Rise of the Warrior of Everfen

Chapter 41: Trust Me

Erinne woke early, as she always did, but today was different. Usually she awoke for her morning walk, stretched calmly, easily, but today she found herself stumbling to her feet and rushing outside into the predawn light. She had next to little in her stomach, but she still spilled every bit of it's contents into the leaves until she was weak and dizzy, huffing for breath.

Bukoo whined and licked her cheek, circling her anxiously until she sat down, cross legged in the leaves. She wasn't far from her tent and considered crawling back to it, but she didn't have the stomach for it just yet. She remained where she was, taking deep, slow breaths and holding her head in her hands. The dire wolf continued to pace next to her for a long time before he left her. She wasn't sure if it was the call of nature or something else that drew him away. She wished she could send him to bring her water, but her canteen was empty and she didn't think Bukoo could fill it with water from the stream for her.

She wasn't sure how much time passed, but she could hear the birds starting to sing as the sun came up, hear a squirrel shuffling through the leaves. Then the soft fall of footsteps as Bukoo returned to her. He pressed his cold nose to her shoulder a moment before she realized there were still footsteps pattering after him and lifted her head in time to see Cold Hammer squatting next to her and the dire wolf.

So that's where you went.

"Erinne?"

"I'm okay." She murmured weakly.

"The wolf didn't seem to think so." He replied quietly and she put her head back in her hands, staring down at the leaves. "Is it the baby?"

Yes. She didn't want to speak. It made her feel queasy. She remained silent, drawing her knees in farther and Cold Hammer swept at the leaves to cover the mess she'd left there and then rose to his feet. He left without a word and part of her wanted to cry. Just having him next to her reminded her how easy it was to talk to him. It would've been so easy to just tell him right then all the hurts and problems. To have him there checking on her, ready to come to her aid.

Tears pricked her eyes and she fought against them.

"Here." She lifted her head slowly, surprised to see he'd returned with a canteen in hand. "Rinse your mouth and drink." She stared at him, her lip quivering before she accepted it and did as he said. As she did so, he left and returned again, this time with a small loaf.

"I don't want food." She shook her head.

"Take small bites. The bread helps." He tore off a small piece and held it out to her. "Trust me." He said and she swallowed, staring at him as he said those words. There was so much weight to them. She could hear it in his voice she could feel it in her chest. His eyes plead silently and as if to further push his point, Bukoo nudged her with his nose.

Tears pricked her eyes again and she reached for the bread. "Okay."

She took a small bite, as he'd told her, and nibbled slowly, and waiting for the internal revolt. It didn't come, though and her stomach slowly settled as the sun rose higher, warming their backs as they sat together in the leaves.

Neither said a word as she ate a child sized portion of the bread before she gave up, unable to consume any more, but she was considerably less queasy and she wasn't shaking anymore. They were in the worst place to watch the sun rise, but it was something that they did every morning until recently.

It felt right to be here, with him, watching the sun come up again.

Erinne fingered the arm ring she still wore under her sleeve. She didn't take it off, even when she was sleeping, and that alone should have told her how she really felt, deep inside. She still loved him with everything she had. Orcs lived long lives, that was a long time to change, to become someone else, someone better. Her life had been short and she'd already hanged several times, but her love for him hadn't.