𝐓𝐎 𝐁𝐄 𝐀𝐋𝐎𝐍𝐄.
chapter thirty; A Hunter's Wife
" I hope this is not what you meant when you promised me an adventure all that time ago. "

  TWO MONTHS. THEY had been traveling and hunting and drifting for two whole months.

  Elspeth had no doubt her family had begun a search, probably casting blame toward both the Scottish and French royalty in the process.

  She wondered if Hans had come back. If Douglas had searched Paris. If Fraser had even heard about it, all the way off in the countryside.

  Elspeth wondered what Kenna had thought. If Francis was worried. If Catherine was looking. 

  She wondered what Demetre had said when he'd been told. If he had been told at all.

  "Does it need to be cooked more?"

  The woman's head snapped up at his voice.

  The only good thing about this time was him. His warmth. His kindness, his strength. His protective nature. His occasional humor.

  She had never been on the road before. Never hunted out of hunger, never slept in shoddy inns or makeshift tents.

  Elspeth had never feared for her life. Not like this. Not for weeks that turned into months. 

  She figured if there was any that would get her through it, it was Sebastian.

  "No, it's alright," She said with a weak smile, looking down at the cooked meat in front of her.

  "I know it might not taste the best," Sebastian said, wiping his hands, "But you have to eat, Darling. Your weight has been dropping, I don't want your health to follow."

  It was true, Elspeth thought as she picked up the food. She'd become thinner in their travels, but it had nothing to do with the taste of the food provided.

  Stress, fear, and running; it had more to do with this.

  Sleep no longer came easy, Elspeth tossed and turned all night wondering if someone was seeking them out. Her stomach had shrunk, no longer wishing for sweets and lavish meals; she hardly wanted crumbs anymore.

  Elspeth took a bite, chewing the food longer than she needed to, before forcing it down her throat and into her stomach. She repeated this action until half of her serving was gone and she was sure she'd be sick from any more.

  Sebastian put a hand on the back of her head, pulling her forward to press a kiss to her forehead before stamping out the small fire.

  He gathered their sparse belongings, passing only a sword to Elspeth who sheathed it upon retrieval.

  It was clear her stamina was faltering, so Sebastian had done his best to ensure Elspeth wasn't the one fighting or hunting.

  But she refused to simply sit back, so she fought. 

  She'd gotten rather skilled with the small crossbow Sebastian carried over his shoulder and only grew her talents with a sword.

  "How far are we from the border?" Elspeth questioned as they began walking.

  "At least another three weeks, without horses," Sebastian informed reluctantly, "And avoiding major populations."

  "So two more months?"

  Sebastian frowned as Elspeth sighed tiredly. She didn't mean for it to come out bitter, but after two months of traveling, it started to feel like they were walking in circles. Having to avoid cities, towns, and any sign of people. Making and breaking their small camps, ditching their horses a month back; Elspeth was starting to lose hope they would ever reach Scotland.

  "We'll travel faster than we have," Sebastian assured, "The further we are from the castle, the less careful we need be."

  Elspeth nodded, a brief moment of bliss falling as Sebastian wrapped an arm around her.

  "I hope this is not what you meant when you promised me an adventure all that time ago."

  Sebastian let out a laugh, shaking his head.

  "I assure you, it is not," He smiled, "But it will make for a good story, won't it?"

  Elspeth laughed, shaking her head.

  And on they went. Walking and chatting and carrying on because they could do nothing else.

  This only stopped when Sebastian heard the unmistakable sounds of a boar. He nodded to Elspeth, who slowed her footsteps to linger back as Sebastian drew his crossbow.

  They'd found synchrony if nothing else. The art of working together without saying a single word, Elspeth laid low as Sebastian approached, years of hunting and training assisting his silent footsteps in the snow.

  But unlike their other hunting escapades, a person lunged at Sebastian, knocking him to the ground.

  Elspeth approached quickly, unsheathing her sword as Sebastian pinned the woman to the ground.

