Worlds Apart

Chapter Three

Aili could feel the cold seeping through her body, the dampness of her hair making her worry as another's worried yelling filled her ears. A soft yet stern voice rang through her ears followed by a language she hadn't nearly heard in thousands of years. Groaning softly as her arm slowly rose to meet the injured part of her head, her eyes slowly opening. She could remember going to the auction house, waiting for the Crown piece... and then- oh... 

Her eyes widened as she realized what had happened, and who was carrying her. It was not Nuada, but Wink who had been transporting her. She could tell that much by the rough jostling of her body and large arm securing her in place on a large shoulder. Not to mention the trollish language that was being spoken so close to her ear. 

"For the last time... I am not worried about her. I am simply stating that you could have hit her a bit lighter! The injury is severe and now we must tend to her wound before she bleeds to death." The elven Prince said, irritated by his friend's teasing. She could tell that he wasn't serious, she had always been able to read him easily. He wasn't angry at Wink, he was upset with her. And she could feel it.

"I would like to be put down, please." She said, Wink flinching at the new sound of another voice and making her head jerk and a hiss of pain leave her. "I mean no offense, but could you not flinch? You hit me quite hard and I am not very happy about this." The troll grumbled at that remark. She supposed by the way his head had turned, that he was looking to his Prince for permission.

"You may sit her down... gently- she is already slow and can treat her own wound before we arrive." Nuada said, not wanting to seem worried and giving her the cold shoulder instead. 

Wink sat the woman down gently as he was instructed. Making sure she didn't fall as the blood flow returned to her legs. "Be careful." Wink warned, he looked like a brutish and harsh troll but had a heart of gold. Full of loyalty until the very end. She simply nodded. She knew basic words in his language, before the war between the humans and the Golden Army Wink had taught her basic words. Per her request of course. She never thought she would be where she is now, glaring at her betrothed as words of anger spewed from her mouth.

"Thank you, Mr. Wink. And I suppose bringing an injured woman is not the most ideal way to travel. You should have left me to die if all you wanted was for me to watch you descend further into the chaos you deem to be the solution of everything. That army is a curse." Aili scolded, she could feel the wound slowly closing with her hand over it. Her power was weak without the necessary source she used to replenish them.

"That army will save our people!" Nuada snapped, spinning around to look at her with a fiery glare.

"But at what cost, Nuada! There are innocent people out there who know nothing of the war! Of our people!-" Aili began to argue, being cut off by Nuada before she could finish. A look of anguish on his face as he sneered in her direction.

"Innocent people? Aili, do you hear yourself!? What about your parents!? Have you forgiven them for killing your kin?" Nuada asked, his voice seething as her eyes widened. He'd had the nerve... the ignorance-

She could feel all the bubbling emotion she had hidden inside herself begin to rise. Clenching her jaw as she fought back the urge to slap him, to scream at him, to cry. How dare he! Her breaths were shallow and shaky as she practically glared holes into his face. He had realized what he had said too late, the burning fury in her expression masking the immense pool of grief that she radiated.

"I have never forgiven them... for what they had done." She started to say, her golden eyes stinging with tears. "But I cannot undo what has been done, Nuada. And I refuse to stoop down to their level and return the same grief to others! If you dare to bring my losses to light again in order to wake that wretched Army, I swear upon everything I hold close that I will never speak to you again nor will I even glance in your direction! I am not another person to be taken advantage of! It is high time that you learned that for yourself!" Aili fumed, her voice loud as her back straightened and she balled her hands at her sides. Slowly approaching him with each sentence and only stopping when directly in front of him and glaring into his eyes.
"I despise them for what they've done! But the humans who committed these crimes are dead and gone! This is a new era. This is our chance to make things right." She said, her voice slowly softening as her face remained stern and her fists unclenched. She had to calm down. This would do nothing, and she knew it.

Aili stepped back, distancing herself as she let out a sigh. The injury was healed now and they had to keep traveling. There was a heavy silence as she blinked the tears away and got ahold of herself. Going to wipe them away only to realize that Nuada had done it for her. Now holding her softly as he silently apologized to her. Wink shifting uncomfortably at the display of affection between the two.

"Travel... still far." Wink said, as Aili gently brought herself out of Nuada's hold. 

"Wink is right. We must continue our journey if we are to make it to- wherever you were headed." Aili stated. Making the elven Prince sigh as Wink chuckled. 

"Right. Shall we?" Nuada said in agreement, holding out his arm for her at least wanting her at his side. He had been without her in exile for far too long. To his relief, she linked her arm with his as Wink huffed in slight disgust.

"Oh don't be like that, would you rather we argue the entire time?" Aili joked, a small smile replacing the frown.

"Yes" Wink replied, making her shake her head in amusement as the three had returned to their journey with a new addition and a very uncomfortable Mr. Wink.