Chapter 7: Arguing
Celeste looked at a map, then up at Connor. "Where are you going?" She asked with surprising bluntness. "We need to take a left here."
Connor looked back at her. "Not if we're headed towards Midnight Village, which we are. We take the right fork." He said impatiently.
Celeste slid off the horse. "No, we don't! Look, I have a map!" She waved the paper at him so furiously that he couldn't have read it even if he wanted to (which he didn't).
Connor grabbed her before she fell again, lifted her easily back onto the horse, and rolled his eyes. "Stay up there, Celeste, and let me take you to Midnight Village. I know my way around Meridian; Dad comes back here and I travel while he and Mom visit you. I go there all the time." He said impatiently.
Celeste glared at him. "It's my kingdom, and I know my way around it! Now, both the map and I say we turn left. That's 2 against 1." She said, sounding very bossy.
Connor rolled his eyes. "I don't care. You want to go left, fine. You go left. And when you get lost and decide to turn around, take the right fork and stop at the Riverview Inn. I'll be waiting there." He said impatiently. He reached up and lifted her off the horse. "I'm taking my horse." He added.
Celeste stared at him. "You can't do that! I--I can't walk." She protested as she reached for the reins.
Connor pulled them out of her reach. "I don't care, brat. My horse and I are headed right. You want to ride the horse, you go right too." He said impatiently.
Celeste put a bit of her weight on her foot. "Fine! And when you admit you were wrong and decide to come back and take the left path, according to my map, I'll at the Mountianview Inn." She snapped. Her face was contorted with pain as she limped down the left path.
Connor grabbed the horse's reins and started down the right path.
Celeste couldn't believe he had made her walk! Despite the fact that she was in pain, she staggered on as much to spite him as to see if she could make it. But after 3 miles of limping, she stopped. Her ankle screamed for relief, her lungs ached, and her tattered dress was soaked with sweat. She tried to stand up but her legs wouldn't support her anymore.
Celeste swallowed a few deep breathes, sipped water from her jug, and then began to crawl slowly down the path.
MEANWHILE
Connor was getting worried. He didn't know why he had agreed to part ways. He should have stayed with her! He stopped and looked behind him, praying he'd see Celeste hurrying to him. But no such luck. The path was empty. Suddenly he felt an urge to go back. He didn't know or care why; but he climbed back onto his horse and galloped down the paths.
Sure enough, almost back at the fork, a small figure lay. Celeste.
Connor lifted her up and stared into her eyes. She was dirty, sweaty and tired, but she was the most beautiful sight he had ever seen. But it seemed she had been attacked.
"Wolves..." She rasped frantically. Her fingers were bloodly, but Celeste reached up and lightly touched his cheek. "I...I thought I would die before I could see you again and tell you..."
Connor climbed back onto his horse and kicked it into a slow gallop towards the Riverview Inn. "Tell me what?" He asked the girl still in his arms. "Tell me what?"
Celeste looked oddly calm. "I love you." She rasped.
Connor shook his head. "I love you too. I already had this feeling you loved me. But listen to me--you can't die on me now. We have to stay together so we can see your father. Okay Celeste?"
Celeste shut her eyes. "Hm. Uh-huh..." But her head rolled back, and she was limp before they reached the inn.
