It was Galen's turn to disappear for the rest of the day. The night elf stayed in the room, but Marcail made no move to try and approach him. She was not only ashamed of her actions, but she also feared the awkward encounter that was doomed to come. She instead stayed above deck, enjoying the afternoon sun on her back while leaning over the balcony on the bow of the ship. The salt spray from the waves below tickled her nose and she couldn't stop a small smile tugging at her lips, as she leaned further over the balcony, keeping a toe on the deck and holding on tightly to the rail.
The wind whipped through her hair, and the salty air misted her skin. She watched the breaking water as the ship sliced through the ocean and sighed happily. She gazed down into the depths of the ocean, wondering just how deep it was. Sometimes, she envied those who took the demonic path, for they knew a dark spell allowing them to breathe underwater. However, it was not worth the cost of opening that door. She teetered on the edge of the ship, too enthralled in the call of the sea to care about safety.
Part of her was shocked at how reckless she was being, for this was so unlike her. But another part of her, more primal and impulsive, was thrilled with her actions. She had devoured the kiss from her captor, and still savored it. Even if the tension between them at the moment was sour. Never in her life had she done something so impulsive, and it felt good. She teetered on the edge of the rail, playing by slightly hopping her feet off the deck, so she balanced her stomach on the side. She hummed a song to herself, still playing with chance, as she wobbled toward the ocean, then back to the deck of the ship.
Suddenly, she felt large arms wrapping tightly around her middle, as she was jerked back to the ship.
"What in hell are you doing, little girl?" Demanded a new, angry and masculine voice as he spun her around.
Marcail came face to face with a human man, dressed in a green vest over a long sleeve silk shirt. His dark hair whipped around his face as he stared at the crazy blood elf before him. The mage didn't understand a word the man was saying, but he obviously was displeased with her. She stared back at him, as he yelled at her in a scolding tone, as he gestured to the water and then back to her. In the corner of her eye, she saw a tale blood elf male walking toward them.
"Easy, Landerson," the elf said in Common. "I can handle this, go back to the quarter deck. The captain has need of you." The man grumbled as he walked away, muttering incoherently. The male elf turned to Marcail.
"I'm sorry if he frightened you, but Navigator Landerson might have just saved your life. What in the Light where you doing?" He said, in Thalassian.
Marcail stared at him, puzzled over why a blood elf would be on an Alliance ship.
"What is your house name, my brother?" She asked, gently. Perhaps he was banished.
"My house name?" He mirrored her confusion. The mage looked him over and suddenly noticed something she should have recognized instantly. The color of his eyes.
"Oh my, I'm so sorry," she put a hand to cover her lips. "I had you mistaken. You're not a blood elf."
"No," he relaxed. "No, I'm not."
"I thought high elves were supposed to be neutral in the war." She thought out loud, but suddenly felt like crawling into a hole and hiding there until the end of the trip. "I'm sorry," she squeezed her eyes shut. "That was rude." The high elf laughed a little in response.
"It is quite alright Miss-" he stopped himself, and looked inquisitive, as to encourage her to say her name. Marcail hesitated, for giving her real name could still be dangerous.
"Felynn," she lied.
"Miss Felynn." He finished. "I have met worse introductions in my service here. I am the first mate on this ship, and I happened to notice your predicament. I have been updated as to why a blood elf is on board," he raised a midnight black eyebrow at her, indicating he was suspicious. "So I will not question you. I will however ask you to not lean over the railing as you did, Miss Felynn, it is very dangerous."
"O-oh," she stammered, as a blush splashed over her cheeks. "I was just looking," she said, trying to not sound as dumb as she thought it sounded in her head. She grasped at the skirts of her dress and played with the fabric.
"That was what Navigator Landerson was trying to tell you, but I didn't think you spoke Common."
"I'm sorry, I won't cause any more trouble," she answered.
"It's quite alright, Miss Felynn," he nodded, "we hope you are comfortable here, on The Bravery." He started down to the main deck, as the mage looked after him.
Her parents were once high elves. She was a high elf when she was a child, too. When the Scourge wiped out such a large portion of her people, her family was one to side with the memory of the fallen, and with Kael'Thas. Most blood elves siphon mana, and high elves practice meditation to deal with their addiction. She might still be a high elf today, had she been born into another family. Instead, her people put their trust in Kael'Thas and finding other sources of arcane energy. If she were a high elf, would she have sided with the Alliance? Would she have met Galen on better circumstances?
