So warm and firm

So warm and firm
"Your betrothed? The silly lordling in the fortress in this region, is that him?" My face paled at his question. Even if he didn't speak Ayden's name it sounded to me as though he was somewhat familiar with him. "Judging the direction your carriage was headed I would assume that's the one. He hides in his castle just like his father did."

"He was going to send his men to join the war for my hand," I whispered more to myself than for Caliban.

"Doubtful," he sneered. "That boy was going to be perfectly happy to sit in his palace with his new pretty little bride delivered to him on a golden platter and perhaps get away with sending a small show of force for your father." I only gaped at him like a fish out of water.

"You know nothing!"

"I know enough about the regions along the border. How else have I been able to conquer land in Laernear if not for your lordling's cowardice? Just like his father," his paused. "And just like your father who spends his days in a palace while his people fight on his behalf."

"Shut up, you monster!" I shouted and leapt to my feet, balling my fists and huffing with the rage boiling beneath the surface. "At least my father doesn't kill innocent travelers on the road!"

"Innocent?" His eyes widened and his face lit up with a demon's smile. "All along my border regions my people were suffering from random attacks for years. Mithran soldiers were pillaging my villages and raping our women and killing children! At the behest of your father."

"No," I started in a whisper.

"Oh yes, princess. So, when I see Mithran soldiers anywhere near the border it is imperative that they are removed from the playing field that is this war!" his voice boomed down at me and I felt it in my bones.

The color drained from my face at the thought of my father sitting on his golden throne in the palace in Galad and ordering innocent families to be murdered. I wasn't sure if I could believe it. My father against the man renowned as a bloodthirsty beast before me.

"You're no better!" I retorted. "Our last village conquered by your forces was burned to the ground! And my handmaids that were with me in the carriage were killed! I saw one of them shot with an arrow and she died in my arms!" Screaming back at him and fueling my anger was the only thing keeping tears from appearing in my eyes.

Caliban's eyes drew down and he covered his face with his hand before taking a deep breath. After taking a step back he uncovered his face to look out over the flowing water. "My soldier that was with me who killed the women I ran through with my own sword before I ran after you. I don't condone killing innocent women, sun elves or not."

"I don't believe you," I croaked. Nadene had been shot through with an arrow and when Caliban had caught up to me, he had only had a sword in his hands. His remaining men had been mauled by the ghoulcat by the time we made it back to the carriage. Some part of me wanted to believe him and I'm not sure where that was coming from.

Maybe it was the genuine apology I could read in his eyes, or hoped I was seeing there. His frown accentuated his full lips and I hated that my eyes were drawn to them.

Silence fell over us and for several long moments we stood on the riverbank staring at each other. I took a deep breath and my chest heaved as my shoulders dropped. Caliban's eyes flickered to the movement and quickly back up before he looked out to the river again.

"So why not let me go?" I whimpered, hating how weak and pitiful I sounded in that moment. I wanted to go home so desperately and perhaps a little feminine weakness would work on Caliban.

"I can't." The words were like new fresh wounds to my heart. "It's too dangerous for you to go alone through these woods to your little lordling. There won't be anyone around for miles to take you to him, and it would be my head on a spike if I took you to him."

"Your head would look marvelous on a spike," I mocked with venom dripping on every word. His eyes narrowed at me with no hint of amusement.

"Indeed." Then he turned away from me to stomp towards his stead. I released a breath I hadn't realized I was holding and closed my eyes again. The sun would lend me its strength and I felt I needed it more than ever.

Something caused me to turn and look at Caliban where he covered the trace of our campsite and prepared his horse for another day of riding. He didn't put all of his armor back on, and the lack of that helmet somewhat disappointed me.

He looked like a real man without the helmet. It was easier to imagine he was a monstrous faced creature and hate him when he had it on. No, I still hate him, I had to remind myself. Just because he had a handsome face and thrilling white hair didn't make him any less my enemy.

Caliban's body moved effortlessly as he prepared for the journey, whatever was in store for me, with him. And I allowed myself to watch him as he did so. This was the famed, murderer shadow king. Ruthless killer with blood on his hands and everything I thought I knew about him told me he should have killed me when he had the chance.

Yet now I was thinking about it. He hadn't killed me last night. Even when the ghoulcat had lunged for me he had thrown himself onto the beast. Then when I had fallen, he picked me up and settled me on the horse with him.

My cheeks turned red and I twirled away from where Caliban stood to look out over the water again. At least my ankle didn't hurt any longer and I contributed that to the sun's light aiding my healing and providing me with new strength for the day.

In the water my reflection stared back at me. Green eyes empty of emotion and red hair that had been styled the day before was now akin to a rat's nest. The fabric of my pale dress was torn in some places and stained with dirt in most. I sighed at the abhorrent sight I was. The point of my ears stuck out through my hair and I fingered the rows of earrings along them that my sisters had given me before my departure as gifts for my wedding.

Pain ran through me and I held in a cry, covering my mouth thinking about my sisters and my father.

My sweet sisters who were in Galad with their spouses and most likely out in the water gardens soaking up the early morning light even now. I sniffled and shut my eyes tight in a feeble attempt to hold in tears at thinking of them.

A warm hand landed on my shoulder and I whipped around to slap him away from him with a glare that I wished could kill. But those tears I had been holding back slipped free and I kept my face a stone mask as I glared at Caliban.

He drew back but held out the blanket from last night to me without acknowledging the new tension between us. His shoulders were tense, and his opposite hand was a clenched fist at his side and yet he still offered me the blanket.

"It will rain soon; you might want it." His voice was gruff and strained. I took the blanket without thanking him and he turned away quickly.

Soon enough we were both settled in the saddle of his monster horse, Abaddon, once again. Dark clouds were indeed racing across the blue sky, and it wasn't long after that the wind picked up. It made me grateful that I had that blanket cloaked around me.

However, with Caliban having removed his hard metal armor there was less of a barrier between us on the horse. Each step the stead took we rocked and swayed along with its movements and that lead to us rocking against one another every so often.

It made me wholly aware of how warm and firm Caliban felt against my back and if I didn't want to run him through with a knife, I might have taken the liberty to enjoy him as any other man who caught my attention. Instead I was pressed into a man that it might benefit me to take his life at the first chance I got. Could I do that if the opportunity presented itself?