning sharply to my left and breaking into an all out sprint. The second I did, I heard the scuffling behind me that meant they were already on my case. I took great gulping breaths and rounded the corner, my legs pounding hard against the cobblestone and I didn't dare look back. The previous Inn was now out of the question, having passed it already. I prayed that Aidan wasn't there as I pushed myself to run faster. The next Inn wasn't far, which was good, because I was getting tired, and I could hear them not a yard behind me. The Inn was just around the corner...and down the road...
With my left hand I reached out and grabbed the handle of the door, skidding to a hasty stop as dust went flying up. With shaky hands I began to turn it, and the chink of golden light from inside had just started spilling onto the ground when the door was slammed shut with such force that I jumped. I spun around, and the bigger man had one hand pressed on the wood with an unsettling look of triumph on his face.
"Thought you could outrun us, eh?" The gangly man snickered, but I wasn't listening. "Too bad, almost made it too. And if you did, coulda been safe. But now you'll pay for wasting our time."
The man pried my hand off the door handle, finger by finger, and grabbed my other, holding them behind my back and dragging me backwards. I squealed and thrashed about in his grip, not knowing what to do next except keep struggling with all my might.
"Let go!" I hissed through clenched teeth. In one swift movement I brought my right leg up and drove it forcefully back into the man's shin.
"Ouch! Damn it Gellard, can't I just knock the little --"
"What's going on here?"
I looked up, completely taken aback, and saw the outline of a figure in the doorway of the Inn. Light flooded out around the form, which was now approaching us. It must have been the Inn's owner.
"Explain yourselves immediately, or be prepared to explain it to the jail guards."
The lanky man narrowed his eyes, and only when several more menacing forms appeared in the doorway did he wave his hand towards the other, and the man immediately let me go. He turned to me with a dangerous look in his eyes.
"You got off easy this time."
With one last glare he walked away, pushing by my shoulder on the way. I staggered back a step and watched them go, throwing contemptuous looks over their shoulders until the darkness enveloped them. I continued breathing heavily, unwilling and unable to move my eyes from the last point from which they were seen.
"You alright, Miss? Oughta watch out, round these parts. A lady like you shouldn't be wandering around by your lonesome at night."
I shook my head a bit too eagerly. "Yes, I-I'm fine. Thank you very much for your help."
He smiled in a fatherly fashion. "Not a problem. Now, if you didn't mind, I'd like you to stay here for the night. No charge, of course." He added with a small laugh. "Wouldn't want those two to find you again, would ya?"
I gave a weary smile. "I appreciate it, sir. Thank you again."
"Not a problem. Now, if you'll -- "
"Hey, Walter, what's going on out here?"
Every hair on the back of my neck began to rise. That voice was eerily familiar. I looked to the doorway, where yet another shadowy figure was emerging from the light.
"Oh, s'nothing really. Just helping out the lady here. Had a bit of trouble with a few slave dealers. The limits they'll go to." He murmured sadly, shaking his head.
The figure walked forward a few paces, removing himself from the glare cast by the open door. Once into the moonlight he stopped abruptly as though he had seen a ghost.
"Lis."
I had lost feeling in my feet long ago, when I first heard his voice. Of all the towns, of all the Inns, of all the unlikely events that led me to this moment...
"Well Aidan, I can see you...er...know this young woman, so I'll leave you two to talk." The owner turned his somewhat baffled gaze back to me. "Just come in when you're ready and I'll bring you to your room."
I gave him what I hoped was a recognizable nod before he turned and walked back inside, leaving me and Aidan alone under the moon's feeble light. For a moment, we both remained motionless, staring at each other incredulously from across the small expanse of earth between us. Then, with slow and cautious steps, Aidan walked towards me, his questioning green eyes never once leaving mine.
"Are you okay?"
"I'm fine." I replied shortly, stumbling back a pace. My hands were shaky and I felt on the verge of tears, but I talked as if that answer was obvious. And I was backing away; why was I running from him? He too seemed to notice, because he stopped his advancement.
"I'm not going to hurt you, you know."
"I know. I'm not stupid."
His gaze hardened noticeably. "Well you must be to think you could walk around at night like that. Do you realize what could've happened if no one came to help? I didn't think even you would be this foolish."
Bitter anger replaced my fear. "Nice to see you too. And yes, I think I realized that at some point after they began to try and drag me away to sell my soul for a gold piece."
Aidan kept my eyes locked in a solid gaze for another moment before he faltered, his eyes becoming softer once more.
"Look, I'm sorry...I didn't mean that. I just want to help."
I raised my chin, still full of the same stubborn pride I grew up with. "I know. And I appreciate all you've done but I can take care of myself from here."
And then, half to my own disbelief, I spun on my heel and began to march off. But I knew why I was angry -- part of me couldn't help but replay the last time we saw each other. "My pleasure..." I cringed and pressed on.
"Wait." I heard him, but didn't. "Lisanne...wait."
I paused briefly. His use of my real name threw me somewhat off guard, so I instead turned to face him once more.
"Yes?"
"Where are you going?" He tried to sound nonchalant, no doubt, but I heard the worry cutting through. The worry he would never admit to.
"Away from you." I stated. And I was half turned back when he retorted.
"Then why did you come?"
Never get involved with someone who can outsmart you, or someone whose mere presence makes you unsure of your next move.
I stopped dead, then turned back and gaped at him; no clever response came to my tongue, no witty lie to throw in his face. All I had was the truth, and that wasn't something I was willing to share at the moment.
I don't know at what point he walked over to me, nor could I remember when the first tear slid down cheek. Looking back, the only thing I'd remember was how safe I felt when I was wrapped in his embrace. No one hugged you when you were a Princess -- kiss your hand, peck your cheek, yes –- but never had anyone laid more than a hand on me. And normally, if anyone did, I would have had him or her removed from my presence.
But I didn't this time. This time, I remembered what it was like to be without him, and there was no way I would send him off again...regardless of the fact he would never know that, and at the time, I might not have either.