She shook her head, bringing herself back into the world of reality. She couldn't change who she was anymore than she could change her blood. Instead of engaging in reckless thrill-seeking activities, she decided to stroll around the ship. Coward, the part of herself that was wild and begging to be unleashed spat at her. She shrugged it off, and held her head high. She was more level-headed than that, a role model of the aristocracy she had been bred into. If she abandoned her responsibilities like her brother, there would be no one left to hold up the Dawnfires. She was a dying breed, and she needed to protect her life and get back home to uphold that responsibility.
However, the wild part of her ego cried out at the thought. It struggled to gain control of her again, but she pushed it aside. Just as she had been doing for most of her life. She had a promise to uphold to her people, and she couldn't afford to be selfish.
.
The afternoon sun had faded, as Marcail looked to the horizon to see it sink beneath the sea in a bright orange and pink glow. She leaned on the railing, with the entire afternoon gone, she could almost check off another day stuck on the small ship. She was worried about getting off of the ship, which is why she was spending her time in the sun, trying to just enjoy each minute by being alone. Since she had no idea what was waiting for her at Teldrassil, she decided that being bored on the ship was much better than not knowing what was coming next.
She was interrupted by the sound of footsteps approaching behind her. Whirling around with her back to the sea, but still keeping a bracing grip on the railing behind her, she saw the high elf with a polite smile on his face.
"I'm sorry if I startled you," he began, "but the captain would like for you two to meet in the captain's dining quarters."
"Dining quarters?" She knitted her brows together in distrust. "You can tell him that I am not dressed properly for such a formal affair. I must decline."
"Actually, the captain is a 'her', and she would like you to come anyway." He explained. The mage's eyes widened, as she realized that Galen had spent time drinking liquor in the presence of a female. She shocked herself that this was the first thing she thought of. She assured herself she was just surprised that no one had told her before, and she could care less if Galen had spent the whole night drinking with the woman. If he wanted to give his attention to someone else, it wouldn't bother her a bit. She wouldn't allow it. She couldn't allow it.
"Very well, take me to the dining quarters." The blood elf let go of the railing, and saw that her knuckles were changing colors, from white back to her normal skin tone. She didn't even realize she was grasping the rail that tight. The first mate nodded to her.
"Follow me, Miss Felynn," he said, leading the way to the back of the boat. She was really beginning to hate that name. He took her in the center door and then up a small set of stairs. The first mate then knocked on a wooden door and waited to be invited in. When he was, he opened the door and held it for Marcail and she entered a well sized room, with a long dining table littered with wondrous dishes, with a turkey centered right in the middle. The sights and smell alone caused her mouth to water.
"Welcome, Marcail Dawnfire," the woman sitting at the head of the table said in Orcish. She was immediately curious as to how she knew the language of the Horde, but didn't want to press. Then, she remembered she had just been exposed to the high elf. She glanced at him sheepishly.
"I understand, Miss Marcail. With a last name like that, I would be cautious to reveal my true identity as well." He slightly tipped his head. A wave of graciousness rushed over her, as she gave him a thankful smile.
"Come, sit beside me," the human pipped up again, as she scooted the chair to the right of her from underneath the table. The mage looked back to the human, and gave a polite smile. The Captain had shoulder length dark hair to match her first mate's, but she had a tanned, olive colored complexion from all the years she spent out on the sea.
"Thank you for the cordial invitation, Captain." The mage went to sit in the ornately carved chair. She sat down, along with the captain, and she noticed the comfortable padding on the seat.
"You're welcome, kitten." The female captain shot her a smirk. Suddenly, the mage felt unwelcome. The high elf closed the door behind him as he left. Marcail felt the urge to flee the room, the ship, and get away from this.
"You seem tense," the human tilted her head. "Relax, kitten, I'm not going to hurt you." She said as she passed a goblet of wine to her guest.
"Thank you," she hesitantly accepted the goblet.
"I just wanted to meet the blood elf that's been roaming around my ship all day." The Captain yanked off a drumstick from the roasted turkey in the center , and dragged it to her own dish.
"Oh, yes. I guess I've been quite a bother-"
"This is a passenger ship." She interrupted. "You aren't bothering anyone."
"Well, then," she nodded, sipping some of the wine.
