It had only been a little more than half an hour but Amina's body ached in more ways than one. She had never ridden a horse and even with Nero at her back, she felt herself quickly tiring out. Her hips, back, and legs throbbed with pain that worsened with each downward trod of the enormous horse beneath her. She leaned further into Nero's chest and lap, desperate for relief. She felt him stiffen behind her but couldn't find the strength to hold herself back up or ask for a break. She would feel like an annoying, weak woman if she were to ask for a break at all, much less in this short time of riding when they had at least another hour to go.
Nero was going crazy. He had only had a woman this close to him once before and it was the same tiny woman currently rubbing all over his frontside with her backside, except last time it had been an accident. He held in a groan as she settled into him deeper, instantly hardening at her soft curves against his hardened muscles. He felt a fire burning low in his stomach and tightened his grip on the reins, hoping it would translate to his grip on sanity.
Oro glanced behind him, chuckling at the look and shade of his friend's face. He might be enjoying this a little too much, maybe he would give him a break on the way back and have her on his horse instead.
They continued riding for what felt like hours to everyone besides Oro. The heat was making it far worse, making their clothes cling and their bodies stick together. Nero desperately needed a cold bath and Amina desperately needed off this horse. She sighed, hoping this ordeal would be over soon. She spotted the beginnings of the forest and nearly toppled over from relief, literally. Her muscles relaxed and she found herself sliding off the saddle with nothing to hold onto except Nero's arms. He must've felt her dismounting because he quickly reached out with his left arm to catch her, his long arm encircling her slender waist with ease. She felt his muscles tighten against her as he righted her on the saddle, slowing the horse to a stop as he still held her close.
"You okay?"
"Yeah, sorry. I was just so relieved to see the trees come into sight and relaxed a little too much," she finished with a chuckle. Nero felt the rumble of her laughter through his fingertips and stroked her small ribs unconsciously. A brief moment of silence and tension was interrupted by Oro shouting backward to ask if they were alright. Nero's patience with the prince was wearing thin as he squeezed Amina one last time to be sure she was alright. She nodded without looking back to signal she was fine and he could continue. Her face felt warm as she stared forward, willing her heart to calm down.
Finally, they were in the midst of the forest and dismounting. Nero gracefully slid off the horse, grasping Amina by the waist, gently picking her up and setting her down next to him. Gods she was small, did she ever eat? He swears he could crush her by accident without even trying. Amina stumbled when her feet met the ground, her muscles sore and weary from rising for so long. Nero immediately reached down and snaked his arm around her waist, holding her up.
Embarrassed, Amina explained she had never ridden a horse and didn't realize how tiring sitting still could be. Nero burst out laughing, surprising Amina enough to make her laugh right along with him. They both forgot the prince was even there as he tied up their horses, enjoying the view of his two companions losing their minds.
"You both had a good laugh, then? Ready now?" Oro prompted with a chuckle, securing his sword at his left hip and looking amused at their sudden embarrassment. Nero cleared his throat before letting Amina down, making sure she was steady on her feet before filling releasing her.
"Alright, let's begin. Amina, dear, I'd like you to guide us and tell us if you feel any difference and where that difference is," the prince explained, the air around them suddenly changing to a serious tone. She nodded, taking in her surroundings. She closed her eyes, breathed in, holding her finger to her lips to signal for the men to be quiet. Amina heard nothing but the small trickle of a stream nearby. A chill ran up her spine as the air in her lungs felt heavier and heavier. Her eyes snapped open, zeroing in on the difference in her home. Her heart ached as she relayed everything she sensed.
"It's too quiet. Far too quiet. The animals have all gone or... been killed. But that couldn't be possible, there were far too many to be overtaken by any normal circumstances. And the air... it feels heavy, almost suffocating. I feel sick. Something is wrong," she concluded, her eyes focusing on the two men who looked at each other.
Oro sighed and said, "That's exactly what I was afraid of." Amina glanced at them, wondering what it was they weren't telling her.
"Miss Amina, I'd like it if you could take us to where you usually reside." Amina stiffened at Oro's request. She didn't want to show them her makeshift shelter. She tried to keep her voice from shaking as she asked why he wanted to go to her residence.
"I have a feeling and I'd like to see if my hunch is correct," he explained with a smile. His smiles were starting to make her queasy every time she saw them. She tried to think of some plausible excuse as to why she couldn't take them. Coming up with nothing, she braced herself and began the trek to her lean-to, if it still stood. The men stayed close to her on either side, their hands at their hilts as if waiting to be attacked. Nerves ran up and down Amina's spine as she soldiered on, trying to keep up the facade of bravery that was shrinking the closer they came to her shelter. Finally, they arrived as the sun was at its highest, displaying her shame in the brightest light possible.
"We're here," she announced. The men glanced at her, then around them, then to each other, confused.
"Where is it?" Nero asked, squinting around them, his hand above his brow to block out some of the blinding sunlight streaming between the trees. Amina lifted her arm, pointing at the shabby lean-to with the small log she had used as a chair sitting in front of it. Her head fell with her hand as she waited for their ridicule.
"You mean...?" The prince began, his words leaving him as he stared at the sad state of her living quarters. How long had she lived there? Nero looked furious and depressed at the same time. Amina couldn't bear to look up at them and stayed silent.
"How long...?" Nero asked, his voice quiet and somber. Almost angry.
"How long I've lived like that, do you mean?" Amina whispered, still too embarrassed to lift her head.
"Yes," Nero spat.
"Since my parents died, so...since I was thirteen. And I'm twenty-one now, so... eight years? Sounds about right," she chuckled awkwardly, staring at her feet as she waited for them to say something, anything. Nero was furious. Livid. How could those villagers allow a child to live on her own, in the forest, without shelter? With nothing and no one to protect her? An image of her even smaller than she was now, curled up in that tiny shithole flashed into his mind. He wanted to go slaughter the entire village and looking at Oro, he guessed that he did too.
"I am so sorry, my dear Amina. So very sorry you were left alone without..." Oro choked out, unable to finish with the waves of guilt washing over him. He stalked away, needing time to reset his prince persona and stave off the anger, leaving Nero and Amina alone in silence.
Nero didn't say anything as his anger simmered beneath his cool facade. He reached for Amina, pulling her into his warm embrace, gingerly stroking her hair as if she would fall apart if he used any more strength. Amina was used to ridicule, prepared for ridicule, but not for this. Not for someone getting angry for her, being sad for her, being kind to her. Her small body trembled as she remembered how it felt to be cared for. She hadn't felt it since her parents left her alone in this world. She continued to shake as she wrapped her arms around Nero's waist, squeezing tightly and allowing herself to cry and mourn what her life had become after she lost everything. She had been strong for so long but now she was falling apart in this man's strong arms. She felt vulnerable and safe as she wept. She could feel his breath atop her head, his thumbs stroking soothing circles on her back and sides. She melted into him, and he to her, forgetting their surroundings as they felt nothing but each other.
Amina's cries quieted as Nero comforted her. She sniffled quietly, relaxing her grip on him but keeping her arms wrapped around him as she looked up at him. Nero looked down at her, releasing one of his arms to reach his hand to her face and wipe away the last trickle of tears on her cheeks. She leaned into his warm touch as his face crept closer to hers when a scream broke the silence. They leaped away from each other, Nero pulling his sword as Amina scanned the forest for the source of the noise. They both tended as they hear someone running toward them, it was Oro frantically running and screaming, "Run!"