Chapter 3 Truth be told

It was about to swoop her when Steven jumped off from his horse. He pushed her, landing right on her (Yes! Just like the way it happens in the movies). Damien using his horse as propulsion jumped off his horse with the sword still in his hands he landed on the back of the wolf. "Dammnnn! It's big." He injured it from the side he couldn't really plunge his sword into it before he was thrown off. He landed on the ground with his butt. He had not quite recovered from the pain when the wolf came heading back at him.

This brought back memories of when he fell down from his horse when he was child. As the wolf charged towards him, Liam, one of the soldiers shouted in fear "Your Majesty move!" But too bad he was far away, he ran towards the king to try to save him, he wished he had carried his spear or his bow. He was a master of projectile but from this distance, he knew he couldn't make it in time, there was nothing he could do to save the king.

It was left to him and his fate now. Damien slid down as it came and plunged his blade into its gut. The wolf gave a howl before it died. Still trying to catch his breath, "That's was fun."

"Thank you, you can get off me now," she said in an unusual voice as if she was hardly breathing. Almost everyone was breathing heavily, if they were not catching their breaths, they were breathing for relief.

Damien looked at her. He was amazed by her beauty. She was graceful, her deep black hair, pale cream color, and that blue eyes of her was enough to captivate any man. "What's your name miss." Without hesitation, she said her name "Eleanor." "You have such a beautiful name." There were many other questions to ask but this was not the time nor the place. It was already dark. Apart from the two torches they carried, the moonlight was the only source of lightening. "Everybody back to camp! " Steven ordered. "Eleanor, please ride with me," he added.

"Your Majesty, I am glad to see you. Thank God, you are back." Descending from his horse, "Thank you Smith. " "Is dinner finished?" "We couldn't start without you sir." All the way here, Steven noticed she was shivering. He wanted to hold her but she was at his back. He didn't want to scare her by telling her to hold on to him but he was glad when she eventually did. Helping her down from the horse, "You must be cold." He gave her a blanket. "Thank you" she replied as he escorted her to the large burn fire they had set up in the middle of camp.

He kept looking at her, he could not understand why he was feeling the way he was but he knew something was amiss. Thoughts of when they first met moments ago couldn't stop playing in his head. It took a lot of restraint not to kiss her. He liked her. "It's nothing." "it's not nothing, thank you for saving my life." She turned to Damien "Thank you, your Majesty, I didn't know you were a king. I am forever indebted to you." He chuckled. "You don't have to feel that way." For some reasons, both of them had been stealing gazes at the other while avoiding eye contact.

"So what's a goddess like you doing in the forest of Aster all alone?" Smith Asked? She thought about the answer to the question but she didn't want to reveal too much. She did not know all of them too well. In addition, she was not quite sure of some certain things yet. "Escaping destiny," she said, not wanting to reveal any more. "You are obviously not from here, where are you from? Why don't you return to the palace with us? Inns are expensive." Steven jumped in. "I don't know." "Please come" Damien joined. She smiled, holding her hand against the fire. They saved her life. It was the least she could do. Courtesy demanded it at least. "Okay!" she replied.

"Your tent is ready miss." Smith announced. Steven had instructed him earlier to prepare his tent for her "Okay. Thank you for the food. I will retire for the night. Good night your Majesty, Good night Steven." She waved to the rest of the soldiers. "Good night everyone" "Let me escort you to your tent" Steven said offering his hand. She took his hand, he held her hands firmly, his hand was quite rough but they were strong. She felt safe. She wanted to lighten the mood "Are your dimples always this charming? "She asked "Well, we will see about that." He said before leaving her at the entrance to her tent and thereafter, he bid her goodnight.

"Well it's been a long day. Good night boys." Damien said. "Good night your Majesty." They all replied. "Hey wait I am coming with you." Steven shouted signaling for his friend, the king to wait for him. "What happened to your tent?" He asked as they walked towards the biggest tent. "Eleanor is using it." He chucked, "I was wondering where the extra tent suddenly appeared from." "I hope you don't mind." "No I am sure my tent will take us both." He had the option to bring all the comforts he wanted but he had requested for a simple sleeping tent, the bed was quite big, at least big enough to fit two people.

"Good night Pal." "Good night." They were facing opposite sides. "She is beautiful." Steven muttered out. "Yes sure" Damien replied. Thoughts jingled through Steven's mind. He had only felt this way about Victoria before-She was his first crush, but things didn't work out. He still loved her but she didn't plague his mind tonight. There was still so many mysteries shrouding Eleanor but he didn't care. If at all, he couldn't wait to uncover them all. He recalled how it felt when she held him on the horse. He wanted to do the same. He knew he felt something for her but was it love or lust.

"I like her" he said out in excitement. "Me too" a sleepy voice said. "No. you don't get. I like like her." Silence filled the tent, Damien wasn't asleep yet, he heard everything his best friend said but he pretended to be sleeping. He was still trying to process the whole euphoria of the day. It was the most fun he had in years. A part of him was happy for Steven but the other parts were jealous. He had misgiving about the way he felt for Eleanor. He liked liked her too.

Damien and Steven decided to return to the palace, they had not completed the mission and so, they left fifteen men behind. Steven had disapproved of Damien decision. They had only 5 men protecting them. As a general, he wanted to be cautious; they had a long journey ahead before they even reached the wall.

They had eaten and were ready to ride. "Nice horse, your Majesty I like the color." "Yes me too. Please call me Damien." She chucked. "what's his name." "Excuse me." "I mean your horse." "Xavier." He said. "That's such a beautiful name" she smiled, she liked the name. "Do you ride?" he asked her. "Yes! I do."

"All right let's go" Steven barked out the order. No wonder he was the General, He had such an intimidating voice. "Ride with me" Steven requested. "Okay" she said with a soft voice. Damien interrupted "Somebody, get her a horse," Sounding even more intimidating. They were all surprised, they watched with jaws dropped as she mounted her horse. "Hang on tight," Steven said, sounding gruff.

She kicked her horse, signaling it to move. "I will" she replied. Her mind was full, she was unsure of the next actions to take. She still had many doubts. She did not know whether to reveal her identity. They looked like good people.