"Yes, you're fine. So tell me, what brings a Dawnfire all the way out to an Alliance passenger ship with the famous womanizer, Galen Moonblade? You his new courtesan or something?" Marcail choked on her wine, astounded at the coarseness of the Captain. She set down her goblet and continued to cough, until she finally settled down.
"Sweet Sunwell! How could you ask such a question?" The flush on the pale blood elf's cheeks matched the wine.
"I was just curious," she shrugged, giving the blood elf a goblet of water. Marcail accepted it and sipped on it.
"Can't you ask a more appropriate question?"
"I don't like beating around the bush, I prefer the more direct approach," the Captain grinned, tossing her black bangs out of her face with a quick movement of her hair. "Galen did say you were a bit too proper."
"Excuse me?"
"Galen said you were too proper," the Captain repeated.
"What in Azeroth-" she began, rising from her seat, "how dare you question my virtue, to only turn around and insult my personality! You know nothing of me!" The Captain's demeanor faded, and she rose from her seat, only to go to Marcail to try to calm her down.
"I didn't mean nothin by it, kitten," she said, settling the girl back down in her chair. "I wanted to chat, not to argue." She turned and settled in her own chair. "Please, help yourself to anything you see on this table." The blood elf's nose twitched, as she was still a little ruffled with the crassness of the human, but she hadn't had anything real to eat in about a week. She quickly started stacking an amount of food that would make a tauren think twice.
"Careful, kitten," the Captain protested, "I've heard you're just getting over a terrible sickness. You might wanna take it slow." Marcail eyed her, but couldn't help but agree that too much rich food would easily send her running for the railing.
"Since we didn't get off on the right foot, how about we start over," the Captain offered. The mage nodded, gently. "Okay, how about I tell you a bit about myself so we aren't strangers anymore?" She was met with another gentle nod, as the mage ate slowly. "Well, my name is Angelina Soluna, and as you can see, I'm a captain of The Bravery, a passenger ship from Stormwind to Auberdine. I've been sailing ever since my father taught me when I was a child, and I love it. My strengths are cooking, dancing, and, of course, sailing, and my weaknesses are clearly social situations," she offered a smile.
"Angelina," the blood elf echoed.
"Yup."
"Can I ask you a personal question?"
"I'll answer yours if you answer mine," Angelina offered. The mage mulled it over for a few seconds.
"That seems fair." Marcail replied.
"Okay, you go first."
"How can you speak Orcish so well?" The Captain laughed, and popped a handful of grapes in her mouth, chewing on them loudly. She threw a leg over the armrest on her chair and leaned back in her chair.
"That is a strange talent, one I very rarely share with people, but since I know your secret, I assume you will keep mine." She eyed the mage. "My father was a pirate, with the Bloodsail Buccaneers until his death. He dealt with both Horde and Alliance alike, and I helped him with deliveries. In my youth, I commanded one of my father's ships for pirate business. When I was raiding an offshore Alliance ship, I was in a heated battle with a tough-as-nails admiral. But to make a long story short, we both ended up sinking each others ships. While we watched our ships burn and gathered our men, we called a truce to get to shore. There, he offered me to work for the Alliance military as a Captain of one of his ships. It took a lot of persuasion, mostly with coin, but I finally accepted. After working there for a while, I decided that I wanted something slower. So that's why I'm here."
"Wow," the blood elf had been hanging on to her every word. "That sounds like an exciting life."
"I'd say I've lived a full life if I died tomorrow." She grinned, downing her goblet of wine. The blood elf wished she could say the same. Here, before her, was someone who was living out her dreams, while she did not.
"Was your father angry with you when you joined the Alliance?"
"Angry? It went further than anger, for the bloody man made it his life goal to kill me after that."
"What?"
"He searched for only the ships I was commanding, and then he would launch an all-out attack on my ship. He almost got me a couple of times, stubborn man would board my ship and directly come for me. That's how I got this," she tilted her head and showed a deep scar that went from her ear to her jawbone. "Bloody man was gonna cut my throat." Marcail's blatant horror across her pretty face brought the Captain to smile. "Don't worry, I'll give you a spoiler to the story. I lived." She smirked.
"Yes, I see that, but how?"
"Well, I was able to reach my pistol in time to stop him."
"What?" The blood elf was incredulous. "You killed your own father?"
"It was kill or be killed, kitten. You gonna drink that?" She motioned to the mage's goblet. When she shook her head, the Captain snatched it up and took a long drink from it.
"I'm so sorry," the mage whispered.
