《A Hero Out Of Time》 Chapter 1: Knight Finds Guide, Girl Finds Adventure The sun peeked out over the trees; the grass swayed so gently against a weak wind. Lily wandered about her forest, searching by the usual spots. With the coming of summer, she didn¡¯t have to stay inside anymore. She filled her basket with all sorts of fruits and mushrooms, enough of each kind to entertain her for the week. She checked her traps, finding a stray rabbit caught in one of them. Lily held the squealing creature up by the ears, ready to quiet him down. A sudden rustling made her jump. She dropped the rabbit and he quickly scampered away. ¡®Lucky bastard,¡¯ she muttered, before quickly turning to see what had interrupted her. Lily instinctively covered her ears, her mind going blank. Out of the bushes, a knight in rusted armour fell to the floor. She gripped the handle of her knife, taking a few steps back. He pushed himself back up, standing on shaky knees. ¡®You wouldn¡¯t happen to be Illara, now would you dear?¡¯ he asked, his voice coarse but pleasant to hear. Lily shook her head, loosening her grip on the handle and lowering her hands. Illara had been her great-grandmother, she was surprised a human still lived who remembered her name. The knight shook his head, his helmet loudly scraping against his armour. Bits of moss and root had grown against his chest-plate, snaking their way around to his back. Lily was curious; it was hard not to be. This was the first human that had entered the grove since, well her great-grandmother. His foot had gotten stuck in the overgrowth and he was struggling to pull himself out. He grunted loudly, startling a small family of sparrows that had come to watch. ¡®I can help you!¡¯ she stammered suddenly, clenching her fists awkwardly. The knight looked back up at her and nodded. ¡®Thank you kindly,¡¯ he said as Lily crouched and snipped at the vines with her knife, freeing him. He continued walking, travelling down the way he¡¯d come. ¡®U-um!¡¯ Lily called out, the knight slowly turning his head again, ¡®Where are you going?¡¯ ¡®Stonehold Keep,¡¯ the knight responded, returning back to his sluggish pace. Lily¡¯s sharp ears perked up at the name, she¡¯d heard many stories about its former glory. She¡¯d even been there once. She dashed after the knight, basket in hand. He hadn¡¯t put any distance between them, and she doubted he would even if given the time. Side by side with him, she held her basket nervously. ¡®I know about the place,¡¯ she said, shakily fiddling with a funny shaped mushroom. Lily didn¡¯t know why but something about his looming presence made her so nervous. Or maybe it was his voice¡­ This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. ¡®Ah, well the elves are wise,¡¯ his voice muffled slightly by the helmet, which Lily realised bothered her though she couldn¡¯t explain why. ¡®Now you must simply excuse me, I have urgent matters to attend to there.¡¯ And he quickened his pace but not by much. Lily continued walking next to him, humming against the beat of his boots. Something was so strangely fascinating about this man. She just had to know more. ¡®I can help you get there faster,¡¯ she said loudly, whistling a little. Whether this annoyed the knight or not, he didn¡¯t show any signs of it. ¡®Really?¡¯ He exclaimed, ¡®W-Where?¡¯ The knight suddenly paused, realising he¡¯d spoken too quickly because now Lily was grinning at him. He cleared his throat, as though that made it any better, and repeated himself¡ªthis time a little more firmly and politely. ¡®If you would please lead the way, Miss Elf.¡¯ He lowered his neck in a sort-of half bow. Lily wasn¡¯t exactly pleased but she accepted it nonetheless, reciprocating a half curtsey. ¡®Of course, Mr Knight,¡¯ she teased him. Again, no reaction but she felt that she was cutting just a little into that metal exterior. ¡®Here! Quickly follow me now.¡¯ She ran up ahead of him, waiting patiently as he stumbled over the small hills and holes littering her forest. He was so terribly slow but for whatever reason, she didn¡¯t mind it. ¡®So, Mr Knight, what¡¯s this urgency at Stonehold?¡¯ she asked, trying to pass the time. And this time, he did humour her. ¡®The keep¡¯s been overrun. I¡¯ve been called to come repel the invaders.¡¯ He said with such a seriousness that it made Lily giddy with excitement. A real adventure! ¡®What kinds of invaders?¡¯ Lily twirled her hair nervously, ¡®And are they the kind you can handle all on your own, Mr Knight?¡¯ ¡®Ghouls, goblins, wraiths¡­¡¯ he said, walking just a little faster, ¡®And yes, I can deal with them.¡¯ ¡®Hm,¡¯ she tapped against his rusted exterior. It rattled a bit. ¡®Are you sure you¡¯re strong enough?¡¯ ¡®I¡¯ve never faltered.¡¯ The knight said, ¡®Not once.¡¯ Lily wasn¡¯t sure whether she¡¯d said something to offend him, but just to be safe she kept quiet for the next few hours of their journey. Every now and again, she helped the knight out of ditches and vines. His sword was too rusted to cut through any of the teeming plant-life. She really did wonder whether he¡¯d be able to fight back these invaders of his. Night fell fast; it was hard for it not to when they moved at such an unhurried pace. For someone who claimed it was so urgent that he return, he didn¡¯t make any sign of it. Lily was in no rush of her own so she didn¡¯t think of it too deeply. They rested by a small fire she¡¯d made herself. She didn¡¯t want to be too overbearing, the least she could do was help him stay warm. ¡®Here,¡¯ she held out a roasted mushroom to the knight. The knight held up his hand as a silent way of declining her. She shrugged, finishing the food herself. She gave him a quizzical stare, ¡®What¡¯s your name, Mr Knight?¡¯ The knight feigned a sleep but he shifted ever so slightly at the sound of her voice. Lily sighed, lying on her back and staring up at the sky. He was so quiet, so unbothered by her presence, this knight. Lily wondered what it was like, to live like the humans did. She¡¯d only ever heard stories, after all. Humans could be cruel; they could raze forests and kill elves over nothing more than a want for land. Humans could be kind; they could foster children they hadn¡¯t birthed. Lily didn¡¯t understand, but she wanted to. So, she made up her mind to learn as much as she could about him in the coming weeks. Chapter 2: Thorns Grow Best In A Valley Of Roses Lily woke up to the hazy early morning sun. Her fruit basket was half empty, the birds had beaten her. She groaned but didn¡¯t take any personal offence against the critters. She was still well within her territory, even if it was outside of the safety of her grove. The knight was already standing over her, his figure casting a dark shadow against the bright lullaby that was the forest Lily had grown up in. ¡®Let¡¯s keep moving Miss Elf,¡¯ he said firmly. Lily nodded, jumping up to her feet. She let the basket sway against her arm as she skipped ahead, pausing when she realised the knight was lagging far behind her. ¡®Come on now!¡¯ She yelled after him playfully, ¡®Can¡¯t you run just a little?¡¯ He seemed to walk slower after she said that or maybe she was just imagining it. The sun rose high against a cloudless sky, Lily loved this kind of weather most. But it was hard to deny that it wasn¡¯t hot. ¡®Don¡¯t you feel¡­¡¯ Lily patted the knight¡¯s armour, ¡®A little bit uncomfortable? We¡¯re not under attack now, you know.¡¯ The knight shrugged; bits of moss fell to the floor as he did. ¡®We could be,¡¯ he muttered. Lily didn¡¯t say anything back to him, he seemed to be lost in some kind of memory. She just slapped his back and smiled, ¡®Focus, focus¡¯. He gave a quick nod and continued moving, Lily followed behind him. Lily scraped her nails against his back, peeling bits of rust off. She wondered how he had let his equipment fall into such a state, weren¡¯t knights supposed to hold some kind of standard? The metal wasn¡¯t of any poor quality either, she could make an educated guess about that. When she was younger, her grandmother had met many knights travelling through their little grove. None had been so quiet or polite, always talking a great deal about their battles and victories. Except one knight. But he¡¯d been different and it was long ago, Lily didn¡¯t remember those kinds of things like other elves. A tiny distant wagon was riding towards them from the distance. It was only a dot now but it wouldn¡¯t be for long. Lily lifted her hood, covering her ears. They¡¯d be safer that way. She didn¡¯t want to cause any problems for the knight. They stopped walking. ¡®Was it not hot?