Light of the Unexpected Adventure

Chapter 32 Argument

Leoric's POV

I notice that she takes her time, slowly lowering herself to the ground while I nervously watch her, making sure she doesn't need any help from me. Once she gets comfortable, she flips her bag off of her back and to the ground beside her. "I think I have figured out the area we might be in." I said to her as she nodded, then responded, "I'm so happy your friend helped you out.. By sending you to a place you know." The spite in her tone shows she is still irritated with me, probably for many reasons.

So I tried to explain, "She is not my friend and I don't exactly know this area.. I just thought it might make you feel better to know that we are not lost at least." I declared as she let out a deep breath before leaning against the tree behind her. I watched her eyes bounce over to me before going back to the fire, not saying anything in response. I let out a deep breath just wanting to cut the tension between us. Especially since, for whatever reason, it bothers me greatly.

I keep staring over at her, noticing that she is not as close to the fire as I would like her to be. It's best for her protection and health. I cleared my throat, getting her attention as I stated, "You need to get closer to the fire." Her stunning orbs looked at me with offense as I tried to help her understand why, just to help out the situation. Even though the look of anger is on her features which are illuminated by the glow of the fire, she still looks entrancing.

"Only because most beasts won't bother us when around a fire.. Also.. It's going to be cold tonight, just making sure that you know this." I say trying to do something to get her eyes back on me. But it doesn't happen really. I only receive a short glance from her, before I am watching her nod at me but not saying anything else before scooting closer. My attention is grabbed since there are birds hooting as the bugs sing and buzz on by, while the screeches of something is heard in the distance, but it appears that this not only got my attention, but hers as well. "What was that?" she asks me, sounding worried while her head swivels around us, before looking back at me for reassurance.

I am not the best at consoling, but if I am completely honest with her, she will be terrified and might not get any sleep which we can't have that. So what is a good medium for giving her information about what is around her? I cleared my throat again, seeing the anxiousness in her eyes, making me want to comfort her over there, but I don't think that would help her, that might alarm her more. I let out the deep breath I had held onto before shrugging my shoulders, thinking about how to answer that without alarming her.

"It's hard to say really, but there are a couple of things that screech in the night. The undead you have already seen, which are not in this area often at all and are scared of fire. There are also banchees and oh.. Sometimes dragons.. Those are much further away, so it sounds like a screech since it's far away, but it is actually much louder than that when you are closer to them." I say this as casually as I can muster while I glance up at her from across the sparking flames. Her light skin glows in the light of the flames, giving her features a look I never thought could be this mesmerizing. Her eyes are wide looking scared, so maybe that was too much honesty for her.

"There are also rabbits that sometimes squeak out around these areas, that's why wolves live just a little further in the distance." I say seeing even more worry fill her features. "Are we even safe here?" She asks with panic, so I didn't help her feel any better as I would have hoped. "Gabby." I say getting her attention as she looks over at me, when our eyes connect I let the words falls from my lips effortlessly. "I will protect you, with my life. You are safe with me." I watched as she swallowed the lump in her throat before nodding her head. This makes me feel better because I think it did the same for her. She doesn't look as worried as before.

"How do you know all of this?" I am not sure what I should say to her without revealing too much about me and why I am here. "I am not from your village.. I came here a year ago, and I have learned all that along the way. There is a lot to be feared out here. But there is also a lot to be loved or appreciated. Don't worry, I will protect you as much as I can." I said this with a confidence that made her feel at ease, since that comment created a small smile on her face that I never expected but now always want. Her smile is contagious, making me feel warm inside from the moment I see it.

I cleared my throat before looking away as I kept my eyes on the surrounding scenery. "So why did you travel this way and away from your home? Do you plan to go back? Or did you just want to be in a city that dislikes magical beasts, just to have a safe haven from the creatures around?" she asks while looking over at me, awaiting my answer as I shake my head. I don't want her to think that I have no tolerance for magical beings. I am not that kind of person.

"I was sent here with a very important task in hand by my village. I miss it and plan to go back eventually." I declared as she replied instantly, "Well, either you loved the village and wanted to stay after your 'task' was done, or you haven't completed your task.. Which one is it?" I hate to admit that she has hit it on the nose, but I guess I shouldn't have expected anything less from her. I look over at her, not saying a word, which speaks loudly to what the answer actually is.

