The fire crackled gently in the hollow of the ravine, casting long shadows that danced along the mossy walls. Aria sat beside Darius, her hands still stained faintly red from tending his wound. The sharp scent of burning wood mingled with the earthy aroma of damp leaves and bark.
It seemed like night had fully fallen now, the narrow opening of the sky above was filled with little stars, so distant yet so magnificent.
Darius leaned against a slanted rock, the makeshift bandage wrapped tightly, around his upper arm. He hadn't spoken much since she'd finished binding him, only watching her through half-lidded eyes, his jaw clenched.
Aria did not know and did not bother to know if his jaw was clenched due to the pain or he just wasn't in the mood to have any conversation.
"Your body is fighting the fever," Aria said softly, reaching for the damp cloth she'd left near the fire. "You need to rest."
He gave a faint scoff. "Rest is for the weak."
She rolled her eyes. "And pride is for the dead, suit yourself."
Gently. she pressed the cloth to his forehead. He didn't flinch this time. His skin was warm to the touch, sweat glistening just along his brow despite the cool night air.
"Why are you really doing this?" he asked after a long pause, his voice quieter than before.
"Because if you die, I'll never find my way out of this forest," she replied, smirking.
He let out a dry laugh-well that's a first, she had not heard him laugh ever since she saved him, well not like there was anything to laugh about anyway.
"Fair enough," he said.
The fell into silence again. It did not feel awkward though, just still peacefulness.
Aria pulled her knees up to her chest, hugging them while staring into the fire. Flames licked at the air, curling and shifting in hypnotic patterns.
"Back in the village," Darius said slowly, "you could've run."
"I considered it," she admitted. "But I'm not stupid."
"Some would call following me into this ravine stupid."
She turned her head toward him. "You were bleeding. I couldn't leave you."
He looked at her then, the hardened lines around his eyes softened slightly.
"You're not what I expected," he murmured.
"Neither are you," she replied, her voice just above a whisper.
He turned slightly, grimacing as pain lanced through his side. Aria Instinctively reached out to steady him, her hand brushing his chest. For a moment, her fingers lingered there, feeling the steady thump of his heart beneath the thin fabric he wore.
Just like fire had burned her, she quickly pulled back.
"I'll gather more wood before the fire dies," she said, standing.
"No," he said, struggling to push himself upright. "I'll go."
"You can barely stand, Darius do you intend to add to our problems?"
He ignored her and went ahead and tried anyway, but the moment he put weight on his side, he staggered, trembling from the pain. Aria caught him, balancing him with her shoulder.
"Dammit," he cursed.
"Stay down." she snapped, guiding him back gently.
"please."
Their eyes locked again.
This time he listened and slowly sat himself down.
The firelight bathed his face in soft gold. His usual guarded expression was no longer there.
"I normally don't let people in," he said. "I never have."
"I know," she said. "But maybe tonight, just for once...you don't have to be on your guard, or carry everything alone."
He stared at her for a long time before nodding.
She sat beside him again, and they let the silence stretch comfortably. Somewhere in the forest, and owl hooted.
"They are hunting me."
Aria turned sharply. "What? I thought those were assassins."
"They are but from the council. I broke a pact by deciding to go after the people who took my child. I defied their orders to let go. They'll brand me a traitor, especially since I decided to go on the quest of finding my lost child instead of taking over as the Alpha king as they wanted. Maybe they already have."
Her breath caught. "Then why did you do it?"
His eyes glinted in the firelight.. "Because all my memories are just tidbits I brought together by asking around and second guessing, but miraculously, I remember ever bit about my son, his soft whimpers to his little shinny eyes. For him I can't go back until I find him."
Aria blinked. Her throat tightened.
Darius looked her dead in the eyes, "I don't want to put you in danger, but I am also comfortable the most with you here."
"Why?" Aria gulped.
"Because something in you reminded me of someone, though I can only catch a few tidbits of her memory, but you make me rethink of the past I buried long time ago."
"I am not who you think I am, Darius."
"Maybe not," he said. "But you're not who you think you are either, I can see your pain."
Aria turned her face towards the fire. Her heart beating wildly. Asking to be freed from the lies. When would he face it, face the fact that she was living in this little world full of lies she had weaved for herself.
Until when would she wait, her child did not have time, it was time she broke through the chains, and face her ghosts.
But for tonight, they were two fugitives beneath the stars, sharing a fire deep into a ravine.
And for the first time in a long time, the memory did not bring her sorrow or pain, but hope.
For the first time, they did not feel alone.