Chapter 8: BIRTHDAY TREK
1038 Words
Odette's POV:
I hid my worry while returning the same enthusiasm and excitement to Natalie, she had directed my way on seeing High Forest Mountain. But I felt a gaze on me and turned to make direct eye contact with Aidan. "He is looking at me!" I smiled but quickly turned away.
When the chariot stopped, everyone stepped out excluding me. But Aidan waited, hand extended as I started to step out of the chariot and he reassured me by saying, "I will not leave your side, I promise." Hearing him say this made me tingle all over. I forgot every single worry and happily smiled at him, as we moved towards Natalie and Daniel.
We reached just in time to hear Daniel, who was oozing excitement, exclaim "This is from where our adventure begins!" and we started to head up the mountain.
Aidan did not leave my side for even a second while we were going up, continuously ensuring my safety and well-being. I don't think I had smiled so much before, I just could not help it, so much so that my cheeks were starting to ache and yet I could not suppress my smile, which was turning into a crazy happy grin.
Though we have all been training together, my abilities were directed more towards magic in contrast to Natalie, Daniel and Aidan. So though I had the same level of stamina, my physical strength was lesser in comparison to them. But my magical abilities compensated for this weakness and so I never needed to worry.
But here on a trek, I had to rely on my physical strength as well, and not just stamina. I guess Aidan understood my predicament but made sure that I did not feel uncomfortable with his support. He is so kind and brave. When I had met him for the first time, I thought he was a self-absorbed dragon, full of pride, and who thought higher of himself than others, but time had changed my opinion. I just wish I could be brave enough and tell him how I feel, but then again what if he does not feel the same way and our friendship is affected. So I would have to wait till the coming of age ceremony to be sure our bond was mutual and not just one-sided.
As we progressed further, I looked around and realised that Natalie and Daniel were nowhere to be seen. "Where are they?" I asked Aidan. From his expression, he too had not noticed their absence. But then we both heard Daniel howling and Natalie's laughter, which made both of us chuckle. "Guess my pace was too much for them to handle..." I continued to chuckle as I told Aidan, but hearing this he became extremely serious and said, "Your pace is just fine, them going on ahead is fine too, it means I get to spend more time with you."
Unknown's POV:
The territory of the Draconis dragon clan was extremely vast, and security nearly impenetrable. It had taken me months of planning to slip in without being noticed.
I had then come to learn that for the Princess's son's birthday, he and his friends would be going for a trek to the High Forest Mountain. I had been waiting for such an opening for a long time.
I hid waiting for them to arrive and silently watched as the four young ones got off the chariot and started their trek. The dragon seemed to be drawn to the brunette fairy; and while the other two went charging up the mountain, these two were progressing in a much slower fashion.
How could the Princess and that mortal be so stupid to leave their young son unprotected? This fuelled my already firm belief that being with that mortal had made her weak.
I continued to follow them silently while hiding my presence and realised that the fairy was the soft spot.
I could use this to my advantage, and now I would get a chance to execute my plan. No one would ever know how or what had happened, and the blame for what happened next would fall on the fairy.
Natalie's POV:
"Daniel, slow down. I need to talk to you." I had kept up with Daniel and finally slowed down when Odette and Aidan were out of sight.
He immediately stopped, and looked at me worried, immediately trying to see if I had any wounds, "Did you get hurt? I know this is your first time trekking, but I just could not control my urge to run through the forest."
"Being a wolf can do that to you, and no worries I am not hurt. But it is not about that... When did you figure it out? I didn't realise that you know." I knew he enjoyed a good run and being free, and tough his worry about me being hurt was genuine, never would he rush and leave Aidan or Odette behind, so this had to be it, he knew. I studied his expression as I waited for a response.
He looked at me feigning confusion "What do you mean?"
I had known him long enough to know that he was trying to dodge the question, which made it even more obvious, he surely knew. I gave him my well-practised scrutinising look and he a few seconds late he lifted his hands in surrender "Relax... Relax... I know... It is pretty obvious if you just look at them. Aidan could win one of those mortal staring competitions, and Odette could never hide her blushing cheeks. But they both don't realise that the people around them especially us, spend plenty of time with them, to see through them and their attempts to hide their feelings. There I said it... I know!"
"So this is your attempt at giving them some time to themselves?" I questioned.
"Yes it is, and based on you not slowing down either, I guess you are in on it too," he said extending his hand forward for a traditional werewolf handshake.
I took his hand smiling, "Two is better than one when it comes to helping those two. It is only them who have not realised their feelings for each other."
But before we could release each other from the handshake, we heard a high pitched shriek, followed by an ear-piercing roar.
- Writer
