Light of the Unexpected Adventure

Chapter 31 Where Are We Now?

Leoric's POV

My mind pounds like a drum within my head, causing me to automatically groan out, then reaching up to touch it. I gently rub over my temple as my eyes flicker open. The sky still sleeps just as we were, keeping the darkness surrounding us, but for how much longer? We do not know. All we can determine is that we weren't sleeping for long, since we are not being greeted by the morning light. I know that we at least got over here quickly because of Prudence's power. It is very fast and precise, but strong. It was so fierce though that our bodies couldn't handle it as well as we had hoped. So the hit of intense power knocked us right out, the same as a hard hit to the head.

I usually pass out for a very short moment when she sends me on her little tasks, but occasionally I am able to handle it and only get slightly dizzy, not letting my sights leave the world around me, no matter how hard that might be. I was hoping this time around I would be able to stay awake for Gabriella's sake, since I can't protect her if I am not awake. But obviously, that wasn't the case, hence my head throbbing while I am waking up. My hand instinctively keeps moving, gently rubbing the side of my head, feeling a small bit of relief from this action.

So I try to sit up, but I only get a tiny bit off of the ground before the feeling of lightheadedness, that I haven't felt in a long time from this magic, is overwhelming me completely. The fog I never wanted is taking over my mind way faster than I would have liked. I instantly lie back down, quickly squeezing my eyes shut while placing my hand over the top of them for a moment until my head doesn't feel like it is spinning any longer. I take a couple of deep breaths before lifting my hand off, then opening my eyes once more, attempting this for hopefully the last time.

I start sitting up, not feeling dizzy, which helps me wake up without worry. I use my elbows to prop myself up only slightly, realizing my upper body is being partially restrained as I look down at my torso. My eyes instantly locked on Gabriella, who was fast asleep as well, but that was to be expected since I would imagine that she hasn't experienced anything like this. What wasn't expected was that she was lying across my upper body, with her head lying on my chest and her torso partially over mine. I can see her hand on my shoulder with the other one out of my sights.

She looks peaceful in this moment, as if this was the little break she needed because she doesn't look stressed, just completely taken over by comfort. The nervousness consumes me since I never expected her to be on me, let alone this close with absolutely no space between us. I have to say that I love that she looks at peace, as if she was meant to be right here with me. I believe there are no coincidences and that everything happens for a reason, from the leaves leaving the trees to an animal dying at the paw of another.. Everything happens for one reason or another, but never just because.

Even though I would imagine that us meeting one another is to complete my original task, that I have been working on for some time now, that doesn't mean that is the only purpose for us though. But what else would there be realistically? Not much, but there are many reasons that are unrealistic and what I would like to imagine for us. There is no way that would be happening because there are more important things to think about, so I'll just silently imagine to myself what I know won't be, before getting back to reality.

I slowly reach up, using only the tips of my fingers to adjust the soft dark hair that is covering her face. Pushing it back to expose the beauty that only goddesses encompass. My heart flutters with each breath she takes in, just wanting this to be the dream that never ends. I watch her let out a deep breath as she smirks to herself, causing an automatic smirk to appear upon my features in response. Admiration is all that consumes me, since the beauty naturally given to her features is mesmerizing, entrancing really. I could encase her within my thoughts forever and not regret one single second spent on thinking of her.

It's not just her beauty that keeps me in her unseen hold, but the strength she has shown without hesitation, the wittiness and thoughts that have kept me on my toes, not knowing what will happen next. Her ideal is unmatched. Making something within me beg for more. Mostly because the time I have had with her just doesn't feel like enough. When she offered for me to run away with her, I can honestly say that it was the only thought that could make my honor sway. I still hold my promises tight within my grasp, but I was entirely too close to giving in, just because of her. Which is surprising because I never expected that in my wildest years. But the loyalty to the others is strong and rooted deep inside of me.

So that is probably the only reason I have stayed on my chosen path, trying to resist every moment I come close to her. Her eyes and sweet songbird voice calling to me causes my heart to turn into mush like the mud under my boots. I have never come into anything that would distract me from my task at hand, and then comes this beauty hidden behind a wall, to make everything much harder than it needs to be. But I guess I can't complain much since I have gotten closer to her in these last days than I ever expected, but it's all I have wanted. I knew that from the moment I laid eyes on her.