¡¯ the knight remarked, though he seemed good-natured. A genuine curiosity tinged his voice. ¡®Mhm, it was,¡¯ Lily mumbled, tugging at the hood, ¡®But it¡¯s easier to block out the sunlight this way.¡¯ Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. She beamed at him. He took her hood down, staining it a light red as his metal fingertips struggled to move. ¡®Don¡¯t lie,¡¯ he said, continuing their walk. ¡®It¡¯s to keep us safe,¡¯ she answered, covering her head with the hood again. But she smiled to herself. A real smile this time. ¡®You are safe.¡¯ He clutched the hilt of his sword, indicating its presence, ¡®Your kind is safe with me, rest assured.¡¯ Lily had some doubts but his words were so calming. So honest. She hesitated, then pulled the hood down again. She tightened the ribbons in her hair. She wondered if he noticed. They continued walking in silence, passing by the wagon. Lily didn¡¯t look up to see the driver, she was too afraid. Nothing was said, the horses neighed in complaint and kept moving forward. But still, she felt just a little bit better about herself. ¡®Where are we now?¡¯ the knight asked after some time had passed. Lily pointed at a boulder that poked gently out of the forest. ¡®We¡¯re about eighth ways to Stonehold Keep,¡¯ she replied, ¡®You¡¯ll know we¡¯re getting closer when the forest starts to thin.¡¯ ¡®You¡¯ve helped me greatly then.¡¯ The knight looked back at her. She couldn¡¯t tell why but she felt him smile. ¡®Thank you,¡¯ he said. ¡®You¡¯re most welcome¡¯ she grinned. ¡®Do you want to stop?¡¯ the knight nodded up at the sky, it had turned a vibrant dusk of reds, ¡®We¡¯ve been walking this whole time.¡¯ ¡®No, I¡¯m okay,¡¯ Lily lied. Her legs were killing her. But she felt like when she was walking next to him, there was something that was happening. And she wanted it to happen. The knight turned, letting her walk forward. That¡¯s right, she was leading him after all. She kicked up her feet and kept right on. The world spread out before her; a place she¡¯d walked thousands of times before. They began to stray off the path, entering the untamed part of the woods. The grass hiked its way up to her hips, Lily could feel half a dozen different insects biting against her skin. She¡¯d wished she had dressed just a little better for this. She breathed in the cool air, wishing it could¡¯ve been warmer for a little longer. They found refugee from the overgrowth in a small hollow within the forest. Lily started another small fire, eating a little less then last time. She held out a type of berry to the knight, he shook his head. Saddened, she ate it. He was a strange knight. ¡®Thorne.¡¯ He broke the silence between them, ¡®That¡¯s my name.¡¯ The fire cracked and popped as if it was amused by what it was hearing. Lily gaped, unsure what she said back. ¡®O-Oh is it?¡¯ she stammered, laughing softly, ¡®That¡¯s a beautiful name. Means ¡®homeward¡¯ in old elven.¡¯ ¡®Mhm,¡¯ Thorne, nodded then shifted awkwardly, ¡®Consequently, could you tell me yours?¡¯ Lily stopped laughing. ¡®Tell you my what?¡¯ she teased, slyly narrowing her eyes. ¡®You-Your name.¡¯ Thorne stammered. He was well-trained on etiquette but unfortunately the nuance of teasing had been lost to him. ¡®Ha!¡¯ she giggled. Thorne looked at her, tilting his helmet slightly in confusion. She rolled onto the floor, feeling a tangle of grass mess her hair. Her stomach twitched as she laughed more. ¡®You¡¯re such a strange man,¡¯ she finally made out, wiping happy tears from her face. ¡®It¡¯s Lily.¡¯ He scratched at his armour, peeling off more moss. ¡®Valley of the night,¡¯ he said. ¡®Mhm, that¡¯s right,¡¯ she nodded happily, ¡®You sure are very knowledgeable about elves.¡¯ ¡®It¡¯s a beautiful name.¡¯ ¡®Thank you, Thorne.¡¯ Lily said, looking at him. His armour didn¡¯t reflect any light from the fire. Lily liked that; it made him just that much easier to stare at. And she felt that she was lighter then fire that day. Chapter 3: A Dangerous Man Lily yawned. They had cut a path through the murky woods, although it had mostly been Lily doing all the cutting. She hadn¡¯t slept much last night, owing to an overactive imagination. Thorne walked behind her, occasionally tripping on unseen roots. ¡®Who taught you so much about elves?¡¯ Lily asked. She figured the time wasn¡¯t going to pass itself. She shooed a pair of squirrels out of her way. ¡®My mother,¡¯ Thorne answered, ¡®She was part elf.¡¯ ¡®Which part?¡¯ Lily poked at him with a bad pun. ¡®What?¡¯ ¡®Nevermind. Keep going.¡¯ ¡®Where?¡¯ he joked, and Lily¡¯s eyes lit up. He was catching onto her sense of humour. He laughed. She¡¯d never heard him laugh. It was hearty and heavy, like he was letting go of something with it. Most of all it was loud. She smiled, loud laughs were an interesting kind of laugh. Especially from quiet people. ¡®She was a poet of sorts,¡¯ he said, ¡®She taught me everything I know about the world.¡¯ ¡®And your father?¡¯ Lily grunted as she paused to pull her knife out of a tree she¡¯d accidentally slammed it into. ¡®My father was a knight in service. I only saw him as often as there wasn¡¯t war.¡¯ ¡®Was there war?¡¯ Lily pulled out the knife and fell backwards. ¡®Most times.¡¯ She heard a slight sadness against his voice again. No amount of steel can mask a heavy heart. Lily diverted the conversation away from Throne quickly. ¡®My mom was a leader,¡¯ she announced, ¡®She led armies and made kingdoms crumble.¡¯ ¡®Really?¡¯ his voice lit up, he sounded excited. Lily felt just a little bit bad for the next words out of her mouth, even if it was a little funny. ¡®Nope, I lied.¡¯ ¡®Ah,¡¯ he sounded a little disappointed. Truthfully, Lily didn¡¯t know what her mom had done. Just that she¡¯d rarely been around, always for one thing or another. She¡¯d been told by her grandmother that it was matters involving humans. Whatever it really was, one day her mom had never come home again. And Lily never knew what happened to her. But she wasn¡¯t just going to tell all of this to Thorne. ¡®She was a magician though,¡¯ she added, to balance out the less then funny joke she¡¯d just made, ¡®She knew all sorts of spells, I think.¡¯ Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. ¡®Do you know any?¡¯ ¡®A few,¡¯ Lily said, ¡®Nothing special though.¡¯ They found a clearing from the forest, the trees here were more spread out. The ground was better worn, they were nearing civilization at last. But civilization wasn¡¯t always a good thing. Lily felt nervous; the hum of nature had come to an awkward stop. And only one thing made even the wildlife go quiet. Three thugs stepped out into the opening. They wore those crooked smiles you could only get doing unspeakable things, the kind Lily had learnt to run and hide from. She stepped back, digging into her pockets for anything to give them. But there was only a few coins, worth next to nothing. ¡®Stand back, Lily,¡¯ Thorne said, then hesitated, ¡®Miss Lily.¡¯ He unsheathed his blade, it was a wretched looking thing. Grime and deep red corrison coated it. A thin vine had grown around it. The thugs looked up at him, vexed. ¡®You don¡¯t need to worry yourself knight,¡¯ the words came out sticky and gross from the man¡¯s mouth, ¡®Just hand the elf over and we¡¯ll let you off.¡¯ The other two held up their weapons, a crudely altered butcher¡¯s cleaver and a spiked metal club. ¡®If anything, we¡¯d be doing you a favour,¡¯ another scoffed. Thorne held up his sword with both hands, taking an ancient stance as he raised it above his shoulders and pointed it at the men. ¡®You will leave me and my guide alone,¡¯ he threatened, ¡®And we can pretend this never happened.