Chapter 3
Alduin grabbed all the empty dishes and headed towards the lake to clean them. While Alduin went to the lake Torva went off into the woods. After a while, Leafalia was done with the cleaning and was looking for Torva. Leafalia looked around for Torva, but she couldn't find her.
"Maybe she went into the forest," thought Leafalia.
Leafalia left the campsite and looked around the forest closest to the camp. Then Leafalia heard Torva's voice. Leafalia made her way towards the voice. When Leafalia got closer she saw a clearing. Torva and another man of the Ouranos familia were talking to each other; Leafalia was about to announce herself when she overheard what they were talking about.
"Are you sure we can't just kill him," asked Torva.
"You heard what Ouranos said, he is supposed to be incapacitated and then trapped in the dungeon," said the Man
Leafalia couldn't see the man too well even with an elf's increased perception he hid in the shadows so well that she couldn't even make out his height.
"What is so special about Alduin, I get he can live longer than most humans, but what's so special to go through all this trouble," asked Torva.
"Rumor is that he doesn't live longer but that he has a new body," answered the man.
"A new body, you sure that's right," asked Torva.
"I'm not sure of anything that's how I've lived this long," said the man.
"Never the less, how do you plan on capturing him," asked Torva.
"First, we will administer a low tier poison to lower his speed and strength, then you will lead him down to the Prison(The Prison, is a room of the dungeon that housed a binding crystal that once activated can hold any creature including Leviathan and the gods for at minimum 250 years),then we will ambush him, your mages should be able to handle the sealing spell.
"sounds good, only one question, how will the poison be administered," asked Torva
"Simple it's oral, in other words, a kiss," said the man.
The man threw two pieces of wax wrapped in paper at Torva.
"The white one is a thick wax, and the other one is the poison, apply the wax then the poison so you don't get it on yourself, simply touch lips and it will take effect in 10 hours, so do it before you all go to sleep," said the man.
Torva was slightly irritated at the plan, but she still accepted the task. Leafalia overhearing their conversation quickly snuck away.
"What did I just hear, I have to go warn, Alduin; but why do I care," debated Leafalia in her head.
She debated her feelings all the way back to camp. When she reached the camp Messor, Cliff, and Alfred were putting out the fire.
"Have any of you seen Alduin," asked Leafalia.
"I believe he is down by the lake," said Messor.
Leafalia ran as fast as she could towards the lake. As she reached the edge of the brush she saw Torva lean in and kiss Alduin.
"No, I'm too late," thought Leafalia," thought Leafalia.
Torva pulled back from Alduin.
"What the hell was that," asked Alduin rhetorically.
"Is that how you respond when someone kisses you," teased Torva.
"I'm not in the mood for games Torva," said Alduin.
"Alright, I'm heading back to my tent, feel free to join me if you get cold," teased Torva
"Just go," said Alduin.
With her mission completed Torva headed back to the camp. Leafalia was still down the bank, hiding behind a tree.
"Why does hearing that make me so mad," thought Leafalia.
Alduin finished cleaning the dishes and started to walk back to camp. Leafalia also started to walk back to camp as well. Once Alduin reached the clearing where the camp was set up, Leafalia came out of the forest only a few feet away. Leafalia saw his lips and immediately started to blush.
"Hello, Leafalia," said Alduin.
"Greetings, Alduin," said Leafalia.
"Well if you will excuse me I need to be going," said Alduin.
"Tell him, tell him," thought Leafalia.
Just as Leafalia was about to call out to Alduin, she was interrupted by Torva.
"Alduin, what's taking so long, drop those dishes by the fire pit," yelled Torva.
"Sorry Leafalia, I need to go," said Alduin.
As Alduin walked over towards the fire pit, Torva walked up to Leafalia and leaned up to her ear.
"I know what you heard and what you saw; I would recommend you keep your mouth closed," whispered Torva.
"Yes, Ma-am," said Leafalia.
