145 Just Until Then

BACK IN THE SHACK

AUTHOR'S POV

Stellan stood by the doorway with his eyes pinned on Helena. A bizarre blend of ire and glee spiraled down his chest. His heart could almost leap out for finally getting a hold of her, but then, he instantly felt his blood boil seeing her with a half naked man. He extended his hand towards her with his eyes still glued on her face, like she's the only person he could see in the hut. "Found you", he said breathlessly and entirely wet in his black armor from the heavy rain.

It was enough for Helena to see that Stellan have gone through a rough patch with his wet and messy hair tousled to his eyes and his parted red lips gasping for air. She gaped at the knight as she slowly stood on her feet. Seeing Stellan now did came in quite early, she thought. "Are you going to arrest me?", she knew that the paladin knight would caught up to her eventually. She wondered, why would Stellan even let her go in the first place, only to be recaptured? Thus, the softness in Stellan's eyes tells a different story. "I'm not going back", she shook her head while she stare at his trembling hand reaching out for her.

"Do you trust me?", he asked with his hand still hanging in the air. He didn't mind how inordinate the lenght of time he was waiting for Helena to reach his hand, for he was willing to wait no matter how long it takes. Stellan did feel an ample of fear of rejection. He swallowed a lump in his throat, as he hear a drumroll at the back of his mind with an optimism that she'll soon take his hand. 'Please take my hand, now', he desperately thought.

Unsure, Helena finally reached for Stellan's hand which made the paladin knight curve his lips with great ease. "Always", she trusts Stellan in all ways. Helena could never fathom the security she feels around Stellan. It was like home.

Stellan squeezed her hand with a soft sigh. "I have questions, but we'll talk later", he pulled her close to him, gently but with eagerness.

"Whoa-whoa!! Wait a second", Andrew stood up on his feet and grabbed Helena on her other hand. "I would love to interrupt this, but Haelan is with me", he furiously said as he match Stellan's towering height meeting his glares with creased brows. The two men were like clashing waves on a stormy night.

"Oh yea!! I'm sorry, Sir Stellan, this is Andrew", Helena introduced to the paladin knight who seemed uninterested. "He's uhh.. he's taking me to Caluso. He knows the easy way there", she stood in between the two who's hands still on hers - Stellan's on her one hand, and Andrew grabbing her by the arm.

Stellan glared at Andrew from head to toe. Then, his eyes focused more on the stranger's grip on Helena. Infuriated, he wanted to cut the deluded man's hand off right this instant. "Who would trust a rebel?", he gritted his teeth in apparent detestation.

"Trust me, I know the best way", Andrew said as he held onto Helena tightly. Helena could only switch her glances at the two who were igniting a heated conversation.

"We do not need him anymore. I'm your new map, you can ride Areon", Stellan kept his gaze at Helena as she shake Andrew off.

"What is speed when you don't know the right way? Besides, horses cannot duck in caves or cross brittle bridges", Andrew had no plans of backing down. He made sure he'll be a leech that is hard to take off. Carresing her arm down to her hand, Andrew interlaced his fingers in between Helena's that made the situation more distressing for the healer.

"What are you doing?", Helena whispered, goggling her eyes at Andrew. She fanned her fingers as the rebel grasp her hand even tighter.

Stellan started to lose his patience. He lifted his other hand in a fist and channeled his paladin powers with a fiery glow. "That's gonna be my problem. Just what I said, we don't need a rebel hanging around us. You're lucky I didn't cut your throat on sight", Stellan said as Andrew meet his gaze.

"Hold on! Please, spilling blood isn't our priority here. Heh.", Helena stood in the middle of the two with her hand on their chests. "Sir Stellan, Andrew is my guide. As much as I dislike the idea of having him with me… for some reason, I trust him and I need him to show me the fastest way to Caluso", Helena looked directly into Stellan's eyes as if she had a certain warmth the could melt his ice.

Stellan held her by her shoulders and pulled her away from Andrew. "Fine, then let's all go together. But… as soon as we get to the ice bridge, it's either I kill him or he leaves", he urged with certainty.

Helena peered back at Andrew, and gave a deep sigh. "Just until then", she said.

"Then, what are we waiting for? Let's get this journey started. You troopers ain't scared of a little rain, huh? ", Andrew said as he wear his clothes back on. He took Helena's staff and handed it to her.

Before going out in the drizzles, Stellan looked around as if searching for other company who'd join their journey. "Where are your friends?", he asked.

"Uh.. I sent them away", Helena said briefly.

Stellan grabbed her by her slender arm as he leaned forward her face. "Atrius isn't the type who'd agree to be sent away by a friend", Stellan knew that Atrius sticks around like a bee to its blooms with Helena. Seeing how close he is to her turns his good day so bad.

She furrowed her brows with regret for casting out her friends, however, it's the best decision she ever made to keep them out of danger. "It's the only way to protect them", she said as she they all run out.