There wasn't a great deal that went on in Erthe's life anymore that made him so much as bat an eye. Life in the pits was a far cry from pleasant, but it was relatively predictable. He woke up, was fed, sometimes he was sent to fight – or die – and sometimes he spent the day doing chores. Having this type of master was his norm, and while it wasn't exactly an ideal existence, it had become comfortable in its familiarity. Being sold disrupted that monotonous, mindless routine.
The drow could see the disgust of his new master every single time the man so much as glanced in his direction. It was curious that a human with such obvious disdain for him would spend money to acquire him. What was even more interesting was the cheap price. That was almost insulting. Erthe was a winner in the pits; he made his master lots of money. Why the low price? Perhaps it was because there was trouble for his master recently. Business wasn't going so well, he found himself doing more chores than fights.
Either way, it hardly mattered. As a slave his thoughts didn't count. No one cared what his opinion about the situation was. So he followed the portly, balding human without question and without complaint. That's what was expected, was it not? In no time at all he found himself turned loose. Not free, of course, but dismissed and sent on an errand. Erthe found it highly unusual, but it wasn't his place to question his new master's wishes.
Fighting in the pits was a hard life. Somehow this was even harder. With next to no resources, he marched from Serendipity where he'd been purchased, back to Adela, where he had been born. According to the old man his niece in Ketra was reluctant to join him at his home and marry her betrothed. His job was to fetch her and see her safely to her wedding. Not exactly the kind of work he was going to relish, but it was what his master wished, and what his master wanted of him was what would be done.
After weeks – he couldn't even count the days or passing of time – he finally found himself stumbling wearily on the outskirts of Ketra, searching for the house of Primrose Dragoslov. In all that time he'd not had a proper shelter, sleeping outside regardless of wind or rain, cold or heat, and not being provided enough food or coin for more than a very strict rationing of food. Yes, Erthe found himself almost missing the fighting pits, of all the absurd things.
When he finally found the right house, he pulled the sealed letter from his master to the young woman, holding it carefully in a large hand as he strolled up to the door and knocked calmly. His travel-worn clothing and dusty appearance weren't exactly going to lend himself to good impressions but it couldn't be helped. At least the hood of his black cloak was pushed back, revealing his face clearly, white bangs hanging limply, almost as if they were as tired as the rest of him.
It was Jain who answered the door expecting to see the curious and hopeful faces of a gaggle of children. He was not expecting for his gaze to be focused on a full-grown male's belt buckle. Blinking in his surprise his eyes nearly fell out of his head when he realized that he was looking at an elf.
"Come in, come in," he beckoned hurrying the lad through. "I'm afraid Ms. Primrose isn't prepared for receiving guests, the poor dear. Although she may be convinced for you, but I'm sure you understand. Were you friends with Mr. Hoverstone then?" he asked trying to make friendly conversation to cover his nervousness while reaching forward to take the gentleman's cloak.
His son poked his head out from around the corner, staring in awe at the new presence in their home. Janus only stopped his gaping when his father sent him scurrying to inform his mother to set the table for one more, there would be a guest for dinner. "You will be staying to eat, won't you Mister uh...?"
Just going by the way his new master had regarded him, Erthe had been expecting a less than a warm welcome. Perhaps even outright hostility. Especially considering the nature of his appearance, as he was obviously not human. He just assumed that his inhuman looks would garner a similar reaction in his master's niece and her house as it had in Serendipity with the bald, fat man.
Imagine then his shock when an older man answered the door and after a brief interlude of stunned silence, ushered him into the house with a friendly, if nervous, manner. What was he supposed to understand? And who was Mr. Hoverstone? The old man reached to take his cloak, and he awkwardly handed it over, very unaccustomed to this kind of reception.
A boy poked his head around to stare at him, and Erthe lowered his crimson gaze, shifting uncomfortably at the attention. It wasn't that people hadn't stared at him all his life, it was just different here. This wasn't the looks of people looking at an object or animal, judging and weighing the odds or value. It made him feel uncomfortably...important.
"Erthe Hunzrin, and I don't know a Mr. Hoverstone." The drow's voice was deep and quiet, maybe even a bit gruff. He showed the old man the letter, with the wax seal of his master. "I was sent to give this letter to Lady Primrose Dragoslov. If the lady wants to feed me I would be grateful, but she doesn't have to."
"Oh," was Jain's sole reply. He did not wish to pry into the man's affairs and still believed in part that perhaps the man was here because of the elves that his ladyship had been to see before Harkness' death. He did not find it an odd idea that she may have met someone there or from another village given the number of times she wandered off into the forest over the years.
He offered a warm smile and motioned for Erthe to follow him. "I can speak on the lady's behalf and say that she would not see you leave without a full belly Mr. Hunzrin. Now, if you'll follow me," he stated already beginning to rise the wide staircase that led to the upper levels, "we can see about getting Miss Primrose up and about. I think a visitor would do her well."
Jain led Erthe to Primrose's door before signalling for him to wait as he gently knocked on the door before letting himself in. The door swung open slowly even after he had attempted to close it for the woman's privacy.
On her bed, Primrose lay unmoving. Her eyes were open but unseeing as she clutched a worn bear to her chest. Even as Jain moved to her side and tried to coax her with gentle words, she remained still and lifeless, her eyes barely moving to register his presence.
Erthe was still struggling to process the way he was being treated. Even among other slaves he was generally looked upon with some form of disdain, wariness, or outright fear. He realized that the old man was a servant or slave himself, of course, but the human's warmth towards him still perplexed the drow. Maybe it had something to do with this Mr. Hoverstone. Perhaps the man was an elf as well, maybe even a drow, given the man's easy acceptance of his features.
"Your lady is very kind," was his simple response as he followed Jain up the staircase to the next floor. Erthe's lips turned down in a soft frown as the man mentioned a visitor doing the lady well. He wasn't exactly a visitor. The drow had never before laid eyes on the woman, and he was a lowly slave, so it wasn't likely that this visitation would be anything for the lady to enjoy. Especially considering his purpose. That letter was still being held gingerly in one of his huge hands.
When the man signaled for him to stop, Erthe stood quietly, and patiently in the soft shadows of the hall. The door swung open when it should have closed and he averted his eyes, looking to the floor in the opposite direction. It wasn't his place to go prying into the business of the lady of the house.
The manservant moved Primrose to sit up. It worried him how much lighter she was than normal as well as how unresistant she was to his manipulations. "There's someone here to see you, dear. Come see," he prodded, bending down to slip on a tiny pair of slippers on her small feet.
Like one of the undead, she followed his directions, moving slowly and minimally as she was shrugged into her robe and led towards the door. It was only when the shadow of Erthe's form darkened the doorway, did Primrose lifted her gaze enough to see the tall drow before her.
"Harkness," she cried out, showing the first sparks of life as she rushed the final steps towards him, her arms stretched out to embrace him. Her smaller body collided with his suddenly as she squeezed him tightly. "I had the worst nightmare," Primrose quietly sobbed.
Her brain fought to ignore how his scent was different than she remembered and his body was not quite so tall or so slim. The noblewoman desperately wanted her love back and would go so far as to ignore the differences in the moment to have him in her arms for a second. Behind her Jain stared on in shock, his mouth open in surprise as he sent Erthe an apologetic look.
Erthe stood quietly as the old man gently roused the woman from her bed. While he could keep his eyes from looking, it was impossible to shut out what he heard. The way the old man spoke to the lady was very casual and familiar, she was obviously very much loved by those who served her. His duty here was not going to be well-received, but it didn't matter if any of these people liked him or if they hated him.
Because he had kept his eyes averted, he did not see the young woman launch herself at him, though he was startled by the sound of her crying out. Harkness? Perhaps the Mr. Hoverstone he had heard of then. It wasn't her crying out that truly stunned him, it was the way he was embraced so fiercely, and the way she sobbed against him.
Not sure what to do, his arms were kept held out to the sides, far away from the young woman. Helplessly he looked at the old man, anything he did now could put him in a bad position, being a slave only made it worse. Noble ladies did not hug servants, let alone slaves. Clearing his throat softly he looked down at the petite woman wrapped about him. "I'm sorry, Lady Dragoslov, but you're mistaken." His voice and expression was not unkind, the young woman was obviously distressed, but he couldn't help her.
Like a candle that had suddenly been blown out, the life within Primrose suddenly lost its spark at the sound of the man's voice. He was not Harkness at all. She fell away from him silently, her eyes once more dulled by the realization. The woman did not even feel Jain come up behind her to place his hands under her elbows as if afraid she would collapse under the knowledge that her love was still not coming back.
Truly looking at him, she realized just how wrong she had been for the being before her was not elven in the way Harkness had been. In fact, if Primrose were to take a guess he was not an elf at all but something else entirely. At that moment she could not remember the books she had read alone in her library but nor did she care to.
"What can I do for you Sir?" she asked, sounding as tired as she looked.
As suddenly as the woman had embraced him, she fell away with the sound of his voice. A sense of relief flooded through him as she stepped back. Erthe let his hands fall back to his sides, watching her with dark red eyes. It wasn't that the drow had wanted to shattered her delusion of this Harkness, who she obviously held some attachment to, but it wasn't as if anything he could do would have helped. Better not to feed false hope.
When she asked what he wanted, Erthe held up the letter he had been holding carefully all this time, offering it to her. "My master bid me deliver this to you. My orders have been described in it. Forgive me, lady."
Primrose took the letter, feeling its weight in her hand but made no move to open it. "You look tired," she spoke softly. "You must be hungry. Come, I believe there is a meal awaiting, yes?" The noblewoman turned her head enough to raise a brow in confirmation towards Jain who silently nodded his head.
His lady was not herself yet but her responsiveness was more than he had seen in the weeks since the elf's death. It concerned him that her movements were so slow and while she retained her gracefulness as she headed back towards the stairs, there was almost a hesitancy with each step she took as if she feared turning to sand the moment her foot touched the ground.
"We address your instructions after..."
"Dinner," Jain prompted, recognizing sadly that she did not even know the time of day.
"Dinner," Primrose repeated, nodding her head. "I'm afraid I do not know your name Sir. And from now on you may call me Primrose."
Erthe wasn't sure what to do or say, the drow had hoped that she would open it immediately so they could get it over with and get down to business. He felt awkward and out of place in her home. It was so warm and cozy, like what he imagined a home should feel like.
The clean, beautiful house was no place for someone like him. He was even dirty. The drow hadn't actually expected to be invited inside and now wished that he had stopped at a creek or something to at least wash his face and hands from the grime of travel.
When the servant had invited him to eat, it had been one thing, but the lady herself doing so had him bowing his head respectfully before following her and the old man as they filed through the hall and down the stairs.
"This lowly creature is Erthe Hunzrin, my lady, and I would not dare utter your name so familiarly with these unworthy lips."
"If I have given you the right to my name Erthe then you are not a lowly creature nor unworthy. I would not have you or any other speak of themselves in such a manner in my home. Now," she paused, feeling out of breath. It was the first time she had truly spoken in so long, and it made her feel so old and weak to realize that.
Primrose licked her lips and gripped the rail of the stairs firmly once she had reached the bottom. "If you care to clean up before you eat there is washbasin and clean towels that," she told him pointing in a general direction. "Janus may show you the way."
The moment his name was mentioned, the small boy popped up from behind an end-table where he had been spying and acted like he had not been there to begin with. In no time at all he was at the drow's side, looking up at him in complete awe and as if he was bursting to ask a thousand questions.
"You may rejoin us in the dining room when you are done," the noblewoman stated not unkindly before moving on her way there. Janus had just opened his mouth to speak when she stated without turning around that he needed to behave. His mouth closed with a snap and he glared at her back before beginning to bounce on his heels. "So you're staying for dinner?" he asked hopefully in a rush.
It was difficult, trying to decide what to say and what not to say. Erthe disagreed with her about his status or worth. A slave was not privy to acting so familiarly with those of high birth and station. He didn't feel resentment that he was a slave, it was just the way the world worked. Slaves also didn't backtalk when they were told something, so he set his mouth in a thin line and said nothing at all as they walked.
At the mention of washing before dinner, Erthe murmured a quiet thanks. Being thrown slops in a cell or dormitory was one thing, but coming to accept a lady's generosity with grubby hands and face was something else entirely. Deep red eyes glanced down as a boy suddenly appeared at his side, the same one from when he had first come in, if he thought about it.
A soft frown tugged at his lips when Primrose mentioned joining 'us' in the dining room when they were finished. Surely he had heard that wrong. It was not at all acceptable for a slave to be eating with a master or their family. Blinking slowly he looked down at the boy, realizing that he was going to be asked a lot of questions before getting to leave.
"I guess so."
Janus jumped up, punching the air as he gave a hoot of joy. Realizing what he had done though, he quick sent a look in Primrose's direction only to slump slightly in both relief and disappointment. While her not reacting meant he was not about to get yelled at, he dearly missed his old friend and playmate and would much rather be yelled at than see her so lifeless.
"Well Erthe, we better get cleaned up before mama starts a'hollerin' for us to eat 'cause that's something we don't want, no siree!" The boy shook his head seriously before skipping off to lead the taller man to where the pair could wash up. He busied himself with bringing down fresh, white towels and trying to lift the heavy pitcher of water that sloshed some of its contents with each of his attempts to move it closer to the washbasin.
Erthe wasn't sure just why this boy was so excited by the prospect of him staying for a meal. Was he just lonely or bored? Maybe the kid just didn't get a chance to pester strangers very often. The drow supposed it could just be because of the way he looked. Not everyone had seen an elf, let alone a dark elf - or half dark elf - so maybe it was simple curiosity about the strangeness of him. What he couldn't decide was whether or not he should find it annoying.
Listening to the boy talk he couldn't help but smile as he followed him to the washbasin. Erthe only watched a few failed attempts of Janus lifting the pitcher before stepping over and easily lifting the pitcher and poured the contents into the basin. "You wash first."
Once the boy stepped back Erthe stepped forward to scrub his hands and face, washing away dust from walking the roads for so long. A good dip in a stream or river would have been better, but this would have to do. He wished they hadn't taken his cloak, the slave would have rather dried his hands and face on that wool than the clean towels, but with little other option he reluctantly did so.
"I should have remained outside." He muttered softly, growing more uncomfortable by the minute with the unfamiliar way he was being treated.
"Why's that?" the boy piped up, rocking back and forth on his heels as he haphazardly attempted to clean up the area by balling the dirty towels up and wedging them in places he could reach. "I mean that's the first time Primmy's left her room since Harkness...well it is! You're being here can't be that bad if you did some good right?"
Janus had paused at the mention of his lady's elven friend but glossed over it, fearing that the very mention of the name would send Primrose back to her bed. But, like with many children, the sorrow did not last and the boy was soon bursting to ask Erthe questions.
"So how come you're eyes are like that huh? I mean I've never seen an elf with red eyes before. Or at least Harkness didn't have ones like that. And how did you get to be so tall? I want to be big like you and mother always says it's the vegetables that do that but frankly I don't believe her. So really, what's the secret?"
His gaze looked left and right as he leaned in towards the taller man and whispered. "Swear I won't tell!"
Erthe watched the boy shove dirty towels into cracks and crevices, he assumed to avoid actual cleaning. A pale brow was raised as the boy was quite the chatterbox and hardly paused the stream of questions for him to even answer the questions. It had been a long, long time since he was a child, but surely he had never been like this.
By now the drow had gleaned from what he had heard was that this Harkness was an elf and had been someone very dear to the lady, and that something horrible had happened to him. The elf was probably dead. He would do his best not to address the topic with Primrose, the last thing he needed was to upset her. His job was already going to be difficult.
"I'm part drow - a dark elf - that's why my eyes are red. There is no secret. I just am big. I don't know why. Your mother is probably waiting on us."
Janus was not to be deterred by the drow's short answers. Instead, he continued his onslaught of questions even as he led Erthe towards the dining hall. "Sooo what is a dark elf? Does that mean you have magic? Could you show me? How old are you? Harkness was like ancient! Are you that old too? Where are you from? Do you live in the forest too? You don't sound like you're from Adela though."
On and on the boy went, barely pausing to breathe. Not even when he shoved the doors open and plopped himself down next to a rather robust woman at the table did he stop. It was only the chorus of his name from mother and father both that silenced him.
Primrose say at the head of the table with the woman to her right followed by Janus and then Janus at the opposite end. One sole place-setting remained unused at the quaint table, to the noblewoman's left. The seat for the quest of honor had been left for Erthe to assume and the family patiently waited for him to do so.
Erthe was slightly overwhelmed by the onslaught of questions. Normally no one paid attention to him unless he was in the pits fighting for a crowd's amusement. Being put under such scrutiny was making him uneasy. What did any of these questions matter? "I don't know how old I am, and I can't use magic. I live wherever my master tells me I live, but I was born in Adela."
He knew he was missing answers. The boy was asking questions too fast, he couldn't even think of answers to his numerous inquiries as they moved through the house. It was barely tolerable, but he didn't dare tell the boy to be quiet. After all, the drow was a guest in this house and it wouldn't do to be unpleasant with the lady's servants.
Then they came to the dining room. Crimson eyes gazed from place to place, observing the layout of the table. As a slave he expected to be shown to someplace where the servants ate, but they were sitting at the table. There was an open place on the left of Primrose, and his eyes widened as he realized they were waiting for him to sit.
Erthe immediately dropped to the ground and prostrated himself on the floor before the lady of the house. "My lady, there has been some misunderstanding. I am a humble slave, I could not eat at the table with your ladyship, let alone in a place of honor."
The noblewoman turned her head and looked down at Erthe in pity. She slowly slid from her chair to kneel before him and a small hand reached out to lift his chin so that he would look at her in the eye so that he may know how serious she was.
"In my home, under my roof, any man, woman, or child who enters my door is equal. There is no such thing as slave in this household. If I make you uncomfortable Erthe then we can all eat in the kitchen or on the floor if you like."
"What?!" squawked, Janus before his mother could silence him with a glare.
Primrose offered the drow a gentle smile. "Please, I would be honored if you joined me at my table weary traveler. Please?" she implored, looking at him shyly, the spirited girl within her barely peeking out through her blue eyes.
Erthe remained face down on the ground, nose literally pressed against the floor, until those tiny, delicate fingers touched his face, forcing him to lift his head just enough to peer up into her face, it was so serious for such a pretty little thing. The drow's red eyes were bulging slightly, his expression one of shock and distress. His face darkened a few shades of blue-grey and heated slightly.
He had never felt so dishonorable before. A lady was kneeling before him. She was sullying her pure hands with his uncleanness. His long, pointed ears heard what Primrose was saying, but found himself almost beyond comprehension. How could she even say such things? He was, and never could be, the equal of someone like her.
The threat of causing not only the other servants, but for the lady herself, to eat on the floor was enough to turn his expression into one of pure revulsion and even fear. Was this a test? Would he get in trouble for obeying? Or for disobeying?
It was the gentle smile and shy way she looked at him that convinced Erthe that this wasn't some sort of cruel trick that was being played on him. The look in his eyes turned from something akin to a cornered beast to almost a form of awe. Erthe had to struggle back to his feet, his limbs felt heavy and numb, almost like being in shock - possibly culture shock. "As the lady commands." He murmured softly, not sure what other options were open to him.
"Thank you, friend," came Primrose's honest reply as a warm smile lit up her face. Her own movements to rise were slow as well and she realized just how stiff she felt from lying in bed for so long. She pushed that reflection away though as she once more resumed her seat.
Then, like a wind had come and blown away the tenseness, the three residents of Dragoslav Manor began to fill their plates, passing plates and bowls around from person to person with the ease and familiarity of doing so a hundred times over.
Janus complained as vegetables were placed on his plate and his mother doubled the amount out of spite. He swiped an extra roll and his father confiscated it for himself. Primrose tried to skip on eating the meat until to have more added to her plate by the cook while she was offering the plate of roast beef to Erthe.
"Have as much as you like Erthe. There is more than enough for all of us and I would not have my food go to waste when there are empty bellies it could fill. If you need anything, you have but to ask and we will see what we can do," she told him quietly, trying not to scare him too badly with so many choices.
Friend.
That word jolted him more than any other. It wasn't that Erthe thought that this young woman actually considered him a friend - how could she? Primrose had known him, or that he even existed, for less than an hour. Still, the word disturbed him deeply. Slaves like him should not have friends. He didn't want friends, he didn't need them. They were an unnecessary emotional attachment. All the kind and friendly behavior they were exhibiting to him made him uncomfortable.
Trying to push such things from his mind and find something less stressful to focus on, the drow absorbed himself in observing the rest of the people seated at the table as food was scooped onto plates. Janus' antics must have been familiar, and it was a bit amazing to watch just how routine this all was to the others seated at the table.
Eating in the slave dormitories that he was most recently used to was almost like watching a group of animals fighting over scraps. The food wasn't great and every one of them was expected to either be quick enough to grab their supper, or strong enough to take it. Being seated at a lady's dinner table was so alien to him. This was definitely a better way to eat, but he still felt out of place.
"Ah, thank you." He mumbled as he took a slice of the roast beef, not wanting to appear greedy or uncouth. It was still uncomfortable to be offered things, and he wasn't about to even take a bite until everyone else was eating.
Once everyone's plates were filled, they began to eat, refusing to stand on protocol as Jolie and Jain had become like surrogate parents to Primrose with Janus being her annoying little brother. The cook insisted on cutting her son's food much to his loud protests while her husband began to take large bites of his own. The lady of the house on the other hand cut her food into dainty little pieces and ate one thing at a time until it was gone before moving on to a different food group.
The small boy, once he had been freed of his mother's haranguing kept a watchful eye on Erthe and attempted to copy every move the drow made. He was completely fascinated by the large being and hoped that by emulating him, he could in turn be like him.
"Do ya like the food boy?" Jolie asked the slave with a broad smile, one brow raised questioningly. "Not often I gets to cook for more 'an me boys and Primmy here. Tis nice to have some comp'ny," continued, hoping to set the poor dear at ease.
After a few moments of watching everyone else, Erthe finally picked up his fork and awkwardly got a bit of the roast beef, it was obvious he wasn't used to using utensils. The drow knew this was such a simple thing that others - including some slaves - did without even thinking about it, but it actually took an effort for him, trying not to embarrass himself over something so mundane as a fork. It had been twenty years since he'd actually sat at a table to eat with plates and utensils.
With the food successfully in his mouth, there was an entire different issue. Erthe hadn't tasted anything so wonderful in twenty years. Even as he thought it, the drow knew how incredibly pathetic that was. What was worse was it was entirely true. Hard, crusty bread -occasionally with spots of mold or a weevil or ten - and dry hunks of cheese or meat was typically what he could expect for a meal on a normal occasion with his past masters. All except Lady Servile.
The skills he had learned in her service were what was helping him now, and with the next few bites he got the hang of once more using a fork. It was hard to keep himself from shoveling the food in his mouth, it was so good. When the elderly woman asked him if he liked the food Erthe nodded enthusiastically, only able to answer between bites. "It's amazing."
Jolie beamed with delight. "Oh I'm delighted you enjoy our simple fare. Had I known we were having company I would have made something more extravagant but, we're happy to have you here all the same. Now then," she said becoming quite serious as she stood up from her seat.
"A strapping lad like you is going to need more food than that. Why you look positively famished! Here," Jolie reached across the table and promptly began piling more food onto Erthe's plate regardless of how he may have felt. "None of this being modest now. I get enough of that from Primrose."
The aforementioned woman had been giggling quietly to herself at the display until the matron's eyes fell upon her. "And you missy better not waste my good cooking. I know you can eat more than that and I'll not have you sneaking into my kitchen later for sweets." The noblewoman looked surprised before laughing. A tension that had been at the table had been broken. Primrose was on the road to being herself again.
She smiled at Erthe shyly as she reached for her goblet and took a sip of it. The letter he had curried for her sat beside it, begging to be opened. Whether the woman suspected or not whom it was from, she did not let on nor bring any attention to it at the moment.
Considering the slop that Erthe was used to eating, this meal seemed a feast, the idea of someone making anything more extravagant on his account was absurd. He was a nobody - insignificant and unimportant. Even if the drow hadn't been a slave, he wouldn't have wanted anyone to go out of their way for him.
Before he could do or say anything, the jolly old woman had gotten serious and was piling more food on his plate. The slave would never have asked for more food, and while he looked embarrassed by the display, he could easily eat every bite she forced on him. Erthe was a large man(elf), after all.
Red eyes widened in surprise as the woman turned that chastising tongue on the lady of the house. No slave would dare speak to a master like that. The drow knew that servants weren't slaves and didn't have masters, but he still didn't think they would speak like that to their lord or lady.
He had adverted his eyes, but when Primrose laughed at what was said, he relaxed a bit. The lady was very liberal, and while he had seen the way she had interacted with the old man and child it still surprised him to see the way she genuinely cared about these people. Primrose smiled at him again, in that shy way, and it made him shift uncomfortably in his chair. His eyes drifted towards the letter, once more wishing that she had opened it from the start.
The meal came to a close peacefully and while the servants worked to clean up, Primrose led Erthe to her study so that she could read the letter in private. She did not leave though before ordering for some sweets and tea to be brought in once they were ready. Jolie only rolled her eyes in response but otherwise laughed and bustled out towards the kitchen.
Distractedly, Primrose motioned for the drow to sit in a chair as she plopped down onto a chaise adorned with pink roses. The letter was opened and read in stony silence. The noblewoman sat straight-backed as she read it slowly, first once then twice without giving any comment. She was still reading as Janus bounced in carrying a tray nearly as big as him complete with tea and cookies for two which he placed down on a small table with a clatter. He bounced back out again as loudly as he came, letting the door slam shut behind him.
By the time everyone was finished eating, Erthe wondered if maybe he had eaten too much after all. The food had been too good to regret even a single bite, though. Judging by his master's distaste for him, he doubted such meals would be in his future. Still, one had to enjoy the small moments of pleasure when they came. It could be years - or even decades - between such pleasant events for the drow.
When he was asked to follow the lady to her study, the slave was quick to obey, knowing that the business at hand would finally be addressed. That thought made him a bit nervous. How bad was the reaction going to be? The young lady seemed kind and gentle enough, but bad news could bring out the worst in people.
Sitting carefully in the chair indicated, Erthe couldn't help but feel out of place yet again. Someone like him didn't belong in a fancy study in a big house like this. As time ticked on, with her silently reading, the drow couldn't help but fidget slightly. Maybe it was comical that such a large man could be so intimidated by such a tiny woman, but he was.
The boy brought them tea and sweets, but all Erthe could do was stare quietly down at his hands, flinching at the sound of the door slamming as Janus made his way out. Unable to bear the silence any longer her cleared his throat and spoke in his typical soft, deep tone. "I'm sorry, lady, but your uncle says I am to bring you to him safely."
"I see that," she replied quietly with no anger or malice. Primrose did not blame Erthe, he had his duty to follow just as she had hers. "I am to be married. How lucky I must be," she continued. The noblewoman attempted to smile but it faltered as a look of sadness pervaded her eyes.
The letter fell from her fingers, to float softly to the floor. "How apt that I lose a love only to be sent into another man's bed soon after. Cream or sugar?" Primrose asked, quickly changing the subject as she busied herself with pouring two cups of tea.
"I believe there are some details you and I will need to discuss concerning our journey. I believe it much too late to start tonight and you look like you could do with a good night's sleep."
Truly he had not expected such a calm reception to the news of her engagement. Erthe scowled softly and kept his eyes on his hands, which were still fidgeting in his lap. While she had taken the news with amazing grace, he could sense her sadness, and her words about her love made him shift uncomfortably in his seat. Harkness, the elf, again. He knew nothing about what had gone on, but considering the way his master looked at him...
Shaking his head slightly, Erthe couldn't really wrap his mind around everything. Why couldn't he have stayed in the pits where things were simple? Then again, if he could choose any time to go back to, it would be the years he spent with the Lady Servile. Things were complicated then, but he was on a completely different side of that.
"I defer to you on all matters except one, lady. I will see you safely to my master, but if you wish to wait until tomorrow to begin the long trip then I have no objection."
Primrose sighed heavily, adding sugar and cream to Erthe's cup anyway before offering it to him. "Delay, delay, delay. I would do so forever if I could. But, don't worry," she informed him, already guessing at the expression of horror that would play across his face. "I know if I did my Uncle would come for us both and likely tan both our hides. I would not put you such an unnecessary punishment for my own insolence."
She nibbled daintily on a cookie as she slipped her slippers off and curled her feet beneath her. "What supplies do you deem necessary for the journey, Erthe? I doubt he gave you more than the bare minimum to make the journey here. You probably had to near kill yourself to do it too.
"Please eat," she urged, brushing her hair to one shoulder. Primrose leaned back and rested her eyes thinking of what her future may hold. 'Oh Harkness, how I wish you were here.'
Erthe took the tea cup gingerly, as if afraid he would break it just by looking at it wrong. Considering his size and strength, that wasn't exactly an unfounded concern. When Primrose said she would delay forever if she could he looked up at her with, not horror, but...sympathy. It wasn't as if he didn't feel for her position, but he would throw her over his shoulder and carry her back to his master if he had to. His master had given him an order and a slave did not question a command, they simply carried it out - one way or another.
Thankfully throwing her over his shoulder and carrying her all the way there didn't seem to be necessary. That would have been a very troublesome and uncomfortable trip. As a slave the idea of making a lady do anything was disturbing enough. "I don't know what comforts you wish to take with you, lady. Enough food for several weeks, or the coin to buy it along the way. A horse for yourself if you don't want to walk."
He shrugged his massive shoulders, not really sure what they would need himself. The trip here had been miserable, but as a slave his comfort wasn't all that important. He ignored the cookies. "Don't worry about my comfort, but you may wish for a tent of some kind, or we could stop at inns along the way, but that would be costly, even with only a room for you."
"I have more than enough coin, for whatever we need. Although I prefer to sleep out of doors if that's alright by you. Who knows when next I'll be permitted to see the sun," she spoke aloud, not realizing that her thoughts at the end were said for him to hear.
"Can you ride, Erthe? We'll need one pack horse I believe. I do not intend to carry many possessions with me. I would only be forced to leave them behind in the end. Provisions," Primrose trailed off as she tried to think how to handle it all.
This was to be the first time she had not gone by carriage to Serendipity and she wanted to make sure everything was prepared properly. Usually it was arranged for her, but she knew that with horses was faster and less dangerous. Carriages had an uncanny ability to find every pothole and ditch in the road and lose an axle or a wheel to one.
'Perhaps we can bring enough to get to a certain point and then buy fresh provisions once we make it there. I'll need to worry about his comfort to,' she mused, observing Erthe. 'He will not think to and I will not treat him as he has been. Two tents, then and enough food for a very strong drow.'
A faint smile shadowed her face briefly as she took in his figure. His magnitude and scar had not escaped her. Primrose promised herself to ensure he was well taken care of in her charge. It was the least she could do before she was placed before her own hangman's noose as the wife of some pompous son of an affluent nobleman.
"As you wish." Was the quiet reply. Erthe made no comment about what she'd said, in fact, he pretended as if he'd heard nothing at all. It wasn't a sentiment meant for slave ears, he had no doubt of that.
"I was taught." A slave used in the pits was not really one to be put on a horse, but during his brief service to the old noblewoman he had learned many skills he would never have learned otherwise. Evolving from little more than a tame beast, to almost an actual person.
If he'd have spent more time applying himself to learning and less to involving himself with someone he shouldn't have maybe he could have learned to read and write too. No use worrying about that. They weren't skills he needed when he was put to his intended purpose.
She was right in her thoughts, Erthe would never consider his own comfort. After all, he was a slave. Slaves didn't need to be comfortable. The drow didn't even notice her look, his crimson eyes were focused - and yet not focused - on the tea cup, which was gently cupped in his huge hands, a single finger tracing lightly along the fine china. His expression was somewhat reminiscent.
She nodded her head, feeling a bit relieved. "Good then, tomorrow we'll saddle up my father's horse for you. You'll have to forgive me, he's a bit older, having been a colt when my father passed but I'm afraid he's the only one big enough to accommodate your," Primrose gave him a look and bit her lip to keep from giggling, "size."
He looked tired to her and in more ways than one, like he was not only bone-weary but soul-weary as well. She did not doubt it as the truth as well. After draining her cup, she placed it back on the table.
"I suggest you take a hot bath bed before turning in for the night. I'm sure Jain has already thought to provide for your needs but I insist that should you require or desire anything you simply let one of us know and we will see to it. Is there anything you feel we should discuss this evening?"
"As you wish." She could have given him the most scraggly, flea-bitten beast in her stables and Erthe wouldn't have really cared one way or the other. Primrose didn't have to provide him a horse at all. His own two legs had gotten him here in the first place, and he was a slave. If he noticed that the lady was barely able to keep from giggling, he made no sign.
The drow was used to people gaping at his size. Some were impressed, others thought it was funny for some reason. It hardly mattered to him anymore. When he was young it had been a point of contention for him, and he'd been embarrassed by the looks or comments he would get. After so many years he'd just learned to ignore it or take it in stride.
Rousing himself from his reverie, Erthe set the untouched tea back on the table when she did, knowing that the meeting was coming to a close. "Thank you, for all your kindness and hospitality. I could ask for no more, and should have accepted much less. I think there is nothing more to discuss."
He stood and bowed deeply to her. "By your leave?"
Primrose stood as well, suddenly looking quite tired and perhaps even a bit defeated. "You have every right to accept Erthe as it is done as much for you as it is for me. You may go," she said gently waving him off. "Enjoy your bath and I'll see you in the morning."
She did not wait to see what he would do, but simply left heading for her room. Janus waited outside the room, a glass hidden behind his back that he had used to eavesdrop on their conversation. He was completely prepared to bombard Erthe with more questions on the way to the man's room.
Done as much for her as for him? Erthe didn't understand that at all. Watching her through lowered lashes, the drow could only watch her leave silently. What could he possibly say to her? This journey was far from what she wished, but what choice did he have? None. His only purpose in life was to obey.
Sighing heavily he stepped from the study and glanced down, realizing that Janus was there. Rolling his eyes slightly, the drow just shook his head. "It isn't polite to eavesdrop. Just take me to this bath. I'm sure the lady insists on giving me a room for the night too." He'd have been perfectly fine in the stables, he'd actually have been more psychologically comfortable sleeping with the animals than in a room.
"Oy! Who says I was eavesdroppin'?" Janus scowled placing the cup down on a side table as he led Erthe to the guestroom next door to Primrose's room. Inside to the right was a four-clawed tub already steaming with hot water bath salts. Clean towels and soap sat on a chair beside it. To the left of the room was a roaring fire and a large featherbed with the covers turned down.
Janus bounced into the room and spun in a circle with his arms held out. "Welcome to the best room in the house, minus Primmy's of course. But, you wouldn't want that one anyway, all girly and the like," he said, his expression displaying his obvious distaste at the idea. The boy showed no signs of leaving though as he promptly plopped into a chair and began swinging his legs. "So, what you think?"
That was hardly deserving of a comment, it almost didn't even get an eyeroll, but Erthe decided to at least expend that much effort. The kid wasn't that great at hiding what he was up to. Of course, the boy had been fixated on him since he arrived. Childish curiosity, no doubt, but slightly annoying still. It was a good thing he was so patient.
Ears drooped almost as soon as he stepped into the room, dark eyes taking in everything from the warming fire to the steaming water. Sighing, he just shook his head. It would figure that these strange people would try to give him a room like this. When Janus plopped in a chair he just raised an eyebrow at the kid. Was he expecting him to bathe with him just sitting there?
"I think you're all crazy. I am a slave. Is that so difficult to understand?" He waved at the fancy room, all the little luxuries they were lavishing on him. "Why does she mock me with all this?"
Janus tilted his head to the side, trying to understand Erthe but completely failing to. "No? So you're a slave, big deal. Primmy isn't mocking you, she is offering you respect as a living being. You know though," he paused to look at the door as if afraid someone would barge in before continuing.
"Lord Dragoslav, that's Primmy's daddy by the way, wasn't always Lord Dragoslav. Before he was a slave like you. He won his freedom and was so brave and strong that he became a dragonrider and earned himself both land and title!"
The boy sighed and sprawled back in the chair in awe. "He's mine hero. The story of a slave become a nobleman is like one of those silly books Primmy reads but my mother told me that it really happened. And now you know," he said with a sagely nod.
Why couldn't they understand that it was a big deal? Maybe they didn't think so, but he did. Then again, he was a slave and his thoughts and opinions didn't matter. It was probably best to just to accept it and get this over and done with as soon as possible.
Then Janus told Erthe something that made his entire world shake to its very foundations. That wasn't possible. It wasn't. Never in his fifty-seven years had Erthe ever heard of such a thing as a slave earning or wining his freedom. No one had ever even given him such an option. Not even his beloved Tara, who had claimed to love him all those years ago.
"I see." He said quietly. It would be unthinkable to claim the boy was lying, but that didn't mean he could just swallow such a story and believe it to be fact. Surely it was just an embellishment. Perhaps Lord Drgoslav had been a simple knight and earned his way up. The story of a slave doing so would have just been more dramatic...
"Turn around for a minute." Contemplating the fact that the bath would get cold if he didn't take advantage of it, he began undressing, starting with the vest. When the boy was looking away, Erthe discarded his clothes quickly and stepped into the tub, settling down in the hot water with a sigh. It had probably been twenty years since he'd had a hot bath.
"Can I look now?" he asked, turning to peek from between his fingers at the man now submerged within the tub. When his eyes caught sight of the scars decorating Erthe's body though, Janus quickly forgot that he was supposed to not be looking and he immediately jumped to his feet to stare slack-jawed at the display.
"Wow," he breathed. "Did you fight in a war? Were there werewolves? How did you get all those scars? Have you ever killed someone before? You must be a really good fighter," he commented, asking questions so fast that once he was done he was gasping for air. Janus had been just a babe when the lord of the manor had died and therefore did not remember what a battle-worn male looked like. Aside from Harkness, Erthe was the first "soldier" he had ever seen up close.
Erthe just rolled his eyes when the boy asked if he could look now. If the drow had it his way the boy would be somewhere else. Even for a slave, the past few weeks had been brutal. He'd traveled a long, long way and now he just wanted to get clean and go to sleep. How he was supposed to sleep on the huge bed was anyone's guess. As soon as he heard the 'wow' he knew that sleep was probably going to be elusive for quite a while yet.
Picking up the soap and washcloth he began lathering, scrubbing away the dirt and grim. "I'm told my father was killed by a werewolf - can't say I've ever fought one myself. I've never been in a war, but I've killed people, and it doesn't matter how I got the scars." 2,884 people, to be exact. That number haunted Erthe's mind. Every single person he had ever killed, none of them had deserved it.
The boy's enthusiasm was muted as he heard the fate of Erthe's father and he hung his head in sorrow. "I'm sorry for your loss, Erthe. I did not mean to offend you. I did not know. That must have been hard on you. I know it makes Primmy really sad when she remembers something about her father. She loved him very much."
He paused for a few moments keeping silent before hopping off the chair and returning back to his smiling self. "So how do you fight? With a sword?" He gesticulated the action by mock-stabbing an enemy, "or with your fists." His turned to that of a boxer as he made quick jabs, circling an unseen foe.
Erthe paused in his scrubbing, turning his head to look at Janus in confusion. Why was he sorry? Why would he be offended? Death and separation was a major part of slave families. Both of his parents had been dead by the time he was three. "I wasn't offended. I didn't know my father, he died before I was born. I don't even know much about him."
It didn't take any time at all for the boy to be back to his smiling, questioning self. The drow sighed and went back to grooming himself. It felt good to be clean. Cold creek water just didn't do the job like a nice, steaming bath. "I fight with whatever they give me to fight with. Swords, axes, pikes, maces, and yes, sometimes my bare hands."
Janus' eyes bugged out as he listened to the list of items Erthe had fought with. In an instant he was beside Erthe, standing on his tiptoes to look up at the Drow as his hands gripped the edge of the tub tightly, to prevent him from falling in.
"Can you teach me?! I want to learn to do those things!"
Erthe blinked and jerked back a little, leaning away from the boy that was gripping the side of the tub and staring up at him. What the heck was wrong with this kid? Did he not know anything about personal space? The drow didn't like people being so close to him, and downright hated being touched.
"I'm not going to be here after tomorrow, and I don't think your parents would appreciate me teaching you violence. It isn't something to sound so eager about."
"Primmy's already taught me how to use a practice sword. But, she's a girl and surely you know more than her if you've actually fought people before, right? Besides, Primmy always comes back. Not like you can't just come with her," Janus huffed with a roll of his eyes.
He rocked back onto his heels, still gripping the edge of the tub and shook his head. "Honestly, it's not that difficult an idea. I'm not that stupid."
Primrose had taught him how to use a practice sword? What kind of behavior was that for a noblewoman? Erthe thought that noble ladies were prim, posh, and soft. While he certainly thought that Primrose was unusual, he hadn't thought that she would be running around playing with toy swords.
"I don't know that Lady Dragoslov will ever return, young sir. She's going to be married to some man her uncle has chosen for her. I don't know that her husband, whoever he may be, would permit her to return to Adela. Even if she did return, I would not be allowed to return with her. I'm a slave, I only go where my master commands."
The words were spoken with a matter-of-fact tone. The child was naive, and while he could almost envy such a quality, he had never had the luxury of living in a pretty world.
Janus shrugged. "She always goes away to get married and then in a few months time comes back unmarried. Just the way things are. S'not like this time is going to be any different. 'Sides, Adela is her home, no husband can keep her from here. She was born here. And you don't know if your master wouldn't let you come with her. I mean if he sent you all this way to come get her. He'd probably send you to take her back too, right?"
Always goes away to get married? Erthe blinked at the child, wondering just how many times the lady had been dragged away to get married and gotten out of it. Well it hardly mattered to him, all he carried about was getting her safely to her uncle, that was the task he was given. What happened after that was none of his business.
"I don't know. He looked like he'd tasted something nasty every time he laid eyes on me. I don't think my life is going to get any easier once I bring the lady to him." The drow shrugged his heavy shoulders. "It doesn't really matter. My only purpose is to obey my master anyway."
"Yeah well don't feel bad about that," the boy said in a comforting manner, patting a hand on Erthe's back. "He don't like nobody. Probably best he doesn't like you. If he did, he'd give ya hell like Primmy and nobody want that, nope nope."
He shook his head, confirming that what he spoke of truly was not good before stepping away. "So canna get you anything?"
The drow felt a tenseness ripple through his muscles as the boy patted him on the back. Erthe hated to be touched, it made his skin crawl. There had been a time, however briefly, when touching and being touched had been something he cherished, those stolen moments with Tara, but other than that, most of his experience was painful. Stinging whips and biting steel, no one ever touched to soothe, only maim.
"It isn't required for my master to like me, and I don't care if he does or doesn't." He said flatly, eyes closing lightly, before a flash of annoyance crossed his face. "You can let me finish my bath." He grumbled in that soft, gruff voice.
Erthe wasted no time, the water was already lukewarm at best and would be cold before much longer, so he finished scrubbing and washed his hair hastily. Doing his best to ignore the child that was nearby.
Janus' eyes widened as he hopped back. "Oops! Sorry about that," apologized, finally seeming to realize that he was disturbing a man trying to bathe. "I'll uh," he pointed behind himself," just be going then.
The boy turned to leave before pausing as if seeming to remember something. Sure enough, he turned about face and said, "I knew forgot something. Ma would have my hide if I left without 'em." He promptly scooped up Erthe's dirty clothes and made a bolt for the door.
"See you tomorrow," he chirped on the way out. "Just give a holler if you need anything."
Erthe turned abruptly, watching Janus grab up his dirty clothes and then make a hasty exit. "Wait - what? Hey bring those back!"
The drow was too late. The boy had vanished, with the only clothes he had. Making a growl of frustration he got out of the tub, wrapping one towel around his waist he found another to dry the rest of him. Well, he might not have anything to wear for the rest of the night, but at least the kid and all his questions were gone.
Actually, why should it matter that his clothes were gone anyway? They'd give them back, and it wasn't as if he was always permitted real clothes. Just being in this house, and with all the weird things that had happened since he arrived had put him on edge. Dropping the used towels in a neat pile by the tub, he made his way over to the large, fluffy bed.
Resting naked under the sheets and covers felt odd, they were so nice, and the bed was so soft and warm. There was no way he could ever get to sleep in such ridiculous frivolity. Except as soon as he closed his eyes, Erthe had fallen into a gentle dreams of a more pleasant time in his life. By morning he would be laying on his stomach, arms wrapped about the pillow, and the sheets resting at his waist.
