Fable - Ask An Escort to Vel Anir

[Colette]

Make a better elf than him? Was he using a joke to sell himself short?

"I could help you with using a bow." It was an offer that was accompanied with a nudge and a smile. "I bet you're better than you give yourself credit for."

Then the compliment about her blueberry loaf came and her face fully turned cherry red. "T-thanks. I could've made it better. It's hard to bake with just a camp fire and limited ingredients so I don't want you to think that it's the best I could do because I think I really do do better and maybe if you're in Vel Anir sometime I could show you what I could really whip up."

A hand instinctively rose to clamp down upon her mouth.

Colette wasn't used to talking so rapidly or so quickly. But then again, there were few things she cared about more than perfection in baking. At least Varo had thought her inferior product was delicious.

"Thanks."

It was meant to be a thank you for everything. Saving her life, ensuring they got to a safe spot, the compliment to her baking and archery skills. An all encompassing 'thanks' that she wanted to ensure was properly conveyed. "For everything."

 

[Varo]

"Ah the Captain of the Guard already tried. I think I'm just not meant for fighting." He said with a chuckle. "I'm more of a lover, really."

Varo smiled as for the first time Colette spoke a mile a minute.

A part of him was almost shocked at the outburst, but mostly he found himself just entranced.

It was an interesting contrast to how she normally was. He could tell that there was passion there, real passion. She wasn't meant to be a soldier, wasn't meant to be traipsing around the middle of nowhere guarding criminal scum like him.

Colette was meant to be a baker. Hell, she was meant to be anything but this.

She really would have made a better Elf than him. At least in Ivladrin she would have been allowed to pursue her passions. Instead of causing mischief she could have baked, practiced the bow as an art, even listened.

It was a skill in it of itself, listening. One that was in short supply even among his people

Varo took in a breath, smiling as she thanked him. "Thank you for giving me water."

Many would not have, and if she hadn't, perhaps they would both be dead now. Without thinking, Varo wrapped an arm around Colette and gave her a gentle squeeze.

 

[Colette]

"A lover?"

She said at almost the same time that his arm squeezed around her.

Her stomach got warm and sent goosebumps rippling up her skin. Instinctively she leaned into Varo's grip and laid her head against his shoulder. Forgetting entirely that he was technically an enemy of Vel Anir.

After a few seconds of seizing the moment she spoke up, "you were thirsty." It was stated as simply as someone commenting that the sun was going to rise tomorrow. The elven man had a need so Colette helped to fulfill that need. She'd be wrong not to.

"You can't steal." She added. The idea that Varo would be arrested again, by the Anirians or the Allirians was too much. "If you need something... I have stipend. I can pull it out early if I need to."

It was a serious offer. If he needed to steal to survive she'd prefer to delay her dream of a bakery so that he was ok. It was an odd feeling... she'd only just met the half-elf yet she wanted to ensure he wasn't putting his life in danger.

Colette moved in even closer, being utterly tired of the cold and not caring of modesty any longer.

 

[Varo]

Varo smiled weakly, a small pang striking through his heart as Colette spoke.

The notion alone was incredibly sweet, the idea behind it even more so, but it was also naive. Varo could no more stop stealing than Colette could suddenly stop being a soldier. Even if he took her coin, something he would never do, it would run out quickly.

The Gang back in Alliria struggled to survive as it was. If he left them behind now they would lose their Face, and without that it would be difficult for them to get many of the higher paying gigs. Even if he's wanted to Varo wouldn't have been able to do it. "Keep your coin."

Varo said as he gently rubbed Colette's shoulder.

Despite the cold air of the night and the dank cave walls Varo found himself feeling warm for the first time in days. Huddled up against her and sharing the small space was almost...pleasant.

"I'll be alright, I promise." He assured her. Maybe he would just be more careful who he stole from, or not take as many risks.

That was easy enough. Right?

Slowly Varo took on a breath.

"You should get some rest." Varo said quietly. "Tomorrow is going to be a long day."

 

[Colette]

She wasn't surprised that he had dismissed her suggestion so flippantly. Even she realized that having coin sent to an address in Alliria would come with questions and she wasn't sure how it'd all even work. But she'd never met someone who had to steal to survive.

