Paladin - the path begins

Chapter 6

Tar'vid woke early the next morning, feeling Luna's smooth skin against him. He ran his fingers across her hip and she stirred a little, nuzzling against him. Last night had been like a dream, and waking up beside her he was surprised it hadn't been one. Luna blinked her eyes open, staring up at him and smiling. He leant forward kissing her tenderly, Luna pushing him back a moment later.

"I would love nothing more than a repeat performance, but I have to be at the crossroads today. Now get some clothes on!" Luna told him with a smile, giving his rear a little slap as he got up.

Tar'vid began to dress, wondering where this would go... her father would surely never allow them to be together, and more than likely kill him. It soured his mood, making him angry as he tossed his tabard into a sack.

"What is it?" Luna asked him concerned, hugging him from behind.

Tar'vid hadn't heard her come up behind him and decided not to let his mood ruin last night.

"Just thinking," he told her, turning his head to look at her.

"About us, my father can never know about this Tar'vid!" Luna told him sternly, he felt her strength as she tensed her arms, nearly crushing him.

"He'd certainly kill you... perhaps me as well" she continued, letting him turn his body towards her.

"Then what becomes of us?" he asked sadly, she looked down at her feet as an answer.

"We'll figure it out," Luna told him, looking up again.

She stroked his cheek and smiled, though it felt forced. He felt like she was letting him go, maybe last night meant little to her. When they left the lake behind them finally Luna squeezed his hand gently.

"Are we okay Tar'vid, your very quiet," she asked him, concern in her voice.

Tar'vid squeezed her hand back, feeling too upset to speak. As they walked on together Luna let go of his hand, running to the side of the road and picking something from the verge, coming back to him with a purple flower in her hands.

"Look Tar'vid" Luna squeaked with delight.

He supposed it was rather beautiful, the purple petals interlaced with white and red made a swirling pattern, it was rather intricate he thought.

"It's a Keldran rose!" she told him, perhaps seeing the nonplussed look on his face.

"My people believe when a joining happens, a Keldran rose blooms, Tar'vid this is the first time I've ever seen one!" she told him happily, smiling the whole time.

Luna lifted the flower for him to smell, it had a beautiful fragrance he had to admit. Tar'vid felt his throat starting to constrict, he gasped for air, collapsing to the ground and feeling his face go numb, his sight started to dim.

"Oh gods, Tar'vid... Tar'vid stay with me, what's happening!?" he heard Luna cry out as he gasped desperately for air.

"Keep perfectly still," Luna told him, panic in her voice.

Tar'vid couldn't breathe, his lungs were empty and he thought this was it, he was going to die. Feeling a sharp pain in his neck he suddenly felt air rush into his lungs once more, hearing Luna let out a sigh of relief.

"You scared the hells out of me!" Luna told him breathlessly, resting her head on his chest.

He reached up to his throat and she snatched his hand away quickly.

"I had to puncture your windpipe, you're only alive because there was hollow thorn by the roadside, it's in your neck and letting you breathe" she explained slowly stroking his forehead. Tar'vid thought it was really painful and knew that couldn't be a good thing.