Leaving the sword in the dire wolf’s skull, Cyrus picked up his cloak and gently tossed it at the girl.             

“Here, put this on. It’s a little chilly out this morning.” He turned around and walked toward the wolf but stopped. “Also, if you want something to eat, you might want to follow me. And you could run away again, but let’s be honest, you’d probably die out there if the past couple minutes were any indication” Cyrus continued to walk without looking back. He hoped he had not been too harsh, but he knew he shouldn’t force her to do anything.

If his senses weren’t so acute, he probably wouldn’t have known that she ran away until it was too late. Waking up as soon as he heard footsteps, he rushed downstairs to find that she had left. Not even bothering to put his gear on, just taking his sword, he ran after her. Luckily, he had been there when the dire wolf heard her so he was able to kill it just in time. Although, he won’t tell her that he let it chase her longer he could have, to add a sense of fear into the forest and hope that it would help her trust him.

He ripped the sword out of monster’s head and dragged it by its jaws. He walked slowly, not because the body was too heavy but because he was waiting for the female elf to gather her wits.

Although dazed, she shakily put the cloak on and followed him nervously looking around at the slightest movements in the woods. She knew she would not be able to survive on her own any longer and had to take the chance, no matter how suspicious the man seemed to be.

After a short thirty minute walk, Cyrus walked out into a sandy bank with a large lake ahead. He left the wolf’s carcass near the bank and walked up to the frail elf. He took his sword out of the scabbard, causing her to shrink away, but Cyrus only flipped the sword handing her the hilt.

“I’m gonna gather some firewood, you stay here. You probably don’t trust me yet so I’ll let you hold onto the sword if it makes you feel any better.” She only stared at his ears. “And yes, if it makes you feel better, I am an elf and I live around here. Also, you might want to wash up. I promise I won’t look.” She finally nodded, slightly more relaxed, and tried to take the sword. The sword, being apparently very heavy, caused her to drag the sword across the ground as she walked towards the carcass.

While he collected firewood along the tree line, Cyrus was sure he could hear her trying to stifle her crying.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

The fire crackled and the smell of roasted meat permeated the air. Light smoke rose in the air and stretched towards the skies, dispersing at the slightest push of the wind.

Cyrus watched the light dance on the surface of the lake. He made sure the meat stil wasn’t uncooked and the large black hide was drying properly.

“So, uh, Princess Aradhel, you’re telling me that you only remember being hit and that they forced you to do some stuff with your mouth?” Cyrus curiously looked at the elf across from him.

“Please call me Aradhel, I don’t really like titles. And yes, that is all I remember of those men,” her face was downcast and she barely whispered the last part. She had finally relaxed enough to talk, especially when he had told her she could hold onto the sword during breakfast. Although Cyrus had not said too much about himself, he had told her enough to trust him somewhat it seemed like. Although, Cyrus was quite sure part of that may have to do with the fact that he was also an elf. He was quite surprised when she had told him that she was the princess of the Elven Kingdom.

Well, I really don’t know if I should tell her what happened. I think I’ll let it go. I don’t know how I would break it to her anyways, Cyrus quickly fired thought after thought questioning his role.

“Ah ok, well at least nothing went too far, I guess.” Cyrus cringed at his response. “So, what is a princess doing out here, alone nonetheless?” Cyrus handed her some skewered meat, its oily fat dripping down the tender red meat.

Her petite figure was dwarfed in the cloak that she now properly wore. Grateful, she took a bite of the meat and opened her eyes. With each bite, she would rip another piece off of the wooden skewers and the oil dripped down her chin unnoticed.

If she hadn’t told him that she was around a hundred years old, he probably would have guessed her to be anywhere from sixteen to eighteen, especially with her small stature and body development. She reached around Cyrus’s chest height, around five feet. Not that Cyrus knew if that was a normal elf height or not since you could customize to a certain extent in the game.

Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

“I… I’m looking for my older brother. I haven’t heard back from him and he always writes me once a week.” Aradhel had a very shy demeanor, but he wasn’t sure if she was normally like this. “King Elr– my father, he probably knows by now about me going to see what happened to my brother, but he probably doesn’t care what happens to me.”

Cyrus didn’t miss the fact that she nearly called the king by his name. “Why would the king of an entire kingdom not care about his only daughter? I won’t force you to tell me, it seems like something you’re uncomfortable with. But the more you tell me, the more I can help. Maybe even help with your brother.”

She looked up quickly with a little hope before looking back down, but Cyrus knew that he may have hooked her there. “The truth is, King Elron is not really mine and my brother’s father. Queen Gwendelyn is infertile and he found us at an orphanage he visited during one of his travels. To be honest, he didn’t want to take me, he only wanted my brother. But my brother refused to go unless I could go as well.” She smiled when she mentioned her brother. “I have a chronic illness, and no magic or medicine can cure it. The king didn’t want anything to do with someone like that, but my brother was a prince before he even became one. He was smart, always had friends, and he never stopped taking care of me. I never amounted to anything, not even magic.” By this point, tears were trickling down her slim face. “But I know my brother, he would never forget to write me back. I asked the king if he could help me figure it out, but he never listens to me unless my brother asks him too.”

She looked up at Cyrus again, this time without tears, but with determination. “Please help me find out what happened to my brother.”

Cyrus was momentarily stunned, not because of the story but because that sounded like her entire life story and it sounded like the truth too. Why should would put so much trust in him now, he did not know.

Maybe he should have started with her brother first, Cyrus joked with himself. He stared at the determined face and made up his mind, “I have some business in Elderon regardless. I guess, we can go together, but I won’t promise to risk losing my life for your brother. Is that fine with you?”

Cyrus had decided to help where he could, but what he really wanted was more information. The city would be a good start but there would be no one better than someone who was royalty.

Aradhel only nodded, fully knowing that she could not ask for more than that.

“First we need to go back to the house, so I can get my gear. We’ll get you some clothes at the nearest settlement. How far away is Fendrel from the border?” In the game, Cyrus could fast-travel, but he knew that would be impossible here.

Cyrus kicked some sand into the fire. He wrapped up the rest of the raw meat with the dire wolf’s pelt, but Cyrus could not help but wish for the convenience of the menu.

Aradhel put a finger on her chin as she thought, “I believe it would be about three days ride on horse. And thank you. For everything.” She looked down again, this time her concentration on the sword, while she clutched at the cloak with both hands.

Cyrus could only smile at the girl, already ruining his hopes for a quiet life. He knew that getting to the prince would not be as simple as fighting several bandits. But maybe that’s the kind of life he wanted, he didn’t know.

He turned around and began walking, “Alright, let’s go. You may be sick, but I won’t take it easy on the trip.” Cyrus paused. “And as payment for my services, you can hold onto the sword for me.”

Aradhel walked to catch up, both hands on the hilt, but she could only struggle as she dragged the sword through the forest. As they both walked, Cyrus could only wonder if she had some type of brother-complex.

A/N: I think I finally found the death of me and my writing: non-action scenes. It's quite hard for me to write something like this I found out and not the most enjoyable either. Anyways, I just wanted to let everyone know that college will be starting up soon for me and I doubt I will have much writing time. Just a heads up. Don't know if I'll be able to continue or try to work through it, but as a college student with a part-time job, I have more on plate than to worry about a novel that was meant just for fun. It's up to the rest of you guys if you want to keep reading or not. Regardless, hope you enjoy the chapter.

Also, do you guys think this story would be better read as a first person or as is? And I can try one chapter as a first person