"Ah, I don't need your pity," Angelina waved her hand as she stood up and went to go dig around in the liquor cabinet next to her.
"I'm not pitying you. I'm just saying I don't know what I would do with all that pain. You're remarkably strong." The mage felt pinpricks on the tip of her nose, and she bit back the urge to cry. Someone who had lived a tough life that she knew nothing of, yet this person was functioning better than she. Suddenly, the dark-haired human stopped rummaging around and looked up from her crouched position to the mage's face. A look of wonder reflected in her face.
"I can see why Galen likes you." She said, as she selected a bottle of brown liquid and brought it to the table.
"W-what?" The mage stammered, as her thoughts of Angelina's family relations suddenly dropped from her mind. "Are you kidding me? He hates me. All he does is yell at me."
"On the contrary, kitten, there is a fine line between love and hate," the Captain smiled, as she poured some of the brown liquid into the two empty wine glasses. She pushed one forward to the mage and held it up. "Toast with me," she said, as the blood elf complied, raising the other glass.
"Here's to men. The sorry slop of them all," she cackled, and then threw back the liquor. The mage just watched, and when the goblet reached the table, Angelina gave her a look. "Your turn, kitten." Marcail hesitantly sniffed the liquid, before she shrugged and imitated what the Captain did. When she set the goblet down, suddenly intense pain shot through her throat as she coughed.
"There ya go, it does a soul good." The human smiled as she poured second servings of the liquid.
"What are you doing? That hurt like fire! I don't want more!"
"Trust me, kitten, you need it more than I do."
"What are you talking about?"
"Another toast!" She declared, pushing a goblet to Marcail. "You do this one." As she picked up her glass, she was baffled.
"What do you want me to say?" The mage asked, clearly confused, as she took a sip of water.
"You say something like, 'here's to beautiful arses' or whatever you want it to be," she smiled, and the blood elf immediately spewed water across the table and clamped her hand over her mouth.
"I-I'm sorry," she stammered.
"Don't be," Angelina waved at her in laughter, entertained with the innocent vixen. "Go on, make your toast."
"Um," she began, putting a finger to her lips, as she thought of a worthy statement. "Here's to taking a chance and trusting a complete stranger." She raised her glass, and the Captain followed, nodding in approval. They threw back the liquid at the same time. This time, it didn't burn as bad as the first one did.
"So you asked me a few questions, there, kitten."
"Why do you keep calling me 'kitten'?"
"Oh, I give nicknames to everybody. 'Kitten' is yours since you came in here looking so vulnerable. Now, it's my turn to ask."
"Okay, go ahead." The blood elf dismissed the 'vulnerable' comment in her mind.
"How do you know Galen?"
"Um, I'm not sure he'd want me to answer that."
"He told me you two were lovers, and he was taking you to his family's estate in Teldrassil so you could live there without being persecuted by your people. I told him horseshit, and he still stuck to that story." The mage's jaw dropped and her brows lowered.
"Only one part of that is true, he's taking me to Teldrassil." She tossed her hair.
"Sounds like there's a story," the Captain said, as she started to pour more liquor.
"Are we going to toast?" Angelina looked right at her, and pointed.
"You got it," she said with a grin. They raised their glasses, and then Angelina spoke. "Here's to the truth. Sooner or later, the truth gets out." They both drank down the liquor.
"I for one, hate lying," the mage admitted. "I'm terrible at it, and my whole family knows it."
"So go on then, continue the story. I told you mine."
"How do I know you're not going to tell the Alliance authorities?"
"You don't," she shrugged and winked, "but take a chance with a stranger. Sometimes, they're more trustworthy than your own flesh and blood." The mage sighed.
"Well, he actually kidnapped me on my wedding day in Silvermoon." It was the Captain's turn to drop her jaw. "Yes, it was a horrible scene. His ragtag friends and he were able to breach the lines and find me, easily. I was wounded so I didn't get to see if my friends and family are even alive. When I woke up, I was in a strange camp with them, so when I saw that they were distracted, I ran for it."
"Kitten, it sounds like you've got your own set of horrible problems."
"Oh, I haven't even gotten to the part when he had his warlock friend perform a spell, that's illegal even in the dark arts. The spell took away my magic and locked it in a necklace. Apparently, only Galen is the only one other than me that can touch it." Before the mage knew it, the Captain was already pouring them more mouthfuls of that burning liquid.
"What's our toast this time?" Asked the mage.
