After that, I went back to our tent, where I found both of my companions fast asleep in their sleeping bag. Well, at least that was what I believed until Aria pointed a predictively dull question towards me.

“So you are back? Did they demand to relinquish my armor as well?” — She asked sarcastically. I swallowed back the sigh that was threatening to escape me and turned towards the fuming elf. In the meantime, my eyes wandered over the unconscious form of Camilla.

The girl was asleep from the moment the tent was set. Ignoring any and all responsibility regarding negotiations. I genuinely envied her for it. It was clear that she felt right at home with the dwarfs, while we elves stick out like a sour thumb. Humans, on the contrary, had a longstanding good relationship with the dwarfs.

Either way, it was not the time to think over such things. I reminded myself, while focusing on Aria once again.

“No, they seemed to be content with the current deal.” — I stated in a neutral voice.

It earned me a mocking scoff as a response. I looked around inside the small tent, searching for my sleeping bag, only realizing now that here was no place for another one to begin with. The tent was simply too small. I had a sinking feeling about this.

“Uhm…” — I began diplomatically. — “Where can I sleep?”

Aria looked up at me, then looked around the inside of the small tent, as if it was the first time she too considered that question, and most likely that was exactly the case.

There was a moment of silence, then she sighed almost inaudibly, even with my elven hearing. She slowly shuffled over in her own sleeping bag, patting the beast's skin covers right beside her. I felt my cheeks heating up a bit. It was one thing to be hugged by the elf for a few seconds, and another to sleep with her in the same sleeping bag. For god’s sake, I was a girl now. I already checked it multiple times, but I was still a man for seventy-two years. Can’t I get a break?

“Uhm…” — I began, not sure how to voice my concern without being rude. My reluctance seeping into my voice and body language.

Aria’s sharp eyes momentarily focused on me, expecting some sort of mischief. When she didn’t find any, she shook her head and said in a parental tone, that was not to be questioned, even if she was clearly confused with my initial reaction.

“Stop standing around and get into the sleeping bag.” — She rolled her eyes at me, which genuinely surprised me. — “You are too shy for your own good, aside from that, where do you intend to sleep if not here? We are both elves and all of us are women here.” — She stated with an unquestionable authority.

I stared at her dumbly for a second too long, then gulped down my saliva and said with a thin voice. — “Right…”

She gave me a suspicious look for a second that froze the blood in my veins, but she quickly shook her head and instead waved at me to come closer.

I gulped one more time, then ambled over to her side. I decided that it was high time to embrace my feminity, before she requests me to strip to prove my gender.

After a not exactly quick struggle with my boots, it was a challenge to get the damned things off of me every single time. My pathetic display even managed to arouse a few chuckles from Aria, who was trying her best to not stare at my fumbling attempts.

I didn’t fault her for it. I was well aware of the underlying comedic value. I would definitely enjoy it too, if I was not the very person suffering.

In a few minutes that felt like half an hour, I finally got rid of the pair of long-sleeved booths that were occasionally haunting my dreams, and turned back to the other issue at hand.

Aria was smiling innocently up at me as I stood awkwardly by the side of her sleeping bag.

“Then… if you excuse me…” — I said, while climbing into the cozy sleeping bag feet first. It was warm and comfortably made from some unknown animal skins. When I settled in the now unsurprisingly tight spot, I felt Aria’s arm gently circle around my stomach, eventually settling right under my breasts, locking me in place through a devious half hug.

I shivered from her touch. A strange tightness taking hold of my body, but as she didn’t do anything else, it went away as quickly as it appeared. I relaxed, and my anxiousness slowly melted away, giving way to the comforting warmth that seemed to completely engulf me for the first time since I came to this cold world.

I was frustrated with the situation, maybe even scared of it, but I shook off my concerns as my tiredness quickly caught on and buried my unladylike thoughts regarding the two firm mounds flattened against my back.

All this time, my obvious frustrations and indecisions were closely watched by the amused Ariawyn.

“I can see, girl, that you are not exactly used to sleep in the company of others.” — She noted. — “Still, you can rest easy tonight. I will wake you if anything comes up. You are safe here until then.” — She pressed a gentle kiss on the back of my head. The kind gesture surprised me, but among all the other sensations, it was just another spot of warmth that pushed me further into the world of dreams.

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

I could hear her whisper in my ears. — “Thanks for saving my life, again. I hope you have sweet dreams, Selora.”

It did not take much longer for me to nod off among the smelly animal skins in the half embrace of Ariawyn, who I knew could trust with my life. I didn’t have any nightmares that night.

The next time I awoke, it was to the gentle shuffling of our tent’s entrance. My eyes snapped open at the suspicious noise, yet my mind was immediately distracted from the original cause that woke me by the suddenly tightening embrace around my middle.

I was being squeezed by Ariawyn’s arm, her body squishing against me in a warm protective body hug. It was also a hug that threatened to push all the air out of my lungs.

My still somewhat groggy mind from having far from enough sleep tried to find a probable reason to explain what the hell was going on here. The process was evidently cut short by another squeeze on my ribs, which this time elicited a tight-lipped gasp from me.

