Costs//A MCD Fanfiction//Sequel to 'Immortality'

27

Nathan's POV: 

"You need to trust her Nate,", Mary urged me. "Gabbie was only thinking the bigger picture. You know for a fact that if Quill was in any danger, she would stay and help him." 

"He was surrounded Mary,", I snapped back. "Him and Esmund were in danger and she looked into their eyes and left." 

"She was doing what was right for Ru'an,", My sister said, eyes narrowed. "Quill knows that. As her guard, you should know that." 

"I'm not her guard. She's not a Lord." 

Mary sighed and then left my tent. The past two days now she's been arguing with me on how I treated Gabriella before she left. Was I harsh? Maybe. But, my twin brother is now in the clutches of that maniac and there's nothing I can do for him. All because she left him behind. 

"Quill...what would you do if it was me?" 

I laid back on my cot, thinking. Part of me knew that it was Quill's intention to be left behind. I heard him telling us to go. What hurt though is that Gabriella listened. We saved her five years ago...why was she so willing let him go? 

"Oh my Irene...Gabbie!", I heard Mary shout outside my tent. I sat up and bolted out. There I saw the group again with more people. They all looked tired...some hungry. 

"What's going on?", I demanded, walking up to them. 

"These are refugees from the city,", Zane told me. He was holding who I assume was his child. He looked confused. As any child would be in a new environment. "Penny gave them refuge at a camp outside of O'Khasis but, we ran into Enki and Shad there...more specifically, Grey and Ella did. Who knows who else was there. They could've seen the camp reported it. That's why we brought them here." 

"Are Grey and Ella okay?", Mary asked, concerned. 

"Yes...Ella just has a few bruises but, she'll be fine,", Dylan chimed in. "They're helping Penny with the refugees if you want to check up on them." 

Mary and I looked at each other and I knew she wanted me to go alone to apologize. The thing is though is that I didn't think I had anything to apologize for. My brother was gone and I think it's reasonable to be upset. Yet, there was a part of me that was still worried about her...and I knew Mary would kill me if i didn't say hi. So I begrudgingly made my way over to Gabriella, Grey, and I came to the conclusion was Penny. They were helping people find a place to rest after the rather long hike. Grey was the first to meet my eyes. He glared at me like I was some enemy. I didn't pay him much mind though. Gabbie was the next one to look back. She saw me and I was shocked to see a small smile come to her face. 

"Hey Nate...", She said, gently, as if she were to say it too loud, I would break. 

"Hey,", I say awkwardly. That's when I noticed a large bruise on her arm then I cut on her left cheek. "Gabbie...what happened to you?" 

"Oh you know...daily encounter with danger,", She joked, as if to brush it all off. I reached out though to look at her bruise and when my fingers grazed it, she flinched. That seemed to set of elf boy because he grabbed my wrist and spat; "Watch it. You're hurting her." 

"I'm just examining it,", I defended myself, pulling my wrist back. "My sister has healing magic that I think can help." 

"Well, maybe she wouldn't need it if her most trusted knight was there to defend her,", Grey said through gritted teeth. 

"Where were you then? Helping Santa make toys for Christmas?"

At this point, I wasn't mad at Gabriella any longer. It was this dude who was poking my nerves. I may not have chosen to go for my own personal reasons but, Gabbie was still my friend. I still cared for her no matter how much I didn't want to at this moment. Grey's face went red with rage.