¡¯ Lily watched, wide-eyed. She held her breath back, she was scared. Was he strong enough? She¡¯d never seen him fight. And it¡¯s not like he had ever practiced in front of her. Her heart beat fast, her feet felt glued to the ground. She wanted to turn back and run. This is why she didn¡¯t leave the grove. The first thug stepped forward, the one that had spoken. His teeth were yellowed, he snarled at Thorne. Thorne didn¡¯t seem nervous; his rigid movements were reassuring. And then Lily blinked. She couldn¡¯t understand what she¡¯d seen, Thorne had moved so quickly. A patch of rust had cracked against his armour, bits of it fell gently to the floor. The thug staggered, Thorne¡¯s sword striking through the thug¡¯s heart. Thorne gave it a sickening twist; the man coughed up blood and fell to the floor. Thorne whipped his sword against the air, blood spraying against the trees. He looked up at the two other men. For all his cracks, his movements were so fluid. It was like watching one person dance and the other two trip over their own feet. He didn¡¯t give them any longer to react, he stepped forward with one foot and swung his sword out. It didn¡¯t cut through the men; it made them crumple to the floor clutching their sides. They gasped for air. Lily stood back in awe. Thorne beheaded the first after two swings, his sword had been far too blunt to finish it in one go. The last thug looked up in fear. ¡®W-Wait,¡¯ he spluttered, trying to stand back up, ¡®I can, I can¡­¡¯ Thorne didn¡¯t wait; he slashed through the air. He wiped his sword with a ripped cloth and stuck it back into its scabbard. ¡®Come on let¡¯s keep going,¡¯ he looked back up at Lily, she cowered a little under his gaze. He looked so scary to her now. There was that emptiness in his voice back again. He moved far quicker then before, though she saw that his joints didn¡¯t allow for it. She noticed him a lot more, all of him. The armour against him didn¡¯t just fit him, it bent against him. Where it had rusted beyond allowing any mobility, it had cracked or broken entirely. ¡®Are you going to stand there?¡¯ he asked, though he tried to keep his voice light it came out all hollowing and wrong. Lily jumped; she¡¯d been frozen in place, staring at the corpses of their attackers. She walked past them, turning back every couple steps. As though they might wake up again. Were those corpses just going to rot in place? Did they even deserve to be buried? Thoughts raced her mind. Most of all she just felt relieved; Thorne hadn¡¯t lied when he said she was safe. They walked together in a different kind of quiet this time. Lily wanted to pick at his mind, break down his past. But she knew that now wasn¡¯t the time for that. He didn¡¯t seem to want to talk any more either, he stayed quiet as they trudged from the beaten path to the stone one. The roads were getting busier now. Lily pulled her hood back up; Thorne didn¡¯t object. They were arriving at Lustern now, the gateway city. Lily clutched her coin purse. Chapter 4: A Secret For The Moon Wagons bumped into one another, the sound of chatter filling up the gray skies. Together with Thorne, Lily stuck out like a sore thumb against the monotonous hues of browns. She tugged at her hood, wishing she¡¯d made it something other than a pale green. Drivers jeered at one another; drunks littered the streets. It wasn''t a pleasant sight to see. Lily weaselled her way through the crowd, trying to get away from the center square. She grabbed onto Thorne¡¯s hand, pulling him after her. ¡®We don¡¯t want to stay out too late.¡¯ she explained, still holding out his hand, ¡®All sorts of bad things happen in the night.¡¯ ¡®Surely they have guards?¡¯ Thorne asked, lowering himself slightly to meet her eyes. ¡®They do but you know how these things are¡­¡¯ Lily peered into his helmet¡¯s slits, unable to make out any part of his face in the dark, ¡®Anyway, we¡¯ll rent out a room and leave at dawn.¡¯ She led him through the back alleys, though she didn¡¯t really remember which way was the right one. It was easier then travelling through the crowds though. One way or another, they found their place: a small quiet inn buried in the corner side of the city¡¯s poorer district. Lily knocked on the door, it opened slowly. An old man, hunched over, looked up at them. ¡®Ah, adventurers, is it?¡¯ he said, standing back to let them in. Lily smiled politely at him and walked inside, followed by Thorne. The room was warm, she shivered off the cold as the old man closed the door behind them. Lily pulled her hood off softly, her ears poking out of her short hair. The man narrowed his eyes but didn¡¯t say anything. ¡®How many nights will it be?¡¯ he asked, looking to Thorne for an answer. ¡®Just one.¡¯ Lily answered, sliding over the few remaining coins in her pouch. ¡®Passing through then,¡¯ the old man murmured, reaching up to grab a set of keys. He handed them to Thorne, much to Lily¡¯s annoyance. Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. ¡®Rare that you see a party of two,¡¯ he went on, ¡®Less people have been adventuring out here since the undead king¡¯s arrival.¡¯ ¡®Undead king?¡¯ Thorne asked, leaning in closer to the old man. ¡®Yes, it¡¯s all the people talk about these days,¡¯ the old man enjoyed the attention from Thorne, Lily was starting to suspect that there was a reason the inn was so boringly quiet. ¡®He¡¯s been raising an army from all over half the country. No one¡¯s taking any action against him because no one¡¯s sure where exactly he is.¡¯ ¡®But we¡¯re fearing the worst.¡¯ He finished dramatically. ¡®What¡¯s the worst?¡¯ Thorne asked, thoroughly engaged in the subject. ¡®That he¡¯s going to raze this entire kingdom!¡¯ the old man exclaimed, banging the table. Lily sighed softly, sneaking the keys out of Thorne¡¯s hand. The two of them continued talking while Lily crept upstairs. She didn¡¯t want to interrupt their conversation by asking which room the key was for, so she began to test each room lock with the key. ¡®Was it counter-clockwise or the other way around?¡¯ she muttered as she tried turning the key to no avail. It didn¡¯t take her long to find their room, she jumped happily onto her bed. It wasn¡¯t soft nor particularly cosy but she was happy to sleep under a roof for once. Lily slipped under the blankets. She¡¯d left the door open, leaving the key inside the lock. Lily would¡¯ve previously felt too uncomfortable to even close her eyes against an unlocked door. But with Thorne downstairs that fear had vanished. He would keep her safe. Lily fell asleep. When she woke up, she found Throne asleep in a chair. His helmet was facing the floor and he was still. She listened carefully; she couldn¡¯t hear him breathe. It was probably too soft for her to hear. The wind pushed the curtains around, she went to go close them. Moonlight trickled into the room. She turned the latch down and turned back to look at Thorne, the knight had let his hands hang from the sides of the chair. Lily paused, looking him up and down again, focusing on his metal helmet. She had a thought but hesitated. She really shouldn¡¯t. Lily caressed his face, or just the helmet. It was cold and sharp; bits of steel had chipped outwards. She bit her lip, grabbing just a little tighter against his helmet. It was sealed tight against his armour; the helmet had partially melted to stick to it. Still, if she could just pull a little harder¡­ There was a quite creak. She let go, not wanting to wake him. Maybe it was for the better. She should wait. But still, she couldn¡¯t help herself She pressed her nose against his face, looking down his visor. Still, the darkness was all that stared back. Lily stepped back, breathing nervously. She was sweating a little. She ran back to her bed, hiding away from her curiosities. This could be a secret between her and the moon, and nobody else. Chapter 5: Things Money Can鈥檛 Buy ¡®Why are we stopping here?¡¯ Thorne asked, towering over all the imps like an iron giant. ¡®Well, I¡¯m not travelling like this,¡¯ Lily waved at her light outfit and shook her empty purse at him, ¡®For a second longer!¡¯ The line was short, in both kinds of ways. This bank was a favourite of hers, a safe space for her kind, though she hadn¡¯t been here for some couple centuries. She watched as the last imp waddled away and she finally bent low to meet the accountant. ¡®Ah, Miss Starbloom, it¡¯s been a while,¡¯ the elderly imp looked up at her, adjusting his glasses, ¡®Your usual amount then?¡¯ ¡®Haha, far less this time Fenrick.¡¯ She answered, ¡®I¡¯ll take just two hundred.¡¯ Fenrick nodded, clapping his hands. ¡®Special order, special order!¡¯ he squeaked, Lily winced at the sound. Two other imps jumped out from back, carrying a money bag the size of her head. It brimmed with the sound of coins. ¡®Thank you, Fenrick,¡¯ she said, signing the document quickly. She picked up the bag with some difficulty and held it out to Thorne ¡®Now, you, make yourself useful,¡¯ she dropped the bag in his hands, he reluctantly carried it. ¡®Do we really have the time for this¡­?