Beneath the Armour: An Elven Desire

Chapter 14

The next morning, as the sun broke over the horizon, casting a golden hue across the sleepy town, Drake’s squad moved out without a hitch. The air was crisp and cool, carrying with it the promise of a long journey ahead. Chester stood among the earlier risers, waving their departure, yet Drake could see the tension etched into his features. Sweat glistened on Chester’s brow, and his fingers fidgeted restlessly, betraying a deeper worry.

Drake suspected it was the looming conversation with the king that weighed on Chester’s mind—fear of losing his title, his place in the court. Giving Chester a short, dismissive nod, Drake led the squad through the town gates and onto the well-worn path toward the Mountains of Pyra.

Anxiety coiled in Drake’s gut as he rode. The mission felt reckless; the king was gambling some of his best soldiers for a myth. The emberstone—what could it possibly bring to their cause? Even if it was real, why did they need something to control fire? He’d rarely seen a Drake in his life, only heard the tales told in hushed tones around campfires. The thought of facing such a massive beast—intelligent, aggressive—sent shivers down his spine. Did the rebellion manage to tame some? The idea danced in his mind, a frightening spectre he couldn’t shake. He swallowed hard, feeling the weight of uncertainty settle heavily on his shoulders. How was he going to pull this off?

Drake’s gaze flickered over his soldiers. He could see the weariness etched in their faces, their spirits dampened by the sudden change in orders. Sighing, he glanced over at Fay. She remained slumped on her horse, a stark contrast to the vibrant landscape surrounding them. He hadn’t restrained her or tied her horse to his like before, yet she maneuvered with grace, keeping her mount just a few feet behind him, as if drawn by an invisible tether.

But her posture spoke volumes; her eyes were downcast, shadows forming beneath them. His heart clenched at the thought that she might have cried herself to sleep last night, haunted by his words. The image of her vulnerability, so fragile against the backdrop of his anger, gnawed at him. Growling under his breath, he tore his gaze away, forcing himself to focus on the road ahead.

The landscape unfolded before him, a tapestry of rolling hills and distant mountains, yet his mind was a tumult of constant worries and desires, clouded more each day. When did this happen? When did his thoughts become plagued with such ridiculous notions?

The soft clop of hooves filled the silence, but it was the absence of their usual banter that weighed heavily on him. He could sense the tension in the air, the unspoken questions hanging between them. Drake felt the urge to reach out to bridge the chasm that had formed, but the fear of saying the wrong thing held him back.

Instead, he pressed forward, the path winding ahead, each step taking him deeper into uncertainty. The mountains loomed in the distance, shrouded in mist, like ominous guardians of the emberstone’s secrets. He had to prepare himself—not just for the beasts they might encounter, but for the turmoil brewing within him, threatening to erupt when he least expected it.

Fay remained silent throughout the long ride, her mind a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. The landscape unfurled around her, the sun rising and casting a warm glow over the vibrant world hidden just beyond the dense forest she had known so well. She felt the pain forming in her backside from hours in the saddle, but she pushed it aside, straining to catch snippets of conversation among the soldiers as a distraction. Yet, no matter how hard she tried, her eyes always found their way back to Drake.

He rode ahead, his expression unreadable—stone cold and stoic, as if he were made of the very rock they travelled upon. Fay didn’t dare attempt to speak to him, fear gripping her heart. She knew she had been foolish and reckless, and now she was left to ponder the consequences of her actions. Would he forgive her? Would he allow her to stay with him, or would he cast her aside for the trouble she had caused? The thought of being separated from him made her stomach churn.

As the day wore on, the sun began its descent, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink. The air grew chillier, and the horses began to whinny, restless after the long journey. Just as she felt the weight of fatigue settling in, Drake’s voice broke through the silence. “Up ahead is a good clearing to make camp and rest the horses for the night. You know what to do, men.”

A collective sigh of relief swept through the group; they had covered quite a bit of ground today, possibly making it to the mountains ahead of the expected five-day ride. The men quickly sprang into action, eager to pitch their tents, gather wood, start fires, and unpack their cooking pots.