Stealing was illegal. That meant it was wrong, to Colette at least. She didn't see someone like Varo as a bad person though.

When he mentioned rest it finally dawned on her just how tired she was.

"An apprenticeship then," her words began trailing off. Lazily she added, "you're a good person. Honest work..."

Eyelids grew heavy as she squeezed her arms together and relaxed against the elf's side. It was unusual just how safe she felt given the danger they still faced. How calm she was despite knowing that tomorrow was going to be a miserable slog through wild forest. Evading bandits that may or may not be still looking for them.

Almost as soon as her eyes shut the night began to fade away. Her consciousness succumbing to the beckoning allure of sleep.

Colette knew that after this was over she'd return to the guard. She may never see Varo again after this entire ordeal was settled. But she didn't need to worry about that tonight. Tonight she could just dream and forget about whatever the future held.

 

[Varo]

"Maybe." Varo said with a nod of his head, squeezing her should gently as she quietly slipped away to sleep.

His own head tilted back as he adjusted more of his jacket to draw over her, though he first moved the bandage to check on his wound. The gash was already beginning to heal, and by the morning it would be nothing but a large scab.

It was one of the few things he could be thankful for regarding his...condition.

The Wolf had made him leave his home. Had forced him to go on these trips far away from Alliria, but at the very least there were some advantages. He wasn't a fighter, he hadn't lied to Colette about that, but the Wolf was.

He hoped it would not come to that, but he knew that if the bandits caught up he would have to let go of what little control he had. The only trouble would be keeping Colette safe. She had already shown that she would not leave him behind, but perhaps if she saw...his lips thinned, and he decided to banish the thought.

With a deep breath he shuffled a bit closer to Colette, taking in her warmth as he closed his eyes.

Perhaps tomorrow would not be that bad.

He just needed a little more luck.

 

[Colette]

Bird's sang just outside of the cave as the first light of day poked into the mouth of their rocky abode. Colette squinted her eyes open and stretched her wrists outward.

If her motion wasn't enough to wake him she was certain that her rumbling stomach would be. The guardswoman chewed on her tongue, hoping to will the pain of hunger away. Food was going to have to be an after thought today. They'd need to reach safety within a town or village first.

Maybe if they caught up with an Anirian patrol they'd prove to be rescuers. She was certain that Varo hadn't been processed yet so it was unlikely they knew of his crimes. If he kept that scraggly hair of his down it might hide his ears long enough for them to get fed and then be on his way back to Alliria. Back to Alliria...

"Good morning," she finally said, realizing the early they made progress the better. "did you sleep ok? Are you feeling well enough to walk?"

His wound had been pretty awful the previous night. She was sure it had to still hurt, still be sore. How fast of a pace could they even maintain today? If those bandits came she was only armed with the small dagger and the elven man had admitted he wasn't any sort of fighter.

They'd have to do their best to be stealthy today. Avoid any danger at all costs.

After just a few blissful moments longer in the cave that is.

 

[Varo]

"Augh." Varo was not a morning person. He never had been. Even back in Ivladrin it had taken a dozen birds and a slap to the face to get him to wake up.

It was another quality that had annoyed his father to no end.

When Colette tried to rouse him, Varo resisted. The arm that had been wrapped around her shifted, and then suddenly she found herself yanked against him as he shifted and half rolled against the rocky surface. His lips smacked gently together as he murmured. "Five more minutes."

The words came in a haze.

In his half asleep mind he had forgotten all about the Bandits, the wound in his side, everything that loomed over them as a threat.

All he wanted was a little more sleep.

 

[Colette]

A smile formed as she was pushed into Varo through his partial roll. His hazy words bringing on a blush to her cheeks.

"OK," she said whilst placing a hand on his chest to steady herself in this new position, "five minutes."

She stared at him briefly to see his eyes shut tight. After a second or two of gazing at the half-elf she turned her attention to the entrance of the cave. The various critters scurrying about while sparrows chirped in spaced-out tones. It was like living in a vision.

Colette knew she'd look back at this moment with glee. She was content to let it last another five, ten, or twenty minutes. But she was done sleeping. Her mind fully alert as aqua colored eyes scanned the patterns of the cavern wall or traced the design of the foliage just outside.

