"You know, it looks really pretty up there tonight." said Zuph as he looked up at the sky. He and Nora had been silently eating, it was not an uncomfortable silence, rather it was one of understand and tranquility.
"Yes, it really is." said Nora as she took a deep breath, she could not remember the last time that she had been outside. Or wait, actually she could, it was about three days ago. Her days had just been really slow to the extent that they felt the same to her.
Regardless it just felt so good to take a deep breath and look at the stars. It had been a while since she had seen the stars and taken a break to just watch them twinkling in the bright night sky.
"I do not remember the last time that I have watched the stars so quietly like this." said Zuph as Nora turned to look at him and laughed.
"I was just thinking the same thing." she said with a giggle as he smiled.
"Really now?" he asked as she nodded.
"The stars are just so beautiful, they are just up there in the sky enjoying their existence by giving us light in the night." said Zuph as Nora nodded, she just realized how calm and comfortable she was with Zuph.
He always knew what to say to make her feel calm, he was someone she felt like she trusted with her life. Even when they sat in silence just eating and watching the stars.
"I agree... I remember when we were in the Yonder realm, there really was not anything else better to do while trying to fall asleep than watching the stars in a world different from their own.
"I do remember that, you know it is funny, things seemed to be easier then and yet in the same way harder." said Zuph as he chuckled, recollecting some fond memories.
"I do agree with you, I know that we were occupied with finding his majesty, but the Yonder realm was really amazing, there were different things that we had never seen before. To be honest, it was beautiful being somewhere you had never been before." said Nora as she smiled.
"I thought I was the only one who felt that way." said Zuph.
"Apparently not, I felt the same way as well, even though I did miss home, and I worried about her majesty an awful lot, but things seemed to slow down and be more peaceful once we finally found his majesty and he was safe, even though he had no recollection of any of us at all." said Nora.
"That is true, that time we were all so stressed, not to even speak about the whole feud between the queen and Darla and Liam was caught in the middle." said Zuph as he laughed.
"I know that I am laughing, but it was not funny at the time at all." said Zuph as Nora chuckled.
"Yes, apart from that, it was enjoyable to go an an adventure with you all, even though we could have died at any time." said Nora as she laughed.
"That is true, unfortunately, but at the moment, I doubt that we were thinking of that possibility." said Zuph while laughing.
"Do you want to know my favourite memory from the Yonder realm?" asked Zuph as Nora turned to look at him.
"What is it?" she asked curious. She had come to know that Zuph was someone who really liked sharing. Sharing his time, his food, his thoughts, which was why she was curious to know more about him, he had certainly been a very good companion throughout all her ups and downs these past few days.
"It was getting to know more about you, and talking to you everyday since we always rode together." said Zuph as Nora felt her heart skip a beat, she had never heard anyone say such a personal thing about her like Zuph had just said with so much sincerity and happiness.
"I... I... don't... know what to say." said Nora looking away quickly, she was flustered, she did not know how to feel right now. On one hand she felt her heart pattering, and on the other hand she felt like he was just being nice, being sweet just to cheer her up.
She feared that he did not really mean what he said, she had her heart broken once, and she did not want it to happen again, on the other hand she also did not want one singular experience to harden her heart and diminish her trust in people who were innocent and had never had the intention to harm her.
"You do not need to say anything... I just felt like saying what was on my mind, and I mean every single word. Getting to know you is one of my most favourite memories, and I am so privileged to be your friend." said Zuph as Nora kept on looking away trying to avoid his gaze.
"I am happy to be your... friend as well." she replied as Zuph chuckled, he knew that she could get easily flustered and nervous and she was always transparent, that was one of the things that he liked most about her.
"So, do you feel better now?" he asked, changing the subject so she would not continue feeling nervous around him, he wanted her to be very free and comfortable around him.
"Compared to the way I felt three days ago, I feel better." said Nora as she looked at him.
"That is good, do you think you feel good enough to stand seeing Mero face to face?" asked Zuph as he noticed that Nora suddenly became cold at the mention of Mero's name.
"I apologize for asking you that, but I am worried about you, especially when it concerns him, he really hurt you a lot." said Zuph as Nora's eyes met his.
"I know that you mean well, I do not blame you at all." she said.
"And in reply to your question... yes, *sigh*, yes, I think that I can stand seeing Mero, but I do not think that I am comfortable enough to speak to him again... or at least not for now, he did truly hurt me a lot, and I would like to forget and move on rather than remembering what he did over and over again." replied Nora as Zuph nodded.
"I understand Nora, I really do." said Zuph.
"I am ready to go back to work. I miss working, and I miss the queen, I am sure that she is seriously worried about me, besides, being alone continuously thinking about what happened to me would make me feel even worse." said Nora as Zuph nodded.
"You are right about that Nora, I agree with you." said Zuph as he nodded and Nora suddenly started laughing.
"What is so funny?" asked Zuph confused. He had not seen Nora laugh so hard and happily in a long time, she was always in control of her emotions, so to see this burst of sincere emotion.
"We always seem to agree about everything." said Nora as she laughed.
"Well, that is because I admire your, and the way you think, believe it or not, you are always right." said Zuph as he smiled and Nora laughed.
"I am starting to feel that you are just saying all these nice things about me to make me feel better." said Nora as Zuph smiled.
"Not at all Nora, I would never lie to you, never, everything I say to you is the truth, I would never hide anything from you." said Zuph as Nora cleared her throat.
"Well... thank you for always being honest with me." said Nora as she smiled.
"You do not need to thank me at all." said Zuph as he smiled.
"Anyway, it is getting really late right now and I have to wake up early tomorrow to get back to work." said Nora as she stood up, she knew that she and Zuph were doing nothing wrong, but she could not help but feel like they were getting to close, and in the eyes of others it would look as if something was going on between them.
"You are right, I will also be resuming my duties tomorrow as well." said Zuph as he also stood up.
"Oh, okay then, I guess that I will see you tomorrow." said Nora.
"See you tomorrow Nora, goodnight." said Zuph as he smiled and Nora walked into her tent as Zuph stood out there for a while before smiling and leaving.
He found himself falling in love with her more and more each day, he really looked forward to the day that he would be able to share these deep feelings with her, but he was patient enough to know that it was better to wait for as long as he needed to than to chase her away with his feelings.