Princesses, Dragons, and Elves, Oh My!

Princesses, Dragons, and Elves, oh my! Pt 5

"What happened?" Glen asked after the singing had faded. Did he break the elf? Did he break Gill? "Why did he get like that?"

"Glen," Lana replied, "People are..." She looked for the words to explain, "Very fragile as you know. Even the strong ones, if they have very heavy burdens on their mind, can break under the strain, when they have no one to help them. Gill..." she looked down, lifting the arm away from the tearstained face and resting it on his chest, "He... He told me Adam and all his other friends died to that dragon. He lost more than one person. And... in society men have to be very brave and very stoic when it comes to emotions. They aren't supposed to cry or get emotional like women do. They're the main fighters and protectors so they have to be strong all the time, even when they're hurting and need rest. People forget they have feelings, and they try not to show them. The good men anyway. They try to be brave and hold it all in, the hurt and emotions. And Gill's clearly been very alone and driving himself very hard despite everything he was going through. So much so that being told he could rest was just so... so shocking, he didn't know how to handle it.

"At least," she sat back, "That's how I interpret it. Being told he can take a break before his mission's over. It must be very difficult to accept after all he's been through and all that's expected of him in these circumstances."

Glen absorbed that information, "Don't men get angry all the time?" He certainly thought any time he interacted with people they were afraid and knights or adventurers generally angry and violent. For obvious reasons but...

"Well, many do, and often unwarranted, but like I said, the good men try not to let their tempers get away from them. And... well, you saw when he started... swearing. That... we really pushed him to the limit of his patience..."

Limit of his patience. Glen frowned deeply. The way Lana was talking, he wondered if she was changing her mind.

"You're not going to side with him now are you?" he growled.

Lana sighed, "He was right, though. Knowing about Adam... changes everything. I need to tell my family, and then be with them while we deal with this tragic... tragic..."

Glen lowered his head. He saw how she trembled. No no no! Why was everyone getting emotional?!

"Don't cry, Lana. Please don't." he pleaded quietly.

"I-I'm s-sorry. Th-this... is just..."

Ahhh he didn't know what to do! Now Lana was crying and Gill was broken and-

"Do you think since Gill's unconscious I could rush him back to my cave? He won't know right?" Glen suggested, desperate to distract Lana, "We need to get him back to water. It must be the dehydration right? He's still dehydrated, right? Everyone just have a cup of water and we'll all calm down."

Lana laughed a little through her tears, "Yes, th-that's a good idea. While he's unconscious."

"Right? He can't panic if he doesn't know!"

They got back and made a comfortable spot just within the cave's entrance, the water throwing up iridescent light on the walls. Glen lay warming in the sun, and thought while the princess bathed the Elf's forehead with a damp cloth. She sniffled now and then before she lay down herself, taking the unconscious elf's hand and holding it tightly.

She was agreeing with Gill. Glen didn't like that at all. He wanted both to stay actually. The elf's dedication and hardships... and even if he didn't want to trust him, Glen was starting to get the feeling Gill hadn't promised anything lightly when they talked. He would be such a great person to keep around. He had all those good qualities of the human type people, and still was a decent person to a dragon like Glen even.