Growing up it was always engrained in her that the, 'early bird gets the worm.' Whether she was engaged in studies, helping her mother cook, or just running to the square to get some milk for the family she had always been a morning person.

"Sleeping in," wasn't something she ever really enjoyed until this morning.

 

[Varo]

It was not five minutes.

That wasn't because Varo actively wanted to defy her, but because...well it was really hard to get up in the morning. If they'd found themselves in a bed or a cave floor Varo likely wouldn't have been able to rouse himself until noon.

As it was the only reason he managed to grasp even a bit of alertness was the sensation of pins and needles in his arms from where he had dragged Colette on top of himself. Even her slight weight was enough to put his arm to sleep, and as he blinked awake he looked down at her. "Oh."

Varo said softly.

"Hello there." A slow yawn escaped from his lips a second later, his non-asleep hand coming up to cover his mouth. "Must be morning."

He commented with a sleepy smile, not making any effort to move. He still didn't remember the bandits that were after them, a haze still clouded over his mind.

 

[Colette]

It was impossible to know how much longer they had stayed in the cave because to her surprise Colette had uncharacteristically drifted back into the clutches of sleep. She opened her eyes and swiftly rubbed her sleeve against her lower lip and chin.

She had been so out of it that she was drooling. How embarrassing.

”Morning,” her reply came as she forced the look of surprise off her face in exchange for one of joy. ”How are you feeling?”

Colette glanced at the bloodied rags strewn across his midsection. She’d have asked how he slept but his lazy yawn and the ‘five minute’ snooze answered that question on its own.

The Anirian girl straightened her back and set her head against the cold stone of the cave. Her stomach rumbled again and she shot Varo a look of shock. ”We should probably get moving if you’re up to it. Set some distance between us and… them.

 

[Varo]

Oh. Right.

The bandits.

Varo put a hand up and rubbed his face, quietly cursing himself for not remembering earlier. His fingers pinched the bridge of his nose, but he pulled himself up alongside Colette and nodded his head. "We should."

The cutpurse glanced down at his side, softly pulling at the bandage to inspect the wound. As he'd thought it was little more than a scab now, though still looked like he'd been rent by a claw rather than a blade. A frown touched his lips, but he slowly picked himself up.

"I'm alright, heal nice and quick." He assured her softly, glancing down at her stomach as the sound of it's grumble seemed to echo through the cavern.

A bemused smile flickered over his features for a few moments.

"We'll find some food too." He told her softly. "The forest has plenty to offer if you know where to look."

Which luckily he did. It was one lesson that he had been forced to learn. His journey to Alliria had been a long one. He'd not encountered much civilization upon it, and over the months he'd picked up a few tricks to get himself fed.

"Come on." Varo said as he offered her his hand.

 

[Colette]

That was peculiar. Yesterday he was struggling to keep it together and today he seemed better than he was the day the guard picked him up. Maybe he was exaggerating the pain yesterday? No, unless he was a masterful actor the wound was genuinely terrible. So how had it closed together so swiftly?

Best not question a good thing... especially at the mention of sustenance.

"Only if food won't slow us down." Colette grinned and took the elven man's hand, rising to her feet.

She swayed slightly as she got her bearings together and started to head out of the cave. "I'm glad you're okay," she said with a slight reservation. It was still itching at her mind how he was in such good shape.

"What sort of things are we looking for to eat?" The Anirian Guard didn't teach many scavenging tricks but she knew there were some mushrooms that'd poison you. She'd hunted rabbits for the guard before but that was with the convenience of a bow. They wouldn't have time or tools to trap or hunt game and they certainly wouldn't be able to cook anything.

Her head turned to ensure Varo was keeping up before her pace slowed to a halt. She had no idea which direction to head in.

 

[Varo]

Varo stepped out of the cavern with no small amount of weariness. Even with Colette before him a certain paranoia clung to him.

He was no fighter, he'd meant that, and if he could avoid ever running into this bandits again he certainly would try. His head turned towards her as he answered her question. "Mushrooms, berries, some flowers."

Some would taste better than others, but it wasn't like they were going to be eating at a waterfront restaurant any time soon.

