Birth of a Dragoon

Quiet Confessions

Cearúil was quiet for several yards and, unusually, so was Gwen. Normally she was talking up a storm, asking question after question, as she was just a few moments ago. They were mostly mundane stuff, which was probably why he answered her questions tonight when he never told anyone those things before. His thoughts soon roamed back to last night when she had come into the clearing and found his torn clothing.

Without missing a step, he asked casually: "Gwen, why were you so worried about my welfare last night? What made you search me out to make certain I was well? I left for days on end before and you never did then."

"Because I love you."

Cearúil instantly stilled and whipped around at Gwen's softly spoken words. Her eyes were wide and she appeared quite shaken by her admission as well. As though she couldn't believe she had said those words either.

"Gwen, come."

He stated softly in an attempt to get her moving again. He wasn't certain what to make of her confession or how to feel over it. Once they reached the higher meadows, they could discuss this newest development. Perhaps by then, he would know how to respond? With a gentle prod from his tail, Gwen began following him once more.

Cearúil was quiet the rest of the distance through the forest as she was, lost to his thoughts. He had known Gwen cared about him in her own way with the little things she had done over the years, but he never knew it was love. Or even close to it. How did he feel over this? Without slowing, Cearúil glanced back at Gwen. She looked so lost and out of sorts, though it was quite clear she was deep in thought. Probably wondering, as he was, if she actually did love him.

I was dragging by the time we reached the top of the incline and neared a large cave; once surrounded by trees and bushes, now broken and tossed aside. It made sense, they probably didn't leave enough room for him to pass in between when they were still standing. I hadn't wanted to reach here so soon, I just knew Cearúil would want to talk about my…uh…slip. I was such an i***t, how could I let something like that slip out? Especially after all of the mistakes I had made recently? Oh, this was going to be such hell.

I followed Cearúil into the dark cavern, desperately hoping I wouldn't trip and fall over anything. That would just be another thing to add to my long list of humiliations lately. I jumped as a fire suddenly appeared several feet in front of me. It lit up a large circular chamber, with three different halls branching off, not including the one I was still standing in. Cearúil lay on the far side of the fire, watching me with suspicious eyes. Couldn't blame him there. Hesitating for a split moment, I walked up to the near side of the fire and sat heavily upon the ground.

I was quite nervous and couldn't really enjoy the beauty of the cave. Small gems glittered here and there along the roof, while the walls glowed suspiciously like gold. Instead I waited impatiently for his questions and judgment. So far he had been completely and utterly quiet as his gaze stayed riveted on me. It was unnerving me worse and after a few moments, I couldn't stand it any longer.

"Well?" I all but shouted at him. He only blinked at me.

"Damn it, Cearúil. I really do hate you at times." I mumbled as I pulled up my knees to place my head atop them, then wrapped my arms around my legs.

Cearúil was quiet for several long moments. He knew the question Gwen was expecting to hear, but didn't really want to say it. She was in enough misery as it was and he held a suspicion it would tip her over the edge. Gwen was doing a good job of reaching that precipice all by herself though. Cearúil closed his eyes for a moment and sighed deeply mentally. Might as well ask it now and get it done with, perhaps then she wouldn't be loathing herself so much? Yeah right. Between believing she was unwanted and worrying about everything were great big globs of self-loathing. He never did understand the way that girl's mind worked.

"Did you mean it?"

He asked as his eyes opened to pin her with a gimlet stare. As he also expected, Gwen leapt to her feet and began pacing back and forth in aggravation.

"Of course I meant it! I would have said it if not, now would I?"

Cearúil allowed her to pace for a few minutes, hoping it would help her piece of mind. It didn't. When shivers began coursing through her and tears formed in her eyes, he had had enough. Rising to a sitting position, he snapped: "Gwen, stop! We will discuss this later, when I am able to shift once more."

Gwen stilled with her arms wrapped around her chest. "What? Why?"

He lifted a dangerously clawed hand and stared at the extremely sharp appendages. Funny, he hadn't loathed this form in a very long time. "I can't comfort you now. Not without running risk of accidently impaling you. Whether you want to admit it or not, I know you need to be comforted."

Dropping his claw, he stated: "Now come here."

Suspicion rose in her puffy, red eyes. "Why?"

He tried to hide the humor from his voice, but doubted he was successful. "Just come here, you stubborn girl."

Gwen mumbled a curse even as she did as he said. "You're not much older than I am, dragon whelp."

Further amusement filled Cearúil at her words and how she sat a foot away from him. Lying back down, he curled around Gwen to keep her from getting chilled because of her soaked clothes. Wrapping a wing around her and his head, he stated softly: "Only by a year, yes. Sleep, tomorrow I'll escort you as close as I can to the College. Where you will stay this time."