The Promise

Chapter 6: Bedside Manner

Callum and Rayla were running. The hunter had caught up on their trail, and was now in pursuit. He moved with surprising speed and elegance for his size, and they were having a difficult time keeping out of range. Well, more so Callum did. Rayla would be able to elude him if she could hop through the trees. But she was stuck on the ground, dragging Callum along.

It had been a couple of days since they last saw him, and she wasn't at all surprised to see him again. It was a matter of time. She was afraid that he would actually kill them this time.

They sprinted through a ravine. How they got there she wasn't quite sure. Her lungs burned for air. Her legs ached, and she couldn't imagine her less fit human companion was faring any better. She dared not turn back to look even for a second. That could mean their lives.

She heard the heavy thump of the hunter behind them. Callum tripped and went down. She hurriedly turned around to help him up, but the hunter was on top of them. She readied her blades, expecting a fight for their lives.

Their pursuer didn't disappoint. He swung his blade at Rayla, which she easily sidestepped, but he caught her with a backhand that sent her reeling. She was quick to recover and dodged the next attack.

The hunter then turned to Callum, but Rayla intervened with a kick to the large elf's back, doing no damage. He swung his blade again, but the blow was unprepared and Rayla narrowly ducked under it, feeling the air off of it.

She was trying to tire him out, making him an easier opponent. This only seemed to make him more aggressive. "Exactly what I wanted," she thought.

It was Rayla's turn to attack. She paired her blades into a single strike, which the hunter wasn't prepared for. She made contact against his left shoulder, leaving two deep gashes. He growled at the pain, but ignored it to ready his counter attack.

He made for a stab at her, but she dove under it easily, slashing at the exposed part of his calf, leaving a long but shallow cut. Rayla made for him again, but he grabbed her left arm and in one swift motion he twisted it until he heard a snap and she dropped her blade. She screamed in pain, but didn't give up. She had fight in her yet.

She was fighting more defensively, now. Staying in front of him, not initiating combat. She was at a clear disadvantage. The hunter knew this. He became even more aggressive. One wrong move and she was dead, and she knew it.

He made for another backhand, and she dodged right into it, sending her to the ground, dazed. She felt herself being lifted up my her good arm. She struggled against him, to no avail.

The hunter squeezed her arm until he heard another snap, and she dropped her blade. He smiled. It was a disgusting expression.

Rayla saw Callum over the elf's shoulder. Why wasn't he doing anything? Why wasn't he trying to save her? All he did was stare.

She opened her mouth to call for him, and the hunter responded by bringing his blade across her throat. "Not today," he gloated as her blood sprayed over his face. She gasped for air, but only found the sickly fluid that entered her lungs. She attempted to cough, making more of a gurgling noise.

Why wasn't she dead yet?

The answer came when she jolted awake, drenched in sweat. She clutched her side, which ached from her heavy breathing. She tried to slow her breathing to reduce the pain in her ribs.

Her eyes focused in the darkness. She was still at the inn.

"Rayla?" She realized she had woken up the prince. "Are you alright?"

She could tell he was looking at her, but she stared at the wall opposite of them. An expression of fear written across her face.

"Rayla?" He called again after a moment of her not responding. "Are you okay? You're breathing kind of...heavily."

She briefly considered telling him the truth, but she was afraid he would try to coddle her. But there was a small part of her that wanted him to. She longed to feel loved and protected, amongst other emotions that seemed so foreign to her now.

She resolved to tell him the truth and recounted the events of her dream, but left out the detail where he didn't do anything to stop the hunter.

Callum got up and moved to the bathroom. He returned with a glass of water and handed it to her, which she gracefully accepted. True to her fear, the prince then got into bed next to her and hugged her. Normally the gesture would bring her comfort, this time it did the opposite. But she didn't have the heart to tell him, so she let it happen

Now was as good of a time as ever, she thought. Rayla tried to speak, instead she started sobbing. Callum rubbed her back to soothe her, letting her cry. She buried her face in his chest. The soft linen of his pajamas was welcoming.

After a few minutes she regained her composure enough to speak.

"C-Callum," her voice shook as she leaned back. "C-Callum, I...I-"

"Shhh, it's okay," he interrupted. "I know you're afraid. It's okay."

Tears found their way out again. She felt so hopeless and alone, even though the boy she was in love with held her in his arms.

Rayla cried until tears wouldn't come out anymore, and she just sat there heaving. After a few more minutes Callum eased the empty glass that she had been clutching out of her hands to refill it and brought back a rag for her to blow her nose in.

She attempted to say, "thank you," but her mouth wouldn't cooperate with her, so it came out more as a moan. Somehow the prince had been able to comprehend the meaning and said, "anything for you."

The words were meant to soothe and encourage, but instead they stung. "Then why didn't you let me confess?" She wanted to scream, but no sound came out. She hated feeling like this.

"Everything's going to be fine, Rayla." He smiled at her.

She scoffed, causing Callum to frown, but she didn't press her. She had told him enough for tonight. "Do you want me to stay with you?" He asked softly. She shook her head. She didn't see him frown, but she could feel it as he released her. Rayla immediately realized how much his touched had comforted her, and missed it as soon as it was gone.

"Wait," she halted him as he was walking to his makeshift bed. His expression was incredulous. "I, uh, wouldn't mind if you stayed with me. Might help me sleep better."

Callum could feel the nervousness in her voice and gave her a broad smile in response. "Sure."

He laid down beside her and she shifted, pressing her body into him. Callum draped his left arm around her waist. It was a different feeling than when she laid on Callum in the cave. There she had enjoyed the closeness of the moment, but it had been more for the fact that her ribs were broken. But here she needed to be soothed and comforted. She needed to feel like she was being protected.

It was uncomfortable for her at first. She almost felt more vulnerable than she even had before, and vulnerability wasn't exactly encouraged in Moonshadow elven culture, even amongst close friends and family.

But there was the smallest part of her being, buried deep within the repressed emotions from her childhood, that felt something. She felt safe.

She pressed her head into his hand, as Callum pet her hair until she fell asleep.