¡¯ he asked, sounding worried. ¡®Just an hour, an hour¡­ okay?¡¯ she said, patting his chest-plate with her hands, ¡®Relax yourself for that long.¡¯ She ran out the bank, Thorne trailed behind her. Her first stop? The clothes market. Lily breathed excitedly; she finally could stop itching her legs. She was quick, finding pants with pockets and a nicer belt. Finally, she was safe from halfway up, she tugged at her boots so they wrapped around her pants. ¡®I still don¡¯t really understand this,¡¯ Thorne grumbled as the bag got lighter and lighter. ¡®Don¡¯t stress your pretty head,¡¯ Lily winked at him, posing with her ox-hide leather gloves, ¡®Just keep on following me.¡¯ They bought cheap jewellery and bracelets; she even made a point of trying to get Thorne to wear an accessory. He was unphased by her endless attempts and denied her each time, much to her dismay. Still, she did buy something for him. She was running fast, the world seemed to fly by her as she jumped from stall to stall. Suddenly her hood flew off, drifting to the wind. If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. And everyone¡¯s eyes were on her. She breathed softly. Thorne straightened up; she heard the scrape of metal behind her. He looked around, an intimidating figure in a crowd. No one said anything. ¡®Knife ears!¡¯ someone sneered. There was murmuring, a child crying. And the crowd began to chant though not in unison nor with any sense. It was the sound of violence. They surrounded her, ready to eat her up and spit her back out. And it terrified her. It was like Lily was a child all over again, watching her world burn down in front of her. She cowered, lowering her watery eyes. Lily¡¯s thoughts raced, she started thinking how she was going to escape. And, she cursed herself, she couldn¡¯t figure out how she was going to take Thorne with her. But she didn¡¯t need to do all the thinking. Thorne slammed his scabbard into the ground. The crowd grew silent again. He stared at them or that¡¯s what Lily thought he did, she couldn¡¯t see his eyes. They dispersed again, some throwing rude glances back at her. Thorne put an arm around her face, covering her eyes. His chest-plate pressed into her back, and she found comfort in it even though it hurt. She held back tears; her legs shook violently, threatening to drop her. ¡®Let¡¯s leave now.¡¯ Thorne said and Lily sniffed a choked out ¡®Please.¡¯ He scooped an arm under her legs and picked her up, he didn¡¯t say another word. And she let him, closing her eyes to shut out the never-ending staring eyes. She put her face against him and tried to forget. She knew they were close to the exit, so she¡¯d only have to bear this feeling a little longer with a straight face. For the longest time, she listened to the crunching of Thorne¡¯s feet against the rocky ground. She counted them, lost track and began again. The people¡¯s voices became quieter, disappearing further and further behind them both. Lily hated remembering. So, she didn¡¯t. And maybe that wasn¡¯t the smartest thing to do but it was the only thing she could do. So, she sobbed in his arms like a child. Thorne didn¡¯t say anything. She figured he was good at that but she also really wished that he would. It was quiet beside the sounds of her sniffling and that made her feel really small. ¡®Say something.¡¯ She breathed. Thorne paused, looking down at her, ¡®Hm,¡¯ ¡®Say something¡¯ Thorne looked off into the distance, the sun standing high over him. The summer was ruined, she didn¡¯t like it so much anymore. He thought for a while, finally saying, ¡®I¡¯m sorry.¡¯ And that was enough to make her burst into tears all over again. ¡®P-Put,¡¯ she tried to speak in between gasps of air, ¡®me d-down,¡¯ He obliged, and she stood on shaky legs. ¡®I have to lead you s-still,¡¯ she said, half laughing, half crying. She was ridiculous. She cried in her hands, standing up in the burning light of the sun. Thorne put a hand on her shoulder, gripping it loosely. ¡®I¡¯m sorry¡¯ ¡®There y-you go,¡¯ she wailed, ¡®Saying that a-again,¡¯ She beat her hands against his chest-plate, ¡®It¡¯s n-not even your f-fault,¡¯ ¡®So, w-why do you keep a-apologising,¡¯ she hiccupped and hated herself all the more for it. Thorne silently placed an arm to her back and another beneath her feet. He picked her up again, she cried more into his chest. Why did he of all people have to see her like this? It was all so embarrassing and stupid. She should¡¯ve never left that stupid grove on this stupid adventure. How she hated people. And how she loved¡­ Ah. She closed her eyes, mumbling various angry phrases in elvish. She didn¡¯t want to think about it. No, not now. Not just yet. It was still far too soon for that kind of thing. Not that she knew what that meant. She was so embarrassing. Chapter 6: Fire Tells Thorne had rested Lily against a fallen tree, choosing to agonise over starting a fire instead of starting a conversation. He spent ten minutes doing enough to almost light a spark but not enough to get the flame moving, before Lily decided to step in. ¡®Let me help you,¡¯ she giggled, moving closer. She struck the flint, blowing a little to push the spark further. The dry leaves saw a breath of orange before it disappeared into a fading ash. Lily blew a little harder, striking the flint a second time. The third time she struck, a flame had grown no larger than the tip of her finger. The fire grew and stopped no taller then it was needed. ¡®Done.¡¯ Lily clapped. Thorne nodded in approval. The warmth of the flame wasn¡¯t needed this night but it was welcomed. Its light made it easier for her to make out Thorne as a person, rather than as a hulking mass of metal. He groaned, dozing off to sleep. He had a hand on the hilt of his sword, even in sleep. She wondered why. If there was one thing that Lily knew it was that she knew very little of the man. Stonehold Keep wasn¡¯t a place people talked about, with good reason. Had he asked anyone else about it, he would¡¯ve gotten strange looks and awkward shrugs. But it had been her. ¡®Just what do you expect to find there?¡¯ Lily asked quietly, though it was more to herself as the fire took her words and melted them in two. Thorne shifted, his grip on his hilt loosening, ¡®Hm?¡¯ ¡®Why are we going there, of all places?¡¯ she asked, nervously pinching at herself. ¡®Because, I¡¯m needed,¡¯ Thorne answered. ¡®By who?¡¯ ¡®My liege.¡¯ Lily sat back, sighing up to the sky. How much could she ask and how much could she know? The ground was soft beneath her, the fire continued to sing. ¡®And after that? What will you do next?¡¯ Thorne looked up to the sky too. He had let go of his hilt entirely, his hands pressed against the floor. There was a long pause before he spoke again, like he was letting the air settle his words. If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. ¡®I¡¯m not sure.¡¯ Lily felt her heart race; she pinched herself a little harder. ¡®You could come back with me,¡¯ she offered. The first human to stay in her grove since five hundred years ago. Thorne looked back at her, she couldn¡¯t tell what he was thinking. ¡®I might.