Chapter 39

Astria sighed, “come now, we mustn't fight, there is enough of that in the realms without us doing it also. Let’s just eat in silence as my mother suggests.”

“weren't you the one that said i was trying to control you? Oh, how the tables have turned.” Dane smirked viciously, still seething about the argument he had had with the girl. “now you are trying to tell us what to do, we are grown men.”

“is that so? Because you are acting like a child!” Tuviel snarled back, rising to her feet and squaring her shoulders.

Dane also rose to his feet, staring the girl’s mother down as he growled; ready to fight should he need to. The half-breed sighed again, knowing that this could become explosive if she did not try and defuse it quickly, her eyes locked onto the barbarian. She rose from the ground, standing in the tight space between them as they began to shout at one another; their tempers only rising.

“that is enough.” She snapped,

shoving her mother back into the ground before turning towards the man she had met in the first town they had come to. “you need to calm down, we all do. What was said was a mistake, i didn’t mean those words, and i am sure you didn’t either.”

He frowned, seeing now that it was all a mistake; that they were just tired. “i realise that now, but i cannot allow you to speak to me like that, where i come from; you would be punished.”

Astria smiled sweetly, “well, it is a good thing we aren't there, otherwise we may not be friends.”

Dane laughed, believing that he was falling for the girl, that she would become his wife in time. “perhaps you are right, though i am glad i met you astria. You are certainly fiery.”

“that i am.” She agreed and she didn’t mean just her power; her personality more so than her ability.

“that is, it? Do you think you can fix this with words?!” Snapped her mother as she stood once more, her amber eyes fixated on the barbarian.

“mother!” Astria scolded, “now is not the time to fight amongst ourselves, that is what the deus want! They want us to break apart so we are easier to pick off, is that what you want?”

“no.” Her mother bellowed through gritted teeth.

“then enough!”

“very well.” She said after a long silence, finally; they could all sit down and eat in peace, Though, to the half-breed's surprise, the conversation flowed with ease. The night quickly falling into place around them.

****

Astria woke in a cold sweat, her back aching from sleeping on the hard ground, she bolted to her feet, pulling the small dagger form her boot as she stared into the darkness, her heart racing.

The stars lit up the small clearing, but not enough to see all that was before her, the small camp fire giving her little comfort. She sighed when no one appeared, managing to calm herself, but only slightly; her time with tarian making her paranoid and on edge. Why couldn’t her mind allow her rest? Why couldn’t she just sleep and rebuild her energy like the others?

The half-breed noticed that dane was staring at her from a nearby tree, his glossy eyes glowing in the dark; his dark hair invisible against the night. He stood, walking towards her as she shook, unsure what she should do; though perhaps putting the dagger away was a good start. Placing the blade back into her boot, she jumped into his arms, needing more comfort than she could give herself and she was pleased when he embraced her, allowing her to do so.

“he is not going to get you now, little one.” He soothed, knowing exactly what was troubling her.

“i am not sure that is true, i’m worried he is somewhere close.” Whispered the half-breed, her eyes filling with tears.

“if he comes for you, we will be ready, i will fight to protect you.” Dane smiled softly, the events of the past few days seeming to fade away.

Astria shook her head, “it isn’t possible, he is too strong and he has too many men. We will be greatly outnumbered, four of us cannot fight an army of rebels.”

“then we ensure that he does not find you, i will not allow him to hurt you, not again.” He said with a slight smile he wouldn’t let tarian anywhere near her, he couldn’t protect her last time, but this time he was ready for a fight. A fight he was sure that he could win.

Dane would fight the entire rebel army for the girl if he had to, he would do it alone just to protect her and give her a chance to escape. He would not be able to live with himself if anything happened to her, he needed her to get to the elves so that she could meet her father; then, miek could take the lead in protecting her. He knew that she wouldn’t survive on her own, not when the deus were after them, it was the law that half-breeds should die, even where he comes from; but he would not allow that to happen to astria, he wouldn’t let them kill her just because of the circumstances of her birth.

“do you promise i will never be under his care again?” She whispered almost mutely, worried that the others would wake. They needed to rest.

“i made an oath to always be by your side, to protect you, i swore this.” He squared his shoulders; his voice strengthening in confidence and determination. “i can promise you he will not harm you again.”

The half-breed finally managed to pull herself away from him, moving to sit with her back to one of the trees as she indicated for the barbarian to join her.

“tell me about your home.” She demanded, though did it in a way where she also asked for him to reveal all he knew. “i want to know where you come from.”

Dane sat beside her, his eyes glowing slightly against the light of the campfire. “i left there as soon as i was able to, it is not a nice place to live.”

“why?”