Dovahsil

Chapter 3: The wanderer

A/N: Some French names may slip up here and there in the story, purely because of reflexes on my part. I played this game for nearly ten years in French.

The giant opened his eyes again, feeling the soft sunlight through the pines caress his face, but also hearing a song a little further away, pulling him from the shores of sleep after his night of reading, and a more than grueling day. He stretched slightly, chasing away the knots in his muscles and joints. Still seated against that tree, his eyes wandered to Rose's tent, having thought he'd heard her get up a moment ago, only to see it empty. Then his emerald eyes swept across the camp to Rigmor's tent. Rigmor looked much better, sleeping with her head on one side. Mouth wide open, sleeping comfortably.

Then he turned his gaze to the singing he could hear over the trees by the lake. The voice of a young woman, singing to herself. Rose stood with the lake water up to her knees. Washing and singing at the same time, taking her time to clean herself, as if she were putting on a show.

The day was off to a good start...

Her hands caressed the cascade of blond hair, letting the water trickle down her body, slowly turning her head, her eyes meeting those of the giant. Stopping for a moment, she smiled softly and continued what she was doing.

A smile played on the giant's lips as he redirected his gaze from the mermaid. Not wanting to overdo the good stuff. He stood up, ready to face the day. Walking over to the girl, he decided to check on her to see if she was all right.

For a moment, his eyes began to glow with different colors. The activity of the girl's nervous system indicated average pain. Much better than expected, given her situation. But she would need a lot of rest...

Rose soon arrived at his side, wearing some fur to give herself time to dry.

Rose: How is she?

Colossus: She's erratic... But otherwise healthy. It's almost strange. I didn't think these healing potions would be so effective.

There was that terrible second of silence. The one before the even more terrible questions.

Rose: What are we going to do with her...?

Colossus: Heal her until she regains all her strength, then I'll take her away, somewhere safe.

Rose: Alone...?

He nodded.

Rose: No, I'll come with you-

Colossus: No way. We'll have every mercenary in this country on our ass, and those fucking thalmors.

The tone began to rise like rage between the two.

Rose: So you're going to do it on your own?

Colossus: I'll be fine... I'm not putting an extra life on the line for this journey.

The will in her eyes. To protect her. Wasn't personal. He didn't want to protect her because he liked Rose. No, he wanted to protect her because she was a human being, because it was like a code of honor he wore with pride. What could she do? It wasn't just a sudden, passing desire on the part of the colossus. No... This will was there before, and would be there after...

She couldn't fight it.

Once again, it was the giant's eyes that made her understand this.

Rose: It's suicide.

Colossus: I've heard that one often. I'll get away with it. But more importantly, I'll get her safe.

He looked at the peacefully sleeping girl.