¡¯ He said, though he didn¡¯t sound too honest. He looked back at the ground, his hand reaching for his hilt before he slept again. This time, Lily didn¡¯t say anything. She let him sleep as she stood back up, leaving the fire and him. The night-time forest was something that always made her blood rush. Crickets chirped in an endless choir. She was painfully aware of each step she took. But she just needed to take a walk to clear out her mind. There were stories all around her, all she had to do was look. The tired trees that had bent against the weight of the wind, the animals that built nests where nameless graves lay. Lily wondered when it would be her turn, to have her story in the world. She¡¯d been living so passively for so long; it was hard to ever imagine it any other way. Lily touched her hands against the bark of an old tree, feeling against its crevices. It was coarse and unfeeling; bits of wood fell even as she brushed her fingers against it. She breathed a heavy sigh. She wanted to go home already. She climbed up the trees, looking up at the horizon line. She could see the smoke from her fire rising, though it was faint against the black sky. Lily lay against a branch, it struggled against her but held. The hot weather was welcome for a change. She closed her eyes, sleeping up in the sky. When she awoke it was still dark. She felt a bit dizzy; she hadn¡¯t gotten enough sleep. But she wanted to wake up before Thorne, to surprise him. She¡¯d kept the gift to herself, feeling far too awkward to give it to him the night before. She fiddled with it, feeling out its shape for the dozenth time. She wasn¡¯t so sure he¡¯d like it but she hoped he¡¯d keep it. Lily stretched her arms, pushing herself down off the tree. It was a long drop, she took her time climbing back down. She made her way back to their fire, pushing past the overgrowth. She found it stamped out, the ashes cold. Thorne wasn¡¯t there. He¡¯d left behind the few coins she hadn¡¯t spent, Lily pocketed them quickly, shaking herself awake. She had to find him, didn¡¯t she? But the way he¡¯d left suggested that he didn¡¯t want to be found. She panicked, had she said something wrong? Lily¡¯s hands shook. She¡¯d gone too far, she¡¯d asked too much hadn¡¯t she? But the fact remained that Thorne had disappeared, just like that. Lily sat down, covering her face all over again. Just like that she was all alone again. His gift burned against her pocket, she wished she¡¯d given it to him the night before. Could she really let him run off like that? It would be unfair, to chase after him even though he¡¯d left her without word. But she wanted to. It reminded her of when she was younger: Her mother and her had just had a fight, she didn¡¯t remember what it was about. But her mother had stormed off, upset. Lily hadn¡¯t gone to look after her, she¡¯d been too mad to do so. And as life would have it, that had been the last time she¡¯d seen her mother. Lily made up her mind. She¡¯d go find Thorne, if only to give him his gift and her thanks for his time. She buried the campfire, now it¡¯d looked like they¡¯d never even been there to begin with. Small wildlife watched her curiously, hiding around every corner and bend of the forest. Lily¡¯s heart felt heavy. Chapter 7: The Corpse That Never Rots Lily took after Thorne¡¯s trail. He¡¯d been clumsy or just indifferent, leaving behind things even an amateur would pick up on. She could tell he had been walking faster, there were signs of him tripping constantly. They were going deeper into the forest which confused Lily. He was heading the wrong direction. He hadn¡¯t paused either, she could make out that. She didn¡¯t understand what he was doing. The ground began to turn rocky and uneven; she had to watch her footing as she sprinted. Lily was waiting for some kind of bad news to hit her; it was like a constant pressure in the back of her mind. But no, there was nothing that had gone wrong. A crumbled castle stood in front of her. The door was open, the roots and vines that had grown on it snapped in half, still dripping life. She crept inside carefully, walking softly. The tower had once been part of something bigger though just what it wasn¡¯t clear. Portraits of older kings and queens lay scattered and broken in half. Some were more recent then others. There was fresh food lying in some of the silver plates. Candles were left burning, slowly running out of time. Lily crept inside deeper inside, staying close to the walls. She couldn¡¯t hear anyone but her, it was so eerily quiet. The floorboards creaked; Lily winced at the sound. She made her way deeper into the empty castle. All around her, there was signs of life. The flowers bloomed brighter then anything she¡¯d seen before, even those confined in vases. There something distinctly alive about this place. Thorne¡¯s footsteps had disturbed the dust, they led all the way through the castle before they stopped outside the courtyard. He¡¯d fixed things as he¡¯d walked, just enough to neaten what was left of the castle. One of the paintings, a portrait of a girl, lay near the courtyard entrance. It hadn¡¯t been touched by a single soul; vines crawled around it and held it in place. Butterflies nested near it and flowers burst from it. She was beautiful. Lily had never seen a human girl with such a kind smile before. The painting wasn¡¯t like the rest of the castle. It wasn¡¯t apart of the castle. Lily moved to the courtyard, leaving the painting to rest. The flowers bloomed hardest here, all kinds of species and colours shone. She had to tip toe to avoid crumpling any of them, though she could see Thorne hadn¡¯t bothered with that kind of curtesy. In the center, a girl lay with her eyes closed. If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. ¡®Ah,¡¯ Lily breathed. The girl was stunning, even more beautiful then the painting would have had Lily believe. But it wasn¡¯t her features that made her this way. Lily could feel it, in the way the birds rested here and the way the vines curled. There had been love here. Lily carefully walked closer, admiring the girl. A candle lay in her lap, unburning. The grass grew carefully here, smaller and thinner as it cushioned the girl. The girl didn¡¯t breathe, she lay as still as the ground beneath her. But the life that flowed out of her was unstoppable. It was like a moving force, the energy that surrounded the castle, Lily realised it. The castle should¡¯ve crumbled long ago, but against the forces of the vines and overgrowth it stood tall still. Multi-coloured butterflies flew in the air, like raindrops they surrounded her. Lily stood in bewilderment. ¡®You really don¡¯t have to keep helping me, Miss Lily.¡¯ Lily squeaked and jumped, falling back into the flowers she had tried so hard to avoid stepping on. A butterfly landed on her nose. Thorne¡¯s voice had come out from beyond the tree. ¡®You left me without a word!¡¯ she yelled, lying on a bed of flowers. ¡®I know where we are, I can lead myself the rest of the way,¡¯ he answered, still out of her view. ¡®That¡¯s not the point!¡¯ Lily brushed petals off her shoulder, they mixed in her hair. ¡®Then?¡¯ And Lily didn¡¯t know how to respond because she knew she¡¯d been making up excuses to follow after him. ¡®You¡¯re going the wrong way,¡¯ she stammered, remembering they were far off where he wanted to be. ¡®I had to visit here,¡¯ he said, ¡®I always visit here.¡¯ ¡®Oh, y-yeah okay,¡¯ Lily awkwardly stood up, ¡®I just had something to give you,¡¯ ¡®Later,¡¯ Thorne said, ¡®Please, Just go.¡¯ Lily walked away, stumbling a little. She looked back and saw Thorne kneeling over the girl in a kind of silent vigil. He seemed to be grieving She felt a little hurt. When she was far enough from the courtyard she made a mad dash. She didn¡¯t want to be here anymore. She paused in the castle kitchen, kicking at the dusted wooden tables. Stupid! She was stupid for following after him. She still didn¡¯t know him, not even a little. One of the beams of the chair broke, it fell over. She slammed her foot into it and then angrily endured the pain. Maybe a little hurt was an understatement. She sighed, again that sickening heavy feeling in her heart making all her decisions for her. She walked out to the front entrance, crumbling there. Lily sat there, plucking at the ground and playing with bits of grass. She weaved them together, like she had as a little kid. First a duck, then a swan and finally a rabbit. The sun hung low now, she still sat and waited. She had begun to make a fourth grass duck by the time she felt Thorne¡¯s shadow loom over her. The atmosphere was dense, she didn¡¯t want to look up at him. ¡®My sister,¡¯ he said, crouching down to meet her eyes, ¡®This is her grave.¡¯ Lily bit her lip; she didn¡¯t know what to say, and even if she did, she wasn¡¯t sure she¡¯d want to say it. ¡®I gave up everything to bring her back.¡¯ Thorne said, holding out his hands. It began to rain. ¡®It wasn¡¯t enough.¡¯ ¡®Even now it, I still bear burden,¡¯ he flexed his hand, the rusted joints cracking apart. Lily held out the grass swan to him. He took it. She opened her arms. He knelt closer; she wrapped them around him. ¡®Can¡¯t I guide you for just a little longer?¡¯ she whispered gently to him. ¡®Please do.¡¯ Chapter 8: Raining Feelings Lily saw Thorne in a light she¡¯d never seen him in before. Softer and softer. He hung his head low as they waited for the rain to end beneath an old oak tree. His fingers fidgeted with the grass swan that she¡¯d given him. ¡®What was she like?