An hour later the group arrived at a small bog. It was indeed extremely difficult to find. The bog was roughly 10 feet by 10 feet and accessible from a tunnel connected to a hollow tree trunk. The space was small, dark and damp…but it was safe and well hidden.
"We are safe here. I found this place yesterday and slept here." Arthos said with a smile.
"It stinks in here," the boy said...followed by, "I like it!"
"Thank you again for saving us. I believe we have met before, months ago at the academy. You refused to join a guild and were blacklisted as a result," the girl said.
"Oh, yeah…that feels like a lifetime ago. My name is Arthos by the way." He said as he extended his hand in a greeting. The girl looked at his hand without extending her hand.
"Apologies, but I can't take your hand. I don't mean it as an offense, its just that…that…I haven't bathed or washed in two days. It's not correct for a lady."
"Bathing is boring," the boy said with a smile.
"It's not the hand or the cleanliness that matters, it's the gesture. It means that no matter in what condition we may be in, good or bad, I extend my trust to you. That's what the handshake truly means." Arthos said solemnly…he copied those words from Wain who once eloquently explained the meaning of a handshake.
The girl was impressed by the deep wisdom behind those words. She gently wiped her hand against her waist and extended it to greet Arthos.
She said, "Nevariel Arden."
The two hands met…both dirty and muddy…both calloused and worn to the touch. However, there was a deeper meaning behind the handshake.
Arthor's hand suggested a man accustomed to hard work, serious, responsible, and caring. It was the hand of someone who would protect the ones he loved.
Nevariel's hand suggested a woman of action, decisive, committed, and accustomed to wielding power. It was the hand of a woman capable of caring for herself and others.
The two held each other's hand for a long time as they gazed into one another's eyes. Silver eyes like a beautiful moon and golden eyes like rich honey from a honeycomb.
"So…I'm still here. If you are going to kiss, I can look away." The boy said playfully.
Arthos and Nevariel blushed a deep red as they realized they were still holding hands. Oddly, they continued to hold hands even after realizing it.
"Can I have my hand back?" Nevariel asked.
"Sorry…I think they are stuck. It must be the mud. It formed a strong adhesive." Arthos said as he tried to yank and pull. That was followed by "ouch" and "oww".
After a few minutes, he gave up trying.
"I'm terribly sorry…I think we are going to be stuck together for a while." Arthos said with some embarrassment.
The little boy laughed frantically enjoying the funny spectacle.
"You are so funny (hahaha)…funnier that the court jester (hehehe)…we should hire you instead (hahah). I can't breathe…too funny (hahahehe)." The boy rolled on the ground overcome with a laughing frenzy.
"The court jester? Who are you?" Nevariel asked.
"I'm Luceran, Prince Luceran Regal of House Regal of Camarax."
[…]
[A Few Hours Later]
"I can hear orcs nearby…they sure are persistent. I wonder how much longer they will continue looking for us." Arthos whispered.
"Not too much longer. Orcs have terrible night vision and it's getting dark. They will leave soon." Nevariel said softly.
"Guys…I'm getting tired. I going to sleep. Good night." The sleepy prince said in between yawns.
A few minutes later, the noises outside faded into silence. The only audible noise was the soft breathing of the boy prince sound asleep.
"He is shivering, can we move closer to him? I will need to hug him to keep him warm." Nevariel said gently as the two moved together.
"He is a brave little man…didn't cry or make a fuss even during the heat of battle." Arthos said as a compliment.
"Yeah. My party and I found him hiding in the forest. He looked lost and starving but never once cried."
"I apologize again for the hand thing…I had no idea we would end up stuck together like this." Arthos said again.
"It's ok. Actually…with the cold setting in, we are better off huddling together. Please come closer, you are too far away. Closer, closer, there is good."
They both blushed as they felt their bodies pressed against each other…his chest pressed to her back…and his legs pressed against hers.
"You never told us why you were in the forest." Nevariel said as she filled in the uncomfortable silence.
"Oh that…there is a village close to here. It was attacked by a band of orcs. We suspected there were more, so I went to scout the area."
"Was that part of a system mission? I have never seen a rescue mission before." Nevariel asked.
"No, it was not part of a mission."
"Why do it then?"
"I don't know…I just couldn't help it. I couldn't in good faith leave the villagers to die."
The rest of the night, the two talked for hours until sleep overtook them. Arthos' final memory of that night was sleeping close to a beautiful lady, his arm wrapped around her waist, and the faint smell of caramel from Nevariel's hair.