Fay was almost giddy at the thought of getting off her horse, but as she dismounted, her legs felt wobbly beneath her. She stumbled, barely catching herself by grabbing the mane of her horse. A flush crept up her cheeks as laughter erupted around her, the men finding humour in her clumsiness.

“Never ridden a horse for a long journey?” Wyatt grinned, leading his horse toward his tent and tying it up. Fay nodded, too embarrassed to say much. She straightened up slowly, stretching awkwardly to ease the tension in her muscles, all the while searching for Drake.

She wanted to help, to contribute somehow, but she wasn’t quite sure how. Spotting Drake in the distance, collecting wood, she felt a flutter of hope. Perhaps if she could show him she was willing to be useful, it might help mend the rift between them.

Wyatt, noticing her scanning the crowd for Drake, pointed him out. “Drake’s collecting wood over there if you were looking for him,” he said, his tone light. “But if you want to help, why don’t you search nearby for something to eat? You would know the land better than us.”

That suggestion brought a spark of determination to Fay’s eyes. She could do this. She could help. “Thank you, Wyatt,” she replied, grateful for the encouragement. With a nod, she set off, her heart racing with a mixture of excitement and nervousness.

As she moved away from the camp, she allowed herself to breathe deeply, feeling the cool air fill her lungs. She scanned the underbrush and trees for any signs of edible plants or berries, focusing on the task at hand. As Fay collected her bounty—bulging blue berries, edible twigs, and grey mellow mushrooms—she felt a small smile grace her lips. This was the first moment she had truly forgotten the chaos that had engulfed her life recently. The act of foraging brought back memories of her simpler life in the forest: hunting deer, gathering food, and providing for her community.

She paused for a moment, staring out at the sprawling landscape before her. The sun hung low in the sky, casting a warm glow over the hills and trees, and a fleeting thought brushed against her mind—what if she just left? What if she hid away somewhere, far from the dangers and responsibilities that seemed to weigh so heavily on her? But as quickly as the thought came, it faded. A life of solitude didn’t seem nearly as appealing as it once had. Here, despite the fear and uncertainty, she was learning so much.

Each day challenged the black-and-white views she had learned from her elders. She was beginning to see the world in shades of grey, filled with complexities she had never considered before.

“Planning on running?” Drake's voice rang out, startling her from her reverie.

Fay turned to see him standing a few paces away, an eyebrow raised, his expression a mix of curiosity and something harder to read. Her heart raced, a mix of embarrassment and apprehension flooding her. “No, I—” she stammered, trying to regain her composure. “I was just gathering some food for the camp.”

He stepped closer, his eyes scanning the small collection she had gathered. “You shouldn’t wander off too far alone,” he said, a note of concern creeping into his tone. “It’s dangerous out here.”

“I know,” she replied softly, feeling the weight of her earlier recklessness. “I just wanted to help. I thought… maybe I could find something useful."”

Drake’s expression remained hard, but the underlying tension remained. “It’s good that you want to contribute,” he said, his voice steady. “But you can't just wander off because you’re trying to prove something.”

Fay felt a pang of guilt at his words. Could she not get anything right these last two days. “I’m sorry,"she whispers

He regarded her for a moment, his blue eyes searching hers, and Fay felt a flicker of something—perhaps understanding or even forgiveness. “Just stay close from now on. We need you here, especially with what lies ahead.”

Fay frowned at his words. “So it’s true. We are going to collect the Emberstone?”

Drake sighed, rubbing the back of his head wearily. “That’s what the king ordered. So we will go look and see if this thing is even real.”

A smile tugged at Fay’s lips at the annoyance etched across his face. “It’s real, the Emberstone, I mean. When I was young, a merchant came through with a fleck of it. That tiny shard could create small fires at will—useful for campfires. It will be impressive to see the whole thing in action.”