Come morning's light Erthe's clothes were freshly laundered and on their way back to him care of Jolie. She carefully opened the door, not wishing to disturb the guest as she moved further into the room to place them on the table by his bedside. The cook would not normally have paused at his side, but the maternal desire to pull his bedcovers up and tuck him in compelled her to do so.
Yet, once she stopped she was heartbroken at the damage she saw. The drow's scars were extensive and Jolie found herself gasping softly at the sight, her eyes filling with tears. She clapped her hand over her mouth as her other hand reached forward as if to offer him comfort. Gathering, herself she reached down and brought the sheet up over him, hoping it would not wake him.
"Poor boy," she whispered softly, feeling incredible pity for him and hatred for those that had done it to him.
As soon as Erthe had closed his eyes, he'd begun dreaming. In his sweet night wanderings he was back in the old manor house with the Lady Servile and Tara. He relived those blissful days of hiding in shadowy corners with his sweetheart, stealing kisses at every opportunity. He stirred and rolled in his sleep, recalling things that were best left forgotten. At least in his dreams, they were still together.
A silent tear rolled from the corner of his eye, before he slowly opened his deep crimson eyes. That was a dream he could have never woken from and been perfectly happy. It had been the most foolish thing he'd ever done, falling in love with someone like her. They had never stood a chance of maintaining such love. For a slave like him, well, love just wasn't something he was really at luxury to have.
Sighing softly he glanced over and realized that his clothes were clean and neatly folded on the bedside table. The drow blinked, it was awfully light in the room. Someone had already come in to bring his clothes and here he was still sleeping like a bum, they hadn't even disturbed him when they came and left.
Sheepishly he hurriedly dressed and then made his bed, not really sure if they would be stripping the sheets for cleaning or not, but wanting to be as little burden as possible. Making his way to the door he pulled it open and peeked into the hallway. He'd over slept and wasn't sure what to really expect.
Jolie had moved onto Primrose's room to find the young woman already dressed and staring out her bedroom window. There was a sadness about the noblewoman's face that broke the cook's heart to see it. Primrose had told Janus before going to bed of the contents of the letter with instructions to prepare things for her departure in the morning.
While all the other times Primrose had been sent off to marry had filled Jolie's heart with worry, she felt so much worse off this time around. Before, the young woman had always had a spirit in fight in her to come back home. The cook was not so sure there was much left of that fire within her though. With Harkness' death, Primrose had become a shell of her former self. Jolie dreaded that this would be the last day she ever saw her mistress unwed.
Yet, in the blink of an eye the look was gone and the Primrose of old was smiling at the old cook. "Did he sleep well?"
Jolie smiled. It was so like her young mistress to worry about others before herself. "He was still asleep when I brought him clean clothes. I hope you don't mind I left them and let him sleep. Poor boy looked like he needed the rest," Jolie stated, continuing when it seemed that Primrose was not going to say anything more. "Why these clothes dearie?" The cook motioned her hand towards the noblewoman's attire, eyes widened in surprise at seeing something she considered quite improper.
Primrose had donned the garb of a woman of Connlaoth. Instead of a simple yet traditional dress, she had chosen a form-fitting blouse and trousers. A pair of thick-soled riding boats sat at the end of the bed as she still stood in her stocking feet. Her long flaxen hair hung wild and free down her back and across her shoulders.
"Better to ride in Jolie. Uncle wishes I make haste in my arrival and horseback is the fastest way I know of getting there short of magic. I was hoping you could do me a favor though," she said shyly, playing with a strand of her hair.
"Of course! Anything, Prim, you know that," came the whispered answer.
The noblewoman sat down at her dresser and picked up a brush, looking at the older woman through her mirror. "Would you braid my hair?"
Jolie laughed and stepped up to take the brush from Primrose. She had no done this since the girl had been small and realized as she brushed the long hair, she had missed caring for the woman. Ever since she had grown up, Primrose had been rather independent. It was small things such as this that reminded those that served her just how much they loved the one they secretly saw as sister and daughter.
In no time at all it seemed, Primrose's hair was being tied off into a thick braid that Jolie pulled to rest over the girl's shoulder. She then hugged her former ward tightly from behind and kissed her cheek. No words were spoken between the two yet the younger woman hugged her second mother back just as tightly and squeezed her eyes shut against tears that dared to fill her eyes.
Just as suddenly as they had embraced they parted and Jolie left to retrieve the breakfast rolls she had made specifically for the departing travelers. Primrose stayed longer at her dresser, staring stone-faced at her own reflection. She could not say how much time had passed before she heard the sounds of room's neighbor awake and moving about. Kicking herself to get a move on, she finally swept up her boots and was hopping into the second one as she stumbled out into the hall.
Erthe had barely had the chance to try to slip out of his room unnoticed before Primrose came stumbling into the hall, pulling on a boot. She was dressed strangely. He hadn't seen women dressed in trousers very often. He supposed that they'd be more practical for riding, but probably not very appropriate to the culture.
"Good morning, Lady Primrose. I slept late, forgive me." The drow felt bad for sleeping in the way he had. They were going to think he was a lazy layabout at this rate. Normally he'd have been up at dawn, but the trip from Serendipity must have worn him out more than he had thought. Then again, maybe he hadn't wanted to wake up from such a lovely dream. Those dreams were just a painful reminder of things that could never be again, so honestly he wished that he would just not have them.
"Is there anything you need of me? I should help with the preparations for our journey..."
She had just slammed her foot firmly into place when Erthe had spoken, causing her blue eyes to flash up to attention. Primrose straightened slowly, smoothing out any wayward articles of clothing while offering him a gentle smile.
"If you slept then you needed it. I cannot fault you that when I assume you practically killed yourself to get here. The last of the preparations are being seen to and are not something I can have you handling."
Primrose smirked playfully and shook her head. "It's girly things and I think it best to save you from that. What I do need from you though, if you would be so kind is a partner to share a good meal with before we go. I imagine you would have us cover as much ground as we can and empty stomachs don't make good travel companions, now do they?"
Red eyes watched as the young woman straightened, smoothing down wrinkles - real or imagined - from her unusual clothes. Of course when she smiled at him, Erthe turned his gaze away, expression unreadable as his lips were set in a thin line.
"I see." The drow didn't really want to know what these preparations were. Though the idea of her 'saving' him from something was absurd. He was a slave, his only purpose was to serve and obey. Not that the lady - or anyone else in this house - had ever conformed to his understanding from the moment he'd walked in the door.
"An empty stomach is always poor company, Lady Primrose." He agreed quietly, and a lady should certainly not go hungry. It still troubled him to think of eating at the table with those so much higher than him on the social ladder.
Primrose motioned for him to follow her down the stairs and into the kitchen where Jolie was busily placing steaming hot cakes onto two plates before moving to wrap the rest up in a cloth. The cook took one look at them before hurrying the pair in and ordering them to sit and eat before the food got cold.
The noblewoman was quick to obey as she tore the roll apart with her hands, licking her fingers of the sweet honey as she ate. If Jolie felt either of the pair was not eating enough then she placed more food on their plates, daring them to question.
"By the way Erthe, it's simply Primrose. You can forget the Lady part. I believe I told you of that already."
Wordlessly the slave followed her down to the kitchen. Erthe didn't know that he had much of a choice. His sense of propriety told him that he shouldn't be breaking bread with someone of her class, he was a slave - less than human as far as some were concerned.
When they reached the kitchen he saw Jolie, the old woman that had insisted on stuffing him with incredible food the night before. Sitting hurriedly, not wanting to have her after him again, he picked up a roll and ripped off a piece, popping it into his mouth and closing his eyes as the sweet taste of honey touched his tongue.
Knowing better to protest, he instead just focused on savoring his breakfast, even when she put more on his plate. Crimson eyes glanced over at the lady sitting at the table with him. The lady. It was hard to think of her in any other term. "Forgive me, lady, you did."
The noblewoman laughed, letting her chin rest in the palm of her hand as she stared at the drow. "Rather insistent on that aren't you, Erthe?" She shrugged and ate more of her breakfast. "No need to ask for forgiveness. You're welcome to do as you please around me, slave or not," she added pointedly, almost daring him to protest the fact.
"Less talking, more eating," Jolie interrupted, popping a roll into Primrose's mouth much to her chagrin. Two more were placed on Erthe's plate along with a gentle pat to his back. "Don't let her ruffle your feathers young man. She's awfully good at it when she wants to be. Don't you go lettin' her win just because she's a pretty lady."
The laughter wasn't nearly as bad as the staring, either way, Erthe shrugged his shoulders uncomfortably. Primrose Dragoslov was a lady, it made sense and was respectful for him to refer to her by her title. Crimson eyes were cast downwards as he swallowed his protests. He wasn't going to get in an argument with her over this. He was not.
The drow flinched as he was patted on the back. It hadn't hurt, of course, just the sensation of touch made him jumpy. Logically he knew that she wasn't harming him and intended no harm, subconsciously the physical memories of the lash seared him psychologically. Erthe's eyes snapped open wide at Jolie's words though.
"I- I don't know what you're talking about." He stammered, before looking away sheepishly, the grey skin on his face darkening a few shades.
"Sure you don't dear," Jolie teased. "That's why you're blushing like a stable boy!" She tried to ignore the way he flinched away from her hand even as her stomach plummeted in regret. The old cook had seen what lay beneath his shirt and suspected how he had earned his stripes. She was sad that she had caused him more pain as it was the last thing she would want to do to him.
Primrose saved her from saying anything more though as the noblewoman swiped another roll from those already packed for later, earning herself a slap to the wrist. "Must be a favorite already Erthe. She piles food onto your plate while denying me more," the lady laughed, shaking her head even as she took an unladylike bite of her stolen prize.
The drow turned a few shades darker at Jolie's teasing words, not helping his case at all. His face had twisted up in a strange expression somewhere between shock and indignation. It was not a slave's place to regard someone like Primrose in such a manner. For a slave it should hardly matter if a lady was pretty or not. Primrose was radiant, but such thoughts were not for the likes of him.
Erthe almost choked on a bite of roll when Jolie smacked Primrose's wrist. He wave even more surprised when the action was just laughed off by the noblewoman. A servant had just gotten away with striking the lady of the house, and not only that, but it had been laughed at. "M-me? No, I don't think so." He sputtered, glancing at the rolls that had been put on his plate with apprehension, almost afraid to even touch them.
Primrose smiled and shook her head. "Believe what you may, Jolie does not ply just anyone with food. It's usually a fight to get more of her food and yet she freely drowns you in it."
"Ack! Primmy you exaggerate. Let the poor boy go so he may eat in peace. He's been through enough in his lifetime already. He doesn't need you pokin' fun at him."
"Says the one that started it!" Primrose stuck her tongue out at the cook when the woman's back was turned and swiped another treat. "If you're hungry for more Erthe then I strongly urge you to speak up and sate your hunger. I would be greatly disappointed to learn you went hungry under my care."
She refused to command him but meant what she said. Primrose would be heartbroken to find out he had suffered because of her while following her uncle's orders. She was not the monster he was, she would not treat a living creature as a one would a dog simply because they were different.
Bless her, bless her, bless her! Erthe could have kissed Jolie in that moment, but of course not really. Not only was there his aversion to touch, but she was older and married to Jain. Still, he felt a surge of gratitude and affection for the old woman for sticking up to him, even if it was to Primrose.
Shifting uncomfortably in his seat, the drow let his crimson eyes glance over at Primrose as she urged him to eat. He'd eaten more in this house than he would eat in days - sometimes weeks - at other places. While the food was delicious and he appreciated it, they were truly spoiling him. "I'm fine, lady."
He finished the roll he had begun tearing apart, and one of the two still on his plate before eyeing the third and sighing softly. This was a really confusing job, and he still didn't like that this woman's uncle had purchased him for such a silly reason. At least it was time away from the blood and death...
"When do you want to leave, Lady Primrose?"
"As soon as we're done eating and that last of the food has been packed up unless there is something you need before we go. Do you need or desire anything, Erthe? You need not worry about asking."
She finished up her breakfast and licked the last of the honey from her fingers, savoring every last bit. "Mm, thank you Jolie. Delicious as always." The cook laughed and shook her head, throwing a cloth napkin at the noblewoman and instructing her to wipe her hands off before Erthe finds out what a heathen she was." Primrose laughed.
At least they were going soon. The sooner they got started, the sooner this could all be over. Yes, his life wasn't exactly glamorous, but if he could just get back into the pits everything would make sense again, even if he hated it and himself. This constantly being asked if he wanted or needed things made him itch.
"I require nothing, Lady Primrose." He said softly, staring at his plate for a moment before closing his eyes and taking a deep breath. They would be gone soon, things were going smoothly. It was small comfort for a reminder, but this was going easier than he'd thought as far as convincing the lady to go.
He happened to open his eyes and glance over at Primrose and exactly the wrong moment, because just then she decided to start licking any traces of honey from her fingers. Red eyes looked quickly away, his ashen skin had only just returned to the proper shade, and now it darkened slightly again.
Primrose was oblivious to her effect on Erthe as she finished cleaning up and moved to help with the rest of the food preparations. "Well if you do need anything ever, Erthe I would like to know," she said to him quietly, tying the clothes up around each bundle of food. "We both don't have to suffer because of this situation."
She would be lying if she said that she was not somewhat bitter about her future. That did not mean though she was going to drag someone else down with her, especially not the drow who had been sent to bring her "home." If he was a slave to her uncle then she already suspected the life he could have had leading up to being bought by Engilram. The man was caustic and abusive but he liked the people around him to already have been whipped into submission. He hated breaking a sweat.
Thoughts of her uncle made her movements sharp and jerky as she vented her anger into tying sharp knots. "Ready when you are, Erthe," she whispered, her breath coming out as a heavy sigh.
Well if there was one blessing to all this it was Primrose's seeming obliviousness. Erthe was mortified enough catching himself in the act, to have her notice and call him out on it would have been so much worse.
The drow's lengthy ears twitched faintly to hear such sad words. It hurt him, to think that he was adding in bringing someone suffering. The fact of how kind this particular woman had been to him only made him feel worse about it, but there was nothing he could do. It wasn't his place to question why his master commanded him to do this loathsome task, it was his place to see that it was done, nothing more.
Crimson eyes observed her subtly as Primrose took out whatever feelings she was bottling up on the poor knots in the cloth bundles of food. He wished someone else had been given this chore. Erthe didn't know how to deal with the emotions in this situation. Not sure what else to do, he stood quietly and headed for the door. "Don't forget to say your goodbyes, Lady Primrose."
She froze but did not look up at Erthe's words. It was like a bucket of ice water just been dumped over her head as she remembered this time was so different than all the times before when she left to be married. This time, Primrose was not going to fight to come back. This time she was going to submit.
Her eyes blinked back tears rapidly as she fought the growing frog within her throat. "Thank you, Erthe," she finally croaked before waving him off. "You can get saddled up out front. I'll be out in a moment, I promise."
With her head held down, Primrose tried to keep working even as her hands shook and her vision blurred. It took Jolie's soothing hand for her to still and quit trying. Before she knew it the noblewoman was once more in a warm mother's embrace and found herself clinging back just as tightly as her protesting ribs said she was being squeezed.
Primrose's entire body shook with her unshed tears as she tried to bury her grief. When Jain came to collect her, he had but to look at the pair and his wife's watery eyes to know just how serious the moment was. He understood what they all did and likewise moved to embrace his two girls, holding them close and kissing their cheeks until they at last calmed.
The young woman turned in the arms that held her to give Jain his own strong hug before pulling away from the both. "I should go," she told them shakily, sucking in air like a fish out of water, "before I no longer have the strength to do so."
Solemnly, the trio headed in silence to where the three horses waited patiently for their journey to begin. Janus, oblivious to the gloom hanging over the three adults, happily bounced around Erthe like a lovestruck puppy, asking questions.
Erthe didn't waste any time in slipping out of the house. He wanted to escape. Those last words he'd said had been a bit insensitive, and he knew that this wasn't easy for the young lady. The last thing he needed or wanted was to see her cry, and he doubted she'd appreciate him witnessing such a thing either.
Janus was outside, practically waiting to ambush him. Sighing he worked on adjusting the straps and harnesses on the largest of the three horses, the one obviously meant for him. The excited boy would have to be disappointed with curt, distracted answers, where he got any at all. The drow might have only been up for a short while, but already he felt weariness seeping into him, one that wasn't really physical so much as psychological.
The three of them appeared from the house, Primrose and her two older servants, Erthe preoccupied himself with pretending to readjust something, refusing to look in their direction. He didn't want to see accusing looks. After all, he was the one taking Primrose away from here, even if it wasn't his idea.
"Come say goodbye, Janus," his mother called, sending the boy racing over to Primrose. Jain separated from the family and approached Erthe. He placed a hand on the horse's broad neck, petting the beast lovingly.
"Take care of her son," he said quietly, looking at the slave intently. "If you haven't figured it out, she's a special young lady. She's going to need someone like you to look out for her and protect her. I have faith in you. Don't let her down," he said, raising a hand to pat the other man on the back before stopping and letting his hand close and fall to his side. "Safe travels."
There was a small sense of relief as the boy was called away, it gave him a respite from all the questions, of course the drow knew that very shortly he wouldn't be worrying about the boy or his inquisitiveness anymore. That was almost a sad thought, Janus wasn't a bad kid, and although the boy had been annoyingly attached to him since his arrival, it was almost nice having someone so openly interested in everything about him and wasn't put off by his standoffish nature or his intimidating appearance.
They all had been open and accepting, it was easier to take from the servants than Primrose, but even though he had only spent a single night, he realized that he liked these people. And he knew that Primrose loved them and they loved her - reminding him once again how hard this was.
Erthe's focus on the straps he'd been messing with to keep his hands busy was broken as Jain came over to pat the animal, and to speak to him. Crimson eyes turned to study the old man's face, he could see how much this meant to him, and found himself glancing towards Primrose, studying her for a few moments. Jain was certainly right about one thing - the young woman was very special. He wasn't so sure about her needing someone like him for much of anything, though.
His gaze turned back to Jain, and for a moment he locked eyes with him, gaze unwavering. "I swear to you by my rebirth and hope for salvation, it will be so." Erthe didn't know of a more powerful promise he could give. Without another word he swung up into the saddle, settling comfortably as he let the horse prance a few steps as they got to know each other.
Jain nodded his head sharply in understanding. He was completely blown away by such a promise, for he saw it for what it was, the strongest and deepest oath a man could make. The manservant could not ask for more. If anything there was a glint of hope within his heart that his little girl would have someone to champion at her side in the face of the demons she was bound to encounter. He gave the beast a final pat and left to rejoin his wife and son.
Primrose joined Erthe soon after, mounting astride her own smaller mare with ease. The last of the preparations had been packed and all the goodbyes had been said. She was finding that there were no more excuses to stay and she could not trouble Erthe by fighting to stay.
With a final wave of her hand back to her waiting "family," the noblewoman nodded her head to Erthe and turned her horse away from home. She sat tall and straight, looking every much like her knight father and lady mother before her in that moment that it brought tears to the eyes of the adults that had known the pair. No tears filled the noblewoman's eyes though, those would come later when she prayed none could see them. Instead she smiled as if it was her choice to leave instead of the edict of a man filled with hate.
Erthe had no idea why he had done what he'd done. The drow had just sworn something that he was now morally obligated to fulfill to the depths of his soul, and yet it was a promise he couldn't possibly keep. How was he to take care of Primrose when his entire mission seemed to be to her detriment? For now all he could do was keep her physically safe, as was his job, and he'd have to worry about the rest later.
The slave's horse fell in behind the dainty mare, and the pack horse followed behind him. Crimson eyes remained on her back, observing her in silence. She conducted herself admirably. Yes, Jain was quite right, a very special young woman. Erthe wasn't even sure how someone could both be so kind and gentle, and yet so proud and determined at the same time. If their positions had been reversed he didn't know that he could hold in his feelings so well.
His mind drifted to thoughts of Tara, another rather remarkable young woman. When the drow had been torn from her it had broken him. The light of hope had gone out of his eyes and heart that day. Had it really been twenty years? She would be older, married, and probably had grown or near-grown children by now. That thought stung him deeply, but at the same time, he knew that he deserved his pain - he had crossed a line, and had been punished for it. The gods still punished him for his transgression.
Erthe had fallen into a deep silence, his dark crimson eyes stared at nothing, listless.
She led them onto the forest path, seeking to avoid running into people in the city who knew her and would ask questions. Primrose could not bear to explain where she was going and why she was not coming back to the young children she had called her students. The thought that she might run into some of Harkness' ilk had crossed her mind but she chose to believe they would stay far away from the one responsible for their son's death.
Unable to take the silence much longer she called back to her companion. "Erthe come ride beside me, please. I rather not be up here all alone, if you don't mind that is. I wouldn't want to make you uncomfortable," she rambled, starting to fall into an old habit of hers.
Erthe was so lost in his own miserable thoughts that he didn't even notice which way Prim lead them, the stallion he was riding simply followed the mare by instinct with little guidance from the drow. Not that it mattered which way they went, as long as they were headed for Serendipity. Really, the forest path was probably for the best. Being stopped constantly by those that would know the lady would only slow them down even further and would have made the trip that much more unbearable for both of them.
Primrose's voice was the only thing that snapped him from his dark and moody thoughts. Giving the animal a gentle nudge, the slave moved his mount up along side of hers. "Your comfort and safety is paramount to anything else, Lady Primrose." He murmured, keeping his eyes down cast to the road before him. This was going to be a very long trip, but at least this time they were well-supplied and mounted. Now if only he could get her to stop worrying about him and his comfort - both were irrelevant.
"My comfort hardly matters when we have a long journey to a marriage bed I do not wish to reside in, but thank you all the same." Primrose sighed and squeezed her eyes shut in guilt. "Forgive me, that was cruel of me. I do not blame you for your duty, you are only following the orders of my tyrant uncle. I doubt if I was in your position I could do any different."
The scenery passed her by and yet the noblewoman hardly noticed. She was oblivious to it, drowning in thoughts of anger towards her uncle and dread for her coming future. Trying to force herself to think of something else she asked Erthe how long it had taken him to get to her home in Adela and if he had experienced any troubles on the road.
There weren't really any words of comfort that Erthe could think to offer her. It wasn't his place to offer her comfort, only protection. "An apology is unnecessary, Lady Primrose." He said softly, sparing her a glance from the corner of his eye. He didn't blame her for being unhappy with everything. The drow wouldn't have blamed her if she hated him for his role in her plight, but she hadn't cast any blame on him - not once.
"It took weeks, lady, but aside from poor rations and bad weather there was no trouble." Sometimes you ran into bandits, but he had been on foot, alone, and obviously poor. Not to mention the sheer size of the drow discouraged most petty criminals on his way to Adela.
She sighed and shook her head. "I know you wouldn't accept it but I am sorry that you had to even contend with that. Weather may not be helped but poor rations could have that stingy..." Primrose growled something out under her breath her hands curling into tight fists around the reigns causing her mare to whinny in protest. The noblewoman quickly relaxed her hold, patting the animal's neck.
"Your horse's name is Tucker by the way. Just in case you want to know who the crafty beast currently bouncing you along is. He was a foal when my father died. Tucker grew up with me, although I don't think he ever really did grow up. He acts more like a colt than anything else. I'm sorry if he gives you trouble. When boredom strikes, it's hard to keep him from getting antsy. I'm sorry, Erthe. I don't foresee him being trouble but," she sighed heavily, "you never know."
The thought of reminding her that she didn't owe him any apologies for anything crossed his mind, but Erthe knew that it wouldn't do him any good. He arched a brow as she began growling under her breath. The slave had suspected that the uncle and niece weren't exactly close, but it was more than that, he wondered if there was outright hostility.
When she spoke about the horse he was using, he couldn't help but smile, though the gesture was slight and brief. Primrose had a way about her, the way she looked, the way she talked. Erthe had never been accused of being a warm, friendly, or welcoming person, but he found himself enjoying her presence, despite himself.
"If he gets unruly we could try running it out of him, Lady Primrose." Antsy horses were usually receptive to a good working out, and some horses just loved to run.
"A very good suggestion. My only concerns with that though are wearing him out but we reach our destination and poor Zinnia keeping up. Tucker was born to be a war horse and grew up helping out on nearby farms during the harvest but otherwise lives a carefree life. I don't even think he's been ridden since he was much younger and smaller."
She giggled at the memory. "If you wanted to though I don't mind you riding ahead with him so he can burn off some energy. I just don't want you feeling burnt out too at the end. I know a day in the saddle is rough and that a few weeks is going to be worse. I don't want to cause you any undue trouble."
"He's a magnificent animal." Erthe murmured, reaching a hand down to pat the horse's neck gently. He hadn't been on a horse in twenty years, but the drow had easily slipped back into the saddle, and found it kind of nice. After all, as a slave he considered himself akin to an animal, and drow were elves, albeit quite different from their sun-loving cousins.
"I would be careful to keep him fit, all through the trip, Lady Primrose. He'll be as spry and eager to go when we reach your uncle as he was setting out." Not only would Erthe take better care of Primrose than he would ever think to of himself, he'd do the same for their three animals as well.
The thought of riding ahead troubled him, though. Leaving her side for even a short time left a hollow feeling in his stomach. It only took a second for something to go terribly wrong, what if he wasn't there? No, he couldn't ride ahead, the lady must be protected at all costs.
She smiled honestly, looking over at her companion with pride. "Thank you. I have no doubt that you would Erthe. However, once more I must ask you to call me Primrose. Would it not be safer for strangers to think me as someone other than a lady of position and with money? I would much prefer to not bring undue attention to ourselves if we can help it. Hopefully we will be mistaken for a ragtag group to begin with and not worth anyone's while."
Primrose winked playfully, knowing full well she was giving him a conflict of interest to deal with but hoping she could win on this matter. One way or another she was going to get him to call her Primrose before this journey was over, even if she had to beg him everyday they were together.
Erthe immediately opened his mouth to protest dropping the honorific to her name, but clicked his teeth together as he shut his mouth just as quickly, expression turning to a soft scowl. Primrose as a lady and he was a slave, he should refer to her by her respected title - he knew this, any slave that had tasted the whip as many times as he had knew this. There was logic to what she said though. People would be more eager to trouble them if they knew that she was a lady.
This was a rather tricky instance, and her playful wink only soured his expression further. She should not be enjoying this so much. Just knowing that she wanted him to stop calling her lady made him want to do it even more, just out of spite, as the only real defiance he could still express. It wasn't as if she was going to punish him either way, but it went so much deeper than that. His will had been broken years and years ago, that this woman wouldn't punish him and treated him with dignity and respect couldn't erase that. Tara had never even erased that - not really.
"I will think on it, Lady Primrose." Erthe said in a quiet, but stubborn tone.
Primrose giggled but nodded her head, relenting for the moment. "Take all the time you need, Erthe." She liked his stubbornness, knowing it would test her own, much to her amusement. The young woman always did like a challenge. Yet, it also delighted her to see that streak of stubbornness him as she deemed it as the slightest bit of defiance. She could only hope that he would be able in his own ways to give as good as she did to her uncle. That man deserved as much trouble as every person around him could give and more.
"Oh and Erthe!" she called, turning some to look at him again. "I'm afraid I forgot to tell you that I have a bit of a bad habit. I tend to forget to stop and take the time to eat or rest when I am busy thinking or doing something. Would you be comfortable with helping me with that matter? I think your stomach would be a better judge than mine to determine when it would be best for us to break and eat." She offered him a sheepish look as she said it but it was no lie. Primrose was eternally grateful to her servants who had always made sure to keep her well-fed despite her distracted nature.
The giggles she gave along with her response had Erthe turning his head away, not looking at her, and making a point of it. She was playing some silly game with him, he just knew it. It wasn't fair either, because the deck was stacked against him. Something Jolie said to him crossed his mind, about not letting her win just because she was pretty. If only it were so easy. Playing a game was hard when you didn't even know the rules - let alone how to win.
When she called to him, he didn't turn to face her, instead keeping his eyes on the task of scanning their surroundings, which was currently a very boring job. When she mentioned that she forgot to eat or rest, well, the slave sighed and closed his eyes. This was going to be a very long trip. "I swore to take care of you, Lady Primrose, and take care of you is what I will do. If that includes reminding you to eat and sleep, so be it."
She saw his expression and took it as exasperation with her. Words fell from her lips before she had even realized she had said them aloud. "How you must hate me." Primrose looked straight ahead once more, her own face now absent of the mirth that had been there only moments before.
The noblewoman was no fool despite her naivety. She also was rather sensitive to the trouble she caused others. While she had an ulterior motive for asking Erthe to care for her, Primrose did want him to remember to eat and rest himself, she did see she had added more weight to his shoulders and now regretted her somewhat playful words.
"You need not worry. I will not be your burden for long."
That didn't go quite the way Erthe had imagined it. The drow's expression fell as he heard her words. How could she think such a thing? What reason could he possibly have for hating her? Now he felt strange, oddly guilty. Somehow he had caused this problem, he had stolen the laughter from her sweet lips.
Sighing again he shook his head, not really sure what to say, but knowing he was about to say something. "Lady Primrose, you have been nothing but kind to me since the moment you laid eyes on me - for what reason I cannot begin to imagine. I don't hate you, and you are not a burden."
She was a duty, but really, it wasn't going to be that bad. Sure, it was something of a ridiculous mission to be on, but he was a slave and that wasn't for him to judge. "Forgive me if I offended you in some way. I'm unaccustomed to polite society, Lady Primrose." He bowed to her slightly from his saddle, hoping that he had at least done some good with his clumsy words.
"You did not offend," she replied quietly. "You need not worry about acting in polite company for I am far from it. I'm little more than property, same as you. Only difference is I was free to foolishly believe otherwise until now. You were born into this life, weren't you?" Primrose asked with a heavy sigh.
Her face contorted into anger as she continued to sit straight-backed and facing forward. "A slave. Property," she spat, "before you had even drawn your first breath and for what reason? It's disgusting what my people do to others let alone each other."
As she spoke though the noblewoman was not seeing what was in front of her but memories of her childhood. She had never forgotten her father's stories of his past life nor the treatment of Engilram's slaves during her time living in his home. Her own parents had been against slavery but left it up to their daughter to decide for herself. For own part Primrose was aghast and disgusted by the idea of enslaving someone to do work one was too lazy to do on one's own.
It set her blood on fire to think about it. Add to the mix her own arranged marriage that she saw as not much different and she was fit to be tied. Primrose wanted to scream and shout, to rage and howl so that the world might now of her pained heart and yet she found she could not. Like a statue of cold stone she sat upon her favorite Zinnia and play the part of the perfect noblewoman.
"I am not angry or upset with you Erthe. I'm sorry if I disturbed you I just...I have not yet come to terms with some things. I know I should be happy about my upcoming nuptials yet, I cannot in good faith say I look forward to them. It puts me in a sour mood. I am sorry I took that out on you."
Never once had the drow considered Primrose's plight in such a light, but now that she painted the picture for him with her bitter words, well, it was obvious. Sure, as a slave he was beneath everyone, lower than dirt and easily discarded when his usefulness was ended, but his life in a cage wasn't really that much different than hers, was it? The major difference was her cage was gilded and pretty, heavy with deception, and unseen bars.
Erthe realized that his master was doing little more than selling Primrose to a new owner by passing her on to a husband that he hadn't even given her the option of considering. Looking at it from her perspective he felt his stomach twisting in knots. Did that make him her slaver? He'd been sent out to fetch her to the block, to herd her like cattle to where she was wanted by the butcher. How had he not seen it before now?
"Why should you be happy about marrying a man you probably don't even know, Lady Primrose?" He asked quietly. She didn't have to pretend on his account. "You don't have to apologize to me for feeling how you feel, take it out on me, I'm an easy - and safe - target for your frustrations. I just hope that you know that I don't want to be here, or to do this. I just didn't have a choice."
She swallowed dryly, fighting the urge to cry in front of him. Primrose had her pride and did not wish to let him see weakness in her. It had not escaped her that he had already seen her despaired upon his arrival. The last thing she needed was to be treated like a child a or a fragile maiden for she was neither.
"That is exactly why I should not take things out on you Erthe. You didn't have a choice any more than I do. I don't blame you for this, you're doing your duty just as I must do mine but, ever the optimist I can't seem to find something to..." Primrose paused as her eyes welled with tears and danced about, staring at the branches above her in thought. "Something to be happy about. I used to and yet now," her hand raised before flopping helplessly back down upon her knee. "I don't know anything to look forward to. I just sit here, and it's so unlike me, you must understand that, but I just sit here and keep thinking about all the things that are happening that I don't want to. I don't know what to think."
Erthe listened to Primrose, hearing her frustrations, knowing that she was fighting tears and despair. The slave could understand how she felt - to have your whole world and life turned upside down and to not be your own. Part of him wanted to feel sorry for her, but honestly, he couldn't. Sympathy and empathy, yes, but not pity. The drow didn't want to take her to this life of dreary regrets, but he didn't have a choice, and if she thought her options were bad, well, she obviously didn't realize how fortunate she actually was.
"You could be happy that you are not me." He offered in a soft tone. She had not been given a choice in this marriage, but he had never been given a choice about anything in his life. Erthe was born to amuse others and then to die when his usefulness ended. Most of his life has been spent in fighting pits, trying not to be killed while people like Primrose's uncle jeered at him and the poor bastard he was being forced to kill.
"No, I do understand that," she protested, feeling desperate to try and make him understand that she was not just some foolish little spoiled brat feeling sorry for herself. "You are right. I recognize that I should be grateful for all I have and the good life I have lived and may I really am as pathetic as I sound but...but nothing."
Primrose sighed and shook her head. "I am a fool. I know there are people who suffer more than me. I have seen them, talked to them, worked beside them. But today, I think I would rather be you than be me, at least then I would know my place or die from my own defiance."
Erthe shook his head as Primrose spoke. She was really trying too hard. What did she feel she needed to prove to him? Or to anyone, for that matter? There was a reason the drow spoke so little. Well there were many reasons, but one of the reasons was sometimes you just didn't need to say that much. Some people hadn't learned this. The lady wanted him to understand something that he really didn't need to understand.
"I don't think you're pathetic, Lady Primrose." No, he certainly didn't think that. "But if you think that you'd still rather be in my place, then perhaps you are a bit foolish." Red eyes stayed straight ahead, but there was a tension in the way he held himself. A slave calling a lady foolish was...not something that was done. Still, Erthe had said it and he knew that someone else might have punished him, but he didn't think that Primrose would.
Her only response was to nod her head in silence. She did feel like a fool, even more so for complaining to a man who had probably spent his entire life being someone's property and whipping boy. Primrose mentally cursed herself for being so thoughtless and cruel. She should have known better. No, she did know better.
The noblewoman sighed heavily before letting go of the reigns for a moment. She placed both of her hands over her mouth before sliding them down to right over her heart and then rapidly swiping them away and out perpendicular to her body as if she was throwing something away from her.
'Goodbye misery, I don't need you anymore!' she thought, doing it twice more, then retaking the reigns. It was something her father had taught her to do whenever she felt darkness closing in around her heart. Primrose had always found it to be a bit silly yet it had never failed to work as far as she was concerned. Already she felt a bit lighter if not just very weary and sad. She thought it would probably be best to remain in silent contemplation for the rest of her journey rather than bother the poor man forced to escort her all the way to Serendipity.
While Erthe hadn't been exactly sure what to expect after calling Primrose foolish, he honestly hadn't thought that a tense silence would end up settling over them. The drow hadn't though that silence could feel heavy, but apparently it could weigh a ton. He didn't know what to say, though, so they rode quietly with only the sounds of their horses' hooves keeping it from being completely unbearable.
The slave had thought that having the young lady being quite would be a blessing. She made him uneasy with her insistence of treating him as if he wasn't just a lowborn slave that was more property than person. He was wrong. Erthe found himself missing her voice, even if he didn't agree with what she said - this sad void that hung between them would make the trip miserable, but he didn't know how to break it.
As the sun climbed through the sky, there was an excuse to talk, and for that he was thankful. Speaking quietly, he'd been subtly watching her much of this time, but now he looked more directly. "Lady Primrose, you should eat something. It is midday, shall we find a place to break?"
She nodded her head in acknowledgement then urged Zinnia abruptly to the side and into a small clearing she remembered from years past. From there she quickly and effortlessly dismounted, not waiting for Erthe in any capacity as she saw to the needs of her horse before her own.
Primrose had not spoken a word in several hours and continued to hold her silence, feeling the tension between them grow with her guilt. Her mare nuzzled her fondly, seeking attention as the noblewoman rubbed the warm neck distractedly. She tried to busy herself to keep from thinking but it was no use. All she did was think.
Like she had said to Erthe before she had not even thought of eating although it was for a slightly different reason. Even at that moment and the thought of food, Primrose felt nothing. If it meant that she could get the slave to eat as well then she was more than willing to choke down some bread before they were on their way again.
He followed along after her into the clearing, not sure what else he could do. As he dismounted to look after Tucker Erthe really had hoped that maybe Primrose would start talking again, but the silence dragged on uncomfortably. The drow found himself softly stroking the stallion's neck as a comforting gesture, although he wasn't sure if he was comforting the horse or himself. Mentally he cursed himself for ever calling her foolish. It was not the place of a slave to say such things.
As soon as Tucker was comfortable he moved to the pack horse and looked after that horse with as much consideration as he had his mount, even stroking the animal for a few moments, muttering softly to the beast in the elvish language, thanking it for its service. Then he pulled out a few rolls left over from breakfast and sighed, casting a tentative glance towards the quiet woman.
"I'm sorry I called you foolish, Lady Primrose. I would accept any punishment, but I know you won't give it, even though I deserve to be reprimanded for speaking beyond my place." Erthe knew she wouldn't like him talking like that, but it was how he felt and besides, maybe it would actually get her to say something. The silence was more than he could stand.
"You did nothing wrong Erthe and require no punishment. You followed a directive to agree with something I had said. You were only performing a duty no matter what your own feelings were. You need not concern yourself with it. It was what I needed to hear," Primrose responded softly. There was no life in her words as if her spirit had been dampened and smothered to the point of nonexistence.
She did not look at him as she went about her tasks. Food was the last thing on her weary mind. "You must eat as well Erthe. Your health is as important as my own," she said with a finality before finding there was nothing else she could do. Her horses were cared for, she was not hungry, and she doubted Erthe would listen to her words. She sank heavily to a stone, pulling one knee up to her chest to rest her chin on it and sighed.
Maybe the silence hadn't been so bad after all. Erthe listened to Primrose speak, and the softness and listlessness of her voice troubled him greatly. He had seen what the poor lady had been reduced to before his arrival. That shadow of a woman that had shuffled towards him from bed was not really alive. The great care and respect he'd been shown had made him uncomfortable, but he felt like he'd caught a glimpse of the real Primrose Dragoslov, and this was not her.
The drow knew what it was like to have your spirit broken. It left a person barely still a person, and though he thought himself to have picked himself back up from the shattered spirit, he knew that he was probably kidding himself. No one knew, saw, or cared about the real Erthe, because not even he remembered that man. The slave wasn't sure that man even actually existed. Had he ever been allowed to be his true self? Had this miserable, beaten creature become his true self?
How could he allow that to happen to her? How could he stop it? Erthe felt helpless, he'd spent his entire life being helpless to fight his circumstances, and it was maddeningly frustrating. There was no appetite to him, and the thought of food went so far as to make him slightly queasy. He'd eaten more and better food than he was accustomed to since arriving at Primrose's house.
"You should eat something, Lady Primrose." He murmured softly, crimson eyes half-lidded as they observed the way she sank down to the stone and sighed. The drow might have been rather stoney-faced at times, but his expression had softened into concern as he knelt down in front of her, putting him a little closer to her level instead of constantly towering over her.
The noblewoman looked at him dully as he sank to her level. She found his concern endearing but also sad. Primrose wondered if he only did it for fear of his master's reprimand. She would not blame him, Engilram was a terrifying man who cared for no one and nothing but himself and his own needs.
"I will eat if you do," she replied softly. There was a weariness in her words but also an underlying determination. Primrose would see things done and done right, starting with his care. Slowly she reached a hand out to touch his face, wishing to cup his cheek in the palm of her hand. She craved contact with someone. Primrose missed the closeness of her family already combined with that Harkness. He too had been her protector and her heart broke to think of him.
It may have been the slave's duty to see Primrose safely to their destination, but his master didn't have as much to do with it as the promise he'd made to Jain to take care of her. Even more than the promise, Erthe just wanted to make sure that she was safe and cared for because she was a sweet, gentle woman that had been very kind to him when not many would have. Never once had she looked down on him because he was a slave or not human, and though it made him uncomfortable, he still appreciated it on some level.
"Of course I -" The words seized in his throat as her hand reached for his face, as his heart began beating faster the urge to flinch away from that touch was difficult to fight. At least he'd seen it coming. Her fingers and hand were soft and warm against his cheek, and he dropped his gaze to the ground, not looking at her and obviously tense.
She shouldn't soil her hands with his lowly self, but those words tangled on his tongue and he couldn't say them. Erthe didn't want to upset her, and she didn't seem to like it when he talked poorly of himself because of his position. So instead he found other words, and licked his lips nervously before saying them. "Do you want to talk about it?"
She rubbed her thumb gently against his cheek moments before letting her hand drop away from his face. She had seen the hunted look in his eyes as she had reached for him and felt bad for the pain she believed she had caused him.
"Forgive me Erthe. I should not have done that without permission. I hope I did not hurt you." Her gaze dropped to her foot as she moved the hand that had touched him to rest on the thigh of her extended leg.
Primrose did not look at him when he spoke again but her eyes displayed her confusion. "I do not understand. Talk about what?"
The gesture was so tender and brief, as soon as she took her hand away Erthe let his eyes come back up to rest on her face, looking into her gentle blue eyes and wondering how he could help ease the pain he saw there. Her apology made him uncomfortable and he dropped his gaze again. A lady shouldn't apologize to a slave for any reason. Certainly not for something so simple and sweet as touching him like that.
"You don't have to apologize, Lady Primrose, even if you had harmed me in some way, but you didn't." Her confusion both did and didn't surprise him. It wasn't his place to talk to her, especially not in regards to things of a personal nature. Still, he felt himself curious and also wanting to have her open up to him again. The listless, closed-off silence was awful.
"I know that you have lost someone deeply important to you recently. Jain asked if I knew a Mr. Hoverstone, and you yourself called me Harkness and threw yourself upon me when first you saw my shadow. Maybe it is wrong of me to presume, but..." He shook his head.
Her eyes slammed shut even as a sad smile tugged the corners of her lips upward. "Harkness," she murmured barely breathing as she let the painful name cross her lips. Primrose swallowed tightly before opening her eyes more fully and smiling brighter at the Drow.
"Thank you Erthe. You are too kind," she told him licking her lips to try and calm her racing heart. "Perhaps tonight if you are still willing to listen I could tell you more about him. But yes, he was someone...someone special." She blinked her eyes rapidly to beat back tears while adjusting herself on the rock more comfortably.
Asking about the recently deceased was a gamble, but Erthe realized that although the young woman looked on the verge of tears, it had been a good call. Though her first smile was sad as she spoke that name so lovingly, the next was brighter as she looked at him, and he couldn't help but smile softly back at her.
"I did nothing, Lady Primrose." He said softly, "And I am always willing to listen if you need to speak of something - of anything." It wasn't a slave's place to be a friend to their betters, but if it made Primrose smile, if it lifted her up out of that awful, bleak stupor, then it was a trifling thing to be a sympathetic ear for her to pour herself out to.
"Thank you. That means a lot to me to hear. You don't have to but I am grateful for the offer alone. Not many people in this world would do the same. Makes you quite special I suppose," Primrose told him with another warm smile. She longed to hug him in thanks as she would have done to any other person yet she had already seen his discomfort at being touched. The noblewoman dared not upset him further.
"Now then. I do believe there is some food you are meant to be eating, no?" There was the faintest glimmer of her playfulness reflecting in her glassy eyes. Despite the tears that still fought to fall she was in better spirits thanks to the concerned slave.
Erthe shook his head in denial. He was not special. There were plenty of people who would offer to talk to someone in distress. Especially someone like her. The drow could understand why those that surrounded Primrose came to love her dearly. Even he felt drawn to her, and he had only just met her. Jain was right, a very special woman indeed. Bitterly he thought about the man that he was delivering her to. Not the kind of person to really appreciate how uniquely warm and caring Primrose was. Hopefully this man she was to be married to would at least see and love that about her.
