Enslaved

Chapter 8: Cooking

“Was it necessary to leave this early?” Nera grumbled, sleepily hoisting herself up on her horse. She was still groggy and hung over from their night of catching up. 

Thane grinned at her from atop of his own horse, seemingly unaffected despite him drinking three times more than she did. “The men in the inn were far too welcoming with you.” 

It was late at night with only a few minutes before the sun came up. Thane had made a bed for himself on the floor of his own room with Nera taking the bed. She was already sleeping soundly when Thane woke to the sound of their rickety door opening. He waited quietly as soft footsteps entered their room. 

The figure crept slowly towards the bed and as he passed Thane and peered at a sleeping Nera, he was kicked on the crotch... hard. Thane jumps to his feet and tosses the man out through the window. 

All of this happened without Nera stirring from her sleep, mouth wide open and arms spread wide like a starfish. 

Some things never do change. 

Thane allowed her a couple more minutes of sleep before dragging her out of bed. “Time to go.” 

She swiped at him with her fist before crawling back to bed. It took exactly an hour and thirty minutes before he managed to wake her. 

Now she glared at him while hugging her horse’s neck. “It’s too early.” 

He let her rant, keeping an eye out for her in case she fell asleep and fell off her horse. “Ten years and you still sleep as if dead.”

“I’ll cut you.” She threatened half heartedly, eyes already half closed.

Unbothered and enjoying the companionship, Thane watched as the new day dawned, the sky’s hues shifting from colorless black to a deep pink. He continued to watch the colors change. This has always been his favorite time of day. 

Obviously, it was not shared by Nera who was now snoring beside him. He held a hand out, steadying her on the horse. Nera murmured something in her sleep and Thane patted her back soothingly. Thane didn’t know what it was but every time he looked at her, he’s reminded of the feeling of home... comfort and peace. What’s worse? He didn’t understand why he felt awful that Nera was to be married soon.

He looked ahead, dawn breaking the horizon. The dirt road they travelled was deserted and the small rundown village they came from was but a spec behind them. They were a few days' ride from the great city of Caelum. Thane has only been there a handful of times. Each time for a job and never stayed if he could help it. Caelum reminded him too much of the times before he was taken by the slavers. 

Thane was bitter, he knew it. 

When the chill of the night left replaced by the heat of the sun, Nera yawned sitting up. “Where are we?” 

“Heading to Caelum.” He informs her. 

She blinked at him, chasing the sleep away from her eyes. “Did you toss a man out the window last night or was that a dream?”

Thane grinned to himself. “A dream.” 

Nera let out a pained moan, grasping the side of her head. “My head feels as though it’s been hammered in.” 

He tossed her a waterskin. “Hydrate. It’ll help.” 

She drank from it greedily. “Nursed many hangovers through the years?” 

Thane smirked. “A fair share of them.” 

Nera looked around the dirt road and the quiet environment. She didn’t think she could travel alone and not talk. “So how often do you travel alone?”

He turned to face her. “Always.” 

“Did our time together traumatize you from keeping company?” She quipped cheekily.  

“The opposite.” 

She furrowed her eyebrows. “What do you mean?” 

Blue eyes locked with dark ones. “My standard for companionship is high. If it isn’t you... I’ll have no one at all.” 

Nera put a hand out. “All right, all right, I’ll pay for lunch. No need to kiss my arse.” 

They burst into laughter, both of them feeling light regardless of the dangerous journey ahead of them. The two travelled for several more hours, never passing anyone along the way. It allowed them to talk more. Thane amazed her with stories of his adventures and various travels while Nera bored him with stories about peaceful Evordon. 

Although her people are warriors and were rather rough, nothing interesting ever happens. Their reputation alone kept most criminals and raiders out of their territory, allowing them to live a quiet and pleasant life. 

“How did you survive alone for so long?” She asked, curious.

Thane visibly tensed, uncomfortable with the question. “I lived off the streets and learned to fend for myself. I learned how to fight and made money from it.” 

Nera’s expression falls. “It must have been hard.” 

He shrugged. “It was necessary.”

She stared at him then, emotions emerging. “We could have given you a good life in Evordon.” 

“I’m not really the princely type.” He mused to ease the tension.

