Mr. & Mrs Meropide

Chapter Fifty: Full Circle

The next morning, they woke up cuddled close, the night having turned colder than expected. Their journey today would be a long one, with Caravan Ribat as their destination, passing through Aaru Village. The walk was pleasant, mostly in the shadows, giving them a break from the heat.

As they walked, Wriothesley allowed himself a joke, grinning widely. "You know you snore when you sleep."

"I do not," Clorinde instantly defended herself, crossing her arms. "You must be hearing your own snoring."

"That's okay. It's cute," he teased, his grin growing wider.

"Maybe see the fortress psychologist for hallucinating—looks like the heat got to you," she scoffed, rolling her eyes.

"I think I need to see Sigewinne for a case of love-sick," he joked further, pushing his luck.

"You're so full of nonsense," she laughed, catching on to his game now.

"And by the way, I'd rather snore than drool," she added with a smirk, not letting him off the hook easily.

"I do not drool," he said decisively, his pride on the line.

"I always wake up before you. How would you know?" she countered, grinning. "You drool so much I have to lay things out to dry in the desert sun," she said, her smile cracking, unable to hold back her laughter any longer.

"Oh, I get it," he finally caught on. "I guess I deserve that one," he said, poking her playfully in the side.

"Yes, you did," she said, tackling him back with a mischievous grin.

Their shenanigans escalated as they both began to use a little more strength, laughing harder as their playful fight became more intense. It wasn't long before they were fully engaged in a good-natured struggle, each trying to make the other kiss the sand. Laughter filled the air, echoing off the rocks around them, as they wrestled under the desert sun, both determined not to lose.

In the end, both of them toppled over, laughing profusely.

"Get off me," she said between laughs.

"I can't, your leg is pinning mine down," he replied, his arms barely holding him up as they laughed together.

After a few more seconds of untangling, he pulled her up, both still grinning from their playful fight. They stood close to each other, gazes meeting for a fleeting moment before they quickly looked away, unsure of what to do next. It was strange—being such good friends came naturally, but neither knew how to navigate this new territory of being something more.

After a pause, the duke reached out and gently grabbed her hand. As they began walking again, brushing the sand off themselves, he noticed a satisfied look on Clorinde's face. He could tell she liked holding hands, and that realization filled him with a quiet happiness.

Aaru Village was bustling with life as they passed through. The vibrant energy of the marketplace filled the air, with people moving about, selling wares, and chatting animatedly. Clorinde and the duke took their time, absorbing the atmosphere while exchanging a few quiet remarks about the sights and sounds around them.

The road to Caravan Ribat was easier than expected, but the lack of shade made the heat relentless. As they left the desert behind, they could feel the gradual shift in temperature, a welcome relief from the intense sun. Along the way, a few travelers and locals looked at them curiously, though no one seemed to recognize them.

Clorinde, however, noticed the lingering stares directed at the bruising on her neck. Feeling a bit self-conscious, she decided to put her scarf back on, covering the marks that had drawn so much attention. Wriothesley glanced at her but said nothing, respecting her decision as they continued their journey.