The Lost Bellator

Eight

Argenti

Arlaige merely stared. Of all things he had expected, he hadn't expected this.

She was fierce, like a burning pyre, but past that, past the anger, the warrior she was...she was broken. And for someone this strong to be broken...it terrified him. He had no words, could not console her. How could he? He didn't even know her, didn't understand her.

So he stood before her, his lips parted, and stared. It was hard to hold her gaze, to stare into those swirling silver eyes, but he did. He did until words found him.

"What did they do to you?"

The wrong words to say. She straightened, her jaw set. She turned and stalked off, leaving him alone and disappearing before he could get another word out. He didn't bother following her, her knew that she could easily evade him, she had evaded others for centuries. So he didn't try. And the wind returned.

He sat by his fire after picking up his weapon, and stared into it, completely hopeless.

What was he to do? How had he come this far, endured so much, just to drive her away? What could he offer to her to get her to help him? But he knew it to be pointless. She had not shown herself in over a century and a mere human like him would not be the turning point for her. No. Arlaige needed to leave. He had hoped and prayed on a warrior, and a warrior he got, but a cold one at that.

He needed to leave before he died in these woods, before his sister died. He would be with her when she did. He grit his teeth at the thought. No. He would not give up, a coward gave up, and he was no coward.

He threw his bow from his side, standing up and stalking into the woods.

"Bellator!" He calls, moving through the dense trees. "You would let me die rather then face your fears!"

He knew he was playing a dangerous game, but he now had nothing left to lose. He would do anything to save his sister.

"Bellator!" He calls again. Anger kept him warm as he threw his pelt from him, leaving him only in his cloak.

"You would let my people die over your own pride? A defenseless girl? You would let a tyrant king rule? Where is your valiance?" He hisses.

A sharp crack once more sounded behind him and he whirled to find her standing behind him once more. Her hood was down, exposing her face. She merely looked sad, no anger on her features. He faltered a step.

"You..." She breathes much to his surprise, his eyes meeting hers.

"You are quite different." She mumbles, more to herself than to him. She kept her gaze steady on his, almost as if she was trying to figure him out. Arlaige stays quiet.

"I know that you speak, Arlaige. Why now when I speak to you, do you say nothing?" She asks, causing him to take a step back from her. Chills racked his body, but it wasn't from the cold.

"You know my name." He says, not a question. He hadn't told her. He kept his eyes on a tree beside her, he didn't think he could handle her stare any longer. It turned his bones over in his skin. But his eyes flick back to hers, wide, full of curiosity.

"But I do not know yours." He whispers. She undeniably stiffens, but says nothing.

"Why do I not know your name?" He questions. "Why-."

"I do not have a name." She deadpans, turning away from him.

"I will gather more wood for your fire. You should do well to keep yourself."

She walks away from him, disappearing between the trees once more. Arlaige stood there for a moment, taken by surprise, before he goes back to his fire and settles down.

___

She returned, much to his surprise, and kept her word, wood now in her arms, and she settles across the fire from him. The cold snow didn't seem to bother her, and Arlaige itched to know if she felt it at all. She mustn't have if she lived in the mountains, it was always cold. Surely she wouldn't put herself through that if she felt it, right?

"The cold..." She says, answering his thoughts. "Reminds me that I am alive."

He jumps at her voice, it still astounded him, how rough it was. Like rocks grinding together. He didn't think he would get used to the sound.

"So you can feel it?"

She looks up at him over the fire. It looked like the flames were leaping in her eyes for a moment, but she blinked and the moment was gone.

"I feel and do not feel all at once."

She spoke in riddles. Or maybe she just didn't know how to interact with him. He wasn't entirely sure she knew how to talk to anyone, so maybe this was her way of making conversation. If this could even be considered a conversation.

"Why did you not answer me...before." He says. "When I asked about what they did to you."

He is met with silence, he figured that much.

"I assume that from you being here, you will join me?"

Silence. He stares at the snow, kicking at it.

"Are we going to sit in silence for the rest of our time together?" He hisses, meeting her gaze again. She merely stared at him.

"I cannot get into your head. Your barriers are strong." She says after a moment, and she stands up and turns away from him.

His head? Like...she could read his thoughts?

"T-that's it?" He questions. "You are leaving? Again."

She doesn't turn. "I have not yet decided." She looks over her shoulder. "You need not fear of the forest. Nothing will harm you."

She takes a step and then stops again. " I will be back at dawn."

And she turns back towards the trees and disappears in them without a sound.

___