Run....

Do I Have To Run?...Again?

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My eyes snap open as I wondered what woke me up. Then theres another noise like a twig snapping or a branch from a bush breaking from the direction i came from last night. I look up and realise it's still really early it's not even light yet. I grab my bag and run to the west out of the clearing. I stop, hide behind some bushes and wait to see who or what made the noise. 

As I look back in the direction I arrived into the clearing I start to see a shape slowly emerge from the trees. I tried not to breath as I waited to see what it is.

I put my hand on the handle of my dagger still holding my breath. Then I let my breath out in one big gasp as I realise that it was Andrew! He was staggering so badly from the beating the Sheriff gave him he couldn't even walk straight and I wondered how he found me? 

I ran back into the clearing towards Andrew and caught him just as he collapsed. I sat down on the ground and put his back and head on my legs. Stroking back his hair I ask, 

"Andrew?! What is it? Why are you here?" completely shocked that he's even able to walk the distance I ran and at night too. I searched my bag for the waterskins and unstopper it pouring water into his mouth. 

Gasping with relief, he pushed the waterskin away with his left hand he looked me in the eyes and said "I couldn't stay with him anymore. He beat me for showing you some kindness and then still expected me to do all my chores with my back still bleeding! I spiked his food and drink with Valerian to make him sleep, tied him up, took his dagger and sword away from him anything sharp then stole all the money and leftover food and made my way here. I knew you ran this way because I thought you might have lied when you told me which way you were going so I went the opposite direction." he smiled at me and I could see in his eyes that he forgave me for it when I gave him a sheepish look.

"Andrew, what are you going to do now? I don't think I can have you coming with me, I can't risk your life too." I asked him.

He looked away and sighed a little, then said "I don't know. I'm worried about my family, I don't know how I'm going to provide for them now. Even though the Sheriff didn't pay me much it was still better than nothing, which is what I have now. I just thought maybe I would be ok with you until I found another job."

It was quite for a minute as we both tried to think of a solution. I looked at him and he looked so forlorn and worried so I put my hand on his cheek and turned his head towards me saying, "Don't worry Andrew, where does your family live? We will both go there and give them what money we have. Like I told you back there at the camp, I have things I can sell if we need it. You didn't listen to me and gave me all the money anyway, I knew something like that would happen, you shouldn't have risked your life. Not for me anyway." I looked away from his eyes and risked a quick glance back at him to see his reaction. He had a small frown on his face like he was annoyed at something but before I could think much longer about it he noticed me watching, smiled and said "I'd do anything for you! You're my friend aren't you? My family live about a half days walk to the north from here which should be ok as you were heading this way anyway weren't you?"

I chuckled a bit and said "Yes I was. Now turn over and let me see what I can do about that back of yours." He sat up and I helped him take off his ripped and bloody tunic then he laid down on his stomach. I gasped when I saw the damage the Sheriff Inflicted on him and he laughed with a pained look on his face and said "Is it that bad?" I crossed my arms and said "I told you not to help me if it would get you in trouble Andrew! How could you take a beating that bad and all because of me?" 

When I had finished scolding him, he sat up, turned around and looked me straight in the eyes saying "Don't you ever think that!"

I gasped as I realised how close he was to me and also at how firm his voice was. No one had ever spoken to me like this before, his voice was raised almost to a shout. "U-um, think what? That you went through all this unnecessary pain for me?" His face moved even closer to mine and he said with a softer voice whilst holding my shoulders "No, don't ever think that you're not worth every ounce of this pain, I knew what would happen if I did what I did and still I did it. Do you know why?" 

I swallowed nervously and shook my head "No?" He smiled and said, "Because even though I barely knew you, I wanted to give you all the help I could and fight for you with all my strength because any life with you would be better than with that brute. I wanted to help you and anyway..." he finally looked away and said whilst scratching the back of his head and clearing his throat "you're very beautiful and I couldn't resist helping such a beautiful girl." 

I breathed out a breath I didn't even realise I was holding and blushed as he looked sheepishly down at me for my reaction. I hid my face beneath my hair looking down as I said "w-well, thank you?" I cleared my throat a little and breathing in deep I said, "Well lie back down then! Lets see what I can do about that back." 

I cleaned up his back and bandaged it as best as I could with his already ripped tunic. I searched through his bag for another and helped him put it on. I said "Why don't you get a few hours of sleep? I'll keep watch and then when you wake up we can make our way to your families' village?"

"Are you sure you want to keep watch by yourself? I'm only asking because you don't even look like you have a weapon to defend yourself with." he asked me gently. I pushed him to make hi lie back down and said "Don't you worry about that, I can handle it. besides, you're already falling asleep as I speak." I looked in his bag again and found that he'd brought a blanket with him, I sighed in relief, pulled it out and covered him with it. Looking at him, I said softly "Goodnight Andrew" I tucked the blanket around him to make sure he would stay warm, looked around and found a tree stump to his left. I sat down on it pulling out my dagger holding it in my right hand as I used my left hand to eat a chunk of bread with, watching Andrew with a thoughtful expression.