Drake motioned for her to follow him back to camp as the air grew colder, and she shivered slightly, pulling her cloak tighter around her shoulders. “Great. I was hoping for it to stay a myth,” he grumbled, a hint of humour lacing his tone.

Fay laughed lightly, her spirit lifting in the face of their daunting quest. “The stone is the least of our worries. What about the dragons? I’ve never seen one before. How are we going to handle a lair of them?”

They fell into a short silence, the weight of her words hanging in the air. Drake shook his head, his expression darkening. “Dragons are a myth,” he muttered, though even he knew he was lying. A memory flickered in his mind—he had seen one as a boy, soaring above a torched village, its scales glinting like molten metal in the sun. The terror of that sight still haunted him.

Fay glanced at him, sensing the shift in his mood. “You don’t believe that, do you?” she asked, her voice soft but probing.

Drake sighed again, this time more deeply. “It’s easier to think of them as myths. The truth is far more complicated and far more dangerous. We need to focus on the mission, on finding the Emberstone, and getting back safely.”

“Right,” Fay nodded, her heart racing at the thought of real dragons. “But if they’re real, we have to be prepared. We can’t just charge in blindly.”

Drake turned to her, the corner of his mouth twitching upward in a half-smile. “You’re starting to sound like a soldier, Fay.”

“Dragons are real. We’re as good as dead on this mission,” a gruff voice interrupted, causing Fay to startle. She turned to see an older soldier, his face lined with the kind of weathered experience that spoke of many battles fought and survived.

A ripple of laughter and murmurs spread through the group of soldiers gathered around the fire, their camaraderie evident even in the face of danger. “You’re just trying to scare the little elf,” one of them teased, slapping the grizzled veteran on the back. “Drake can handle a few lizards, can’t you, Commander?”

“Yeah, Drake’s got a way with dragons!” Wyatt chimed in, his eyes twinkling with mischief. “He’ll charm them with his pretty face!”

“Or maybe they’ll be so frightened they’ll flee at the sight of him!” Drax added, laughter erupting around the campfire.

Drake shot them a glare, but the smile tugging at the corners of his mouth betrayed him. “Keep it up, and I’ll send you all in first,” he retorted, crossing his arms over his chest.

Fay couldn’t help but smile at the banter, even as she felt the weight of the reality ahead. “But what is the plan Commander? Our odds are not in our favour this time” said a youthful soldier, wanting to steer the conversation back to the seriousness of their mission. “If dragons are real, how do we deal with a lair full of them?”

The laughter faded, replaced by a thoughtful silence. Drax cleared his throat, leaning forward. “We’ll need to be smart about it. Dragons are territorial. If we can find a way to approach without alerting them, we might stand a chance.”

“Right,” another soldier added, scratching his head. “But how do we know where the lair is? And what if they’re not as lazy as the legends say? What if they’re ready for us?”

“Legends? More like nightmares!” someone exclaimed dramatically, their voice rising. “I’ve heard stories of dragons that breathe fire hot enough to melt steel! They could swoop down and roast us before we even see them coming!”

“Or they could be like the ones from the tales—hoarding treasure and too busy napping to notice us sneaking around,” countered Wyatt, a hint of scepticism in his voice.

“What we need,” Drake interjected, “is a solid strategy. We scout the area first. If we find the lair, we can determine how many dragons we’re dealing with and plan accordingly.”

“Sounds good in theory,” the older soldier said, his eyes narrowing. “But if we’re caught off guard—”

“Then we’ll improvise,” Drake finished, his tone firm. “We’ve done it before, and we’ll do it again. We’re not going in without a plan, but we also can’t let fear paralyze us. We can use the terrain to our advantage. If we can find cover among the rocks, we might be able to approach undetected.”

“Exactly!” Wyatt nodded, pleased. “We’ll set up a perimeter first and then decide how to proceed.”

The men seemed to settle after that, the tension in the air replaced with conversations filled with joking and teasing. Fay settled in by the fireplace, bathing in its warmth as she watched the human soldiers around her.