Chapter 15: Chapter 15: Shelter from the Storm
The wind howled like a beast through the enchanted forest, shaking the trees and sending leaves spiraling into the darkening sky. Rain poured in sheets, drenching everything in its path. Adrian gritted his teeth, holding Eleanor's arm as they stumbled through the muck.
"We need shelter," he said sharply, his voice barely audible over the storm.
Eleanor nodded, too exhausted to argue. Every step was a battle against the relentless downpour, and her soaked gown clung to her, heavy as lead.
After what felt like hours, Adrian finally spotted an outcrop of jagged rocks in the distance. He quickened his pace, pulling Eleanor along until they reached the mouth of a small cave carved into the hillside.
"Get inside," he ordered, his tone leaving no room for debate.
Eleanor ducked into the cave, shivering violently. Adrian followed, his broad frame barely fitting through the narrow opening. Once inside, he dropped his pack and began gathering what little dry wood he could find.
Eleanor hugged her knees, watching him work. The dim cave provided some relief from the storm, but the chill lingered in the air.
"Here." Adrian knelt beside her, striking flint against steel until a small fire flickered to life.
The flames cast long shadows across the cave walls, their warmth slowly seeping into Eleanor's frozen limbs. She glanced at Adrian, who sat across from her, wringing water from his cloak. His usually composed expression was hard and focused, the flickering light highlighting the sharp angles of his face.
"Thank you," she said softly, her voice almost lost beneath the storm's roar.
Adrian didn't look up. "It's nothing."
The fire crackled between them, filling the silence. Eleanor leaned closer to the flames, stretching her hands toward the warmth. Her gown was still damp, and she could feel the cold seeping into her bones.
"You should take that off," Adrian said abruptly.
Eleanor blinked, heat rushing to her cheeks. "Excuse me?"
He glanced at her, his brow furrowed in confusion, before realization dawned. "I meant your outer gown," he clarified, his ears tinged with red. "You'll freeze if you keep it on."
"Oh." She hesitated, then nodded, fumbling with the laces of her gown. Adrian turned away, busying himself with the fire while she peeled off the heavy fabric, leaving her in a thin chemise.
She draped the gown over a nearby rock to dry, wrapping her arms around herself for modesty. "Better?"
Adrian looked over his shoulder, his eyes briefly scanning her before he returned his focus to the fire. "Better," he muttered.
Minutes stretched into an hour, the storm showing no signs of relenting. The cave walls groaned under the force of the wind, but the fire burned steadily, its warmth a small comfort.
Eleanor leaned back against the cave wall, her exhaustion finally catching up to her. "Do you think the others made it out of the forest?"
Adrian didn't answer immediately. He stared into the fire, his expression unreadable. "Cedric knows how to handle himself. They'll be fine."
"And us?"
He glanced at her. "We'll be fine, too."
The certainty in his voice made her smile, even if she wasn't entirely convinced.
The firelight softened the lines of Adrian's face, making him appear less intimidating. For the first time, Eleanor noticed the subtle weariness in his eyes, the way his shoulders sagged when he thought no one was looking.
"You carry a lot on your shoulders, don't you?" she asked, her voice tentative.
He stiffened, the guarded expression returning. "Everyone does."
"No, I mean more than most," she pressed. "You act like you have to handle everything alone."
Adrian's jaw tightened. "And why wouldn't I? Depending on others only leads to disappointment."
The bitterness in his tone surprised her. She leaned forward, resting her chin on her knees. "That's a lonely way to live."
"It's a realistic way to live."
Eleanor frowned but didn't argue. Instead, she let the silence stretch between them, the crackling fire filling the void.
After a while, Adrian spoke, his voice quieter. "You're different, you know."
Eleanor looked up, startled. "Different how?"
"You're... optimistic," he said, the word almost foreign on his tongue. "Even when things are falling apart, you keep smiling. I don't understand it."
She chuckled softly. "I don't know if it's optimism or just stubbornness. But I've learned that if you don't hold onto hope, it's easy to lose yourself."
Adrian studied her, his gaze searching. "Even after everything we've been through today, you can still say that?"
"Yes," she said firmly. "Because if I give up, then what's the point of all this?"
He didn't respond, but his expression softened, the faintest hint of admiration flickering in his eyes.
As the night wore on, the storm's fury continued unabated. Eleanor found herself growing drowsy despite the circumstances. The warmth of the fire, combined with Adrian's steady presence, lulled her into a sense of fragile safety.
"Adrian," she said quietly, breaking the silence.
He glanced at her.
"Thank you," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
"For what?"
"For protecting me," she said, her cheeks warming. "For not giving up on me, even when I make things difficult."
Adrian's expression softened, his usual stoicism faltering. "You're... not as difficult as I thought," he admitted grudgingly.
Eleanor smiled, her heart fluttering at his words. The firelight danced in his eyes, making them appear almost golden. For a moment, the world outside the cave didn't matter.
The air between them grew heavy, charged with unspoken tension. Adrian's gaze lingered on her, his guarded walls momentarily lowered. Eleanor felt her breath hitch as the distance between them seemed to shrink.
Neither of them moved, but the proximity was enough to make her heart race. She could feel the heat radiating from him, see the way his lips parted as if he were about to say something.
But then he pulled back, the moment shattering like glass.
"We should rest," he said gruffly, turning away.
Eleanor nodded, hiding her disappointment. "Right."
The storm raged on outside, but the magic within the cave began to falter. Faint cracks appeared in the shimmering barrier at the entrance, and the once-warm air grew colder.
Eleanor shivered, pulling her cloak tighter around herself. "Adrian," she said, her voice trembling.
He was already on his feet, his sword in hand. "The cave's protection is failing."
"What do we do?"
Adrian's gaze hardened. "We move."
As they stepped out into the storm, a deafening roar echoed through the forest, and the ground trembled beneath their feet. Something was coming, and it wasn't friendly.