He was exhausted too but he had to make sure she was safe. He had fought battles and stayed awake for days to make sure his men were not slaughtered. On the third day, he stopped and made them a pallet to sleep on the ground. Rose had not talked to him since he had returned for her. He found he missed the sound of her voice. He laid beside her and wrapped his arms around her. He sighed as he felt her back tense as he pressed into it.
He fell into a light but fitful sleep. When he awoke, he did not feel Rose there. He sat up and found her feeding the horses. She then walked over to the bags and took some bread and jam out. She put some jam on two slices and walked over to where he was.
"Thank you," he said as she handed him the bread. She nodded. "Are you going to speak to me, Rose? Or forever be silent?"