¡¯ Lily asked, starting to weave another swan. ¡®Oh, her¡­¡¯ Thorne looked down at the ground like it was going to give him the words. ¡®She was-she was a great person in life and death. She was the reason I was able to keep fighting.¡¯ ¡®I¡¯m sure she was loved well,¡¯ Lily sympathised. ¡®She was¡¯ The silence settled again and Lily hated it. She couldn¡¯t break the grip that that man had on his quiet. She figured he hadn¡¯t spoken much in the past but she wished he¡¯d speak more to her. She also hadn¡¯t been spoken to, too much in her past. Thorne sighed. The rain seemed never-ending. And it was steadily getting worse. Lily struggled to finish her grass swan as the wind whipped at her fingers. She handed him the second swan. ¡®You don¡¯t have to run away from me, you know?¡¯ she said, turning away from him. She didn¡¯t want him to see that her eyes were tearing up all over again. She didn¡¯t want him to see her cry more than he already had. More silence. She began the third grass crane, her fingers pulling and twisting at the earth. It was all she could do to keep his silence from overwhelming her completely. She felt the wet grass slip through her fingers, making it harder and harder to shape out the swan. ¡®Who taught you that?¡¯ he asked. ¡®My grandmother,¡¯ Lily said, trying her hardest to hide her relief at hearing the sound of his voice, ¡®It was something that she¡¯d learned as a kid,¡¯ ¡®She had a lot of free time, and her parents had planned to send her off to get married in the richer side of the country so her education hadn¡¯t gone far.¡¯ Lily stammered as she tried to remember everything that her grandmother had told her, ¡®But then that all didn¡¯t work out when the war started and she was drafted.¡¯ ¡®And then¡­¡¯ Lily¡¯s hands twitched; she¡¯d forgotten the rest of the story. She felt a little ashamed. ¡®I can¡¯t remember the rest.¡¯ She looked back at Thorne; his helmet gave her no indication of what he was feeling. She couldn¡¯t even guess what he was thinking. ¡®Interesting,¡¯ he answered. Lily was annoyed by that, it didn¡¯t add anything. If anything, it put their conversation to a halt. But, she supposed, that he wasn¡¯t in any mood to talk. Not here at least. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. Lily¡¯s hair got wetter, she felt it stick against her face. She shivered; her clothes were getting lightly soaked. Thorne walked out into the rain, motioning at her. He walked back inside the castle ruins; Lily hadn¡¯t suggested it out of respect for him. It was warm inside; a thick layer of moss and dirt kept the room cosy. Lily ran her fingers through her hair, shaking it. Fresh water droplets fell to the ground. She felt a cold grab softly at her wrist, she looked up in a quiet shock. Thorne trailed his steel finger to the palm of her hand and took it. He didn¡¯t look at her, she was secretly glad. Because if he did, he¡¯d have seen she was glowing. ¡®Come with me, Miss Lily,¡¯ he pulled at her and she followed. She felt a heat rising to her cheeks, her palms quickly turning sweaty. She hoped he couldn¡¯t feel it. He took her to a twirling staircase, the sound of his boots echoed against the emptiness. They climbed up only a few sets of stairs before he¡¯d found what he was looking for. It looked like a girl¡¯s bedroom, there were dresses that had been prepared for something that the wearer hadn¡¯t gotten to see. Lily didn¡¯t have to think too hard as to whose room this had been. She was honoured. A stained-glass window looked out at a view that was now masked by vines and leaves, Lily could hear rain beat against it. ¡®Take what you want,¡¯ he said abruptly, turning to walk back down the staircase. Lily turned, grabbing tightly at his shoulder. ¡®You¡¯re staying here,¡¯ she said vehemently. She wasn¡¯t going to let him out of her sight again, she couldn¡¯t trust him not to disappear again. And then who would take her home? ¡®I-, Alright,¡¯ Thorne protested but gave up quickly, ¡®But aren¡¯t you going to try any of them on?¡¯ ¡®Just turn around!¡¯ she yelled and hid her face from him. Was she really going to change with a guy in the room? She didn¡¯t know what people did in these kinds of situations. But she didn¡¯t want to waste his offer. She took three brisk steps toward the wardrobe, blindly grabbing two outfits. She held each up to her neck, staring up at Thorne. Their silks brushed against her cheek, tickling her skin. It was so soft. ¡®W-Which one do you like more?¡¯ she stuttered, hiding her cheeks behind them. Thorne gazed at her; stuck in thought. ¡®The blue one,¡¯ he answered. ¡®O-Okay,¡¯ she said, putting the other dress down against the bed, ¡®Now t-turn around!¡¯ Thorne obliged, his back facing her. This silence felt a little warmer than the others, Lily liked this one. The fabrics were lighter than anything she¡¯d worn before; the blue dress hugged against her tense figure. She squirmed, nervousness eating at her. ¡®You can look now,¡¯ she said, shyly. She felt embarrassed, even the sound of her voice came out awkward. What was she doing? What was he doing? He looked back. Through that thick armour, there was no telling what he felt. But she could guess. He seemed¡­ happy. ¡®Well¡­? What do you think?¡¯ Lily asked, holding the sides of the dress up. She spun around, the layers of the dress swirling against each other. ¡®It¡¯s good.¡¯ He took a step forward, Lily froze. Her eyes fluttered at him; he was so much taller then her. She hadn¡¯t really noticed that before. ¡®Just good?¡¯ she asked, tentatively getting closer to him. She put a hand against the back of his neck. He felt so warm. ¡®I mean,¡¯ Thorne paused, briefly looking away from her, ¡®Stunning.¡¯ ¡®A little more, please.¡¯ She gave him a pleading set of eyes. Thorne shifted, ¡®You¡¯re¡­ enchanting¡¯ She gave him a wide grin. ¡®That¡¯s better,¡¯ she teased, stepping back from him. Lily jumped down onto the bed, bouncing at little against it. Her hair spread out against the pillow; she looked up at the ceiling. There was a half-finished painting that spread out to the edges of the wall. Some kind of legend she hadn¡¯t heard of. ¡®Thorne¡­¡¯ she called out, hearing the steady armour move in response, ¡®Come here.¡¯ She patted at the other half of the mattress. The man stood for a moment, unsure. Then he fell down against the bed, she felt his weight pull at the blankets. She rolled in a little closer to him. ¡®Close your eyes,¡¯ she told him. She didn¡¯t know if he did, she just had to hope he did. She traced her fingers against the coarse metal mask of his. She wondered if he felt it. She leaned in closer. Chapter 9: The Road Goes On The rain had ended a while ago, but they¡¯d stayed in bed. Lily had been watching him as he¡¯d slept, he let out soft cool breaths every couple minutes, but apart from that he was dead silent. He twitched in his sleep every so often too, like a nervous cat. She wondered how much he actually slept. Lily got up, stretching her arms. It was a lazy kind of day, even for adventuring. If she¡¯d been home, she would¡¯ve spent this day lying down and napping. Thorne would wake up soon and his adventure would start all over again. The never-ending walking and conversation. Still, she didn¡¯t mind the conversation. It was exciting, leading her masked knight to his destination. They still had to travel some distance. Lily thought back to her past. She remembered the first time she¡¯d been to Stonehold Keep; it¡¯d been a magical experience. Her mother had taken her their on a trip, they¡¯d been celebrating some kind of festival. Ribbons scattered around the roads, some kind of foreign music playing. She couldn¡¯t remember why they hadn¡¯t stayed longer. Lily took off the blue dress, regretting that she didn¡¯t have the room to take it with her. She zipped her boots up to her knee, tightening her belt back on. She put the dress back in the wardrobe, hoping it¡¯d find a good owner someday. The fabric got stuck against something in the wardrobe, Lily pulled it to the side. A journal stared back at her. She looked behind her, Thorne still slept. Lily grabbed the journal, opening it to the first page. She was disappointed, it was blank. Scrolling through the pages, not a single one had been touched. The name ¡®Aurelia¡¯ had been scratched in quill on the front of it. She pocketed it. Maybe she could make good use of it; maybe one day she could write about him and her. ¡®Mh,¡¯ Thorne groaned, sitting upright. His armour creaked; he seemed somehow more tired after resting. He left an imprint of his body against the bed, Lily suspected it would stay there for a very long time. ¡®Are you ready to keep on moving?