Varian of the Northern Isles

Hypatia

     We rode out long into the night until dawn began to brush the eastern clouds. By the time we stopped, our horse was exhausted and I didn't have the heart to push it any further.
     "Let's stop here for tonight," I said and jumped down. Varian got his makeshift cart detached from the horse's saddle. However, as soon as he unlatched it, the poor contraption fell to pieces. I winced at the loud noise and quietly helped him pick up the fallen ingredients. Varian thanked me and I went to go set up the tent. The night was already hot and humid and I struggled to fall asleep.
     "Varian, er... If you're going to be my ally then we should probably be honest with eachother."
     He raised an eyebrow," Alright, What's on your mind?"
     "Well for starters, my name isn't Balia, it's Hypatia." I waited for some sort of reaction but he just stared at me.
     "Queen Hypatia... As in Helen and Hypatia... The two queens of the North...?"
     Varian shook his head. I rubbed my temples and sighed,"Never mind."
Varian didn't say anything and I thought he had fallen asleep, but he got up and took a drink from our water. He sat back down, careful to keep at least three feet between us. Weather it was in fear or simple awkwardness, he only spoke to me in clipped sentences. I wasn't in any position to talk either. I was caught up with planning. Now I had an alchemist with me, and I needed to get that message to my spies still stationed in the Northern Isles. I hadn't heard any word form them since I'd left.
      The next morning arrived all to early and my limbs were stiff and coated with a fine layer of dew. I saw Varian was still awake.
     "Did you even sleep at all?!" I exclaimed," we need our energy to stay alert."
     "Yeah, I was just...keeping watch," He finished as he tried to stifle a yawn. I raised an eyebrow, "Keeping watch? I would like to think that I got us far enough away from the guards that you wouldn't have to." Varian shrugged and dragged himself to the horse that was chewing on an apple it had found. I walked over to my companion.
     "Still, you should rest. We've got a lot of ground to cover today."
     "Still going North?" Vain grumbled as he climbed onto the saddle.
     "Yes, but before we get to the Northern Ilse, I want to take a stop in the ruins of Gala. It has no ruler but some of my spyies are located there and I want to see if I can get any information from them."
     He nodded and I took the reins once again.
     "Listen, Varian, it's alright if you want to sleep while I ride. I know you must be tired and you do need rest. "
He still refused but ten minutes after we began moving, he was snoring away, his head resting on my back. I would occasionally check to see if he had shifted position or was about to fall off but he wasn't. It was noon when I woke him again.
     "Varian, hey. Wake up,"
     He didn't budge.
     "VARIAN!"
     "WHAT?! WHO'S-ACK!!!"
     I reached out my arms in time to catch him as he tumbled off the saddle and set him on the ground just as quickly. Varian stumbled and I kept my arms around him to support his weight.
     "Thanks, Your Highness," he said flashing a small grin, the first I'd seen from him this entire trip. I returned the gesture and pointed to the small marketplace we had stopped at.
     "It's been a while since I've been here and I wanted to what this place has been up to." We made our way into the afternoon bustle of people. The streets were familiar to me, despite not having been there in a year. Varian and I asked around if any word had been received about the Northern Isles. What we heard was some disturbing news. People reported increasingly high military actions within the northern boarder and a dark aura radiating from the Capitol. Varian and I exchanged confused looks. The farther we walked the more I stuck by his side. Hateful propaganda against the North was smeared haphazardly across backs of buildings and the old town. I shivered, feeling as if eyes were watching me and pulled up my hood. Varian noticed this and shuffled closer as to not lose me in the crowds.
     We couldn't have left the city quicker and I breathed a deep sigh of relief when we reached our camp.
     "Did you. Um- know about all of that?"
     "What?" I asked as I reached down and clasped my sister's knife to my belt.
     "I mean all of the signs posted about about the north, the people who whisper behind your back, and even people like me who believed you were demons. I considered you a monster when I learned who you were. I attacked you," he said softer and I saw his eyes flick up to the place where he has struck me.
     "Well, somehow I was healed," I replied trying to lighten the mood," I mean a scar would totally be cool but it might throw the symmetry of my perfect face out of alignment."
     Varian didn't smile. He stood there opening and closing his mouth, but couldn't seem to think of what to say.
     "A-anyway," I said," we should probably get moving. I've got a contact who's stationed in The Ruins of Gala. We'll meet up with them."
     Varian nodded and we left the small city behind. I was focused in controlling my horse but I did catch Varian glancing over his shoulder more than once.