"No toast, just drink it." Marcail obliged, and as soon as she swallowed the liquid, she noticed that the ship was driving erratically, as the boat rocked. She felt herself relax, and venting to Angelina seemed almost therapeutic.
"He also almost killed me, you know. He dragged me through the Wetlands, in nothing but my wedding gown, and then took me to Ironforge right after. I almost died from hypothermia. I was so sick after that. You wouldn't believe it, I had never been this sick before in my life." She stopped when she got to the part about killing the gnomes and dwarves for arcane energy, because that was really way too much information. "So, I got better and now he says he's going to keep me at his family estate while he waits for the ransom money to come through from my fiance."
"He's holding you ransom? For how much?"
"I haven't a clue. He won't tell me anything." She shook her head, and before she knew it, there was more of the alcohol in front of her. Marcail didn't even ask this time, she just gulped it.
"Oh, kitten. And I thought my life was complicated. I bet you've been terrified this whole time."
"Well, for the most of it. There came a time when I was ready to die."
"That's not gonna come to you on this ship. I guarantee all my passengers a safe voyage on my ship."
"Can you talk to Galen for me?" She asked sheepishly, a little embarrassed.
"What?" The Captain was taken aback. "What for?"
"I've just never seen one with a temper like his before. It honestly scares me, and I just want him to control it better." She admitted, sadly. The Captain just stared back at her.
"You haven't learned how to shut him up yet?"
"What? How do you do that?"
"You distract him with your charms," she smiled. The mage's eyes grew wide.
"No!" She shook her head. "Anything but that."
"Yes! Trust me, he can't think of anything else when you get him going." She laughed, while Marcail processed what she just said. It hit her like a ship would hit a reef.
"Sweet Sunwell! You and him!" She gasped as her cheeks flushed.
The good natured captain just gave another one of her laughs. The mage put a hand to her clavicle, suddenly thinking of Angelina and Galen engaging in carnal acts right above her the night before. A twinge of betrayal pricked at her and the color rose to her face. She dropped her head to her hands to try and cover up the blushing. It didn't work, however, for she even her ears grew hot.
"Don't worry about it, we've been long done with each other." She smiled. "He's all yours, kitten."
"I don't want him!" She shouted, but knew that couldn't be any further from the truth.
"Well, what do you want then?" Angelina asked. The room grew silent as the open ocean on a clear night. Finally, the blood elf raised her head, and gave a goofy smile.
"I want another one of those drinks."
"Done and done," the Captain answered her and poured them more of the liquid.
.
Galen was growing hungry, waiting for Marcail. The sun had long set, but the mage hadn't returned to the room. He tried to tell himself she was still wondering around the ship, and she was fine, but he couldn't stop the aching feeling to know where she was. He finally emerged from the room, wondering if she was still avoiding him from their encounter early that afternoon. When he walked to the deck, he noticed that Angelina wasn't at the quarter deck, steering her ship, but her first mate was. Maybe the mage had spoken to him, he figured, if she wanted to talk to anyone on the ship, a high elf would be the most agreeable company. He felt the same prickling feeling that he felt when he would watch Darrick and Marcail bonding. He trudged up the steps, a little angrier than he intended, and was stopped by the navigator.
"What is your business here, night elf?" The navigator asked.
"I need to speak with First Mate Wavesinger," the night elf stretched out to his full height to intimidate the navigator.
"I'm afraid he's busy trying to get us safely to Auberdine." The man narrowed his eyes.
"Landerson!" The high elf called out. "Galen is a personal friend of the captain. She said to ensure that his needs were met." The navigator gritted his teeth and clenched his fists.
"Right this way, then." He forced out, as he still glowered at the night elf. He shrugged the navigator's disrespect off, and went to the first mate.
"Alright, where did she go?" Galen demanded.
"Where did who go, Galen?" The first mate kept his watch on the horizon and his hand at the rudder wheel.
"You know exactly who I'm talking about. The only blood elf on board this ship."
"There is no need for rudeness," the high elf glanced at him. "Your sarcasm and demeanor will not intimidate me."
"For the sweet love of Elune, just tell me where she is!" He demanded. The silence that fell between them was not very reassuring, so the warrior scoffed, turning on his heel to go look for the mage himself.
"You will find whom you seek in the Captain's Dining Quarters." The high elf finally replied.