"You too, Lady Primrose." Erthe said softly, looking up at her and lifting his hand with the rolls and pushing one gently into her hand. "That was the deal." He smiled and stood, moving over to sit nearby and dutifully biting into one of the two rolls still in his hand. They still tasted delicious, and only a few minutes ago he thought the food would be tasteless in his mouth. Well, that was when things were tense and heavy. The drow felt lighter now that Primrose was smiling and talking again.
She smiled honestly and nodded her head as she accepted the food from him. "That it was, you are quite correct, my friend." Her dangling leg swung back and forth as the noblewoman picked at her food, her fingers delicately tearing the bread into small enough pieces for her to nibble on while watching him eat his own food.
"Thank you, Erthe, for everything. I know I am not an easy travel companion. You are being most accommodating."
Friend? Erthe shifted slightly uncomfortably at the use of that word. Someone like him didn't deserve to be friends with someone like her - and not just because she was a lady and he was a slave. Although that was part of it.
"I am a slave, you don't have to thank me for anything, Lady Primrose." He had promised to take care of her, and he would. A girl like her deserved to be taken care of by a better man than him, but he would just have to make due until he could get her to wear they were going and hope that her husband-to-be was a good sort. That made him thoughtful, wondering just who she was supposed to marry. It wasn't his business, he reminded himself as he took another bite and chewed thoughtfully.
"Slave or not I choose to, Erthe. I believe in thanking people for what they do no matter who they are. I am afraid it is a habit I cannot break. I hope it doesn't bother you too much, my friend. It is likely you will be thanked quite a bit by the time we reach Jad-home."
Primrose scowled briefly at having to remind herself that where she was headed would be her new home. She wanted nothing to do with it but the noblewoman was determined to stand her ground and keep an upbeat attitude about her new life even if it killed her.
Erthe still didn't think he had done anything worthy of being thanked. Pointing that out would only have her arguing the matter with him, though. It was an argument he knew he couldn't win. Not only that, but the idea of arguing with a lady made him more than a little uneasy. Arguing or back-talking would normally get him whipped. Primrose would never, he knew that, but it was so ingrained that he couldn't shake the apprehension of punishment at the slightest wrongdoing.
"Serendipity isn't a bad place to live, you know." The drow offered quietly. He'd been born in Adela, but he'd lived in Serendipity for parts of his life. Of course as a slave one place was little different than another. It probably wasn't the right thing to say, but he knew that this move was not what she wanted for herself and felt the need to at least try to be supportive in some way.
Primrose nodded her head while offering him another warm smile. There was a fondness in her voice as she spoke. "Aye, you are quite right. I spent much of my childhood in Serendipity with my mother's family after my father's unfortunate death. She wished to be close to her family although now I wonder if it was just my uncle's demand that she be so. The land can be quite beautiful.
"Tell me Erthe, if you don't mind that is. You don't have to tell me if you do not wish to. But, have you always lived in Serendipity?"
Erthe smiled as he ate slowly and listened to her talk about her childhood in Serendipity, though he frowned softly at the mention of her uncle. The man that had purchased him seemed an unpleasant sort, and he sighed softly. Primrose wasn't the only one that wasn't really looking forward to reach their destination. It wasn't as if he had much to look forward to.
"I was born in Adela. I lived here for a long time, I'm not sure how many years, but I've been back and forth between the two countries depending on who owns me at the time." He shrugged his shoulders, it didn't matter where he was from or where he lived.
"Like me then," she sighed. "I too was born here. Then was in Serendipity for a time. It has always been a fight of back and forth since my mother's passing. Don't mistake me, I do like it there. My first friend was made there but," Primrose sighed heavily and took another bite before speaking again.
"But, this has always been home. People don't belong in cages no matter how beautiful they may appear. My uncle is a collector of fine things. He enjoys showing off his wealth and his property. People like you and I though different are the same in his eyes. We're just pawns in a game he's already won."
Erthe wished he could relate to what Primrose was speaking about, but he honestly wasn't sure he could. He'd never really liked living in a certain place, it was hard to like much of anything when you had no options. The drow had been born in Adela, but he didn't know that he had any significant emotional attachment to the country.
"I don't know if I've ever had a home, and friends don't come easily to me, but I think my first friend was made in Serendipity, too." He frowned softly, red eyes dropping to the piece of bread he began picking at, tearing apart without much interest in actually eating it. Tara had been his lover, and his friend, at least he thought so. Never in his life had he loved someone before, except his mother, but even that had been strained and odd. The woman had wanted nothing to do with him, after all.
The noblewoman sighed looking up to the sky above sadly. "Erthe may I ask something of you? I know I have asked so many things already and you must be quite frustrated at this point though you dare not show it, which of course you could around me if you so desired because I hope you know I do not feel that way about you in regards to slavery. You're not a slave to me, but that's not the topic I am trying to discuss, not that we can't if you wanted to but before that I wanted to ask a favor if you're willing. And it must be if you're willing and by your choice. It is not something I will force on you and not something I will press of you either way."
She took a deep breath to calm herself, continuing to keep her gaze raised so as to not make him uncomfortable as she asked. Primrose licked her lips nervously, her breath coming quick as her cheeks flushed with the desire to ask and the fear of rejection. "Erthe will you do me the honor of being the last friend I make in Adela?"
Erthe blinked, and thought he was lucky that his eyes hadn't gone crossed as he listened to Primrose talk nervously. Never in his life had someone talked in circles so much that he thought he might actually be getting dizzy trying to follow their words. Blinking again, clearing his dark eyes, he looked at the lady as she stared upwards, not looking at him.
It took several moments for him to realize what it was she'd actually asked. His mind was still fighting the urge to protest to her not considering him a slave. It wasn't exactly an optional thing - it was just what he was. The drow sighed, ears twitching slightly as his grey skin darkened just a bit on his face. "What will my master say to such a thing? I realize you don't view me as a slave, but that doesn't make me any less of one. Someone like me doesn't deserve friendship from someone so pure and kind as you, and I'm not the only one that will say it. I...don't think that my master would be pleased to hear you call me friend."
Even as he said it, Erthe looked ashamed. Primrose had shown him more compassion than anyone in his life, save perhaps Tara, but even she had still viewed him as a slave. "To be your friend is more honor than I am worthy of receiving."
Her features closed and became diplomatic as she lowered her gaze to meet his gently and without challenge. It was as she suspected, he would reject her. Like many before him, Erthe feared and Primrose was to be left alone. She tried to fight her sinking heart and not be affected by it even as she prepared herself to speak calmly once more.
"I leave the choice to you Erthe. Personally I believe what my uncle doesn't know doesn't concern him and it is hardly like you'll ever see me against once your duty to him is fulfilled. However, I do think you view me as far too perfect for my own good. I am not as sweet as you think," she told him with the faintest of smiles before that too dropped away.
Bowing her head to him, Primrose went back to eating. "I honor your choice."
Erthe felt horrible, but didn't know why he should. He was doing the right thing! This nonsense of a lady befriending a slave needed to be stopped, here and now. To allow such foolishness to continue would only open them to hurt and punishment later. Did she really not see why he had to refuse her request? She even admitted to his greatest concern.
"Please don't think me ungrateful." He sighed, appetite once again lost. "I appreciate everything you have done for me, but you said it yourself. Once we reach Serendipity that is the end, we would never likely be permitted to see one another again. I can't lose another friend like that."
The memories that flooded him of Tara were too painful to ignore, and he got to his feet and went to tend to Tucker again, although it wasn't really necessary. Stroking the animal's glossy coat helped soothe him a little, but his chest still felt tight and he kept his head lowered, and his long ears seemed to have wilted somewhat as he kept his back to Primrose so she could not see the anguish on his face, though the tension in his stance was harder to hide.
Those words broke her heart. How excessively cruel and thoughtless of her to ask something of him when he was quite right. It was not right of her to walk into his life and then waltz right back out leaving him without a friend. Where she at least had the chance though no desire to make new friends in her new life, Primrose doubted he could say the same. She understood his desire to protect himself by not opening his heart to someone that would only leave him at the journey's end.
She finished her food in silence, watching carefully as he abandoned her to tend to the strong war horse in silence. Again she felt the desire to race to her feet and smother him in a hug, begging his forgiveness yet Primrose recognized the need for privacy and left him be. Instead, the noblewoman enjoyed the peace of the forest and took to brushing the crumbs off her hands and pants. She hoped though that she had not ruined all chances of him speaking to her or they were about to embark on a very grueling journey filled with complete and boring silence.
Long minutes would pass in silence as Erthe gently and lovingly brushed the stallion. It took him a while to swallow the lump in his throat, to force the hurt and loss back down to be buried beneath the cool distant make he wore to protect himself from suffering even more pain than he already did. Physical pain was one thing, but emotional pain was so much worse. Eventually he did manage to regain his composure, and he blinked up at the sky, judging the time.
"We should probably continue soon, Lady Primrose." He said softly, packing away the horse brush again. Tucker really had managed to soothe him, and he was grateful for the beast's presence. Being around horses wasn't something he got to do often, let alone ride them, but he liked them, they were beautiful, smart animals with a large capacity for affection. It would probably be hard for him to say goodbye to the stallion too before this was all over.
"Coming Erthe!" she called, jumping to her feet as if they had not just both suffered through painful inner musings. Primrose smiled as she passed him on her way to her own mare and mounted up with little difficulty. The beginnings of stiffness were setting in and she made a note to herself to remember to stretch before bed as well as give Zinnia a good rubdown so the poor dear would not be tomorrow when they started out anew.
Offering her companion a friendly nod she thanked him again for looking out for her and ensuring that they stopped to eat and rest. "It was exactly what I needed," she informed him with a big smile. Inside her heart ached but the noblewoman was determined to not let it show.
Erthe wasn't sure if he should be surprised by how quickly she jumped up to comply, or how cheery she tried to sound. He knew she wasn't happy, but for some reason the lady wanted to hide it from him. The drow shook his head and climbed into the saddle. Pretending to be happy when you weren't couldn't be easy. Did she think it would benefit him in some way for her to be cheerful?
"I have to take care of you," was all he said in response to her thanks. The slave was still musing over how strong of a woman Primrose was as he led the pack horse out of the clearing and back towards the road. She put on a very brave face.
She sat straight and sure in her saddle, looking every but the proper young woman she was meant to be. Primrose was working her absolute hardest to appear as unaffected as she possibly could so as to forget her depressed mood. Erthe was right. She did neither of them any good by being sullen and down-trodden. There were certainly worse fates she could be headed towards and she had not shown the Drow a single drop of gratefulness in her mind for all his care and worry. She would need to do better in the future. He deserved that and more.
"Erthe can you hunt?" The noblewoman asked hoping to start a conversation again. Even if they could not be friends that did not mean they could not be friendly on their journey together.
The drow wasn't sure what to expect with Primrose, the noblewoman's moods seemed fickle to him, but in her defense she was under a lot of pressure and stress. Not to mention that she had to deal with someone as socially clueless as him. The question caught him a little off-guard, and he turned his crimson eyes on her curiously. It seemed a harmless enough question, though. Being amicable would make the journey far more bearable for both of them.
"I've never hunted before." Erthe shrugged his shoulders uncomfortably, for some reason he felt a little ashamed of such a fact. As a slave he'd had his chores, but none of them involved hunting something. Being thrown into a pit and forced to fight to the death with other slaves and sometimes captured beasts hardly counted as hunting. "Do you hunt, Lady Primrose? I know some hunt to support their families and some hunt for sport."
It surprised her to hear that he had never hunted before. She was sure that if anyone wanted him as a slave it would be for work like that. How little she new of this world it seemed. It caused her to blush to think that she had assumed and possibly even insulted him, especially given her response to him.
"Aye, I have hunted before. Small things really though. I'm a terrible shot with a bow." Primrose giggled remembering talking with Harkness about it and briefly feeling her heart dive into her stomach before she severed that train of thought. "Never for sport though. I abhor the idea of ending lives for anything other than survival. You defend your life and those you care about. You feed yourself and your family. You don't kill for amusement or to hang a head on the wall."
She shook her head sadly before looking at the Drow shyly. "I'm sorry I'm so opinionated Erthe. I don't mean to be insulting or upsetting to you. I tend to not think before I speak and it gets me into far too much trouble. I wish I could be like you, always so quiet and calm. You must always know what to say when the moment is right. I've never been that way."
Erthe listened to her speak of hunting, and found himself subconsciously nodding his head. The thought of taking life from another sickened him. Images of so many dying faces haunted him, and he shook his head to rid himself of the thoughts. He had killed so many people for sport, not his own sport, of course, for the entertainment and pleasure of people he thought must have something very wrong inside of them to derive so much enjoyment from such gruesome pain.
"Don't apologize for having an opinion, Lady Primrose, you haven't upset me. I've never been hunting, but I agree that it should only be done when you plan to use what you kill. It would be such a waste, otherwise." He said softly. People were so wasteful, especially those with lots of money. They took so much for granted. A day in his place might make them see the world differently, but that wasn't likely to happen.
Despite himself he found himself smiling slightly, a lop-sided and unpracticed gesture. "And don't wish to be like me. I find I'm often quiet because I don't know what to say, regardless of the moment."
"Mother always said if you don't have anything nice to say, then don't say anything at all. Problem is I never seem to know when to be silent. I'm sure you've figured that out though," she laughed, blushing darkly in embarrassment.
She found his smile quite handsome and her smiling back sweetly in return. "I think you do though Erthe. You have managed each and every time to find the right thing to say to me. Unless that is one of your specialties. I do not recall my father saying such things about slave training before."
Her eyes widened as she realized what she had let slip and glanced at Erthe from her peripherals, hoping she had not offended him. Primrose lived in constant fear of upsetting others and would make herself sick if left to do so.
The drow was not a man for smiles. It was a rare expression, and generally awkward when it happened. Of course, the reason for his lack of jovial facial expressions was that he rarely had things to smile about. Still, he couldn't help himself now. Primrose could have gotten a rock to grin, Erthe was convinced of this. Her personality was infectious, her sweet nature irresistible.
Though he found himself wondering about Primrose's parents even more. His father had died before his birth and his mother had wanted nothing to do with him. Filthy half-breed that he was. If his father had lived would he have even been allowed to know him? He didn't know, and his smile faltered slightly as he wondered what it would have been like to grow up with loving parents.
The slave blinked at her words about slave training and specialties. For a moment he could only stare at her, then he looked away, eyes lowered and shoulders shaking slightly. Maybe she would take it as a sign of offense, but the drow was actually shaking from laughter that he couldn't contain, and the sound bubbled out of him involuntarily. "My specialty? No, no...I think my masters prefer me silent as much as possible. I said before I am unaccustomed to polite society. Being good with words has never been my intended purpose in life."
For a moment Primrose thought she had made the drow cry until she heard the sweet sound of laughter escaping his lips. It made her cheeks flush and her heart flutter to hear for it brought her joy to know if only for a moment she had brought Erthe amusement.
She found the words coming out of her mouth before she could stop them as the noblewoman smiled brightly, her joy even reaching her blue eyes. "You should do that more often. You have a nice laugh, Erthe."
Her words probably had the exact opposite effect than what she was hoping for, because Erthe choked off his laughter immediately, his shoulders hunching slightly as his grey cheeks darkened in embarrassment. The drow had laughed very few times in his life, all things considered. For a sweet four years he'd found laughter easily and frequently, but that was a tiny part of his life, and a cold, bittersweet memory.
"Um...thank you, Lady Primrose." His crimson eyes observed her quietly from the corners as he didn't look directly at her. "You have a beautiful laugh, Lady Primrose, and a radiant smile. I haven't had a lot of reasons to laugh in my life, so thank you, really. Sometimes it is a hard life to bear, so even small moments like this make it a little easier to keep going." His cheeks darkened more and he looked away, seeming almost sheepish.
It was her turn to flush crimson as he complimented her so sweetly. "I agree Erthe. Every moment to laugh should be cherished and taken. Who knows when the next will come in this trying world. I am just glad I was able to bring light to your life if for but a moment."
She hummed softly as a wicked idea came to her and she looked the slave from the corner of her eye with a mischievous smile. "Perhaps that shall be my new goal for this trip, to see how many times I can make you smile or laugh on the long road home. Do you think you are up to the challenge?"
The skin of the large slave's face continued to darken, and would be fairly warm to the touch. Erthe shouldn't have complimented her like that, really he shouldn't. Even though what he'd said was absolutely true, it really wasn't his place. For a brief moment of panic, her blush alarmed him, some would have punished him for speaking as he'd done, but this wasn't just anyone, it was Primrose, and her soft words inflamed his embarrassment further.
Then she did a most wicked thing. Crimson eyes widened as they shot over to look at her in disbelief. His inner toil already made things difficult, this trip was something he didn't really want to do. Having her attempting to prod emotional reactions out of him - even positive ones - seemed like more than he was going to be able to process. "Um..." Was all he was able to get out, as he dropped his gaze away from her.
"Come now, you're not afraid of little ol' me are you Erthe?" Primrose teased, the twinkle in her eyes only becoming more pronounced. "Unless," her face dropped some of its playfulness as she turned in the saddle to look at him better.
Her own head dropped some to try and look up at his face from below him. "I haven't embarrassed you, have I? Or greatly upset you? I would hate to have caused you such distress. It was never my intention I swear, not that you really have any reason to believe my word, I mean just met after all. But, I do keep my word and I try to be good but that doesn't always happen because of course I'm human, not that I'm saying that's an excuse to be a bad person because it isn't but even good people make mistakes and really Erthe I'm incredibly sorry for making you uncomfortable, if I did that is, or if I am now for that matter. I really didn't mean to. Can you forgive me? If you can't I understand. I wouldn't put it past you I mean considering how rude I was and," she gasped for air, her chest heaving rapidly as she tried to catch her breath before starting anew.
Gods help him, there was no letting up with this woman! Erthe was nearly as dark in the face as a full-blooded drow now as he hunched his shoulders at her teasing words. They made him unbearably uncomfortable. How pathetic was he? The slave in him demanded he feel ashamed and uncomfortable by his friendly manner with this woman. He should be respectful and submissive at all times. The drow in him knew that his people were a proud race and raged at the idea of fearing a tiny woman he could have easily lifted and crushed with his bare hands.
Long ears twitched as she began rambling. Why did she have to be apologetic all the time? She got so nervous that she began speaking and speaking and speaking. Surely a devastating habit to the ears of those around her. When she stopped to catch her breath he couldn't take it anymore. "Lady Primrose! That's quite enough, thank you."
Erthe forced himself to regain control of himself, the flush in his face very, very slowly easing him towards his natural color. "You really need to stop apologizing to me, Lady Primrose. My feelings are of little consequence, and my opinions even less so. You may do and say whatever you wish. I am not angry or upset with you."
His command immediately silenced her causing Primrose's cheeks to puff out like those of a bullfrog in her haste to put an end to her words. She blinked owlishly as he collected himself before realizing that a very tiny bit of good had come from her frantic chattering. Erthe had momentarily forgotten his slave training and had made demand albeit a polite one.
Taking a deep breath, she made to speak again, hoping he would not interrupt this time. She was careful with choosing her words and keeping what she had to say short. The last thing he seemed to need is another of her nervous outbursts.
"I am afraid I was raised differently than that Erthe. Your feelings and opinions are important to me and nothing you say will change that. Just because you carry a different status than my own does not give me the right to be rude or cruel. A true noble individual respects everyone no matter how small or how old, that includes you sir."
Erthe was well aware of the fact that he'd issued a command to Primrose. On the one hand, he'd really, really wanted her to stop her circular speaking, on the other, the slave knew that it had been extremely wrong of him to tell her to stop talking. Heck, it was wrong for him to even ask it of her! He'd deeply shamed himself just now, and he kept his head down and eyes averted from her.
Her words had no effect whatsoever on his subdued demeanor, the slave's eyes remained downcast and turned away, his ears sagging slightly. The drow had misbehaved - badly. Everything in him screamed that he should be punished for what he'd done. Knowing that Primrose would not do it only stressed him more. Even if he tried to explain it to her, she wouldn't understand, he realized with a sinking feeling.
"Please understand, Lady Primrose, that nothing you say can change my reality either. You're encouraging bad behavior that will earn me great trouble once I've returned to my master. Since I know that you will not, when we arrive I will beg your uncle to punish me for any and all mistakes I make during this trip." There was a finality to the way he said it. He would ignore any argument or protest she made to this decision - his mind was quite made up on the matter.
Primrose paled before turning slightly green. Her stomach flipped hearing Erthe's honest for she knew possibly better than him the kind of punishment he would face at her uncle's hand. She also knew that she too would be punished for her "misbehavior," not that that was something she was about to tell Erthe. He did not need to have her suffering added to his shoulders because he wished to do the honest and right thing.
Memories of her uncle's past cruelness flooded her mind, making her shiver before she was suddenly leaning to the side farthest from the drow as her stomach attempted to upend itself. A hand slapped against her mouth to prevent it from doing so but even after as it calmed, Primrose could not stop the feelings of fear and regret roiling through her system.
She would not even look at him as he spoke. "Do what you feel you must, Erthe. You are honorable and I respect that."
Erthe wasn't expecting quite such a strong reaction. Red eyes watched with concern as the young woman leaned from her saddle and nearly emptied the contents of her stomach. Honestly he had no idea what kind of punishment he could expect, or how much of it, but surely it couldn't be that bad. The thought that she feared punishment for herself crossed his mind and he scowled softly. He would never implicate her as anything but an appropriate lady in her behavior.
His long ears twitched as he heard her finally speak and he closed his eyes and turned his head away. She wouldn't even look at him. The slave had thought she might try to argue with him on the matter, he acceptance startled him slightly. Though he did appreciate it.
"Lady Primrose, I assure you I will only report my own poor behavior. You are blameless." The words were spoken quietly and he kept his face turned away. He would never claim that Primrose had done something wrong, certainly not to his master. The man seemed cold and cruel. Erthe knew he could take whatever punishment the man could dish out to him, but he worried about Primrose and turned his crimson eyes on her again, studying her quietly.
"No one is blameless in that man's eyes. He cares not for the word of a slave let alone one of his own blood," she told him coldly, her eyes staring stonily down between Zinnia's ears. "Uncle has a very strong opinion of me already. No word would change it regardless of who or what was said. As far as he is concerned once guilty, always guilty, one guilty, all guilty."
She sighed heavily, her stiff shoulders drooping some. "You need not look at me as if I shall shatter. I have suffered him before. I will survive him again. If you feel you must assuage your conscience Erthe and tell him then do not hesitate to do so on my account. My past defiance and deemed indiscretions have already earned me whatever punishment he believes fitting."
Red eyes glittered angrily as Erthe felt a cold fury encasing him, pulsing with every beat of his heart. The drow wasn't sure if he could even believe what she said, but on the other hand, he believed her explicitly. Lady Primrose didn't seem a liar to him, but could his master honestly be that cold? That unnecessarily cruel? A soft shudder of something other than anger rippled through him - fear.
What kind of monster had purchased him? His beaten mind said he should confess and submit to his deserved punishment. However, if his confession led to Lady Primrose's harm, could he really do that? A soft tremor coursed down his body, over the tense muscles that were almost cramped painfully by this new obstacle. He's sworn to take care of her, had given Jain the deepest oath he could possibly even make, and here he was going to get her in trouble with her uncle. For what? His stupid pride? Some misguided sense of duty to a man that had bought him?
"I won't let him hurt you again, Lady Primrose." He said quietly. Crimson eyes had moved to her face and as soon as she opened her mouth he cut her off voice cold, hard, and sharp as steel. "I will not let him hurt you - ever."
Her head snapped to the side to look at him and heatedly respond when Erthe cut her off, causing her jaw to shut sharply with a loud 'click.' It shocked Primrose to not only hear but see the strength and surety in Erthe's words. It frightened her for she saw the exact same determination and bullheadedness another had displayed.
The memory of Harkness saying something similar made her burn inside with painful clarity. Her breathing came harder as her mind raced with all her fears brought so forcefully to the front. She feared to hope she could indeed be free just as much as she feared the weight of another man's death upon her shoulders.
Such manly pride had already lost her someone dear. She could not live with herself if another man died because of her. His confidence frightened her not only because Primrose was sure it would mean his end but because in that moment the noblewoman could see the sheer force of will that possessed Erthe. He believed in what he had said and he was in his mind man enough to accomplish it. Not even Harkness had had such a level of all-else-be-damned recklessness and fortitude.
The difference was Erthe had very little in life to live for and for the first time since they met, Primrose was seeing a spark of something more within a slave who had from birth been repressed. This flame would not be quenched for Erthe was like the wild horses her father and other warriors wished to tame as their own. He would not be caged for he was a man of honor and damn the man that took that from him.
With a shaky breath, Primrose submitted and lowered her gaze. In a voice barely above the whispering wind she said to him, "I pray then it never comes to that." For in her mind she already saw his fate as death for such folly.
Primrose could think what she liked, but "manly pride" or "being man enough" had nothing to do with Erthe's steely resolve to keep her safe. The drow had sworn on his very soul to take care of her. The lady didn't even realize the amount of pressure he felt to uphold the vow he'd made. She didn't even know that he'd made a vow at all, but her knowledge of it wasn't necessary to his fulfillment of it. Somehow he didn't think he should tell her. He feared she'd be angry with him for making such a commitment on her behalf.
Erthe wouldn't like the idea of her fearing for his life. Her uncle couldn't possibly hurt him more than he'd suffered in his life already. Even death wouldn't bother him. Actually, death would be considered a relief, more than punishment. At least if he died in this life, he might be more fortunate in the next. If his life was given to protect someone else, all the better. Life given to protect Primrose? He probably couldn't imagine a higher calling. Surely dying to preserve someone so good was worth something to a life that had always meant nothing.
His crimson eyes softened as Primrose lowered her gaze, accepting what he'd promised her just now. Sensitive ears twitched as he barely heard her words, tugging his lips down in a soft frown. The slave could feel her apprehension, her fear of something. She wasn't afraid of him, was she? The idea of her ever being afraid of him made his gut clench painfully. Erthe would hurt himself before ever hurting her.
Nudging his stallion even closer to the mare he rode next to, Erthe surprised himself when he didn't even have to force a soft - if slightly crooked - smile as he reached up, putting his fingers lightly under her chin to lift her gaze back up to his. All the hard coldness had melted from his voice, which was deep, but soft. "Everything will be fine. I'm going to take care of you, I promise."
It shocked her to feel his touch voluntarily given his obvious aversion to hers. A soft gasp dropped from her lips to see such gentleness and kindness. It was breathtaking and Primrose could feel her cheeks flush darkly in response.
She smiled back shyly wishing she knew what to say beyond the heartfelt "thank you" she was able to offer him. The noblewoman wanted to tell him that he need not make such a promise to her. Or deny that it was possible to take care of her but on the other hand Primrose did not wish to hurt his feelings and part of her still wished to hope what he promised was possible. Her heart fluttered at the idea but then plummeted as it remember another who had made a similar promise and died because of it.
Erthe didn't like to be touched, this was true. Years of abuse had given him an aversion to physical contact, and considering most contact he'd experienced in his life had been painful, it was hardly his fault. So the fact that he'd just willingly touched this young woman he barely knew wasn't only a shock to her. Hastily his fingers treated from her chin at her gasp, knowing that he should not have dared to lay his hands upon her.
Of course his smile turned somewhat rueful when she thanked him. Primrose wasn't angry at him for touching her, or speaking to her like that. Part of him had known she wouldn't be, but it was hard to remember just how accepting she was. His stomach lurched slightly, wondering what on earth was wrong with him. While he'd smartly withdrawn his hand, he couldn't turn his deep red eyes from her lovely blue ones.
A long time ago he'd felt something, something he'd never thought he could feel, and never thought he'd feel again. It didn't matter how short a time he'd known Primrose, something in him knew that she had to be protected at all costs. Suddenly his oath to Jain made more sense to him. Even then, standing next to Jain and preparing to leave and turning his eyes onto the young woman before him he'd known there was something special about her.
Letting out a soft breath Erthe's smile grew - just slightly - as he looked down into her sweet, shy face. He could tell that she was struggling to believe him. The drow would just have to prove to her that he not only meant every word, but that he would find a way to make it so - somehow. If it killed him, so be it, but one way or another, Lady Primrose Dragoslav would be safe.
She could still the warmth of his touch despite its brevity and she was shaken to realize she longed for more. His smile was pleasant and to see him so relaxed made her own grow and brighten so that it even reached her eyes.
"Thank you," she repeated herself. "It means a lot to me to hear someone say that and know he means that. I have no doubt," Primrose paused to swallow thickly, her voice wavering slightly as she reflected upon Harkness, "that you will for as long as you can."
'Knowing Unlce that will not be long at all though. Oh Erthe, please please don't be foolish for me. I can't lose you again. I can't lose him a second time. Please...'
"...for as long as you can."
It was those words that finally let Erthe draw his eyes away from hers, though it was still difficult. The way her smile seemed to light up her whole face, including her eyes, it just did something to him on a subconscious level. Her happiness made him happy. How strange. Those words spoken so thickly, with that slight wavering, they hurt him. More than he thought they might. Something still bothered her deeply. The slave wished to soothe and dispel her fears, but didn't know how.
His smile faltered, tugging back down into a frown as he closed his eyes with a sigh, reaching a hand up to lightly pinch the bridge of his nose. Primrose still didn't understand. Something was bothering him too. Maybe something that had to do with what was bothering her as well. Erthe had to remember to press her about Harkness - there was too much she showed but didn't say.
"As long as I can..." He muttered sourly, before glancing over at her to give what he hoped was a reassuring smile. Maybe he was leaving out the part that as long as he could meant as long as he was still breathing. The drow didn't want to worry the lady with that, though.
Primrose nodded her head in response to him though she did not know whether it was a statement or a question the way he said it. She longed to reach out though and touch him, to offer him the reassurance he tried to give to her. Yet, she feared startling him or upsetting him further. He had made it clear how he felt about their relationship; he was the slave and she the lady. They were not friends, but individuals forced into sharing a long journey together. To touch him would most likely get them both in even more trouble if he truly was hellbent on telling her Uncle all the inappropriate things that had been done.
"I'm sorry if I insulted you earlier, Erthe. It was never my intention for my actions to reflect so poorly on you or to make you uncomfortable. I forget sometimes...a lot of times and the rest I just ignore." Primrose sighed heavily and shook her head. "Perhaps it is best I get married so that someone could constantly remind me of my place."
Again with the apologizing. How many times did he have to assure her that he wasn't offended? Uncomfortable, yes, from the moment Jain had answered the door for him, but never once had someone in her home - let alone her - offended him. If anything, Primrose and her servants had been the absolutely least offensive people towards him in his entire life. They didn't treat him like some animal, or like a piece of property. How could he possibly take offense?
A moment later his mind was reeling and his jaw went slack, eyes bulging slightly as he stared at her in open-mouthed disbelief as to what he was hearing coming from her. A moment later anger overtook his features as he felt that fury return full force. How could she say something like that? As much as it was his duty to take her to be married, she couldn't just give up. His jaw worked furiously for a few moments before he finally managed to actually choke out some clipped words.
"Your place?" He sputtered, eyes flashing angrily. "How can you even say that? You are an Adelan lady, your place is wherever you decide for it to be! I don't care how the Serenians do things - here you're as entitled to choose your way as any man." Erthe had no idea what was coming over him. How could he possibly endorse what he was saying? He'd come here specifically to see to it that she did as her uncle wanted and here he was admonishing her for doing as her uncle wanted.
His anger brought out her indignation. "I am as much a lady of Adela as I am of Serendipity. I cannot choose to be one or the either and therefore must obey the whims of stronger man. This is the life I was born into and the life I must heed. There is no way. There is no hope of something more," she spat, a storm flashing within her eyes.
"I have no choices when they've all been made for me. Any that I make are made null or taken from me! I am not free to love or to live my life as I so choose. My Uncle has made that very clear. His reach is long and his grip mighty. My defiance, my belief that here in Adela I am safe is nothing but a cruel joke! You have no idea what he is capable of but I do! I have already suffered heartbreak because of him. I have lost more than I ever thought I had. I have no desire to do it again."
Erthe took the woman's rage, crimson eyes glaring at her as she spouted excuse after pitiful excuse about why she had no choice but to do this. There was a cold fury burning in him the likes of which he had never felt before. His mind was clouded from the strength of his anger at her submission to her fool uncle - his abhorrent master. The slave couldn't even see that some of the things she said were exactly the same excuses he repeated over and over again about himself and his slavery - about why he should behave the way he usually did.
"Excuses!" He practically snarled when she was finished. He'd never been so worked up in all his life, never had he argued with anyone so vehemently before. Even with his beloved Tara he'd remained mild-mannered at all times. She'd always punished him in some way when he angered her - usually by withholding her desperately craved affection. "What would your father think to see you now? Janus told me about your father. Do you think this is the future your father would want for you? He proves that the choice is yours. A slave that became a lord! And here his daughter is as good as selling herself as a slave to the whims of a madman."
Suddenly the rage went out of him, a deep, profound sadness seizing him as he looked at her. Ever since the moment he'd arrived at her door, pieces of the puzzle of Harkness had been dropped - unintentionally - at his feet. Primrose herself had given him the last piece of the puzzle that he needed to figure out.
"He killed him, didn't he?" He said softly. "Are you really going to give in to a man that did that to you? To him? Is this what Harkness would want you to do?"
Her face was a rapidly changing mirror of the emotions raging within her. Shock, horror, anger, shame, pride, and then overwhelming sorrow flashed across her expressive face. Yet instead of sinking into a meek and submissive silence, Primrose stared Erthe in the eye, ready for a fight. She was a warrior's daughter after all and she was about to prove herself.
"My father is dead," she told him coldly, her voice quivering with repressed anger. "Harkness is dead. Everyone I ever loved ends up dead. If I don't wish the same fate for the three loving family members I've left at home then I damn will obey an abusive, sadistic tyrant. My father understood this. He died for whom he loved and so did Harkness. I am no weak woman who runs. What would you have me do Erthe? What fate would you allow those three to suffer? Was Jolie's urging you to eat too much for you? Janus' questions too many? Jain's assistance too helpful? Would you see them dead? Harkness suffered Erthe! Understand this, it is only those three that keep me alive. I would have taken my life a long time ago if it was not for them.
"Perhaps the next time you wish to throw the names of the dead at me, you will remember the names of the living! Those names and their fates weigh heavy on my shoulders. So if giving into him means keeping them safe, then yes, I will give in. I will crawl and beg on my hands and knees through fire and glass if it means they are kept safe. So the next time you wish to accuse me of making excuses, know the basis from which they come from!"
The expression of sorrow never left Erthe's face as she raged at him, his eyes which had glittered brightly in anger moments before had dulled, though there was a flash of pain that cut through them as she accused him of wishing suffering on Jain, Jolie, and Janus. Her accusation was like a kick in the gut. The servants of that house had accepted him immediately and without reservation. No one in that house had judged him or looked down on him because he was a slave. He liked them, all of them.
The slave had more than overstepped his bounds, he'd gone above and beyond his place. His only job was to see Primrose safely to her uncle. Perhaps he'd sworn on his very soul to take care of her, and the thought of failing in that self-assigned duty twisted and wrenched his insides to the core, but of course it wasn't his place to make such an oath. This was his fault. It had been a foolish, rash thing to make such a promise to Jain - he had only wanted to appease the old man that had been so kind to him when he didn't have to be.
Closing his eyes as she quite finished he took a shuddering breath, the tremor visible through his entire body as he dropped his head - broken. The lady would do as she would, and he would do his best to keep his word and fulfill his duty to his master. He would fail his oath to Jain, of course, but if his soul was the price, then fine. Suffering was not something new to him. However many lifetimes of pain he must endure to make up for this grievous mistake, so be it - he'd earned nothing less.
"Forgive me, Lady Dragoslav. I forgot myself again." The words were quiet and hollow, Erthe did not so much as glance in her direction as he let Tucker fall back to walk behind the mare again, rather than at her side.
Primrose physically recoiled as if slapped once she heard the way Erthe had addressed her. The fire within turned to oil within her belly and she suddenly felt quite sick again. She wondered how she could be so cruel as to lash out at the slave when he had done no wrong and she had wanted so desperately to show him what it was like to be his own person. Her first efforts were all for naught now that she had treated him as less than a person and let her rage boil forth. She wanted nothing more than to bury herself in the deepest of pits for being so heartless.
With an anguished cry, the noblewoman suddenly spurred her horse forward racing the pair through the forest as Zinnia dropped fallen logs and cut around tight underbrush corners. Primrose did not care if Erthe followed though she suspected he would even if the warhorse beneath him had a bit more trouble making his way through the narrow passageways. Tucker was an animal built for endurance and speed. He would easily enough overtake them once given a clear path.
Primrose could not even focus completely on where she was going as she recklessly pushed her beautiful mare onward. Tears flooded down her blotchy cheeks as overhead branches clawed at her arms and braided hair. She could careless though wanting nothing more than to be away. If her folly proved to be her death than so be it. Anything right now would do to assuage her broken heart if only she could turn back the hands of time and seal her mouth with mortar so that she could never utter such hurtful words again.
Erthe knew that the fault was his own. Speaking of the lady's father and deceased love had been the stupidest thing he could have possibly said. He hadn't even known those men. How would he really know what they would want? Primrose would know her uncle better than he would, and if this was the decision she made, then who was he to contest it? This was a family matter - interference from an outsider like him was unwelcome.
A deep emptiness settled in him as he kept his head down. What would he know about family? Absolutely nothing. His mother had been bred like a dog. She'd hated and resented him from the moment of his conception - before his conception even. His father had died before his birth but he could only imagine his father would have been just as unfeeling towards him. The drow's life held no value - to anyone.
The slave had intended to sit quietly and allow her to rage at him to her heart's content, he deserved every venomous word she decided to throw at him, but rather than receive a verbal lashing as he'd expected, Primrose spurred her horse into a gallop and took off away from him. It was a jolting shock, but not enough to spark emotion - not even anger or frustration. Instead he instinctively nudged the stallion after her, dropping the lead on the pack horse. His master would kill him if she was harmed, but he honestly didn't care if he died.
Tucker was a fine animal, and though his larger bulk and larger rider slowed him, not enough to prevent him from keeping up just behind the slighter mare and rider. Each time he fell behind, the next clear stretch had him back to just behind Zinnia as they raced through the forest.
She rode and rode, feeling Zinnia's hoofbeats pound in time with her racing heart until both horse and rider could go no further. They slowed gradually to a stop, both breathing heavily from the exertion of pushing themselves.
Tears still coursed down her cheeks though they dried within the light tracks of dirt that had gathered upon her face from the ride. Leaves clung to her braid and tunic, yet she paid no heed to them. Primrose let her head fall back to stare mournfully up at the forest canopy, not a word leaving her lips as her breathing finally evened out.
She felt so dead inside. She did not know how to repair the growing trust Erthe had seemed to place in her. She had wounded her companion with words as hot as freshly forged steel. Primrose could find blame with no one else but herself for such a travesty. She had attacked like a wounded animal and in turn wounded another she had been trying to heal. She felt like a monster and wished herself dead if it were not for the three in Dragoslav Manor that had set her on this journey to begin wit.
'I'm sorry,' her mind screamed. 'I'm so sorry!'
Wind, branches, leaves whipped at the drow as the horse's pounded hooves to dirt admirably, the stallion, though becoming winded, was staunchly dedicated to pacing behind the mare per his rider's wishes. If he hadn't felt so cold and empty the slave might have marveled at Tucker, the animal was incredible. No wonder he'd been intended for a lord and knight.
Erthe wasn't about to try to order Primrose to do anything at the moment, let alone stop, though he started to worry about the horses. Thankfully Zinnia and the young woman both seemed to lose their steam as they slowed to a halt ahead of him. Reining Tucker in, the stallion stopped, huffing and snorting, hooves still prancing slightly as the animal tossed his head.
The slave said nothing, simply bowing his head and quietly waiting for the lady to catch her breath as he kept a respectful distance of a few yards. Erthe honestly didn't know what to say to her - he'd said quite enough as it was. Slaves were better when they did their job and were seen and heard as little as possible. Primrose needed to be kept safe, but for that he simply had to watch over her. Speaking to her wasn't strictly necessary in most instances.
However, when she remained silent for a long time, and as he peeked at her sideways he could see the turmoil on her face. Shifting in the saddle uncomfortably he finally decided to open his mouth, keeping his voice soft and still sounding rather devoid of much life. "The horses are tired, Lady Dragoslav, shall we make camp for the night?"
It was early yet for camping, but after a run like that the horses should probably be given a good rub down, brushing, and allowed to recuperate before being pushed further. His mind was focused on efficiency and practicality. No matter his feelings - or lack thereof - things needed to be taken care of and it was his duty to see to the welfare of the lady and her horses. Even if she hated him.
Primrose flinched, jerking her head to face forward properly at the sound of his voice. With a curt nod she led her mare forward to a more suitable area to stop for the night and quickly began to dismount and care for the worse in very tense and jerky motions. She was too distraught still to handle caring for Zinnia properly and too stubborn to leave it to Erthe.
"Where's Jed?" she croaked, eyes looking around listlessly for the missing packhorse.
Erthe didn't say a word as he followed Primrose to the campsite she chose, after giving it a precursory scan with near-vacant red eyes to be sure it was somewhere he felt comfortable having them stay the rest of the evening an night. Deciding it would do he swung down out of the saddle and quickly began tending to Tucker in a smooth, methodical fashion.
Despite how things had been doing that evening, he couldn't keep crimson eyes from being drawn to Primrose, watching the way she was caring for the mare - not well. It distressed him to see Primrose, well, distressed. The slave had just finished tending his own mount when the listless question was posed and his face fell as he realized that he'd probably made a terrible mistake - but he couldn't have helped it.
"When you made off in a hurry I had to leave him behind, Lady Dragoslav. Your safety was paramount to anything else," Erthe began cautiously, obviously afraid of angering her with his incompetence. He moved to stand beside her, gently putting one of his large hands over hers to still her jerky motions. "Please Lady Dragoslav, allow me to finish caring for Zinnia, and afterwards I will -," he paused and the briefest flash of annoyance crossed his features, " - go find Jed."
He didn't want to leave her to go find the pack horse, but he doubted she'd be willing to leave the animal behind - and it did have all of her supplies.
She sighed, feeling incredibly discouraged and even useless as Erthe stepped in to take over. Reluctantly she handed over the curry brush and stepped back. "Don't stress over Jed, Erthe. He's likely eating grass where you left him."
Primrose rubbed the back of her neck before letting out a short, angry huff. "I'm going to get some water. And I don't need you to follow," she hurried to add. "I want to get cleaned up. I'll be fine. You can...set up for dinner if you'd like."
Erthe had been tense the moment he'd stepped up next to her, entirely uncertain of how she would react to the closeness. There was some small relief as she relinquished the brush so that he could finish taking care of the mare properly without a fight or argument. The knowledge that the missing horse was probably where he'd left him was both a relief and an annoyance. Walking there and back would take time that he didn't want to spend away from Primrose. What if something happened while he was gone?
Crimson eyes regarded the woman flatly when she spoke her intentions of going for water and telling him not to follow. Even letting her out of his sight was hard. He'd screwed so much up already and they weren't even a full day away from her home! Stiffly he nodded his head, mouth set in a thin line as he dropped his gaze and went to work on the mare in the same mechanical way he had the stallion. The slave hadn't trusted himself to actually say anything in that moment.
Primrose scooped up both of their packed waterskins and hurried off towards the nearby stream to fill them and clean up. She dared not wait to have Erthe stop or follow her. She did not wish to argue with him further nor spew more of her poison at him. Her heart was already broken enough with guilt eating further away at its tattered edges.
Her observed the bank with a cursory glance before she stepped out and knelt down. She tangled her fingers in the soft springy grass as she fought the urge to wail and rage her pent up self-hatred. As she sat on the bank, Primrose never saw the swaying branches above her that dipped with the weight of one intent on watching her with the keen eyes of a hunter. Still another pair of eyes peeked out from a tree across the way, catching the eye of the first before nodding silently in greeting. Primrose should have known not everything is as it seems.
The methodical movements required to take care of Zinnia soothed the slave's frayed nerves slightly. He was providing a needed, and easy, service. Still the drow felt numb. Erthe had no idea what had come over him earlier. He never said such stupid things. In fact, he tended to rarely speak at all, and that had worked for him for decades. Why he would now think talking was a good idea was a mystery.
Of course it had to be Primrose. From that first awkward moment when she had mistaken him for Harkness, when her little arms had clung to him so desperately...Erthe had been helpless. She'd needed something, but he hadn't been able to give it to her. She still needed something, but the slave honestly didn't understand what it was or why it would mean anything coming from him instead of someone else.
