Chapter 7

Will grunted as the rays of sunlight fell on his face a bright orange haze from under his eyelids. He turned around to get the sun off his face and he succeeded except it was no use he was already awake now. Cursing the sun silently under his breath he opened his eyes letting them adjust for a few minutes and turned yet again to face Evanlyn. Sometime during their sleep they must have moved closer to each other as when he turned, her face was only inches from his. He smiled quietly. How radiant she looked when she was asleep, no worries or troubles to age her face, strawberry blonde coloured hair framing her small but pointy nose and a strand of it in her mouth somehow. He tucked the strand of hair behind her ear softly so as not to wake her and saw the shape of her mouth. He saw the curve of her mouth and the moisture of her lips and within seconds it took all of his will power not to kiss her and feel the texture of her lips wrapping perfectly round his own. His eyes glanced at her mouth desire in his eyes, his hands bunched into fist then he forced himself to look away getting up from the bed while doing so. As he swung his legs over the bed it creaked a little, he crossed his fingers hoping that it didn't wake her up but in vain. Her eyelids fluttered a couple of times then her green eyes sought his as she propelled herself to a sitting position a warm smile on her face.

"Good morning." She whispered in a happy mood. She didn't know why she was whispering but there was something serene about the sun beams lighting up his room. His room. Something in her brain clicked. Oh no did she actually fall asleep next to Will? This was horrible no doubt he must have been thinking about how pathetic she was.

"Good morning did you sleep well?" He asked in a friendly tone. He got up and took his simple cloth bag full of his bathroom necessities and made his way to the joint bathroom door. She said as casually as she could.

"Yeah it was much better than any other type of sleep I had before." He knew her sleep was better because he was there to help her so he grinned and said.

"Glad to be of service good ma'am." He made his voice rumble and did a humble bow while she giggled slightly. Oh Lordy how did he do that? It's deeply alluring. Shethought to herself,she knew he was mocking the chivalrous manner in which the knights of Araluan usually behaved towards her and she got out of bed to do a little twirl in turn.

"Well I see you've been practising." He raised his eyebrow but the effect was a little wasted as another grin was breaking out on the side of his face.

"I used to have many balls and dances in which I could practise such things."

"Of course you are rather special after all." He tactfully didn't mention she was the princess even in his conversations with her just in case any Skandian had the indecency to eavesdrop on their banters. He opened the door he was next to and came out within five minutes refreshed and woken up. She did the same and he carefully led her to her sleeping quarters. Admittedly she could have done this herself but he wanted to make absolutely sure that no one knew she had been in his room plus she didn't seem to mind either. Once there she tucked herself into her bed that was cold from her absence in it and he bid good bye to her. Just as he was about to shut the door she said.

"Oh Will I might just drop by to see how you're doing in practise this morning." She could see his face light up instantly at her words and felt a glow of pride in her chest. She loved it when she could bring a smile to his face but then again anyone could, he was easily pleased after all she thought to herself.

"Great, now you and Tyra both will be able to see me practise." His comment which was meant to be positive made her frown ever so slightly. She had competition now she knew. Though she was determined to win no matter how long it took.

Around half an hour later Will was making his way up the damp grass towards the forest of trees he practised in day after day. His stomach was full from the excessive amount of grease and fat that was provided in his breakfast. He was sure Halt would disapprove but it had been a long time since he had such a filling sensation in his stomach from pleasant food that he couldn't resist. Walking would most probably do him some good and burn off the ever increasing calories that were inside him since he had been given rich food. While he was walking his mind was buzzing with thoughts. Thoughts about the war. He swore loudly at the Temujai's, forgetting about anyone's presence until a friendly voice from behind a tree called out to him telling him he was loud enough to wake the dead.

"Oh hey Tyra."

"Hello yourself what was the swearing about you're not that hideous don't worry." She was walking beside him now, smirking. Will was quite short for his age she could see and she was easily about a head taller than him. She was a Skandian after all. She looked sideways to see his grimace while his hands ruffled through his already messy hair.

"I just. I mean I was just thinking about the war that's all." He spoke in a low dispirited kind of way. In truth Will was dispirited, he wasn't pessimistic because he was scared he wouldn't survive he was pessimistic because they had to land themselves in a war in the first place. He sighed for the umpteenth time and sat down near a glade of trees. She joined in beside him.

"I know, the war kind of sucks huh?" She was trying be as light humoured as she could without it being annoying to him.

