Her scream tore the air and she bolted up, drenched in sweat from her nightmare. For a moment she was disoriented, and the trees around her seemed like looming hands reaching down for her. As she blinked the sound of insects and an owl’s nightly how finally reminded her of where she was.

“Did you have one of your nightmares?”

She jolted and turned around in surprise by the voice. Carsein was sitting behind her by the fire, turned toward her with a mild expression on his face that further added to her surprise.

One of her nightmares? How did he…Right, his room in the mansion was located right under hers, so he must’ve heard her when she woke up screaming from time to time. She nodded quietly and he turned to add some more wood to the flames.

“Did I wake you up?”

He shook his head. “No. I was up, feeding the fire. You can go back to sleep.” She shifted a little uncomfortably on the blanket. The images of her dream still flashed before her eyes so vividly. Now that she had recovered her memories of the attack on the castle, her nightmare had changed. Instead of the faint images and impressions, she now saw the blazing walls of fire, the hallways spilling blood and dead faces with clarity. She remembered the hands that touched her and the chuckling voices too vividly. She shuddered. She couldn’t sleep like this.

So she moved to sit down next to Carsein who didn’t protest that she chose not to follow his suggestion. She curled her hands around her knees and for a while they just sat there, staring into the fire.

“Why did you save me, Carsein?” her voice finally broke the silence and he shot her a surprised glance at the bold question.

“I don’t know…” he finally drew out. “I thought I hated you, but turns out I don’t…”

“Is that enough reason to save anyone?”

He was silent for a moment and she listened to his breath tensely.

“I guess not… I don’t know, princess… I just didn’t want Arwin to hurt you is all…” her cheeks flushed a slightly at the unexpected tenderness in his voice. She was well aware that he’d hated her; he had made that clear with every icy look he’d given her…but now he didn’t? In fact that answer almost made it sound like he cared about her.

“But honestly, I don’t know if I should have…” he then admitted, and she froze. The warmth from his previous words evaporated. “I lost my chance at finding something important…”

“Do you regret it then?” she asked, struggling to keep her voice from trembling from the lump in her throat.

“No…I don’t. I can’t know for sure if Arwin could have even helped me find it…” she exhaled relieved, unaware that she had held her breath waiting for his answer. “Do you?” he then added.

“No!” she exclaimed. Why on earth would she regret being saved from that kind of situation? She would rather die of starvation out in the wilds than be trapped in the mansion with that snake of a man. She could still scarcely believe that was really him but couldn’t doubt what she’d seen. The maniacal expression on his face had revealed his true nature and she was sure he would’ve done worse things than just violate her, had she stayed.

“Why would you ask that?” she asked after calming herself.

“Well…you wouldn’t have needed for anything at his mansion; Clothes, jewels, food… Even if he was…like that, there’s no telling if that life would be better or worse than what is going to happen from now on…”

“If living with him meant having god knows what done to me, then I’d rather starve in my undergarments” she sneered. He blinked a little at her unexpected fierceness and determination but then nodded.

“Well, we’ll probably arrive at town sometime tomorrow so let’s assume that won’t be necessary.”

The tension in her shoulders slowly dissipated and she nodded.

“Let’s go back to sleep” he spoke after a short silence. She agreed, though not quite comfortable with the thought of closing her eyes just yet. He shifted to lie down on the coat he’d spread out for himself next to the blanket she slept on. She hesitated a moment as she settled on the blanket again.

“Carsein?” he turned at the sound of her voice and she could feel warmth in her cheeks turning them red.

“What is it?”

“Uhm…” she mumbled, unable to voice her request.

“Are you cold?” he asked concerned and she nodded. She wasn’t really. This night was warmer than yesterday’s and she was close enough to the fire to feel its heat. But she remembered the comfort he’d unexpectedly provided two nights before. That had probably been the first time in weeks she’d slept calmly. It was really quite vexing that the man she once feared so much, now made her feel so safe and comfortable – and in the span of three days to boot.

He shifted and rolled onto the blanket next to her. Pulling his coat with him to cover them like a blanket, he wrapped his arms around her. His strong, yet gentle embrace slowly made her unease dissipate and she breathed a sigh, letting sleep engulf her.