The waning moon rose, and Gloria watched over Seth as he slept. His breathing was slow and steady. To keep herself awake, Gloria picked blades of grass from the snow and weaved them into chains.

Suddenly Seth’s breathing changed. His breaths quickened and he jerked a bit in his sleep. Gloria could hear him mumbling in distress.

Gloria came over. “Seth? Are you alright?” He didn’t answer.

Gloria reached out her hand, drew a sigil, and focused a little magic into it. She reached out to touch Seth’s forehead that was beaded with sweat. But then Seth’s body went rigid, and his eyes opened.

Black eyes stared back at Gloria. “Oh, why hello Gloria,” The ice woman said. “Watching Seth while he sleeps? That’s a little naughty, don’t you think?” Seth’s body sat up and looked at her.

Gloria sat back and glared. “What are you doing here?”

Seth’s body put his head in his hands and looked at Gloria. “Because I wanted to see you.”

Gloria frowned. “Me?”

Seth’s face smiled and Gloria shuddered; the smile was spread too far. The ice woman spoke again. “I wanted to make sure you aren’t getting the wrong idea about Seth. Especially after that intimate hug.”

Gloria looked away and blushed. The ice woman chuckled. “Oh darling, that is nothing compared to the things I’ve seen.

The ice woman met Gloria’s eyes. “As a fellow woman, I thought you’d appreciate it if I told you that Seth doesn’t think of you the same way that you think of him. I’d hate for you to have your heart broken.”

Gloria’s eyes flared. “That’s not true!” She cried. “He just doesn’t know it yet! Kayla said-“

“You mean the old crone who knew Seth for only a few days and never saw what was in his mind?” The ice woman retorted. “I know what’s on his mind. I know who and what he thinks about and darling, you make him uncomfortable. Didn’t you see how he pulled away from that hug?”

Gloria’s lips trembled and she tried not to cry. The ice woman laughed.

Seth’s body stood and sauntered around Gloria. The ice woman continued. “He thought you were so desperate, clingy, and obnoxious. Seth deserves someone better than you.”

It felt as though a sharp nail had been driven through Gloria’s heart. A tear trickled down her cheek.

The ice woman laughed. “You don’t even know what haunts him at night. The dreams that torment him.” She leaned into Gloria’s ear and whispered. “But I do.”

Anger flared and Gloria spun around. She raised a hand, but the ice woman simply stared back. “Are you going to strike his face?” Gloria faltered. The ice woman cackled and offered Seth’s cheek. “Go on, little one. Hit him and explain how it happened.”

Gloria couldn’t stand it anymore. She put her face in her hands and wept.

The ice woman knelt beside Gloria and held her shoulders. She whispered in her ear, “If I were you, I would pack up and leave now. You just weigh him down and burden his mind. Why stay? You should just leave,” The ice woman handed Gloria her bag.

Gloria took the bag and dashed off through the snow weeping. That witch was right. Seth did deserve someone better than her. Gloria could tell how hard Seth was trying not to hurt her feelings earlier. She wished he had just told her the truth. She was a burden. She was useless. That’s all she ever was to anyone – Unwanted and unloved.

Gloria didn’t know where she was going, just away. Away from Seth and far away from her. Gloria ran until her vision was so thick with tears that she didn’t notice a rock on the ground.

Gloria tripped and fell over. She cried out in pain and held her ankle. Gloria tried to stand and run further, but it hurt after a few steps. Gloria sat down and tried to focus on her healing magic but she couldn’t stop sobbing. So Gloria gave up. She lay down, curled up, and cried herself to sleep.

----------------------------------------

Seth felt suspiciously well-rested. He heard birds chirping and sensed the sun’s faint warmth. He frowned. Did Gloria let me sleep all night? She was supposed to wake me up!

Seth opened his eyes and looked around; he didn’t see Gloria. He glanced around the small campsite; No sign of her. Seth jumped to his feet and peered above the grass; Still nothing.

“Gloria?” Seth called, hoping that maybe she had wandered a short distance for some reason. Silence answered him. “Gloria!” He called out again, louder this time. Only the breeze answered him.

Panic rose in Seth. Where is she? Did something happen? Is she okay?

Seth spun back to the camp to search for clues. His coat was on the ground folded neatly, but Gloria’s coat and her bag were missing.

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Did she leave? Seth’s heart dropped.

The ice woman reared her head. She left around midnight.

Seth was suspicious. “What did you do?” He demanded.

The ice woman feigned innocence. I did nothing. I merely noticed that she packed her things and left. The ice woman shook her head. Ungrateful, after everything you’ve done for her, to leave in the middle of the night.

“Liar,” Seth growled. He scanned the ground. There had to be footprints or something! The ice woman raised an eyebrow. You’re going to look for her, after what she did?

Seth ignored her. Aha! He found his clue. On the ground, he saw footprints heading north. Seth furrowed his brow. North is an odd direction. He thought.

Seth noticed the grass. It was bent and pushed aside as though something had crashed through. Gloria had run.

Why? What happened? Seth was determined to find out. He picked up his bag, tied his coat around his neck, then followed the trail.

It’s pointless to look for her, The ice woman said as Seth pushed through the grass. She doesn’t want you to follow her.

“Shut up,” Seth growled. “You and I both know that’s not true. You did something. It’s not like Gloria to do this.”

Are you sure? She challenged. She is hiding secrets just like you. How much do you really know about her?

Seth halted for a moment, then he shook his head and kept going; She was just messing with his head.

