A Curse so Twisted And Cruel.

Not-So-Legal talk.

My mind is still whirling when he reaches over and pulls the mask down. I stiffen and squeeze my eyes shut, feeling the cool breeze whisper against my flushed cheeks. I startle when I feel it brushing through the tied up strands of my hair, and realise that he slipped off my hood, too.

I hear him exhale slowly, feel his gaze on my face. When I finally open my eyes, he's still looking at me, a thoughtful, almost pitying expression on his features, highlighted by the dimming rays of the sun.

"What?" I ask tentatively. He clears his throat, eyes boring into mine. "You wore it so you wouldn't be bullied?" He pauses, before a look of understanding flashes in his eyes. "Or..was it because of me?" He says the words as a question, but he already knows the answer.

"Both." I finally reply, the half lie almost drowning me in guilt. I've felt guilty about lying to him since the beginning, but now that he's told me more about himself, opened up to me, the guilt is eating me alive.

"I-if I had told you that I'm a woman, you wouldn't have trained me." I say quietly, looking at my hands twisting in my lap. He opens his mouth to deny it, but then closes it. We both know what I said was true.

But what I had told him before isn't. "Actually-" "You know-" We begin at the same time, talking over each other. I chuckle a bit nervously, before telling him to go first.

"I was just going to ask if you still want to train. By me." He says quickly, the words tumbling from his lips. I blink, struggling with my thoughts. Yes, I really want to.
No, actually, I can't, because I'm not who you think I am, and I lied to you... I sigh, knowing how that would end. (With him stalking away and me probably never seeing him again.) It's no less than I deserve.

"I erm, actually have to tell you something..." I begin, my voice shaky and a knot forming in my stomach. He tilts his head, a signal to keep going. I bite my lip before spilling out, "I lied to you." He cocks a brow. "I think that's already clear."

I flush despite myself, and rub the back of my neck, averting my gaze from his. "No..it's more than my gender." I take a deep breath. "I'm not a poor furnace boy, who's dream is to become a guard. I'm just a villager who was saved by the king co-incidentally. That's actually why I'm here. To heal, but I need to get back home, and preferably sooner than later." I say, my voice going lower with each word, until he's leaning closer to hear the guilt ridden words slipping from my lips.

I wasn't supposed to tell him that much, but the words just kept coming, and when they finally stopped, it felt like a weight was lifted from my shoulders.

His brow is furrowed by the time I gather the courage to meet his gaze. He processes my words, his eyes unreadable. I bite my lip, waiting for him to say something.
He eventually sighs, the tension leaving his shoulders, but a flash of hurt glimmers in his eyes, before it disappears.

"I," he pauses. "I understand why you would want to train. Being well versed with a sword is always a useful skill. What I don't understand is why don't you just wait to be healed? It can't be that long, right?" "Well, no." I admit, but my shoulders slump. I can't tell him without him being suspicious.

"But my family is waiting for me. They're probably worried sick." My voice breaks on the last word, and I try to suppress the flood of emotions travelling through me, barely managing to contain it.

He frowns, but nods, accepting my excuse. "Can't you ask the king to take leave? I doubt he would prevent you from doing so." I bite my lip, having already thought of that, but I wasn't sure how to get to him. Or if I wanted to. I just didn't know what to do if I see him again.

He's the cause of my pain, yet he was a source of comfort mere nights ago. He's the reason I'm alive, but also the reason a piece of me is missing. I simply don't know what to feel regarding him.

"I think he would tell me to wait until I'm healed." "Not if you explain why you need to leave so badly." And I imagine that conversation would be just peachy. Hey, Mr. King, I'm sorry that I ran away the other night, but could I get a signed letter to leave because I can't risk any of you recognising me, or finding out what I am. Thanks for saving me, by the way.

A frown creases my brow when I realize that I didn't even thank him for that. Although now it's more like he signed my death will. Henry notices my silence, and sighs, defeated.

"Fine. I suppose I wouldn't understand your reasoning." He says, running a hand through his windblown hair. "But," he continues slowly, "I would still like to help you."

I stare at him, utterly confused. He's so... unexpected. I can't predict anything he's going to do next. Or say. He's supposed to be angry, or at least upset that I lied to him, and he's definitely not supposed to offer me his damn help like he owes me something.
Doesn't he know that what I'm planning to do is technically illegal? He continues studying me calmly, as if we were just discussing the weather.

"Why would you want to help me? You hardly even know me." "Or," I say quickly, when his mouth opens to interrupt, "Swap it around; I don't even know you."

He leans toward me, hazel eyes searching. "Are you saying that you don't trust me?" An amused smile forms on his lips. "But you just told me that you wanted to do something very illegal." Ah. So he does know it's illegal. I bite my lip so hard, the metallic taste of blood taints my tongue. Good. That's what you get for spilling your very illegal plans to a somewhat stranger and guard.

"I don't not trust you," I begin carefully. "I'm simply stating that maybe we should know each other more, before attempting something not-so-legal, and ending up finding out more about each other in prison."

He chuckles, but I'm serious, and he cuts it short, seeing the determined expression on my face. He cocks a brow. "You know learning more about me is probably gonna take longer than just healing?" He murmurs, amusement still swirling in his light eyes.

I look at him, and a smile blooms on my face. "Not if we start now."