- How did you end up here? You are a scout and must report to the remaining group of guards in the forest, how many robbers are there and the state of affairs in the camp? - Keirin asked him, seeing the awkwardness between the girl and the light elf.
She felt sorry for Ru'El and how his parents treated him, but the lack of magic among light elves was akin to a stigma on the whole family; no one wanted to see a light elf without magic in their family.
- You are wrong, I am not a scout and there are no other guards waiting for me in the forest, I am here alone. - The light elf answered Keirin, shaking his head with annoyance in his voice.
Surprised Keirin did not want to doubt the words of the light elf, but to believe that he was alone in the forbidden forest for all races was strange even for an elf without magic.
Ru'El saw in the eyes of the princess, as he called her, disbelief and could only shake his head; he still did not understand how one of the daughters of the queen of the light elves ended up here.
- When the city learned that one of the caravans was attacked by robbers, one of the stufons took on the task of eliminating the robbers. I expected the baron or the city council to order the outer guards to help, but there were no orders. - Ru'El said, remembering how he ended up here and continued. - Then a dark elf appeared from the academy where Stufon studied; your father and our entire squad, as I understood later, were not guarding her, but rather from her.
Longing for his father, who was alive and still fulfilling his duties as a city guard, flashed across Auel's face. She was glad that her father did not come here and see her like this.
- After the dark elf received all the information from the other guards of the caravan and from the mercenary guild, she took a vacation from her words. - With irritation in his voice, Ru'El continued to talk, looking at the floor. - As she said, if the stufon dies, it means he was weak and this will be a lesson for all the other stufons who will decide that they are stronger than him and the servant.
Speaking the last words, he glanced at the light elf, he still doubted whether she was the servant the dark elf was talking about, but when he saw Keirin's nod, he continued.
- I tried to talk to the major and your father to allow me to gather guards to help Stufon, who decided to help us with the robbers. -Ru'El said in a quiet voice, raising his hands and lowering them. - But I received a refusal and then at night, after being on duty as a guard, I knew where there were the fewest guards. Having left a note to your father Auel and the major, I left the city walls and headed here.
Two girls looked at him with different glances, one tried to lower her gaze because of the shame that gripped her because of the actions of the light elf.
Keirin felt uneasy remembering Trey's plan to use the missions as a reason to enter the forest and a reason to leave the caravan.
There was silence, which the light elf took advantage of and looked around the tent in anticipation of seeing Stufon and thanking him for saving Auel, but there were only the three of them in the tent.
- Is it possible to meet with the stufon who decided to take on the tasks? I would like to express to him my immense gratitude and readiness to provide all possible assistance if he needs it. - Ru'El said to interested glances, looking between the two girls.
The two girls began to look at each other, observing such strange behavior, Ru'El had a bad feeling that he was late and the stufon to whom he was rushing to help died.
- He left the camp to check information about other robber camps that the robbers who were caught alive told about. - Keirin said in a confident voice, partly telling the truth and partly telling a lie.
As a representative of the light elf race, it was alien to them to lie, but having become Trey's servant, she managed to betray the deception and no one doubted what she said.
The look of the light elf in which anxiety was visible began to change, but remembering that his servant remained in the camp and was not able to help him, Ru'El had fears but did not dare voice them.
- Then let's follow and help him if necessary. - The light elf said with different emotions in his voice, rising from the ground.
He was afraid to see what happened to Auel, but she was alive and if Stufon decided to help other camps, then he would provide all the help.
- It's not worth it, he is stronger than you might think and we will only disturb him. It's better to be alone with the one you wanted to save even at the cost of your life. - Keirin turned to the light elf, shaking her head and not giving Auel the opportunity to express disagreement, the light elf, leaning on her sword, left the tent.
Left alone, the girl tried not to look at the light elf who was still sitting. Both were immersed in their thoughts and did not know where to start the conversation.
The girl believed that she was unworthy of Ru'El sacrificing not only her life but also her service. She recognized his armor as a city guard, but it was not allowed to be taken outside the city limits, which meant that he stole it and left his post.
The light elf thought about how small their world was, that he again saw his queen, as he thought, did he regret that he left his post to save the girl? In his head there was just the thought that he had arrived late.
- I'm sorry. - The light elf said in a quiet voice, addressing the girl.
Without expecting anything, the girl shuddered and looked up in surprise at the light elf, she didn't understand why he asked for forgiveness to her?
- Why are you asking Ru'El for forgiveness? You didn't do anything to apologize. - Auel said with pain in her voice, wrapping her arms around herself.
Listening to the girl's voice and what she said, she hit the light elf harder than any blow he had ever received.
Clenching his fists, metallic sounds were heard that began to spread as he began to rise from the floor.
- If I had not waited for the baron to order to save you, you would not have had to endure torture from the robbers. - The light elf whispered in a quiet voice, angry at himself and his weakness.
The girl looked at the light elf incomprehensibly, why did Ru'El think that he had the opportunity to save her?
He didn't know what kind of gang these robbers were and he would only have died, hurting them even more.
- You would have died and made my life even worse than it is now. I am no longer pure, other robbers knew me. And maybe I'm carrying someone's child before we were saved by Keirin and Trey, I was thinking about dying. - Confessing to both herself and Ru'El, the girl said in a whisper, squeezing her body with her hands.
She didn't notice how tears were flowing down her eyes, Auel knew that no one would overhear them and would not break into the tent, she believed Keirin.
Gradually, the sounds of footsteps began to approach her, fighting fear and readiness to accept the gaze of the light elf.
In which she was ready to see all the feelings and emotions that a girl who had known other men could evoke.
Raising her head to the side from where Ru'El's steps came, she looked into his eyes with fear. But instead of the expected emotions and feelings, she saw that he was crying while sitting next to her.
She was afraid to touch him and feel him pushing her hand away. Without understanding what she was doing, putting her hand next to him and closing her eyes with the other hand and expecting another pain, she felt the touch of something cold on her skin
- You will no longer be alone Auel, if we have to leave this kingdom because of my escape here, so be it. But I won't leave you anymore. - He spoke in a quiet voice in her ear.
She tried to push him away, repeating what she had been through and that he didn't need her, but the light elf pressed her closer to him more and more until the girl stopped trying to escape. She was scared, but the familiar smell began to calm her down.