They had walked for several hours with very little stops. From time to time, he would stop to let him catch up with him, or when she needed to catch her breath. She was sweating profusely and was definitely grateful she had opted for a tunic and trousers instead of a gown.
"Are you tired?" He asked without looking at her. She looked up at him as she tried to keep up with his strides, stay by his side, which took much effort. His legs were long.
She actually was tired, but she was not going to admit it. not now. Not yet.
"Naw." Was all she could say, she was literally trying to save her breath, And was glad beyond words when he stopped, though she wasn't about to say it.
It was a small clearing with wildflowers and rocks that were big enough to sit on.
"Let's rest here a while." Jasper said, looking at her. Her cheeks were red and he was scared she was going to faint on him. She hadn’t complained since they started moving at dawn, he found it
Panic gripped at her and made her knees weak, but she managed to stay on her feet, although she no longer felt steady.She darted her gaze from left to right and looked, and turned around on the spot where she stood, before finally lookingback to where he had laid several minutes ago, and that was when shenoticed that both his sword and it's scabbard were gone too.But Where could he have gotten to? She wondered."Japser!" Her voice caught on the pronounciation of his name as she turned once more on her heels looking for signs of him or what could have happened. She walked to the rock where she had left him and was overcome by another wave of panic."Jasper!" she called out, this time louder than the first. She heard the sound of water and took slow unsteady steps toward the stream and she could have sworn her heart sighed in relief.But her relief was soon washed away with anger.
They made it to the tavern with no trouble and Jasper sighed a deep sigh of relief when they had their plates of food in their hand along with their jars of juiced fresh berries.They ate in silence. But then, Silence had been their company since the kiss they had shared earlier. Neither of them had wanted to bring it up, didn't know how to.They broke camp that morning and spoke at intervals, and even then, their conversation centered around what paths they would be taking, and since Jasper was the man with the map, he did most of the talking while she nodded. she mostly nodded."Good food." He said trying to break the ice. But He didn’t succeed.She nodded again and went back to her plate of fish and chips.He wanted to groan in frustration, but decided against it. it didn’t think it would yield any good.In any case, it was for the better no one heard her voice, regardless of the sweet femininity
She struggled with the desire to go out and be with him."How could I be angry with him and still want to be with him at the same time?" She whispered to herself in frustration.But however frustrated she was with how she felt, it was how she felt. She wanted to go out and be with him. and while one part of her wanted to beat him to bits for turning away from her again and again, another part of her, the part that yearned for him so much, wanted to kiss him till she lost all sense of what was meant and what wasn’t. And she would have willingly lost all sense if it meant she was tucked by his side, his arms wrapped around her.She groaned at herself, at her wants and turned on her side. It was Just her luck.
He believed her fine and good. But did he trust the whole situation?He could answer that easily. No, he did not.But he had not told Hannah that, he was not going to. The woman had diamonds in her eyes at the possibilities were before them, he wasn’t going to try to take them out of her eyes, and she genuinely looked excited at meeting this woman. He was curious, if he was being honest, and he wanted to share this adventure with her, but more than anything else, he wanted to keep her safe.He didn't take for granted that she wasn't completely stubborn, she understood his need to keep her safe, but she had a will of her own and not even him could keep her from seeking this woman, he wasn’t even going to try, didn't want to."Jasper? You're
"Thank you... For having us?" It wasn't a question, but it came out as one. she wasn't quite sure what to say to the woman, she found she had been more at ease in her dream, maybe because then she had not had the time to overthink the situation. In any case, they were there in the woman’s house and they were going to see it through. Hopefully get the answers they were needing."Come right in." Said the woman, as she opened her front door and made a sweeping gesture with her hand ushering them into her home. A warm smile playing on her lips.Jasper squeezed her hand again, when she hesitated, and she took that as an, it's okay, let's go.She took measured steps toward the woman and nodded briefly before walking past her and i
Her heart yearned for him. But in truth, if she was being honest with herself, to herself, her heart had been doing that lately- yearning for Jasper- what else was new?But, it yearned more deeply as she stood at the door frame, while he sat on the steps. She closed the door behind her and went to him. Allowing her heart , this time, to do the leading.Heaven help me, she prayed inwardly.She sat quietly beside him and put down the plate of cookies beside her, wrapping her arms around his middle. His arms came around her firmly yet gently and they stayed that way for a long while, saying nothing, giving room for the night song of crickets and owls to envelop them.He'd been out here for hours. Martha, the
"Good morning Martha." He said, his gaze resting briefly on her before returning it back to Hannah."Good morning to you, Jasper. Sleep well, dear?" He took a seat on one of the chairs arranged around the round dining table.“ Yes I did, and you, darling?” She flushed at the flirtation and shook her head,“ Yes I suppose I did.”She placed plates filled with eggs and bacon in front of Jasper and Hannah."Eat, the both of you, we have much to discuss today, you will both need your bellies filled."Hannah Rose a brow at Jasper, and he shrugged with a hint of a smile.&ldqu
He managed to get all three of the glasses to the table, and laid them out before them without much casualty. At least if one didn't add the water he spilled from time to time, you could say he did a grand job. He could have just carried them in a tray, he realised, albeit all too late."You must return to the castle with me." He heard Hannah say firmly, when he tuned in his focus to their conversation."I will, soon enough. But not with the both of you. Not just yet." she smiled, urging the girl to understand."But soon. I’m taking my stand on that." Hannah said, leaving no room for argument. He smiled, she could befierce when it came to what she wanted. He knew that first hand."Soon." The elderly woman said, and he heard the smile in her voice. She went back to