The Flame of Catalina

Day Two

Chay's POV

I woke up in an empty tent as the soft morning light filtered into the tent. I sat and stretched, surprised by how well rested I felt. At some point, after I fell back asleep after talking with Finnr, I remembered a dream coming on, but felt a calming feeling that spread over my Mind like a soft light. After that, I felt a warmth that surrounded me that actually through the winter chill. 

I heard Garin laugh outside the tent, taking some of my worries away. I quickly dressed and stepped out. All the men were around the fire laughing at the punchline of a joke I just missed. Finnr was first to notice me exit the tent. He stood and gestured for me to take his seat next to my brother and handed me an apple when I passed him. Finnr’s men took my arrival as a signal to start packing up the camp.

 “Eat quickly. I let you sleep in a little, but we have to be back on the road soon.” 

I nodded and took my first bite of the apple. Garin finished chewing his food before speaking.

 “You seem much more rested. I don’t even remember you waking up at all last night.” Both he and Finnr looked at me, the latter probably enjoying watching me squirm. I cleared my throat, mumbled some agreement and took a larger bite of apple to have something to do. 

“Were you warm enough last night?” Finnr asked in a way that almost implied something. I met his gaze to try to decipher his hidden message.  

“Yes, I was.” I responded and was awarded a small smile. A blush crept over my face and his smile widened a little. I wasn’t sure how I felt about being so affected by him but he clearly enjoyed it. He clearly got what he wanted because he walked away to help the men load the coach. I ate quickly and a soldier walked us to our ride. Garin climbed in while the soldier let me know the schedule for the day. I was informed we’d get lunch today which was a relief. 

Once I was in, the carriage door was locked from the outside. That was a reminder of the situation we were in. Garin and I may have been getting familiar with these people, but we were still not free. We settled into the coach as the men finished packing camp and started moving. Because we were on the road, there wasn’t much to look at other than the forest. 

After several minutes of being in my thoughts, Garin spoke up. “Chay, are we going to try to run? Like while the guards sleep tonight?”

 I looked up at him and he continued. “I know I'm not acting like it, but I do know that we are not free to leave if we want. They are taking you to see the Royals, and I’m scared of the punishment you will receive. What if they sentence you to death because of treasonous acts against the crown?” 

“Garin where is this coming from? Last night you were confident we weren’t in trouble. Why the change in heart?” I asked confused. As he mentioned, I thought he was enjoying the man bonding too much to see the situation we were in. 

“They locked the door behind you again. They don’t rust you and they need you to make it there.” He spoke. I looked at my baby brother and really saw him for the first time since the farm. He grew up insanely fast when he thought I was gone for good. His blue eye that once held goofiness now stared seriously at me expecting an answer 

“I thought about it yesterday while you slept on the ride to our campsite. I don’t think we can run-” 

Garin didn’t let me finish. “You’re being ridiculous. Why not? You don’t know what the crown wants from you and I am not paying the price just because you think your protecting me by doing it.”

“That's not it. Garin, we only have one home. We have no money, no one to go to or get help from. If we run, they will know where to find us. Unless you are willing to try to build a new cottage in the middle of winter.” I kept my tone softer, trying to not get defensive at his tone. 

“I didn’t think of that” “I know and I appreciate that you picked up on our situation, but there isn’t much we can do right now but wait and see what they throw at us. But when it comes, we will deal with it together.” 

After that, the conversation slowed, and we both just watched the trees pass our ride. As promised, we stopped for lunch after as the sun hung high in the sky. The trees around us kept the group shaded as one of Finnr’s men grabbed a crate off the back of the coach. Bread was passed around and consumed quickly.

 Finnr started to corral us back inside when Garin stopped. 

“Can I ride outside? I don’t think I can handle another half day of travel. No offense” he added quickly looking to me. 

