The Heart of The North

Running Again

Hours later, the door swings open, "Get your things together." Blair says.

"What? Why?" I shut the book.

"I'll explain after you gather your belongings or anything you want to take, I don't care about the books." He says, getting two sacks from his wardrobe and handing one to me, "I'll be back in a moment."

As he leaves, I move to get my things. Which isn't much, seeing as this is the second time I've been rushed out. I'm in shock as I start packing, worried and confused on what this situation is.

As I finish, I hear his footsteps at the door. I hurry and grab the book from earlier, about my mother and father, then the one I had been reading before Blair rushed in.

He opens the door and closes it behind him.

"You should put on warm clothes. Here, it's gonna get cold." He hands me a fur cloak and a pair of trousers and a shirt.

I pause, "Isn't this what men wear?"

Despite his need to hurry, he smiles, "It doesn't matter, you'd make anything look good."

With that, he turns and lets me change.

"These pants feel... strange." I move from behind the wall.

"Goddess, you weren't even aloud to wear pants?" He shakes his head as I put on my boots and cloak. The cloak is hooded, so I tie up my hair so I'm not recognized.

He hands me a cloth mask, "This will keep you warm. And hidden."

I tie it around my neck for later, and he opens the balcony doors. He takes both our packs, and then leads me to the railing.

"You want me to..." I trail off.

"No, I wouldn't make you do that. But, excuse me." He picks me up with an arm under my knees and the other under my back.

I try not to make noise, but even though I sense the situation is dire, his touch... makes something stir within me, though I'm not sure what.

"Hold on tight, Princess." With that, he jumps off the balcony and I close my eyes.

"You can open your eyes now." He says, and I hear the smile in his voice.

I slowly open my eyes to see we landed safely on the ground, "How did you do that?"

"It's hard for me to get hurt because of my wolf blood." He says, and continues carrying me until we reach the treeline.

"No horde this time?" I ask.

"Too suspicious and easy to track." He says, putting me down.

I adjust my clothes, "So, where are we going and why?"

"King Rolland sent word to Fallion, and Fallion answered almost immediately. He plans to meet with Rolland in a few hours, at dawn." He says as we walk hurriedly through the woods.

"It's less trouble for you if I just go back. They'll hunt you down for betraying them." I say, stopping.

"No. I made a promise, I'm keeping it. He will not touch you." He says. I swear I heard him growl.

I hesitate, looking back towards the castle, "Fine. But if it comes down to me handing myself over or you being killed, I will save you over myself, are we clear?"

"It won't come down to that." He says, and I continue following him through the snowy woods.

"How can you see where we're going?" I ask, holding onto his arm so I don't fall.