We headed out as early as we could. I made sure we had plenty of food and blankets for warmth, knowing that the cold would not take kindly to us. The snow wouldn't help any either. The horses would have a hard time stepping through it since it was so soft and thick. The entire time I couldn't help but keep an eye on Alun as he rode beside me. I had never seen anyone wear so many layers of clothing yet he managed to not look like a walking snowman. Looking at him made me sweat.

We managed to make some small talk but we mainly rode in silence until we hit the first inn. It would have been cheaper to camp but I didn't want to take the chance of him freezing over while I was asleep.

I watched his shoulders fall as he stepped over to the fireplace while i went up to the counter and purchased a room and two warm meals to be ready for us when we were done settling our stuff down.

" It must be nice to travel with someone, that way it won't get so lonely." She smiled. I nodded with a small smile in return. Her words were too dangerously true. Then she turned and led us both into our room.

" I'll get a bath drawn for both of you. You're both freezing down to the bone."
Though she said both of us I'm sure she meant it mainly for Alun. Though I had my shivers it wouldn't take too long to get the warmth back. Now Alun on the other had had begun to grow pale again. Piece by piece I began to strip off my heavy traveling coats, laying it all neatly on the bed. Although I couldn't help but feel like I was being watched. When I looked up Alun tensed and quickly turned his head with a blush on his face.
" Is something wrong?" I asked hesitantly. He just shook his head, quickly stripped his coat and walked out of the room, pulling my scarf up and over his nose.

POV Switch

I had tried to restrain myself from bolting out of the room when I realized I had been staring at her. It's not like I had meant to. It was more of the fact that I had been taken away by how vulnerable she made herself around me. She trusted me too easily. I could easily stab her in the back and run, literally and metaphorically. It just didn't make sense to me.

I made sure to try to avoid eye contact during dinner, keeping my eyes glued to my food instead. Then when I was done I waited for her to bath first before heading over to do the same. The door didn't have a lock, so I made sure it was shut before I walked over to the tub of water. My nose twitched and I hurried to cover it. Any other person wouldn't have been able to smell it, however I could tell the water recked of her smell. Of the herbs she had let set in the water before using it. It was drenched of something warm, almost like the smell of Christmas if I could describe it in one word. It was drenched in her. And now I had to bathe in it.

I sighed and began to slip my shirt off, shuddering at the process. I glanced over at the markings on my arm and tried to view the ones on my back. They had nearly made it to the base of my back from what I could see and half way down my arm. The day they were gone would be a day I'd never see.

Quickly I stripped down and stepped inside the water, letting the heat swallow me whole. My limbs began to tingle as the feeling returned. Taking a deep breath, I dunked and began to strip my hair of the dirt and sweat. Despite wanting to stay in longer I knew I couldn't. I had warmed up, that was all that was important.

I had pulled my pants on and begun to work at my shirt when there was a knock on the door.

" Alun, are you okay?" Akara called.

" I'm fine." I answered as I rushed to pull my shirt over my head.
" Are you sure? You were looking really pale earlier. I'm coming in-"
" Are you insane!"
She ignored my comment and opened the door regardless. I managed to slip my shirt on at the last minute, standing there disheveled as she stared at me. Then she cracked a laugh.

" Is this how you dress yourself?" She asked as she walked forward. I took a small step back with a frown on my face.

" Well maybe if you didn't walk in on me. What if I hadn't been dressed?"

She gave a shrug and reached out and pulled down on the part of my shirt that had gotten stuck. I tensed as her fingertips grazed my skin. Soft, warm and welcoming.

" You know what I think?" She continued as she pulled out the leather strip that was miss alined at the top of my shirt.
" What?" I groaned.

" I think that you're really a big, shy softy."

I immediately scowled at her and she simply flashed a huge grin.

" And I think you're a pain in my ass." I snipped back. I felt her tug on the laces, making me stumble.
" You should really get better at your balance, falling over randomly like that." She teased as she continued to aline them up with the right holes. I didn't say anything. Instead I began to plan ways to get back at her in my mind. Should I wake her by spilling water on her? Lock her in this room and take the whole bed to myself? Oh the possibilities.

Then I felt another tug. However this time I stumbled and reached my arms out, catching myself on the the wall. Akara was now pinned between me and the wall. Our eyes locked and it seemed like the entire atmosphere. Though she was not much taller than me, I felt as if I towered over her at that moment. Her fingers were still grasping the laces on my shirt, most likely from trying to grab something when we both went stumbling back.

My eyes searched hers and my nose twitched yet again at the smell of her scent. Her hair hadn't completely dried so it was still somewhat messy. I doubted she hadn't had the chance to brush it quite yet. It seemed her face had flushed and her lips were ajar from shock. I couldn't stop myself from watching press them together, catching her lower lip between her teeth before she opened them again. My mind began to wonder. Could those lips, those very lips that her powerful shouts escaped from, be delicate and addicting?

" Don't even think about it."

Whether she was replying to me planning to get back at her or to the current situation I was in. By this moment the only thing that was keeping me grounded was the feeling of the wall against my forearms. Her eyes flickered to my lips and I let out a shaky sigh, letting my head drop. Her lips were just centimeters from mine. So close that I could feel them, taste them. Only I wouldn't allow myself to. Instead my hands slid down the walls as I pulled away. Yet it seemed no matter how many steps I took I could never be far enough.

" I asked for some extra blankets for you." She continued. " So you should stay plenty warm tonight."

I gave a soft smile. " Thanks."

I waited for a few breaths after she left before I started making my up to the room. I knew it wouldn't be much longer. She'd want to know. She'd start asking questions. Of why I was always so cold, why I looked the way I did. Suddenly the markings began to burn into my skin. Divines know if she saw them. Those wouldn't be so easy to explain.