“Please don’t feel like you have to do anything, he is just bein-” Finnr stopped me by holding his hand up and turned to Garin. He seemed to contemplate before responding “Yes, you can ride my horse with Hendricks holding the reins, and I will sit inside with Chay. I could use the break from the sun.” 

Garin eagerly went over to brown horse Finnr rode, while I stared dumbfoundedly at the approaching Finnr. 

“Come Chay, you can bore me now” This time my face flushed; it was from anger. I huffed as I turned and threw open the carriage door.

 Finnr chuckled and told his men to continue their expected path before climbing in. He sat next to me, blocking the door with his body. My attitude quickly died as the coach started forward and was replaced with a feeling more charged. Now that he wasn’t a stranger, being in such a close space with Finnr was almost suffocating. His leg brushed against mine reach time the carriage hit a rock or root reminding me of how much large he was. After several moments of heavy silence, he broke it causally. 

“So Chay tell me about yourself; what do you do for fun?” 

I snorted at the request. “Do I seem like I often have time for fun?” 

“So, no courters then? Pity.” he said with a smirk and his eyes flicked to my lips for a second. 

“What are you doing Finnr? I am your captive. Not your friend” 

“Not yet anyways, and how will we ever overcome this hurdle when you keep resisting” He asked now smiling and wiggling his eyebrows. I rolled my eyes. 

“If you don’t think I am your captive, what am I?” I asked point-blank 

“You are someone important to the crown that I, a merely glorified body guard, get to escort and protect.” He said this hoping to make me smile, but when it didn’t work, he tried a different approach.

 “Chay, I am serious. I am here to protect you whether you believe me or not. If we got attacked in the middle of the night, I would be willing to put my life on the line for you. And Garin, but only because I like the kid.” 

That had me crack a smile “Thanks Finnr, I still don’t trust you completely, but I do think you would protect us. Well long enough for us to escape at least.” I tried to crack a joke at the end, but my breath instantly caught.

 His eyes flicked to mine when I said his name. “I like when you say my name”. His deep voice caused me to blush, and he leaned over, bringing his hand to my cheek “I like when you blush too.”

 I froze and my eyes landed on his full lips. My eyes met his and his lids looked heavy. The light green I had become accustomed to transform into a brilliant emerald that threatened to consume me. It was all too much. After another second, I pulled my face away and faced the window. 

“Sorry, was that too much?” Finnr asked quietly behind me. “Just after my uh experience with Guntherson, everything feels like a personal invasion. I’m sorry” I responded feeling bad, while not understanding why.

 “Chay, I won’t touch you again, but can you look at me?” I took a breath to gather my courage and turned to face him. What Guntherson did was despicable. Even if you were my captive, I would never... you know? Do you understand?” I nodded and when he was content that I understood, he let me go.

 At some point, I dozed off. I woke up one point to Finnr moving my head off his shoulder onto the wall before slipping out. Garin came in and took his the seat. He leaned against me, and we fell asleep until the entourage stopped for camp. Similar to the night before. The men set setting up the camp and fire, while we were brought to crates to sit and eat. Everyone was more tired from the second day of travel, so dinner was short.

 Again, Garin and I were separated into our tent and Finnr stayed outside to organize the night watch and plan for tomorrow’s travel. I laid down and listened to the fire crackle outside let the hushed tones of the men speak lull me to sleep. 

**** 

I was back in the jail cell and Guntherson gripped my ankle as I clawed my way to the cell door. I began to fight back as arms wrapped around my middle and pulled against a hard surface. All of sudden, I felt that similar feeling of warmth. The arms holding me were gentle and safe. I cracked my eyes open to see my sleep mat and Garin on the other side of the tent. Half asleep, I tried to turn but Finnr’s arms kept me in place. 

His voice filled my ear “shh don’t move. It was just a dream. Go back to sleep. I got you.” He nuzzled his nose into my neck and rested his lips on my shoulder. Sleep pulled me under quickly, but not before I snuggled in a little closer.