Seventeen

Brynmor POV

I sat near the entrance of the cave, my weapon still resting on my lap. The night was cold, but I didn't feel the need to seek warmth. Fiora was asleep in the corner of the cave, her breathing slow and steady. For the first time since this journey began, she looked truly at peace. I hoped that peace would last, though I knew it was only a fleeting illusion .

I looked out at the dark forest surrounding us. Last night, we had nearly lost everything. Fiora had almost been caught. I had almost failed to protect her. My thoughts returned to the footprints I had found near the cabin earlier. Should I have brought her this far? Should I have dragged her into my dangerous life?

“It’s all my fault,” I muttered to myself. I gripped my weapon, feeling the cold metal against my skin. If I hadn’t chosen Fiora that night, she might still be at home , far from all this chaos . But I knew that was a lie. Fiora had never truly been safe, even within her own family.

My eyes fell on Fiora, still asleep. She looked fragile, but I knew that wasn’t the whole truth. Over the past few weeks, she had shown courage beyond my expectations. She hadn’t just survived , she had started to show that she was someone I could rely on.

Yet, the guilt remained. The choices I made had not only changed my life but also hers. And I wasn't sure if I had the right to keep making decisions for her.

♡ ♡ ♡

As morning came, we continued our journey before sunrise. Fiora walked behind me, glancing up at the sky that was starting to brighten. The atmosphere between us was quiet but not entirely awkward. I could feel that she wanted to say something, but she was holding back.

After a few hours of walking, we arrived at a crossroads. In front of me were two paths, each carrying its own risks and opportunities. The left path would take us through denser forest, but away from the usual routes used by Devlin's forces. This path was longer and would likely take several more days to reach our destination.

The right path, on the other hand, was a shortcut through an area known as the Whispering Stone Zone. It was famous for its strange rock formations and the network of caves underground. However, there had been reports of Devlin patrols in that area. The risk of being discovered was much greater, but this path would speed up our journey.

I stood still at the crossroads , trying to consider the best choice .

“Brynmor?” Fiora called from behind me, her voice hesitant.

I turned to look at her. “We have two choices. The left path is safer, but longer. The right path is faster, but dangerous.”

Fiora stepped closer, studying both paths carefully. “Do you think they’ll be looking for you on the fast path?”

I nodded . “Most likely, yes. But if we can make it through there without being discovered, we could save days of travel.”

Fiora sighed, then looked at me. “Then why don’t we choose the safer path?”

Her words made me pause. I knew she was right. The left path was the more reasonable choice. But the more impulsive part of me kept thinking about the shortcut. Maybe it was my habit as a Commander, always taking risks to get things done faster.

“If we choose the safe path, we might lose the chance to face Devlin sooner,” I explained .

“But we might also lose our lives if we choose the fast path,” she replied firmly .

I looked at her, surprised by the tone in her voice. Fiora, who usually just followed my decisions, was now speaking with unexpected courage. “Brynmor,” she continued, “I know you want to end this as quickly as possible. But isn’t it more important for us to stay alive?”

We sat at the edge of the crossroads, discussing our choices more deeply. I opened up more than usual, admitting that I felt guilty for dragging her into this situation.

“I don’t want you to get hurt, Fiora,” I said finally. “I couldn’t forgive myself if that happened.”

She looked at me with a gentle but determined expression. “I made my choice when I decided to stay with you. You didn’t force me, Brynmor. This is my life, and I want to be here, with you. ”

Her words shook me more than I expected. I had spent so much time thinking that I had to protect her, that I had to make all the decisions for her. But now, I realized that Fiora wasn’t someone who needed constant protection. She was someone who could make decisions for herself.

After a moment, I nodded. “Alright. We’ll take the safe path. "

We started walking again, this time along the longer but safer route. The forest around us felt more peaceful, with sunlight filtering through the leaves and the sound of a river flowing in the distance.

I knew this wasn’t the end. Devlin was still out there, and he wouldn’t stop until he found us. But for now, I chose to focus on the small steps that brought us closer to freedom.

I glanced at Fiora, who walked beside me with a small smile on her face. She looked calmer now, and that gave me a sense of peace I had never felt before.

“Do you think we’ll make it?” she asked suddenly.

I hesitated for a moment before answering. “I don’t know. But I do know one thing: as long as we’re together, we have a chance.”

She smiled, her face if you look closely is very mesmerizing, I don't know how long I just watched her face. It felt like a blessing to have such a beautiful woman.

"Why, is there something wrong with my face?" I immediately shook my head feeling embarrassed that she had caught me.