Damia was torn. How could she consent to being Elric's betrothed? She still didn't understand what this would accomplish. If all he needed was to gain Alf's trust, it would have worked just as well to say the truth, that he was Damia's brother.
Elric's voice sounded in her mind again. "Word will soon get out that the Prince and Princess of Wesdon have gone missing. Saying that I'm your brother would make it obvious that we are the missing royals. Saying that I'm your friend will also lead people to suspect the same. As your betrothed, I can be neither your brother, nor the Prince. Your journey can't continue if you're constantly running to avoid being returned in for the reward money. And believe me, the King will be offering a reward."
Damia turned to Alf in a most energetic and cheerful manner. "Yes, that's right, Alf, he's my betrothed. There's no need to distrust his intentions, but we should prepare to leave soon. The path may resume at any moment. We wouldn't want to miss it."
"What path, Pri-"
Elric and Damia both glared at Xerxes, stopping him from completing his statement. Xerxes wasn't one to catch on late, but it took him a while to catch on to this situation. He flawlessly corrected himself, "Pretty Damia?"
Alf was skeptical about the entire situation. It didn't make sense to him that Damia would set off on such a dangerous journey without her betrothed accompanying her, much less without his consent. "Damia, why would you go on this journey alone, without your betrothed? And if you were going to lie about your betrothed, it would make much more sense to say that the fairy you ran to first is the one."
He made a valid point. Elric wouldn't have known, but Damia grossly underestimated Alf's observation skills. Just as she was about to give in to his questioning, Adi replied. "Damia's parents passed when she was an infant and she was raised by mine. Is that sufficient information to appease you, or should I tell you more of her tragic background to satisfy your curiousity?"
Damia was surprised by the cruelty she heard in Adi's voice. He had never spoken so freely before, but she was grateful that he managed to fabricate a story to save her cover. She gave him a gentle smile and looked back at Alf to see if he accepted this explanation.
Alf considered everything that had been revealed, and seeing the pain in Damia's face once the loss of her parents was revealed made him feel a bit regretful for having been so relentless in his question. He stopped pressing the issue. "I'm sorry for your loss Damia, and I'm sorry to have brought up such a painful memory." He turned to address the group. "The cave we were inhabiting is a bit small, but you're all welcomed to wait there with us until we're ready to move forward with the journey."
Alcippe had been rather entertained by all the exchanges, and having heard that Damia was engaged to Elric, while Adi was just a childhood friend, gave her hope that she could capture his attention. She decided to join the party as well. "I will be joining as well. I can help with the cave."
In just moments, she had sped over to the mountain side and rested her hand on the wall. Closing her eyes and focusing on the mountains structure, she connected with the magic in the mountain, and used it to widen the cave, just enough to fit the group, but maintaining the integrity of the structure. Once she was complete, she opened her eyes and looked at her work. She then turned back to the group with a look of satisfaction on her face.
The group was equal parts impressed as they were confused by her statement.
"Thank you, Alcippe. But there's no need to join us. You'll be putting yourself in needless danger. And as the guardian of the mountain, shouldn't you be staying here?"
Sensing a moment of déjà vu, Damia chimed in, "That's a fruitless argument, Adi. But he's right, Alcippe, there's no need to join us."
If Alcippe was as headstrong as she had appeared to be so far, Sir Castor could tell where this conversation was headed, so he took this opportunity to gather the horses and let them graze.
Xerxes was distracted by Sir Castor for only a moment, but then he joined the conversation with the others. "Let her come, Adi. I get the feeling she'll follow either way." He glowered at Alcippe as he walked passed her on his way into the cave and continued his statement. "And I'd rather have my enemies next to me, than behind me."
Alcippe glared back at him, but said nothing as she had the same sentiments about everyone else in this group. Why did all of them seem so taken with this shifter? Regardless, she had gotten what she wanted and she wasn't about to give any of them reason to take it back.
Accepting Xerxes' comment, everyone else followed his lead into the cave, including Sir Castor. Elric noticed the sleeping arrangements for Damia and Alf and was satisfied that they were on opposite sides. He could tell which was Damia's because she had taken the weapons he had left behind at the stables the day he left on his hunting trip. He made his way towards it. "I'll help you back up belongings, my culver."
Elric had hoped to secretly search for the journal, and if she had it, to sneak it out of Damia's belongings, into his, but she rushed over before he had the chance.
"Oh sweeting, there's really no need to trouble yourself. I can manage." Damia didn't want him to find the clothes she had taken from him as she had tucked the journal in the shirt. She had been so focused on not getting lost in the forest that she did not get a chance to read any of it and she didn't want him taking it back now.
Elric took that as confirmation that she had the journal, but he didn't want her to realize that he had discovered this fact so he let her pack her own things. "In that case, I'll go ahead and hunt something for us to eat. Castor, care to join me?"
As he wasn't sure how he should be addressing the Prince now, Castor simply nodded and followed behind him.
"I'll come along too." Alf picked up his quiver and bow and followed behind the two men as well. Only Adi, Xerxes, and Alcippe remained with Damia.