Concealing Retreat

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A/N: As usual, I would recommend to put the video on loop.

Dinner had gone by slowly. (F/n) had taken each bite steadily while Will had finished rather quickly. It had led to an awkward staring situation, but she had pretended that she hadn't known in the slightest. Unfortunately, her food had been eventually finished. Will had grabbed their plates, had washed them and had returned quite swiftly. He had bathed soon after, but that hadn't taken him too long either.


Before she knew it, they were already out of the cabin and making their way into the forest. She did walk at a slow pace, but it wasn't entirely on purpose. The snow was thick, and she kept sinking in some since there was no path carved out for them. It was also freezing. At least, the storm had stopped momentarily, but that didn't prevent her from clutching at the blanket around her shoulders. (F/n) even used part of it as a hood to keep her ears from getting too cold.


As for Will, he had on a long-sleeved brown tunic and black leather pants. Leather boots covered his feet while a green cloak without a hood was wrapped around him. Frankly, she was tempted to steal the cloak from his shoulders. If he had a spare, he probably hadn't offered it because he wanted to see more of her.


Whatever the case, she forced herself to maintain some distance between them even though her body was telling her to huddle close to him for body heat. If she submitted to such an urge, he would most likely take advantage of it within a heartbeat. So, she resorted to hugging the blanket closer, and she would occasionally blow on her hands to keep them warm.


When at last they stopped, Will pushed back some pine branches and motioned for her to go ahead. She didn't desire to step in front of the male, but she didn't want to raise an alarm. Stepping forward, she found herself on a small hill which overlooked a barren patch in the forest. Down below was a small a small pond where a tiny waterfall led into it.


Making her way down, she headed over to the small body of water and glanced around. It was a secluded area no doubt, but if she needed to, she could push him into the water. That might give her a few seconds of an advantage. There wasn't anything else in sight that could be of use to her. Another problem was that there was no coverage if it started to pour down on them.


If only there were leaves large enough to be used as a miniature roof. She had heard stories of such things existing in warmer parts of the world, but no such thing had been traded up in the northern regions. Will soon walked up beside her with one of his cheery grins. "What do you think? Isn't it nice?"


"I suppose that it is if you needed a place to come and think, but what if it starts raining? I'm already freezing. I don't need to be soaked as well."


Chuckling, he answered, "That's why you have a mage with you. I'll warm us both up while we're here. I just wanted to enjoy the night with you in one of my favorite spots."


"That's what I'm worried about as well. I'd rather be under sheets to stay warm than have you be that source of heat."


"I apologize that I didn't prepare a bed out here for us, but that's why I had you bring the blanket." Within a moment's notice, he snatched it from her shoulders and draped over a patch of snow. He seated himself before she could take it back and proceeded to pull her down next to him. Having been caught off guard, she squeaked and collided into him.


Her hands landed on either side of his head while she ended up straddling his hips. Heat rapidly fell over her cheeks, and she went to get off of him, but his hands held onto her hips firmly. "Ah, this is quite a view. I knew that the dress would flatter you." A smirk fell over his lips before she roughly pushed herself upward. Instead of the desired result, her hands only sunk more into the snow below.


(F/n)'s face landed right beside his head and pressed into the blanket. The chilly snow started to soak the fabric more, but that was the least of her concerns. When she tried to get up again, she was flipped onto her back and forced into the snow more. By now, the blanket was doing quite little to help them from the snow. Her (e/c) eyes, though, stared wide at Will, but she managed to shout, "What do you think you're doing?! Get off of me!"


"I'll get off as soon as you answer some questions for me, Bluebell." There was that joyful smile on his lips, but the menace behind it was quite clear. "First, do you not find me attractive?"


Despite her nerves ringing alarm bells and the urge to cry for help, she replied, "Yes, you're attractive, but that doesn't mean that I like you in a romantic way. I'm not entering a romantic relationship with you."


"And, why is that? We do quite well around the other, and you've made me laugh like no other. I'll be honest, and it's probably already obvious. I want you to be mine. I do take good care of you, and I'll do so in the future as well. Besides, I'm sure that you find my personality charming, and you just admitted to me being attractive. What's holding you back? Is it your husband, who's possibly still alive? After the wound that you gave him, I doubt him to be around still. You really should feel no more commitment to him."


Going to move her hands to push him off of her, he gripped her wrists and shook his head in disappointment. "Remember, I won't get off until you answer me. I'm most curious, and I'm intrigued as well at how observant you are of me. It's like you know some forbidden secret. Maybe, that's what's keeping you from giving yourself over to me."


"I'm not going to have sexual relations with a man after a few days of knowing him. Nor will I do so unless I'm married to the man in question. I consider you nice company to be around, but you're quickly ruining that image," she countered harshly. "There, I answered your questions. Now, get off of me, Will!"


"I never specified the amount of questions. So, here's another. Why are you so observant? Is that because you don't trust me, or is there something more to that?"


"Well, your actions now don't exactly inspire trust. As for why I'm observant, that is the reason. I told you what had happened, so you should understand why I'm so cautious." Her gaze hardened, and she desperately wanted to reach for her dagger to defend herself. "Besides, you already lied about your past once, and I expect that you've lied about it on other instances too."


Another chuckle left his lips as he sat up and brought her up onto his lap. His right hand clutched both of her wrists, which allowed him to pull her closer. Left fingers trailing her jaw line, he inquired, "Why are you so interested in my past? I doubt the only reason is because I'm some man who lives in a secluded cabin. It's like you're trying to analyze what my weakness is. Perhaps, that's the real reason you're so watchful of me, but that raises the question of why you would want to know my weakness. It definitely isn't to ensure that I become your lover. Is it possibly to have a willing puppet under your control?


"Then again, it might also raise your trust in me. It is indeed wise to know about your partner before committing to them." His eyes gleamed as a grin took over his mouth. "How about I make an arrangement with you? I'll tell you about my past, and you give me a chance. You let me kiss you and cover these old marks of your husband's."


Gulping, she didn't desire to agree to that deal, but it might keep her alive. If she refused, he would probably ask more questions that would back her into a corner. She couldn't even reach the dagger at the moment. Still, she felt like she would really be betraying Tarhuinn if she agreed. (F/n) summoned her courage and shook her head. "No, I can't accept that. Please let me go, Will."


"You're really still in love with such a man?" He shook his head in amusement. "Unbelievable. He's most likely dead, and he threatened to kill you. Were you to go back to him, you would be killed. Even you understand this ... unless there's something missing in this story. Is there because I'm having a hard time believing this? Or, do you really want that perfect moment with him? I can give you a perfect moment within a heartbeat. I can make that fantasy of yours come true; he can't. He's already ruined his chance."


Against her better judgment, she mumbled, "No, you're wrong."


"I am? Before now, I have treated you well. I had made a perverted remark or gesture here and there, but I had never mistreated you. I have been a welcoming and kind host. I have joked with you, and I have laughed with you. You find me attractive, and you enjoy my company. What has this husband of yours done that makes him better than all of that? Try to make me understand this."


Lips held tightly shut, she moved her face away from him and turned her gaze to her right and down. What was she to do? If she compared him to Tarhuinn, her story would fall apart, but it was already doing so. Were she to live to tomorrow, she would be lucky.


"Is it because this husband is different from what you first told me? I know that you aren't lying about having a husband. Your commitment to him is too obvious. So, it must be that you're hiding something from me, and I'd very much like to know what that is." He grabbed her chin and forced her to look at him. "Now, answer the question. It's a simple yes or no. And, don't lie to me. Your countenance is much too exposed right now for you to hide the truth from me."

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