It felt like a very long walk back to the house, much longer than usual and by the time everyone reached it they were pretty exhausted, Erica collapsed into Tere's arms before she could even make it to her room so with some help she was brought up into her room, surprisingly enough Sonya decided to spend her night keeping watch on Erica while giving the others a smile that brimmed with confidence, she had recovered enough to stay strong.
While Samuel just felt like his mood got worse and worse as they had walked. Ulma walked into her after reassuring her mentor many times that she would be fine. Samuel simply wished the mentors a good night and went to bed, the reluctant mentors after a few minutes finally decided to leave, Tere was the last to leave staying behind making sure they were all fine. She was the one who had to take the most responsibility after all.
Samuel sat on the bed thinking back on the mission to recall what he had done wrong and how he had failed to see his teammates status before continuing, he sighed and his door opened. Ulma walked in and closed the door behind her, she sat down next to Samuel who noticed she was wearing heavy clothes this time as she tilted her head on his shoulder ever so slightly.
"Are you... alright?" Samuel asked while staring forward, he found himself unable to move. "No... I'm not alright." She replied and Sam could hear her snivel a bit, "Am I a monster?" Samuel asked which made Ul almost recoil in shock and look at him. She saw that he was hurting a lot more than he had let on during the day, he must have stayed strong because someone had to take that position and he was the most fit for it. But she also realized that just because someone was fit to lead with experience, it didn't make them infallible. She had been so preoccupied with her own feelings of not wanting to kill anyone and being scared the entire time, that she had not looked at her own teammates to see how they were doing either.
She quickly embraced him her arms around his chest while listening to his heart. She leaned back her head but she never let go of him, "You have a nice heart! I could hear it! You are just like the rest of us, not a monster, not just because you did what had to be done, but because you tried to ease our burden by doing the job for us!" Ul looked at him and saw that he finally let go.
Tears streaming down his face, he wailed unable to do anything for a little while. "I just... want to avenge my parents... find the ones responsible.... and make sure no one has to go through what I had to.." He somehow managed to stutter out in between the tears while Ulma just held on to him.
It went on for quite some time before he managed to calm down, he hugged Ulma at the end and they just sat like that for a while - enjoying the others healing presence.
After a while Samuel noticed that Ulma was quivering, "Whats wrong?" He quickly asked and held her back a bit so he could study her face. "You told me about what happened to your past, and you trusted me with it. I was scared all this time of rejection and of my nightmares haunting me. But for some reason I feel safe with you, all nightmares replaced with good dreams." She brushed away several tears.
"Thanks to those good dreams I finally remember everything. Thanks to you!" Ul held both of his hands. "My full name is Ulma Bel Askara of Tinahsea. I am the last royal princess of a long forgotten elven nation that existed hundreds of years ago..." She held onto Samuels hands but too scared to look him in the eyes at first, when she finally looked into his eyes she saw surprise but no disgust or anger which made more tears stream down her face.
Samuel simply remained silent and was there to support her now that she was telling him her story. "A terrible event happened and all I can remember is blood and fire all around me as the royal guardians placed me inside something called a life tree. It put me in a deep slumber and burrowed deep underground, when I finally woke up again it was because some explorers unearthed the tree. I learned that several hundreds of years had passed. I could not remember anything about the past except fire and blood." She removed her hands from Samuels and supported herself on the bed.
"I was taken far away into the Rejuan Republic, and I was put in an orphanage since I was just a little girl. I was scared of everything and those nightmares plagued me, every night the same horrible dream. So I ran, far far away until I became your thief girl!" Ul said with a chuckle and to her surprise Samuel dragged her up and forced her to sit in his lap as he embraced her.
"So you became an orphan living on the streets because nightmares plagued you every night?" Samuel asked in horror. "What about now?" He quickly asked and Ul kissed him on the forehead and slowly dragged her fingers through his hair. "Ever since I started sleeping with you hugging me... they stopped!" She replied, which answered both questions at once.
Samuel sat in silence and ran the story she had told him through his head a few times to get it right. "So you're telling me! I get to be with a princess?" He had a big wide grin on his lips, which made Ul give him a quick peck on the lips to answer his question. "I was scared you would become distant if I told you. We have not exactly known eachother for more than like what... six weeks now? A little more if you add the town I guess!" Ulma had a big grin on her face as well, but Samuel saw that she was insecure.
"It's like you said, maybe we have a connection! But I am eager to continue on this path with pride, so let me just ask you formally! Ulma! Will you be my girlfriend?" Samuel asked in a half sincere half sarcastic voice which made her slap him on the chest several times and caused him to lie back on the bed with her half on top and half to the side of him with their eyes making connection again.
'There really is a strong connection between us... more than the pain!' Ulma inwardly thought as she stared into his eyes. Samuel took her silence as an opportunity, "I am interested though! You are a royal elven princess, but you are only a half elf?"
Ul chuckled. "My mother was an arch druid of the enclaves in the area, but she was a human while my father was the elf king." She raised her body above his and put her forearms on his chest and supported her own head on them. "Does that answer your question?" She asked with a raised eyebrow and amused smile.
Samuel nodded with a smile of his own. "Whenever you feel like sharing with me your pains! Don't hesitate and I will try to do the same! Hows that sound?" Ulma looked surprised but happiness replaced it quickly and she nodded. "Maybe we can talk more about it tomorrow? Right now I would like to sleep while you cuddle me from behind." She had an assertive look as they took their position under the blankets.
She instantly felt safe and secure in his embrace. "My answer is yes by the way!" She quietly said with a yawn. "Huh?" Was all Samuel replied as he didn't know what she was referring too. "I would love to be your wife." Ulma said with a tired yawn as she was dozing off while Samuel stopped himself from laughing out loud. She was so cute when tired, she had said the wrong word and it made Samuel shiver as he held himself from laughing.
About a minute later Ulma suddenly shook awake.... "I mean... I mean... Partner... No, Girlfriend! UGH!" She quickly tried to relax back down only realizing her mistake just as sleep was catching her now she was instead beet red and flustered and Samuel couldn't help himself from laughing loudly.
"You are cute when you are tired!" He held her tighter and felt her tense posture slowly relax, "You certainly woke me up though!"
"What do you mea.. eep!" Ulma had started her question as she felt him suddenly bite her pointed ear and it made her want to fly out of bed and take a fighting stance. "Us elves have sensitive ears..." She quivered as he stopped biting.
"Sorry I just wanted to try, I will be more gentle this time!" Samuel said and went for another bite. "We should really sleep..." Ulma started but this time as he bit down on her ear she had prepared for the worst but instead it sent shivers throughout her body and she let out several moans of pleasure.
When he finally stopped nibbling, she quickly sat up on his chest and leaned in toward him. "Sleep can wait." She said in a seductive voice that made their falling asleep ever so better several hours later when light was around the corner. But they both had intended to use their extra day off to the fullest extent.