It hardly mattered now. He'd made her angry with him. All he could hope for was to see this stupid errand finished and to go back to his master and see what was in store for him.
Oblivious to her current observation or how the one across the bank switched trees above her head to be on the same side as her, Primrose continued keeping to her deep musings. She splashed cool water along her arms and face, hoping to cool herself down some and wash away a bit of the grime and tears from her gallop through the woods.
It was as she was splashing water onto the side of her neck and had tilted her head slightly that she caught a flash of movement moments before a figure was clapping a hand over her mouth. Struggling for all she was worth, Primrose wasted no time biting the hand that held her and taking her first chance to scream before the cursing figure was pulling her to her feet again and trying to calm her.
She barely registered the elvish words washing over her as she fell back old training from years before she ever understood the point. Her fingers sought tender spots to wound so that she could flee even as her eyes darted about wildly looking for possible weapons or escape routes. Mentally she cursed herself for being so foolish as the tall elf bodily manhandled her against his firm body in hopes of subduing her from causing him any further injury.
"Cease this Dragoslav!" he hissed angrily, looking about worriedly even as his companion remained hidden and on alert above them. "I'm not trying to hurt you fool woman!"
Erthe had started preparing their camp, the slave was in the process of preparing a small fire pit when the scream split the air. His long ears twitched, then went rigid as his had snapped up. That was Primrose. The color drained from his ash-grey skin as a jolt of terror speared him in the chest. The drow knew he shouldn't have let her out of his sight. What else could possible go wrong on the very first day?
Even as his mind cursed and berated him over and over again his body was in action. For being such a large individual, he was still an elf, and moved quickly to where he just knew Primrose would be. In panic his mind was going over the scenarios, imagining her hurt or worse. Jain would kill him for letting down the sweet young woman that always seemed to smile at him when he didn't deserve it.
The sounds of elvish reached his ears, though he was so angry he really wasn't paying attention to what was being said. Crimson eyes blazed angrily as he took in the scene before him. A man - an elf - was holding onto Primrose. His first instinct was to barrel into the other man and kill him with his bare hands. That wasn't acceptable, considering it would put Prim right in the middle of the brawl.
Adjusting his plan, Erthe instead settled for wrapping a protective arm around Prim, yanking her from the elf's grip, pulling her close to his chest as he roughly shoved her captor away. He wished he had time to look over her, to check her for injury, but instead he quickly pushed her behind him, putting himself between the woman and the elf. There was the promise of murder in those crimson eyes as he eyed his target up and down while trying to decide what to do next.
It happened in a blur for Primrose. One moment she was in her captor's arms before she was yanked away, though with little resistance, and pulled to another male's chest. Thrust behind the newcomer's back, she was pleased to realize it was Erthe and breathed a soft sigh of relief.
Her moment was short lived though as two things happened simultaneously. The equally large and broad of shoulder elf who had previously attacked her cursed violently before brandishing a sword at Erthe. "This is what you call protection, boy? Some guardian you are!"
While the elf cursed and made a step forward to attack Erthe another hand suddenly took Primrose's in its own and gently pulled her away from the fray. "Forgive me my lady," the voice softly whispered as a willowy male elf smiled reassuringly down at her. "I would not have you harmed as my cousin makes his displeasure known."
She blinked up at the male, unsure whether to attack or run. When he released her hand, Primrose swung, clocking him straight in the nose as her other hand swiped a dagger from his belt. Before he could catch her, she was rushing back towards her companion, the shouts of the slighter male following her pounding feet.
Crimson eyes watched the drawn blade impassively, the slave was not afraid of the sword or the elf brandishing it. After decades of being forced to fight in the pits, any odds weren't worth batting an eye at. He'd been against armed opponents while unarmed before - and he'd won. The only surprising thing was just how bulky the other male was, he was as large as Erthe - a truly rare thing for an elf.
The words spouted hatefully at him did garner a reaction, the drow flinched as if struck. Erthe knew that he had failed, that he'd been making a mess of things the moment they'd left the lady's home. She had told him not to follow her! It was just an excuse, he should have been by her side anyway. The emotions that flashed across his face were jumbled - guilt, anger, sorrow, resignation. The slave was torn between anger at the fool's self-righteousness, and his own self-loathing in that moment.
The only thing that mattered was protecting Primrose. Erthe whirled around, eyes blazing as he heard the commotion behind him. There was another elf and he'd managed to draw his lady away from him. Distress was the only way to describe his expression. The first elf had distracted him!
Speaking of being killed, he'd just turned his back to an angry elf wielding a sword at him. Closing his eyes, Erthe began speaking, while waiting for the blow he assumed to be coming. After this he deserved it. "Forgive me, Lady Primrose. I've failed you."
His next words were in elvish. "I accept whatever punishment you deem fit for my incompetence, but please, I beg you, don't let her be harmed."
Primrose collided lightly with Erthe's side, her hand slipping into his as she clutched the confiscated dagger tightly within her other. She glared as the bulkier elf laughed darkly in response to the drow's words.
"Don't be such a fool. I'm not one to harm one considered elf-friend. Even one who caused the death of one of our kin," he glared at the noblewoman as he mentioned her before letting his eyes fall back on Erthe. "You're lucky it was us that came upon her and not someone else or she would be dead. Never trust a drow to do an elf's job, right Ak'nen?"
The smaller male winced at his cousin's words and shook his head. His hands were raised defensively as he slowly approached. "Be nice Uhi! There is no need to scare the little lady or her companion. Please, my name is Ak'nen," he greeted the defensive pair, "and this is my idiot cousin Uhi. Can we not be friends here? We mean you no trouble." He smiled warmly and earnestly hoping to put the pair at ease.
Primrose was not so easily placated though. "Come no closer! I trust no boys that trouble me give," she responded in halting elvish. The meaning was clear but not all of her words, spoken in a soft lilting tone, were the ones she intended. The fact she responded in elvish made Uhi lower his sword and look at her in surprise while Ak'nen smirked at his cousin.
"I told you she could understand. Our friend was right, she is quite the little fire sprite."
Feeling Primrose's small, soft body connect with his was remarkably soothing for some reason. Erthe's fingers intertwined with hers as he squeezed her hand in a soft, reassuring gesture, trying to ease her worry. He sensed she was a little shaken by the events, and frankly, she was the only thing he was concerned about. As far as he could tell she wasn't hurt, which only made him more relieved.
Crimson eyes had snapped back to the heavier elf, anger rekindling in those dark depths as he observed the way the elf had glared at Primrose, plus those words made him grit his teeth. How dare he accuse the death of Harkness to be her fault. It was her uncle that had killed him.
Also the insult to drow had his eyes narrowing dangerously. Erthe hadn't been raised drow or elf, but his mother was drow and though the woman had hated him, he had loved her blindly as only a child can. While he had always known he was a half-breed that was unwelcome and unwanted by either halves of his bloodline, it was his mother's half that he'd embraced as best he could.
Feeling more protective, even as the wispy elf tried to soothe them, Erthe pressed closer to Primrose, his free arm moving about her waist, hugging her to him as his eyes darted between the two strange elves.
"Friends?" Erthe growled angrily. "Your idiot cousin, as you put it, laid his hands on Lady Primrose. I do not know you or your motives. If you don't mean trouble, then leave us be. Or did you only come here to insult my mother and her people?"
"Only your mother? Pray tell what was your filthy father then?" Uhi taunted before Ak'nen chucked a rock at his head, taking care to keep it far from Primrose and Erthe's path, lest he incite more of the drow's rage.
He placed his hands together in a prayer fashion as he continued to try and approach the pair, stopping only when he was within speaking distance of them. "Please, please you must understand that we meant no trouble. We wished to speak with the lady," here he bowed his head in her direction out of respect, "while not upsetting her. Uhi thought it would be brilliant to try and not surprise her by quieting her until she realized who we were," Ak'nen rolled his eyes, showing how much he approved of the idea.
"I am deeply sorry for causing more trouble than we ever intended. We wished only to talk with the one who brought life back into our friend's eyes."
"Before taking it away again," Uhi chimed in, causing Primrose to try and pull away from Erthe's embrace to fling the dagger at him. He quickly recoiled though with wide eyes at seeing her anger. "I must say though we will not be leaving you quite so soon. After seeing your lack of care for our lady I am afraid to leave her with you a moment longer in this forest. We will accompany you to the edge and hopefully I can knock some since into your pitiful little brain between now and then."
The slave maybe have identified as drow, but he didn't like the idea of this idiot referring to his father as filthy either. He hadn't known his father, but he liked to think that he was a good man. His voice growled out again, crimson eyes flashing in indignation. "My father was a better elf than you."
Erthe had about had enough of them both. Though at least Ak'nen had some manners. His rage was more directed at Uhi, and his grip on Primrose tightened as she tried to get at the fool. While he would gladly have hurt Uhi himself, he wasn't about to let her endanger herself further by having her attacking him. His eyes were blazing as he held the young lady against him, eyes daring either of them to come closer.
"It doesn't seem to me like the lady wants to talk to you. She doesn't need your protection, and don't you dare accuse me of lack of care for Lady Primrose's safety." Even as he said it, he knew that he'd made a dangerous mistake by letting the woman out of his sight, but he wasn't going to make that mistake again. He needed to get his act together.
Uhi had the good sense to look sheepish when he heard that Erthe's father was an elf. His embarrassment quickly shot back to anger though. "Not dare? So I suppose then you knew we were here before she came down to the water. Why else would you let her do so? But then we never saw you check the area though we did observe her telling you not to follow. Do you always let a woman boss you around?"
Primrose could stand it no longer and cursed viciously in elvish as she glared daggers at the male. "You think I cannot stand for myself? Step closer and let a woman tan your hide!" she called out struggling against Erthe again.
"Peace! Ak'nen shouted, hoping to keep things civil. "Do not let my cousin rile you both up my friends. It is out of worry and an oath to a lost friend that he speaks so. We vowed to Harkness should anything happen to him that we would keep an eye on you. Please can we not talk amongst ourselves without weapons and fists? You must be hungry. We have food we can share at your camp."
She could see just how desperately the small male was trying to keep things civil and she felt bad for him. Primrose slowly turned the dagger in her hand so that the hilt faced him and offered it back to him. "Cover your sword Uhi," she likewise called. "I don't take well to talks with pointy metal."
"Considering that I am a slave, yes, I do tend to allow myself to be 'bossed' around. By women and men alike. I learned my place a long time ago." So he said, but the drow remembered the way in which he'd spoken to Primrose earlier. That hadn't been his place at all. If it wasn't for his vows to protect and care for the lady in his arms he'd have been bowing and scrapping before these men as well, he thought bitterly.
Erthe held Primrose firmly, her squirming and struggling attempts to get at Uhi were no more difficult for him to contain than if he'd been holding an unruly child. Though her words were amusing, they were also distressing. She was going to give him a rough time. How was he supposed to keep her safe when she seemed determined to put herself in harm's way?
The slave glanced at Ak'nen, considering what he said. They had promised Harkness to keep an eye on Primrose? He groaned softly, head throbbing steadily. This had been a really trying day. As the lady calmed and offered to return the dagger to Ak'nen he let his arms fall away from her and stepped back. She was safe, these men weren't going to hurt her.
Free at last, Primrose straightened her top but kept close to Erthe, her back facing him and completely as if she still was wary of the two elves. "If you both can be good then you may eat with us. If not," she moved her hand in a shooing motion, "leave."
Once more she took Erthe's hand in her own, gently pulling him away from the stream as Ak'nen fell into step beside them and Uhi took up her abandoned waterskins. "Forgive my cousin dear friends," Ak'nen spoke slowly in common, the words sounding foreign coming from his mouth. "His behavior is indeed inexcusable but he only wishes the best. He is brash and should never have garnered your attention in such a way Lady Primrose nor insulted you and your family so sir. Please know he is an except and not a rule to my people. I do not share his views."
The way she kept her back to him, almost like a shield, made the slave shake his head. Primrose didn't seem comfortable with these elves, despite their stated "good intentions". Well, if she wasn't comfortable with them, then neither was he. Keeping an eye on them was difficult, though, as her little hand closed around his. His pale brows arched slightly in surprise. Now that the threat of danger was past they really shouldn't have been in physical contact.
Sighing he allowed himself to be led along, crimson eyes cutting to Ak'nen and giving a soft snort at being referred to as being a "dear friend" although he was pretty sure that was meant more for the young woman at his side than for him. Erthe wasn't sure how sincere the apology to the insult on his family was, but he gave a tight nod anyway. Everything about him screamed of his discomfort in this situation.
"His views? Which views are those? His obvious disdain for myself and my mother's kin? Or his misguided view that jumping a lady is acceptable behavior?" Erthe easily slipped back into the common tongue, but he hadn't struggled with the elvish at all, unlike Primrose who had seemed to stumble just a little.
Ak'nen blushed and hung his head. "All of them and more I'm afraid. He has a rather nasty opinion of eggs and tomatoes." A bark of laughter escaped Primrose at the statement and she relaxed enough to smile and given Erthe's hand a squeeze.
"What did you say now?" Uhi asked, looking confused. The slighter man replied too fast for her to keep up but judging by his look, Uhi thought it was childish.
"He doesn't understand Common?" she asked curiously, looking back over her shoulder at the male.
"He never bothered to learn," came the disgruntled reply. "He values his sword arm more than any scroll. Uhi is quite stubborn and pigheaded about a lot of things. I pray he offends you no more, both of you," Ak'nen pointedly added, bowing his head to Erthe. "Though I admit I do not know your name, sir."
The sound of Primrose's laughter caused the slave's heart to skip a beat. After earlier's outburst he'd been afraid that he'd never hear the sound again, and his ears twitched slightly to hear it now. The only sad thing about the sound was how short it was. Even the feel of her hand squeezing his couldn't stop the relaxation that slowly started ebbing through him.
For the most part he was content to listen to Ak'nen and Primrose talk, really. Being part of the conversation wasn't truly his place. Uhi still bothered him, but he thought that Ak'nen was trustworthy enough, and seemed genuinely friendly - even to him. Which surprised him. All his life he was certain that drow and elves held nothing but pure disdain and contempt for each other. His mother certainly had nothing pleasant to say about his father.
"My name is Erthe Hunzrin, and he can say what he likes. I was given to understand to expect disdain and hostility from both halves of my bloodline, so his words do not come as a surprise. As I said before - I am a slave. If he wishes to speak ill of me then he may. As long as Lady Primrose is not in danger I am obligated to tolerate his insult."
'Hunzrin. Erthe Hunzrin, I like the name. It suits him well,' the noblewoman mused quietly to herself, not realizing that she was smiling a fond little smile that lit up her entire face. Hearing Erthe talk so deprecatingly of himself had her head snapping up fiercely in no time.
"He most certainly will not!" Primrose glared at all three of the males angrily. "I will suffer no insult to myself and that includes that of my companion Erthe Hunzrin. I defend his honor as my own. This I swear," she stated firmly, daring any of them to challenge her word then and there.
Erthe hadn't thought about the fact that this was the first time he'd said his last name in front of Primrose. Watching her out of the corner of his eye, he did see her little smile, and the way it lit up her face pulled at something inside him. Primrose was gorgeous, and in appearance, she reminded him a little of Tara. Thinking of her made his stomach twist into painful knots and he pushed that thought back down and dropped his gaze to the ground.
When the little lady started speaking angrily in elvish he didn't look up, her outburst didn't really surprise him. She had been stubborn about how much value and self-worth he possessed from the moment he'd revealed himself to her. Considering that her own father had once been a slave he really wasn't sure he could ever convince her to treat him as a slave should be treated.
"Lady Primrose, I am the one supposed to be defending you." The slave reminded her in a soft voice. It was touching, the way she wanted to protect him, but really, it was pointless. What did she think would happen when they arrived in Serendipity? He'd be treated like a slave by everyone. The more she insisted on treating him like a person, the harder it would be on everyone later.
Primrose smiled fondly up at him, not noticing how the other two watched her curiously. "You defend here," she said with a wave to her body, "but I will defend here for as long as I can," she told him, pointedly poking at his chest where his heart lay. She giggled playfully as they entered the camp, moving ahead of the others to greet the horses and be greeted in turn.
The two elves hung back with Erthe though. Uhi kept quiet while Ak'nen spoke softly in elvish for them both. "She is quite the compassionate woman isn't she? She wears her heart on her sleeve and doesn't even fear the bruising though others have dropped it so many times before. I've never seen anything like her before."
That made even less sense. The drow frowned and lifted a hand to rub at his chest where she'd poked the place over his heart as he watched her go to pat the horses. Erthe's dark eyes followed her every movement, rather entranced by her. The slave really couldn't help himself. Primrose made him feel so strange. Sometimes in bad ways, but mostly in good ones. He blinked his eyes slowly before closing them with a shake of his head.
"She's special." Erthe responded quietly, and simply, not even realizing that his eyes were following her again. He honestly wasn't sure how else to describe her to these two elves, but it was the most accurate adjective he could come up with. "I've never met anyone like her before. Until I showed up on her doorstep I had never been treated like a real person, let alone anyone's equal."
"That never should have been your fate," Ak'nen replied with a pained expression on his face. "The things humans do...the way they treat each other. They should keep to their own race." The elf sighed angrily and shook his head sadly. "It is a relief to see they are not that way though. I see now why she was so loved," with a glance at Erthe and a gentle smile he corrected himself, "is so loved."
Uhi brushed past the pair, brushing shoulders with the drow as he went. "Work to be done ladies!" Primrose's head went up at his curt shout and she replied with her own mischievous smirk, knowing he would not understand her. "What a grumpy Mistress you make Uhi. Did someone get your garters in a knot my lady?" The blank he gave her only made her double over in laughter as Ak'nen danced away, refusing to tell what had been said.
Heavy shoulders shrugged, the drow had been born a slave, it was the only life or fate he had ever known. Erthe accepted his place in the world as well as he could. He was more interested in what Ak'nen was saying about Primrose. Yes, it wasn't a wonder Harkness had loved her, or that Jain, Jolie, and Janus did too. Though he cut red eyes to regard the elf with irritation at the implication that maybe he loved her too.
He opened his mouth to protest, but quickly shut it again as Uhi shouldered past him. Glaring at the elf's back his red eyes hardened with distaste. As a slave it wasn't his place to form opinions about, well, anything, but he really, really didn't like Uhi. Of course he knew that the feeling was mutual.
Erthe hid his smirk at Primrose's little barb at the hulking elf. They may have been similar in size, but the drow was pretty sure he had more brains than that ape. It was amazing that Uhi couldn't understand common - at least to him. Erthe spoke three languages, he kind of had to learn them just to get by considering he was sold back and forth between Adela and Serendipity so often. Even more delightful than her jab at Uhi's expense was just the sound of her laughing. The slave thought he could never tire of that sound.
"Lady Primrose, what task would you have me see to first? I began a fire pit, but then I heard your scream, and Jed still needs to be fetched. Most of our supplies are with him."
"Oh Jed," she sighed shaking her head at remembering the forgotten packhorse. "I can get him!" Primrose made to do so when Uhi gripped her arm firmly, preventing her from taking another step further and shook his head angrily.
"Stay! Here is safe. There is not. Ak'nen will protect you."
"Erthe protects me," she bit back, yanking her arm away. "You go. Learn a better face for when you return. Your current one turns my stomach."
If Uhi hadn't stopped Primrose, Erthe would have. After everything so far he wasn't about to let her go anywhere that he wasn't absolutely sure was safe. However, Uhi shouldn't have stopped her, because crimson eyes had zeroed in on the hand wrapped firmly around the slight woman's arm, and those eyes sparked with rage.
The exchange wasn't even really filtered through his mind properly, and he'd moved before even realizing it. As soon as Primrose had jerked her arm free of him, Erthe was there, his fist smashing hard into Uhi's face, knocking the other man on his ass as he put himself between the lady and the elf once again. Apparently Uhi was a slow learner if he thought touching Primrose was okay, because Erthe had thought he'd made his opinion of that well-known.
"Maybe you need this spelled out for you, Uhi, so I'll say this as plainly as I can - touch her again and I'll break your fucking arm." He sent a warning look in Ak'nen's direction as well, just for good measure. "In fact, let's just establish this ground rule right now: Lady Primrose can touch whoever she wants, but no one can touch her without her express permission unless she's in immediate danger. I hope I've made myself clear."
His voice was deep and low, the tone full of threat. It was taking everything he had not to just jump upon Uhi and completely pummel him into the ground.
"Define danger, slave because as far as I've seen you've caused her more trouble than you're worth!" Uhi shot back, rubbing his bruised jaw. Ak'nen practically threw himself between the two males, his hands raised in a plea. "Please no fighting!" he begged at the same time Primrose slipped her arms around Erthe's waist from behind and pressed her cheek against his back.
"No fighting," she agreed softly. "He's a fool anyway. Let him bring back Jed and cool his heels. I won't tolerate him much longer if he doesn't leave now."
As soon as those words had left Uhi's mouth every muscle in Erthe's body had tensed, he'd been about to make a move to descend on the elf without mercy when he felt those gentle arms wrap around his waist. Primrose's touch, and her words, halted him immediately, red eyes still glaring down at Uhi with hate, and maybe a touch of guilt. The slave hadn't been doing a good job, and he knew it. Still, the other was seriously getting under his skin, and he didn't like it. Why did he care so much all of a sudden?
Shuttering his eyes, trying to calm the rage he was feeling. Primrose would be able to feel his body trembling slightly with the strain of containing his desire to lash out at the other. "Anything you ask of me, Lady Primrose." He finally murmured, relaxing slightly, though the set of his jaw and shoulders gave away that he was still on edge.
Opening his eyes he peered at Uhi and Ak'nen tersely for a moment before gently untangling himself from Primrose's arms and walking away to sit on a large rock, running his fingers through his hair tiredly. Nothing was ever simple or easy around Primrose, was it? How could she have turned his world upside down in one day?
She should not have been surprised that he was pulling away from her again yet Primrose could not but help feel hurt and dead inside. Her arms fell loosely to her sides as her face took on a brief expression of sorrow before the flames of anger reached her eyes. Wordlessly she gestured at Uhi and then over her shoulder in a universal sign that he was to leave. She was far too angry to speak to him. One look at Ak'nen and he too was scurrying away but towards the firepit to complete it.
Primrose felt she had angered Erthe in some way and wished she could turn back the hands time so that she had not touched him and filled him with such disgust that he had shook beneath her hands with revoltion. She tried to busy herself with something but found that without her supplies there was nothing much for her to do than sit by the horses and pretend to organize the simple packs they had been carrying.
Erthe took a few minutes to compose himself once more, looking up to find that Uhi was nowhere to be seen, much to his relief. Even a few minutes with that one out of his hair would be a blessing. Had to enjoy the little things. The drow had been completely oblivious to the fact that he'd upset Primrose. He certainly hadn't meant to. Still, as his eyes found her sitting near the horses he could sense her distress.
Sparing a quick glance at Ak'nen, he noticed the slender elf was finishing the fire pit, and with one last scrub through his unruly white hair, he got up and walked slowly over to Primrose, with more than a little trepidation. She seemed unhappy - again. He'd hoped that with her laughter earlier that maybe she was over his outburst from before, or maybe it was something he'd done while confronting Uhi.
Taking a seat on the ground, close, but not too close, he glanced at Ak'nen one last time before clearing his throat and speaking softly in Serenian. "Lady Primrose..." He hesitated, not really sure what to say or how to even say it. "I'm sorry, for earlier. I shouldn't have mentioned your father or Harkness. It was wrong of me. Please understand, I just can't stand the thought of you being being put on a leash and paraded around like someone's prized pet. You deserve so much more than that."
His expression turned to regret and sorrow. "Uhi is right about one thing. I've been causing you nothing but trouble. I should have been doing my job instead of worrying about how I felt about it. I'm not trained to feel, just to obey."
Primrose smiled sadly at Erthe. She let the Serenian words flow over her before she returned with far more ease than she did in elven, "it needed to be said. You are right though, I am fated to be the pampered pet or the bird in the gilded cage. My fate is not nearly as poor as yours Erthe. I can suffer it and I will for them, for those that live and those that died for me. Neither my father nor Harkness would be pleased with that choice, your marked them well but it is what I must do. I don't know any other way," she whispered to him, blinking back tears as she kept her voice soft so as to not alert Ak'nen to her sorrow.
"But he is wrong! To protect me you must feel. I am stubborn to a fault Erthe and I take blame for my pig-headedness. When the time comes you will protect me. I have no doubt of that. But until then, you need not fear. I am fine, unharmed and unbroken. We will make it to the end this way." She did not mention her thoughts on what would happen once they reached it but she knew what life would be and what she hoped to do.
Primrose could not stand the idea of this selfless drow forever a slave to her uncle. Already she had ideas of things she wanted to do. It was just a matter of thought and careful maneuvering. Lucky for her she had all the time in the world to prepare for her last independent act before marriage. She had the entire journey to hone what she wanted to say and do to make a difference. If only she could hold her tongue about it around him long enough to succeed. She highly suspected that Erthe would be as much of an obstacle to her as her own uncle. He would not like the ideas brewing within her pretty little head.
Keeping his head down, looking at the ground, Erthe grit his teeth as he listened as patiently as he could. Why did she excuse his poor behavior! It didn't need to be said by him. Maybe she had needed to hear it, but it wasn't his place to say those things. Not about those men and not to her. The drow visibly winced as she accepted her "fate" so readily. How could she be so calm about all of this? How could she be so sure?
His hands were clasped together in front of him so tightly that his knuckle's were paled and his words were ground out through gritted teeth. "I would find a way to protect you - all of you. There must be some way. Serendipity is still far away, surely we can think of something between now and then. Please don't give up."
Primrose was a lady. If there was no hope for her, then what hope was there for someone like him?
Her hand shot out of its own accord to rest atop his own, hoping to soothe him and lessen the whiteness in his bloodless knuckles. "Perhaps," she admitted, though she did not believe it. It was more for his sake than her own that she said it. "I shall try Erthe, but I cannot promise I will always be so able to believe. I have lived too long on borrowed time. This fate has always loomed over me like a hangman's noose. It just seems so much easier to lay down and give up, to stop fighting the current as you swim upstream." For a moment Primrose opened her mouth to say something more then shook her head and gave his hand a squeeze instead before drawing it away.
Crimson eyes locked on her small hand resting on his, at least he didn't flinch this time. Erthe forced himself to take a few calming breaths and to loosen his clenched hands. Was he asking too much? This was her decision to make, just because he didn't like her decision didn't give him the right to question it. He watched her hand withdraw and almost wished she would have left it where it had been.
"I'm sorry, Lady Primrose. I have no right to even ask that much. It's just...Jain, Jolie, Janus, and you are the first people to really treat me like I matter in a long, long time. The thought of something happening to you, any of you..." His face clouded with frustration as he struggled to express what he was thinking and feeling. Not knowing or understanding what exactly it was he was thinking and feeling didn't help with his articulation.
Primrose was just some noblewoman, she shouldn't mean anything at all to him. It didn't make any blasted sense! Of course, she wasn't just some noblewoman, and he knew it. She really cared about those around her - even someone like him who didn't deserve it. People like her were rare, special, and they needed to be protected. People like her were the ones that made the world worth living in.
"I guess what I'm saying is just that I care what happens to you, and them. I know I made excuses when you asked me earlier, but you're the closest things to friends I've had in a long time."
Her eyes lit up with the warmth she felt inside from hearing the Erthe speak tentatively of his feelings. She could tell he was nervous and she wanted nothing more than to throw her arms around him and embrace him in the deepest of hugs yet she restrained herself, knowing he would not appreciate it and might instead recoil from her further. It had been hard enough to get him even this far and what she was about to say next was something that had to be broached delicately if she did not wish to scare him away.
"You know," she began quietly, looking down at the grass beneath her with a gentle smile. "It is never too late to become friends. And," Primrose paused to sigh, her eyes reflecting her sorrow and her vulnerability. "Sometimes they walk in and out of our lives when we need them most. I don't know about you but out here all alone I could" she glanced up at him earnestly, her voice choking up slightly, "I could really use a friend."
Erthe's brow furrowed thoughtfully as he looked down at Primrose, still not sure what to make of all of this. She looked so vulnerable, and it made want to protect and comfort her. He had tried being friends with someone, with a lady, no less, and things had spiraled way out of control away from friendship and into love, and in the end he had been hurt deeply.
The thought of gaining a friend only to lose them again made his chest ache. He missed Tara. Would he have rather never had those four sweet years? At least before he hadn't realized what he had been missing. No, a man that lived in darkness would suffer a deeper void just to experience a few short minutes of sunlight.
Sighing slightly he scooted closer, reaching over to pull one of her hands up to cup within both of his. Her hands were so small, his dwarfed hers, at least it seemed that way to him. The drow really wasn't good at this comforting thing. Still, Primrose was worth the effort. Maybe he just over-thought things too much. Too busy thinking instead of paying attention to what he was feeling. That thought made him smile slightly.
"You're not alone. We're not alone. Not anymore." Closing his eyes he sighed and frowned. "Well, at least for right now. When we get to Serendipity I know that I won't be able to see you anymore, but even then, I could never forget you. I...appreciate how kind you've been to me."
Primrose's eyes widened as she felt him grasp her hand loosely between his own. Her free hand moved to cup the back of one of his as she smiled brilliantly up at him. "Thank you Erthe. I know how difficult this is for you and I want you to know how much it means to me. I will not ask you for what I know you cannot give me. I know what will come to pass at journey's end and though we may part for what it's worth, you will always be my friend."
Erthe made the mistake of looking up into her face as she spoke to him. His stomach felt like it did a flip flop at the sight of her smile. She was so beautiful. Had he really made her smile like that? What had he done? Was it the holding her hand thing? That was simple, he could do that. Or wait, was it what he'd said? What had he said? Crimson eyes widened slightly as he stared, mesmerized and barely taking in what she was saying.
"What I cannot give you?" He asked, slightly confused and genuinely not knowing what she was talking about. If it made her smile like that he thought he might give her anything. " Besides, we don't know for sure what will happen. Despite your lack of faith, we might still come up with something to get you out of this ridiculous arranged marriage."
She blushed slightly and gave his hands a squeeze. Yet, the sorrow that seemed to perpetually taint her dampened her mood some. "But you'll still be a slave to raving lunatic. What good is setting me free of my bonds if you still suffer? My fate is nothing compared to yours. We were both born into our places. How can you tell me not to be resigned to it when you yourself are? Erthe," she cried.
"I want to believe. I want to have faith. But my soul is so weary and my heart broken. Only cowardice kept me from death before. I don't know how..." Primrose gasped for air and shook her head. From the corner of her eye she saw Ak'nen's head snap up for a moment before he shifted so that his back faced her. Yet, in that moment as she fought the raging waters of her heart and soul she did not care whether the whole world was watching let alone one unwanted elf. She clung to Erthe like a lifeline in a tempest, knowing he would be her rock in the moments she needed him most. "I just don't know how."
"I would suffer in service to a thousand lunatics if it would set you free. I can tell you because I know what resignation is and I would not wish that helplessness on anyone - least of all you. My fate means nothing next to yours." Her cries tore at him, and he felt helpless. Erthe had made her smile, but how did he fix the deep-seated sorrow of unfair loss? The slave wasn't a stranger to how cruel and unfair things could be - far from a stranger - but even he didn't know how to stop it or change it.
Gently, almost hesitantly, those strong hands pulled at Primrose, drawing her closer by the hands. Still holding her hand tenderly with one, he softly tugged the other free to wrap a strong arm around her, hugging her lightly to his side. It had been so long since he had engaged in such an intimate gesture willingly, but thinking about how much she seemed to thrive on this kind of contact, he shoved aside his own reservations. He'd sworn on his soul to take care of her, Erthe would do and be anything she needed him to be.
"I don't know how yet either, but somehow I am going to take care of you Primrose. If nothing else, have faith in me." Crimson eyes gazed down at her, the drow wondered again how he was supposed to fulfill his oath to Jain. How was he going to take care of her? There was determination in those dark irises, it didn't matter what it took, he'd find a way.
Primrose was shocked not only by his words but by his actions as well. He had not called her 'Lady Dragoslave' or even 'Lady Primrose' this time. It had been her given name without any title and that alone without any title spoken from his lips had caused her heart to soar with elation. The man who had wanted as little physical contact with her as possible was of his own freewill embracing her and speaking her name without hesitation. She pressed close against him as she quelled her tears and let his voice soothe her. Slowly she tilted her head up to look at him and with soft conviction she stated, "If in nothing else, I have faith in you, my friend."
'Though I see your fate as far from nothing Erthe. If I can bring life to you by being the lady you champion for then I will gladly let you. But, this lady has some championing of her own to do though she knows you would not approve."
"I trust you, Erthe." She smiled and nodded her head once as if to confirm it to them both. Primrose opened her mouth as if to say more when Ak'nen cleared his throat and called quietly over to them.
"My cousin returns and he is not alone."
As she pressed close to him, Erthe's arm instinctively hugged her tighter, the gesture protective as he let her comfort herself against him. Primrose didn't comment on it, but he knew she would have noticed him not using her title. Well, as much as part of him thought it was wrong for a slave to address a lady without using her title, she had asked him several times not to use it. Idly he thought that he hadn't used Tara's title either.
Forcing those thoughts away before his discomfort or unhappiness could show on his face, he smiled down at the woman clinging to him now, pleased that she had least said she had faith in him. My friend. He thought with a mix of pleasure and apprehension. It was too late to take it back now, and a large part of him didn't want to. How different would his life had been if he'd always had a friend like Primrose? Someone so compassionate and strong-willed.
"Good." The word rumbled and vibrated through his chest as the drow took in her smiling face gazing up at him. He wanted her to trust him, needed her to trust him. Ak'nen cleared his throat and his red eyes snapped up in annoyance, the slave had almost forgotten that the elf was even there - he wished he wasn't there. The words gave him pause and his lips pulled into a frown. What did he mean Uhi wasn't alone?
The noblewoman sat up slowly, not wishing to pull away from Erthe but also unwilling to be in his way if he felt he needed to defend her. She found the behavior silly but given Uhi's abrasive attitude, she was not above stopping the drow from taking a price out of the elf's hide. The idiot certainly had earned what he had coming to him. It was simply a matter of time.
Several moments later she began to faintly hear what she was sure the other two could hear as clear as day. On top of the slow plodding steps of a horse was the incessant droning buzz of a child's chatter. Primrose cursed under her breath, inciting the names of not only the goddess of Serendipity but several minor deities of Adela as she shot to her face.
"I'm going to kill him," she growled as she began to pace, waiting for the trio to appear. Their entrance was loud, revealing the presence of Jed with Uhi leading him along. The elf looked strained and red-faced, his lips pressed tightly into a very fine bloodless line that matched his narrowed eyes. Behind him a youthful voice blabbered on, hardly stopping to breathe as question after question was voiced without regard to whether or not an answer was forthcoming.
"Make him stop his infernal bleating!" the elf begged, his outburst temporarily silencing Janus as he stepped out from behind Uhi to stare up at him in awe before firing off more questions twice as quickly before.
The drow released his hold on the woman in his arms as she sat up, though his reluctance to let her go surprised him. He shouldn't have been holding her like that in the first place. Erthe's frown deepened as he stood up, casting an uncertain glance at Primrose before tilting his head to listen, his long ears twitched before going rigid, his little metal hoops clinking together softly as he recognized the nagging voice of Janus.
A few moments later and he could tell Primrose heard the same thing he did. Crimson eyes lit up with amusement as he glanced at the cursing woman and outright grinned at her threat. Yes, he was rather annoyed with the kid, too. Janus shouldn't be out here. It wasn't safe for a child to have wandered like that by himself and no doubt Jain and Jolie would be frantic with worry. What a mess.
Still he couldn't help the sadistic delight that poured through him. Erthe was a rather calm, patient, and gentle man - when not in the pits, of course - and the slave had never thought of himself as wishing another pain without good cause. However, the look on Uhi's face, and his little outburst, had the drow very happy. A just punishment for the elf that had infuriated him earlier. He could easily imagine what it had been like having Janus tagging along that whole walk back.
"Janus!" Erthe barked out angrily, his expression turning serious as he beckoned the child impatiently. As much as he enjoyed the idea of Uhi being pestered, he didn't want to see the hot-tempered elf get angry with the boy, and Janus was in deep trouble. Now Erthe had a second life to protect. He looked down at Primrose with a sigh. "What are we going to do with him?"
Janus' smile faded immediately as he shot a foot in the air in surprise before rushing over to Erthe. It was Primrose's hissed words that made his eyes widen in shock. "Throttle him. Beat him. I'm going to tan his hide from now to kingdom come!" she swore angrily. While Janus did not understand the words, her tone was universal. He was in serious trouble.
"You are going straight home Janus! What were you thinking? What are you even doing here?"
"Well you see it's like this Primmy, I happened to be out for a stroll as it were and-"
"Janus!"
The boy flinched at her angry growl and hurried to finish his tale. "So I followed you and nearly lost you when you went off on that godawful sprint. If it hadn't been for Jed I never would have made it to you. You know you shouldn't be so careless especially with him. You know he's getting older Primmy. Besides you should be thanking me. I did bring you back Jed after all. And what's with that quiet fellow. I thought he was dumb until I heard him speak just now. Didn't say a single word to me, no 'hello', not even so much of a 'how are you' before he's yanking me off Jed and dragging me off to god knows where which was fortunate as it turned out to be to you but still and IS THAT ANOTHER ELF!"
Uhi spasmed violently as if shot at the outburst as Ak'nen likewise jumped, not expecting the child's exuberance. The noblewoman dug her fingers into her temples, massaging in tight little circles as she muttered a mantra under her breath in every language she knew. "I will not strangle him. I will not strangle him. I will not strangle him." Yet the moment she opened her eyes she had to turn away from him, her hands twitching to do the very deed she was determined not to.
Erthe listened to the angry little woman as she declared all the things she wanted to do to the kid, he had folded his arms across his chest and was glaring down at the child angrily. He let Primrose do the talking, though. It really wasn't his place to be scolding Janus or deciding what to do with him, let alone punishing the poor kid. Of course, when the boy launched into his monologue, the drow's lips twitched to fight a grin as the kid went on and on and on...
The two elves reaction to Janus as he suddenly realized there was another elf had the slave snickering softly. They'd jumped as if struck. A quick glance at Primrose erased his mirth, though, and he looked back at Janus with a groan as he reached his hands up to rub tiredly at his face, listening to the usually sweet voice chanting her little mantra. "We can't send him back by himself, Primrose, and certainly not in the dark. It's too dangerous. Maybe we can figure something out in the morning?"
Peering over at Uhi suddenly he grinned viciously before glancing down at Primrose again. "Hey, maybe you could ask Uhi to take him home, you know, since he's the idiot that brought him in the first place." Although Erthe was kind of glad that Uhi had. Janus had been out there alone and vulnerable, and that thought made him a little queasy.
She hummed softly, eying Erthe appreciatively as she mulled over his suggestion. "Well now there's a thought. I wouldn't be opposed given his ghoulish behavior since the moment he first appeared. Although I'm not so sure I trust Janus with him. Child may make his ears bleed."
Primrose relaxed enough to smile at the slave and nod her head to let him know she was calmer now. "We still need to think of something to do about your parents my little goblin. I will not have them so immensely worried all over your sorry absence. If I wasn't sure you would wander off and get you lost I would send you right back home this instant! Janus, Janus!"
The boy jumped having been caught not paying attention and instead staring at the two quietly conversing elves. "You will listen to me when I speak to you," Primrose reprimanded, hands on her hips as her toe tapped in irritation. "I don't want to hear another word out of you tonight. Is that understood?" He hurried to nod before dashing away from her to stand and stare over Ak'nen's shoulder to see what the elf was doing. Uhi made the most interesting squeaking and grunting sounds as he tried to get the smaller elf's attention but the slighter male only smiled and ignored both as he finally got the fire to light.
"I'm sorry Erthe," the noblewoman apologized weakly. "I know this is the last thing you needed right now after everything else that has happened today."
Erthe hummed softly, his expression becoming serious again. Janus could be an earful, but as much as he disliked Uhi, he didn't think he'd hurt a child. If the elf had his ears bleeding before the ordeal was over, well, that wasn't the drow's problem, now was it? It was ultimately Primrose's decision, though.
At least she was regaining control over her anger. The slave shot Janus a sympathetic look as Primrose scolded him. He'd had the little woman screaming at him earlier and hadn't liked that one bit, and he couldn't imagine a scolding like this would have sit much better with him. At least it was the boy under fire and not him. Of course as soon as the boy's 'talking to' was over, Janus was off at the speed of light to check out the two elves. At least he wasn't the current focus.
The drow looked down at Primrose and stepped closer to her, his expression becoming amused at her apology. "How many times do I have to ask you not to apologize to me? I can protect two almost as easily as one, I think. Although knowing Janus..." He cast his eyes over to where the fire was started, making sure the child wasn't in trouble yet - it was only a matter of time.
Shaking his head he walked over to Jed to unload some of what he needed. "Janus, come help me set up the tents, and no talking!" Erthe felt the need to stress that last point.
"At least once more as always Erthe," she replied softly, a fond smile lighting up her face. "I defer to you in this matter then. I would not dare insult you by claiming you incapable." Primrose gave the man a short bow, grinning impishly as she danced off towards Jed to help with unloading him and setting up for the evening meal.
Janus on the other hand jumped at the chance to spend time with the drow until he was reminded he was not allowed to talk. Then, his mouth snapped shut with a sour scowl and he began to move at an exceedingly sluggish pace so as to do as little work as possible.
Red eyes rolled at Primrose, but the slave was smiling. What a stubborn woman. Well, he was smiling until she gave him a bow, and then his eyes flashed irritably as his lips pulled into a scowl. "Too far, Primrose." He grumbled at her as he pulled free the last of the tent equipment. Maybe he could drop her title, speak more freely, but the idea of a lady bowing to a slave, or really of Primrose bowing to anyone, rubbed him the wrong way.
He noticed that Janus was dragging his feet. Now that was absolutely unacceptable behavior. Erthe knew that the boy was unhappy with the order for silence that Primrose had issued, but he had brought it upon himself. The tents needed set up, and Janus needed to move his feet. "Janus, you get over here and do this job with me, and you do it right, boy. I'm not going to tolerate your sulking." His tone left no room for argument, and for a slave, was surprisingly authoritative.
Without even looking to see if he was being obeyed, the drow began clearing a spot for the two tents.
The two elves worked to assist Primrose with what she needed. Ak'nen marveled at her knowledge of herbs as the two conversed and Uhi grunted criticisms whenever given the chance. It took every fiber in the noblewoman's being not to kick ash and sparks in his face. As it was, while he was not looking she did allow his food to briefly fall into the ashes before she returned it to the pan. The younger cousin chuckled quietly and patted her shoulder when she returned the utmost innocent look in response.
Janus on the other hand was continuing to be a pain in Erthe's rear end. With the male's back turned he made faces and mocked the drow under his breath. The boy stomped his feet and made sure to take his sweet time of a snail's pace to approach the man, intent on being as little help as possible. His sullen expression remained throughout.
"Muttering about me under your breath counts as talking, young man." Erthe said without looking up and loud enough for Primrose to hear. Janus must have either forgotten or not realized that his long ears were more than just for show. This was going to be a really long night if the newest addition to their little oddball party was going to behave this way for the duration. That thought had him grumbling in annoyance. He hadn't wanted any additions to their journey, but he had the feeling that those two elves weren't going anywhere soon.
Standing suddenly he moved to the sullen child, putting his hands on both of Janus' shoulders he more or less pushed the boy along, then past his work with the tents, giving the two of them some space. Sighing he stopped and gave a glance at the little group by the fire, making sure that Uhi and Ak'nen were behaving themselves. The drow hated that Primrose was so close to them over there.
Moving he knelt down in front of Janus, looking the boy in the eye, he decided on a different tactic entirely. His voice was even and quiet, the conversation was just meant for him and the boy. "Janus, listen to me. I know you're mad that Primrose punished you, but you did something you shouldn't have. Primrose was really angry because you made us worry. Something bad could have happened to you coming out here by yourself. Do you realize how awful it would be for all of us if you'd been hurt or killed?
"Right now you're acting like a child, and honestly, we can't have a child out here in the way." Erthe exhaled unsteadily, trying to pick his words carefully. "What I can use is another man to watch out for Primrose. I don't trust those elves, not entirely, but I do trust you. Neither of us wants Primrose to get hurt. Now can I count on you to help me, Janus?"
The child's eyes nearly fell out of his head as he faltered in his steps with the realization that he had been heard. His mother and Primrose were the only ones he had ever known who had the uncanny ability to know when he was mouthing off but neither of them had actually ever heard him.
