Chapter 27: Guilt
Nightfall soon fell, and the group of silent companions were interrupted by Axel’s orders to set up camp. Ger fell in line with Evanna, helping her with the horses while the rest continued with their routines. He did not say anything but made sure to keep his distance, though the fairy did not attempt to stop him when he came closer than he had earlier in the day.
Ger understood that this was a good sign, and Evanna became more approachable without damaging repercussions. There were so many questions on his lips that he needed answered. Going between what happened to Evanna to the fairy that sat on her shoulder protectively.
Ger wanted nothing more than to console her. He took a slow, calm step towards her, the fairy stood up, but instead of her angrily shooing him away, she flew over to Midknight’s back and took a seat, facing the other way. He was grateful for the privacy the creature provided. Evanna crossed her arms, holding each by the elbow as she raised her eyes to his. He reached his arms out slowly, anticipating her flinch, but once his hands were placed on her arms, her body relaxed.
"Evanna, please forgive me. My behaviour today was unacceptable."
Evanna smiled gently back at him, her smile not quite reaching her eyes, "It is okay, Ger. At least you did not kill Cilv," She replied light-heartedly with a tight smile.
His eyes hardened along with his fingers on her arms, which he quickly loosened, releasing the pressure. He lightly pulled her in for a hug. Her body tensed but soon relaxed as she let her head fall onto his chest. The feel of his chest rising and falling rhythmically soothed her racing thoughts of being held in a man’s arms. One of his hands rubbed up and down her back gently before he stilled his movement.
"It is not okay. What happened to you is not okay. We were meant to protect you, and we failed," Ger spoke as his chin rested on the top of her head. Evanna wanted to correct him, but she knew she needed to talk to all of the guys, not just Ger. Otherwise, she would soon find herself repeating her words.
Pulling back from his embrace, she squeezed his arm gently before turning around to collect Nesrin again. "Eat first. Then we will talk," His half-opened mouth shut before he nodded his head.
Ronan and Axel sat quietly at the campfire after the tents were made up. Although they were one man less in building them, they were faster from practice, in putting them up, than the other night. Cilv returned into their view after leaving them once she made a fire, only to come back with a few dead rabbits in her bloodied, gloved hands.
Axel looked up at the furry animals in front of him with an arched eyebrow. Cilv dropped them to the ground, and without saying another word, she turned around and left again, the darkness of night engulfing her figure. Shaking his head, he started to skin and gut them.
He came to realise that she was quite the little huntress. His amusement, however, did not last long as he watched Evanna and Ger sit down around the fire. His eyes lingered a little too long on her bruised neck, his knife stopping midway in the air, but he quickly recovered himself before continuing with the night’s dinner.