"Yeah pretty much. I mean I know I'm not an amazing fighter or what not like the Skandians are but I'm not worried about that." He paused for a long time wondering whether he should tell her what had been bothering him. She saw him open his mouth a bit like a fish several times and she was about to prompt him to speak when his voice coming out so low she could hardly hear him said. "I've never killed a man before." He looked shamefaced as he stared at the patch of light green grass surrounding him. He couldn't bring himself to look into her piercing blue eyes, he was scared she would judge him but since he had already started he felt obliged to continue. "I have admittedly killed, but they were just beasts and the Kalkara and Wargals were about to kill me. The idea of killing someone though, taking their life away from them within seconds with a flesh tearing arrow, it's just, it's just." He was hyperventilating now rocking backwards and forewords. Tyra looked at him now and truly saw him. His warm brown eyes and his high cheek bones which made his eyes crinkle in a cute way when he laughed. His firm jaw bones and his strong muscles. This boy, no man she considered was opening his emotions to her which she had rarely ever seen a man do before. She had to take sympathy on him so she enveloped him in a hug almost protecting him from the thoughts he didn't want to be a part of. Feeling her arms around him Will felt much better. A thought flashed his mind; if my mother or father were alive would they have comforted me like this? He always had that thought when other people had to do what his parents should have been doing for him for the last 17 years, but he knew he would never find the answer to that particular question. He sniffled a bit and quickly wiped away a bugger that was threatening to show itself in front of Tyra.

"It's O.K Will I know you're angry and upset and you have every reason to be." She crooned in a motherly fashion.

"Thanks Tyra." It had been too long since he had someone to lean on and even though he had Evanlyn she had her own problems, her own nightmares too. It wouldn't have been fair of him to burden her with his troubles when she had just as many.

"It's alright. Though you're not as tough as I thought you were." She said lightly.

"I'm not tough at all actually. If I was I would have been able to kill people but I can't. I feel sick just thinking about the families they have, the children, and the wives. I know I'm meant to be stronger than this but-"

"No Will. Feeling scared to kill someone isn't weak it's part of being human. Every one feels that way even Skandian warriors."

"No they couldn't"

"But they do because it's natural to feel scared it's part of human nature I've seen them having to train specifically to make sure they don't freeze up before they're about to kill."

"Wow. I never knew. Oh and by the way is being a therapist your full time occupation or something?" She mock punched him in the arm.

"Very funny now get back to your training instead of dawdling here."

"Yup you definitely sound like a teacher now." He walked towards the trees to practise but he was feeling a lot lighter in his heart now.

It was midday when Evanlyn arrived at the site where Will was still practising. Her face frowned slightly when she saw Tyra leaning easily against the back of one of the many thick tree trunks. She advanced towards Tyra and plopped herself against the same trunk Tyra was against. The trees in Skandia were so wide ten people could have sat by each other side to side comfortably. Tyra either didn't see her or she just didn't care.

"Hi, Tyra right?" Evanlyn asked. She wanted to engage her in some sort of conversation so she wouldn't seem too rude. She saw Tyra turn her head in her direction and nod stiffly. Oh so this is how she's gonna play it. Well two can play at that game. So for the rest of the hour they were both dead silent, their concentration only on Will. She had to concede now that Will had improved vastly. She had definitely miscalculated his abilities and after seeing arrow after arrow hit the centre of the tiny target almost 200 metres away she was thrilled at his capability.

In an honest assessment of the truth Will had seen and heard Evanlyn making her way towards him and he couldn't help but show off a little. Just to prove to her how much he had improved. He decided to take a break after seeing the frosty silence maintained between the two girls. He couldn't understand why they didn't like each other, he had a vague idea it had something to do with him but he found that thought ridiculous!

"Hey you came after all." A smile was playing across his lips while his eyes creased at the corners.

"Yes I wouldn't miss it for the world you were amazing Will absolutely amazing!" Will flushed at her praise. There were definite advantages of practising around girls he knew and his was one of them. Evanlyn too inwardly smiled but for a different reason. She knew she had raised the stakes now by making that point and when she looked over she could see a jealous light in Tyra's eyes. Then it changed to smugness.

I've already rubbed his chest I doubt you can do better than that.

Evanlyn saw the meaning in her eyes and had to fight to control her anger. She heard Wills voice again and realised he was speaking.

"Oh thanks Evanlyn I have been practising day and night though so if I didn't improve it would be a little worrying."

"Yeah just a little bit" she said back and they both started laughing. Tyra could see the obvious connection between them and recognised her time was up. She would try to get Will back but she knew for today with Her around she would probably not get a word in edge wise. She slowly backed away to the forest and headed for home unnoticed by the two young Araluans who were having too much fun in each others presence.

It had been a while after Will and Evanlyn had decided to have their lunch break with Horace who was also practising, and they had both come back to the little area of wide trees. Will had been practising for an hour at most in silence. He knew Evanlyn was being quiet to help him focus and he was glad because it took a lot of his concentration to judge distances, leverage etc. He had decided he was done for the day and after he released the last arrow in his quiver he said.

"I'm done now, we can go home or whatever home you can call the Oberjarls sleeping buildings." No answer. "Evanlyn?" He looked around his eyes on the place where he had last seen her resting but it was empty. His eyes scanned around the forest but it was deserted. She was missing.

Please review and tell me what you think of this chapter. Like most authors I need feed back like a moth needs light. It's annoying but necessary!