Once Upon a Time

Chapter 22

‘Do you want to take a walk?’ Finn asked.

‘Finn, how many times do I have to tell you that I’m perfectly fine?’ Hope asked.

‘Maybe another hundred, because it’s not possible you’re fine after what just happened.’ Finn said.

‘Okay a walk would be nice.’ Hope said.

Finn nodded and they walked out of the little village, to the river that was leading into a forest.

‘What were you thinking?’ Hope asked turning around to look at Finn.

‘What do you mean?’ He asked.

‘When she appeared, you came towards me without thinking.’ Hope said.

‘Well since I met you I’ve always been protecting you from your own stupidity.’ Finn smirked.

‘Oh ha-ha.’ Hope said walking further.

‘But for real?’ Hope asked.

‘I don’t know, I didn’t think.’ Finn said.

‘I just had you to get away from her.’ Finn said.

Hope bit her bottom lip.

‘But why?’ Hope asked.

‘I don’t know.’ Finn said shrugging.

They both didn’t look up at each other, they just looked at the ground.

‘After she left, you looked like you were having a mental discussion, what was that about?’ Hope asked.

‘Oh nothing.’ Finn said.

‘So you were having a mental discussion.’ Hope said smirking.

‘I didn’t- oh whatever, yes, but that’s none of your business.’ He said.

‘Yes it is, because you were looking at me.’ Hope said.

Finn didn’t answer and just walked further.

‘What did she mean with what she did to your mother?’ Finn asked.

‘Oh that’s not important.’ Hope said brushing it off.

‘Hope.’ Finn said.

‘Really, it’s nothing.’ Hope said.

‘I bet she did it to a lot of people.’ Hope said.

‘Tell me what she did.’ Finn said.

‘I don’t want to talk about it.’ Hope said.

‘Why do you keep saying that?’ Finn asked.

‘I want to get to know you Hope, and this is not helping.’ Finn said.

‘I’ll tell you sometime, but not now.’ Hope said.

They walked further in silence and then Hope looked up at him. She could see he wanted to say something to her, he opened his mouth, but shut it again and she saw his jaw tense.

‘Finn?’ Hope asked.

‘Yes?’

‘Can we buy a sword for me or a knife?’

‘Why would you want that? Before we know it you’ve got that thing in your back.’

‘How can I ever manage that?’ Hope asked.

‘You never know it with you.’

Hope laughed.

‘It’s not that bad and you can teach me to fight with it.’ Hope said.