The man disappeared behind the trees, like a ghost, like a spirit of the same forest - silent, indifferent to those around him.

As my heart was beating in thrill I took a time to observe Gunnar. He seemed on guard, his eyes focused on the spot where an exile vanished, occupied by his own thoughts it seemed he had forgotten about my existence, but overall he was calm.

"I did not know that strangers lurk so close to Wahrlenn. Well... I kind of knew, but... in broad daylight?"

"That's enough for today. We are going back." Gunnar turned around and marched past me, not considering to hear my thoughts. Eventually, he turned back and with annoyance in his features made it clear it was his final word.

I didn't want to follow him around like a puppy, always asking for his permission to do things I wanted. I was not as obedient as he expected, as most women have been brought up. I stood my ground, clearly upset.

"You are so paranoid, the same as my father. One man passes by and you all think he is here to cause harm. You will have to try harder to persuade me to change my mind, that is - I will not follow your orders."

I could sense fuming anger run through his veins - skillful enough to hide his emotions, keep his calm, something that our men had trouble with. Though I was not afraid, not from him nor a man in the forest, just a thrill of the inexperienced encounter made my heart beat faster and faster.

"So naive..." The sounds came between his teeth. The arrogant look on his face and slow steps towards me gave a vibe of him mocking me, laughing about my lack of experience about the outer world. "That man was a killer, so does everyone else in the shadows. You talk like you know of things you have never seen, though never tasted the fear or hopelessness in front of the enemy. You would not be so brave when faced with the destruction of everything you love, you live for. Even the strongest fear. It's not a weakness, but a will to live. You seem to be lacking it. There will be a day your strong spirit will crumble under the forces of Sedahra."

"What does a man living in the isolation know about the world?" I was still unfazed by his words.

"My camp was destroyed by seemingly harmless travelers. I will never forget their faces, the bloody swords as they pierced the people closest to me. I would be a fool still thinking that the world is as harmless as a lap of a father. Freya, don't challenge fate, don't play with fire."

His ice-cold eyes burned with flames so strong it made my eyes sting, but to no avail, I struggled to keep them shut. The mesmerizing glow in the darkness kept me stunned and paralyzed. I hated myself at that moment. The black paint over his eyes left no room for my gaze to wander off, keeping my orbs locked onto his heated stare. So full of emotions and words unsaid...

With an unwelcome force Gunnar took hold of my hand and yanked me forward and then I woke up from the trance I was captured in. My feet stumbled over the fragile twigs on the mossy floor and if it wouldn't be Gunnar who hold on to me as the protective mother bear, I would fall onto the path.

"Let go of me!" His ears seemed to be shut to my demand. "I said to let go!" I struggled to free myself and when I was almost out of his grasp, Gunnar latched onto my other arm, securing it in his big hand.

"Stop acting so childishly, Freya!"

"No! You stop it! I said I will not leave!" He drew me closer to his chest, I could barely move. There was so much power in his hold, the strength I have never felt on my skin. "I am so tired of you! I thought to give you a chance, the pity I felt for your lost family and home, but you are simply a pain in my ass!"

As the last resort I steadied myself and with all my strength tried to kick him, but it turned out as lame as my pointless struggles to this point. He saw it coming and easily dodged, almost not having any effect on my move. I growled to myself as my frustration grew.

"So do I!"

Something happened. There was not enough time for me to register... Did he hit me? Poisoned me? Or was there something else that made me lose all the strength in my limbs? I fell in his arms, without a functioning muscle in my limp legs to hold my weight, I felt the surrounding world fade into darkness. Just glimpses of trees, mossy forest floor and then the tanned rim of Gunnar's tasset as it blended in with the forest. With ease, he had lifted me up and over his wide shoulder. I wanted to protest, attempt for my last struggles, but no muscle in my body seemed to work nor my fading consciousness.

***

The strange scent lingered, nudged my senses and captivated my restless mind. It belonged to a flower - exotic, foreign, rare. Or could it be one of the unknown animal? A mixture of both. It lured me closer, closer, but no matter how much I wanted to reach it, the scent faded, letting me feel emptiness and disappointment of losing something so rare.

When I opened my eyes, all of it seemed like a dream. I took the time to observe the room I was held in. It was my own. Darkness surrounded me, the full moon was shining through my window casting the blue light on the walls.

It brought back memories of the night I laid my eyes on a man I wanted to meet again so much. The icy blue sword he held... I had to look for a person owning such a rarity.

How can I, if my father and Gunnar were so selfish and did not let me be on my own?

I didn't know how would I get my guard to take me out another time. He seemed harder to manipulate than most of the men I knew. So stubborn, so arrogant and more powerful than I will ever be. What could make him change his mind?

A different approach?

The magnetic feeling drew me out of my comfortable bed and near a moonlit door. The spell of the night and neverending dreams of my future was too sweet to ignore.

But then all of it came crashing down when the doorknob did not move a bit. My room was locked. I was trapped inside till morning or a time someone would think of letting me out.

"...bastard..."

I jumped back in my bed and sulked for a minute. That idiot was sleeping calmly in the next room, while I went nuts over my relentless wishes. I banged a fist couple of times on the wall separating us. He will not expect what is coming for him starting tomorrow.

"...damn bastard..." I said to myself before calming and giving up for tonight.