  "You're a. . ."

  "Hunter, yes, you fool!"

  Elspeth lowered her weapon as Sebastian stood, joining her side as the woman stood.

  "Have I offended you?"

  "What kind of a fool can't recognize. . . a boar trap?" The hunter questioned, lifting a hand-crafted cover for a large pit Sebastian nearly waltzed right into.

  "The embarrassed kind?"

  "Well if you were such a tracker, didn't you think it strange that there were leaves on a patch of snow surrounded by evergreens?"

  The woman finally seemed to notice Elspeth, standing just behind Sebastian's shoulder. She sized the woman up, and Elspeth, for once, was glad they'd traded her clothes for less conspicuous ones.

  "Elle," The woman introduced, holding out a hand.

  "Rowan," The hunter mimicked the gesture with a bit of apprehension. "You don't look like a hunter."

  "I'm not," Elspeth said with a soft laugh, "We're passing through. Bash normally hunts alongside my brothers; today he chose to bring his wife. A simple oversight on his behalf."

  Elspeth smiled, wrapping a hand around Sebastian's arm.

  "I think we can make a hunter out of you, yet," Sebastian said, playing along.

  "Have you shot a bow before?"

  "Once or twice."

↬

  It took a mere hour for the tension to dissipate. Elspeth feigned worse skills with a bow to reinforce the story she'd spun for Rowan, and the woman had relaxed, laughing at the handful of times Elspeth managed to scare off a pheasant by missing it with her arrows.

  After they successfully collected a couple of birds, the couple followed Rowan back to her small home where she assured them they could rest before continuing their journey. 

  They approached the small cabin, greeting a man who sat out front. Rowan introduced the two to her brother Carrick, who seemed less inviting than his sister. The girl gathered the pheasants, before warning her brother to be nice to their guests.

  "Come inside, Elle," Rowan nodded, "The cold is unkind to those without thick skin."

  Elspeth nodded, sending Sebastian a glance before ducking into the home behind Rowan.

  She would have been a fool to refuse. The warmth of the hearth melted her aching bones, Elspeth greedily huddling closer to it as Rowan focused on the spoils of their hunt.

  "How long have the two of you been married?"

  "Two months," Elspeth lied easily, holding her hands over the warmth of the fire, "You're a skilled hunter. Have you been in the woods a while?"

  Rowan looked to Elspeth, eyeing the woman once over.

  "Yes, we--"

  There was a small commotion outside and then their names were called, the woman quickly exited the house to find the sound of the distress.

  "Olivia?" Elspeth questioned, furrowing her brows as she spotted the blonde.

  But she looked nothing like she had. Her previously neat golden hair was dirtied and knotted, her clothes dirtied and torn, and her arms were covered in bite marks and bruises.

  Rowan passed a blanket to Elspeth, who quickly covered Olivia's shoulders, attempting to warm the woman at least slightly.

  "How do you know her?" Rowan questioned, "Beanth the dirt, this dress is fine silk. It would take weeks to weave. Only a noble could afford to buy it."

  Elspeth looked to Sebastian, her hands gently rubbing Olivia's shoulders as she sat in silence. 

  Luckily, Rowan noticed the wounds on Olivia's arms, her mind going elsewhere.

  "Carrick."

  "The girl's been fed on," Carrick realized, "She can't stay."

  "And what do you suggest we do?" Sebastian asked, "Throw her back into the woods to die? She needs help, a physician."

  "This is our home," Carrick said, "You get her out of here."

  The words set something off in Olivia, the girl suddenly becoming frenzied, grabbing a hunting knife and slicing her arm.

  "No, no," Olivia said, "T--Take my blood."

  "Olivia," Elspeth tried, prying the knife away from the girl and catching her as she became unconscious again.

  "She's been chosen."

  "She's been touched by the darkness."

( AUTHOR'S NOTE. )
kinda liked the idea that
Ellie would just instantly
make friends with Rowan
(skeptical as she might be)
cause Ellie's just That Girl