The Runaway

Chapter 10

I turn around. He's holding the sword up to me, holding the blade. I carefully take it, so it doesn't cut him.

He walks onto the stones, in the middle, and beacons me over. I walk on the little circular steps, stopping 3 stones away from him. He holds his sword up to me, yet again. I lift the sword up to hit his and 'accidently' fling it in the water. He gives me a disapproving look and runs his hand through his hair before stepping in the water and picking up the sword. The water only covers his feet.

He takes a cloth from a pocket and dries the sword off while getting back on the steppingstone. He puts the swords away in the holders that are strapped to the outsides of his legs. So cool.

"This is boring. Can we do something else like pick flowers or do each other's hair?"

He scrunches his nose and walks past me to the open land. I follow him.

"Someone told me that you were mute. Is it true?"

He stops walking, turns around towards me and nods.

"Prove it."

He stares at me for a minute before moving his mouth like he's talking and putting his hand to his ear as if he's listening to something far away. He then throws his hands in front of himself with his hands open, looking at me annoyed. We keep walking somewhere.

It's a long dramatic walk but from the angles of the castle above, we're walking around it, through knee high grass and sporadic trees. I almost fall every other step from all the tree roots and boots with the thickest soles I've ever worn. It isn't hard to get that title, I only ever wear flat shoes.

"Are you sure we can't braid each other's hair? I will have to use my fingers and that should count for something, right?"

He looks so annoyed with me. He walks behind me, flips my hair over my head and keeps walking. I fix my poor hair while following him. All I can hear is the wind moving the gold chains on his horns, mainly the normal one. The broken one doesn't have as much.

"How many piercings do you have?"

He holds up all his fingers. That's a lot. Eventually we get to the forest. Why here?

"What are we going to do? Climb trees? Make a treehouse? I had a treehouse, it was amazing."

He raises a brow at me before shaking his head. There's something in his face but he walks away before I can figure it out. I follow him into the tree line, but after that he is gone. The roof from the treetops being densely tangled together makes everything darker.

I walk around for so long through the gaps and over the thick roots. There is not a singular flat surface here, not a spot. The grass curves around tree branches, hiding them. I had to have tripped 10 times, at least.

The sun is lowering to her bed for the night. Still, no one in sight.

"Hellooooo is anyone thereeeeee? This isn't fun anymore. Not like this was fun the first time."

I feel so alone, the same alone as in the bedroom but worse. There I know where I am. Here I don't. It feels as if time is running out. I stand still and listen to everything as best as possible.

Silence. My ears have failed me. Huge and still defective. ... Wait, no. The ground, I can hear the ants in the ground. The grass from the breeze, leaves hitting each other. Every crack from old trees. Is this how everything is supposed to sound?

There is a footstep to the far left of me. I turn but don't see anything. I walk over as quietly as I can- it all fades away. Now I feel alone again, sad. I lean against a tree.

"I know you might not listen to me, ol' tree, since I don't belong in this kingdom or anywhere near here, but it would ever be so nice if you could tell his highness that I don't want to play this game anymore."

There are indistinct cracks of bark throughout the surrounding area. Aww, the trees listened to me. I pat the tree I'm leaning on. So sweet of them.

After a few moments footsteps come closer. He appears from behind a tree while shaking his head. I followed him out of the forest. I'm disappointed in myself too. My senses are broken.

Oh, my goodness. He takes me to the giant hill, points at me and then the top. I'm exhausted.

"Don't you ever give up? This is exhausting."

He shakes his head and points up the hill. I walk up the stupid hill, he walks next to me. This hill is so steep. Why couldn't we walk somewhere else? Open land would be nice.

The sky is dark now. Night has settled upon us. The days here are so short. Wait no, winter is coming. I don't blame the sun; I too would leave early if I could. Winter is too cold, too dark and sad.

Once at the top I admire the scenery. This place truly is beautiful. There isn't a giant fire this time but there are still villagers walking around and living.

"What is it like living here? You know, not against your will?"

He shrugs and walks to the other side of the hill. I follow him. Pants are evil, who willingly wears these?

"You are very bad at answering questions. It isn't very proper of you."

He stops walking, turns around and stares at me with the most disappointment I've ever seen in anyone.

"Oh yea. Sorry. Do you know sign language?" He nods "Teach me so you can answer my questions."

He rolls his eyes and continues to walk. I'm a very good actor. We walk down the other side of the hill; it isn't as steep but is bumpy and uneven instead. This is torture. They kidnap me and then drag me around, making me do things against my will.

"This would be better if the sun didn't set so early and we could see better."

He mocks me with his hand.

A/N: Do we like him? 👀