Tales of the Vangen: The Siege of Middengard (Book 2)

Chapter 60: Duty

{Love is the death of duty. Duty is the death of love.}

-Chronicler Eeman, an excerpt from, "The War of Thrones"

"Hush. Hush now. You're safe."

Elba crooned a strand of Libro's hair back as he whimpered in his sleep. He'd been doing it all day ever since Beslog had poked him in the forehead the morning prior, as if by mere touch alone she'd put him under some kind of spell.

She couldn't help but let her mind drift back to that awful memory as she watched him rest. The way he'd simply crumpled in his saddle, like a puppet cut from its strings. The way Regis snarled like a mad dog as he pulled out his sword, Rhune and the rest of their entourage slowly backing away. The way her stomach clenched as she feared the Jotuns had turned against them and she'd be crushed to death right then and there.

Luckily, Brand had been quick to intervene. He'd made known of Beslog's powers, how she could probe into other people's minds. That Libro was perfectly safe. A quick check for a pulse proved the boy's words to be true.

Elba's fear still did not dissipate, however, as Beslog and the rest of her brood stood up a little straighter, the mother of Jotun's eyes seeming to glow brightly as the hair around her body bristled like scrub grass in the wind.

"His mind has been touched by others, but the truth remains intact. He is worthy of our aid," Beslog had said, her voice like an avalanche in Elba's ears. "When he awakens, tell him we accept his plan. Ferrus Keep will fall in the morrow."

Elba blinked back to reality as Libro stirred beside her. His eyelids fluttered open, violet eyes shimmering in the opaque twilight, face half-hidden in shadow.

"You're finally awake," she said.

Libro looked at her, a soft smile curling up one side of his lips as he reached out, placing a hand in her lap. "How long was I out?"

"Most of the day." She slipped her fingers into his, feeling his calluses rub against hers. Hard hands born from hard work. "Beslog says she'll join us in the battle tomorrow."

"Tomorrow." Libro closed his eyes again, chest rising as he breathed in anxiously. "Win or lose, this war ends tomorrow." He squeezed her hand ever so gently, the corners of his eyes beading up with tears. "But with you beside me, I don't feel as afraid as I should be."

Elba swallowed, little fires nibbling at her cheeks. She was starting to find it hard to stay composed around Libro. He had a habit of looking at her in such a way that it made her want to melt, like she was the most important thing in the world. It made her want to run, want to kiss him, want to never let him go all at the same time. Feeling love again after such a long time reminded her just how starved she was of it. The type Sigismund could never give her.

"At the very least we will be together," she said.

"We?" Libro grimaced as he pulled himself into a sitting position on the Medicae cot, eyes narrowing suspiciously. "I hope your tribe isn't planning to join us? They've no obligation to help us anymore."

"No, you foolish man," Elba teased. "I'm talking about me."

"You've no obligation either." Libro reached out with his other hand, metal gauntlet barely gleaming in the burnished light as he placed it over her hand. "You've done more than enough to help me. I..." he faltered for a second, lower lip trembling as he stumbled over his words. "I would not want to see you hurt."

"It's a little too late for that, you know?" Elba slid her fingers over the dark metal covering his hand. "Ever since I met you, you've done nothing but put me in danger. Forcing me to save you after riding off in a gallant charge, twice." She held up two teasing fingers for emphasis. "Deflecting a blow from an iron knight that should have killed the both of us. And to be honest, I wouldn't be surprised at all if I saved your sorry ass in the battle tomorrow."