192 Delulu?

AUTHOR'S POV

Helena slept on Stellan's chest like a baby. They cuddled under the thick blanket, as the crispy breeze blew through the slightly opened window. As the cold air brush Stellan's cheek, he opened his eyes and smiled at the woman with gentle snores sleeping peacefully beside him.

"Stell..an", she softly said. It was not the first time she called his name in her dreams. It was one of the strands of hope he held onto in his mind full of doubts. Actually, it was enough reason for Stellan to listen to the calls of his heart that perfectly led him to the place where wanted to be.

It was a tough act to stand by the door undaunted while she bathe. He thought he was strong enough to fight the desires that were burning him inside. It was a complete torture to listen on how Helena scrubs her skin, and splash the waters in the tub completely naked that he was tempted every second to turn around. Stellan thought that Helena's dangers was out there, when it's been under his pants all along.

He gave in.

When Helena bared it all, Stellan was utterly hypnotized by her blinding beauty. The way her damped hair stick on her fair skin. Her innocent look as she let him trail the delicate parts of her body. And her grey eyes with flecks of green that pulls him in her orbit. Stellan was suddenly lost as he covet what he desire. Making sure that Helena is still in his grasp, Stellan stares at her face and looks for her in those beautiful pair eyes. Her savory lips tasted like the sweetest brandy, turning him slightly out of control. The coolness of her skin calms the heat growing in his entire body, flaming like a torch ever since they walked in that privy.

And then he became afraid… that the first time might be the last. He's scared that the day Helena soul travels away would evetually come, and these beautiful dreams would vanish like it all never happened. Stellan stroke her hair and decided to get up. After putting on some clothes, he went out and returned with a damped towel. He gently wiped Helena's body. Scrubbing her fair skin, Stellan was gentle enough not to ruin her peaceful sleep.

Unable to lull himself back to sleep, he decided to go down the common area for a glass of water. The floor creaked as he enter the warmer floor in the treehouse. Scanning the room, Stellan found Umbriel still sitting by the fireplace looking much better now.

"Umbriel, you good?", Stellan sat beside the sullen priest. Umbriel didn't replied. The priest is in a daze, staring at the fire. "Umbriel?", Stellan called that finally woke Umbriel up from his daydream.

"Sir Stellan", Umbriel jolted in much surprise. "I didn't notice you there. Have you been there for too long?", he asked with dark heavy bags under his eyes.

"Not quite. Are you alright?", Stellan is concerned about the burden that Umbriel have been carrying around. He has never been this far from Brandenburg, and he have never faced any kind of danger in his entire life.

"It's too quiet here, that I was able to hear my own thoughts", Umbriel said. "I'm better now", he sighed, clutching on the blanket over his shoulders.

"I'm glad you are", Stellan smiled. "We haven't really talked much about what happened in Brandenburg", he said.

"Brandenburg", Umbriel stared back in the burning firewoods. "I was able to face the ugly truth in that academy", he uttered sadly.

"What happened there?", Stellan asked.

"I feel lost, Sir Stellan", Umbriel vision started to become marred with heavy tears. "The man that I look up to is tarnished with betrayal. And the man whom I highly respected had his hands tainted with innocent blood… and look at me now, I'm following the person whom I learned to hate and fear ever since I entered the church. She happens to keep me alive and I call her Princess… How more ironic it all can be?", Umbriel asked with an unclear mind.

"Sometimes, people are not how they seem to be, Umbriel", Stellan said. "You'll just have to open your eyes and accept that some people have dirty linens too", he tapped on the priest's shoulder with a smile.

Umbriel fidgeted with his hands, that the growing fear in him fills his heart with cowardice. "There's darkness upon the palace. More clever than Lord Callaghan, more vicious than General Rowan, and much dangerous than Argus' dark healers.. and they are all after the Princess.", shaken, Umbriel thought that the apotropaic spells can only be removed by a stronger entity that can wield greater magic and that the enemy lies within the palace.

"Do not fret, I won't let them chase Helena away. She'll be home soon", Stellan reassured the troubled priest.

"No Sir Stellan!", Umbriel grabbed Stellan by his arm. "We can't let Princess Helena go back to her home. She's our only hope to save this dying kingdom.", Umbriel's fear started to talk as he strongly refuse Helena's decision to soul travel away.

LATER

Helena finally had a good sleep days after they left Brandenburg. Sore all over, she was awaken by a someone who just snugged on her chest. It was then she noticed that she's completely cleaned up beside a fully clothed paladin. Brushing his tousled hair back gently, Helena couldn't believe all the things they just did.

She slowly stood up, trying not to wake Stellan who's in deep slumber. Walking on the creaky floor, she tiptoed around and picked up some clothes to wear. It was still far from sunrise as she glance out the window. She welcomed the cooler breeze, softly blowing the sheer curtains.

Helena walked to the mirror and stared at her reflection. She shook her head at the red marks in a line that Stellan made. It traced the invisible fringed they trailed. "Bastard", she angrily thought. "He said it won't hurt", she added as she squinted her eyes at the sleeping knight. Then, her gaze turned soft when Stellan mumbled her name in his sleep. Smiling, she walked towards him and planted a kiss on his cheek whispering, "I'll be back".

Helena openedthe door and was startled at the man that suddenly come into view. "Oh hey Helena!", Jac greeted, catching her by surprise. He had a bunch of fruits, garlic bread and buttered corn gathered in his arms. Helena hushed the gentle giant and swiftly shut door, not to wake Stellan.

"What's all these?", Helena grabbed an apple from Jac's stash.

"I left you some food down there", Jac said. "And this is mine", he took the apple from Helena's hand before she could even get a bite. "Serve yourself and don't be shy. And, Oh, don't let that creepy old man get into your head, Helena", Jacomus warned in a low voice. "He's delulu, if you know what I'm saying?", he said as he went straight up to their room.