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Night had fallen and the stars lit up the sky; tiny dots of light dominating the night sky. Roma counted her steps off the carriage, Ashton shadowing her. The troop hurdled about, the river singing off in the distance as the fire set in the camp crackled simultaneously. Roma turned her head towards the distant call of the river.
"No. Too late. Not advisable. We should rest for the journey ahead." Ashton said as though he discerned her thoughts.
Roma rolled her eyes, a scoff,
"Thank you father. I shall be wise not to walk to my death." She stalked off and he followed.
"I will need to breathe soon." She calls. The wind carries her voice as she walks through the bush on the narrow path cleared by the soldiers, to her tent.
"I am doing my duty to see you are safe. We still have a long journey. Maybe it would be best if you stayed with me-" He stops abruptly when she turns, her green colored eyes narrowed to slits.
"I dare you to finish that Sentence sir."
Ashton smiles, "I did not mean that in any way disrespectful, Roma. But I would not be at rest if you are not beside me."
Roma stands straight, shoulders back, and arms folded to her chest.
"Am I a queen or prisoner?"
"You are neither. Not yet anyway. My tent is spacious. Warmer. I would lay at the far end."
"Please stop. I may have agreed to come with you but I don't need to do your bidding. I would like to be by myself."
Silence falls over both of them. Ashton nods.
"Why don't I tell you about your people then? At least before you sleep. As we eat."
Roma relaxes, her arms unfolding to fall at her sides.
"Yes. I would like that. Is it true that you have magic?"
Ashton laughs, "Let's eat and I will tell you."
Together they walk back to the clearing where a group of men sit munching rather ungracefully on flesh. Mountain Man scoots away when he sees them approach, his hood still over his head.
Ashton helps her sit, unbuckling his belt and taking off his cloak to join her. The action doesn't go unnoticed by the young woman beside him. Her face flames at the sight of his bare arms covered in tattoos. Biceps the size of her head.
Her eyes are wide and curious, taking him in with every movement. The sound of throat clearing brings her to her senses and she realizes that Ashton is staring back at her with a smirk and looks away in embarrassment, her face heating up at his laughter.
"I get that a lot. It isn't unusual."
"I did not ask." She retorted.
Two bowls are set in front of them by the mountain man. Roma's eyes follow him even as he scoots farther away and sits from them. Ashton watches like a hawk.
"Why is his face always covered? Is he allergic to something?" Roma asks.
Ashton gives her a look, but she has the back of her head to him as she stares at the topic of discussion.
"He has a nasty scar." He grunts, before stuffing his mouth with meat.
Roma turns to him, her nose wrinkles a bit at his behaviour, "Careful not to choke." She says and begins picking meticulously at her meal.
They are silent for a while, chewing noises passing between them and the chatter of the men.
"Why am I suddenly sought after? You said the mirror of truth."
Ashton wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, his face roguish against the camp fire.
"Your father is really sick. And your brother has gone haywire."
"My father..." Roma trails off, her eyes on her bowl.
Ashton looks at her, "Gavi."
She nods at the name, "What was she like? I never had the courage to ask Mama. My...my mother. May. What was she like?"
"One word. Graceful. She always had a smile. Even during the really bad days. Especially then. She would always smile. Your father was smitten with her. But she wasn't of royal blood and he could only make her his consort. She was his favourite. More so when the Queen couldn't conceive."
"Are you close with him?"
"We grew up together."
Roma nods. "So the mirror of truth?"
"Your mother disappeared during the night of her labour. And so did you. Gavi was furious and heart broken. Rumours spread that she ran away with a lover. One of the King's attendants went missing too. Good enough to solidify the testimonies. He searched for you for five years and then the Queen finally gave him an heir. Your step brother. Alcott."
"Isn't he supposed to be wearing the crown then?"
"He denounced the throne." Ashton said in a grave tone. Roma's eyes go wide. Denouncing the throne, even in the land of humans, was seen as treachery. Treason even. A betrayal of the highest order.
"Why?" She asked
"Like your father, he fell for the wrong woman but unlike your father, he was brave enough to go for her."
"That is...I have no idea what to say."
"No one knows where your mother is. If she is dead or alive," Ashton continued, "we all thought you were lost too. But then your brother denied the throne and we had a dire need of guidance. The mirror only speaks once every hundred years and it answers only one question."
"It told you where to find me." Roma says.
"Yes. Your father went into shock. You had been so close all these years. He is finding it hard to forgive himself for not looking harder."
Roma's face falls. Her heart aches with pity for a man she has never seen. The wind blows and her hair falls over her face. Ashton moves before he could think, tucking the stray locks behind her ear. His fingers linger for a bit before he withdraws.
"You said he is sick?"
"Yes. He is very -"
An arrow darts between them and lands on a tree. Roma screams and Ashton lunges for her, pushing her down and covered below him just as the second arrow goes over their head. Shouts ensue from within the bushes, pandemonium as the Raven soldiers scamper to their feet alert. They rise but fall one by one as arrows meet with their chests. Mountain man makes his way over to the couple who lie low.
"Cover me!" Ashton commands.
To be continued...
© September 2023, 
@deraaa || All Rights Reserved
@deraaa || All Rights Reserved