A Questionable Quest

Chapter 14... in I climb a tree, and that's pretty much it

"I should ask you that." I pulled up next to him, and touched one finger to the back of his hand. It was warm, and a small tingle shot up my arm at the contact. "Your hands are shaking."

"They're not-"

I covered his hand entirely with my own. It was shaking. Badly.

Van broke off. He looked at me, and his arm tense, then relaxed. We stood there, just for a moment, of course, but it seemed like that moment lasted forever.

I wanted to let the moment stretch on for longer, to breathe in the contact and never let go. Which was strange, because I'd never been one for physical contact. Or gushy-wushy feelings. Just like I hadn't been one for swooning, or for romantic kisses in a deserted courtyard, or tales of princesses marrying their true loves, or... well, everything I seemed to be feeling right now.

Still, the calmness of his gaze did nothing to steady his shaking hand. I looked at him, and echoed back his words from seconds earlier. "What's wrong?"

Van closed his eyes. He swallowed. Then opened them again. "We're really high up right now."

"We are." What did that-oh. "Oh," I said. He nodded. "Well..." What did you say to someone who was terrified, and yet still conquering their greatest fear right in front of you? 'Good on you!' didn't seem to cover it.

"I'll be fine," he said. I must have looked doubtful, because he turned his hand over and caught mine.

I sucked in a breath. (Rather conspicuously, I might add.)

If Van's small grin was any indication, he absolutely heard me.

Then his gaze moved downward. To... all thoughts in my brain froze, except for one.

He wasn't planning on kissing me in a tree, was he? Because if he was, that would be totally dangerous and totally insane and...

And totally romantic? the voice in my head finished, breathlessly.

And totally illogical, I corrected it. We could fall.

But you have magic to stop that.

Well yes, I ground out. But-

Van squeezed my hand and let go. "I'll be fine. Let's just get to the top and forget I ever told you this."

Told me... right. He's afraid of heights. That's where this conversation had begun. I met his gaze -- my newly hazel eyes watching his shuttered amber ones -- and nodded. We both turned back to the tree.

Reach, step, push, pull.

Reach, step, push, pull.

"You know," I reached for the next branch in my path, just as Van reached for his, "nothing's going to happen to us up here."

"And you know that because..."

"Because, I have a Slow-Descent spell. If either of us fall, I'll cast the spell and we'll just float to the ground."

"With all due respect," Van looked at me, and pulled himself up to the next branch. He held out a hand, which I grabbed, and hoisted me up just as easily. "Knowing the fall won't hurt doesn't change my... apprehension."

I held in my snort at his word choice. Apprehension was a severe understatement compared to terrified. Still, I didn't say anything. If I, after all, had been forced to face one of my biggest fears, I likely wouldn't want to admit it either.

Pride was a funny thing that way.

Instead, I chose to change the topic. "You know, you were right, what you said earlier."

Reach, step, push, pull.

"Which time? I'm right a lot."

I rolled my eyes, even though he didn't see it. "When you said I would murder you if you'd gone up here without me."

"Ah."

Reach, step, push, pull.

"You see," I continued, grabbing for another branch (we were nearly to the top -- at least I hoped), "I may not have my entire manhood riding on this quest," I pulled myself up to the next branch, "but I am just as curious to see what's at the top of this tree."

Van was silent for a moment. Then... "you'd murder for curiosity?"

His tone was joking. I pulled myself up next to him and shot him a grin. "Oh absolutely. Wouldn't you?"

"Can I get back to you on that?"

"No."

"Hm."

Still grinning, I reached my next hand up to the nearest branch -- and felt nothing.

Well, not nothing exactly. But it wasn't a branch. It was... several dozen small branches, all woven together. With mud, and leaves, and feathers all sticking out at odd angles.

We'd reached the nest.

"Oh, wow." I drew in a long breath. Van said nothing, but peered around the trunk.

Dero had already squeeaaaaaaked, scurried past us, and disappeared up a human-sized hole.

Van and I shared apprehensive looks. He drew his sword. I drew my favourite dagger. Then we followed the baby dragon.

When we emerged out of the hole, and into the dragon nest, I froze. Van froze too.

Dero emitted a heart wrenching sound -- something in the back of my brain compared it to a sob.

"Oh." I looked around. For the first time in a long time, tears encroached upon the edges of my vision. "Wow."