Nera picks up on it instantly and grins. “I meant as my servant but all right. Whatever you say.” 

He shook his head, fighting off a smile. “You’re positively annoying. Truly not much has changed.” 

“That’s what I offer here.” She gestured to the both of them. “To be your annoyance.” 

They stopped a few times along the way, to allow their horses to rest and drink. Thane and Nera would sit under a tree sharing food supplies Thane had brought with him. He couldn’t stop looking at her. Admittedly, Thane was drawn to her but the question he asked himself is why? 

Was it because they shared a similar past and he had missed her? Or perhaps it was something else? He didn’t know. He didn’t want to know. 

She is engaged to another man. 

He cringed at the thought. Dreadful. 

By the time night began to settle, they were too far from any other town to sleep at an inn. Thane stopped along a creek and started to make camp. 

“Ah, brings back old memories.” Nera grinned trying but failing to start a fire.

“I thought you knew how to do this already?” He teased taking the flint from her hands.

She drew away from him. “I do!”

He lifted an eyebrow at her. “Really now?” 

“I... hmmm...” Three times she tried before groaning in defeat. “I give up.” 

“Let me teach you.” Thane positioned himself beside Nera and took hold of both of her hands. “Angle it this way.” 

With her small hands in his, Thane did the motions with her until a spark came from the flint. He tried to ignore their closeness or how she smelled like wild flowers.

As a small fire began, Nera turned to him and beamed proudly. “I did it!”

He swallowed, eyes on Nera. The small campfire illuminated her beautiful and his mouth dried. 

They weren’t children anymore. 

Thane offered an awkward smile before retreating to the horses to put space between them. He’s been attracted to women before but never... enthralled by them like the way Nera did. He tried to placate himself. They were friends, nothing more. Partners on an adventure. 

Yes. 

That’s it.

Surely.

When it’s already past the appropriate time to tend to the horses, he walked back to the campfire where Nera was stirring something in the pot. 

“You cooked?” He questioned, bemused. Nera didn’t seem like the cooking type. More so she was the devouring and eating type.

Nera perked up and pointed to Thane’s satchel. “I helped myself to your supplies. I hope you don’t mind.” 

“Too late for that, eh?” 

She merely winked at him. Thane wanted to laugh at how they were. It was strange to him how it felt as though they’ve never been apart. It was easy to get along with her and bicker or tease. They understood each other in a different way completely and he quite liked it. 

Nera passed him a bowl full of the stew she had cooked up and he prepared himself for the worst. Cooking has never been his strong suit and often he ate things that were barely edible. Thane didn’t want to hurt Nera’s feelings if it was as awful as his cooking.

As he took the first sip, his eyes widened. The flavors that invaded his taste buds were as good as the flavors in an actual inn with a trained cook. He gaped, taking another spoonful. “Nera, you can cook!” 

“Why are you so surprised?” She laughed, eating from her own bowl.

“You should see what I usually make. It nearly always tastes like dirt.” Thane blanched just by the thought of the last meal he had cooked.

Nera felt her insides flutter. “Well then stick with me and I’ll cook for you everyday.” 

“I’ll count on that.” Thane ended up finishing the entire pot and was soon patting his large stomach in satisfaction. “That’s the best meal I’ve had in years.”

Nera blushed slightly at the compliment and started to make her bed for the night. Thane’s gaze flickered to how close she had placed her bedroll. He nervously blew out a breath. 

She looked up at him and hesitated. “I’m sorry is it too close? I was just used to us...” 

Thane knew what she meant, if he wasn’t so conscious about it he would have placed his bedroll beside hers as well. How many times in that year of being together have they slept in each other’s arms? 

Countless. 

He shouldn’t make a fuss about it. Toughening up, he unrolled his sleeping sack closer. “Get on here then.” 

Nera smiled again, the hesitation leaving her as she crashed down on her bedroll and made herself comfortable. He followed suit, his eyes on the stars. 

“I’m glad you found me.” He tells her quietly. 

She yawned sleepily. “Someone had to make the first move.” 

Silence fell and he felt ashamed. He wanted to see her as well. He really did. It just- he just didn’t have the courage to. 

“I’m sorry.”