Petulantly, Janus crossed his arms over his chest and scowled as Erthe knelt before him. He even opened his mouth to protest at being called a child until he heard the drow's proposal. "You really mean it?" he gasped, his arms dropping to his sides as he cast nervous glances back towards Primrose. "You'd trust me to keep an eye on her? You think I'm man enough for the job?"
With a sigh of relief, the drow found himself smiling at Janus. The boy was a chatterbox to be sure, but he was a good kid. Honestly he wasn't sure if his approach would work, but it seemed to be getting through to the boy, which was good, because he really did need Janus to listen to him right now. "Janus, I think you're exactly the man for the job. I don't think anybody else in these woods with us knows Primrose better than you or cares about her more."
Glancing in the direction of the others he grimaced slightly before looking back at Janus with a serious expression. "You're young yet, but I know a good man when I meet one. You've just got things to still learn about being a man, Janus. Now help me set up the tents, and without giving me trouble this time, okay? Men contribute and take care of those around them. We have to have somewhere for Primrose to sleep, right?"
With a smile he stood and ruffled Janus' hair lightly before heading back to the tents and setting back to work.
Janus cheered before he was able to get a hold of himself and look around to make sure Primrose had not noticed his unmanly behavior. Thankfully she had not as she was busy giggling over something Ak'nen had said. The child hurried to assist Erthe now without complaint, nearly causing more trouble than providing actual help in his over-eagerness.
"Umm Erthe Sir, where am I going to sleep?" he finally paused to ask, completely forgetting he was not supposed to be talking still.
It was all the drow could do to make it through the motions of setting up the tents with Janus' "help" at least the kid was trying now. Of course it was difficult for Erthe to concentrate, the sound of Primrose giggling should have been a pleasing sound, but he found when it was directed at Ak'nen, he didn't find it quite as appealing as before. The slave found himself gritting his teeth as he forced himself to finish the work at hand.
"I don't know for sure yet, you'll have to bunk with me or Primrose, I guess." He didn't really care where the elves slept. They didn't appear to have their own tents, but then again, if not for the lady's insistence he wouldn't either. Sleeping under the open sky didn't bother him.
"Cool! You really mean I could spend the night with you Erthe? That would be so awesome! I haven't slept outside in a long time. Primmy used to sleep outside with me sometimes int he summer in the garden but she hasn't done that in so long! You know she taught me all about the stars and how you can use the really bright one high up in the sky to always know how to return hom-to uh certain places."
Janus looked about shiftily, blushing at his small slip that come dark he knew exactly how to get back home. "So uh, now that I got the tent set up what shall we do? Is it time to bring home a kill? I don't know about you but I happen to be a rather fair shot," he bragged, puffing up with boyish pride.
Well, it wasn't as if the drow hadn't suspected that Janus might start talking again full-force after the little talk he'd had with him. It didn't keep Erthe from sighing softly as he glanced at the boy with a bemused expression. He'd caught the "slip", but it hardly mattered if the kid knew how to get home from here. It still wasn't safe for him to go alone. At first he'd just suggested it as a clever idea to torment Uhi, but it really didn't seem like a horrible idea to have the elf escort the boy home in the morning. He wasn't sure Primrose would go for it though.
"Bring home a kill? I-" The slave faltered, watching Janus puff up with pride. "Actually, I've never hunted before. It wasn't a skill my master thought I needed." Erthe looked down, embarrassed at his own ineptitude. "We brought plenty of food, though, so I don't think hunting is needed tonight. Maybe you should ask if Primrose needs any help?"
Janus did not so much as even bat an eye upon hearing that Erthe could not hunt. In all of his childish innocence he simply smiled and said, "well then I'll teach you!" His exuberance turned to displeasure though as he realized his skills would not be necessary.
"But I can't ask Primmy," he protested in a conspiratory fashion. "She told me I'm not allowed to talk. That means no asking her." His eyes suddenly widened as he realized he was talking then. "You're not going to tell her are you?"
The idea of a child teaching him to hunt had the drow shaking his head. That wasn't really on his agenda. Erthe had to laugh softly as Janus went from excited at the prospect of hunting, to unhappy at the rejection of the idea. Maybe if they weren't short on time together he would have relented and let the boy "teach" him something, but as it was, they would not be together for very long. His ears would rejoice, but his heart felt heavy at the idea of not seeing the kid again. This was why it was better not to care about anyone.
"I won't bring it up." The slave chuckled. Though he wasn't sure if Primrose had heard them talking together already or not. Didn't really matter to him. Giving a last check to make sure the tents were secure, Erthe led the way towards the fire, eyes sliding over the three people there. Uhi and Ak'nen got hard looks from those crimson eyes, lips in a thin line of displeasure, but as soon as those dark eyes settled on the woman they softened, a soft gleam coming to them as his lips curved faintly.
"Primrose, do you have any chores for Janus? The tents are ready for the night."
A quick thumb's up from Janus and the child was dancing back over to the fire. It was Primrose's restraining hand that kept him repeatedly from bouncing right into the growing flames as she turned to smile up warmly at Erthe from her crouched position.
"I don't know. Is it actually safe to allow the bouncing ball of energy to do much else? Perhaps it's best to tie the little talker to a tree and be done with him for the night," she said pointedly, giving Janus the "mother look." He stared up at Erthe wide-eyed, as if begging for the drow to deny his earlier actions.
Red eyes lit up at the suggestion, and Erthe pretended to seriously consider the option of tying Janus to a tree and just being done with the child for the night. Of course, it was easy to pretend, because it was almost a tempting though. Almost. Tying a child to a tree seemed highly unethical in the long run, so he shook his head with a soft chuckle.
"Have a heart, Primrose. He can't help it. I worry about allowing him to be idle, though. As you said, bouncing ball of energy. Surely there's something to keep him busy with." Although the drow wasn't sure exactly what. His eyes kept drifting to the two elves that had joined them, more worried about what to do with them than with Janus, if he were being honest with himself.
Uhi was across the fire from Primrose, which suited him just fine, but he eyed Ak'nen critically as the elf was directly to the lady's left. Janus was on her right, and that left Erthe a spot to sit between Uhi and Janus. Not his first choice, by a long shot. Scowling softly he moved to take his place on the fringes of the group, sitting apart from the others rather than subject himself to sit beside his current least favorite person. Besides, among those present he was the only one who wasn't a free person. Even Primrose, despite her forced engagement, was still considered free.
"Perhaps eating is enough of an activity to keep him both busy and silent. Yes silent Janus. If I catch you talking with your mouth full I'll tell your mother! Now go sit before we do tie you to a tree and make Uhi feed you."
At the sound of his name the gruff elf shot his head up and scowled at Primrose, looking entirely displeased and suspicious of the lady. Janus hopped around unaffected, finally plopping himself down beside Primrose and practically on top of Ak'nen as he stared up expectantly at the elf. He was even about to say something when Primrose dropped a plate in his lap and he was momentarily distracted by thoroughly inspecting his food.
"Hey you didn't actually burn anything this time," Janus declared loudly making Primrose jerk slightly before blushing darkly and fully engrossing herself with the act of passing out the rest of the food. Each of the elves were handed plates, Ak'nen thanking her with Uhi sneering as he snatched his own away. She sighed before moving to fix a plate for Erthe, trying her hardest to ignore the elf that was getting closer and closer to driving her up a tree.
Erthe was skeptical if eating would really keep Janus quiet, but the way Uhi jerked his head up at the sound of his name made the drow smirk. Though the expression was short-lived, because a moment later he was scowling fiercely at the way the elf looked at Primrose. He was tempted to tell Uhi to adjust his attitude before it was adjusted for him, but he had been asked not to fight and he was trying his damnedest not to.
It was Janus to the rescue, because his declaration had the slave nearly choking. He refused to laugh at it. Refused to, but he couldn't stop the smile as he peered at Primrose and the way she blushed. Well, she was a proper lady, cooking wasn't a critical skill, most ladies had people that did such domestic chores for them. He wanted to say the reassuring words out loud, but bit his tongue, figuring that they would either make Primrose mad or embarrass her even more.
Erthe tensed, eyes hardening at the way Uhi snatched his plate with a sneer. "Remember your manners, elf, I'm assuming you were taught them, but I can remind you if necessary." There was a cold, hard edge to the clipped words.
Uhi lunged to his feet at Erthe's deragotry tone. "And what is that supposed to mean half-breed filth? Like something as pathetic as you would know a thing about manners! Don't make me laugh!"
His cousin too was on his feet but instead shouting at Uhi, chastising him rapidly for his disgusting behavior. However it was Primrose's cold words that silenced both elves in surprise and shock. Her tone was not that of the sweet and mild-mannered yet passionate woman they had come to know in the short time. This was a side of her that either Harkness had never mentioned or had never had the chance to see.
"Don't waste your breath on him, Erthe. He is not worth a slave's time let alone a lady's," she spoke as she approached the drow with two plates, one bearing more food than the other. The larger portion she thrust into Erthe's hands as she gracefully sank down cross-legged beside him, her knee touching his.
She immediately felt bad for bringing his status into the conversation and looked over at him remorsefully. "Forgive me friend. That was quite cruel of me. I should never have said that. While it is true that he is not worth anyone's time, you most certainly are. Can you forgive me?"
While every muscle in the drow's body was tense and ready to spring into a fight, but he remained seated. Like hell if he was going to give Uhi the satisfaction of seeing him jump up and riled by those words. Half-breed filth. Inwardly the slave had flinched. All his life he had been aware of what elves and drow would think of him and his mixed heritage, but having those preconceptions so vehemently reinforced still felt like a blow to the gut. Being a slave was all he had and all he could be, what else could someone that belonged nowhere do with their life? His mother's people scorned him, and his father's people seemed equally eager to reject him.
Keeping his eyes hard he watched impassively as Ak'nen tried once more to keep the two of them from coming to blows. It would be a losing battle. Erthe knew that it was only a matter of time before he and Uhi had a confrontation, and it would be a heated one. He wondered who would win. They were similar in size, but...
Primrose cut off his thoughts, and he dragged his eyes away from Uhi to regard her quietly. The use of the word slave didn't have the drow so much as batting an eye. Though the insult to Uhi had him smiling. His body remained tense as she shoved the plate in his hands, he hadn't even realized she was fixing him one, and instantly he felt guilt that a lady had served him. That wasn't the way it was supposed to go.
Having her sit beside him, their knees touching, soothed Erthe, and he slowly began to relax as he kept an eye on Uhi out of the corner of his eye, but most of his attention was now focused on the beautiful woman at his side. "I am a slave. You only stated what is true. Thank you, for bringing my plate, you shouldn't have. A lady shouldn't be serving a slave supper." He said, sounding slightly sheepish.
She gave him a firm look, one brow raised in challenge. "You said it yourself; slaves don't have friends. Where I come from there are no rules against handing a friend his dinner plate. Though there are ones about insulting and putting down friends. I never should have done that, nor shall I do so again."
Her smile soon returned though as she nodded to him with her chin. "Eat before it gets cold. It's not perfect but despite the imp's words I'm not a bad cook." Under her breath she added quietly, "I think."
Slaves like him didn't have friends, the drow thought sourly. This had been his philosophy for much of his life, and the one time before he had not followed his own advice, it had ended with pain that still scorched his heart. Erthe didn't hold much hope that this time would be much different. He would let himself grow attached to Primrose, had already grown too attached to her, and then he would be forced to leave her.
The slave kept his head and eyes lowered as she assured him that she wouldn't insult him again. Sighing softly he tried to soothe her guilty conscience once more. "I wasn't insulted, and I'm sure you're a fine cook." Honestly compared to what he was used to eating it hardly mattered one way or the other. Tucking into the plate she had so graciously brought to him, Erthe hummed softly in appreciation. Jolie's supper the night before had been better, but this was something done at a camp, not in a kitchen. Even so, it tasted fine to him. "This is good, thank you for making it, Primrose."
Primrose dipped her head in thanks and smiled warmly at him, a breath she had been holding finally released at his compliment. It was the small things that meant the most to her and hearing that he liked her cooking brought her great joy in that moment.
"It is my pleasure Erthe. There is more if you would like it. I don't think I will be able to finish even what I gave myself," she giggled, looking down at her own smaller portion. Despite her attempts at smiles and laughter, Primrose still felt somewhat hollow inside. She was weary and hunger was the last thing on her mind.
After much arguing Uhi had finally stormed off throwing his plate to the ground as Ak'nen looked ready to strangle him. His frustration melted away though as he took his seat beside Janus once more, pretending not to notice the way the boy stared so intently at him and shifted bit by bit to nearly sit on top of the elf.
Erthe had managed to ignore the argument between the elves, not much caring about Uhi's temper as long as the elf's hostility wasn't directed at Primrose or Janus. Instead he had focused his attention on the lovely woman beside him. The slave still marveled that a lady would choose to sit beside him, but Primrose just wasn't like other nobles he had known. Sooner or later he would have to stop reminding himself constantly and just take her behavior in stride.
"You've already given me a lion's share from the looks of this plate." The drow teased as he took another bite, only looking up for a moment as Uhi had stormed off after throwing his plate to the ground. That elf had serious problems. Erthe found himself wishing again that he'd just go away. "Uhi is trouble. I know you don't want us fighting, but he's going to push me, and I'm going to end up pushing right back."
"I know," she replied quietly yet with complete seriousness. "Just don't go looking for trouble Erthe. I can brush away his insults easily enough. I don't want to see you hurt, even if it is out of a sense of honor for your friend and her," Primrose sighed as she watched Janus, "charge."
While she picked at her food she mused aloud for Erthe's ears alone why she thought Uhi was behaving the way he was. "If he truly is a friend of Harkness, I mean was or is, I don't know. Regardless, he lost a lot more than I did. For while I loved him dearly in the time of humans it was short in the time of ageless immortals even less so. Uhi would have known him as a child and I think when he made his vow to my heart he had not believed there would be any reason to fulfill it. He grieves Erthe just as I do. His views though they disappoint me are unfortunately a majority among the village that Harkness was born in. His own father hated me upon sight. That view changed quickly yet, sometimes old habits are hard to change especially when we are in too much pain to see the truth.
"I think," she said shakily, putting down her fork to stare off to the faroff fire. "I think that any friend of Harkness would have to be a good and honorable man for he would surround himself with nothing less. Somewhere buried within all that anger is a man of honor and once Uhi remembers that he will show his true colors."
Go looking for trouble? The drow shook his head, the last thing he needed or wanted was to find more trouble than he already had to deal with. From the moment Primrose's uncle had purchased him his life had been nothing but troublesome. "Don't worry about me. That elf couldn't possibly give me an injury worse than some I have suffered and survived before."
The woman had no idea the scars that were seared across his skin, each a painful memory scorched across his mind. Uhi couldn't hurt him that badly. Erthe didn't want to hear what Primrose was saying, and he scowled down at his food, only picking at the meal as he took in what she thought about Uhi's behavior. It made sense. Grief could drive a man to do things he would not normally do and say things he wouldn't utter under a different circumstance. Of course, he had no doubt the elf meant exactly what he said in regards to him.
Filthy half-breed. Crimson eyes closed as those words taunted him in his mind. As often through his life as he'd told himself he didn't care, it still hurt to be reminded that he was not only lesser than everyone because he was a slave, but because his very blood was tainted. Not a drow and not an elf, sometimes all he knew was what he wasn't. Humans either couldn't or wouldn't understand his pain - how could they? It wasn't like when humans from two different countries had children. His parents weren't just from two different cultures, they were completely different sub-species of elf.
"I'll keep his grief in mind, but I will not excuse his behavior with it." Erthe said softly. Everything about him seemed distant now, his eyes, his voice, and his expression. Withdrawing in on himself was just how he cooped with the world. He had been trained to hold a certain facade, and to hide everything that he was behind it. Primrose didn't need to know or share his pain, and so he would hide the fact that Uhi's words hurt him far more than an actual fight could.
Primrose nodded, expecting no less from Erthe and glad he had at least agreed to that much. Hoping to not allow herself to wallow in fear and sorrow, she continued to try and engage him in conversation.
"If you could eat anything in the world Erthe what would it be? Do you have a favorite food? Can you cook? Do you-oh dear," she breathed blushing. "I'm turning into Janus! I'm so sorry. Running at the mouth like a fool." She giggled and shook her head. "Sorry my friend."
Erthe had never been much of a talker, but he realized that conversation was soothing for some people when they were stressed and anxious. The drow had the strong sense that was what had Primrose asking questions faster than he could answer them. When she apologized for behaving like Janus he offered the hint of a smile.
"I don't mind, Primrose. Talk and question to your heart's content, just don't expect answers when you ask so fast." He tilted his head slightly and thought about answers. "I've never really cooked before. Even when I journeyed to your home I didn't cook. I relied on things that were already fixed or that could be eaten raw." The question about favorite foods was much harder. The slave was lucky to get fed regularly when a master was generous. That didn't mean that the food was all that great.
"I guess if I could eat anything I wanted, it would be stuffed mushrooms. I remember being allowed some by Lady Tara once. They were delicious. I don't eat very well usually, so I guess I'm not really sure." He shrugged his shoulders. Tara had introduced him to a lot of fancy foods, but only little samples.
The noblewoman hung her head some and blushed at what she felt was his gentle teasing. Yet, she listened intently to his responses, wishing to remember them for later. "I wish that wasn't the case," came her own soft reply. "My father used to say there is no greater joy than a good home cooked meal shared at your family table beside friends. Of course his version of home-cooked differed from mother's." Primrose giggled and shook her head.
"My mother was a proper Serenian lady and could not cook which is why of course we had Jolie. I wish I was as good of a cook as her. I can follow a recipe well enough but to just reach into the pantry and pull out a bunch of ingredients and then make something heavenly out of it. Now that's an artform I'll never master."
She placed her still mostly full plate of food beside her as she dragged her knees into her chest. "Ask me something Erthe. Surely there is something about me you're curious about and I won't be offended given the questions I've gotten from my stu-...former students."
Erthe began picking at his food again, trying to seem interested in what Primrose had made for him, but brooding more than anything as she spoke. Home-cooked meals shared at a family table. Was that kind of what it was like the night before at her home? The drow honestly had nothing to compare his experience from last night to. His mother had died before he was even three years, and his father before he was even born. Even if they had lived, there wouldn't have been any family meals, he thought grimly. Drada Hunzrin had made her thoughts about him and his father very clear.
"Well at least you can follow a recipe. I can't even do that." Erthe said softly with a smile, trying to draw himself out of his unhappy thoughts. It was both harder and easier than he thought. Setting aside his musings, his crimson eyes regarded the woman beside him curiously as she bid him ask her something about herself. It wasn't a slave's place to pry into the life of nobles, but Primrose was nothing if not extremely unorthodox.
Sighing softly, Erthe decided to test the waters with an easy question. "Why did you learn so many languages? I've heard you speak at least three. The same three as me, actually." He smiled a little wider at that. Being a slave he was liable to be sold to anyone, and over the years he'd found use and need for all of the tongues he'd learned to speak. Of course he couldn't read or write in any language, but slaves didn't need such skills most of the time.
Her face lit up at his question, delighting in the ability to discuss something she was passionate about. "Well common of course is a pretty necessary language. Then, with my mother being Serenian and my father Adelan both wanted me to learn the language of their homelands. I suppose when you're young it isn't so hard to learn it all. My father knew Elvish and before he died he used to sing to me or tell me stories in it when I was sick as I often was as a child. It was always one of my favorite memories of him. Though he tried, father wasn't always able to be home. So when he could teach me swordplay or entertain me with Elvish fables, then I cherished every one of those moments."
She smiled softly as she rocked slightly from side to side, her chin on her knees. "I love to learn. It started then and I haven't stopped yet. Although, my Elvish is terrible. I'm sorry you had to suffer through hearing that. One of my regrets I suppose. I never did push more to learn it when I was younger and much of what I did learn I have long since forgotten.
"What about you though?" Primore peeked out to the side to watch his face. "How did you learn so many? Can you speak others? Would you want to?"
The expression on Erthe's face was hard to describe as he listened to her speak of her father and her youth. Wistful and longing, perhaps. Though the drow smiled down at her, it was not a truly happy curve of the lips. What she described was so unbelievably nice. The slave was happy that she had those memories of her father, but was also slightly jealous. Again he wondered if his father would have been as cold and spiteful of his existence of him as his mother had been. If circumstances had been different would his father have told him stories as a child? How much did he miss the chance to learn from his father?
Sighing softly he shook his head as she apologized for not speaking Elvish well. Humans didn't often bother to learn any elvish at all. It was a difficult language to learn, and even more difficult to master. He was about to tell her so when she asked him about his knowledge of languages. The drow couldn't help but give her a wry smile "I am a slave, and have been sold to several masters over my lifetime. Not all of them spoke the same language, and so to obey properly, I had to learn. Not that the teaching was easy or structured. I was expected to know what my master was commanding me. If I didn't learn fast enough, well..."
Scowling slightly he let the words trail off and die. Primrose didn't need to hear about that. Of course she was a very smart young woman, Erthe knew she would know what it was he hadn't said. Shaking his head slightly he went on along a slightly different vein of thought. "I know the languages of Adela, Serenian, and Elvish. I know a very little of Drow, my mother's language, but not very much. If there was another language I would wish to know, it would be that."
There was a sadness in her smile as she listened, knowing that in order to survive he had been so pressured to learn and learn quickly. Primrose was passionate about knowledge but she did not believe it was something that should be crammed into a person with threat of the whip or worse.
"Drowish, now that sounds like a language I could never learn. If you ever do learn it Erthe you'll have to teach it to me. I would be honored if you did. Languages and the knowledge that comes with them are such a beautiful thing. If I had a choice I would learn them all, even those of the islands far from this land. I would learn the language of the birds if they would but teach me it," Primrose declared looking up to the sky with her arms spread out openly.
She giggled and shook her head. "You must find me so childish and naive. Perhaps my future husband will think the same and want nothing to do with me. Mm, wouldn't that be wonderful."
Erthe shook his head, unable to decide if he should be pleased or sad with the way Primrose spoke as if they would ever have the luxury of time. Even if he learned the language of his mother's people, he wouldn't be able to share that knowledge with her. Not unless they tried to learn it together in the very short amount of time they had before they arrived in Serendipity. A narrow time frame for learning a language, especially when you didn't know where to even begin.
"I find you energetic and compassionate. You're a very strange woman, Primrose Dragoslav, but I like you just as you are." The drow answered honestly. Maybe she was naive, but he liked it much better than depressed or cynical. Primrose was someone that still saw good things in the world and in people. Well, in some people. For whatever reason she seemed to like him. It felt strange to be wanted by someone for anything not material. She just wanted to be his friend. Nobody had ever just wanted to be his friend. Not even Tara.
Primrose blushed darkly but her smile only brightened. "I'll take that as a compliment then. It is not everyday I am reminded how strange I am only to be told it's likewise appreciated. You are a very rare and very special kind of person Erthe, my friend and companion. Don't let the world drain that away from you or else we'll all be the poorer for it."
One hand reached out and patted his knee, giving it a gentle squeeze before she turned her gaze off to Janus who with every passing moment was making Ak'nen more and more glassy-eyed. The elf's voice was quiet as he gave short answers in between the child's rapid-fire questions but it was obvious that the man could not keep up.
"I wish I knew what to do with him though," she sighed heavily.
"Rare and special?" Erthe said with a grimace. There was nothing rare or special about him, as far as the drow could tell. Well, maybe that he was both elf and drow was unusual, as the two races rarely had much interaction, let alone produced condemned offspring. It would have been so much better for him if his master had been a sensible man and chosen a drow champion instead of his elven father.
The feel of a small hand patting his knee before squeezing it quickly snapped him out of his thoughts, and the slave shifted uncomfortably as the hand pulled away. Erthe still felt unsure about touching anyone, and being touched by someone like her felt wrong to him. She shouldn't be touching a slave like that. He wasn't worth her kindness, but still Primrose lavished her sweetness upon him without a second thought. A strange woman indeed.
His crimson eyes followed gaze, watching the boy and elf interact with a somewhat sympathetic expression. The drow knew all too well how hard it could be to answer questions posed by Janus in rapid succession.
"I know it would be a delay, but we could turn around and take him home together." Erthe offered doubtfully. While he wanted nothing more than to find a way never to deliver Primrose into her uncle's cruel hands, he wasn't sure that she would let him delay her now that her mind was made up. "The only other options are to have Uhi, Ak'nen, or myself take him back. However, you don't seem to trust the elves, not that I blame you, and I will not leave your side again. That leaves us with very little options. Sending him back by himself seems too dangerous, but taking him with us..."
The slave shook his head. He didn't know what to do with Janus anymore than Primrose did.
"I don't trust myself going back and I don't think you would relish the opportunity to throw me over your shoulder and drag me away from my home." She sighed heavily and shook her head slightly. "But where does that leave us. If we take him with us, his parents will worry. If we send him back what's to stop him from trying again? He's safer with us than without but...oh Erthe I'm so sorry. This really isn't an easy task for you and it only gets harder by the minute. To think this is only the first day too," Primrose groaned burying her face in her knees.
The drow nodded slowly as Primrose spoke, agreeing with her on all points. As she dropped her head to her knees, he reached a hand out and soothingly rubbed her back in what he hoped was a reassuring way. It wasn't an easy task, and it was getting harder and more complicated, but the slave didn't want to see her stressed like this. He would take care of everything and everyone. Somehow.
"If we take him with us we will have to send word back to Jain and Jolie that he is safe and well and under our care. They won't be happy, but if we do take him back, you're right that he would likely try again to follow us. Janus is just safer if kept under our watchful eyes." Erthe thought it was probably the best course of action in a slew of unsatisfying options.
She unintentionally shivered at his touch, surprised not that Erthe would voluntarily reach out to comfort her, but that his large hand felt so warm and soothing. It made her want to turn to him and curl up against his side, to be wrapped in his arms and see if the rest of him was just as warm and comforting.
"I just want as little trouble as possible and it seems all I do is make trouble for everyone else around me. How will we get a message back to them? We're at just as much of a standstill as we were before with little resolution. I'm sorry Erthe. I really I am," Primrose whispered dejectedly.
The way Primrose shivered under his hand had the drow pulling away, watching her warily, wondering if maybe she didn't want him to touch her. Of course everything that had happened from almost the moment he'd first laid eyes on her suggested that she was a very touch-oriented person. Shaking his head the slave admonished himself for being so jumpy. The girl wasn't mad at him for rubbing her back.
"Don't worry about causing me trouble. I'd much rather you cause me trouble than someone else. As for sending a message back, we could get one of the elves to do it? I mean, it isn't as if we'd be entrusting Janus himself to them. Or maybe we could hire a courier in the next town we come across. I don't know. We'll figure it out, Primrose, don't worry." Erthe smiled softly at her and set aside his plate, noting how little she'd eaten off her own caused him to frown slightly. "You barely touched your food." He said unhappily.
Primrose tried not to let it show on her face how sad she felt at the loss of his touch even as she sighed in relief. "A courier, now why didn't I think of that? How dumb and thoughtless can I possibly be in one day?"
She smiled warmly at Erthe, bobbing her head in thanks moments before looking away guilty as he brought up her own uneaten plate. Her attitude was much akin to a child who had been caught with their hand in the cookie jar and she tried not to fidget at the sound of his voice.
"I ate," she replied quietly, knowing that playing with her food hardly classified as eating it.
Erthe didn't like that she referred to herself as dumb and thoughtless. Frankly, Primrose was probably the most thoughtful person he knew, it was just that she spent so much time worrying about everyone else and seemingly none at all worrying about herself. Well, for as long as he could, he would just have to worry about her himself and make sure she was getting the proper care she needed. Starting with food, he thought as she tried not to look too guilty when he accused her of not eating.
"You hardly touched your food. That doesn't count as 'ate' Primrose." The drow picked up her plate and offered it to her, his expression and voice both that of gentle concern. "Please eat a little. I promised to take care of you, and I know you probably don't have much of an appetite with all the stress you're under, but please. For me? I would feel much better if you took a few more bites."
He honestly had no idea if his soft pleas would work, but the slave sincerely hoped so. It just wouldn't do to arrive at their destination with her half-starved because she refused to eat. That her uncle and betrothed would probably punish him wasn't even what bothered him, he'd been punished many times in his life. Just the idea of her unwell and unhappy made him feel a little sick.
She winced at being called out for not eating although secretly she felt happy that he had noticed, even if it was just for her horrid uncle. "You needn't worry so much for your promise to my Uncle, Erthe. I could show up black and blue with my hair falling out in clumps and all he would care about is that I'm alive and present.
"But since you asked," Primrose smiled at him brightly and picked up her plate to very slowly eat a few more bites. It tasted and felt like sand in her mouth and she could only hope that it did not taste the same way to everyone else. With a worried look she glanced over to her companion, fighting the urge to ask again if he liked her cooking. "I really did take too much though," the noblewoman insisted in an effort to not eat any more food than she had to. "You're sure you don't want more?"
"I don't care about your uncle." Erthe growled softly as he carefully watched her eat. He didn't bother to elaborate on that sentence. As a slave he had set out on this farce with only one concern, and that was to do his master's bidding. Now he really didn't care about his master's wishes. The man was callous and cruel. If he had things his way Primrose would never arrive in Serendipity, instead she would go home, where she belonged. Of course things weren't likely to go his way.
Though she only forced a small amount of food down he nodded with satisfaction. The drow wasn't perfectly happy with what she'd eaten, as he still felt it was too little, but he would settle for what he could get. A little was better than nothing, and she had done it for him, because he had asked her to. Smiling slightly he shook his head. "You gave me more than enough, Primrose. You've fed me better in two days than I've eaten in a week at times."
Fighting rations were decent portions when you were fighting a lot, but in quieter times they tended to cut back. Not to mention the food they generally served the slaves was little better than slop. Shaking his head again he sighed and relaxed. They would hopefully have a quiet and uneventful evening.
"And I will continue to do so until I am no longer able," she told him with great pride. It pleased her greatly to know she could feed a man well. Or at least she hoped that was the case and he was not declining simple because it was as horrible as it tasted to her. "You sure it was good though?" Primrose finally asked nervously. "I know you've said you've had worse but that doesn't exactly mean that it's well...nevermind I shouldn't ask. I'm not fishing for compliments here."
The noblewoman shook her head sharply before looking up in surprise to see Janus staring at her expectantly. "Yes Pumpkin?" The boy grimaced to be called that but only rocked back and forth on his heels while staring at the still mostly uneaten plate in her hand. With a sigh, Primrose wordlessly handed the plate over with a fond smile. "Don't think I didn't notice you talking poor Ak'nen's ears off either Janus."
Erthe tried to hide the little smile that made his lips twitch. When he had first arrived at the house of the lovely woman sitting next to him he had thought she and her staff had treated him far too well. Decades of ill-treatment had made him suspicious and fearful of their kindness. Now he knew that there were no hidden tricks, no cruel tests or jokes at his expense. That she so obviously wanted to take care of him made him feel warmth in ways he had very few times before.
"The food was delicious, I swear to it." The drow said with a touch of amusement at her nervousness over her cooking. How could she be so unsure of herself? He lifted his head to see Janus standing and staring at Primrose and he had to keep from laughing at the boy. Ah, well a growing boy would certainly be eager for seconds. Especially when the food was good. "See, if it was bad he wouldn't be over here begging for more. It was fine, stop worrying."
Though he did eye Janus a little. Better not to let it go to waste, but he still wished that Primrose would have eaten more. Hopefully he could coax her into eating better at breakfast the next morning. "Yeah, aren't you supposed to not be talking?"
She snorted and shook her head. "He is the last person you judge a food's quality by. I've caught him sneaking food out of the rubbish bin even."
Janus gasped in shock, pressing a hand to his chest as he stumbled to lay on the ground, his plate carefully placed beside him. "The pain! The cruelty! The-" he grunted and let his tongue fall out as dead even as the woman rolled her eyes at his dramatics. "Don't think that's getting you out of explaining yourself for not talking."
"Dead people don't talk," he mumbled back, forcing Primrose to stare up at the sky to keep from laughing.
Out of the rubbish bin? That seemed kind of insane to Erthe. Not that some of his meals shouldn't have been better spent in a rubbish bin, but he couldn't imagine that Primrose and Jolie wouldn't make sure the boy had enough to eat. He couldn't really ponder that thought though, because at Janus' dramatics Primrose might have been holding back, but he didn't.
The drow threw his head back and laughed. Janus' reply to Primrose only made him laugh harder. He didn't care if he was drawing looks from anyone. The slave couldn't stop himself, it was funny.
Primrose found herself smiling to hear such pleasure-filled laughter. Choosing to ignore Erthe, she instead continued to address Janus. "Then I suppose that means you're not dead then now doesn't it?"
Janus sat up suddenly to stare in wonder at his arms. "I LIVE!" he declared loudly with a whoop of joy. "It's a miracle! Quick, tell the town! This is newsworthy. Hell tell the monarchy! Tell the whole world! Prom my quit laughing at me, I'm serious!"
"No you're Janus," the noblewoman howled back with her own unrestrained laughter.
It was impossible to stop now that he'd started. The drow laughed harder, bending double and holding his sides as Janus proclaimed quite dramatically that he was alive. Erthe wasn't sure why, but he laughed until he cried. The sweet sound of Primrose's laughter had joined his and it was the most beautiful sound his long, pointed ears had ever been graced with hearing.
"Stop. Can't. Breathe." He panted, body shaking as he tried to get himself back under control. For all the ache of his over-exerted lungs, he felt surprisingly good. Erthe couldn't remember ever laughing like this before. Such deep, genuine mirth wasn't something he had experienced in his life...ever.
The boy looked from one adult to the next before proclaiming loudly, "that does it!" In a flash he was then pouncing upon Primrose, knocking her unto her back as he began to tickle her without mercy. "I'll teach you to laugh at me!"
"No," she squealed, trying to wiggle away even as she wheezed from laughing. "No Janus it was him! All him! Get Erthe!"
"Erthe?" the boy asked turning to peek over his shoulder calculatedly. "Is that so?"
Erthe couldn't stop it, he cracked up again when Janus tackled Primrose and began tickling her. Sure, he was her protector, but the kid was hardly a threat, and she wasn't in danger except of maybe laughing to death. Hardly a major concern. Of course then she tried to set the boy on him.
The drow grinned broadly, his laughing suddenly stopped. "What if it was? What're you going to do about it little man?" He taunted playfully.
Janus looked from the Drow to the woman, a mischievous light twinkling in his wide eyes that had Primrose smiling and dipping her head very slightly in confirmation. The boy abandoned the noblewoman to try and pounce on Erthe. However she was not far behind as she likewise moved to try and overpower the formerly laughing male.
"No one laughs at me and gets away without paying a heavy price!"
"No one!" Primrose crowed in return.
The slave had anticipated Janus coming for him, but to have Primrose after him as well caught him completely by surprise. Erthe toppled over with a laugh as he was tackled. Somehow their threats weren't all that threatening and he only laughed harder at the declaration that he would have to pay a "heavy price" for laughing at Janus.
"I thought you said I'd pay for laughing!" The drow howled in delight. "You call this a payment?"
"What?!" Janus barked, freezing as he looked down at his prey. "This isn't torture enough for you? You want MORE? He asked for it Primmy," the child stated sadly as he looked towards the woman he considered to be an older sister.
"That he did," she replied just as remorsefully before joining Erthe as they both tried to tickle the man in earnest. While Janus stuck to the sides and attempted to head for the armpits, Primrose worked at trying to tickle Erthe's neck and ears, remembering times when she had been a child and her father had done the same to her.
This was a lot of fun. The drow only wished that he'd had more chances in his life to enjoy the company of others like this. Too much of interaction with people had been filled with pain, fear, or humiliation. The fact that this wouldn't last for very long was pushed away and ignored. No need to think about not getting to see any of them again.
Crimson eyes sparkled with a challenging light up at his 'assailant' and his grin flashed white teeth. "Yup! Give it your best shot, kid." Of course, then they both attacked them, trying to tickle him. Erthe roared with laughter, though he wasn't sure if it was from the actual tickling or just how funny this was. "Two on one, not a fair fight!" He snorted, letting them have their fun for now. He could have easily overpowered them both, but why end the game so soon?
Primrose smirked as she leaned down over Erthe, her long braid sliding over her shoulder to brush his cheek. She smiled at him upside down and gave him a playful wink. "Who said anything about fair now? Then again if you really want unfair I think that can be arranged."
Giggling she swooped down and kissed his cheek like a young schoolgirl. From where he sat Janus groaned and made a sound of disgust. "Ah come on! That's gross! Tell her Erthe!"
Her braid tickled the skin of Erthe's cheek and the drow stared up up at her in confusion. What could she possibly do to make it more unfair? Somehow he didn't see Ak'nen coming over to join them in tickling him. Primrose didn't need to add another person, as it turned out. The slave turned darker from head to toe as his expression twisted into something between wide-eyed horror and pure embarrassment.
"Inappropriate." Erthe managed to rasp out after trying and failing to work his mouth for a few moments. It was one thing to entertain the idea that he could be friends with her. Hell, he wanted to be her friend. Having her kiss him, even just a playful peek on the cheek was crossing some kind of line. No matter what Primrose said, or how she treated him, he was still a slave.
"Noooooo, grooooooosssssss," Janus corrected, tugging on Erthe's hand. "Hurry up and sit up so we can wash it off. Girl cooties can kill you, you know! Hurry, hurry!" The boy continued to insist on rescuing Erthe, hopping about nervously as if the man was going to suddenly pass out and never wake again.
From her place at his head, Primrose laughed and laughed, her eyes aglow with mischief and delight. "I told you I could play dirty if I wanted to," she commented, still looking down at him, quite pleased with herself. "Question is, what are you going to do about it?"
The insistent pleas of the boy were barely registered by the drow. Erthe's dark eyes were focused solely on the beautiful face of the woman that was leaning over his head. His skin was still flushed dark and hot from the tiny, seemingly insignificant kiss to his cheek. Her laughter had been a lovely song only moments before, but in his currently state of distress the sound was all too shrill and even a little mocking.
No, she wouldn't mock him. The slave knew that, but it didn't stop the tumultuous feelings surging through him. Crimson eyes took on a guarded, almost hunted look. After all she had seen of him, did Primrose really not realize how much distress she had just caused him? He was a slave. She shouldn't be kissing him, in any way, shape, or form! If the wrong person knew about it he would be punished so severely, just the thought had him forcing his body not to tremble.
So she wanted to know what he'd do about it, did she? He thought, slightly hurt and even a little frightened. Rolling away from her and sitting up he kept his head and eyes down. "Stop playing." It was the only answer he could think of giving.
Mentally, Primrose was screaming at herself. In the outside though she was calm and quiet. A small nod of her head and the noblewoman was backing away. "As you wish." Janus whined at the adults odd behavior even as the woman scooped up abandoned plates and utensils to hurry away from causing Erthe anymore trouble.
"Erthe you need to wash up," the boy protested weakly. "Right?"
How he wished he could find the words to make her understand as those crimson eyes watched her gather the supper's dishes. The drow thought sadly that it looked as if she couldn't get away from him fast enough. Erthe hoped that he hadn't upset her. That seemed to be the only thing he was good at doing. His heart ached at the thought that he was the cause of any unhappiness in her life. Trying to be friends with her was going to kill him, he thought ruefully.
"Yeah, let's go wash up." Erthe sighed, dragging his eyes reluctantly away from the woman that caused him such strange and achingly familiar feelings. Forcing his attention to shift to Janus he stood up and dusted himself off lightly before nodding in the direction of the water source Primrose had been found by Ak'nen and Uhi at. "We should both clean up a little before bed."
The boy did not seem to notice the growing tension as he jumped up and bounced off in the wrong direction calling for the Drow to follow. Primrose shook her head not realizing as she brushed scraps if food into the flames that Ak'nen was watching her closely.
"Not one for fun now is he?"
She jumped slightly having been caught off guard. "Erthe takes his duties very seriously. I am just more trouble than I'm worth. Remind you of anyone?"
The elf chuckled and shook his head. "Aye. Harkness was a good man. He cared for you greatly you know. I can see why too, you're far from trouble."
She smiled faintly and shook her head slightly, unwilling to protest.
With a little wrangling, Erthe managed to get Janus in the right direction as they headed down to the little stream that Primrose had found to fetch drinking water. Not that it was the easiest job to get the boy to focus on something! Or the quietest. The drow managed to simply sigh and let the talkative child do what he was so very good at. Though his responses were minimal, as usual.
"Alright, alright. Wash up a little, can't go to bed covered in muck. At least get your face and hands." The water would be cold, and though he wouldn't have complained to completely bathe in such chilly water, he wasn't about to make Janus do it, and he wasn't going to take that much time away from Primrose now.
It still bothered him to let the woman out of his sight, but Ak'nen was with her. The two elves had professed their goal was to keep her safe. While very unhappy with the interfering presence of the other men, he did believe them. Hurriedly scrubbing his hands, face, and neck to cool himself down a little and regain his composure, Erthe kept glancing in the direction of camp anxiously.
Primrose, in her innocence, may not have noticed the way that Ak'nen looked at her, but Erthe certainly had and suddenly he wondered if allowing her to be alone with him, even for a few minutes, was a good idea. How absurd was he behaving? What business was it of his if the elf flirted with her? Ak'nen was a free man, and Primrose was a lovely woman. He couldn't fault the elf for his interest. His chest tightened slightly. No, he couldn't fault Ak'nen, but that didn't mean he liked it.
Besides, wasn't he taking her to her wedding? Ak'nen would be totally inappropriate to flirt with a betrothed woman. Then again, he doubted the elf would care about the human arrangement or politics. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad if Ak'nen caught Primrose's attention. It wouldn't be the perfect solution, but if she were to go stay with the elves she would probably be safe from her uncle, and she could find love and be happy.
Scowling Erthe stared at the ground, wondering if that was even a possibility. Out here thinking was going to drive him mad. Jumping up he looked at Janus nervously before starting back to camp, gesturing for the boy to follow. "Alright, clean enough!"
The moment he saw water Janus was stripping his clothes off, flinging them willy-nilly before diving into the ice-cold river. Squeals and shouts followed as he splashed about, uncaring of the ruckus he made or the temperature of the water. Erthe's call to return though stopped him in a heartbeat.
"No! It's fun here! You can't make me go. You're not my father! I'm not done yet!" Janus petulantly crossed his arms over his chest as he backed up further into the stream, hoping to make for the opposite bank where he could take off streaking into the woods.
Erthe scowled at the naked boy that was stubbornly still in the water when he'd been told to come along. He couldn't just leave Janus there, but he was eager to get back to Primrose. Being away from her, even for a few minutes, had him anxious and out of sorts. Chasing an unruly child through the forest and carrying him back to camp wasn't an appealing idea at all.
"I thought you were a man and not a spoiled child, Janus. I thought I could count on you to help me protect Primrose. How disappointing." The drow turned his back on the child and hoping that he would guilt him into obeying.
The child pouted, feeling greatly offended that Erthe would dare play that card against him. With lots of loud grumbling and sighing, he clambered his way out of the water and stomped after the Drow, refusing to put his clothes on as he slung them over his soaking wet shoulder.
"Some lot of fun you are," Janus huffed as he shouldered past.
"Sometimes being a man isn't about having fun, Janus. It's about doing what's right and taking responsibility. Right now we're responsible for Primrose's safety." Well, Erthe was responsible for her safety, but if he could use it to keep the unruly Janus in line also all the better.
Sighing, he followed the child back to camp, almost herding the boy, keeping a sharp watch to make sure he didn't try to make a run for it. The last thing he needed was to waste time chasing a stubborn boy through the woods, not to mention that was dangerous for the kid. Who knew what animals were lurking out there, or what people. People were the most dangerous of all. Bandits and slavers were the primary concern, of course.
"And I bet you never have any fun. You wouldn't even know fun if it was a fish slapping you in the face," the child proclaimed obstinately. "You know even men have fun sometimes. It wouldn't kill you to try it out sometime." Janus began to drag his feet as he talked more in hopes of delaying their arrival further.
"You're right. I don't have fun. I'm a slave, Janus, master's don't like their slaves to have fun, it means they're not working. Do you think that I wouldn't like to have fun sometimes? Do you think I enjoy my life the way it is?" Erthe didn't raise his voice, he sounded tired more than angry. There had been a brief moment of enjoyment, of fun with Janus and Primrose, but he had become afraid, again, and pulled away from it.
