Darkness Descending

Chapter 3

The next morning came around and the dishwater haired thief was still sound asleep on the couch, however, unlike the other day he was mostly dry and regained some of his color back in his skin. Oliver walked into the living room with a yawn looking around with tired hazel eyes he had to laugh when he saw the normally pale skin man still asleep peacefully on his couch. Oliver walked over to him before tapping the side of Samuel's nose knowing how much he hated it even in his sleep he took on an angry look batting the tan hand away. Oliver did so again grinning slightly only to get a small growl from the sleeping man who slapped the hand away grumbling he rolled over pressing his face against the back of the couch. Oliver said, wearing a small grin as he spoke:" Sam get up or I'll do it again." Sam just curled up on himself protectively when Oliver let out a sigh knowing he wasn't going to make this easy. Leaning over the back of the couch getting a safe enough distance away from Samuel's ear to pull himself back Oliver shouted:" Sam they're breaking in help me!"

Samuel bolted upright as Oliver yanked himself away barely avoiding a blow to his chest as Sam went to strike a startled yet threatening look in his tired blurry dark cyan eyes. Oliver stood there silent to avoid provoking the shorter man into attack when the realization finally dawned on Sam that it was no threat, but instead his friend. He blinked a few times before asking" Ollie what just happened and why are you standing like something is about to lunge at you?" "You really have a horrible memory when you're tired you nearly punched me because I startled you," Oliver stated. Samuel just yawned sluggishly rubbing his eyes as if trying to dispell the sleep in them completely ignoring the comment or at least seeming to. Oliver went to the kitchen as Sam followed after him hunger almost seeming to drive him towards it. When Sam took a seat Oliver had started heating the food he cooked the other night that had been interrupted by a noble's guards that were after Sam.

"Sam I saw that map I couldn't really help myself after I saw container just laying there I wanted to see what you were planning next," Oliver spoke with a slightly guilty tone. A slam echoed across the room as Samuel stood up his hands on the table his eyes seemed darker than usual. When he spoke, his voice was flat" you're not helping me, Oliver, I will not repeat myself everyone already had a say in this that's why I'm the only one who's ever risking being caught." "It's not right Sam I don't give a fuck what you or the village says you shouldn't be the only one risking your life to keep the nobles from taking over!" shouted an enraged looking Oliver. Steady calm cyan eyes met firey hazel eyes before Samuel calmly stated" the nobles are none of your concern this village has enough funds, for now, to keep them from taking this land. That is my concern is keeping them from taking this land and turn it from a bad situation to a horrible situation we both know they will sink this village into poverty if I don't do this."

Oliver let out a sigh lowering his gaze turning back to the food as he spoke softly this time saying" it doesn't mean I feel you should do this alone this is my home as well Sam. I just want to help you in protecting it for once instead of sitting by and watch my best friend rush off into danger knowing I can only hope you return safely." The silence that followed was almost deafening and the tension that hung in the air was nearly suffocating. Finally when Oliver had plated the food did the silence break only for a moment before returning as he put the plates on the table. It stayed this way only for a few minutes that nearly seemed like hours to both men when a whisper caught Oliver's attention. Samuel had his head down when he whispered:" if I allow you to come it'd only be once no more. I don't want anyone to get hurt because of the fact I can't focus on them and the goal." Oliver brightened up however Samuel looked as if he was deep in thought his soft angled eyebrows furrowed in thought. If one didn't know Sam well enough they would have thought he was just deep in thought however Oliver said, lightly patting Sam's back to gain his attention" Sam calm down I'll be fine. We both know you're anxious about this, but you causing yourself to run so many scenarios in your mind will only make you even more anxious than you are now."

Samuel just looked away starting to eat while Oliver let out a sigh knowing that he wasn't going to get his way and that the dark cyan eyed male would just continue to overthink. Getting up Oliver went to check on Sam's once soaked coat that was set out on a towel that was sitting on the countertop. He ran a hand over the outside edge in the light it appeared that it wasn't just black. The coat had dark grey on the shoulders with a small white line that ran right under the grey. Oliver stated, after feeling the fabric was dry" you're coat's dry by the way." He folded the coat setting it on the back of the couch before asking" when are we leaving?" "Later tonight it's better to work in the dark however it is dangerous as well so you'll have to stick close it's about five hours from here though we have to cross through a hostile noble's land," Sam told Oliver.

The rest of the day Oliver had gone out to collect supplies while Samuel slept trying to regain the energy he spent fleeing the guards. When dusk came around Oliver said, shaking Sam's shoulder" come one Sam it's time to go it's dusk if we head out now we'll get back in no time." The shorter male grumbled getting up he grabbed his coat slipping it on saying" alright fine, but we can't play around word's probably got out that I have the map and will most likely be on my way there. Most of the surrounding area will be crawling with guards by now so we can't be lax with going anywhere outside of this village." The taller man looked almost giddy to be leaving the village for something outside of trading supplies with other villages and towns. Sam let out an annoyed sigh shaking his head as he took hold of the silver canister holding the map as he said:" keep up we can't slow down."

The two took off into the night heading towards the forest as quickly as they could with a strong wind fighting against them. Oliver kept up as much as he could with Sam's speed for a five-foot-three-inch man he was quite quick running in small bursts to conserve energy rather than sprinting fully. Oliver asked, panting a bit as he tried to keep up" you know for someone who has trouble with their lungs you're pretty fast, how is that even possible?" Sam laughed a bit before he said:" it's because I've had a lot of practice before I only struggled to get from the guards however if you run in short bursts you'll cover more ground. Well, it works for me anyways uses less energy to do so, either way, I suggest you try it or you'll lose ground." Oliver let out a groan as he watched Sam take off in short strides resting for four steps after every what appeared to be ten leaping steps. Deciding it was worth a try he did so as well stumbling at first before getting into the stride with a small smile seeing what Samuel was stating.

They cleared the forest in no time when Sam came to a sudden halt at the edge his eyes narrowing as he stated:" we're on the edge of the noble's land now's the tricky part." Oliver looked out across the land seeing silhouettes of guards spread across the land trying not to reveal themselves almost as if they were waiting. The hazel-eyed man gulped as it finally dawned on him how dangerous this could get if they so much as stepped wrong into the field. Sam lightly rested a hand on his friend's shoulder as he spoke softly" Ollie just stay close I've done this a couple of times before." Oliver gave a small nod before Samuel smiled slightly turning back to the field he stepped into it bending down he carefully made his way to the nearest cover, besides the somewhat tall grass, being a hedge further down a guard's silhouette nearby it. Tense Oliver followed Sam's lead hoping that the guard wasn't going to notice either of them as they made their way closer to the hedge.

(Notes - Samuel Reeds medical issue with his lungs is Asthma if no one figured it out)