The sound of my gasp alerted Aria, who immediately lightened her hold on me. I didn’t need any more cause to launch myself into a rant, already forgetting the original reason that woke me.

“Wha-… umm? Umm!?” — Before I could convey any of my completely justified frustration… no… even before a single properly formed word could leave my mouth. Aria’s hand whipped up to my face and clasped around my lips, forcefully ending any discussion.

I felt shocked, and completely speechless, not that I could speak even if I wasn’t. Was this how it felt to be manhandled? It wasn’t bad, not bad at all… I joked internally as the funny thought crossed my mind, yet to my surprise instead of the usual apathy, I felt my heart-rate quickening with anticipation from that thought.

My jaw would have dropped if Aria wasn’t forcing my mouth shut.

Wait, seriously? Is that the reason I feel so excited all of a sudden? Am I this kind of girl now?

It was then, when I felt Aria’s breath on the back of my right earlobe as she leaned closer to me. My heart fluttered in my chest as uncertainty and anticipation mixed with a bunch of other emotions.

I heard as Aria hissed into my ear. — “Ssshhh!” — It was clearly a warning to stay silent, and it sent a series of shivers down my spine. Was it because she didn’t want Camilla to wake up? Are we really going to do it? This doesn’t make any sense!

I panicked internally.

My sleep deprived and presently befuddled mind continued to struggle to comprehend the unlikely situation. I mean, why would she harass me like this? N-not that I mind, of course, but still, I didn’t take her to be this kind of woman… once again, not that I mind, but something doesn’t feel right about this scene.

In my chaotic state, I spotted the parts of Aria’s dark elf armor piled up into a small hill in the corner of the tent. My brain froze at the sight.

Oh… she took off her armor, but of course she took it off. How else would she sleep well? Is she… no-no-no-no-NO! She must have only removed the outer layers, it would make no sense of her sleeping naked in the middle of a camp filled with dwarven men. Right?

Calm down, you fool, there is no reason to get so worked up…

I took a deep breath through my nostrils in a desperate attempt to clear my head, as my mouth was still clasped shut.

It lead to another realization.

I could smell her body odour. It was quite strong, not much of a surprise after what we went through. Still, the smell wasn’t that bad, it however had a strong primordial quality to it that seemed to snap something in my brain. Blood, sweat and grime mixed with the potent scent of earth and the distant tang of a dew covered forest. That one actually took me by surprise. Was that simply how wood elves smelled? I wondered, thinking about how I might smell to other people as a white elf.

White chocolate or vanilla was probably not the right answer to that particular line of thought, especially given my recent history of activities.

While I was completely lost in my own world, the hesitant voice of a dwarf sounded just outside of our tent.

“Ladies… If you are awake, please respond.” — Appeared the slightly annoyed voice, which finally put an end to the whirlwind of chaotic thoughts my imagination conjured on the spot.

My body went rigid and my insides turned cold with a special mix of shame, dread, disappointment, and newfound anxiety. I-I… I completely misunderstood everything! I screamed internally, as I remembered the original reason I woke up in the first place. Someone was shuffling around the entrance of the tent. How could I forget such a simple thing?

As if to prove my suspicion, the steely voice of Ariawyn filled the inside of the tent, surprising me by its coldness and stifling in the bud any lingering doubt about my misunderstanding.

“Why do you bother us in the middle of the night, dwarf?” — A heavy atmosphere started to grow around the tent.

“Miss Selora Dimhollow has requested to be woken up when the party of the Bronze Company arrived. I merely did as ordered. It is up to her, if she wishes to meet up with the members, or continue to sleep instead.” — The nameless dwarf finished his statement and waited silently for our answer.

I felt Aria’s eyes burrowing into the back of my head, as her words sounded once again. — “Is that so?” — Came the question, and her palm finally was pulled back, allowing me the opportunity to speak.

“Yes, indeed.” — I confirmed, sheepishly. — “That was what I requested.” — I attempted to swiftly clear up the growing tension that seemed to take root inside the tent, and yet for whatever reason I was growing uncomfortable with Aria’s annoyed glare. My sense of guilt from my internal shameful misunderstanding obviously played a role in this.

“Uhm… sorry that I didn’t mention it earlier… I wanted to! Alas… I must have dozed off accidentally.” — I admitted with a bit of reluctance. A crimson blush coloring my cheeks bright red. It was lucky that nobody could see it in the darkness. Aria shook her head lightly, a sigh parting her dry and scarred lips.

“It’s fine, girl. I will get ready in a few minutes, then we can go.” — She said, and I blinked in surprise.

“Do you intend to come with me?” — I asked, to which she merely pointed a tired glance at me.

“I won’t let a young clueless girl wander alone in the night while surrounded with dwarven men on all sides.” — I parted my lips with the intention to argue, but she cut me off.

“I will have none of it. You would better be focused on smartening your appearance instead of bickering with me, while you can… Well, at least if you do not intend to scare away whomever you wish to meet with at this ungodly hour.”

I closed my mouth, deciding to do just that… It was clearly not the time to argue with Aria. Her no nonsense aura is at the highest level.

Aside from that, she was right. My hair was a mess… My hairband must have fallen off at some point in my sleep. I decided that the first step might as well be looking for the damn thing.