159 She’s Fading

AUTHOR'S POV

Stellan watched Helena's wounds heal one at a time. It fascinated him seeing it first hand. The first time he saw her in Brandenburg, it never crossed his mind that the odd looking fellow among the brusque sea of men turns out to be the person to captivate his heart. She had a certain character that stood out of the ordinary. The confidence in her eyes and the head held up high, Helena who's trying her best not to catch anyone's attention from that day, unknowingly carved herself in the paladin knight's mind. And now, Stellan fully understood what keeps drawing him in. That for a moment, he thought that he was a confused man intrigued by another. Her intoxicating scent that makes him go out of control, her awkward flimsy gestures that curves his lips up and her extraordinary ways that he find intriguing, Stellan became completely swept away by the soul traveler with a brave heart who was a woman all along.

Fate continued to play on them when the clouds began to darken once more. Stellan cringed as the skies showered them with a heavier downpour. Failing to heal completely, Helena's unstable condition worried Stellan. With her body starting to burn, Helena quivered as her lips tremble. "Damn it", Stellan decided to take off his wet gambeson and so Helena's top too. Determined with an extreme challenge of self control, Stellan kept their bare skins close together as he held Helena's frail body against his warm chest. "I'm all yours", Stellan smiled when Helena immediately clung tightly on his warmth.

They stayed that way which defied Stellan the most. He thought his heart will burst in torture with their naked bodies pressed together. Everytime he move away a little, Helena would squeezed herself even more that her bosoms rubbing on his skin drive Stellan to his wildest thoughts. Tapping Helena's shoulders gently, Stellan started to hum a few psalms he heard from the churches as he close his eyes and think of dreadful monsters, gore, swords and wars… but none of it helped. He can't wake his dazed mind away with the fact that his Helena is almost naked in his arms. "Just keeping you warm", he repeatedly said it like a chant convincing himself.

Hours later, the rain lightened a bit and a few creatures started to appear in succession. Instead of waiting for nothing under a shed that can be split in half by lightning or rummaged by some monster, he decided to take the risk and find help. Sheathing his sword back, Stellan covered Helena from her face up to his torso with his gambeson, and carried her once again in his strong built arms. Then, he walked on foot half naked in search for a better shelter while it's still mid-day.

Wary of the bellows and squawks nearby, Stellan plodded on the cold duff of dead leaves through the tall steep trees. With Helena in his arms, he felt so afraid that he might fail to protect her if a monster attacks now. Sensing that they are being hunted from the time they left the waterfalls, Stellan hid behind a tree. The trunk was too steep that it could barely put them out of sight because of Stellan's large broad back.

Just as expected, Stellan spotted a creature nearby making a a soft squealing sound with loud puffing breaths that's almost seemed so close. When he peaked, he was dumbfounded to see a frozen black beast with a head of a hare but as tall as a grown bear. It has a slender body, long tail, and a furry mane showing four sharp long teeth standing stiff as if struck by lightning. Stellan slowly moved back as he gape at the petrified beast. Its eyes are moving, telling him that's it's aware of its surroundings despite its entranced state.

"I've always admired your sense of fashion Stellan, but this isn't really ideal in a very dangerous place like this. And in this cold weather? Nuh-huh.", a man in a black robe over a brown tunic and black trousers said. He's accustomed to seeing the paladin knight in his well kempt dark blonde hair, spotless brocade tops in silk with intricate embroidery, and black armor that he always wear during field rundowns with Vesta and Alesso.

"Conrad", Stellan gave a faint smile at the sight of a familiar friend. His warm presence blew off the heavy weight of worry from Stellan's shoulders.

"Nice to see you, too. Y-you look like hell", Conrad smiled as he lifted his brows at the half naked bloody paladin who's isn't at the best condition of his physical state. "Did.. the.. prince did this?", he hesitatingly asked as he tried to take a glimpse of the person Stellan is keeping in his arms like a treasure.

Stellan kept Helena close, after all, he wouldn't want anyone to see her half naked. "Prince? No. Goblins. Some idiot played dumb and scattered gold dusts. Can you help us?", Stellan asked with pleading eyes that doesn't take no for an answer.

"That sounds so bad. Well… I'd love to help, you know me. But, it's complicated now, Stellan", Conrad scratched his head and gave Stellan an awkward smile. Seems to him, the paladin knight have no idea what happened in Wicce.

"She's fading. Nothing is complicated when a person's life is at stake", Stellan said sternly with worry.

Pertrubed to lend a hand, Conrad gave Stellan a strained smile while he contemplate on what to do. Refusing to be of use by anyone, Wicce closed their doors to guests after the prince broke the seal of protection of their sacred home. Besides, after the death of Yereah, all royal orders that require the wiccans were limited.

When the cloth covering Helena's face slid down and revealed her face, Conrad's eyes sparked at the recognizable person Stellan has been keeping close. "But of course there are exemptions", he extended his arms to take Helena, but the paladin knight still strongly refused.

Skeptical, Stellan wondered what have happened that made the warlock refuse to give asisstance, a contrary to what he used to be. Most likely, the prince must have been involved since Conrad suspected him first fir causing troubles with him and Helena, he thought. Thereafter, the paladin knight continued to become more cynical of Conrad who changed his mind quickly after seeing Helena's face.

"Besides, how can I say no to the man who saved my family so many times", Conrad removed his robe and wrapped it on Helena. "Let's hurry before my magic spell on rompo runs out. It's the only spell I know. Heh! Let's head on to Wicce", he offered.