Primrose was like a bright, shining light and he was shying away from it, clinging to the comforting familiar dark and misery. Even if given the opportunity, could Erthe even let himself find joy anymore? The drow was afraid of anything that made him even a little happy, because it was just going to be snatched away. Everything he'd ever loved, cared for, or enjoyed in his life had been taken away to this point, why would that change now? Better to just accept his unhappy existence for what it was and keep anything good away from himself.
Janus sighed and rolled his eyes. "Well you could have fun. You choose not to! Primmy is the best person to have fun with and instead you have to be Mister Grumpy-Grump all the time and it stinks! You know sometimes a man has to be selfless and take care of others and what she needs more than anything is some fun in her life. Wouldn't kill you to man up and provide her with it. I mean if you're a slave doesn't that make her your temporary master? Doesn't that mean you have to obey her?"
Erthe didn't make any comment. Normally he would say that no, he couldn't have fun, it wasn't his choice. That really wasn't true at the moment, he supposed. Primrose not only didn't seem to mind if he was enjoying himself, but seemed to try to encourage it. Sighing irritably he shook his head, tilting it back to look up at the sky. "It isn't that simple, Janus. You wouldn't understand."
The boy was right about one thing, though. Erthe may have belonged to Primrose's uncle, but for now he really should be serving her and obeying her as if she were his master for the time being. He was a slave and he wasn't doing his job. Although being a source of fun for the sweet young woman wasn't exactly part of what her uncle had imagined when sending him to get her. Fun was perilous. Primrose was a dangerous temptation.
"And why wouldn't I?" The boy shouted angrily, whirling around to face Erthe. "Because I'm a boy? Because I'm not a man? Because I don't know ANYTHING about the world? Is that it?! You're treating me like all the rest! Some lot of good you are! You don't even care," he cried, whipping back to face forward, to hide his tears. "Just treat me like all the other stupid adults!"
The drow halted immediately when Janus turned to shout at him, the slave was genuinely shocked that the boy was screaming at him. A distressed look immediately overcame his features. He hadn't meant to upset Janus, he really hadn't. Indeed, Erthe wasn't even sure what the kid was so upset about. He hadn't thought he's said anything terribly offensive, but apparently he had.
"No, no, no! That's not it. I'm not suggesting you wouldn't understand because you're young, truly!" The drow was seriously distressed by this point, he was wringing his hands anxiously. "You were born free, Janus. You've never had a master. I have never been free. Not once. I am not only not free in body, but in mind or heart either. My masters tell me what I am allowed to think or feel and I must do my best not to...I can't even explain it sensibly. Having fun with Primrose isn't a simple matter for me. My master doesn't want me to have fun with Primrose. I am not supposed to be her friend, or to like her, or to admire her. I am only supposed to deliver her.
"I am not supposed to care, about her, or you, or anyone. I do, though. I like Primrose, I care about her. About her safety, her happiness, and I already know that I will fail miserably and that makes caring even worse. I like you, too, Janus. I don't want you to get hurt either."
Janus cried. He cried for his bruised pride and he cried for what he had done. The words he had said in his childish anger had caused someone else to be hurt and though he was upset that was never his intention. Janus did not even realize it was possible to hurt someone like that but he could hear it in Erthe's voice, see it in his face the moment he had turned away from the Drow.
Turning back though he hurried back to Erthe, flings his arms about the male's waist. "I'm sorry! Please don't be cross with me! But we're not going to get hurt; you won't let Primmy or I get hurt. And you won't fail, you won't! Primmy will think of something, she always does. That's why I came. She always comes back and she always has all these adventures along the way and I, I just wanted to have one too. I'm sorry Erthe, really I am!"
Life was infinitely more complicated since leaving the pits, Erthe thought with no small amount of frustration as he was suddenly caught around the waist in a hug from the crying Janus. How was he supposed to deal with all of this? The drow had no experience with having, expressing, or dealing with this level of emotional instability. Ever since Primrose had shuffled from her dim room to throw her arms around him his life had been turned completely upside down. He wished he couldn't feel anything at all.
"Why are you apologizing to me?" Erthe asked, not understanding at all why the boy might think he was owed some consolation for whatever it was he'd done wrong. "I'm going to try, but I don't know how I could possibly succeed. Primrose seems to have accepted this fate. If she won't fight against it how am I supposed to fight against it for her?"
He honestly didn't know. If Primrose was resigned to marry this nobleman in Serendipity there was nothing he could do to dissuade her that he knew. He'd already tried to talk her out of it and had been the subject of her wrath for his efforts.
"Because I was a cruel little boy and not a big man like you, like I'm supposed to be," Janus wept, snottily, wiping his nose on his arm as he sobbed harder. "She can't have accepted it, it's not her. She'll fight it, she always does. Just don't let her fight alone Erthe. Please! She can't do it alone. She needs you!"
The boy looked up imploringly, even as tears continued to stream down his face. "I'm just a little man, not a big one like you. But her Uncle is an evil one and she doesn't have anyone to save her anymore. I can't lose her Erthe. I can't!"
He clung tightly, burying his face once more in the Drow's side as he whispered so quietly it could barely be heard over his sobs. "I'm afraid of losing her. I'm afraid she'll die."
The slave patted the boy's head awkwardly, staring back towards camp. They hadn't gone all that far, and if he squinted he thought he could almost see the flicker of their campfire. "Primrose won't die. She won't be happy. But she won't die. I won't let that happen. I would die before I let her be harmed."
Erthe looked weary, defeated as his despondent face stared down at the weeping child. The drow felt bad for making him cry, he really did, but he wasn't sure what he could do. Janus didn't realize all that he was asking. "Nobody needs me, Janus. I'm nothing and no one. I'm just a slave, less than a person, barely more than an animal, to some. I don't know what I can do."
The child sniffled and shook his head. "But she will die, die of a broken heart like Lady Dragoslav did. Primmy told me her heart just stopped beating from sadness. I don't want that for Primmy. We can't let that happen Erthe, we just can't! That's why she needs you, why I need you! I can't do this on my own. I'm just a little...guy. I can't fix her if she cracks. But you can! Big guys always know what to do. You must know how, please!"
Janus tugged roughly on Erthe's sleeve as he pleaded loudly. "We need you! You're not less of a person to me or to Primmy. You're no animal, you speak and walk and talk and you're a person! Anyone who says otherwise is wrong! Can't you believe me?"
Was it actually possible to die of a broken heart? The drow had never heard of someone actually dying from heart-break. If it was possible, why was he still living? Being taken from Tara had surely been grounds enough for death by heart-break, hadn't it? Even if someone could die from it, how was he supposed to stop it? Janus was asking so much of him, and he didn't know how to even begin to deliver on half the things he'd already promised.
"Believe it or not big guys don't always know what to do. I don't have any of the answers you're looking for Janus. I know you and Primrose don't view me like other people do, but I still don't know how to help. All I can do is keep her safe." Erthe hung his head in shame. Primrose needed him to take care of her and Janus needed his reassurance - and he couldn't do either of those things.
"No?" Janus asked, surprise lacing his tone as he scrubbed away his tears. "So growing up doesn't fix everything? Grown ups are just full of it?" The child let his arms fall away from Erthe as he nodded his head thoughtfully. "I knew it," he whispered to himself.
"Well," he declared brightly, his fears quickly vanquished as was a child's way. "We're just going to have to figure it out together. Between the two of us we should be able to. You're really smart and I know Primmy. If we work together we'll have nothing to worry about. Right Erthe Sir?"
Erthe had to admire the childish innocence that could banish worry and fear so easily. Had there ever been a time when he had been so naive? The drow honestly couldn't remember a time in his life when he hadn't been worried about so many things. Chief among them his place in the world, which had always been one of abject servitude and disgrace.
"Right. We'll figure it out, Janus, you and me. Between the two of us Primrose will be safe, no matter what." Erthe shook his head slightly, sighing. "But before we get back to Primrose, put your clothes back on!"
Janus huffed and poured as he stepped away from the Drow. "Do I have to?" He queried with his bottom lip sticking out some. "It's so free without them," he added with a bit of a boyish wiggle. "You should try it! You'll see!"
The little boy smiled widely as he gave the older male's tunic a bit of a cajoling tug. "Bet Primmy would enjoy that sight and laugh!" He giggled to himself with eyes dancing full of childish innocence and mirth.
Those red eyes fixed the boy with an annoyed stare as Janus pouted at the idea of getting dressed. The drow was so lost as to what to really do or how to properly handle Janus. If the boy was going to be with them for the duration of the trip he probably should learn! Of course, then the boy said the most absurd thing.
"Absolutely not! It isn't proper for Primrose to be seeing men undressed!" Erthe sighed, rubbing his face with his hands. The kid had some particular ideas. "Please Janus, just put your clothes back on. It would really help me if you'd at least try to listen to me some of the time."
The boy blew a raspberry as he finally relented and haphazardly through his clothes on. His muffled voice echoed from beneath the confines with his shirt as he initially fought to get his head through an armhole. "You say that as if I don't listen to you sometimes. In all honesty Mister Erthe I always listen to everything you say. Ask me anything, I remember it all, I swear!"
Frustrated that he still was not having any success with his tunic, Janus huffed and squirmed. "You know she probably would have found it amusing anyway," he griped.
"That's not listening Janus, you hear what I say, but listening is something you seem to struggle with." The drow realized that, being young as he was, Janus wasn't likely to know or understand the difference between hearing and listening.
Erthe sighed, watching the boy struggling with his shirt before stepping forward and helping the kid get his head into the right hole. "It would still be inappropriate for me to be naked in front of a lady, regardless if she found amusement in the situation or not."
"Thank you," the boy reflexively said as soon as his head popped free of the right hole. He was instantly moving to ruffle his hair into disorder even as he continued his protests. "That is so not true. I do listen and I hear. And as for the whole in'ppropriate thing Primmy always taught me life is too short to care what others think. Ladies like her shouldn't cook and clean but she does. Servant's sons like me shouldn't sleep in her house or even on occasion her bed but I have. It's stupid, even she says so. Don't see why clothes are that important anyway," Janus griped, finally heading back to camp if a bit sullenly.
Erthe shook his head, red eyes looking to the ground as the boy kept trying to push issues that were best left alone. Tired of trying to argue with a child about what was or wasn't appropriate, he simply kept his mouth shut and followed Janus quietly as they headed back towards camp. The slave had known his place for a long time, but coming to Adela, to Primrose was turning his world on its head and he wasn't sure he liked it.
His place in the world was pretty horrible, but it was his place. It held a strange comfort in knowing what was expected of him at all times. The confusion and not knowing was what bothered him most, he thought. Or perhaps it was the longing for a different place that bothered him. When he didn't care it was easy, but to actually want something other than what he had...to desire something he could never have...
When Janus stomped back into the clearing it was to the sound of soft laughter. Primrose and Ak'nen sat close together by the fire, her cheeks flushed as he held one of her hands and spoke to her in gentle tones that made her giggle.
They boy's entrance though made her look around and the moment her eyes rested upon Erthe, her smile if it was possible grew a great deal bigger as even her eyes lit up with delight. "All clean now of girly cooties?" she asked with another giggle.
As Erthe stepped into camp after Janus his red eyes were immediately drawn to the source of those soft giggles, relishing the breath-taking smile that lit up her entire face. Then his eyes went to the joined hands and they narrowed unconsciously. Jerking his gaze away from them both he mumbled an incoherent response to her question and headed towards the tents to sit by them alone.
The drow closed his eyes, brow furrowed as he kept himself turned away from those at the fire. Seeing Ak'nen holding her hand, making her smile and laugh like that...Erthe didn't understand why it bothered him so much. Primrose was promised to some human man in Serendipity, but she didn't want to marry him, and Erthe didn't want her to have to marry him either if that wasn't what she wanted.
That didn't give him the right to be annoyed at who she decided to keep company with, or to be angry that Ak'nen was flirting with her. Ak'nen was better than the other one, at least. The elf could be good for her. She was worried about safety, well, living with the elves would certainly fix the problem of being hunted down and punished for disobedience. At least she'd have a better chance of being happy with Ak'nen than where they were going.
His indiscernible response only served to sober and sadden Primrose. While the elf beside her continued to speak cheerfully and attempt to engage her further into conversation, she only had worried eyes for the Drow sitting sullenly by himself. Janus eventually cut in, a thousand more questions dancing on his wagging tongue for Ak'nen who answered them as enthusiastically as he had spoken with the noblewoman.
She in turn moved away from the warmth of the fire, her arms crossed about her front to retain heat in the cooling night as she shuffled on quiet footsteps to crouch before Erthe. "Talk to me my friend," she spoke softly in her mother's tongue to him. "What troubles your mind so? Did Janus upset you?"
Erthe heard her approach, he knew she would. It was just like her to come check on him. His eyes were closed and he sighed softly as she settled in front of him, ears twitching slightly as her gentle voice reached them. The drow could barely even hear Ak'nen and Janus, he was too focused on that soft, sweet voice before him.
"No, Janus didn't upset me. I just have much to think and worry about." Not exactly a lie. The slave had a great deal to try to figure out. How he was going to protect both Primrose and Janus all the way to Serendipity and how he was going to stop this arranged marriage being the two most prominent of his worries. There was also the worry of putting a stop to Ak'nen and his flirting. As much as Erthe told himself the elf would be good for her, he still couldn't stand the thought of her choosing him.
Slowly he opened his dark crimson eyes to peer at her, after studying her for a moment he stood up slowly and walked to the nearest tent. He pulled a blanket from inside before draping it around her gently. "You're cold."
"Thank you," she murmured softly, pulling the blanket tight about her though a touch of sadness reached her eyes as she struggled not to betray Erthe's trust in her and reach out to comfort him. "And I'm sorry for causing you such thought and worry. I do sincerely hope though Janus didn't give you too much trouble. I know his joining us places a heavier burden on your shoulders."
Primrose shook her head slightly, looking to the side while deep in thought. "Please," the noblewoman whispered, "don't torture yourself needlessly. Friends are always there for each other and I," she paused and swallowed dryly before looking up at him seriously. "I will be always be here for you."
The drow let Primrose speak, red eyes torn between examining every detail of her face to falling to the ground in pensive dejection. The noblewoman wasn't much like the nobles he was used to, but it hardly mattered. She was as powerless as he in the end, at least on this matter. When she proclaimed that she would always be there for him, crimson eyes were drawn back to hers, staring intently. The slave wished that those words were true, but he couldn't believe them. No matter how he wanted to.
"Pretty words," Erthe finally said, voice soft and sad, "Pretty and meaningless. You make promises you cannot keep, Primrose. You will be here for me until they take me away from you. There is nothing I can do to stop that, and there's nothing you can do about it either. I will remember you and your friendship for as long as I live, but I would be a fool to think that they can't take it from me."
His eyes moved back to the ground as he folded his arms against his chest. "They always take everything from me." Erthe sighed softly, eyes closing lightly.
Primrose's lips pursed into the thinnest of lines as fire blazed through her veins. "Pretty words are they?" she hissed with more anger than she had meant. "You claim not to know me nor to understand me and yet you dare now judge me? You dare to accuse me of false promises? I am a woman of my word and only death would keep me from it. So when I say I will be there, I damn well mean it! Let me fail you before you judge me a failure Erthe, because I'm not going to let them take me away. I'm not going anywhere without a say in it and I say, I stay."
She reached out and shoved some at the drow's shoulder. "Look at me," came her firm but gentle demand. "Erthe, I know it's hard to believe but try. Try for me just one last time, please? Believe in me, a stranger you've just met with a brain filled with silly notions but a heart that does not nor ever will falter. Please?"
A scowl formed on Erthe's lips as he listened to her tirade, ears twitching more than once at the hissed words. The drow even flinched as she said his name, eyes still closed until she shoved him. They fluttered open, dark and broken, but he didn't look at her, indeed, he kept his face turned away, having taken her angry words, letting them buffer him like a sharp wind.
"It isn't your heart I doubt. You're asking me to have faith in you, but do you even know what you ask? I have spent my entire life without faith in anything other than the cruelty of others. Every single time I have the audacity to hope or dream or think that there is something else I can put my faith in, life quickly corrects me and beats me back down where I belong. I am a slave. Hope, faith, and believing are things that have no place in my life."
He never raised his voice, or looked at her. Primrose may have been a stranger to him, but she and her servants were also the first people to show him an ounce of care or compassion in twenty years. How could she even grasp how much he was struggling with this? Having them care only made separating from them harder. If nobody cares, then it can't hurt you when they've left.
She listened though it pained her to do so and her tongue tasted of copper by the time he was done. Primrose held her tongue a moment longer as she gathered her own words about her wanting nothing more than to shoot off at the mouth but she knew it would do her no good.
"Perhaps you are right. I don't know what it is to be a slave or to have my faith shaken. But I do know some things Erthe, things you may not even understand because you have not lived them yourself. That's what is to be someone different. We are each shaped by our own fortunes. I believe in good and hope and never giving up. But I've never been hurt to the point where I could not stand up and asked, no, ordered to do so and more. Sure I've lost, but I'm sure not as much as you. I have loved and lost hat love and sworn never to care. But I always do. That I do understand.
"If you don't believe me or you feel you can't put your faith in me then...then I really have no choice. I'll just have to prove you wrong. No use protesting either and you can believe what you will. But it won't be the first time I've done it and it certainly won't be the last."
So saying Primrose moved to her knees and wrapped her arms tightly around him, placing her head upon his shoulder as she held on tight. It did not matter to her how uncomfortable the position was for her or how she knew he would likely flinch or recoil. She needed to do it though, for both of them and she was not about to let go any time soon either.
All that had been accomplished was upsetting each other, it seemed like. Erthe flinched several times as Primrose spoke, wishing he wasn't so good at provoking her into lashing out in anger. Then again, maybe if he angered her enough, she would withdraw whatever strange, emotional attachment she was forming to him. That would be better for them both in the long run. The drow couldn't imagine a scenario where things ended happily for either of them this way.
Before he knew what the woman was up to, he found himself stiffening, arms clenching as they folded more tightly against his chest. Primrose was such a touchy person. He'd been subjected to more physical affection in the past 24hrs than he had in the last twenty years. Crimson eyes couldn't help but be drawn to look down at the beautiful girl that insisted on hugging him, even when he had told her again and again that it was wrong.
"I want to have faith, Primrose. I'm sorry that I can't. I keep making you angry. I keep upsetting you. I don't mean to, I just...face a different reality than you do. Prove me wrong, please, for the love of the light, do it, but don't get angry at me for doubting my future, because all my life I have never had a real future." He still didn't believe he had a real future. Primrose's uncle would get hold of her, then either kill him or sell him.
Honestly he didn't know that he had it in himself to go back into the pits. Sure, he was physically still in his prime, but he was so tired in his heart that he wasn't sure he could keep killing others for his own miserable survival.
"It is not you I am angry with," she whispered against his neck. "I'm sorry my brashness and temper got the better of me and it was taken out on you. I hate those that did this to you. I hate seeing how low you feel and knowing wanting to help and being able to are different things and not knowing where to begin but believing I can make a difference. I'm so sorry for my anger Erthe. It was not how a friend behaves. You're right. How can someone like me change your future when I behave just as cruelly as the rest of them?"
Primrose squeezed tighter, burying herself flush against him in an attempt to both bring and derive comfort. She smiled broadly against him then and her muscles relaxed even though she refused to let go. "Thank you for calling me Primrose, my friend."
The entire situation was uncomfortable for the drow, and he wished it wasn't. How many times had he wished that his mother would have hugged him, loved him, have given him a sense that he deserved to be cared about. It was hard to accept that you might matter when your own mother hadn't thought so. Maybe if she had cared, even a little, Erthe wouldn't feel so alone or out of place when someone reached out to him to give and receive comfort like this.
"Primrose, I don't think you even know how to be cruel." The slave said softly, the hint of a smile crossing his lips before he shifted a little. Erthe knew Primrose was not about to be denied on the issue of this hug, so he didn't try to deny her, but he did wiggle his arms out so he could adjust the blanket that he'd wrapped around her, making sure she was covered before putting his arms around her and letting her rest against him, sharing his warmth with her. "And you make a difference, don't think you don't. Gods help me, in no more than a day you've got me talking out of turn, arguing with you, and you're stuck to me like moss on a rock. The question isn't if you make a difference, it's will I survive the changes."
Primrose nearly argued that he was wrong but decided against it when she felt him moving against her. She drew back some, expecting him to push her away given how much she had invaded his space and pushed his buttons. It was therefore an immense surprise when instead he pulled her close, tucking her in against him in a warm embrace.
Her very breath seemed stolen from her lungs as her body instinctively turned to mush against him. In a whoosh, a strangled laugh broke free from her screaming lungs at his description of them both as the breath she had been holding finally released itself. "Ah but rocks don't cling back," she whispered, ever so slightly shifting herself to get comfortable as she leaned sideways into him.
"And I'm not going to say you'll survive the changes unscathed, Erthe because I'm a daughter of dragons. If you did, I won't have done my job right," she giggled, letting her eyes close as her head rested against his chest. "Thank you...for being kind even despite my anger and cruelty. You're...don't take it as an insult but you're really something special. I'm too lucky to know you."
There was still a feeling of awkwardness as Erthe held her, at least for him, but the way she melted into him, snuggling herself against his chest until she was comfortable in her seat upon his lap, he could admit to himself - just a little - that this felt good too. It shouldn't. He shouldn't allow this. Primrose was growing too attached to him as it was, but the truth was he was becoming just as attached to her.
The drow's skin flushed a little darker as the tiny woman in his arms laughed and pointed out that he was holding her now as much as she had been holding him. Well, this had been what she'd wanted, had it not? He could tell just how desperately she had wanted to be held. Holding her like this was likely helping to soothe the ache of missing Harkness. Yes, that must be what it was.
"I'm the lucky one. You are something amazing and precious. I don't know how anyone could not see that." He whispered softly as he hugged her a little closer for a moment before letting his arms drape loosely around her again in a comfortable embrace, relaxing a little as he got used to the idea of having her there.
Where perhaps another day she would have argued she was far from precious, the noblewoman kept her silence in favor of enjoying the fact her friend was of his own freewill embracing her and holding her close. Instead she listened to the sound of his heartbeat drumming against her ear in a soothing pattern did not match her own skipping beat.
Unbeknownst to her, elven eyes caught the display of affection and twinkled ever so slightly before returning to the young boy whose attention they were trying to keep. Ak'nen continued to distract Janus and answer his questions though his ears were more tuned into the conversation much further away. It had surprised him to see Primrose throw herself at the drow and yet where his cousin would have been furious at what he would consider a betrayal to their childhood friend, Ak'nen only saw it as a blessing. He knew Harkness would not this precious lady to suffer and wallow in a pit of despair and if it meant she found her happiness with this man then who was he to judge? He smiled to himself instead before going about teaching Janus how to maintain the fire and clean the cookware with sand.
The night was cool and growing cooler, but Erthe was comfortably warm with Primrose cuddled against him. He hoped that she was warm enough as his hand began making slow, soothing circles against her back unconsciously, his mind being lulled by the sound of her breathing. It was amazing that they had been left in peace for so long. The drow had expected Janus to come interrupt them at any time with his energetic questions or complaints, but the boy stayed away, entertained by the elf at the fire.
Primrose hadn't spoken, so Erthe didn't feel the need to say anything else either. No words seemed to be needed in these quiet moments. They were taking comfort in each other's arms, and whether it was right or wrong to do so seemed unimportant. The tiny, strange noblewoman was going to change him, was already changing him, and Erthe found himself hoping that she was right and he was wrong. He didn't want to be right about them taking Primrose away from him. She was the first in a long time to remind him that he was a person too.
Lulled by the comfort and warmth of his soothing arms, Primrose unexpectedly found herself adrift in the land of dreams in no time at all. While she dreamed, Janus continued to play and learn by the fire until he too was ushered to settle down and rest, his eyes already drooping under the weight of much needed sleep.
The night quieted as it darkened but it was neither Janus nor Ak'nen who broke the silence when at last it was broken. Uhi had returned on silent feet and upon assessing the camp, immediately made his way over to the slumbering woman and her protective guard, not knowing that the message he was asked to deliver would have to wait until morning.
The elf did not utter a single word as he crouched down before the pair, eying the girl critically before drawing his gaze upwards. "She slumbers?" he whispered in a surprisingly gentle voice for one whose face seemed so cross and disgusted. "Of course she does. What fools be humans that they would fall asleep just about anywhere without worry or concern for their mortal lives. Quite the task you have ahead of you drow. Think you're man enough for it?"
The woman in his arms grew still as time passed, and Erthe listened intently to the even breaths she took and the sounds of Janus with Ak'nen until those sounds too quieted. The camp grew quiet and still, even peaceful for a time. The drow rested, content with his place and reluctant to move and risk waking Primrose. She seemed so comfortable and happy where she was, it would be rude to disturb her.
Crimson eyes fixated on Uhi as the elf came to crouch before them, Erthe's lips drawing into a thin scowl as he glared at the man, not liking Uhi examining Primrose so closely. The words actually made him grit his teeth in a silent snarl at the audacity of him. The woman in his arms may have been naive, but she was no fool.
"She sleeps because she feels safe with me, not because she is foolish. I will protect her, elf. Now get out of my face before you wake her, because if you do I will make you regret it." The words were spoken softly, though the hard edge of anger was more than evident.
Uhi snorted and shook his head, refusing to go anywhere. "You'd better," came his whispered response. "For she was loved by a far better man than you or me. She's deserves all you have to give and more, even if she did get him killed." The elf's features flashed between pain and grief and despair before settling once more in a tight scowl.
"You didn't answer my question though. Are you man enough for this task of protecting another man's, a dead man's, most prized jewel?"
Erthe disliked Uhi, more than disliked, he despised him, but the look that crossed the elf's face when mentioning his friend had both tone and expression soften from the drow. "I wish I had known Harkness. You did not see her when I first came to her door. She was withdrawn, devastated, it looked as if she had not been out of bed much since his passing. Losing him hurt her, and if I could have stopped it, I would have, to spare her that."
He still hadn't answered the question, he realized. After a moment he sighed softly and spoke again, after sparing a quick glance to be sure that Primrose still slept and would not hear what he had to say. "I swore by my rebirth and hope for salvation that I would protect and care for this woman that I barely even know. Nothing will stop me from keeping her safe. Not even death."
The elf's eyes widened slightly at the firm admission before he was suddenly on his feet and withdrawing. Uhi had heard what he needed to and did not wish to waste another breath on the drow if he did not have to.
Instead he whispered fervently and grumpily with his cousin before settling on the farthest end of camp from Primrose and her protector. Ak'nen in turn checked the fire before also moving to a place of protected slumber.
With the world once more calming, Primrose unconsciously shifted herself closer to Erthe, her hands latching onto the front of his shirt as she breathed in his scent deeply and sighed peacefully. The confrontation had neither disturbed her nor woken her and in the arms of a stranger she found peaceful slumber far from the nightmarish dreams that had plagued her for weeks.
Uhi's presence had made Erthe tense, but once the elf moved away he began to relax again. Primrose had pressed even closer, if that was even physically possible, crimson eyes drifting down to examine her delicate fingers curled around swathes of his shirt. Everyone seemed to have settled down for the night, even Uhi and Ak'nen. It made sense for him to as well. After all, he couldn't protect her if he was too exhausted to fight.
Slowly and carefully the drow moved his arms around, one supporting her back and cradling her against his chest, the other hooking under her knees to lift her gently as he moved them into a tent. Settling Primrose onto the bedroll proved to be a daunting task in and of itself as the young woman's fingers refused to release his shirt. With a bit of maneuvering he finally had her tucked safely under the blankets, with him, as he couldn't get away from her without waking her.
Despite being curled up with Primrose, or perhaps because of it, Erthe found himself drifting to sleep quickly and soundly, limbs intertwined with Primrose's as they slept in their own private cocoon of blankets.
Primrose had mewled softly at the movement, clinging even tighter to Erthe as if afraid he would try and pull himself away from her and leave her all alone. It was only as he settled in for the night with her that the crease between her brows smoothed and she returned to a deep sleep and snored softly.
She remained this way throughout the night, not once stirring as she remained entwined with her bodyguard. It was only come morning's light that she began to wake with the dawn and attempt to extricate herself from her covers that she quickly learned it was not only her blankets she was entangled in but also a certain drow's arms. Primrose's cheeks flushed and she still, fearing she had woken him even as he pulled her close once more, tucking her under his chin. It made her smile despite the blush to see the man who always seemed to withdraw from any affection or physical contact desperately cling to her in sleep. The young woman once more closed her eyes and was nearly asleep again when a rather unfortunate voice pierced through the silence.
"Oooo! Primmy and Erthe sleeping in a tent, K-I-S-S-I-N-G! First comes-"
"Will you shut-up!" Primrose hissed, fearing Erthe was awake even as she glared icy daggers out from her covers at Janus.
Erthe slept peacefully through the night. The drow had the most restful sleep he'd known in a long time the night before at Primrose's house, but that was restless compared to how he slept now. Even when the woman woke and tried to leave the bedroll he didn't stir except to pull her closer, curling his body around hers even more as his face nuzzled into her hair.
It wasn't until Janus' voice pierced through the veil of sleep that Erthe groggily dragged his eyes open, though reluctantly. He had never been so comfortable in his life, the slave lamented in his mind before lifting his head and squinting at the boy. "Gods, it is too early Janus, can't you go be annoying somewhere else?"
The drow let his head fall back as he shifted to his back, draping on arm over his eyes, skin darkening slightly as he let Primrose go so she could get up since she was awake. The whole camp was probably awake. Damn elves would probably gloat over being up before him, everyone else seemed to be, but all he could think about was sleep. In fact he was already beginning to doze back off.
The noblewoman chuckled slightly at her companion's response before always laying back down. Without thinking she quickly scooted to press into Erthe's side while bring the blankets tight around them as she shivered against the morning cold.
Her peace was short-lived though as there was a sudden thud as Janus flung himself and landed heavily on Erthe's abdomen. "Can't" the boy declared, "already did and they're boring! Soooo up, up, up!"
A groan rumbled softly in Erthe's chest as Primrose snuggled against his side, though his free arm instinctively wrapped back around her as she shivered. He could have very happily gone back to sleep like that, with the petite woman safely and warmly tucked against his side. Apparently it wasn't to be, though.
Erthe's breath was exhaled in a slightly pained grunt as the boy landed on his stomach and chest, very dramatically, and very Janus. Dragging his arm off his face, he glared down at the entirely too chipper child. "Janus get off of me and get out before I strangle you."
"Oy you need to get a better comeback than that," the boy chuckled, rocking back and forth on the man beneath him. "That's the same one the gruff elf outside used. Don't you have any originality of your own?"
In a flash his laughter was cut short though as Primrose shot up into a sitting position, blankets pooling about her waist as she hissed something in acidic tones that drained all the color for Janus' face moments before he all but flew out of the tent in an attempt to flee the noblewoman's wrath.
With a heavy sigh, she flopped back against the cold ground and wrapped her arms about her shivering form. "Damn boy and his damn nuisances," Primrose muttered between chattering teeth, having forgotten to pull the covers back up around her as she cursed the boy further in several different languages all at once.
Oh the temptation was strong to reach up and bodily remove the boy from the tent. Erthe was sure it would have been fairly easy to lift the kid up and deposit him outside, but he doubted it would have done any good. Thankfully Primrose stepped in, so to speak. He watched the color drain from the boy's face with a hint of amusement, sighing and rubbing his stomach where he'd been sat on.
The drow shifted back to his side, using one arm to keep himself propped up while he looked down at Primrose with concerned red eyes. He reached down and pulled the blankets back up to her chin, tucking them around her carefully. His skin had flushed a couple shades darker as he worked. "You're cold, and scary when you're mad. I think every drop of blood drained from his face just now."
Wiggling about until she was comfortable under the covers, Primrose found herself laughing tightly at Erthe's comment. Her little hands poked out of the blankets to rubs the heels of them into her tired eyes.
"He knows better than to disobey me and to wake me for that matter. He was given three warnings and frankly that is two more than usual. Janus should fear me. He's seen what I can do when I've lost my temper, rare as it may be. I haven't frightened or upset you have I?"
Worried, Primrose nibbled on her bottom lip as she shifted her gaze to meet Erthe's eyes while her hands gripped the top of her blankets near her chin. "And he didn't hurt you I hope, did he? I'm so sorry for waking you. I tried not to and then him on top of it." She sighed again. "Not the best of mornings for you I'm afraid. I'm sorry, Erthe."
The idea that Primrose had frightened him was pretty comical. Erthe smirked slightly as he looked down at her, watching as she made herself comfortable again, pity he was awake now. Laying back down would have been pleasant, but useless. He'd never get back to sleep after having Janus jumping all over him.
"You don't scare me, and you weren't the one that woke me." He sighed, resting his head in his hand and contemplating breakfast as he closed his eyes to rest them for a few more minutes. Primrose had fixed supper for them all last night, he should see if he couldn't throw together something edible for this morning.
He thought about her apology for his 'not the best of mornings' and couldn't keep his lips from twitching slightly. Most men would consider waking up next to a beautiful woman a pretty good morning. Of course, most men weren't slaves waking up next to a noblewoman that he was supposed to be escorting to her wedding.
"He didn't hurt you though?" she persisted, also leaning up on her side while reaching out to touch his abdomen. "I'll tan his hide if he did. He knows better than that!" Primrose yawned, her cross expression ruined by her sleepiness.
She ran a hand through her thick blonde hair, ruffling it and undoing part of the braid it had been in doing so. "We probably should get going shouldn't we? Breakfast and then...and then."
"No, he didn't hurt me." Erthe mumbled, eyes still closed. The feel of her fingers making contact with his abdomen had the muscles rippling slightly underneath her hand, contracting as they tensed before relaxing again. One crimson eye peeked open to peer at her slightly mussed hair and he resisted the urge to reach out and undo the rest of the braid so he could run his fingers through her hair.
"Yes, I'll see about breakfast, and then we probably should get the day started. We've got a long way to go." Internally chastising himself he sat up with a scowl. The drow crawled from the tent and stood up to stretch what stiffness still lingered in his body from the night. The first thing he noticed was the smell of food. Crimson eyes traveled to the fire and noticed Ak'nen had already thought of breakfast.
Ak'nen greeted Erthe warmly with a smile and a wave even as Uhi scowled and tried to avoid Janus who was continuing to make a nuisance of himself and follow the heavily-muscled elf about the campsite.
"Did you sleep well friend? It certainly sounded like one of you had a peaceful night," Ak'nen laughed freely with a wink, referencing Primrose's snoring. "At least you had each other though against the chill of the evening. Uhi certainly isn't friendly enough to cuddle with and the boy despite his angelic face is a kicker. You certainly had the best luck of us all it seems."
Erthe gave a nod to Ak'nen in response to the wave as he strolled over to join him, at least he was more approachable than Uhi, but the drow still didn't trust or like either of them. At the very least he disliked Ak'nen less than Uhi for the most part. If it weren't for the way the slender elf insisted on flirting with Primrose he might have even found him pleasant.
"I slept well enough, and it wasn't luck half as much as I couldn't get her to let go. For being asleep the woman had a vice-like grip on my shirt." The slave mumbled before covering his mouth as he yawned. He found a little amusement in the idea of Janus kicking the hell out of Ak'nen in his sleep. "He's a jumper too. Little demon woke me up by diving onto my stomach."
"Did he now?" Ak'nen chuckled. "I wondered at the commotion. Whatever did you say though to send him out of there like a rat before the flood? Why the poor boy shot out so fast, I was sure he was going to trip and fall. He even apologized to Uhi and helped with taking down the second tent without complaint. I was quite impressed to be honest. You certainly have a way with children. Have any of your own by any chance?"
Erthe smirked at Ak'nen, crimson eyes glancing in the direction of the tent to see if Primrose had emerged yet, seeing that she hadn't, he chuckled and spoke quietly. "Don't look at me. It was the little lady that had him running for it. She has a colorful vocabulary for a noblewoman."
Shaking his head he yawned again as he scratched idly at the hair on his face. "And no, I don't have any children. Even if I did I wouldn't be allowed to know them. Slave, remember?"
The elf laughed heartily at that. "That explains why he loved her so. As much as he was one for tradition there was always that piece that desired something that went against it all. I see she was that piece. She certainly is quite the woman, isn't she?"
His smile faded though as his cheeks darkened and his gaze lowered. He had forgotten the drow was a slave and felt sick at the reminder. "Yes," he responded sullenly. "That would make things difficult I suppose."
An awkward silence would have fallen most likely had it not been for the appearance of a less dishelved Primrose, skipping out of her tent and towards the men. "Good morning!" she called out as she came to a skidding halt before them. Hope I didn't keep you long."
"She's something." Erthe murmured, eyes falling to the ground. Beautiful, intelligent, and fierce when need be. Primrose was a very dangerous woman to him, he thought as he recalled the night he had just spent with his arms wrapped around her. The drow had enjoyed it, and that wasn't a good thing as far as he was concerned.
The slave sighed at Ak'nen's sullen reply. "Don't feel sorry for me. No children just means I will leave no orphans when I -"
Erthe cut off abruptly as Primrose appeared. "No, of course not. I will see to the tent now that you're up. Sit by the fire and warm yourself while you eat breakfast." He said quietly as he rose and walked back to the tent still up as he began dismantling it pensively.
The elf shuddered at the drow's attitude but was saved from saying anything by the lady's arrival. Primrose's mouth opened and closed several times as Erthe all but bolted from her. She nearly followed him too however, Ak'nen soon distracted her, ushering her to sit on a log by the fire with a bowl of warm, sweetened gruel. The pair were soon chatting away pleasantly with the elf pressed close to her side, his arm about her waist to offer her extra warmth.
Meanwhile, Janus slinked his way over to Erthe, head down and feet shuffling as if he was afraid of further rebuke. Tentatively, the boy gave the drow's tunic a hesitant tug before waiting for acknowledgemt.
"I'm sorry Mister Erthe Sir for attacking you and hurting you while you were trying to sleep. When you're not as cross will you please consider forgiving me?"
The slave had not bolted from the lady. No, not at all. Erthe was scowling as he worked, crimson eyes repeatedly being drawn back to the fire where Ak'nen had made himself quite cozy with Primrose. Seeing the elf with his arm around her had the drow gritting his teeth as he folded and rolled the tent back into a manageable bundle.
He was so preoccupied with his thoughts and with watching Primrose and Ak'nen that he almost didn't notice Janus approaching him. At first he was just going to ignore the boy. It wasn't that he disliked the kid, but the boy was damned annoying and more than a handful at times. When Erthe felt the tug on his tunic, however, he dragged his eyes reluctantly away from the pair by the fire and looked down at Janus with a sigh.
At least the kid looked kind of contrite. Not that he suspected this meek behavior would last for very long. "You didn't hurt me, Janus, and you don't need my forgiveness. It's Primrose you should go apologize to."
He couldn't help it. The drow's eyes had already wandered back over to the woman and elf. Seeing them so close had him scowling more. It should have made him happy to see her happily chatting with someone, with anyone. She'd had enough sorrow. It wasn't right for him to feel a spike of jealousy when Ak'nen smiled at her or made her laugh.
"Hey Janus, if you really feel bad about jumping on me this morning, maybe you can do something for me. I have an extra special, important, secret job for you." The drow said, crouching down to the boy's level and speaking quietly as he gestured for him to come closer. "This is what I want you to do. Anytime you see Ak'nen getting really close to Primrose, touching her, I want you to go distract him. Ask him questions, get him to show you something, whether you want to see it or not. Think of it as a game. The better you keep Ak'nen busy and away from Primrose, the more points you get. What do you say? Think you're the man for the job?"
"But it was you I bothered," the boy insisted quietly, digging the toe of his boot into the forest floor. His dejected behavior quickly faded though at the prospect of something mischievous and worthwhile to do.
With the innocence of a child, Janus ignored the likely question of 'why' and quickly moved along to a far more important question. "What's innit for me? What do all the points mean in the end? What's my reward?"
Erthe hadn't thought of a reward for the game. Honesty, the drow wouldn't have known what to offer the boy. It wasn't as if he had a lot to offer. Scratching the back of his head he tilted his head and peered at Janus curiously. "Well, what do you want? The reward has to be something of worth to you, and something I can actually manage."
The boy pressed his lips together in a thin line while shaking his head in disbelief. "You really don't know how the whole working with kids thing works do you? You have to have something I want in order to get something in return." Janus sighed and rolled his eyes as he tried to think of something good to do.
"Fine...if I do this then you've got to keep me out of trouble with Primmy, stand up for me and all that. Deal?"
Erthe sighed and rubbed his hands over his face as he heard the boy's demands.He'd said something that he could actually do. How was he supposed to keep Janus out of trouble with Primrose? Well, he could certainly try, and the payoff would be worth it, for sure.
"Fine, I'll be your new best friend, Janus. Just keep that elf's attention off Primrose."
"You got it Captain!" the boy saluted cheekily before with a wink turning on his heel to bounce off towards Primrose and Erthe. "Hey Ak'nen!" he called out towards the elf, "can you show me how to tie those cool knots you were showing me last night?"
Primrose smiled slightly in response, her gaze first falling on the boy before drifting like a moth to the flame towards the moody drow behind him. Unbeknownst to her though her smile took on an extra brightness even as her cheeks warmed with life and happiness. She soon left the boys to be boys and worked at cleaning up the fire and cooking utensils, Janus' mission having been successful in driving her away from Ak'nen's gentle advances.
Erthe wasn't sure if he should be worried or not as he watched the boy make his merry way over to Ak'nen, asking about knots. At least it seemed to do the trick as Primrose moved away from Janus and the elf and started working on cleaning up. The way she had smiled at him had the drow looking away and preoccupying himself with packing the horses. It made him uncomfortable the way she tended to look at him. At the same time, it made him feel so strange, in a good way.
Feeling his irritation with himself rising he tied the tents to the pack horse and walked towards the fire with a scowl still on his face. He tried to soften his expression and keep the gruffness out of his voice. After all, it wasn't her he was annoyed with. It was his own thoughts and feelings that were getting to him. He shouldn't like it when she looked at him like that. "Do you need any help, Primrose?"
Primrose was pleasantly surprised to find that the one addressing her was none other than the Drow always on her mind of late. She smiled brightly as she stood straight and moved to place a stack of dishes into his arms. "Of course! The more help, the fast the work goes. Do you mind helping me getting this packed up and back on the horse? We should probably be heading off soon after. Don't want to lose the light," she added quietly, lifting a hand to cover her eyes and stare up at the tree canopy.
Erthe awkwardly took the dishes, doing his best to keep his gaze averted. The last thing he needed was to catch her looking at him like that again and get his thoughts and emotions all jumbled up worse than they already were.
He stared at the ground as she looked skyward, shifting his feet slightly. "Yes, the light...We should go as soon as possible. Excuse me."
The slave should want this journey to be over as quickly as possible. He should have been jumping to leave camp as early as possible. Instead, Erthe found himself dragging, as it were, while he continued preparing for the day ahead. Hopefully it wouldn't be as eventful as the previous. The drow didn't fancy chasing Primrose through the forest a second time after a...fight. Was it really a fight? It wouldn't have happened if he'd just kept his fool mouth shut, like he had been harshly taught so long ago.
Erthe was not the only one dragging his feet, as Primrose struggled to push herself to finish even the simplest of tasks. She did not want to leave her home and Janus' presence was a constant reminder no matter how much she loved the little boy and was glad to have him near.
When she was finally saddling up it was with a bit of sadness in her heart to be taking more steps further from home. But, Primrose chided herself with reminders that they were steps closer to home now.
Uhi volunteered to continue onwards ahead, quickly disappearing in the shadows while Ak'nen easily slid up behind Primrose before Janus could do anything to stop it. No amount of temper tantrums on the child's part could stop it either as Primrose crossly ordered him to ride with Erthe or walk.
They took much longer than they should have getting everything packed and loaded onto the pack horse. Erthe had spent the rest of the time they prepared avoiding Primrose, not speaking with her and doing his best not to even look in her direction for more than a few seconds. His feelings were still in turmoil, and when they were finally ready to leave it did not get any better.
The drow's entire body stiffened as Ak'nen settled himself behind Primrose on her mare. His red eyes darkened and narrowed dangerously as he jerked his attention away from them to focus on climbing into his own saddle. Why should he care if the damn elf rode with the lady?
He could think of a dozen reasons why he shouldn't care, and a dozen reasons why he should. Primrose was a lady on her way to be married to a lord. He shouldn't be allowing any man near her - and should himself keep his distance. Except to protect her, as was his duty. Janus was throwing a tantrum, and they were late starting out, and Erthe had lost his patience. Guiding the stallion right next to the boy he reached down and bodily pulled the kid onto the horse behind him.