"There's a moss that can keep you fed for a day." Varo offered with a shrug, omitting the fact that it tasted like death itself.

Slowly he looked around, catching Colette's hesitation.

For a few moments he remained behind her, glancing up towards the forest canopy to seek out the sun. After a few moments he pointed towards the east. "Let's go this way."

East was back the way they'd come, back towards Alliria, towards that little town he'd been caught in.

 

[Colette]

”Moss?” A sullen look marked her features.

Perhaps starvation wasn’t so bad.

The direction Varo had chosen was good enough for her. Colette’s sense of direction wasn’t entirely great within cities or on roadways so a forest with hundreds of identical trees would be impossible for her to navigate.

For now she let pine needles and fallen leave scrunch underfoot while she followed the cutpurse. Of all the options the half-elf mentioned only mushrooms and berries sounded appetizing to her. Knowing their luck the past few days Colette was pretty sure they wouldn’t find either.

Wanting to focus on anything but food she asked the second most pressing question on her mind, ”do you think they’re still searching for us? Maybe they’ve given up.” Cut their losses or something.

Is that something criminals did? She wasn’t certain and was even less certain if Varo had any clue himself.

 

[Varo]

"Maybe." Varo said, though in truth he absolutely had no idea.

In his own experiences bandits were really only motivated by gold. They had gotten a good chunk when they took the caravan, and might have gotten a good bit more for selling Colette and Varo into slavery.

He just had no idea if it would be enough to keep them searching.

Of course the other possibility was that they had found their near dead "friend" and he told them of the buried gold. If that was what happened...then Colette and Varo would likely find themselves pursued to the very walls of the Inner City. A thought that he decided not to share with his companion. "Is this the furthest you've been from Vel Anir?"

Varo asked, deciding that it would be best to distract her from any of the darker thoughts.

As they walked Varo kept an eye on the forest floor, gaze flickering between different plants. Sometimes he would walk towards one, picking a few berries and offering them to Colette.

"Here." He told her. "Arga berries."

It was a strange looking fruit, spotted with small ribbon like slashes of purple and green. The taste was sweet, though turned slightly sour at the center. Perfectly edible though if you discounted the fact that they turned human tongues blue.

 

[Colette]

Colette was fairly sure that her fellow escapees, ‘maybe,’ was a positive one. Like a, ‘yeah maybe they gave up because that’s certainly what bandits do.’ She didn’t think she was reading too much into his one word answer. His voice did sound very optimistic after all.

Then again, reading people wasn’t exactly a skill Colette could boast of.

”As a girl I went on a trip with my father but I never left his side,” she could still recall how tightly she’d clutched at his trousers. Terrified of even the shadows of strangers. ”I’ve never been this far on my own.”

The bridge of her nose scrunched as she rethought her words. ”Not that, I mean, I’m not alone. You’re here.”

Luckily the half-elf had spotted something to eat that wasn’t moss or flowers or insects. Hopefully he didn’t take her comment in offense.

”See? I’d be walking in circles on an empty stomach if you weren’t here,” the guardswoman bent down and held out her hand, allowing Varo to deposit a few into her palm.

They looked extremely exotic. Dotted and striped with lime and violet patterns in a spiral. She wiggled them around in her hand before finally prying one up with her index and middle finger. Colette placed the berry in between her front teeth and began to chew.

It released a sugary taste that was much better than she had been expecting, though the taste shifted near the end. They’d be good in a muffin, maybe combine with lemon or blackberry to balance the sweetness a touch. She scooped up several more and munched away at them.

Opening her mouth to speak revealed a bright cyan tongue that said, ”these are pretty good,” in an ecstatic tone.

 

[Varo]

"I'd have thought they would make you travel more." Varo said as he scratched his beard, thinking back to the rumors he had heard about Vel Anir as a child. He had always been told they were conquerors, brutal murderers that sent soldiers around the world in fits of domination.

He glanced back at her as she spoke of the berries, his eyes narrowing for a moment.

Varo shook his head for a moment, his expression somewhat startled as he saw the color of her tongue. "Umm."

For a few moments the Half-Elf hesitated, and then he ate some more of the berries himself.

