"I thought I told you to go to your family." I said as the fire caught and became stable.
"I don't have a family." she responded softly I almost didn't hear her.
"what about Suzan and Jade, ain't they your family?"
"my family was killed when the king took over."
"then what?" i asked her. why the fuck was i even talking to her? "you are going to follow a stranger in the middle of nowhere?"
"you didnt kill me even after i..." she trailed off as i slowly turned to face her. she looked down and retreated a bit into the woods. i gave her a scornful laugh and looked down.
"i didn't protect you. i was just angry that they killed my horse and were eating it. and that is not a good enough reason to follow someone into the forest."
"then why did you free me?"
"is this the part where i start regretting why i saved you?" she looked down and i got up. i took out an ox hide and laid it on the ground and prepared to sleep. "you can stay for the night, tomorrow daybreak, you leave, steal my stuff, i will hunt you and kill you myself."
she came closer to the fire and quietly laid her saddle cloth on the ground and laid there. "were you a knight?" she asked just when i thought she was just about to sleep.
"no." i am not and i never was in any army."
"but you have the necklace of the Knight of Arga. and you fight like them. the old council."
"it's not, so please sleep."
she kept quiet for a moment and just when i was about to fall asleep, she added, "You look like a hunter, Have you seen Andreana? or know what he looks like?"
"no, why?" i am Andreana.
"my dad gave him a medalion and i am supposed to find him, but i dont know what he looks like." her dad gave me something? no one gave me anything. i dont know anyone.
"look, i am tired, and i have to go hunt someone who will probably kill me tomorrow, so please, can i sleep?" i asked and she kept quiet. deep into the night i heard her whimper and i woke up. i walked to her and saw her rolled into a ball. i took my leather and gave it to her then slept on the cold with my bag as a pillow. she may have relaxed a little but right as the horizon lit, she started groaning, twisting and turning in her sleep. my father used to do that.
this was exactly why i don't travel with people. i gave up on my sleep and went to fish down below. i came back when the sun was a few inches above the horizon and the girl was already awake. she was taken aback when she saw me come back completely covered in guts carrying a huge fish and two lotuses and a bundle of chamomile. she stepped back and covered her nose. i knew i stink. thank you, now stop covering you nose. i wanted to say but held myself.
i put them in front of her. "make tea, eat and hit the road." i told her and went down to the river again to have my bath.
when i came back, she was still there. the tea was done, the fish roasting and she was still there, not eating but waiting.
"i thought i told you to leave." i said walking towards the horses. she looked at me shyly.
"drop the act." i said. "i know you can be vocal, so say what you wanna say and leave."
she looked at me, momentarily locking eyes with me and smiled nervously.
"i dont want to leave." she said.
"then you have a problem then."
"if i go anywhere people are going to kill me."
"Not my problem, and i am sure if they wanna kill you, then you deserve it." i said as i started packing. "i didnt do anything. my father did. he was the king and he trusted someone and that person killed him and he now wants to kill me because i am the only threat he has to the throne." she responded sounding hurt. "nowhere is safe except with you."
"what makes you think i wanna stay with you or i am going somewhere safe?" i asked turning to face her. she pointed at my chest. i looked and saw mg fathers necklace.
"you're were one of the knights of Arga, you're going to the Mooring Forest, to join the rebels and my father's followers."
i almost laughed again. that again?
"well, i am not a knight. and i am not in any case going to join any rebellion, because i dont give a shit about the politics."
"then make me your wife then." i almost choked on my own saliva.what did she say? did she just say... is she crazy?
"i can cook, keep you company, have your kids and... i can love you as long as you keep me safe." she said with pained eyes. i could feel desperation in her eyes. ive felt it before and i knew how painful it was. but i cant marry someone just because i felt pity for them.
"i have no intention of marrying anyone."
"please. then keep me as your slave. i can do a lot of housework."
"If your father was a king, then werent you a princess? i am pretty sure you cant do any of those."
"My dad wasn't a normal king, he may have had power but he didnt abuse it. he may have been a king but he taught me to do housework, and other things because he wanted me to marry Andreana, but i can still marry whoever i want, and i want to marry you."
"do you know my name?"
"no. but you know mine."
"good. its agreed then." i said and she joyfully ran to me and stretched her hand towards me.
"Okay, I am Ariana, and i'll be the best wife i can be, for you," she said with a beautiful grin.