"We've wasted enough time, let's just go." He growled out gruffly, not looking at Primrose or Ak'nen as he turned and immediately nudged his mount into a quick walk.
Janus immediately silenced his tongue the moment he was placed behind Erthe. He clung on tight though, afraid to fall from the high height especially with his friend's tense attitude. The small boy hung his head in shame, believing that the drow was angry with him specifically for failing in keeping Ak'nen away from Primrose. Tensely he finally could not stand it any longer as Primrose talked quietly with the elf, completely oblivious to her companions' mood on the other horse, Janus placed a small hand on Erthe's side and leaned in to whisper a sad apology while trying to hold back tears.
Erthe was preoccupied with keeping his emotions in check. The desire to lash out at Ak'nen was immense. The drow found himself grinding his teeth together with his gaze fixed firmly ahead, refusing to look behind at Primrose and Ak'nen. The tension in his body was bordering on painful, and Janus was mostly forgotten save a dim awareness that the boy was still on the horse with him.
At least he didn't think about Janus until the boy apologized to him. Guilt burrowed itself into him immediately as he heard the tears held back in the kid's voice. He'd made Janus cry. Erthe certainly hadn't meant to do that. Of course the boy thought he was angry at him, and being the selfish idiot he was he hadn't even realized he'd upset the kid.
"It's not you. It's him." It was hard, but Erthe managed to keep the anger from his voice, and to keep quiet so that the conversation stayed between Janus and himself. Turning finally to look, the slave bristled as he watched Primrose and Ak'nen whispering quietly to each other. After a few moments he jerked his gaze away, focusing ahead once more. "He shouldn't be riding with her. I swear I'm going to wring his scrawny elf neck."
"But I failed you," the boy whined, burying his face in the drow's back to hide the tears sliding down his chubby cheeks. "You told me to keep them apart and they didn't listen and you're angry with me I know it. You can be truthful Erthe. I'm a man; I can take it! Tell me the truth, how much trouble am I in?"
"You're not in trouble Janus. You didn't fail me, you just didn't win that round with Ak'nen and Primrose, that's all. You'll get him next time." Erthe was so very not used to trying to reassure people, but the drow was sincerely trying to make the boy crying against his back feel better. It honestly wasn't Janus' fault that Primrose shut down his attempts to separate her and the elf.
He found himself wishing that she was behind him instead of Janus, though. Of course, she seemed perfectly happy riding with Ak'nen and that had him hunching his shoulders and glaring angrily at the back of his horse's head. Of course she'd rather ride with Ak'nen. The elf was charming and amicable and not a slave.
The little boy wrapped his arms around Erthe and gave him a tight squeeze as he nestled in against his back. "Definitely next time," Janus agreed fervently with determination. He soon fell asleep though with the sway of the saddle lulling him into boredom as the events of his adventuring finally caught up with him.
Primrose on the other hand smiling and talking softly with Ak'nen about Harkness and his childhood full of mischief growing up. The stories she was told made her laugh and briefly forget her troubles as minutes became miles on her path away from home. It was however the subtle slipping of the elf's arms about her waist that led her to stiffen enough to brush his hands away and lead her horse closer to Erthe's own.
She was worried about the other man and wondered if his sullen expression was because of his young companion or something she had done earlier in the morning that had upset him. Primrose still did not know what she had done but he had seemed to be avoiding her and giving her a great deal of silent treatment after she thought they had been warming up to each other. Part of her longed to reach out and take his hand just to give him a reassuring squeeze and a bit of her strength yet she did not think it would be wanted or appreciated so she kept her hands to herself.
It was a relief when Janus fell asleep behind him, even if Erthe did need to take special care to make sure the boy didn't fall in his slumber. Given his mood, having to entertain Janus in some fashion would have been a lot more grueling a task than simply taking a little extra care in his riding. On the other hand, with the kid sound asleep behind him there was little to distract him from listening to the soft conversation going on behind him.
Every time Primrose laughed, that soft, beautiful sound, his long ears would twitch involuntarily, the steel hoops in his ears clinking together lightly. It was a lovely sound, the lady's laugh. The drow would have loved to listen to her laugh all day. With everything Primrose had been through she deserved to laugh.
Erthe just couldn't forget that it was Ak'nen making her laugh, and so each time she made that wonderful sound that should have made him happy, instead he found himself bristling and wishing time and again that he could simply knock that smug elf off Primrose's horse and leave him behind. Only the knowledge that doing so would upset and anger Primrose kept him from actually doing it.
When the other horse moved closer he didn't look back at them, dark eyes stayed fixed ahead on their path through the forest. Shame they'd been forced off the road by Primrose's flight the day before. It was only a minor inconvenience, they'd run into the road on the path they were taking eventually.
As they continued onward, Primrose steadily brought her horse closer and closer to Erthe's until she had managed to place them side by side, her knee occasionally brushing his with the sway of their steeds.
A look towards the pair riding opposite of her caused her to smile affectionately as Primrose found that her small charge had fallen asleep against the back of the strong, silent warrior sent to be her protector for the journey.
With a small wave of her hand she silenced the elf behind her as she also reached out for the drow. "He is not bothering you is he?" she asked, her eyes focused on the small boy. "I can take him if you prefer. Or we can even stop?"
As each inch in the gap between the horses vanished, the tension in Erthe rose exponentially. By the time their knees brushed against each other the drow's jaw was clenched so tight it was beginning to ache. When she asked him if they should stop the slave stopped the stallion immediately. No, they shouldn't stop. They should be covering as much ground as humanly possible each day, but the thought of continuing to ride like this, knowing that Ak'nen was slowly trying to work himself into Primrose's good favor, was more than he could bear.
The muscles were clenched and tense from his shoulders to his jaw, and it took several moments of working his jaw to loosen enough to answer. "No, he's not bothering me, and yes, we can stop."
No point in wasting time, Erthe turned from the path and found a place where the tents could be set up and a fire made. He dismounted carefully, not wanting to wake the sleeping terror. He pulled off his cloak and spread it on the ground before reaching up and cautiously lifting Janus from the horse and transferring him to the cloak.
After a moment of thought Erthe removed his coat and laid it over the kid. It wasn't perfect, but it'd work until the tents were set up and Janus could be put to bed properly.
Primrose smiled fondly even as she refused Ak'nen's help with dismounting and made her way over to Erthe. The elf kept away, saying he would assist with the horses even as the noblewoman found her courage and placed a hand on the drow's arm.
"Thank you for watching over him too. I know he's a burden as much as I am but if it means anything you've made him very happy. I know that boy will sleep like the dead but he can't fall asleep unless he feels safe. Thank you, Erthe."
Erthe had been engrossed in his task of settling Janus down, but he was acutely, and painfully, aware of Primrose's every movement. His ears had twitched when she'd refused the elf's help dismounting, a touch of relief hitting him, but it didn't last long. They had spent the better part of a day in the saddle together, with Ak'nen talking and touching to his heart's content. Damn that pale-skinned, knife-eared, silver-tongued bastard.
Even with the drow expecting it, he still flinched and stiffened at Primrose's touch. It was almost an instinctual response, and he wished he could hide it, but that wasn't possible. She'd feel bad, then he'd feel bad for making her feel bad. How was he even supposed to compete with Ak'nen? The elf didn't cringe or flinch when she touched him. Much as he hated it, the elf was charming and warm. Erthe was awkward, withdrawn, and probably cold too. She'd naturally enjoy the company of Ak'nen over him.
Sighing, Erthe turned his dark red eyes onto her, there was a quiet storm in them - a swirling of emotions that he tried to swallow and hide on the surface.
"He's not a bad kid. I don't mind having him along, mostly."
"Mostly," she repeated with a playful chuckle. "It's moments like these I wish he was mine," she whispered wistfully before continuing, "but then he wakes up and becomes the little monster we all know he is." Primrose laughed as she stood close enough to Erthe that they could almost brush against each other. Part of her wanted to lean against him and take strength from him as she felt her resolve to return to her mother's lands lose its sway over her.
"Perhaps tomorrow we should let him ride with Ak'nen though. As much as I would hate to spoil the child he does seem quite fascinated by him. That is of course if it's no trouble to you if we...I mean it's not definite. O-or I could walk or well that wouldn't be very practical. I just don't," she faltered with her words, blushing darkly with embarrassment. She did not want to order him around was the problem. Primrose wanted Erthe to understand that he really and truly was her friend and she would not make the decisions for him whether he liked it or not.
"It's up to you," she shyly stated as she rubbed her sweating palms on the soft leather of her britches.
"You would be a very good mother." Erthe murmured, looking back down at Janus quietly. The boy looked so sweet and peaceful sleeping. Such an improvement over his wakeful state. The kid was lucky to have so many people that cared for him. The drow wished that just one person had given him such care as a child. He liked to think that if his father had lived that he would have cared, though it was doubtful that his father would have been allowed to raise him.
Erthe did not want children. He hoped that he never sired a child. The thought of having his child ripped from him because he was nothing more than someone else's property was more than he could even bear.
He turned his head as Primrose began speaking again, red eyes taking her in as she stumbled over her words. She could demand anything of him and he would have done it. She didn't. Primrose didn't demand anything, she didn't order, she asked him. It was so strange. It was novel. It was surprisingly nice. The desire for anything more than obsolete obedience was something he thought dead and buried from his life.
"You'll ride with me tomorrow." Erthe breathed softly, feeling more tension leave him as he said it. For a moment he hesitated, then reached the short distance between them to lightly take her hand in his, holding it gently. "I wish you had ridden with me today."
Primrose smiled shyly and continued to stare down at the bottom in response to Erthe's compliment. While she assumed he was just saying it to be nice the sentiment nevertheless made her feel warm and good inside. His decision though that they would ride together completely blew her away. She had not expected him to willingly choose so easily and found herself staring at him in further surprise as he took her hand in his.
"I wish you had asked," she finally was able to respond, her eyes twinkling once more with their natural light. Her cheeks flamed though with bashfulness and after a tight squeeze of his hand that was as close of a hug as she felt he would allow her to give, she was taking off from him to try and slow her racing heart.
I couldn't. Erthe watched her bolt away from him, the thoughts dying on his lips, unable to really voice them. How could he have asked her to ride with him when she'd seemed so determined to ride with Ak'nen despite Janus' demands to be with the elf? Some of his tension returned as he grappled internally with what he was feeling and thinking.
I wish you had asked. Her words repeated in his mind over and over again as he began unpacking the horses and setting up camp. Could Primrose really have wanted to ride with him over riding with the charming Ak'nen that seemed so very interested in her? It was really hard for him to wrap his mind around. From the moment they had met, the drow had been reserved and withdrawn, trying to keep Primrose and her kindness at arm's length. Erthe was failing at that, but he'd been trying just the same.
Ultimately his mind kept circling back to the fact that he was just a slave, that Primrose was engaged, and he should not be feeling so conflicted about her. His job was very simple - deliver her to her uncle alive for her impending marriage. That was it. Feeling was completely unnecessary for him to complete his task.
Frowning as he set the last thing on the ground, his gaze drifted back to the young woman that was the source of all his frustration and uncertainty. It didn't matter where she moved, Erthe was keenly aware of her. Even when his mind was swirling chaotically with these strange emotions, there she was, pushing her way into his awareness. From the moment she had thrown herself at him in that dark doorway, something had happened inside him. Some unknown switch had been flicked, some lock shattered.
Pulling his eyes away from her was difficult, but he forced himself to set up the first tent. His face darkened slightly as he couldn't help but wonder if Primrose would be sleeping once again entangled in his arms. Shaking his head he tried to banish such thoughts. Last night had been insanely inappropriate, but he had enjoyed having her warmth against him through the night. That much he could admit - to himself, at least.
The noblewoman found herself standing in front of Uhi before she knew it who stared down at her petite form with a mixture of disgust and expectancy. Still reeling from her boldness with Erthe, she stood up straight to address him. "I don't believe we've had the chance to properly talk yet," Primrose stated calmly much to the elf's surprise. "Shall we?"
"What, you don't have to ask your pet's permission?" he spat back, his eyes darting towards where she had left the drow.
"He is no pet but a friend, something I have yet to believe you were to Harkness." Her response had him snapping back to attention to her in complete shock for the briefest of moments before he was able to school his features once more. Wordlessly, Uhi moved to sit on a nearby log before Primrose joined him and they quietly if a bit awkwardly spoke in elvish.
When Primrose and Uhi sat together to speak quietly Erthe found his attention drawn and focused even more on the young woman he was sworn to protect. No matter what the elves said about wishing to protect Primrose, the drow held no love or trust for either of them. Dividing more of his attention to the lady slowed his progress, but finally he managed to have both pitched and stocked with warm blankets.
With great care, Erthe transferred Janus to one of the ready tents, tucking the boy in gently before exiting the tent and looking around pensively. Seeing Uhi and Prim speaking quietly still, he wandered to a patch of soft grass and sat down heavily, mind drifting back to his current emotional conflict.
Once he had completed caring for the horses and starting a fire for food, Ak'nen joined the pair, seating himself quite cozily on Primrose's other side and even going so far as to wrap an arm about her shoulders. She offered him a friendly smile but after a moment stood up straight and shrug it away as if she did not realize she was rejecting his advances. While the trio spoke in their quiet tones, the noblewoman continued to send what she deemed to be hidden looks in Erthe's direction although the elves both noticed the look of longing in her eyes that said whose company she would have preferred.
It was hard for the drow to sort through everything going on inside his mind, everything was so jumbled, tangled, and confused. That crimson eyes kept being drawn back to the source of all that turmoil didn't help matters at all. When they caught Ak'nen slipping an arm around said source, it only made it worse.
Erthe couldn't stand the elves. Uhi for his attitude, Ak'nen for the way he insisted on touching and flirting with Primrose. Her shrugging his gesture away did mollify the slave slightly, but only just slightly. There was no way that Ak'nen couldn't see that Primrose was not interested in him getting that close and friendly with her. It angered him that the elf persisted despite his repeated rejection.
Confused and uncomfortable as Primrose could make him, there was a pulling desire to be near her. Finally the temptation of her company weighed more than his dislike for the elves. Standing he approached the quietly talking group purposefully, red eyes gleaming as they fixated on Ak'nen.
"You're in my spot." The words held a slightly gruff edge, causing the elf to look up at him in surprise for a moment. Ak'nen hadn't moved yet, and Erthe's voice became a low, rumbling growl. "Now."
That did it. Ak'nen moved quickly as Erthe sat himself in the vacated spot next to Primrose. Well, not exactly, he sat on the ground with his back pressed against the log the others had been using as a chair. His red eyes closed as he settled contently, Primrose's leg brushing against his arm slightly as he shifted into a more comfortable spot.
Primrose stared at the pair wide-eyed, unsure of what to expect until Ak'nen moved away and Erthe was seated at her knee. Then her smile was unstoppable. Her leg shifted ever so slightly to press fully against his arm and her hand naturally moved to rest on his shoulder as if it was meant to be. With her guardian at her side, she felt completely at ease if a bit distracted by his presence and it showed. Even Uhi in his grumpy fashion found some amusement in the environment as he grudgingly acknowledged Erthe.
Erthe gave a minimal acknowledgement to Uhi in return, casting his eyes to Ak'nen who, well he wasn't positive, but he thought the elf might have actually looked amused for a moment. The drow forgot the elves entirely as his eyes closed again, feeling his lady shift so that they were touching before her gentle hand came to rest on his shoulder.
No matter how adamant he was about how wrong it was for a lady to be touching a slave, Erthe found himself soothed by it. His tension eased, the storm in his mind calmed, and for the first time since they had mounted up that morning, he actually looked peaceful and relaxed.
The trio continued to talk for a bit, but eventually Ak'nen excused himself to start preparing dinner, heavily insisting that Primrose stay put despite her protests to assist and not long after Uhi left without explanation into the shadows of the forest. Although Primrose suspected it had to do with his having said his quota of words for the day. As she had been talking though her hand had been unconsciously massaging and squeezing the shoulder beneath it. She only realized she had even been doing it to begin with when the elves left and she stopped to slide down beside Erthe.
"So how was the little monster today? He talk your ears off?"
For the most part, Erthe ignored the conversation entirely. His eyes remained closed, most of his attention focused on the hand that massaged and squeezed his shoulder continuously. The longer the others talked, the more the drow seemed to settle, and by the time the elves excused themselves it almost looked as if the slave had fallen asleep.
Until Primrose stopped. Slowly crimson eyes opened as she slid beside him asking about Janus. Without thinking about it, Erthe shifted slightly, opening his posture in a subconscious invitation to have her nestled against his side.
"He was fine. I just would have preferred your company to his."
"Oh?" she found herself asking shyly, hiding behind her flaxen hair so he could not see her pleased blush. "And why's that? Because I ask one less question than a boy who must know the answer to every why? Or because I don't drool when I fall asleep riding behind you?" Primrose giggled at the idea, finding her joke hysterical as she leaned right into the opening he provided and remained there contently.
"Well there are those things." Erthe chuckled quietly, his arm moving to wrap gently around her shoulders as she settled against him. His fingers found a few loose strands of her beautiful hair and toyed with them as his crimson eyes took on a faraway look as he grew quiet again, seemingly lost in thought. He could think of plenty of other reasons why, but voicing them was another matter entirely.
His touch sent sparks and tingles of pleasure racing across each individual strand of hair and into her scalp. If she was bolder she would have hummed and even leaned into his touch as an unspoken demand for more. But she was not instead remained situated against his side in companionable silence.
There were uncomfortable silences, the kind a person could drown in, and then there was this. A silence so comfortable that there was hardly a need for words. Erthe's mind might have seemed to have drifted, but there wasn't a sense he possessed that wasn't absorbed in Primrose Dragoslav.
The feel of her body nestled against his side left him warm and the feel of her fine hair twirling in his fingertips left them tingling so pleasantly. The smells of the forest, the fire, and supper was overpowered by the smell of her - sweet, delicate, and distinct. From the corner of his vision he took in as much as he possibly could, trying to memorize every line, dip, curve, and angle of her beautiful face. Her breathing was a rhythmic, soothing sound that further lulled him in his contented daze.
Even the sense of taste was engaged, although not directly. The drow found himself wondering just what she would taste like, if he dipped his head and stole a soft kiss. It was a tempting thought, but one he would never have dreamed of acting upon. Everything was already too much. He wanted less, he wanted more. Twenty years, since a woman had affected him like this, but this was different even then.
His years with Tara had been the best of his life, this was true, but even being with Tara had not felt like this. That Tara was so wildly different from Primrose might have had something to do with that, but he thought it was even more than just that. Tara had been so demanding, at the time he had not thought a thing of it, but deep down, he had always still been just a slave. With Primrose he felt himself hesitant and questioning his own adamant devotion to that single, all-encompassing mantra he'd adopted for himself. I'm just a slave.
"I always wanted to be a blacksmith." Erthe finally said in a near-whisper, breaking their silence with this small token of something that wasn't because he was a slave, but something that was genuinely himself.
His voice made her look up at him with a soft smile. She almost assured him that one day he could until she remembered his status and held her tongue for fear of an argument that would result in him withdrawing from their relatively cozy position.
"Have you ever done it before?" Primrose asked instead, curiously, her gaze never faltering from his face.
For nearly a minute Erthe said nothing, finally shifting just slightly so that he could look down at her contemplatively. He wondered how much she really wanted to know, and opted to share only a little - why upset her with the more unpleasant details.
"Yes, when I was a child and young man, when I wasn't training or performing my master's main purpose for me, I was working the forge under the guidance of a skilled smith. I still remember the feeling the first time I finished a piece that the smith considered 'acceptable'. It was the first time I had felt pride in anything I had done."
"It sounds precious," she noted, still smiling up at him. "Hold old were you? And what did you make? You must have been so proud. I know I would have been. A master's praise is always highly valued," she stated, referencing the words of a teacher to a student rather than an owner to a slave.
"I was twelve, and don't laugh, but it was a horseshoe." Erthe shook his head with a sigh, but there was the faintest smile on his face. "I know a horseshoe is a little underwhelming, but I had made it with my own two hands, and it was actually usable. I'd made plenty of things before, but the flaws caused them to have to be remade and reshaped by better hands."
Primrose shifted to rest her head comfortably on the front of Erthe's shoulder and chest. "I have no right to laugh. I was sixteen before I presented anything artistically edible according to my Uncle's cook in Serendipity. I was a little sneak who loved to make trouble in the kitchen at night and try and being a little wife baking for her husband, my best friend at the time. I was a disaster," she chuckled, remembering past memories.
"Little wife?" Erthe asked, arching a brow as he looked down at her with some amusement. The drow had never played games with the other children growing up, they really hadn't been eager to include him and he hadn't much liked their company anyway. Still, he seemed to recall some of them had liked to play pretend at family and house and the like - a strange game in his eyes.
She blushed and hid her face against his chest. "Don't make fun of me. I was young and silly then. Although it seems those dreams are about to come true after all." Primrose sighed heavily and reached an arm around Erthe to hug him and lean more into him. "Did you ever play games as a child?"
"I wasn't making fun. I think you'd make someone a very fine wife. I just wish it weren't..." Erthe cleared his throat and looked away, shifting slightly as she cuddled into him more. "It really doesn't matter what I wish, and no, I had was training or working when I wasn't sleeping."
Primrose looked up at him in surprise, desperately wanting to ask him what he wished for, but afraid he would reject her asking and run from her. It surprised her to no end that he had not taken off running for the hills with her initial touch let alone the way she was curled up against him.
"I'm sorry," she whispered, wishing that she go back and change his childhood. "No one should have to grow up before their time."
"Don't be sorry, it can't be changed or helped, so feeling sorry for me is a waste." Erthe would dwell on his past mistakes often enough, but considering he had no actual future, it left him with little to actually think about in regards to his own life. Primrose had made him look harder at his life than he would usually stop to do. Parts of him were there that he hadn't thought still capable of showing signs of life.
"That's a good attitude at least," she commented. "I always try to keep the same view but sometimes it's not so easy, I suppose." Again she sighed before stating overly-cheerily. "It will be good to see some blood relatives again. I'm sure they missed me."
"Really? I hadn't considered it an attitude of my own. I just prefer your smiles to your frowns." Erthe chuckled, casting a wary glance in her direction. The forced cheerfulness made him sad. Not that he could blame her for not being happy about the arrangements made for her. He just wished that there was something he could do to make her happy, even if only temporarily.
His response made her giggle genuinely though. "And what is so special about my smiles? What if I want to be a grumpy-faced woman for the rest of my life?" she asked sitting up enough to give him a scrunched up face with puckered lips that wobbled with her effort to keep from laughing and maintain the expression.
"Your smiles are radiant and bring light to dark places in my life. That counts as pretty special to me." Erthe mused before chuckling at the face she was making at him. "Grumpiness doesn't become you, Primrose, you're far prettier with smiles and laughter."
"Ah, then I shall remember that when I face my husband-to-be! Perhaps he will run at the sight of me and I will be free to return home with you. Wouldn't that be lovely?" Primrose sighed, once more tucking herself against his side but this time with her head fully on his chest as she snuggled in close. "You're rather comfy, did you know that?"
"I'm glad you think so." Erthe said quietly as he drew her close with a strong arm around her. He hadn't commented on the idea of either of them being free to do anything if her current betrothed didn't work out for her. Something told him her uncle wouldn't be letting her come back so easily, and he certainly wouldn't be allowed to. Especially not with her.
"Would you really bring me back with you if you could?" That question was a near-whisper. Suddenly the drow found himself trying to conjure images of returning to Primrose's home, of finding a place there where he could actually stay. The thoughts hurt. It couldn't possibly be, but he found himself desperately longing for just that. Primrose wouldn't own a slave, of course, but he would gladly spend the rest of his life serving her if given the option.
"Of course!" she readily declared. "Uncle would just have to let you come since I would need someone to look out for me and keep me safe on the way home. And really it's just so unfortunate that something would happen to you because of elf and drow relations that would cause you to have gone missing on your return to him," Primrose continued with a cheeky smile.
"Have you really thought this out?" Erthe laughed softly, wondering at the elegant, if simple, strategy. Was she really trying to make plans on what to do if they came back? Not that it would ever work. The drow doubted either of them would be coming back, and even if her uncle believed such a lie, they would eventually be caught. Primrose's uncle didn't strike him as the kind of man to let anything he perceived as belonging to him go.
"I know it needs refining," she hastily replied, believing him to think her plan naive and silly. "But I'm sure it would work eventually. I didn't become a student of mischief for nothing you know. Where else do you think Janus gets it from? He had to learn from the best of course!"
"I'm sure you're right." What else could he really say? Primrose was trying to cope with her situation, and if she needed Erthe to let her pretend that there was a chance that she could go home, that there could be a happy ending, then he would let her believe that. "We'll get it all figured out before we get there, we've still got a long way to go yet."
Primrose let out another sigh as she stared at the food Ak'nen was finishing up. "Not long enough," she murmured quietly allowed, not even realizing she had spoken. "Erthe? Can I ask you something? You can decline to answer if you desire, it's a question not a demand."
"You can ask me anything, Primrose. I will answer if I can." Erthe sighed, looking at the food that Ak'nen had graciously made. He wasn't feeling all that hungry, his mood was killing his appetite. Plus he really didn't want to move at all. Primrose was nestled comfortably against him and he was afraid that she wouldn't return to the position after moving to eat."
She remained where she was for fear of him seeing her face when she asked as she felt so incredibly nervous. Primrose licked her lips and had just opened her mouth to speak when Ak'nen called them to eat, beckoning the pair brightly towards where he had prepared the food.
With a blush she shyly sat up and cut off her question. "We should go eat now before he comes over," she stated instead, hoping he could not see her red cheeks.
Erthe had been staring down at Primrose intently, watching her and obviously enraptured by her to anyone observing them. He was genuinely very curious as to what she was going to ask him. When Ak'nen called for them to come eat, the drow visibly flinched at the intrusion, casting an annoyed glance in the elf's direction.
Primrose would find herself caught almost immediately, a strong arm wrapping about her waist and pulling her back down against the drow's solid chest. His voice rumbled out in a soft growl. "He can wait. What did you need to ask me?"
Primrose giggled mischievously as she attempted to squirm her way back out of Erthe's grip. "But, I'm hungry and it would be rude to let the food go cold," she protested through her laughter. "I'll ask you later. It wasn't important anyways," she said hoping to cover for the way she blushed at the question was anything but unimportant to her.
His captive lady's squirms had little effect, at least in getting away from him. Erthe's ears twitched at her giggles as she tried to talk her way out of his arms. Just the day before he wouldn't have dared to hold onto her like this against her will. Although she seemed more amused than actually upset by it, which very much had something to do with it. If she'd sounded angry he'd have let her go immediately.
"Later, she says. My pretty lady is not getting out of it that easily. When?" Erthe pressed while giving her a gentle squeeze, peering down at her with an amused smirk on his face.
"Pretty lady?" she repeated, focusing on something else entirely as she stilled and looked up at him red-cheeked and surprised. "You think I'm pretty? Little, far from proper Prim? Are you sure you're not ill Erthe?" Primrose teasingly lifted a hand to rest against his forehead as if to check for fever. "Perhaps you need to eat more than I this evening if you're hallucinating things."
Erthe snorted at her reaction, taking her hand from his head while one arm still kept her firmly trapped. "Forgive me, you're right. Pretty was the wrong word. Beautiful, gorgeous, lovely, generous, and sweet lady of mine, you still didn't answer me. When?"
Her eyes widened to the size of dinner plates while she shrank in his embrace with each word as if she could simply melt into him and disappear from all the sweet things he was calling her. Primrose could not even believe that in such a short amount of time he had already come to calling her "his" given how firmly set he had seemed in the slave mentality that she had been trying to break him of. It both pleased her and enthralled her. Primrose could not understand how his words and touch could cause her heart to beat so fast. Perhaps she was wrong, maybe it was not him but her who was ill, for surely she was imagining his playfulness.
"L-l-l-ater," she finally was able to stutter, practically speechless. Then feeling a bit bolder, the noblewoman added. "After you dinner until you're full and I have done the same. Don't think I didn't see you skipping breaking your fast this morning," she mock accused him with squinted eyes and pouty lips.
Erthe wasn't really aware of the fact that he was calling Primrose his. Later he would brush it off as him referring to her as his lady in that she was, indeed, the lady he served. The way he was saying it wasn't like that, but he could deny to himself that he felt any possessiveness towards the woman in his arms. Slaves didn't possess anything, and they certainly didn't claim ladies as their own.
Crimson eyes narrowed playfully when she stammered out a very vague later as a response to his question. Later was not going to cut it for him. A sly look came into his eyes when she went on. "So if I promise to be a good drow and eat all my supper you're saying you promise to ask your question?"
"Cross my heart," she swore solemnly, doing the exact action before loudly protested the delay. "Truce until then? It would not do to keep the belly of the beast waiting," Primrose teased with a wink. "There's no knowing what I'll try to eat then." She clicked her teeth at him as if to take a nip out of him, though it was all for show.
Even after securing the promise from Primrose, Erthe found himself reluctant to let her go. Still, between her stomach growing and her playfully nipping at her he finally unwound his arms from her and held them up in a surrendering gesture.
"Alright, alright. The beast wins. I'm starving anyway." It was only a slight exaggeration. His appetite had returned full force while playing with Primrose. Funny how that worked.
She giggled and immediately took flight, half-expecting him to try and capture her again the moment she thought herself "free." With several skipping steps she was by the fire and gratefully accepting a plate of aromatic food before plopping herself down cross-legged before the fire. Ak'nen held another plate out in offering, waiting for Erthe to take it before he too could join Primrose.
For a few moments Erthe simply watched as Primrose skipped away from him, but with a sigh he finally rose stiffly and moved to collect his plate from Ak'nen. The food smelled good, he had to admit that. He still thought he'd have preferred to stay with Primrose snuggled against him. At first he was going to return to his previous seat, but after a moment's hesitation he moved to take a seat beside Primrose at the fire.
After the first bite he took it back. Food was the better plan, he could always try to hold her again later. Making a sound of appreciation, Erthe began eating in earnest, certainly appearing as if he planned on making up for skipping breakfest.
Primrose immediately shifted to lean against Erthe's side comfortably, the moment he seated himself, much to Ak'nen's amusement. "You two both seem quite cozy," he teased. "Have a good talk earlier then?"
Erthe nearly choked on a bite at Ak'nen's teasing. After coughing a moment he shot the elf a dirty look before glancing down at the little woman beside him. He couldn't help the way he looked at her, with such...admiration. Clearing his throat he returned his focus to his food.
"I think you already know the answer to that." The drow grumpily huffed before resuming his quest to apparently inhale his dinner.
Ak'nen laughed outright, not even trying to hide his amusement as he chewed quietly on his food. "Quit sniping, boys," Primrose chided them both, without looking up from her plate as she worked at eating without burning her fingers, her belly still rumbling with want for more food.
Erthe made a noncommittal sound between bites while giving her an amused glance out of the corner of his eye. Half his plate was gone before he slowed down, eating in a slightly more methodical manner. The drow stopped when a thought occurred to him. "Should we wake the little monster and feed him? I don't mind the quiet, but I'd feel bad leaving the kid to go hungry."
Ak'nen shuddered slightly at the idea before perking up with an idea. "Wake him later and let him rest. He can eat with Uhi," he said, fighting not to laugh at the idea of the small boy harassing the quiet and normally grouchy elf. "Would give us all a nice reprieve, but you especially Erthe."
"The idea of unleashing the beast on Uhi is a rather tempting one." It was unlikely that Erthe and Uhi would ever be on friendly terms. For Primrose's sake the drow was being, in his mind, extremely tolerant of the large elf, though. "I don't understand why it is a reprieve for me especially, though."
Janus had seemed rather fascinated by the elves. Now with the "deal" he'd made with the boy it was very easy to direct the child in Ak'nen's direction. Still, the more he thought about it, the more he examined the boy's tearful apology to him earlier in the day. Janus seemed eager to please him, even upset when he thought that Erthe might be angry with him. He wasn't sure what that could really mean.
"Erthe," Primrose cried in surprise giving the drow a light, playful shove. "Don't be mean."
Ak'nen chuckled from where he sat. "Did the boy not talk your ears off? They're looking a bit worn about the edges if I do say so myself. He certainly has a penchant for questions if I ever saw such a one," the elf replied, shaking his head in disbelief.
"Are they?" Erthe asked, reaching a hand up to smooth across the edge of his ear with a chuckle. "It was bothersome at first, but I just accept it. He doesn't stop long enough for you to answer half the time anyway."
"Quite worn," Primrose quipped, reaching up to also trace the edge of them with a delicate finger. "Why they practically look raw, you poor man."
Ak'nen lost his composure, laughing heartily at the noblewoman's teasing as he smiled fondly at her. "You are indeed lucky Erthe as for me he expects answers to them all and seems to never forget those he's already asked even when I have. It is quite exhausting."
"Just imagine what it's like to live with him," Primrose commented without sympathy. "He's a thousand times worse when you cannot even escape into the confines of your own room without him following or shouting them through your door."
Goosebumps rose along Erthe's skin as Primrose's gentle touch sent a slight shiver up and down his spine. Shifting uncomfortably, the drow quelled the other reaction his body produced. Crimson eyes regarded the woman from the corner of his eyes as he hoped she wouldn't do that again. Not that he hadn't liked it. Oh no, the problem had been more that he'd liked it far too much.
"Out here there isn't even a room to escape to. The little demon has no qualms about barging into one's tent if you recall." Erthe sighed and rubbed his stomach slightly where Janus had jumped on him that morning to wake him.
"Do you need someone to kiss it better for you Erthe? I'm sure Primrose would be more than happy to help out a friend in need," Ak'nen teased cheekily. The aforementioned woman in turned blushed crimson even as she turned to level her curious gaze on the Drow beside her, awaiting his answer with amused calm.
Erthe's ashen skin darken noticeably as his red eyes cut to Ak'nen as they widened. He jerked his hand away from his stomach and looked away with a scowl. Primrose kissing him, anywhere, for any reason, was not likely to make the situation better. The drow shifted uncomfortably again, making sure that his body was well under control. "I do not need someone to 'kiss' anything better."
Primrose glanced down and away, feeling slightly hurt by his words even if she understood. It was not proper for a man and woman to kiss if they were not wed and it certainly was not for a noblewoman and a slave to do so either which she was sure was more on his mind. Nevertheless, she felt the sting of his words after having spent some time not too much earlier sitting comfortably against him.
"Then perhaps he did not wound you as bad as you thought," she replied weakly. "At least he has not followed you into a room while you were bathing. The little rat's done that a fair few times, mostly to watch or gloat over his newest prank that resulted either in my needing to take said bath or to run after him at a discovery in it.
"Actually he did follow me into my room at your home. I was questioned all through my bath. I thought he'd never leave." Erthe grumbled softly, glancing in the directions of the tents where the boy in question was sleeping. It had been an uncomfortable experience, to say the least. More for the questions than anything else. Nobody had ever wanted to know so much about him before.
The noblewoman's eyes narrowed to the thinnest of slits at the admission. "The little brat," she muttered under her breath as she shot an angry glare back towards the tent. "I apologize for the discomfort he must have caused you, Erthe. Janus should know better. Was there anything else inappropriate that he did?"
"You don't have to apologize for him." It made the drow uncomfortable enough when Primrose apologized for things she thought she'd done wrong, having her apologizing for other people was worse. "Don't worry so much, Primrose. I can handle the little beast well enough. I'm getting better at it, at any rate."
Sighing he let his eyes slide closed tiredly, it had been an exhausting day. Riding all day was bad enough, but all the tension was worse. There was a desire to escape the complications of being awake and trying to deal with everything. He set his empty plate aside and leaned just slightly into the woman beside him.
She blushed and looked off to the side as he told her not to apologize but it was within her nature and she simply could not help it. "I just feel responsible for him," Primrose ended up mumbling, feeling tense and embarrassed as she speared a bite of food with her fork. The tension immediately left her though as the drow leaned into her side. It was like a rush of air leaving her lungs to realize just how much she relaxed back into him and felt easy once more. "Besides," she whispered, "if I don't no one will."
"I'm fine with that." Erthe rumbled softly, feeling comforted by the soft, warm presence of the tiny noblewoman pressed against him. It still seemed strange to him, finding so much comfort and peace from Primrose's physical presence. The drow's mind reasoned that it wasn't so strange, for a short time another woman's closeness had brought him immeasurable comfort and pleasure.
Without thinking about it, his arms snaked around her waist again, holding her loosely as she ate. His mind was still pondering what question it was she'd wanted to ask him, and Erthe was determined to wrestle it out of her before allowing either of them to sleep.
Primrose cocked a brow at him cheekily while shivering slightly as his touch sent gooseflesh up and down her spine. "Fine with what exactly? Because I have a feeling we're not agreeing on the same "fine" here now are we?"
"I'm fine with a lot of things, but I was referring to no one apologizing for Janus. The boy is old enough to apologize for himself." Erthe's voice was quiet, barely a whisper, as he felt the way she shivered under his hand and was torn between pulling away or pulling her closer. His behavior had been wholly inappropriate since meeting her. Part of him recoiled from the idea of breaking rules or etiquette, fear of punishment clouding his thoughts, but another part of him was so tired of being afraid all the time.
Self-reflection would likely have spiraled him into a fit of depression to realize just how much his life was spent living in fear of punishment. Erthe pulled away from darker thoughts and pulled Primrose that much closer to his side, close enough that any closer and the woman would have ended up in his lap. Not a good place for her to be, especially with his current issue. Thankfully no one seemed to notice his partial excitement.
"The boy is also not here to defend himself," she countered shakily, blushing darkly as he pulled her close. She would be lying if she said she did not like it. It reminded her so much of her beloved Harkness, being held close to a strong body so much longer than her own petite one. Primrose was not so grief-stricken that she did not recognize it for someone else yet, she found herself tucking in closer to Erthe to seek comfort in his quiet strength.
"You're warm," she informed him even as she wormed her way tighter against his side, her plate of relatively untouched food now resting on his thigh so she could curl in closer without fear of dropping it.
Erthe forgot all about Janus as Primrose snuggled herself even closer against him. The drow hadn't missed the way she blushed. The way they interacted, the cuddling and touching, was unnerving in some ways, but now that it had started it was almost impossible for the slave to stop. His life was full of pain, misery, and death - this taste of affection, light, life made him feel like a man starved that couldn't stop himself from eating even when he knew that so much would only hurt him more than the hunger had.
"You're warmer." He found himself mumbling before realizing how close he was teetering on the edge of disaster. Clearing his throat slightly he nudged Primrose gently. "You need to eat."
"And you're warmest," she bantered back, feeling like she had won. "And I am eating. Just got so cold." Primrose got herself comfortable, tucking her arm between around his so that she could prop herself up while the other slowly work food onto fork and into her mouth. She left the plate on his leg, using him as a table as she took tiny bites and chewed them thoughtfully, drawing out her eating time in an attempt to avoid asking her question.
"If you're that cold maybe I should go get you a blanket, but that would require moving." Erthe showed his disinterest in going anywhere by giving her a gentle squeeze against his side as his crimson eyes watched her very slowly begin eating again. Primrose had shown a lot of disinterest in food since they set out, and he found himself worrying about her getting enough.
Although her slow pace might have frustrated someone else, Erthe was patient, and knew what she was up to. "You know eating slowly isn't going to get you out of our little deal, Primrose. You agreed to ask once we finished eating - I have nothing but time, even if it takes all night."
"You're less scratchy than a saddle blanket though," Primrose piped up. But her smirk was soon wiped off her face and her fork froze in midair on its way to her mouth as she found out that Erthe had caught onto her plan. "I-I-I," she stammered before gaining her bearings again, "I have no idea what you're talking about. I'm just enjoying this delightful meal made by our friend here."
"Of course you are." The way the drow said it, and the glimmer of amusement in his eye, suggested that Erthe didn't believe her one bit. "As I said, I have all night - I have weeks, but I will have that question out of you Primrose, sooner, not later."
Primrose snorted and shook her head before resuming her painstakingly slow eating. "You sure you're not hungry for more? You didn't eat enough I think for a man who skipped his breakfast. Wouldn't want my guardian passing out from starvation now," she teased lightly nudging him in the side. "Janus would never let you live down my carrying you all the way home."
"I had enough." Erthe grunted as she nudged him. Honestly, Primrose seemed intent on stuffing him with food. Not that the drow, huge as he was, couldn't eat so much. The slave simply was unused to being given so much food. He truly was better fed now than almost ever in his life - only Tara had fed him better, but of course with Tara he hadn't been traveling.
"Just eat, or I will be the one having to carry you." Although he didn't mind that thought as much now as he had at first. Sure, throwing her over his shoulder and forcing her away from her home still was an unappealing option, but carrying her in his arms and having her body pressed close to his chest was a rather pleasant thought. A thought that caused his skin to darken slightly as he shifted his body slightly again. Gods help him get through dinner, and the rest of the night!
She huffed again in disbelief, further shaking her head. "Oh I'd like to see you try! I don't think you would, Erthe. But, then I don't think you'll have the chance to prove yourself," she added, pointedly chomping on another bite of food with a heavy sigh. "It's just difficult when they're man-sized portions for a tiny little noblewoman," Primrose continued to pout, knowing that it was anything but that.
Erthe chuckled softly as he watched her from the corner of his eye. Her slow eating might have actually been a blessing to the drow, he hoped that by the time Primrose was finished and ready to move his excitement would have passed and would no longer be an issue. It was more than frustrating the reaction his body had to her.
Although she was a very lovely woman to look at, and her warm affection made her very appealing - under different circumstances...no, best not to think about that. She was on her way to meet her betrothed and he was a slave that could have no actual future. Primrose deserved far better than that.
"You've been extremely quiet Ak'nen." Erthe needed a distraction, surely talking to the elf would cool his longing.
"Would hate to interrupt the two lovebirds," he quipped with a knowing smirk and a wink towards Erthe as Primrose sputtered and began to choke, knocking her plate of food over in the process of her effort to try and breathe properly again. When at last she could breathe she could only stare at the elf in shock while her cheeks flamed ruby with her embarrassment.
Erthe's reaction was far more graceful than the woman beside him. His ashen skin did darken, but crimson eyes narrowed as they glared at the elf. His hand moved from Primrose's waist to rub her back gently as she sputtered on her food. After a moment a devious gleam entered his eye as he smirked at Ak'nen. "All I heard was jealousy, could you repeat that?"
Primrose looked between the two, utterly baffled and confused as to what they were talking about. She was too blind to realize that either of them had given off impressions of liking her and so kept her silence even as Ak'nen decided to run his mouth.
"Why pup, finding yourself hard of hearing already? Besides, you wouldn't know jealousy if it was a fish slapping you in the face. You need not worry so much. I'm too old for what you have in mind."
"Too old you say?" Erthe snarled, sitting up now, anger burning in his eyes. "Your age hasn't seemed to stop you from the moment you showed up unwanted! I see the way you touch her! She brushes you off and you persist."
The drow's pupils had dilated as he leaned forward, words harsh and full of venom as he slipped into elvish, but he'd been right about one thing - speaking to Ak'nen had been as effective in relieving him of desire as a dunk in ice water might have.
"It is not for her I persist, fool boy," Ak'nen responded with a knowing smirk in elvish so fast that Primrose was obviously having trouble keeping up with the pair. "She does not realize the advances as anything more than friendship yet you cannot say the same, can you? Realized yet what she will mean to you, pup? Or are you too busy dealing with other matters?" The elf glanced downward towards Erthe's lap pointedly, having noticed what the noblewoman had not.
Erthe's face darkened further as he caught the glance, realizing that Ak'nen knew. Being noticed was beyond humiliating for him. "I could not help that! I didn't mean to-" The drow sputtered over his elvish, stumbling over the words, not sure what he wanted to say. "You know nothing elf - you have no idea what I must deal with!"
How could Ak'nen possibly know or understand? It wasn't just Primrose that Erthe could never have. He could never have what Ak'nen was suggesting with anyone. "I am not allowed to want." Erthe muttered lamely, not having a good come-back.
Ak'nen stared at Erthe long and hard, hearing the pain in the drow's voice and understanding better than the other man thought he possibly could. But, there was something that Erthe did not know and that was the wonder that was Primrose. He had seen the result of Harkness' time with the young woman as well as that of the elf's family that had become whole once more. Ak'nen understood what she was capable of and felt beyond a shadow of a doubt she would work her magic once more on a broken man in need of light.
"Yet," he replied simply, before conceding entirely in the matter. "Forgive me, milady for disturbing your meal. I hope I have not offended you too much with my poor behavior. It seems my cousin's foul mood has begun to rub off on me."
