Unknown (on hold)

THREE. THE KEEP

We had been moving for what felt like hours. How was he still going? He didn't even seem tired or out of breath. I was so tense staying ridged. More time passed by and I spent it listening to the same swish, swish of his legs sliding against each other cloth meeting cloth I slowly began to calm down a little collecting the sounds that surrounded us. My own breathing the swish, swish and his low humming, all making me feel soothed somehow telling me that I was safe. I'd figured a way to hold onto his back pack to alleviate some of my pain. I could see more clearly now and watched the leafy carpet flow beneath us as lukas moved us. There were trees winding and twisting up high into the sky, they were everywhere. We must be in woods or a forest. My insides sunk. How had I got here? There were no woods like this where I lived. I tried to ignore that chain of thought. I would figure it out later. I attempted conversation to distract myself.

"Where are we going?" I probed Lukas.

"Told you. The keep. It's not far now."

"Is that where you live?" I shuffled on his back trying to get more comfy. He slapped the back of my thigh making me squeak. It hurt but not badly. It made me think of my injures and I wondered why I wasn't in more pain. I was feeling much better than I had just a little while ago. It made me worry I was going into shock. I was pretty sure that was a bad thing.

"Stop wigging around. You're a small thing but still weigh something." He didn't sound annoyed more like he was making fun of me somehow. This was a strange man. "Yes, I live there. Along with the rest of the gang." His tone had a smile in it. "I haven't been back for a while. Been traveling. Your lucky I found you, lad." He chuckled. He was definitely making fun of me. Who was this guy that seemed to be so carefree about finding a bleeding beat up stranger alone and bleeding in the middle of nowhere. Why was he calling me lad? Did he think I was a boy? I don't know if I should be offended by that. Probably. After what had happened I didn't care so much about that though.

Conversation stopped after a while bringing back my worry's building more and more in my mind. We stopped for water and food and I huddled against a tree keeping my face down, unable to shake my glum mood. Lukas tried to tell me about the bugs and the birds that surrounded us. I responded a little but with mostly mumbled answers. After a while he gave up and then we were moving again.

The landscape started to change after a while and there were fewer trees surrounding us. Lukas started to get edgy once we were more in the open in turn making my anxiety levels go up.

"Stop fidgeting. Once we get pass this little meadow we with only me a few hours away." I think he was trying to stop me from worrying me maybe realising I had noticed his own tense mood. "Whats your name anyway little one?"

"My name is Ally." I said quietly only just realising I hadn't told him yet. He chuckled again.

"Don't fret, Ally, lad we have almost arrived. You can bathe your smelly special self and heal up your wounds soon." My face heated. I could only imagine how bad I must smell but he didn't have to say it. We reach the denser trees again and I felt Lukas let out a breath and start walking at a more casual pace. My eyes flicked around but I kept quiet.

"We have arrived. Food, food, food. Bath, bath, bath. Bed, bed, bed." He chanted excitedly making me smile a little.

He turned around so I could see bushy trees and hills. It was still dark but I could see flowers and plants weaving through massive pillars and surrounding a mansion? Castle? It was huge. I was in awe of this creation. The time and skills that must have gone into build must have been un rivalled. It was as if man and nature had met becoming one. I saw what I thought was a waterfall in the distance. This place was amazing. I wanted to look for longer but he spun back round and headed to one of the bushes to the side of where we stood. Were we not going into the building? He shifted leaves to the side and I saw it covered a hidden door. Wow. I was shocked feeling wonder but also a slight unease. Why did it need to be hidden? What was this place? He took us through and kicked the door closed with his foot jostling me and bringing pain. Ow. Again I was surprised at how much better I felt than before.

He continued down a tunnel like hallway. It made me think of some ancient sewer, minus the smell. There were plants growing everywhere around us. It was as beautiful inside as it was out. He started turning down different turn offs of the tunnel and I got lost after a wile knowing there was no way I could find my way back. I tried to swallow mouth dry.

We reached another door and he stepped inside, pushing it closed again with his foot. We were in some sort of enclosed room and I was confused as to why until he pulled a leaver on one of the walls and the ground shook lfting us up. I clung onto Lukas but then relaxed realising we were in some sort of elevator. Soon the ground was still and Lukas took us out entering the next floor He went through more hallways and then turned to another doorway with mahogany wood and caked in dust. He took out a key and opened the door. There were plants in here as well but they had been cut back and pulled or twisted around rocks and wood creating shelves, chairs and other things I couldn't make out. There were also more man made things pillows and drapes hanging here and there. I could see a hammock of some sort dangling from branches again this had been embedded part of the greenery.

"Home, sweet home." He said as he leaned forward placing me down on one of the chairs. It was softer than expected. He put his face close to mine and grinned big. It was the first time Id really got a good look at his face. He had crystal blue eyes, with dark brown hair grown out shaggy. Thick eyebrows, full lips, and high cheekbones. He was absolutely gorgeous. I couldn't catch my breath as I gawked at his. How had I not realised what a prize Lukas was.

He squinted his eyes at me and tilted his head.

"How old are you?" He asked searching my face like I was an interesting new toy.

"19" I told him. "You?" I whispered as his face got closer and he sniffed me by the neck. I shifted hitting the back of the chair hunching my shoulders up and hiding my neck. My face must have been red. He was going to say I smelled again.

"Hmm. I'm 22." He murmured, eyebrow raised, seeming to wonder about something to himself. He shrugged at me. "Washrooms through there." He pointed to a door I hadn't noticed further into the room.

"Thanks."

"No problem. Ill try find you something that will fit you. You go ahead." I stood up and wobbled a bit and he reached out to steady me. When I seemed stable he let go and turned to some draws. I shuffled to the washroom. Wondering what mysterious things I would find.