The trip back to the guild was long and tense. Fafnir walked in the back, his eyes trained on Myra and Alnwick as if they were enemies. The two new members even looked at each other with hidden questions.
Morgianna who had spent almost the whole trip in the front of the group ignored the tension. If she tried to speak to Fafnir about it now he would think she was taking the others side and if she tried to talk to the two new members Fafnir would still think she is taking their side. She feared he would try to leave for his kingdom before it was time....without her.
"Shall we stay here for the night?" Her voice was loud in the silence, cutting into everyone's thoughts. Morgianna turned with her hands on her hips as if she was surveying a kingdom instead of a small wooded plain. To Fafnir she was like a little sister that he needed to watch out for. Alnwick saw her as the person who saved his life and also as a part of his life. Seeing as how he would die if she did. However to Myra she was a tiny girl who got lucky in a fight. She did not see why a strong dragon would tie himself to her. Or even why she a Basilisk had to stoop so low as to join a pact herself.
Myra hoping to get some good points quickly started a debate. "I think this place is fine, except it is awfully small. If Fafnir or I needed to change and fight I am afraid you would probably be collateral damage." She purposefully made herself and Fafnir the main fighters while undermining Morgiannas' size. "What do you think Fafnir?" She turned her gaze to him with hopes of being praised but was quickly disappointed.
Fafnir stared at her with disgust. "I believe that if Morgianna wishes to stay here then here is where we will stay. I will protect her... Even if it is from you." He sneered in her direction uncaring of the sadness she portrayed. In his mind anyone who went against Morgianna was also going against him.
With a sigh Morgianna began pulling items out of her space. She had created sleeping bags and one day hoped to sell them. After all money made the world go round. Next she pulled out the tents she had only made two so they would need to double up.
"I have two tents so we need to double up. Girls in one and men in the other. Alnwick are you good at hunting? If so please find dinner. Fafnir if you would get the fire going after collecting some wood that would be amazing. Myra if you would help me set up the tents I will make two more sleeping bags." She looked around but nobody immediately moved. Fafnir and Alnwick just looked at Myra as if they were waiting to see what the Basilisk would do.
With an exaggerated sigh Myra began looking at the tents. "I think putting two large men in one of these small tents will be difficult. We should change the sleeping arrangements..."
"Great idea, Morgianna will stay with me." Before Myra could even finish speaking Fafnir had already ruined her plan to stay with him.
Morgianna could only shake her head knowing not to correct Fafnir. This trip was going to drive her crazy.
After the camp had been set up and food was over the fire Morgianna decided to retreat to her tent. She was not sure if she could take any more of Myra's longing looks toward Fafnir. Or his cold looks toward her. Meanwhile Alnwick just seemed guarded towards everyone. This was going to take some getting used to but they all in some way or another formed a pact with her so they are a team now.
She had just made herself comfortable when she felt a disturbance outside of her tent. She could tell it was Myra pacing so decided to help the woman make up her mind. "You can enter you know, no need to pace outside it may make the others nervous." She giggled a little at the end to let Myra know she wasn't mad or even slightly nervous herself.
Myra frowned when she heard Morgianna speak. She had been contemplating what she would even say and now she was put on the spot. She opened the flap to enter the tent and was surprised at the sight that awaited her.
With her back to Myra, Morgianna was fluffing her pillows in her nightgown. It was by no means inappropriate as it was thick and ran to her ankles but still Myra felt angered by seeing the cute girl. "Do you really think that is appropriate to sleep in with a man in the room? Maybe it would be best if we share a room after all."
"Myra he is my guard back home and we see each other as siblings. I assure you that you are winning yourself no favor points by acting like a jealous girlfriend. We all see that you are interested in him but he will not like someone who acts as if she owns him. You are a strong woman and I want to see you acting like it. I would not have said anything but I feared this tension would cause disturbances in our work and that is something I cannot allow." Morgianna finished fluffing her pillows and crawled into her sleeping bag snuggling down until just her eyes were visible.
Myra hung her head. "I am that obvious? He probably hates me."
This elicitated a giggle from Morgianna. "Do not take it to heart, he has a story that I hope he one day feels comfortable telling you. As for the jealousy you do realize that I am currently a child correct? Also as I have stated what Fafnir and I feel for each other is familial. I am in no way your rival for his love but I will tell you this: hurt him and I will make you regret."
Morganna's smile never faltered as if she was speaking of the weather and not threatening bodily harm should her demands not be met. Myra felt a shiver run down her spine, she had not thought much of the girl in front of her but for some reason she believed that she would not falter in dishing out punishment.
It was as if a veil had been lifted from her eyes and she looked at Morgianna with an all-new perspective. The girl in front of her was anything but a child even if her body had not yet caught up.
"I am sorry for the trouble I have caused, I will fix my mistake." Myra bowed her head slightly and backed through the tent flap. While she did not achieve her goals of staying with Fafnir she would not be sharing with Alnwick either.
She gathered her sleeping bag and brought it to the campfires' side and laid upon it. Looking up at the stars she thought over the words Morgianna had spoken and could find no faults. She did not know why she was acting the way she had over a man, a man that she did not even know. She vowed in her heart that she would never again chase after someone that was not interested. If later Fafnir saw how amazing she was then that was a whole new story.
Alnwick had heard their conversation and was not in the slightest upset that Myra did not wish to share a tent. He found pretentious women the most troubling and wished Fafnir luck in the future. He made his way towards Morgiannas tent in hopes of speaking to her about their bond. They had not had much of a chance to speak since it had happened.
"Where do you think you are going?" Fafnirs deep voice sounded just behind him and he quickly turned to face the large man.
"I wished to speak to Morgianna about our binding." He kept his voice steady not wanting to admit the man in front of him made him nervous.
"Then it can wait until tomorrow, she is a young woman and it is past the proper time for visitors. I do not know you so it is unfair to say that I do not trust you yet. As her guard it is part of my responsibility to watch out for her, I am sure you understand." Fafnir raised one of his perfectly arched eyebrows as if daring him to try anything.
With wide eyes Alnwick shook his head. "You have the wrong idea! I only wish to thank her for saving my life."
Fafnir chuckled at the man in front of him as his whole face turned almost as red as his hair. "Calm down I know you just wanted to thank her, but honestly she doesn't want it. I have known her for several years and she always helps everyone. At first, it was annoying, her need to make sure everyone is okay... Everyone but herself." Fafnir gave a forced smile as he thought of all their adventures thus far.
"To be honest I feel kind of sorry for you. The girl has no sense of danger and your life is tied to hers in a very real sense. All we can do to pay back her kindness is to make sure she doesn't get herself killed while she continues to help in the only way she knows how." Fafnir patted Alnwick on the shoulder as if they were long time pals. "Welcome to the team."
With those words, Fafnir turned back to the tent that held Morgianna and left Alnwick standing alone in the night. Instead of feeling angry that he was denied a chance to thank her, he felt happy. Fafnir had shared feelings with him that he had not felt in years and it made him want to be a part of the future.
That night as he laid in his sleeping bag he thought of what the future held. If she really was as danger prone as Fafnir made her seem then he would need to work harder to protect her. He vowed that one day he would be just as dependable as the dragon and he would be able to think of them as his family.