Barbaric Spouse, Descry the Night's Lure-Chapter 132: Scene CXXXII

It was an excruciating journey.

The beasts’ eyes would not leave the troop, seeking their flesh as food and mostly as entertainment, they would hunt the savages day and night, leaving no true break for those crossing the Hœttr Hills.

Breathless, their crawl outside those deformed grounds had every single one of them on edgy alert. Escaping and fighting to the death the many attacks received by those creatures inhabiting the hills that now were perceived as they truly are... Gruesome. Treacherous. Devoid of any mercy as even the earth was an enemy. The greatest enemy.

Its continuous change of shape caused more difficulty in their path. Small earthquakes could be deathly as the ground would easily transform to let those awake beasts crawl out to threaten the savages.

Sleep could not be granted. Safety was a luxury. And a married couple of Archdukes would endure the hazard... with an exhausted wife following her spouse’s orders so no harm would fall on either by her fault... and a husband who could not rejoice in the violence completely... as a woman precious to his soul was to be protected from gaining injuries.

Time to crave for the other almost became nonexistent, as the persistent danger haunted their whole journey. And yet...

"Duck! To my leg!"

"Y-yes!"

Another kind of bond surfaced the more days and weeks passed under horrible and bloody struggle.

As if training the woman, his orders became ones Ewelina slowly and even if not perfectly could follow. Growing slightly stronger, enough to move quickly to Aslak’s instructions and amass a link with the strong man to aid his protection during battle.

Nonetheless, deathly instances tried to take her head many other times.

"kh!"

"!!?"

Making his actions cause scratches on both so death wouldn’t take his wife...

"Stand!"

"!"

Immediately becoming focused on battle again to end the threats before them. Trying to leave the concern aside so her safety could improve.

So many days and nights while heads and injured were accumulated between those battling in the hills traversed as easily as the breeze and hazardous weather the territory flaunted.

Cold nights... Where a man would not sleep regardless of the temporal peace...

Where a woman would fall into brief and difficult slumber with reluctance. Aware that her sleep deprived rest from her beloved.

"Just sleep."

"... but... hus..band..."

"Sleep... It’s fine, Fatædi." — Placing his hand over the eyes of an already fainting Ewelina, Aslak would say every night so her reluctance would end. Watching the lips that tried to continue talking to the man, granting inadvertently what a good night kiss is called on the dry and hard from the dirt curls of his weak wife.

"Sleep calm, my lung."

Only to continue on alert, and fight at times while some rest was regained by that one who no matter what needed it.

As agonizing as the path filled with menaces was... a day arrived when the borders of the Hœttr Hills were surpassed.

Almost five weeks it took. More than initially thought as the pace was slower because both, the beasts and the grounds, were colluded in elevating the hazards.

"Ewelina... Ewelina, my Fatædi."

"...?" — While riding a firm Litilmenni, the dozing Ewelina heard her spouse wake her from the brief rest calmness allowed, softly in sound.

"We’ve crossed the hills... further ahead a stream is near. We will raise a tent so you can rest there."

"... We... have crossed the hills?"

"Ai."

"..... sniff... finally..." — Tears of emotion, flowing easily as if the stream itself dropped from her eyes came out as her head tilted to look at her husband’s amber eyes, painted messy in black for those battles.

"... Don’t cry."

"Husband... yet husband will finally rest... I am so glad tears are selfishly flowing..."

"... Don’t cry..."

"... Mhm... I understand." — Feeling calmer as his voice softened to graze her temple with a tender nose, Ewelina said, easily falling into slumber again filled with relief that danger was left behind.

Night had settled effortlessly as the tents were raised.

And as it was prepared, the woman slid away, informing the busy spouse of something he would not let alone.

"Husband..." — Discreet, Ewelina came to tell the man. Turning away innocent as no hidden intention was behind her sayings. — "Since the stream is near... I am to quickly cleanse myself while everyone is busy. You shall find me there if you cannot see me."

"... Wait. What–" — As she turned her back on him, exalted, Aslak commenced. Halting his words and volume so no one would find out what she secretly told.

"..."

A moment of ponder was kept as he lowered a sack, staring at the path she had walked, conscious of the figure the stream was to cleanse.

’... She shouldn’t go on her own...’ — Aslak determined, crafty. As he did wish to protect her from others’ eyes and harm... as well as he wished to admire and take care of his woman’s skin.

"Kir. You move this. I’ll be gone for a tad."

"? Where are you going?"

"..."

"Grace???"

No answer was purposely given to the constable. For the man would not tell as his wife conveyed with her secrecy no one should know... and while his focus was on reaching her place.

Aslak followed the path, searching with the help of the moon and the brilliant yet thin stream for the woman.

Until soon enough, the figure of a crouching Ewelina was found, washing softly with her hands the weary visage.

"... phew..."

He heard her sigh nicely. Accommodating herself on her knees to cautiously look around before taking off the upper part of a worn-out dress and gingerly bring with her hand the water to clean the sweat and dirt on her body.

"... nh... It’s cold..."

"....."

Unbeknownst to the man... a fond smile surfaced in his corners. Feeling content at the simple sight of Ewelina humbly using nature with that graceful yet timid attitude she continued to possess.

A step followed the fondness and, on purpose, his footsteps made a stronger sound the more he got near, calling for her awareness.

"Gasp!?" — To the sound she quickly moved to cover herself before searching for the source. Eventually widening her eyes and losing tension as it was a familiar man... the only allowed man.