"They sure are." He had not been aware of the side-effect, though he knew for a fact that the berries weren't poisonous to humans...he was pretty sure anyway. A smile flickered over his features and he plucked a few more and put them in his pocket. "Let's keep going."

They would need something more substantial than berries if they were going to sustain themselves. Though a day or so without much food wasn't a problem.

The bigger issue would be water.

Up above the sun was already steadily rising, and the heat of this area became more and more apparent with every passing second. Varo glanced around, continuing their trek east as he listened for a stream or river. "What are you going to do when you get out of the Guard?"

Varo asked.

"I assume they don't make you serve forever." That would be even more barbaric, though from what he knew he wouldn't put it past them.

 

[Colette]

A few more of the agra berries were plopped into Colette's mouth. She chewed slowly before swallowing and keeping pace with Varo. "We travel some with the guard but typically not so far as Alliria," her lips thinned together as she explained, "typically the division I'm assigned to sticks to the area just north of Vel Anir or the Aberresai Savannah."

She shuddered as she recalled some of the savage tribalmen of the savannah. Donric had told her they used the skulls of Anirians as soup bowls and even though she knew it probably wasn't true she could easily picture it judging by a few of the men she'd seen.

Although Varo's question did cause one to raise in Colette's mind. Why was the northern guard this far east? Come to think of it there had a been a lot of strange orders and assignments the last few months.

The timing of Varo's next question couldn't have come at a better time. It wasn't Colette's place to question the motivations of the Anirian Generals. "I'm not sure what I'll do immediately after my service completes."

She'd have some savings of course, the guard paid fairly well, but no where near enough to open the kind of place she wanted to.

"And no," she laughed, "you don't have to serve forever. Some people do, make it a career. I think most Anirians fulfill their minimum years required and then get out." The blonde girl plucked the last of the berries from her hand and downed them. It was enough to sate the rumblings of her stomach for now but she'd be lying if she said she were full.

In a dreary voice she admitted, "once my service ends I suppose I'll try to find an apprenticeship somewhere. I'd like to open a cafe. With teas and coffees and baked goods. But I'll have to work for a bit to save. Of course..." she shook her head and admitted to the half-elf, "my parents are a bit old fashioned. They won't approve of an apprenticeship."

They'd insist a girl her age should be married, raise a few children, and then think about opening a business.

 

[Varo]

Varo took in all the information swiftly, trying to picture what he actually knew about the Savannah.

It was...next to nothing, of course.

Though he was sure that his people knew all about it, Varo had never been the best when it came to absorbing information. As far as he knew there were a dozen Elven cities plopped right in the middle of that region. Though he somewhat doubted that given Colettes reaction to him.

He considered for a moment, his brow scrunching in confusion as she mentioned her parents being 'old fashioned'.

"What does that mean?" He asked.

"My father never liked that I wasn't good with a bow, or an instrument, or...well really anything except playing cards and getting the other kids into trouble." Varo contended. "Is it like that?"

Colette at least seemed like she had potential.

Baking was a real talent of hers, as he'd already discovered, and she was a much better fighter than he was. "I think you could open a great cafe."

Varo added after a moment.

 

[Colette]

She’d probably been oversharing. Colette was bad about that.

Although if elves lived as long as she thought they did maybe it made sense that he wouldn’t know what being “old fashioned” was. I guess for an elf that’d just be regular fashioned.

”It means they think a woman my age should be focusing on a family, not on a business venture.” Her parents were still better than most however. She knew that if she ignored their desire and committed to her dream they'd still love her and help in any way they could… although they’d do it begrudgingly and make it as awkward as possible.

A frown formed as Varo mentioned his own struggles though. ”My parents are proud of me. At least I think so. Why did you get the other kids into trouble?”

Colette blinked and a rosy color painted her face at the compliment.

”Thanks,” she said shyly, ”you’ll have to come see it if I really do open a cafe.” A sinking in her gut forced her to return the praise. ”I think your father didn’t give you a fair shake. I’m sure you have more talent than you give yourself credit for.”

Varo certainly was a good talker. And a good listener. He’d also managed to get them out of the bind with those bandits and was probably the sole reason Colette wasn’t in the hands of slavers or worse. She wasn’t going to let the half-elf sell himself short.