"Great have a good rest of your evening," said Torva.
As Torva walked back to her tent, Leafalia took a sigh of relief. Alduin noticed something was going on with Leafalia. Once Alduin was done cleaning, he walked up to Leafalia, who was standing in shock.
"Are you alright," asked Alduin.
"Yes, I'm fine," replied Leafalia.
"Alright, if you decide to tell me stop by my tent," said Alduin.
Leafalia thought about those words while lying in her tent. Leafalia finally made up her mind and decided to go to his tent to talk. Leafalia snuck out of her tent later that night. Leafalia wasn't wearing her normal armor, instead, she was wearing a frilly shirt with a medium length skirt. She walked away from Torva and the others tents and towards Alduin's tent. Leafalia approached Alduin's tent. She peeked inside to see if he was awake. When Leafalia poked her head into Alduin's tent, she remembers how last she startled him and he almost threw a carving knife at her. Leafalia immediately put her hand in front of her face. After a while, when nothing happened, she lowered her hand.
"Wait, he's not here," said Leafalia.
Where could he be, thought Leafalia? Leafalia left the tent and wandered around looking for Alduin. When Leafalia wanders into a clearing in the trees she saw Alduin lying down in the middle of the clearing. The Clearing had a natural hill in the center, Alduin was on top of this. Leafalia approached Alduin making sure to announce herself.
"Mr. Alduin, it's me," said Leafalia.
Alduin didn't look at her just continued staring at the ceiling only giving her a wave to acknowledge that he herd her.
"What are you looking at," asked Leafalia.
"Nothing in prearticular," said Alduin.
"Really, you seem very focused to be looking at nothing," teased Leafalia.
Alduin looked at her, his eyes were slightly wet. Leafalia immediately knew he was sad.
"Is something wrong Alduin," asked Leafalia.
"Don't worry just remembering things that I shouldn't," said Alduin.
"It's about Melie, isn't it," asked Leafalia.
"Yes, your right," said Alduin.
"Listen Alduin, I don't know what happened to Melie, but regardless I'm sure she would want you to keep living your life to the fullest," exclaimed Leafalia.
Leafalia quickly covered her mouth, realizing that she spoke more than she should have.
"Your right," said Alduin, looking back to Leafalia; however, his eyes were back to their usual size.
Leafalia was shocked and pleased that Alduin didn't get mad at her. Leafalia now taking a closer look at his eyes, noticed that they had an orange color to them and that his pupils were slightly misshaped.
"Alduin, I've been thinking about your eyes (Leafalia got blush when she realized how this sounded), are orange eyes common where you're from," asked Leafalia.
"Yes, they are common in my species," said Alduin.
"YOUR SPECIES," yelled Leafalia in surprise.
"Well yes, judging by my appearance I might look human, but don't forget my age, as a Woodland Elf, you have your ears that set you apart from humans, while I have my eyes," explained Alduin.
"You're right, I'm sorry," said Leafalia.
"Don't worry about it, unlike your ears my eyes are hard to notice," said Alduin, to comfort Leafalia, who was starting to cry.
Leafalia looked up from her sobbing and looked at Alduin who looked at her with a warm smile. Leafalia wiped away her tears.
"Come on Leafalia stop feeling sorry for yourself already," thought Leafalia.
"Anyway it's time to go to sleep, we're going to be very busy tomorrow," said Alduin.
Alduin stood up and started walking back to camp. Alduin stopped in front of Leafalia. He hadn't noticed it until now but Leafalia was a whole foot shorter than him. Leafalia looked down in shame because of her comment earlier.
"Good night Leafalia, and thank you that was just what I needed," said Alduin, petting her on the head before walking out of the clearing and into the forest.
Leafalia's face turned bright red, once Alduin was far away from the clearing Leafalia let all of her emotions out.
"YES," shouted Leafalia.
After calming down Leafalia went back to her tent forgetting all about the poison.