The white warrior

Chapter 4

My body hurts.

We've been riding for maybe 3 hours as dawn sets in the eastern sky, but my entire body hurts from riding.

I look at my legs and arms with a pained expression and Eliah seems to notice. "Are you okay, princess?" he asks me in wonder. "My entire body hurts, I haven't ridden in ages" I say almost whining. "Can we maybe take a little break?", I ask him with a longing tone.

He doesn't seem too convinced by the idea, but when I put on my absolute beggar's stare, he finally seems to think about a rest, too. "Well, we'll take a short break, but...", he started, but didn't have a chance to continue, because with a little thrust of joy I stopped my horse, jumped down and ,lying on my back, laid down in the grass.

" I was going to say that we can take a break, and in a few kilometers is the next village, but if you prefer to take a break here, I do not care." He dismounted as well and tied both of our horses to a tree trunk.

I look around the clearing where we are and spot a small stream running through the dense forest. I immediately pull on my boots, top and pants and scramble toward the bank when I am grabbed by the ankle from behind.

"I think this is a very bad idea, my lady," Eliah says in a harsher voice than usual. His dark hair shimmers almost bluish in the sunlight and his green eyes have a sort of golden ring around the pupil when I look closer.

I notice that he is also looking at my almost naked body and quickly close my arms around my bust, which doesn't help much anymore. He seems to be following my every action and grins conspiratorially as I blush. "Stop ogling me, you pervert," I hurl back at him, but say it with much less sharpness than I intended.

"You're gawking at me just the same, so don't blame me," with a glance at the creek he says, "I just wanted to make sure the creek wasn't too dangerous before you went in," he adds, seeming to realize himself how protective that sounds.

"Thanks for the help, my lord," I say, finally scrambling toward the bank as Eliah throws me over his shoulder from behind and heads toward the creek with me. "Put me down now!" I yell at him, drumming my fists on his back. It doesn't help and he just clutches my legs tighter. "I order you to put me down right now". He actually stops, only to throw me completely into the creek.

I cry out as the cool water envelops me and before I know it Eliah is beside me again holding me tight. "Mh you did order me to let you go, but actually I don't have to do anything for you, my lady, since I'm not one of your subjects," he comes closer, "however you called me my lord and so we would be equals wouldn't we?".

He looks at me and raises an eyebrow questioningly. I just look back at him angrily and dip my hands into the water and splash him wet. He doesn't seem to see it coming, however, only seconds later he splashes me with at least twice the amount.

I laugh and splash him again wet until he swims towards me and takes me in his arms, only to throw me back into the stream.I laugh again, and for the first time in my life I have the feeling to mean the laughter really serious.
I laugh all the time and can't get myself together and on Eliah seems to find fun in bathing, because a small smile creeps on his lips.

I just start to swim back from a deeper place in the stream, when suddenly an undercurrent grabs me and I am pulled down. My smile fades and gives way to panic.

I try with all my might to stay on the surface, but the current is too strong. I row my arms and can't get a word out until I just murmur "help" between breaths. Eliah stands at the front of the bank skipping stones, not seeing my panic. With the last of my strength I croak, "HELP!"

Finally Eliah seems to see my struggle, but he is too late. His shocked face is the last thing I see before I go under.