 

[Varo]

"Well he did say I would make a good diplomat." Varo reminded himself, musing for a moment. "I think he just wished I took things more seriously."

A shrug rolled over his shoulders for a moment. "I was different than the others. Children are rare in Elven society, and though Ivladrin has more than most I was...unique among them."

For a brief second he considered, then added.

"My mother is human, or was." She had passed away not long before he'd gotten bit by the Werewolf. "Most Elves are reserved, a bit more withdrawn than humans. I just didn't have those qualities, never have. So I would constantly coax the others into doing things that the older generation thought...chaotic."

Though he still contended that most of those things were utterly hilarious in their own way. Not that anyone but a few had ever seen it like that.

A frown touched his features for a moment as she spoke about focusing on family, his head shaking.

"You should open up that bakery." He told her. "I'll get that hat and come see it opening day."

The idea that anyone would want to stifle their child just because of 'tradition' seemed absolutely absurd to him. Even his father hadn't done that.

 

[Colette]

"You'd make a great diplomat," she beamed, "you're easy to talk to."

Children were rare among elves? Were they prudes or was their physiology just not setup for reproduction? Uncle Berry always said that elves were the weakest race on Arethil but Colette was pretty sure her uncle had never even spoken to an elf. Maybe it was from their long lives?

An eyebrow arched upwards at the mention of his mother. She'd been told that half-elves existed but she'd never met one. She wasn't even sure if it was true or if it was just an old wives' tale to keep young Anirians away from young elves. "I like that you aren't reserved."

"How did your father and mother come to be together?" She had hoped to brush over her compliment quickly enough. Not to mention she was curious about how a half-elf comes to be. She had been told that Allirians and Obanese were more tolerant than Anirians but... well... she just assumed that relationships were still looked down upon.

A smile tugged at the corners of the straw-haired girl's mouth. "I'll let you know when it opens. Serve you a cake or something on the house."

Colette giggled and stepped around the next bend behind Varo. Just up ahead she could swear she heard the sound of rushing water. Sure enough a small creek seemed to run through this patch of the forest. It'd be refreshing to wash her face, have a drink, though she couldn't help but wonder if there may be other people or creatures lurking near such an isolated watering spot.

 

[Varo]

He laughed.

"Free cake huh?" Varo mused. "Well now I have to come."

He smiled at her briefly, thinking about what his life would have been like as a diplomat. I probably would have had to take things more seriously

Varo considered to himself quietly, frowning for a moment and deciding that he preferred being a thief. Colette wouldn't have approved but...wait, why did that matter? Lips thinned, but he shook his head as they approached the small stream.

His gaze flickered around the rushing water for a moment, searching for deer or anything else that might be lurking before stepping down towards the bank.

"I'm not really sure." Varo answered her other question as he dipped his hand within the cool water. "They never spoke about it much, though I know that my mom was from a city north of the Falwood."

That didn't really narrow it down, though it cut out Alliria at least. "She came to study with the Elves, is what she told me. She was was a researcher of sort, and my father liked her curiosity. She always seemed to want to learn something new."

He smiled faintly at the memory.

 

[Colette]

She smiled and shot the half-elf a knowing look. ”Looking forward to it. You’ll need to let me know what your favorite is.”

Colette took a knee and undid the bandage that Varo had fashioned around her head. She placed both hands into the flow of water and let some of the creek pool into the little cup she had formed.

The first few dips were for drinking. She was thirstier than she thought she had ever been. Once her thirst was sated she splashed some of the water on her face before she rubbed some of the dried blood off her head and re-fashioned Varo’s torn shirt along her wound.

”You should probably clean that gash,” she mentioned while rising to her feet.

A researcher? That was interesting.

He seemed smart enough, to her at least, to follow in his mother’s footsteps. Then again, Colette’s father was a mason and she couldn’t imagine a more tedious line of work. ”She sounds like she was a lovely person.”

”My parents met at a pub, a few weeks after they both finished their service. A lot less interesting than your story,” she said with a grin.

Her cerulean eyes lingered on Varo for a bit longer than she intended. She didn’t know if talking about his mother was upsetting, she’d never lost a parent. He was smiling though. That was good. It wasn’t until several more seconds had passed that she realized she was still staring at him.