Ever After One-shots

Goodnight Rory

Just a Chase and Rory one-shot taking place in Of Sorcery and Snow. Sorry if it sucks, please give me feedback. 

This evening's sunset looked stunning against the rolling snow covered planes of the Arctic. I probably would have enjoyed this scene even more if my legs didn't feel like Jell-O. I felt like I couldn't take even one more step without collapsing, but I did. I had to.

Miriam was desperate to reach her brother in time, and I couldn't bear to be the one to tell her we needed to stop. So, I trudged on, every step I took an effort. I had just reached the top of a snow drift when my legs protested. They buckled and I felt myself falling back. Fear clutched at my chest for a split second before strong arms wrapped around my waist from behind.

The pair off arms helped steady me and their owner walked up to where I was now standing. It was Chase of course, always catching me when I fell. I was certain he would start teasing me about my clumsiness or make a joke about how I sure did fall a lot for someone afraid of heights. But he didn't. Instead he looked right at me and said,

"Are you okay?" The response itself took me by surprise but it wasn't just that. His blue eyes were filled with concern and his eyebrows were all scrunched together. He actually looked kind of cute...no, I mean no. I guess it was nice to know that he cared, but no. What had gotten into me anyway? I just then realized that he had asked me a question and that I probably looked like an idiot just staring at him.

"Ummm...yeah. Yeah, I'm fine. Just tired, I guess. I mean from all the walking. But it's fine we don't have to stop now. I'm fine. Yeah totally fine," I blabbered feeling my cheeks heat up.

"Are you sure? I can tell Miriam we need to stop soon..." Chase said still looking a little worried. I did not want everyone to have to stop because of me, so I told Chase,

"No no. I'm fine. Honestly." And to prove my point, since he still looked like he didn't believe me, I took a few steps forward. Or at least I tried to. My legs wobbled again, and I had to steady myself by grabbing Chase's arm.

"So, do you still want to keep insisting your fine or should I go tell Miriam now?" he said after I had steadied myself. I sighed knowing that he was right and kind of hating it.

"Okay fine. You can tell her. I just hate being the one who's slowing down the quest. Especially when there's so much on the line." I confided in him.

"Yeah I know. But remember this quest wouldn't even be happening if it weren't for you." He said looking me straight in the eye. Then he said in a very different voice,

"I mean, if you really don't want to hold everyone up by stopping..." He paused obviously wanting me to ask.

"What?" I said playing along. He grinned at me mischievously, and said,

"I could carry you." This was the Chase I was used to. Always teasing and making jokes. I rolled my eyes and gave him a look like "seriously".

"Yes, I'm serious. Even if we do stop now you would still have to walk to we're Lena and Miriam are," he said with a smirk, "And I don't think that's going to happen." I looked ahead to see how far ahead they were and was shocked. They were two tiny dots on the horizon. I hadn't realized how long I had been stopped. Maybe if I tried again I could...

"Okay I'm going to take your silence as a yes," Chase said as he put his arms around me. I realized what he was doing and tried to squirm out of his grip. But with no luck. He lifted me up and started carrying me bridal style across the snowy landscape.

"Chase put me down!" I said still trying to push myself away from him. I did NOT want anyone to see Chase carrying me. The teasing from him and the others would last for weeks. I tried to push myself away from him, but to no avail. Eventually I stopped trying to break free, realizing it was pointless. Chase was a lot stronger than I realized. He kept walking as the sun went down. As the beautiful lightning disappeared, so did the slight warmth it had brought.

I looked in my hand where I held my dragon scale and saw that it had shrunk to the size of a dime. I started to shiver, and my teeth chattered. Seeing my discomfort Chase pulled my closer to his chest. I did feel a little warmer now and snuggled closer to him. Of course, just for the heat, it had nothing to do with the warm fluttery feeling I got whenever I was touching him. He glanced down at me and his blue eyes looked so big. This made me realize how close his face was to mine. And then I yawned. It disrupted whatever trance we had both been in, and Chase went back to looking straight ahead.

"You tired?" He said. I nodded my head a little bit, too exhausted to talk. I could feel my eyes fluttering. I rested my head on his shoulder and let my eyes close for a moment. The last thing that registered in my brain before falling into a deep dreamless sleep was Chase whispering,

"Goodnight, Rory."