After the rain has slowly settled down, the forest went peaceful. All you could hear was just the droplets of the water from the leaves. The wind still blowing made the bushes russtle and the crackling of the wood burning on the campfire. Darius just slowly took all of the items he has used to set up their spot.
"Hey Darius, you won't rest? I think I can handle being the look out for a few minutes."
"Can't let you."
"Hmm~ alright..."
Adellene then stood up and sat beside Darius. She then reached out to his head and let him lay down on her lap."What are yo~""Shh... Just lay down for a bit, you can still be on a look out but atleast rest your body for a bit. It's all cuts and bruises, you should know better than anyone here right now."
"Hmmm..."
. . . . .As the wind slowly went by, trees and bushes were dancing like people in the town. She slowly brushed his hair gently."You know Darius, you're the second person that I have done with this kind of thing. You know, letting them lay on your lap and gently pat their head. It's quite relaxing for me. This brings me back to my place at the church. It was like very quiet and all~ wait Darius?"
She looked at him and he was already asleep. His arms hit the ground and he slept like a defenseless sheep on the wild. Adellene was so mesmerized of what she is seeing. It was like seeing a dragon turning into a little pup on her lap.
~hmmm you really do look handsome in some way. Even with those deadly eyes of yours, I still wish that we would be friends someday.~
After the time has passed, Darius then woke up on a hay bed. Although he was sleeping he felt was being dragged on the ground. It was really the truth as Adellene can't carry his weight and had to put him on a proper bed.
"Hey woman, did you drag me~"
"He~Heeee.... You know you're really heavy so I had to carry you."
"You really are stupid sometimes."
"Come on! I had to bring you to a better bed so you can~"
*pat* *pat*
"Thank you."
She went quiet as he pat her head. He then stood up and gathered their packs and woke Eichel up.
"Hey wake up. We need to reach your hamlet as soon as possible. We can't just stay here all day."
"Oh it's morning already. I'm sorry if I overslept..."
Adellene then came close and gave her a smile.~
"It's ok he's just always like this. Come on and get changed. I brought extra clothes so here."
After they changed clothes, they then started to follow the dirt path along the forest. As they slowly walked along, Eichel then started to cry.
~sniff~ ~sniff~
"Hey are you okay? What's wrong, is there something that hurts you?"
"No... It~it's alright. I'm just happy that I'm able to go home. I really thought I would never see the sun again."
"Hey!!! It's all good! You are here with us now. So let's walk quicker so you'll see your father."
"Hmmm..."
"Hey Darius what did I say last night?! No grunts and humms during these kind of talks! You're so insensitive. Hmmp!"
*giggle*
"You both really enjoy being together~"
Both of them looked at her and said."Like hell we would!"
"Ehh?! Okay okay.... Hahahaha!"
They then continued walking and then they finally reached the hamlet. There was an old man who was sitting down on a wooden stool at the front. It was the chief waiting for the return of the people he sent. He then started to stand up and slowly walked down to meet them. He then started to fasten his steps and started to run to them as he saw someone whom he'd recognized from the distance. The person was his long lost daughter.
"Eichel! Gods from above."
"Father! I'm so sorry... I sho~"
The chief then hugged her tightly. He was crying all his regrets out. He then looked at both Darius and Adellene and then kneel infront of them.
"I can never thank you both enough for bringing my daughter back! I am in debt of both of you~"
"Sire, stand up. You don't have to thank us like that, We are just doing our job. Anyway go and enjoy your day with your dau~"
"The reward old man."
Adellene stopped talking and slowly looked at Darius dead in his eyes. She was starting to steam out and burst out of anger."You really are as bad as~"
"I'm just messing with you. Hey old man, make sure to protect her more."
"Yes young man I will."
"Darius... You little~ you stupid~ Argh!!!"
After the exchange of chats, the chief later on shouted to the residents that his daughter came back safely. Later on they then let out a festive to celebrate her arrival. Both Darius and Adelle was seeing all of these in awe.
"You know, it really is great to have someone like a parent. Hey Darius do~"
"I don't have any."
"Oh..."
"You?"
"Me? What do you mean by "you" huh?"
"Do you have parents?"
"Oh... I don't have any as well but I grew up with a guardian. Sir Gregory Dane is his name. He's kinda like my advisor and mentor. They told me I was left at the front of the church so they never knew my parents."
"Hmm..."
It was just silence between the two even though the people around them were dancing around the large bonfire to celebrate. Then later on both of them were called by someone.
"Hey you two, I am really indebted with what you have done for my daughter. I never thought that anyone would be so reckless yet have this successful quest. I can't thank both of you enough. Here, this is a relic I have found before yet I don't know what it can do."
It was the chief who called their attention. Both of them stood infront of the chief and just looked at the relic they were given. It was a pair of silver rings with two different gems engraved on them. The other one hold's ruby and the other one has sapphire.
"Also I will be delivering the payment to your guild and also the report to what both of you have done to me and to my fellow men who live in this little hamlet."
"Thank you for that sir!"
"Thank you."
"Nah~ it would be just a little thanks to what you've done. Oh also my daughter wanted to talk to both of you in her room. It would be bad to ask both of you another favor but can you both go to her and talk to her. I mean she's all well and good now but she asked me to~"
"Alright."
"Eh?! You're going Darius? That's~"
"Yes and don't waste time."
Both of them bid farewell to the chief and went ahead to meet Eichel on her room. It was a bit of a short walk but Adellene suddenly faced Darius and grabbed his hand.
"Hey, what are you~"
"Don't pull your hand! . . . Here!"
Adellene put the ring on Darius' finger. It was the silver ring with sapphire on it. After he looked at his ring, Adellene then showed her ring and smiled at him.
"Now we look like a couple for this!"
. . . . . . .
"Wait no no no that's not what I meant!"
"I know."
"Oh~ okay then! Well nevermind that and let's continue walking."
. . . . . . .
"Why the sapphire?"
"Hmmm? Oh, it's just my favourite gem and I want you to hold it for me."
Adellene then turned at him and smiled.
"You better take good care of it okay?"
"Hmmm."
"Hmmp!"
"What?"
"There you go again with your grunts! I hate you!"
"You really are hard to read."
*giggle*
~I am, I hope you won't hate it.~