Beneath the Armor: An Elven Desire

Chapter 16

Fay was jolted awake by the sound of a distant roar, her heart racing as she shot upright in her cot. Her hands flew to her chest, fingers trembling against the fabric of her nightclothes. She strained to listen, her heart pounding in her ears, and her eyes frantically scanned the dark confines of the tent.

At the entrance, she spotted Drake peering out through the flap, his silhouette tense against the dim light. “Bloody dragons,” he muttered under his breath before dropping the flap and striding back into the tent.

“Settle yourself, Fay. Nothing to fear,” he instructed, his voice steady but laced with an edge of concern. “The damn beasts have been more active the closer we get. Get dressed; we’re leaving.” He gave her a brief look over, his gaze assessing, then exited the tent.

As the sound of his footsteps faded into the cool night air, Fay took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down. She could sense the tension in him; he looked tired, lines of worry etched on his face. She had a feeling he didn’t relish the orders he had to follow, nor did he want to face a dragon—though that wasn’t the plan. They had decided that ten of them would venture into the mountain pass to retrieve the Emberstone, while the others stayed back to guard their gear and the horses.

Quickly, she dressed in comfortable grey pants and a slightly baggy cream-colored top, grateful for the warmth they offered against the chill. She slipped on her small leather boots and wrinkled her nose at the grime clinging to her skin; they were all in desperate need of a bath soon. With a sense of purpose, she grabbed her small dagger, tying it securely to her thigh before slipping out of the tent to join the small group forming nearby.

Drake and Wyatt were already deep in conversation, going over their limited supplies and issuing last-minute orders to Drax, who stood nearby with a grim expression. Fay listened intently, her heart still racing. Drax nodded solemnly as Drake finished his instructions. “Two days,” he said, his voice low and serious. “If we’re not back in two days, we’re most likely eaten or dead somewhere.”

“Let’s move out,” Drake ordered firmly, his tone brooking no argument as he turned toward the looming mountains of Pyra, their dark silhouettes rising ominously against the starry sky.

Fay fell into step behind him, her mind racing with thoughts of what lay ahead. “Chin up, everyone! This is going to be a breeze. Sneak in, sneak out. The dragons will either be asleep or out hunting,” Wyatt chimed into the chilly air, his upbeat voice cutting through the tension.

A few snorts of laughter rang out among the chosen few, but the mood was quickly tempered. “Dream on, Wyatt. Nothing is ever that easy,” growled an older soldier, his voice gravelly and sceptical.

Wyatt let out a throaty laugh, undeterred. “Oh, Jeff, don’t be such a downer. This may be our very last mission together!” he teased, a playful glint in his eyes.

“Enough, Wyatt. Even I’m not in the mood for your usual jokes,” Drake said sternly, his tone cutting through the lightheartedness like a knife.

Fay felt a small frown cloud her face as the group fell into a heavy silence. She knew the odds of facing a dragon were slim, and the weight of their situation hung in the air. The soldiers marched on as if they were heading to their deaths, and dread settled in her stomach. Wyatt’s earlier enthusiasm faded as he fell in line behind the others.

Fay dropped back to walk beside him at the rear of the group. “I appreciate your humour, Wyatt,” she whispered, hoping to lift the mood a little.

He grinned down at her, his spirits lifting slightly. “Thanks, little elf,” he said, playfully patting her head, only to have her swat his hand away.

“In all honesty, though,” she continued, her tone more serious, “do you think we will survive?”

Wyatt thought for a moment before a smirk broke out across his face. “I don’t know. I don’t tend to dwell on things out of my control. This mission is bizarre on Riland’s part, though. Makes me question where his head is in this war.” His voice trailed off, a shadow passing over his features.

She glanced up at him, sensing the shift in his mood, but he quickly brightened again. “But what about you? I haven’t really heard much about you. Just that you healed my friend and are now our travel companion.”

Fay felt a flush creep into her cheeks. “There’s really not much to say. I grew up as an only child. I had a friend—well, I still do. Marrabel. She might have survived the attack on my village. I couldn’t find her body in the rubble.” The weight of her memories pressed down on her, and her voice softened. “Some elves have magical gifts. I got mine in healing and became my village’s healer, much to my parents’ joy.”

As she spoke, her smile faded, replaced by the pain of loss. Wyatt’s expression fell, and he gave her a comforting side hug. “I’m sorry, Fay. I’m sure your parents are very proud of you. And if things go wrong, they will get to tell you themselves,” he joked gently.

Fay managed a small smile at his awkward attempt to lighten the mood. She hadn’t thought about her parents since that day. She missed them greatly, and the ache in her heart grew heavier.

Suddenly, Wyatt dropped his hand and stepped away from her, a mischievous smile dancing on his lips. She glanced at him, puzzled, but he just shrugged, a playful glint in his eye. Shaking her head, she turned her focus back to the others in front of her.

The path began to grow more rocky as they climbed a slight incline, the terrain shifting beneath their feet. They were getting closer. Drake made a motion for silence, and they all slowed their pace, moving more cautiously and quietly.

The mountains surrounding them were breathtaking. Jagged rocks jutted out from the earth, and small shrubs peeked through the crevices, defiantly clinging to life in the harsh environment. Fay marvelled at the beauty around her, even as her heart raced with the knowledge of the danger that lay ahead.

They continued their careful climb for a few hours, the rocky terrain demanding every ounce of their strength. Eventually, they reached a small clearing surrounded by shrubs, a temporary reprieve from the ascent. As they settled in, a large water bottle was quickly passed around. Fay greedily gulped down a few mouthfuls before handing it off to the next soldier, the cool liquid refreshing against her dry throat.

She was exhausted; her calves ached from the hike, and sweat clung to her skin, making her feel sticky and uncomfortable. She tried to slow her breathing, taking in the sights around her. The others were lightly sprayed with sweat but otherwise seemed fine, their spirits bolstered by the brief rest. The sun was beginning to rise higher in the sky, casting a warm glow over the mountains.

“Commander, we might have maybe another hour before we’re lit up,” one of the soldiers piped up, scanning the sky for signs of the sun’s approach.

Drake nodded, his expression pensive. “There are a few caves scattered around. Depending on the beasts, we might take camp in those and scout while we await nightfall again.” His voice was low, almost distracted, as he continued to survey the area.

With a sigh, he motioned for them to keep moving. Deep down, Drake hated being here. He loathed the fear he saw in his soldiers’ eyes; they didn’t deserve to be in this situation. They were soldiers meant for the battlefield, not scavenging for stones among the dragons’ lairs.

His gaze flickered to Fay, and a heavy feeling settled in his chest. She was clearly struggling to keep up, and he felt a surge of protectiveness mixed with frustration. He couldn’t leave her unguarded at camp, but he also hated the idea of pushing her beyond her limits. He trusted Drax to watch over the group, but as much as he hated to admit it, they were both men. Desires could cloud judgment, and he didn’t want to take that risk with Fay.

Drake watched as she attempted to rub her aching calves, her expression a mixture of determination and discomfort. Her hair clung to her face, damp with sweat, and her clothes were plastered to her body, accentuating her exhaustion. He felt a dark desire coil in his stomach at the sight, and he tore his gaze away, forcing himself to focus on the path ahead.

“Stay close,” he commanded, his voice firm as he resumed the climb, ignoring his growing member as he tried to block out the unwelcome thoughts that threatened to distract him. He would ensure her safety, all of there safety, no matter how challenging it became. They had a mission to complete, and he would see them through it.