Chapter 22: Helpless Against the Helpless

It was two weeks before the onslaught from the Udril soldiers finally ceased. Many were dead on both sides and tents were bursting with those wounded. Saffron had barely slept or eaten, choosing instead to spend her days and nights with the injured men.
They had begun to grow fond of her soothing presence, firm orders, and soft touch. The soldiers found themselves straightening their hair and smoothing down their uniforms when she came into the tents to check on them. Elric watched their eyes light up as she flitted from bed to bed, asking after their wellbeing. She appeared fae-like once again, her gold hair shimmering in the light of the lanterns, her green dress swishing quietly behind her.
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Elric had tolerated the affections of his men towards his fiancée, thinking it was a good thing that she was so beloved, until they began seeking her out. She was constantly surrounded by a hub of admirers, whether she was gathering herbs or sitting by the fire. Men tripped over themselves to offer her assistance.
He glowered, watching one more overt soldier insist on serving her food at the midday meal. Saffron thanked him with a smile and he took that as an invitation to sit with her. Elric had never thought of himself as a jealous man until then. He was suddenly finding himself wishing he could call his dragon to life now and burn the entire encampment down, her admirers with it.
After the meal, Elric spoke with Wulfstan and the more adamant of Saffron’s followers were reassigned to another station.
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Saffron listened as Elric spoke to the soldiers after the evening meal. He spoke passionately and eloquently. She could tell that these men loved him and respected him. He should be king, she found herself thinking. Elric commanded attention that his father and brothers did not. He was enigmatic and charming without being false.
He fought with his men, side by side, and spurred them to action with a few words. She realized she had grown to admire him greatly. He was unlike any other man that she had ever met. Her heart warmed thinking that soon, he would be her husband.
He joined her near the fire after speaking to the crowd. A chill had set in as soon as the sun had dropped below the horizon. She shivered, even being this close to the flames couldn’t chase the winter winds away. Elric pulled off his cape and wrapped it tightly around her shoulders and she smiled her thanks towards him.
She leaned into him, savoring the warmth of his bulk. “That was quite a speech,” she said looking up at him. He shrugged, a bashful smile on his lips.
“I didn’t say anything that was not true.” He yawned so widely his jaw cracked.
“You need sleep,” she said and brushed the dark circles underneath his eyes tenderly with a fingertip. He captured her hand with his and kissed it. A jolt of pleasure shot through her. Noticing his effect on her, he smirked and bit the tip of her finger gently before releasing her hand.
The tension that had been growing between them the past few weeks seemed to have multiplied. Elric was contemplating dragging her back to their tent and having his way with her, to hell with the soldiers surrounding them. It was torturous enough to lay beside her every night, only sharing a chaste kiss or two. He wanted her, but she deserved more than being ravaged in a tent in the middle of a war.
She seemed to follow his thoughts and threw him an exaggerated, suggestive wink. He guffawed into his wine, causing it to spill over the sides. She threw her head back and laughed, pounding him on the back with her fist as he gasped for air.
“You…are…something…else,” he coughed, slamming his hand into his chest to dislodge the remaining wine. She smirked, pleased with herself.
“That is why you swept me from my village and dumped me into a battlefield,” she replied sarcastically and batted her eyelashes at him. He shook his head at her and pulled her close, pressing a kiss to her forehead.
“Witty wench,” he teased. She smacked his arm playfully.
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Two red eyes burned from the depths of the forest, staring at the couple laughing by the fire. “So, she has survived Mira. Pity,” the voice drawled.
“It seems so,” another replied, boredom strewn throughout the voice.
“Is everything in place for tomorrow?” the first disembodied voice asked.
“Yes, mother. I will take care of it. She will not be able to resist someone in need.” He replied, gazing at the beautiful, golden woman beside the flames, his ambitions slightly tempered.
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Saffron awoke early and reached across the bed. Elric had already gone. She vaguely remembered him kissing her before he left. She rolled into his place on the bed, inhaling his musky scent. It was still early, and she wasn’t needed yet, she could afford a few more hours sleep.
As her eyes began to close and her thoughts drift, a crying invaded her dreams. She shook herself awake, sure that it was a dream. Pushing herself up onto her elbows, she listened harder. Someone was crying. With a groan, she pushed the heavy furs off of her legs and climbed out of the warm bed and dressed hurriedly. She made sure to don her heaviest cloak and boots.
It had looked as if snow was on the way and she didn’t want to be caught outside in a storm. She stepped out of the tent but didn’t see anyone. The day was still dark, grey clouds hung overhead. Scanning the area, she saw nothing. She must’ve dreamt it. With a shrug, she went to go back inside the tent when the crying began again. She took a few steps towards the trees.
There! Someone was waving her over. She returned the wave and hurried as flakes began to drift down. As she reached the trees, she realized that she had forgotten to leave Elric a note. She shouldn’t be long, perhaps whoever it was had just twisted an ankle and she could return shortly.
The man was lying back against a tree. He looked fine, if a bit cold. She knelt near him. “Are you alright?” she asked, pulling her healer’s kit from her waist.
“I was scouting, and I just felt ill all of a sudden. I had been out for a few hours and got hungry. I ate some berries I found, and I think they might be what caused it.” He said, his brown eyes looking sheepish.
“Can you show me what the berries looked like, so I know how to treat you?” she asked. He nodded and stood with effort.
“They aren’t far, just inside here,” he said and lumbered into the dark forest. She followed behind, throwing one last glance at her tent, promising that she would return before Elric this time.