"Well I hope I don't get it then having spent all day with you. Poor Erthe might have caught it though," she said sadly before once more leaning in against the drow and wrapping both her arms about one of his. "I'm sorry," she murmured only for his ears, feeling truly repentant.
Yet. That word struck Erthe like a slap in the face. Ak'nen did not, would not, could not get it. The elf had not seen what Erthe had seen. The elf had not felt the things that Erthe had felt. The things that the drow had endured. Had Ak'nen ever felt the bite of a whip against his flesh? Been humiliated as body and soul were punished into submission? Been ripped and torn until it felt there was nothing of himself left to grieve?
To add salt to the already jagged wound, Primrose just had to apologize to him. Steel rings clinked together as long ears twitched, Erthe winced greatly at the soft voice, recoiling as if struck. "No. I am the sorry one." He said thickly before pulling away from the woman with a great effort of will, a voice screaming in protest inside his mind as he did so. Her warm, comforting light called him, but burned him at the same time. All the more so as she clung to him.
Everything was overwhelming. Too much, more than he could take. The slave had been pushing his limits all evening with touching her, holding her, and wanting - craving - more and more. He couldn't give in to that. It was too dangerous to want. To feel. Erthe stood up clumsily, lacking in his usual assured movements, his dark eyes were clouded. "Excuse me."
It was all he could do just to turn away to hide his tears as he stumbled away from the light of the fire and into the dark just outside the edge of camp. The air was cold - he wished it was sobering, but Erthe sank against a tree as he brought his fist up to his mouth, sinking teeth into flesh as he bit back a sob. The coppery tang of blood crept across his tongue as fangs pierced skin shallowly. Physical pain was good, it helped take the edge of the emotional upheaval.
She tried but failed to hold onto him, feeling him slip from her grasp grains of sand. Primrose watched him leave with a heavy heart, already missing his closeness and his comfort that had her kicking herself for wanting it. The noblewoman knew she should not want it and yet she craved it heavily. She missed her home and her real family. She missed the elf who had made her world bright. She wanted love like in fairytales and instead was being sent off to a loveless marriage with a man she had never even met. Primrose was not allowed to want and yet she wanted desperately. Part of her feared this wanting, afraid to hurt an already scarred man. She would not be Erthe's downfall but still that other part of her prayed he would be her's.
With grief burning a hole in her chest and fire in her belly, the noblewoman whipped around to face the elf. "How dare you!" came her hissing tones as she glared over at him. "What did you say to him to hurt him so? What did you do to make him run like an abused animal? Have you no compassion? Have you no shame? Erthe is a good man and yet you and your kin put him down as if he is no more than an insect beneath your boot! You're despicable!"
Lunging from where she sat, Primrose struck Ak'nen across the face yet any other blow she desired fell short as he caught her wrists and gently yet firmly held her still. "I was not wrong in what I said, little one but perhaps you are right in that I was wrong in how I approached it. Let go of your anger and go to him, Primrose. He has Harkness' pride and needs your heart to help him. I apologize milady. I apologize to you both," he murmured, finally letting her go as she tore away from him angrily and stormed off after the drow.
Erthe bit down progressively harder on his hand, needing more and more of the bittersweet pain that brought him a mild and temporary relief. It was unnatural not to feel. Being forced to bottle it all up left him ready to explode. How desperately he wanted to scream his pain, but he couldn't do it. He was so conditioned to hide, not express. How he wished that Primrose would stay away, she didn't need to see him like this - he didn't want her to see him like this.
That was only half true. Another part of him hoped that she would come to him. He wanted her comfort. No, he needed her comfort. It was that unquenchable desire for her approval and affection that terrified him more than anything. So few people had shown him true kindness and acceptance in his life that he wondered if he was just a pathetic inhuman parasite clinging to and feeding off of any scrap of compassion that was thrown at him.
The elf wasn't wrong. Perhaps that bothered him more than anything, that Ak'nen had stuck too close to the truth for his comfort. What would Primrose come to mean to him? What did she already mean to him? She was a betrothed lady - she shouldn't mean anything to him behind his purpose given by his master. Yet he found himself uncaring of his master's wishes for the first time he could recall since being broken in his youth.
Broken. That word was despicable. Was he truly broken? Erthe's knee-jerk response was yes, but was he really? Would a broken slave be struggling as he struggled now? He didn't have time to further contemplate his thoughts. All this had happened within moments, and he half-heard Primrose's tirade against Ak'nen end as she stormed towards him.
Her approached filled him with both elation and apprehension. For the first time since seizing the flesh his fangs withdrew from his hand as he raised it to screw the tears from his eyes and face before letting the limb fall to his side limply. The drow felt exhausted and that was the expression on his face - sorrow and weariness. He cleared his throat as the woman drew close, trying to get rid of the tell-tale thickness of a voice just barely holding back from breaking.
"I'm sorry for my outburst, Primrose. I shouldn't have reacted like that."
"And now it is you this time who apologizes for actions that are not his fault," she replied softly, a wry smile lacing her tone. She had paused behind him, not wanting to upset him further or send him flying from her again but Primrose desperately wanted to do what came naturally to her, to reach out and pull him into her arms, holding him tightly as he received the comfort he deserved. Her hand even raised to do so but she made no other move to continue forward with the motion.
"Erthe," the noblewoman called softly. "May I...may I ask something of you as a friend? You can say no. I just...I want to help. I don't want to hurt you or send you away again. Will you let me?"
"No." Erthe didn't elaborate on that simple response. He wasn't apologizing for something that wasn't his fault. It was his fault that he hadn't been able to better control his emotions. The drow had let what the elf said get to him when he shouldn't have. Although who really started the argument was a bit of a grey area. Had Ak'nen started it with the lovebird comment, or had he with the accusation of jealousy? Regardless of who started it, Erthe shouldn't have let it bother him so much.
"Are you going to ask me your promised question? I'm still waiting for it." Erthe was staring into the darkness of the forest, back still to Primrose. It was a rather closed off and uninviting stance to take, but he didn't trust himself to turn to her or look at her in that moment. She was probably upset that he was upset, and seeing her upset would just make him want to comfort her as much as she likely wanted to comfort him.
Erthe knew what kind of comfort Primrose would want to give and receive. Already he wished that they had never moved from the first position they had been in, leaned back against the log with her nestled against his side.
She had expected that answer of him but it still hurt. Primrose still wanted to withdraw and escape but he was not about to let her. Instead he unknowingly drove another nail into her metaphorical coffin as he demanded that she ask her question.
"You won't like it," the noblewoman responded quietly as if it pained her to admit it. "I'm afraid to ask it now. I...I was silly and stupid before. I am just a foolish woman, Erthe. I don't...it's probably best you forget I tried to ask. You'll only hate me if I do," she whispered the last, her own arms wrapping around her slim form as if to shield herself from her own self-disgust.
Primrose had no idea that her reluctance to ask was the primary driving factor in Erthe's need to know what the question was. Not knowing was unacceptable by this point. Funny, a lady withholding something from him was somehow intolerable. Primrose had ruined him. The drow sighed heavily as he listened to her weak protests.
"Primrose, there are many things I have not liked in my life. You are not one of those things. I swore to protect you, nothing you say is going to keep me from doing that." He turned his head to look at her, the way she had wrapped her arms around herself. "I don't think I could ever hate you."
'But will it keep you from being my friend?' Primrose though, feeling her heart sink into her boots. 'I can't lose one more person, Erthe. Not now. Your indifference will surely be the death of me.'
Her breath hitched in her throat as she struggled to speak. Even she could hear the way the air rattled unevenly from her lungs to her mouth. Hanging her head low so that the strands of her long braid that had come loose shielded her face from him, Primrose finally asked so quietly she prayed he could not hear her or the way her voice crackled with sadness and shame.
"Do you like me?"
A held breath was released in a soft sigh. Erthe closed his eyes as he turned his head away. It seemed such an innocent question, and a simple one, but nothing was truly simple in his life or mind. Did he like her? What kind of like was she referring to? Yes. That words screamed to release from his chest, but he couldn't just say that. Not like that. His heart knew that there was affection for this woman, a need to protect and shelter her, but his mind couldn't decide how he did or should actually feel.
What upset him most was the way Primrose held herself, how the hair fell in her face, how her voice cracked at the question. The overwhelming urge to comfort her seized him again and he wasn't sure if he should fight to hold his ground or if he should rush to her aid. The need to hold her tight was a hard one to fight.
It was more than he could take, this standing still and away from her when she needed him so badly. It felt strange to think that she might need him. Refusing to do what he really wanted, the drow instead settled for moving to stand before her and brushing the stray strands of hair from her face, looking down at her intensely with a pained expression.
"I shouldn't like you," Erthe began, his voice soft and hesitant, "But yes, I like you very much. Against everything I know, I want to be your friend, even if it hurts."
She could not bring herself to look at him as his touch made her long for more. His admission though broke her. Against her will Primrose let out a choked sob as she folded in on herself, her head falling to rest on his chest even as she clung tighter to her sides and fought the urge to latch onto him and refuse to let go. Relief and shamed both flooded her system while she struggled to contain the tears that danced at the corners of her eyes.
"I'm sorry," the noblewoman repeated again, not even sure what she was apologizing for wanting to all the same.
"Don't be sorry." Erthe let out the words in a pained rush. It hurt him to see her so upset. The drow had thought that, although she had said that he hadn't needed to answer the question, that she had needed him to answer it. Having her leaned against him automatically had his arms moving, hands smoothing over her arms and hands that she had so firmly wrapped around herself.
At first he had only intended to hug her to him, to let her draw comfort and strength from his presence - even if he didn't know why she found either of those things in him. Instead Erthe found his arms first wrapping around her then lifting her up into his arms, cradling her body against his chest as her head came to nestle under his chin.
"You can cry if you need to." Every teardrop would scald him, but he would be whatever she needed him to be - including her rock, her anchor - whatever she needed of him.
Her body shook with barely suppressed tears as she continued to fight herself with clenched white-knuckled fists and sheer determination. His embrace was her undoing though as Primrose was tucked against his chest, his heart so close to her ear. She latched onto his shoulders, clinging tightly and burying her face into his chest as if afraid he would disappear if she did not.
"I'll never stop if I start," Primrose confessed brokenly. "It makes me feel so weak," she whimpered even as the first tear fell, soaking into the fabric of his collar. "I'm so sorry."
The way she clung to him was heart-breaking. Erthe felt her pain so keenly, and felt helpless to do anything about it. What were the right words to say? What was the right thing to do? The drow's emotional pain was pushed to the back of his mind, because her pain was all that mattered in that moment. All he wanted, all he could wish for, was to make her feel better.
"Cry anyway. Don't be afraid just because you can't see the end. I'm going to be with you, and I don't think you're weak at all." Erthe's voice remained quiet as he started walking, carrying Primrose towards the empty tent.
Primrose nuzzled in closer as she finally let go and cried. She cried for what was, what should have been, and what could never be. It made her feel guilty to sob into the arms of a man she hardly knew who she knew was suffering his own troubles and yet Primrose could not stop herself even as it made her think of Harkness which only served to make her feel worse. The noblewoman promised herself she would deal with that guilt later though as the tears just kept coming.
"You're too nice to me," she whispered against his shoulder. "I don't deserve your friendship."
"There's no such thing as being too nice to you, Primrose, and you deserve a lot better than my friendship, but I've nothing else to give." Much like the night before, Erthe carried his precious burden to her tent, but unlike the night before he didn't even attempt to set her down. Instead the drow carefully grabbed a blanket with one hand, the other hand never letting go of the distressed woman as he settled himself down, easing onto his back with Primrose sprawled on his chest, the blanket pulled over her tenderly.
"No I don't," Primrose protested, surprised to find herself sprawled out on top of him but feeling too selfish and comfortable to remove herself. "I have more than what I deserve in you, Erthe. Don't be so hard on yourself," she hoarsely whispered as her tears began to slow enough for her to speak. "No one else would do this for me and all you get for your troubles is a wet shirt, an overly curious boy, and a stubborn woman. How unfortunate you are indeed."
"I find that hard to believe." Erthe mused at the idea that no one else would do 'this' for her, although he wasn't sure he knew exactly what she was referring to. "You seem to be extremely loved by those around you." The drow was beginning to understand that, and could see why they did. Fight as he might against the overwhelming tide, Primrose was a whirlpool that was swiftly dragging him into it's center.
He adjusted the blanket, making certain that they were both covered against the cold, their body heat shared to keep them both warm in the relative privacy of Primrose's tent - well, it seemed more like their tent, since he did not see being allowed to sleep elsewhere - or wanting to, for that matter.
"I don't feel unfortunate." Erthe said quietly, settling further as he closed his eyes, arms still cradling his charge protectively against his chest.
Her body relaxed of its own accord, spreading out as she uncurled herself and snuggled comfortably atop him. "I don't see how you can," came her softly mumbled response from his collarbone. Primrose's eyes also fell closed though as she was soothed by the sound of his heartbeat and his even breathing that calmed the last of her sniffles. "I have been so cruel," she sighed threw a yawn as her exhaustion finally overtook her and she nodded off.
"You've been kind to me." Erthe murmured simply before giving a soft, weary sigh as Primrose finally relaxed and settled atop him. His arms didn't budge from their position holding her snugly as he waited patiently for the young lady to fall asleep before he finally let himself being to doze. Having Primrose lying sprawled across him didn't seem to bother the drow in the slightest, if anything, he looked quite comfortable and peaceful.
Sleeping entangled with Erthe was the sweetest sleep that Primrose had in a long while. For the second night in a row she slept peacefully and contentedly in his arms. With the first rays of the morning sun, there was nowhere else she would have rather been as she burrowed further under the blankets and into the warmth of his strong chest. In the delirium of still being half-asleep she prayed that they could remain that way forever and forget the miles ahead of them that took her farther from the land she called home and closer to the fate she seemed doomed to call her future.
Erthe was sound asleep, but as the woman in his arms burrowed around in the blankets he stirred slightly, rolling to the side, still grasping Primrose close to his chest, the sleeping drow let out a soft, content sigh as he buried his face in her hair, breathing deeply.
"So warm." He murmured sleepily, not seeming at all in a hurry to wake up.
Primrose grunted as she was moved and burrowed in further against him. "You are," she relied tiredly, squeezing her eyes tightly shut to avoid facing the day and waking up officially. Her arms moved from being pinned between them to wrap around his back and squeeze in a relaxing hug that caused her to sigh happily and smile sappily.
Erthe hummed into her hair, body stretching slightly before curling around her more, one hand rested at her shoulder and the other at her lower back as he kept his hold on her, making sure that she was pulled flush against his much larger body.
"Is it morning already?" He managed grumble softly, but his eyes remained closed, unwilling to face the day when the night had been so very pleasant once they had fallen asleep, of course. He tried not to think about the brief interval before they had gone to bed.
"Mmmmm, no," she replied petulantly before yanking the blanket over both their heads. "Still night. Sleeping time. Night night." Primrose yawned and continued to mumble incoherently to herself as she fought to get back to sleep and avoid the coming day that would take her even further from home.
Erthe was beginning to wake up, very slowly. His mind replaying the previous evening through his thoughts. It had been horrible, and it made him question again what he thought he was doing lying here entangled with this woman. Primrose was not for him.
How the drow wished she were. What he wouldn't give to be able to have someone like her. The drow began daydreaming about what it would be like to wake up like this every morning, with a beautiful, warm woman in his arms. How wonderful would it be not to have to worry about what his master was going to force him to do that day? A life where his greatest concern was taking care of Primrose...
Sighing he forced himself to move, lifting himself up on his elbow as he pulled the covers from where his bedmate had thrown them over their heads. "I'm surprised Janus hasn't come in to bother me yet."
A rather unladylike sound of disapproval came from the lump that was Primrose as his movements disturbed her. Again she scooted herself closer to him, hiding her face in his chest and side while her arm flailed blindly to yank the covers back over her head.
"He's sleeping like a decent person does at night," she grumbled back in response.
Erthe couldn't stop his lips from twitching into a smile at the way Primrose clung to him.Crimson eyes squinted in the sunlight leaking into the tent, the protested words from the lump still under the covers made him chuckle softly. "This is the brightest night I have ever seen."
""Cause we're outside, moon's really close," Primrose stated with sleepy logic before tugging on the front of Erthe's shirt to try and get him to lay back down fully. "You're letting all the warm out," she complained grumpily.
Erthe chuckled again as he laid back down, once again pulling Primrose against his chest and drawing the blankets up around them. "We can't stay in bed forever. You'll miss breakfast, and it takes time to break camp. Are you sure you are not simply trying to stall our day's departure? I promise riding with me won't be that bad."
As soon as he was down again, Primrose gluing herself to his front and reveling in the warmth he gave off. "We can go tomorrow," she protested. "Can't sleep on a horse or be warm on a horse. Better here where we don't have to move and it's warm and can sleep. So much better." The noblewoman yawned loudly, starting to wake up despite her protests to be allowed to sleep longer.
Erthe hummed, running one of his large hands lightly up and down her back warmly. "Here is nice, but we can't stay here all day. I don't think the elves or Janus will be that patient with us. Besides, Janus slept on the horse, and I'm sure I can manage to keep you warm while we ride."
Primrose relaxed at his touch before blinking up at him with one eye. "Janus has slept dangling upside down from a tree before, that boy would sleep anywhere and through anything so I hardly think using him as an argument is all that valid. But," she paused as a yawn interrupted her speech, "I suppose we should get up after all. Have to make sure you actually eat breakfast this time!"
"I planned on eating breakfast." Erthe mumbled defensively, knowing that Primrose probably wasn't that happy with him for skipping a meal. It still felt odd to have someone care about his well-being, even if he found that he was kind of enjoying it. "I still think you might be able to fall asleep while we ride. I'm boring and you seem to like falling asleep on or against me."
"You better," she muttered as she struggled to sit up. Primrose smiled brightly though as he referred to the previous two nights whene she had indeed fallen asleep on him. Once more leaning into him as she replied, "it's because you're so warm and safe feeling. But you're too cruel to yourself, Erthe. You're far from boring! Or at least Janus and I seem to think so."
The now all too familiar knocking in his chest gripped Erthe as Primrose leaned into him again. His heart swelled with affection for the sweet woman sharing her tent with him. If only he could properly formulate words for what he was feeling - or at least fully grasp what it was that he felt. No, he knew the affection that he felt for Primrose, but he couldn't accept it. Shouldn't accept it. What he felt was wrong.
"You both have terrible tastes, that is the only explanation." Erthe offered teasingly, crimson eyes meeting her blue ones as they flashed playfully.
Primrose gasped, staring up in shocked horror at Erthe's face, not realizing at first that he was teasing her. Her wide, blue eyes watered slightly with sadness. "No! Not with this. Never in this," she told him fervently. "In other things of course but not when it comes to people. I won't let you say such things about yourself Erthe. Never ever!"
Well that certainly wasn't the reaction the drow was hoping for. It wasn't just the words that got him, it was the genuine horror that had come across her face and in her voice. Erthe couldn't stop himself, a deep chuckle escaped him, and that only developed further into a soft laugh. He hoped she wouldn't get mad at his laughter, but there really hadn't been a way for him to stop it. Her serious reaction had amused him too much.
"I was teasing you, Primrose. Perhaps I shouldn't try to joke, I am not very good at it."
She buried her face into his chest, hiding the blush that darkened her cheeks once she understood his joke. "Not even in jest, Erthe," Primrose whispered softly. "You are worth so much more than I can put into words. Boring is the last thing you are my friend. You are a friend, a protector, a comforter, a man and above all else," at this she lifted her head to look him in the eye again, her own twinkling back at him, "a personal self-warming cushion."
Erthe arched a brow at her, face quite serious. "You forgot pillow, but good to know your priorities are in order." He couldn't maintain the serious expression though, as his lips twitched into a smirk as he gazed down at her. Seeing her in good spirits lifted a weight from him, making him feel lighter and lifting his own mood.
Although remembering his purpose would have brought him back down, the drow pushed those negative thoughts aside, trying to seize the silver lining in the situation. He had this time to spend with Primrose, and mulling on the dark cloud that seemed to hang above him would do no one any good.
Primrose dissolved into giggles, her eyes crinkling with her mirth as she finally sat up in order to breathe properly. "That too!" She continued to smile as she patted his arm and attempted to pull him up as well. "Well pillow-cushion Erthe I do believe it is time to feed me so I can go back to using your amazing attributes. Shall we?"
Erthe sat up reluctantly, even though he had been the one pushing for them to rise, now that the moment had come he really never wanted to get up. Laying there with Primrose snuggled against him had been more than comfortable. Getting out of bed was for the best, though.
"I think breakfast is definitely in order." He agreed as he pushed open the tent flap, squinting against the bright light. "Ladies first."
At the first sign of daylight though Primrose was soon recoiling and hiding her face in Erthe's shirt as if she were a small child. "Too bright!" she squealed, fisting her hands into the fabric of his tunic. "Must we go?"
Erthe chuckled at the young woman's antics, lifting a hand to rub soothingly at Primrose's back as she gripped his shirt tight. "I thought you were hungry. I know I am. Come on, our eyes will adjust. Everyone's probably up and we're keeping them all waiting."
His touch sent pleasant tinglings down her spine that radiated warmth outward to the rest of her body. Primrose found herself continuing to lean in towards Erthe as she relaxed under his touch. "I do so hate mornings," she grumbled nevertheless. "Surely a bit of a wait won't kill them. Kia knows that Janus and perhaps even Uhi can afford to learn patience."
"You think when we're both hungry for breakfast is the best time to teach them patience?" Erthe asked with a hint of amusement. It was so hard to get up with Primrose. Not that the drow enjoyed mornings particularly, but when he was actually so comfortable it just made it that much harder to crawl from bed.
"If they're so inclined to sate their hunger then they don't need me to help them. They're big boys now aren't they? You're the one I have to keep an eye on now," Primrose teased, squinting up at Erthe with the eye that was not facing the sunny side of the tent. "Mister-Skips-Out-On-Breakfast-When-He-Thinks-No-One-Is-Watching."
"I am trying to go eat breakfast." Erthe pointed out with a chuckle. Although he wasn't trying very hard. It would have been simple enough to get up and exit the tent, even with Primrose clinging to him as she was. "The only one you're holding up on breakfast is me - the one you claim to be so concerned about feeding."
Primrose huffed gently and shook her head. "Not my fault you're so warm," she grumbled, finally moving to trudge them both out of the tent. "Besides your own fault for being so hungry you had to wake me up in the middle of the night for food. Certainly don't need me to eat now do you?" A flash of pink in his direction was the only indication that she had stuck her tongue out at him in jest.
"I did not wake you up in the middle of the night." Erthe chuckled as he followed Primrose from the tent, only smirking when she stuck her tongue out at him. He let his eyes roam over the camp, looking for Janus, Ak'nen, and Uhi. Honestly he didn't want to deal with Ak'nen just then - not after the previous evening.
"Close enough," she grumbled back before catching sight of her newest prey. On nimble feet, the noblewoman crept her way over to the campfire and with warning finger to her lips in greeting to the elves she was soon pouncing upon an unsuspecting but incessantly chattering Janus. The pair rolled in the dirt for a bit as the boy hooted and hollered to be free and Primrose refused to relent on her tickling.
They soon broke apart though as his stomach gave a rather loud growl of protest. "What is it with males and their bottomless pit of hunger?" she giggled even as Janus scowled in her direction and tried to seek safety near Erthe. "First Erthe, now Janus. Whom next?"
Erthe followed Primrose at a much more sedate pace, watching with some amusement as she attacked Janus. Any mirth faltered as his eyes roved over Ak'nen and Uhi, his expression turning somewhat sour, especially after the previous evening. He tried not to think about his very brief argument with Ak'nen.
He took a place by the fire away from them just in time for the two wrestlers to break apart as Janus's stomach grumbled. The drow chuckled as the boy came to him for protection. "It's breakfast time, we're hungry, plus he's a growing boy."
Primrose tickled Janus once more for good measure before ruffling his hair and nudging him more into the dirt so she could use him to leverage herself off the ground. His squawks of indignation only brought a smirk to her face as she bounced her away over to Erthe and sat beside him.
"Does that make you a growing boy too then?" she asked cheekily with a mischievous glint in her sparkling eyes.
Erthe hated himself for it, but as soon as those words left Primrose's lips his mind ventured to the night before and the effect she'd had on him. His face darkened immediately at the thought. "No, of course not, but can you blame me for taking advantage of how well you feed me while I can?"
He could have a big appetite, but rarely ate so well as he was right now. Of course his face did not stop darkening as he thought that it wasn't only food he apparently had an appetite for. The drow had thought his taste for affection had died twenty years ago, but apparently not entirely.
"Says the skipper of breakfast," she parried back with mock affront. "It's only a pity I can't torture you as easily as Janus. You'd probably not even budge a smidgen if I tried to wrestle you like I do him."
Primrose sighed and shook her head, moments before aforementioned boy bulldozed into her side, nearly knocking her straight into Erthe's lap. "That'll teach you to mess with starving men, wench!" the boy cried as the pair wriggled about once more, this time with her trying to escape him, her laughter coming out in gasps as she fought for breath between being tickled in all her vulnerable places.
If Erthe's face had become darker with his blush, at the mention of her attempting to wrestle him to the ground the way she did Janus had the color drain right out of his face. Having her all over him like that would not help the predicament he found himself in at all.
He couldn't even protest, counter, or otherwise disagree with her about being wrestled with. Janus practically tackled her into his lap, and the pair of them began wiggling as they continued their little battle. The drow's breath actually hitched in his throat.
"Janus sit down." Erthe growled harshly as he tried to scoot himself away from them both.
With a whoosh of air leaving her lungs, Primrose let out a surprised grunt as Janus immediately obeyed Erthe by plopping himself firmly on the noblewoman's torso, effectively pinning her in place as well.
"So can we eat now?" he asked, with a triumphant grin while his defeated foe worked at catching her breath beneath him docilely.
Well that didn't go entirely as planned. Erthe glowered at Janus, the both of them at his feet. The drow grabbed Janus by the shirt, lifting and pulling the boy off Primrose, and set him down beside him. "When I told you to sit I meant on the ground, not on her. As for if you can eat, you'll have to ask Ak'nen, as it seems he's the one that made breakfast."
Ak'nen nodded his head gently at the mention of his name before quietly handing the voracious boy his own bowl. Janus took to it like a duck to water, wolfing down the food as if his very life depended on it and it would be his last.
Primrose gratefully sat up but remained where she was, brushing off dirt from her tunic before accepting her own bowl even as she moved to lean her back and side against Erthe's leg. "Thank you my prince!" she cheered with her head craned back to offer the drow a dazzling smile.
Erthe watched wordlessly as Janus was served and started attacking his breakfast like a starved jackal. He remained sitting stiffly as Primrose leaned her back against his leg as she accepted her bowl from Ak'nen. Her words and the radiant smile that she offered him had his face darkening a few shades as he turned his red eyes away. "I'm not a prince."
After last night the drow didn't have any desire to really speak with Ak'nen, and he was surprised when the elf readily offered him a bowl without prompting. He took it gratefully, staring down into it with a soft 'thank you' murmured. He'd complained of hunger, but now looking down at the food his mouth was a bit dry as he was once again struggling with the way those smiles affected him. Gods but he was a fool.
Her smile did not falter but her her eyes did soften as he looked away from her and Primrose understood her silly antics were still something Erthe was not likely to have gotten accustomed to in their short time together.
She looked down at her own bowl of food, murmuring softly and somewhat defiantly into it without remembering the fact that three pairs of ears were keen enough to hear her especially given a certain drow's proximity to her when she whispered, "well you're a prince to me." With her head lowered though Primrose never caught the look of amusement nor the raised brows of Ak'nen as he glanced between the pair but otherwise kept his silence.
"You have an odd idea of what makes a prince, then." Erthe mumbled, giving Ak'nen an annoyed look, uncomfortable at the elf's clear amusement at his awkward relationship with the woman he was charged with protecting. The drow forced himself to tuck into his breakfast. He was hungry and the food was good enough, but it was still hard to keep an appetite with his tumultuous feelings.
"I don't think so," she murmured with a bowed head as she all but played with her food. "A prince should be a man with a kind heart and a gentle soul, a man like you." Primrose sighed sadly, feeling like crying for being so silly and thoughtless to have caused him notable discomfort. "I'm sorry, Erthe."
Erthe wasn't sure if he should think Primrose naive or idealistic. As far as the drow knew most princes weren't exactly knights in shining armor, but then again, how many princes did he know? None. He sighed softly and stared down at her, he could tell she was upset...again. Gods, why did he have to be so good at making her upset and unhappy?
"Stop apologizing to me. It's fine. Let's just finish breakfast and get ready to leave." Although he was curious as to how she figured he was kind or gentle. As far as he was concerned he was hardly either of those things. Then again, she didn't really know him.
Primrose nodded, playing with her food for a few moments before dragging herself to her feet and handing her plate of food to Janus to finish while she slunk off to prepare the horses in relative solitude. She mentally chastised herself for her continuous foolishness when it was blatantly obvious how uncomfortable she made Erthe, a slave who was just trying to do his job while dealing with a spoiled brat of a noblewoman and her equally spoiled servant boy. "Was a wonder Harkness liked me to begin with" she muttered under her breath to herself even as she heaved the heavy saddle onto Tucker's back and began to strap it firmly into place.
"From what I understand he really loved you." Erthe said quietly. His long ears weren't only for show, and her muttering didn't keep him from hearing her. After Primrose had gotten up he had likewise played with his food before finally giving up on his lost appetite.
He'd tried to stay away, but the drow was drawn to her, like a moth to a flame. Erthe didn't like to see her upset, but he didn't know how to not upset her. Crimson eyes regarded her tiredly. "I'm sorry that I keep upsetting you. I don't mean to."
She buried her face in the saddle, her heart seeming to seize in her chest at the notion that Harkness had loved her. Primrose missed him desperately and to have a complete stranger understand something she was far too late in recognizing herself, hurt to her very bones.
When he approached her though and spoke again she shook her head firmly, turning to look at him in surprise. "It is not you who keeps upsetting me. Please do not take the blame for yourself my friend. I am," Primrose sighed as she fought back tears that tried to choke her.
"I am a foolish woman with ideals far too young for one of my age and maturity. It is I who keeps placing you in such uncomfortable and unthoughtful positions and I am truly sorry for the trouble I am causing you Erthe. You are trying your hardest to do your duty to my uncle and to take care of me and I have taken such improper familiarities with you. It is a wonder you have borne it with such grace and not complained despite how horrible I have been. I am ashamed of myself and I am truly sorry. I hope you can understand that and forgive me. I shouldn't even ask that of you. I've asked enough of you already," the noblewoman whispered, her gaze to the side as she attempted to draw away from him in another retreat.
"It isn't your uncle I care about." Erthe's brow furrowed, she was going to cry. Why did he have to make her cry? He wished he knew what to do. Everything he did seemed to be wrong. "Primrose, you're not the one wrong. You're just being yourself. Which is a good, sweet lady who shows a slave - someone considered less than worthless - more respect and humanity and kindness than he rightly deserves or knows how to respond to."
After all, since when had anyone wanted to be his friend? The drow could hardly remember. Lady Tara, and somewhat her grandmother, had been the nicest people to him in his life until he stumbled into Primrose's life. Even they had never called him a friend.
Not even his beloved Tara, whom his heart had spent many years aching for after being sold away from her, had ever referred to him as a friend.
"Being myself doesn't make what I do right. I'm not allowed to be myself. My uncle does not like myself and I'm sure my betrothed will not either given who chose him for me. My situation is not much different than your own. Not that I wish to make light of what your life is, to demean it by making such a comparison. A slave is not permitted to be himself," Primrose looked up to look the Drow in the eye, "no matter how kind and open his heart is. It was you who told me slaves can't have friends. To be yourself could get you killed. To be myself could do the same. I don't want you hurt Erthe. Not because of me, not because I'm a wild child without reigns to hold her in place."
She pursed her lips tightly into a thin, pale line of displeasure. "Perhaps it's time for Prim to be proper after all."
"I think it is more different than you realize." Erthe could feel a shred of anger. Primrose might be a sweet woman, someone he could easily find himself liking, but she was spoiled and naive if she thought their situations were anything alike.
"So you shut yourself off, draw everything that makes you who you are inside and bury it deep, hide it from the world. Then what? The years crawl by, eating away at your soul until you can't even remember who you are anymore. Is there a real you? Or has the shell you've shown off the real you now? Life and the world corrodes you until all will to fight it has been stripped away and you can't even remember why life is worth living. Until one day you wake up and all you want is for it to stop. Forever. Until you long for your outside to be as dead as your inside already is." His voice was low, but rather than angry, his tone was so very...defeated.
Erthe knew, because his life was already like that. What reason did he have to keep living? None. Except to keep Primrose safe, as he had sworn to Jain he would do.
Primrose frowned, her expression that of extreme pained displeasure. "And what would you have me do? I don't know how long you have been in my uncle's employ but in case you haven't noticed he is an extremely caustic and abusive individual. There is a reason I will not even live in the same country as him and it is because I have seen and felt his wrath. What makes you think any husband he chooses for me would be any different?"
She paused, her eyes reflecting the pain and fear of a child before she was able to burn it with flames of passion. "I have already lost someone I claim to have loved would you have me lose the rest? My silence, my closing myself off as you've put it protects not only my being from pain but also three very special individuals close to my heart from further heartache. They suffered the loss of my father, then my mother. They raised me and cared for me when they could. Would you have them suffer more by having their home taken from them? Their son? Their very lives?
"If I do not obey that is their fate if not much worse. My uncle will suffer nothing in his way, not even me. I either obey him or I lose all and still must play the part of his puppet. He has taken one life. I will not suffer him to take more. Consider me as foolish or pathetic as you will but I would rather rot my soul a thousand times over than let those I consider my own to suffer for me!" Tears streamed down her face but her eyes reflect anger instead of sadness. Anger at her situation, anger at her loss, anger at her necessary sacrifice.
Erthe couldn't do anything right. No matter how he tried, it always ended with Primrose angry or crying...or both.
There was still that nagging voice inside of him screaming that it didn't matter and that he shouldn't care. All he was to do was get the girl safely to his master. Her feelings and emotional well-being were not his responsibility, all that he need worry himself was her physical state. Alive and in condition to be received properly by her husband when they arrived. End of concern.
Why was that so difficult? The drow's heart had long since been hardened by a shell of indifference. Why couldn't he bring up that cold wall now?
Ak'nen made a small noise behind him and he turned to see that the elf and boy were already mounted and Uhi was nowhere to be seen. Probably scouting ahead. Erthe turned back to Tucker and smoothly climbed into the saddle before reaching down and pulling Primrose up behind him rather effortlessly, whether she liked it or not.
"We're not stopping today, if you get hungry eat your lunch in the saddle or not at all." His voice was gruff as he spurred the stallion to a quick walk. There had been quite enough delays. It was time they actually made a little progress for a change.
Her attention immediately snapped to Ak'nen and Janus causing the boy to visibly flinch and press back into the elf behind him as if her very gaze could burn him. Her distraction was enough time for Erthe to yank her up on the horse behind him. But, it was his words that nearly earned him a swift and painful punch to the kidneys.
Primrose bit her cheek until it bled to keep from lashing out at either horse or rider. She mentally cursed the Drow for his stubbornness as well as herself for her pigheadedness. She was far too good at getting herself into such messes and nearly incapable of getting back out.
Awkwardly, the noblewoman attempted to adjust her positioning but with two people there really was not anywhere she could go, although she consoled her need for space by crossing her arms and glaring daggers in the back of Erthe's head for hours. Eventually though she began to doze and started to fall forward so that her forehead rested against his back.
Erthe could almost feel Primrose's glaring gaze fixated on the back of his head. It made his skin itch and crawl and his chest ache as he sat tensely in the saddle as they moved, refusing to look back at the angry woman or speak to anyone. His red eyes stayed firmly on the trail before them or monitoring the trees around them. There was nothing of interest out in the forest right now, but who knew what dangers lurked along each mile.
Predators, bandits, terrain...
Nothing came, and the drow was thankful for it. Just trying to deal with the elves, Janus, and Primrose was quite enough struggle as it was to be heaping more upon him. Although he wondered if those other things might be preferable struggles to face. At least he knew how to deal with dangers - people, not so much.
Eventually he could feel the woman behind him leaning forward into his back, could hear the way her breathing changed to that of someone sleeping. As long as she wasn't falling off the horse he knew he should just keep going. They had to press on to their destination.
Instead Erthe brought Tucker to a halt, looking around them for a good place to rest, and also really looking at Ak'nen and Janus for the first time in hours. All the anger had gone out of him, and his voice was soft so as not to disturb Primrose before he absolutely had to. She couldn't be mad at him while she was asleep, after all. "Should we camp or just take a break?"
Before Ak'nen could answer Uhi materialized from ahead in the trees. "Why are we stopping?" he called out. The other elf immediately responded, "The lady has fallen asleep, we are deciding if we should break or make camp." Uhi growled, angrily rounding on the mounted Drow in anger. "You will get nowhere at this rate," he hissed up at him, "If she can sleep in the saddle then she can stay in the saddle. You'll never get to where you're going if you act this way, unless of course that's your intention." The elf leered up at Erthe in disgust. "I say we keep going!" On their own horse, Ak'nen and Janus looked back and forth between the pair, one worried and one not understanding at the growing tension in the air.
"I don't care what you have to say or what you think we should do." Erthe growled lowly, red eyes blazing as he glared daggers at Uhi. Not that the elf was wrong, they would make extremely slow progress with how frequently they stopped, and the drow didn't particularly want to get where they were supposed to be going. It still ground at him to hear the accusations though.
"If I decide we should stop every three hours or not break camp for three days then that is what will be done!" As a slave Erthe was quite used to taking orders, but he wasn't taking them from Uhi. He was the one taking them to Serendipity. He was the one responsible for Prim and Janus. Right now he was the one in charge, and Uhi was not going to bully, shame, or harass him into continuing forward on their journey. "We're stopping for lunch. If you don't like it, leave."
"Please," Ak'nen murmured softly, hoping to calm the growing tension in the open air. "I'm sure my cousin meant no offense. What I think he means to ask is would it not be better for you both to arrive in a timely manner so as to not incur further wrath and possible harm? I'm sure she would be quite upset to learn such delays were taken out on you. She has proven herself time and time again to care not for her own self but for others instead. The choice is of course yours but it might do to consider that as well." The elf held his hands up in surrender, hoping to not draw the Drow's wrath in his direction as well even as he sought to give him some insight.
It was frustrating for Ak'nen to be trying to make valid arguments as to why they should keep moving, because Erthe wanted to be stubborn and dig in his heels just to spite Uhi. That elf was nothing but rude to both him and Prim from the moment he'd arrived. He glowered sullenly at them both before shaking his head.
"I'm just a slave. Maybe I shouldn't be the one making the decisions. We'll see what the lady wants to do." If Primrose told him to keep going, then fine, but he would not do it because Uhi said so.
Erthe turned just slightly in the saddle, enough to reach behind him and gently shake the shoulder of the sleeping woman. Although he hated to wake her when she was obviously tired. She needed all the rest she could get, because things were not going to get any easier the further they went.
"Wake up." He encouraged softly. "We need to know if we should stop to eat."
Primrose had slept through the entire discussion. At the gentle shaking she moaned softly and buried her face in Erthe's back, trying to escape the summons back to consciousness. Her arms which had once been crossed in front of her angrily moved to wrap around his waist and hug him close.
More shaking and encouraging words though eventually did drag her out of her sleep. Tiredly she hmm'd against Erthe's back in an unspoken question to what was going on. "Is there a problem?" Primrose asked, still fighting to keep her eyes closed.
Erthe's heart clinched as her arms moved to wrap around him. It pained him to fight with her or have her upset with him, so even an unconscious gesture of affection sent a spike of hope through him that they could be over being sullen and angry with one another.
"I'm sorry for waking you, Primrose, but we need your guidance. When you fell asleep I wanted to stop for lunch, but Uhi insists we press on. It is your decision." They would never reach a peaceful consensus on their own regardless of the efforts of Ak'nen. Erthe wished both elves would just go away. There would be so many less problems if they did.
She sighed softly, face still tucked in against his warm, strong back. She was just so tired and didn't want any of the responsibility of facing being awake right then. Erthe was gentle yet persistent though and she had no choice but to comply. It was not his fault after all that she struggled with sleep or wanted nothing to do with living most days of late.
"I trust your judgement, Erthe," she breathed softly. "It is your task to get us to the end, and mine to obey. If you've changed your mind from earlier then that is your prerogative."
The noblewoman sighed heavily again before leaning to the side away from Ethe's warmth to peer at the offending elf before them. Her braid swung to dangle as her blue eyes glared fiercely to Uhi.
"If you are so concerned with traveling further you can leave. We are doing your land no harm and my safety is not your concern. Erthe is in charge. I will hear no more from you on this. Is that understood?"
Waking Primrose really didn't feel like it had helped anything. Erthe didn't really want the responsibility of making the decision, let alone being considered in charge. He was a slave and deeply out of his element here. What business was it of a slave whose only reason for being born was to fight and kill to survive?
None.
"Tch." At least her telling off of Uhi was satisfying, to some degree. Still, that left it to fall back on him what to do. It was annoying that Ak'nen's logic was so sound. Primrose would blame herself if he suffered some punishment from his master for not getting her there in a timely enough manner.
"We'll stop long enough to hand out a mid-day meal ration that can be eaten in the saddle, then continue." It came out sounding far more confident than Erthe felt about it, but he tried to seem sure. He highly doubted Uhi would see it as a compromise, but that's what he felt like he was doing. The drow's main concern was still taking care of Primrose and she needed to eat to keep up her strength and he didn't want to risk her falling off the horse from her position behind him.
Not needing to be told twice, Janus immediately whooped in excitement at the thought of food and all but launched himself from the back of the horse he was sharing. If it had not been Ak'nen's steading hand the boy would surely have landed headfirst in the mud.
Primrose for her part kept relatively lethargic and docile. She smoothed a hand across Erthe's back and side in thanks. A heavy sigh escaped her again moments before she leaned flush against his warm back and dismounted. Tucker was offered a firm pat as she moved behind him.
"Janus help Erthe and the others with food," she ordered the boy currently bouncing about the place like it was to be his first meal in weeks. The noblewoman in turn chose to keep with the horses, offering them water and pets that required little thought on her part. Her heart was still heavy with responsibility and her head equally so with want for sleep.
Erthe held his breath as he felt her gentle hand move over his back and side, he didn't resume breathing until Primrose had dismounted from behind him. The drow closed his eyes and took a few steadying breaths before sliding off Tucker's back himself and giving the horse a couple gentle pats to his neck.
Should he feel relieved? Primrose no longer seemed angry, but her exhaustion was apparent. Was she simply too tired to be cross with him? He didn't want that to be the reason the tension between them had cleared.
Noticing how eager Janus was for food, he did his best to focus on what needed to be done, rather than what his heart ached to do. If he had listened to his heart he would have immediately gone to the Primrose to try to comfort her and apologize yet again for upsetting her with his unnecessarily harsh words.
Instead Erthe went through the packs and pulled out small loafs of bread that contained nuts and berries. It was a good food to eat on the go. The drow broke portions off and gave them to Ak'nen and Janus, giving Uhi's share to Ak'nen because he certainly didn't want to deal with the elf any further. He took his and Primrose's share back around the horses, approaching her cautiously, shifting uneasily from foot to foot.
"Here, try to eat before you fall back asleep." His voice was soft and nervous as he tried to hand her what would be lunch.
Primrose kept her back to him, no energy even in her to tense and bristle in displeasure at his current presence after their previous fight. Her hands continued in their soothing motions along the Tucker's neck as he drank eagerly. He had always been a bit of a hog for whatever was given him regardless of him needing it or not so she kept an eye on him, prepared to drag it away before he made himself sick.
"Have you eaten?" She asked instead of facing him or accepting food.
"Ah, no. Not yet. I have both of ours here." Erthe said quietly, not daring to move closer right now. He was nervous, of her anger, but there were so many feelings tangled up inside of him. His earlier words had been harsh, and he regretted them. They were spoken in anger and frustration and despair.
He should not have spoken at all. Erthe shouldn't care about anything but following the orders given to him. That was his purpose. His only purpose.
"I am...sorry. For earlier. I said things I should not."
"We all say things we don't mean to."
Primrose shrugged and continued to refuse to look to him. She did not want to see his face and risk saying more things she shouldn't, or feeling things that would only worsen the situation. She was just so tired inside and out as if all the fight and fire had been sucked out of her into a vacuum of nothingness.
"Do you require something?"