"Oh.. I get it.. Don't feel bad.. I'm sure you will eventually complete it." she says this nervously while trying to stay positive, which I appreciate. Or maybe she is mocking me by trying to make me feel like I will do it at some point when she really thinks I won't. I am automatically huffing out when I think of just that. I hate how I haven't completed it, feeling like a failure, especially with Prudance just here to try and take over since I haven't completed it. That anger brings my irritation to an all-time high.

"I am going to complete it. This is just something that takes a lot of time to complete.. And I'm doing my best, especially with all the distractions happening around me. I mean, come on, I never planned on having to put my task on hold to chase a beautiful maiden across the land before I could start it up again. Stuff happens that we cannot control, but have to deal with, just in hopes that I will complete it soon enough. It's called adjusting to life around you." I find the words easily snapping from my lips as I look at her to see her looking nervous, then looking away. I'm sure she doesn't really know what to say to that.

"Yes, I can see how that would be frustrating, but maybe you forgot about the fact that this beautiful maiden will be tortured when being taken back. Have you ever considered that maybe I just want you to have a heart and just let me go, then get back on your path of finishing your task without me around. But, of course, that probably won't happen, since you seem to be incredibly stubborn.. So.. I'm sure you will complete it soon enough." it sounds as if she is mocking me, which is making me mad. I am trying to keep my anger under control because of her. I don't want to terrify her, but the words she speaks hit straight to the heart, hitting me in a place no one has been able to hit before.

"Well, maybe if that beautiful maiden knew anything about what I had to go through to complete this task, then she would be willing to just give in a help me complete it, so I can help her get out of this. But of course you continue to fight me with tooth and nail, making everything a long, and endless fight." I spat at her as she huffs out, shaking her head and intertwining her arms together across her chest, showing I might have taken this too far when I just made her feel better before this. The anger starts taking over as I groan out doing the same as her by crossing my arms over my chest. I feel my fists clenching tight as I try to control the anger that is consuming me.

I would hate to scare her, but this is much harder than anyone would think because of the heat that runs through my blood. The anger I carry and express is something that has been in my family for many generations, and I don't know many that can control it at all.. But I am doing my best for her. I let out a deep breath before looking over to her just to watch her nod as she stated in an unenthusiastic tone, "I make everything a fight? If you just left me alone and forgot about me, then we could complete our own tasks on our own terms!" I automatically scoff, hating how she mocks me once again, making this much harder than it ever needs to be.

"Maybe I don't want to forget about you! Did you ever think about that?!" I spat at her as she stated, "Well, maybe you don't have a choice. Maybe it's for your own good. Or you could just take me up on my offer of running away, then you wouldn't have to." She snaps back instantly as I declare, "You know that I can't even though I think it sounds intriguing. But you can't choose what is in my best interests for me. I am going to do what I need to and by my own choice." I see her glare over at me now with an annoyance on her features. "Well, I am going to do what I want as well!" We glare at one another, but I can't take my eyes from her.

No matter how mad she seems to get, her eyes continue to shine with a passion I have never seen. I watch those same orbs roll before she huffs out and looks away from me. I hear her start complaining almost under her breath, but enough that I can hear it. "What is wrong with him? Ugh.. His knickers must be in a knot or chainmail in a place you don't want it to be. He just must be extra tender when it comes to that subject... Uh.. Maybe I just don't want to forget about you. Well, maybe you won't have a choice if I hit you in the head again." She mockingly declares before angrily shaking her head. I can't help but to smile about that comment, since it all caught me off guard. She looks over at me, seeing my smile, then smirking for a moment before looking away.

I can see that my words have stuck with her. I am caught completely offguard by this statement as I think about it in depth. I can't make this smile go away no matter how bad I am feeling about getting offended by something that is an obviously tender subject for me and doesn't have much to do with her, so there should be no reason to take this out on her and I know it. "You're right... I'm sorry for my angry response. It is a sensitive subject.. And yes my chainmail is bunching in places it shouldn't be." I say, smiling to myself as I see her doing the same before I am looking away again, feeling bad about letting go of the control just to snap at her. But I am trying my best with her. She just loves to push my buttons.