The Power Within (On hold)

Chapter 12

Chapter 12

Elenora

"Ready?" Jake called. Elenora nodded, hugging Medens for the last time.

"Thank you." She whispered through a clenched throat. Tears pricked her eyes, threatening to spill over and fall onto Meden's beautiful red hair; Medens reached up and patted Elenora's back comfortingly. "You're most welcome." Medens murmured.

Elenora pulled away and turned to Jake, who was already mounted. His beautiful equus albus pranced impatiently. She smiled at him and took his offered hand, allowing him to swing her up behind him. Elenora waved to Medens, who waved back, smiling. Jake bowed his head in farewell. She wrapped her arms around Jake's waist and they started out.

They exited the peaceful clearing which held Meden's cave and entered the forest. The sunlight instantly dimmed, spots of the sun's rays dappling the green forest floor. Elenora sighed, laying her head against Jake's back, the jostle of riding sending little pangs of pain across her body.

Ever since waking up on a bed in a cave she had felt weak, a sluggish, annoying syrup inhabiting her limbs. When she did dare to move, especially over long distances a headache insisted on pounding inside her head. And her stomach ached with every movement. She could feel herself recovering everyday, and she had been for three days. Today was when her patience ran out and she begged Jake to take her back to HQ, the endless days of lying in bed driving her nearly mad. He agreed, although she suspected it was partly because doing nothing was not suited to his personality either.

"You okay princess?" Jake's voice cut through her uncomfort.

"Not too bad... just a little uncomfortable." She said. He immediately slowed his horse.

"Better?"

"Much. Thanks."

"Anytime princess. Just say the word, and I'll go fetch you a hover bed." He said, mischief in his voice.

She laughed, thumping his back softly with a fist.

The jolting motion reduced, she was able to form a clear thought. Jake was very supportive and understanding, and a special relationship had formed between them. He went out of his way to meet her needs, sat with her in the clearing and was silent or talked with her, whichever she felt like at the moment. And without him, she wouldn't be alive. That would make it two times he had saved her life. Plus he made her laugh.

He was dependable, solid, and... handsome. The way his hair fell into his eyes, the way his muscles pressed against his shirt, or the way his laugh reverbrated through her mind, unbidden.

She mentally shook her head. No Elenora, we are not going there, she thought. After that she concentrated on trying to fall asleep.

Later she awoke, her nose filled with the scent of pine. The constant motion of riding a horse had stopped. Elenora opened her eyes, and gasped. She realized all at once where she was, why her body was so comfortable, and where the pine scent was coming from. She was in Jake's arms.

"Jake!" She cried.

He looked at her amusedly, "Calm down princess, you fell asleep and I was just setting you down." He said, depositing her gently beside a tree, which she leaned on as soon as the ground was firmly beneath her. He chuckled as he went to unload their things.

She scowled, partly as her reaction and partly at his. She looked up, realizing that it was already dusk. Jake had chosen another clearing to spend the night in, not unlike Meden's. Crickets were out and filling the cool night air with their chirping; Elenora leaned her head back and breathed in deeply, clearing her mind of the headache that had threatened to start pounding.