"Thank you," the warrior muttered over his shoulder, as he went strait to Angelina's dining room on the ship. What compelled Marcail to seek out Angelina? His instincts told him to be cautious, he could be headed into a room where a fight of alliances had broken out, or worse. He quickly walked up the steps to the dining room, and threw open the door. He gawked at the performance before him. The two women were dancing, actually dancing, with each other and giggling uncontrollably.
"What in holy hell is going on in here?" Galen demanded, as the women finally took a notice to him, and burst into laughter. Marcail fell to the floor in laughter, sitting in the center of the room as the human laughed harder.
"She was teaching me the Silvermoon Waltz. It's a lot of fun!" The dark haired female announced, slurring her words a little.
"You two," he started, shocked at the blood elf more than anything, "are both drunk!"
"Yeah? And you aren't!" The mage shouted and pointed an accusing finger at him, bursting into more laughter and fell back. The human was laughing, too.
"What's so damned funny about that?" He demanded.
"You know, Galen, I have to hand it to you. This girl is a lot of fun." The captain smiled. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. Marcail, fun?
"I don't think she's ever had a drop of alcohol in her life," the night elf scolded, as he went to the blood elf sprawled on her back on the floor.
"So she's living a little, don't take that away from her."
"Why did she come here?" He asked as he knelt down beside the mage and tried to gather her up in his arms, but she lazily batted at them.
"I asked her here to see if you two really were lovers."
"Elune, I wish you were less blunt."
"Oh yeah, and she knows about us."
"What?!" The night elf suddenly felt the rush of rage in his veins.
"I wasn't going to lie to her. If you're trying to have a life with her, you're going to have to tell her about your past." The captain sighed.
"Angelina," he hissed, his tone boiling with seething acid. "If you weren't my friend I could kill you."
"You listen here, rake, I'm only gonna say this once," she stood up, speaking to him with all of her years of commanding ships and leading. "You be good to this girl and don't hurt her." The fire in her brown eyes showed just how much she meant what she said. The night elf scowled, and turned back to the mage, who was off in her own world, staring at the ceiling, mumbling about how the first mate couldn't steer a ship and the approaching storm was making it hard to stand up.
"I didn't think you would be this interested in my affairs."
"I was curious," she flashed him an impish smile. "Then I discovered your next paycheck has a good heart." He growled in response. "Good night, you two," the captain rose and left the dining room.
"Let's go, Marcail," he murmured to her, as he gently scooped her up into his arms. Her arms instinctively went around his neck, as she buried her face there, breathing in the masculine smell that was him.
"I like Angelina," she stated, surprising the night elf.
"You do?"
"Yes, she's really strong and has the guts to go after what she wants."
"She is like that, isn't she?" A small smile formed on Galen's lips. He felt fingers prodding at his neck.
"Why are you blue?" She asked.
"What? What kind of question is that?"
"And why do you have such big muscles?" She demanded, now squeezing at his biceps. He took her downstairs, pulling her head in closer so she wouldn't hit her head on the doorway. He did it again when he opened the door to their room. He walked in and settled her down on the bed.
"Why did you take me?" She asked, her eyes filled with sorrow, brought on by drink.
"You've had too much drink, I'm afraid. You should get some rest." He started to stand up, uncomfortable with her question and the current state she was in. When she cried out, and he was instantly back at her side.
"What? What's wrong?"
"Please, don't leave. I'm frightened," she admitted, tears threatening to emerge as she grasped at his arm with her fingers. Her hand couldn't wrap around his forearm, but her touch was so pleasurable.
"Why are you frightened?" Galen asked, reaching for her forehead. He stroked her hair, trying to calm her down. She was trembling and he felt the nagging sensation of concern for her.
"Kael'Thas," she whispered. The warrior sighed and smiled kindly.
"Don't worry, I won't let him take control." He assured her.
"Promise?" He felt a smile creep up on him, as her childlike quality of trust in him had him humbled.
"I promise."
"You'll stay here all night?"
"All night," he echoed. He saw her face relax, and she lay back down on the bed. He leaned up against the wall behind him, as she turned over and put a hand on his shoulder, to reassure herself that he was there. She let herself drift off to sleep, as she let herself forget who she was for a few hours. She was just an ordinary person for that night. It had felt great.
..
..
Thanks for bearing with me and my spotty updates, so I made this post a little bit longer. Thank you all for your reviews, and your beautiful compliments. I'd especially like to thank Wolf Paladin. You are always there to give me words of constructive criticism and the first to post when I update this story. Thank you so much!