The ice woman laughed. Fine, I can tell I’m not fooling you; I’ll tell you the truth then. I helped her realize that it would be best for her to leave. That she’s a burden to you and you’d much rather be alone.

Seth froze for a moment. “How did you…?" Realization dawned on him.

The ice woman chuckled. You should’ve seen her face when I used your face to tell her how useless she was. The ice woman looked at her nails. I wouldn’t be surprised if she couldn’t stand to see you now.

Seth’s heart pounded and his pace quickened. He had to find her! “Gloria!” He cried out, now full-on running through the grass. “Gloria!”

You don’t need her. The ice woman purred. Seth felt a chill slide down his cheek. You have me.

Seth’s skin crawled and he wrenched himself back. “Keep your hands to yourself!” He spat.

The ice woman cackled. You are mine; I can do whatever I wish.

“Not yet, I’m not.” Seth retorted as he blazed through the grass.

He ran a bit further, then he saw the grass rustle. “Gloria?” Seth called. No one answered. Seth tip-toed over and parted the grass. He saw Gloria crawling away from him.

She looked back at Seth and waved a hand at him. “Go away!” She sobbed.

Seth felt relief and worry. He glanced down and saw Gloria’s swollen right foot. She was hurt!

Seth slowly came down to Gloria’s level. “Gloria, are you alright?” He slowly reached a hand out to her foot.

Gloria slapped his hand away. “No! Let me be!” Gloria buried her face in her hands and continued to sob.

“Gloria, why did you run?”

“Just go.” Gloria cried. “You don’t need me. You were going to leave me in Westfjord anyway. Just go now!” Gloria started to crawl away again.

Seth reached out and grabbed Gloria’s arm. She fought him, but Seth held on until Gloria’s tear-stained face looked up at him.

She hiccupped. “You think I’m a burden, don’t you?”

“No,” Seth answered. “You’re not.”

“But she said she knew your thoughts and-”

“She is a liar.” Seth said firmly. “Do you hear me? Do not trust anything she says. Especially when it’s about me. You are not a burden; you are not useless.”

“But I couldn’t move the grass!”

Seth loosened his grip on Gloria’s arm. “Of course you couldn’t,” Seth answered. “I don’t know much about it, but you’re using nature-based magic, right? Well, everything is getting buried in snow, so of course it won’t work.”

“You’re not disappointed in me?” Seth saw Gloria search his eyes.

Seth shook his head and sat back. “No, not at all.” He sighed. “It may help to understand, that for the last several years I haven’t had to worry about anyone else – Just me. Now all of a sudden, I need to think about someone else’s needs, their safety, warmth, and food. I’ve never had to think that way before. It’s…an adjustment.”

Gloria sniffled. “Do you want me to come with you?”

There was a momentary temptation. This was his chance! He could tell her to go home, and she would go! Seth pushed the temptation away. He smiled and laughed gently. “Now who was just telling me the other day about how I was stuck with her?”

Gloria’s eyes quivered, but she managed a small laugh. “I suppose, but what about after we get to Westfjord?”

Seth hesitated. He wasn’t sure what to expect when they got there. “I guess we’ll just have to see where our path leads us when we get there.” Seth could tell Gloria wasn’t entirely satisfied with the answer, but to be honest, neither was he.

“Let’s have a look at your foot,” Seth said, changing the subject.

Gloria winced as she pulled her foot over. “I think I twisted it or something.” She said gingerly touching it.

Seth gently packed snow around her foot. “Does that help?”

Gloria tensed for a moment, then relaxed. “Yes. I was going to try and use my healing magic on it.”

“Are you sure?” Seth asked. “It drained your energy last time.”

Gloria grimaced. “It always does that. If I don’t, it could take a couple of days to heal. But if I use my magic, I’ll be able to walk tomorrow.”

Seth weighed the choices, and then he nodded. “Alright, after you cast your healing spell, I will carry you.”

Gloria’s face flushed. “You don’t need to carry me! I’ll be fine here.”

Seth shook his head. “I don’t mind,” he said. “Besides, this way we continue moving and get to Westfjord faster and I don’t want you getting caught in a blizzard again.”

“Alright,” Gloria answered softly.

Seth watched Gloria concentrate on her spell. He watched her write the golden sigils in the air. He marveled and wished he could know what magic this was. Then the ice woman’s words came back to him: She hides secrets of her own…

Seth shook his head. Gloria had promised that she would share her past. Once you share your own. He reminded himself. Knowledge has a price.

Gloria finished her spell. The swelling in her foot was significantly reduced. Now it looked just a little puffy. “It’s done,” she said with a strained voice and tried not to wobble.

Seth took her hands and wrapped them around his neck. “Let’s go,” he said lifting Gloria up. Her head drooped on his shoulder and Seth turned and followed the trail back to their campsite.

Seth listened to Gloria’s soft breathing in his ears. The same feelings he had when she hugged him welled up inside and his face grew hot. He tried to think of something else. He ran his mind through old exercises and complex theories Master Naboth had taught him, but he fumbled over his words and his mind became fuzzy.

Seth growled in frustration. Then an epiphany struck him, and he stopped dead in his tracks. Could these feelings be from some kind of spell Gloria had cast on him? No, that’s ridiculous. He thought. She wouldn’t do that... would she?

He cautiously glanced back at Gloria. Her face was drawn with exhaustion. Seth shook his head and berated himself for being so stupid. No, of course not. He told himself. Then Seth continued on the trail back, feeling a bit sheepish, but the unusual feelings remained.