¡¯ she asked him. ¡®Oh, mhm,¡¯ he said, ¡®You can lead the way.¡¯ He adjusted the small ornament of the twin doves against his helmet, Lily smiled on the inside. He had liked her gift; she just knew it. They were back on the road before long, leaving behind the castle but keeping the memories. Lily thought that if she were to forget all her life up until then, she wouldn¡¯t mind it. Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. Clouds hung low around the sun, making for a darker day. It was noon, Lily estimated. Merridew dripped from the surrounding foliage; it followed them both as they kept walking. Thorne walked faster than her; she¡¯d gotten so used to his rigid pace it was hard not to notice. She struggled to keep up with him, holding back her breath to hide that she was panting. Thorne¡¯s scabbard swung from side to side, clashing against his chainmail as they walked. The weather began to lift as the midday came and passed, Lily watched as a bright blue sky cleared up in front of her eyes. ¡®Look,¡¯ she said, pointing upwards, ¡®It¡¯s a rainbow.¡¯ The multicoloured arc was large, larger then any she¡¯d seen before. It towered over the two of them, disappearing over the horizon. ¡®I¡¯ve never seen one before,¡¯ Thorne remarked as they stood still, looking up at it. ¡®Really?¡¯ Lily laughed, ¡®Well they say that it¡¯s a sign of good luck in some cultures.¡¯ ¡®I suppose it is.¡¯ ¡®Mm.¡¯ They continued walking down the road. Lily would¡¯ve expected them to bump into someone on their way but it had been a quiet trip thus far. ¡®Thorne?¡¯ He stopped walking, turning to meet her eyes. He had tensed up. ¡®What¡¯s your favourite colour?¡¯ She looked at him with a serious expression before bursting out giggling. ¡®Hm?¡¯ he had relaxed a little. ¡®What¡¯s got you so stressed?¡¯ She walked a little ahead of him, he followed. ¡®No, nothing.¡¯ He paused, then said, ¡®We just need to get there in time.¡¯ ¡®Oh,¡¯ Lily sighed, ¡®We will, don¡¯t you worry.¡¯ ¡®How can you be so sure?¡¯ he asked, a tinge of hope in his voice. Lily skipped further ahead of him; he was still walking too fast for her. ¡®Destinations always come,¡¯ she mused on, ¡®It¡¯s the journeys that make them all different.¡¯ ¡®So, what you¡¯re hinting at is¡­?¡¯ he walked firmly behind her. ¡®¡­ is what¡¯s your favourite colour.¡¯ Lily finished the sentence for him. ¡®I-,¡¯ Thorne shrugged, he seemed entirely too consumed by keeping his pace up. Lily stuck out her tongue at him but she didn¡¯t blame him. Their little detour had cost them a day, they¡¯d have to redouble efforts if they wanted to stay on track. ¡®Blue,¡¯ he said, as though he hadn¡¯t put much thought in it. ¡®Why?¡¯ Lily asked, drawing out the word as she said it. It was just the two of them, the sky and the ground, taking this time. ¡®My sister¡¯s favourite colour,¡¯ he answered. ¡®Aw, that¡¯s so sweet,¡¯ Lily couldn¡¯t help but feel warmth at his reasoning. He had spent a lifetime loving through actions rather then words, and it showed. Still, she wanted to hear his voice more. ¡®Why don¡¯t you paint your armour?¡¯ she asked. ¡®It was painted.¡¯ He said nonchalantly. ¡®Then paint it again?¡¯ ¡®No time to.¡¯ ¡®If you had time?¡¯ ¡®Then maybe.¡¯ Their words went like this for a while, him bouncing back to her questions. It wasn¡¯t serious, it wasn¡¯t important. But it was special in its own way. It was special because it wasn¡¯t. And she got to hear his voice over and over again. The gentle hum of the world continued to beat as they talked. It made her feet lighter; the journey easier. And before she knew it, her throat was sore and the sky was dark. This night they didn¡¯t have any fire; Lily ate food she¡¯d taken from the castle. They sat in the dark, she¡¯d let their conversation die down. Tonight was going to be a quiet night. But not that quiet she hated, rather, the quiet she chose. Thorne sat down; she heard the clang of his armour as it hit the ground. She was starting to get used to the sound. She lay back down against the grass and closed her eyes. She listened to Thorne as he shuffled around before finally finding a comfortable position to sleep in. She smiled to herself. Chapter 10: One Of A Kind A flag waved high in the air; Lily didn¡¯t recognise it. She could see the soldiers even from here, their armour shining against the open sunlight. ¡®I think we¡¯re going to have to walk around that,¡¯ she suggested to Thorne. He gripped the hilt of his sword in a way that worried her. ¡®No.¡¯ ¡®Thorne¡­ it¡¯s not worth the trouble¡­¡¯ Lily protested, grabbing his arm as he walked forward. But he¡¯d made up his mind and she doubted she could change it. She followed behind him, covering her ears with her hands. It was bad enough that a lone knight was travelling without his battalion, it¡¯d be worse if they found out he was travelling with an elf. Every step Thorne took was meaningful. Like he was trying to be as loud as possible. Lily trailed behind him, trying to bring as little attention to herself. ¡®We could still turn back Thorne¡­¡¯ Thorne stopped; Lily looked at him hopefully. ¡®I¡¯m a knight,¡¯ he said, ¡®I defend this land.¡¯ ¡®They will let us pass.¡¯ Every second they got closer to the soldiers was a second Lily dreaded. She bit her tongue, taking her steps one by one. The soldiers looked up at Thorne as he got into their sights. They seemed relieved but still they clenched at their weapons in a way that terrified Lily. She wasn¡¯t a fighter. ¡®Halt. Border Patrol.¡¯ The soldier at the front announced, ¡®State your name and purpose¡¯ Lily held her hands to her ears and looked to the ground. She scrunched at her hair. ¡®Thorne Carrow. Heading to Stonehold Keep.¡¯ The soldiers exchanged nervous glances at each other. Lily looked up carefully, taking in each face quickly but never lingering. ¡®What business do you have there?¡¯ The soldier asked. ¡®My liege needs me.¡¯ ¡®Who is your liege?¡¯ the atmosphere had gotten distinctly tense. Lily held her breath. ¡®King Hadrian, the Eternal.¡¯ Lily gasped quietly, choking a little. That had been the name of the king the first time she¡¯d visited Stonehold, though his title hadn¡¯t held up well after his unfortunate death. ¡®Don¡¯t joke with me.¡¯ The soldier quivered, holding his spear tightly. ¡®I do not.¡¯ Thorne kept his voice firm, walking closer to the gates. The soldiers seemed to pressure them, they were closing in. Lily shook, they should¡¯ve just taken the detour. A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. Just as Lily was sure a fight would break out, a voice called out, ¡®It¡¯s okay, let him through.¡¯ ¡®But Captain¡­¡¯ the soldier stammered, looking up to the man. He walked closer to Thorne, making his way through the thicket of polished shields and armour. Lily sneaked glances at him; he was dressed in a professional dark, a flowing cape of gold and red adorning his shoulders. A sharp scar ran down his forehead, ending at his chin. ¡®Open the gates.¡¯ He yelled to the soldiers; they scampered trying to follow his instructions quickly enough. He stood next to Thorne; he was scary to look at. ¡®You¡¯re a lost hero.¡¯ he told Thorne, ¡®Your efforts are better elsewhere.¡¯ ¡®I decide that.¡¯ Thorne answered, meeting the man¡¯s gaze, ¡®Not you.¡¯ ¡®Alekto Vane, remember the name.¡¯ Alekto said before gesturing to the open gates, ¡®You¡¯re free to go.¡¯ Thorne began to walk through the gates, Lily followed him quietly. They let Thorne go through but their spears blocked her path when she tried to follow. She froze. ¡®Your friend, however, will have to undergo a more thorough questioning.¡¯ Alekto snickered at Thorne. Lily¡¯s blood felt ice cold. She held herself back from shaking and turning around to run. ¡®She is my guide and she will be coming with me.¡¯ Thorne clenched his sword¡¯s hilt. ¡®I don¡¯t think we can make exceptions.¡¯ Alekto said. Lily was getting more and more annoyed by him. This smug bastard. Thorne pushed the spears blocking her path away, motioning at her. Alekto didn¡¯t make any motion to stop them, he just grinned. ¡®My superiors will be hearing about this.¡¯ he said to Thorne, ¡®A knight and his pet elf travelling illegally into our territory.