Her smile grows as she adjusts on top of me, making my body stiffen, just worried I will wake her when I would hope for her to stay here as long as she needs and wants. I keep my chest as still as possible while I try to lift my arm, instantly realizing it is being held down, but whatever is holding it down is not too heavy, which will hopefully work out. So I try to move my arm out instead of up as I instantly realize what has happened and freeze up, not knowing if I should move from this spot.

I never expected to have my hand under her tunic and over her body. How did this happen? I do not know. Do I regret it? That is hard to say when I did not intentionally do it. But I can feel her layers of clothing on top of my arm as her undergarments are under my grip. Her leg instantly moves, showing me that my hand is directly on her thigh almost high enough to possibly be on her buttocks. She hums out, adjusting only slightly. I slowly tried to pull my arm out from under her tunic, just hoping she wouldn't notice and think the worst of why it is there, when I actually had no idea how this even happened.

I am just as surprised as I imagined she would be if she knew. But I would hate for her to think the worst of me and I never want to give that impression ever. All I have tried to do is be protective and help her in any way I can. So I slowly started to pull my hand out from under her tunic. I can feel my hand barely catching on her cloth while it drifts over the top of her leg, causing her to hum out again. I freeze just hoping this won't wake her up. I feel her adjust, pushing a part of her right under my palm.

I stay frozen in place until she stops moving, so I will eventually be able to get my hand the rest of the way out. I can hear her breathing still as she stops moving. I waited for just a moment until I tried to pull my arm out slowly again. That is until I hear, "Why is your hand on my buttocks?" She snaps this out before pushing herself off of me and throwing my hand instantly off. "I don't.. Know.. I just woke up.. Like this.. But didn't want to offend.. I was just trying to get my hand off of it before.." I stuttered out as she finished for me. "Before what? I noticed you handling me without my permission?" she snaps out as I shake my head, trying to sit up the rest of the way with her.

"Gabby, it's not what it seems like.. I swear.. Yes, I was trying to get my hand back just hoping you wouldn't notice.. But I didn't know what my hand was on either, nor how it got there. I woke up and noticed that my hand was under your tunic since you apparently fell on me, but I didn't know that this had happened. I am sorry if there was an offense made because it was not meant as much." I declare getting it all out, just hoping she will believe me, but there is a big possibility that she won't.

Her stunning eyes stared into mine before bouncing all over my features, I think, trying to see if I was lying or not. She huffs out, looking away while shaking her head. "Where are we?" she snaps out. I think trying to forget about this the only way we know how, by talking about something else. I feel a sigh of relief hitting me as I glance around for a moment, trying to figure that out as well. I was so distracted by her that I didn't have the chance to look around.

"I am not sure just yet.. The darkness puts a mask over everything, making it hard to distinguish where we might be. Especially since everything looks the same like this. But I will look around and grab supplies to start a fire, and I'm sure we will be able to get warm and figure out our next steps.. Together." I say to her as she nods and tries to stand up, but groans out as I quickly jump up, wrapping my arms around her to help her stand.

She pushes my arms away, trying to do this on her own, but that is much harder for her to do than she thought. She groans out in pain as I huff out in response, feeling frustrated about her pain, wishing I could help her with it, but she won't let me. "Let me help you." I spat at her through grit teeth as she glares back at me. "I am fine, I can do it myself." I blatantly scoffed out at that, making sure she heard me as I reached out, grabbing for her again. She swats my hands away from her arms and hands, so I instantly grab for her waist.

"Just let me help you.. I am not trying to hurt or harass you.. I am sorry my hand was on your buttocks, but that wasn't my intention. I am not trying to offend or torment you. I'm just trying to help, if you would let me. I don't know why you insist on being so stubborn when I just want to make sure that you are alright." I spat as I stood her on her feet, making sure she was steady before letting her go and turning away from her so she can stop thinking I am her enemy in one way or another. But she keeps glaring at me. I can tell this without even looking at her, I can feel her gaze boring into the back of my head as I try to seem inconspicuous while I casually look around.

I start grabbing some wood from around us as I pile it up to build a fire. It takes me a moment but once I get the flames consuming the wood I brought, I bring more because I know it is going to be a cold night, and we need all the help we can get. "Come over here and have a seat next to the fire. I can help you if you need me to. It's not a problem." I said, extending my hand to her as she shakes her head before slowly limping over towards the side of the fire that I am not on.