A court of Unshed tears

Chapter #4

Once again Tamlin couldn't sleep.
He got up out of his bed to do something, anything.
He wouldn't do anything in the house out of fear that his father would catch him.
Tamlin winnowed out into the forest in just his night clothes, more like pants.
He didn't like wearing shirts to bed, he found them too tight and restricting.
Though his father had called him an animal for it, that was the one thing his father didn't force Him to do.
He supposed it was freedom.
Tamlin walked the grounds and decided that any more winnowing would trigger his fathers magic wards and his father would likely catch him.
So Instead he listened to the song of the night breeze as he walked through the vast forest.
He memorized the green of the leaves when hit with moonlight, and the grass that swayed softly in the breeze.
There was a clearing that turned out to be a lake. He laid down by the water's edge feeling the grass against his bear back and looked up.
He expected to see the vivid moon and stars glowing bright.
But when he looked up he saw... a giant bat?
No—
He remembered his father telling him about the Illyrians.
They were supposedly Winged warriors, and assassins who had no morals or goals other than to kill.
Why was one here?
Tamlin sat up quickly and quietly following the strange Illyrian.
It landed in another clearing not far from the lake.
He studied it from behind a tree, his claws out just in case.
He searched it for weapons, spotting two short swords and daggers on the Illyrian.
The Illyrian turned around and He saw her, the most beautiful female he had ever laid eyes on.
She had long black hair, tanned skin, curved ears and the most beautiful eyes he had ever seen, moon white.
He leaned forward to get a better look at her and—
Shit, shit, he stepped on a twig and it made a loud snap.
She snapped her eyes to his but made no move to unsheath her swords.
Claws out Tamlin stepped fully out from behind the tree.
"Who are you?" He asked, trying to mimic his fathers strong and intimidating voice.
Who are you?
Tamlin took a step back, almost falling over his own feet.
What the hell, what was that?
It was me.
He heard that voice in his head again.
What the hell, was she speaking directly into his mind?
"Who are you?" He repeated, hearing his words shake.
What kind of witch was she?
I assure you, I am no witch but I will kill you if you do not leave, right now.
Tamlin shivered at the voice in his head, her voice.
He looked at her again, she was holding her side.
There was an arrow sticking— No, two arrows, sticking out of her side.
He suddenly felt a rush of hot anger as He looked at her wound.
"What happened?" He no longer cared if she was an enemy, He would help her, needed to help her.
She didn't respond.
He dared a step closer to her and felt a claw caress his mind.
"I can shatter your mind in one thought," she bit out, still clutching her side.
Tamlin immediately stopped walking feeling paralyzed in his own skin.
"Let me help you," He said more desperately than intended.
He took a steady breath as the claws released his mind.
He looked at her and found her unconscious on the ground.
Tamlin quickly went over to her checking her plus, she was still alive.
He could leave her here to die. He could tell his father, he would likely torture her for information and kill her.
For some reason something in his chest was saying, help her, save her, know her, love her.
His Eyes widened at the last one.
He didn't let himself think further of it as He picked her up and Carried her away.
—
Look at you.
My savior I suppose.
I wish they saw you as I did.
My brave, kind, loyal Tamlin.
I wish you remembered.