¡¯ Lily shuddered; she could feel Thorne¡¯s attitude shift from violent to venomous. But regardless of how he felt, he didn¡¯t act on it. He put an arm around her shoulder and, urgently pushed her forward. Lily lowered her hands from her ears, there was no point in trying to hide it anymore. She¡¯d have to make a new cloak to replace her old one if she wanted to keep travelling with Thorne. She could feel the dozens of eyes trail against her back, watching her pointed ears with so much hate. And she could never explain fully what she¡¯d done to deserve this hate. ¡®I¡¯m sorry.¡¯ Thorne said when the soldiers were dots in the distance, ¡®I-I don¡¯t have the time to waste.¡¯ ¡®It¡¯s okay.¡¯ Lily¡¯s voice was quiet and weak, she couldn¡¯t bring himself to meet his eyes. ¡®It¡¯s not.¡¯ ¡®It¡¯s not?¡¯ She looked up at him and immediately regretted it. Her eyes were already tearing up, staring at him just let them flow. Thorne shook his head. He clenched his fist. ¡®They¡¯ll all suffer soon.¡¯ And Lily swore she saw a darkness cloud his eyes. But if it was her, she supposed she didn¡¯t mind it as much. She leaned into his chest as they walked. Thorne wasn¡¯t outpacing her anymore; he¡¯d relaxed his stride a little. Maybe it was out of respect for her. She hoped it was. She snuck her fingers into his hand, holding onto it loosely. He didn¡¯t try to stop her, so she held onto it a little tighter. His hands were so cold but his heart was so warm. Lily hadn¡¯t thought about it much since they¡¯d started traveling but Thorne was still a stranger to her; she had been too scared to ask enough questions or press him on any of the answers that he had given. But still, he had been kind to her. And that was enough for her to trust him, even in his silence. So, she held his hand for as long as she could. They went on like this for a while longer before Lily decided to perk up and ask, ¡®Thorne Carrow? Where does that come from?¡¯ ¡®I grew up in as the grandson in family of armoursmiths,¡¯ he answered, his voice light-hearted, ¡®Carrow is a type of mineral that we used to shape.¡¯ He paused, then asked, ¡®And Lily Starbloom?¡¯ ¡®It¡¯s not as serious as yours,¡¯ Lily giggled, ¡®They say the stars bloom whenever one of us is born.¡¯ ¡®And do they?¡¯ there was a sense of humour in the way he asked it, so she played along. ¡®They did when I was born.¡¯ Thorne laughed. And Lily laughed too. The sun hung low in a sky that shone just for them. She was guiding the kindest stranger to a centuries dead king, in a keep that had been destroyed for just as long. But it''s not like the last elf in the world had a great many options. Chapter 11: Time Is Running Away Shaking the memory of her encounter with that strange man, Lily looked towards their first sign of Stonehold Keep. A small town lay ahead of them, though it had changed its name plenty of times by now, she remembered the place well. An old memorial to a hero already forgotten to time, lay crumbling in what had once been the center of the town. The fountain had been moved and moved time and time again, each time engraved with whatever the current feudal lord of the land so fancied. But the children still played, the wheat still sowed and the world still spun in time. Everything could change in this place and yet nothing would ever change. Because the people of this small piece of land held their own traditions close to heart. They paused to stare as Thorne walked past, whispering to one another. Of course, the playing kids had the loudest voices and most daring hearts. One ran up in front of Thorne, standing defiantly in front of him. This was the first time she¡¯d heard Thorne sigh happily. It was hard not to, the whole scene felt like it was out of a fairy tale. This small quivering child standing against this rust behemoth. Lily laughed. ¡®Shoo, kid,¡¯ she said, waving her hand at the kid, ¡®We¡¯re on an important mission.¡¯ The kid moved out of the way, sticking out his tongue and pulling at his ears. Still, this was probably the kindest gesture she¡¯d seen from a human before, so she took it with a smile. ¡®We?¡¯ Thorne whispered to her, and she could almost feel him raise an eyebrow. She rolled her eyes, ¡®I¡¯m not explaining your life story to a five-year-old.¡¯ ¡®You know my life story now?¡¯ he teased at her, and she laughed so hard she almost cried. ¡®You know what I mean.¡¯ The sun was still high, they had walked all the way through the night because Lily had insisted that this town was close enough. And she¡¯d been right but she couldn¡¯t hide the fact that her feet were close to giving out. ¡®Excuse me,¡¯ Lily asked a young farm-hand, the girl seemed startled to be spoken to, ¡®Do you know where your inn is?¡¯ The girl nodded after she got over her initial shock. What had shocked the girl was anyone¡¯s guess. ¡®Just head straight and take a right,¡¯ the girl said, pointing down the street. Lily thanked her, taking Thorne¡¯s hand and pulling him after her. The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. The inn was just where the girl had said. It looked nicer than the previous one and Lily hoped the owner was less talkative too. She opened the door, turning a few necks. But she kept her head up high and she kept Thorne close behind her. Most eyes quickly moved on to him before they decided it wasn¡¯t worth the trouble. ¡®Room for two,¡¯ Lily said to the innkeeper, a woman in her mid-thirties. The woman nodded, foregoing the small talk and handing the keys after Lily handed her a few coins. Lily beamed at the woman, the woman just shrugged and returned to polishing dirty glass cups. They entered their room; Lily didn¡¯t even take off her shoes before falling down onto the bed. She closed her eyes and groaned into the pillows, her whole body felt heavy. She rolled over to see Thorne standing hesitantly by the side of the bed, ¡®Could I¡­?¡¯ he asked, looking down at her. ¡®Of course!¡¯ she laughed, turning over to give him more space, ¡®You don¡¯t even have to ask.¡¯ Thorne fell into the bed by her, armour and all. ¡®I don¡¯t think I¡¯m familiar with this elvish custom,¡¯ he said lazily turning to face Lily. ¡®That¡¯s because I invented it.¡¯ Lily twirled her finger in the air at him. ¡®Then I like it,¡¯ he said. The curtains had already been drawn, they fluttered against a warm draft that poured into the room. Lily yawned, it was nice and dark in the room. The sunlight peaked inside, like an oblivious guest but she paid it no attention and closed her eyes. The next time she awoke, it was already dark. ¡®Should we leave?¡¯ Lily whispered to Thorne but got no response. The man was like a brick and he slept like one too. She sighed, but she didn¡¯t mind it. No, she didn¡¯t mind it at all. Lily twirled her hair, neatening it up with her fingers. It¡¯d been some time since she¡¯d braided it, there hadn¡¯t been any reason for her to. She wondered whether he¡¯d like that. She shook her head; her thoughts were slipping all over the place. She got up, stretching her arms. The wind was colder now and she shivered a little. Lily chose to fight the weather and get out from under the safety of her blanket to close the windows. When she finally did, the room still felt cold and she was unsure if she¡¯d really done anything. She retreated back to comfort, hiding back under the sheets. It was weird to think about it but she did enjoy living like this, with Thorne. Even if it was all just for him, to reach his place and do whatever it was knights did. It was fun. They were almost there though, that wretched place. She had been avoiding thinking about it but their time was running dry. She had thought it over these past two days, how to keep him for longer. There was no going off-track, after their encounter with the border soldiers she¡¯d realised that. And besides, she had this feeling that he was just keeping her around for the company. He knew the rest of the way already; she was just weighing him down. But weighing him down in a good way. She smiled at him. The way he lay in a full suit of armour like he was always under attack. The way his sword was dead blunt but he held onto it like a precious heirloom. The way he loved his sister. The way he loved¡­ Maybe she was crazy. But that good kind of crazy. Lily hoped he would take her with him forever, she was sure she could find some way to be useful. Or even if she wasn¡¯t. Especially if she wasn¡¯t. She still wanted him to choose her.