a Walk through the Woods

[Iain Lee Frye]

It wasn’t too often that Iain was assigned and tasked with the duties of accompanying someone as a guard and guide through the Namyca Forest. While he typically spent most of his time scouting through the woods, there had been the occasional escorting, if one requested such, as some did not always feel safe or comfortable traveling on their own. Whatever the case may be with his assigned charge, he would follow the orders given to him, even though it honestly made him nervous to be around others he did not know all too well.

A Noblewoman by the name of Helena Albanach was to be under his protection until she reached her destination, and if she wished for him to escort her back when she needed it, he was to stay closeby until she was ready to leave and return. Unsure of whether or not the lady would wish to travel by foot or horse, he still found it a good idea to bring along his steed should anything happen So he had assigned their meeting place to be at the stables.

Iain arrived early in the morning, just after the sun had risen, and a couple of hours prior to the assigned meeting time. He spent the morning cleaning and tending to his horse, along with various other chores he wished to complete before he’d be spending the day in the forest.

As the hour finally approached, Iain began to prepare his horse for the trip, fastening its saddle and the reins. He had just finished when he heard the sounds of horse hoofs clomping against the ground as they approached. The Ranger quietly led his horse out of the barn and into the sunlight, squinting slightly to watch the small group approaching the stables.

[Helena Albanach]

The west of Teronna was wild lands. Villages here and there, the Lee Frye estate, and then forest. Miles upon miles of trees. Trees that could hide anything, and Helena was certain that they were hiding something. Or rather something was hiding within them. After the Unseelie attack ath King Allarick’s little party, the entire order had been placed on high alert- Wardens and Viperidae included. Countless hours had been devoted to pouring over maps, both ancient and recent, and searching for any dark corners of Teronna where mystics might have made their camps.

It was one of these dark corners which had piqued her interest- some ruins right on the other side of Namyca forest. She had told her father that she wished to paint them, begged him to indulge this ‘girlish fancy’ of hers, and as usual: the man had relented. Arranging for a ranger to accompany her, ‘just in case’. Rising before the dawn had never come easy to Helena, and the hour or so it took to powder her face and squeeze her into her stays did nothing to help her mood. She arrived precisely on time, with a painted smile and perfectly pinned hair- her painting tools stowed safely in the saddlebags. ”Good morning.” The woman said matter-of-factly, neither waiting for nor expecting a response. ”Looks as though you drew the short straw for the babysitting duty?”

Without introducing herself, Helena gave him precisely ten seconds to mount up before turning her horse towards the path- guiding the gelding towards the city walls at a gentle canter. She would have been fine without an escort, but Helena knew her father wouldn’t have relented- so she tolerated the ranger’s presence. At least for now. ”Come along.” She called, over her shoulder if Iain Lee Frye hadn’t quite managed to catch up, ”I don’t want to miss the light and it’s a long ride.”

They had crossed the river by the time Helena spoke again, more to occupy her mind than to put the man at ease. ”So, how did you manage to draw the short straw then? Can’t imagine riding through the forest is more interesting than your usual duties.”

[Iain Lee Frye]

Iain wasn’t entirely sure what to expect when his company for the day arrived. But just as soon as her matter-of-factly voice escaped her, he could tell it was going to be a long day. “Morning,” he mumbled back to her in the middle of her next sentence. He drew the short straw for babysitting duty? His brow rose in question and without responding he mounted his horse just before she began to ride off. “Seems so,” he muttered quietly.

He quickly caught up with her just as she was practically ordering him along. Was this how the day would go--her treating him as one of her servants? If he wasn’t as passive as he was, he may have said something to put her in her place, but instead, he said nothing. It would be her first chance, but if it continued, eventually he would reach his breaking point.

The silence never bothered him. He was quiet in nature and had never been one to fill the silence for filling silence. So when Helena finally spoke up, he nearly flinched and turned his attention towards her. Again, she was accusing him of drawing the short straw, and he wasn’t entirely sure why.

“I’m not quite sure what gives you that idea,” he said simply and calmly. “There was no drawing of straws. I was available and this was my assignment for the day.” He looked ahead of them on the path and shrugged his shoulders. “And this is my usual duties. Riding or walking through the forest--scouting for potential dangers...Hunting and foraging.” Iain kept his gaze ahead as they continued on. “Sometimes all of that.”

He fell silent for a moment before speaking again, “you might come to find out that you were the one to draw the short straw here.” He wasn’t always the most pleasant or interesting of company and was sure she’d grow tired or bored of him being around.

[Helena Albanach]

’Morning’ and a mumble at that. Seemed as though the ranger wanted to be here just as little as she needed him here. The woman passed her glance from the young ranger and back to her mount fairly quickly, as though she didn’t have any care or patience for the man: the quick glance however told her all she thought she needed to know. He was young, he was dark haired and carried himself well (a Lee Frye perhaps? Not a DeGraff or she would have known him), and he seemed capable enough. Hopefully that meant he was capable in terms of fending off bandits and bears rather than capable of getting in her way.

She continued, steering her horse along the path before loosening the reins and trusting the beast to plod along the beaten path without much guidance on Helena’s part. Likewise, she expected Iain Lee Frye to follow. He wasn’t a servant, and by the way he carried himself- Helena supposed he wasn’t quite so used to people treating him so shortly. But noticing this didn’t mean the woman really cared. He didn’t want to be here, she didn’t want him to be here. As far as she was concerned the silence could stretch between them until they parted ways upon their return.

Only, then... he was speaking again. And that caused Helena’s eyebrows to raise slightly in surprise. ”I’m sure that was the case.” The woman said lightly, as though they were commenting on the weather and nothing more. ”Yet still, surely those tasks are easier accomplished without accompanying another. I don’t have time for you to waste hunting or foraging today, perhaps upon the return journey.” She turned then, casting the glare of those green eyes over her shoulder and back on him, ”Oh will I?” She said, lips framing the words- referencing his comment that she may find herself with the much-commented-on short straw. ”I’m sure we’ll be fine, so long as you do not fall from your horse or get distracted by a-” And she lifted her a hand to air-quote ”Particularly interesting example of a Scarlet Elfcap or something or other.” She turned back to the path ahead. ”I’m sure you understand.”