She could obviously see how tired Matthew was. His shoulders were tense, and his head was bent down because of the pain he felt with every slight movement he made. Ines wanted to scream at him for being so foolish, so headstrong in staying with her, but deep down she was happy not to lose him from her side.

Their heated conversation in the clearing had left her flushed and perplexed. Her thoughts were a tangled mess, she didn't know where his discovery had left them. For the last couple of months, they had built a close relationship, a friendship even, but that was that. They had never overstepped the boundaries beyond something that could be called intimate.

She couldn't dare hope that he felt the same way as she did. She was too unladylike and loud and ungracious, everything he might find repulsive. Despite knowing she had no map to his heart, though, she felt herself constantly gravitate towards him.

Her eyes kept stealing glances at his muscled back, his strong arms she wished they would envelope her and dissolve her fears, only to quickly suppress her attraction to him and feign stoicism. Every time her mind traveled back to him she had no choice but to reminded herself that she could never close the chasm between them.

Her dark thoughts kept her company while they were treading steadily towards the city. Matthew had stated with confidence that there they would finally find the missing piece of the puzzle, what exactly that was, though, he hadn't explained.

'Did you overhear what the guards said?' Matthew's voice brought her back to reality.

He had stopped walking and had turned around to look at her. The elves, curious to hear what they were saying, slowed down their pace and stood close to them.

'When?' she asked.

'Last night, while we were inside that cell.'

'No,' she shook her head.

Most probably she had been asleep then.

'They said people from the palace distribute the weapons at the camp.'

Ines finally understood why he was insisting that they went back to the city. He had discovered the palace's implication in the weapons' outspread and he suspected someone close to the king, or even the king himself was connected to that elf's vengeful plans.

'The last time we went to the palace we almost got killed,' Inerma snorted.

'Then we'd better be more careful this time,' Ines replied.

'That's all?' Matthew interjected. 'Be more careful? We need a plan!'

'We will figure out something on the way. Don't worry.'

'Oh, I worry. Because somehow I end up with all these scars.' The moment those words came out of his lips guilt flashed in his bright eyes. He opened his mouth to speak, making a move towards her, but before he could reach out to her, Ines span around to avoid his burning touch. Without sparing another glance back, she began walking towards the place they used to call home.

As her feet hastily led her out of the woods, she desperately tried to fight the rising pain inside her. She felt like his words had dug a sharp knife directly to her chest. He had been the one to dismiss her pleadings, her efforts to protect him, and now he was reminding her how careless she had been, like she wasn't already regretting her actions.

Ines sighed in dismay and gazed at the landscape before her. The city sprung up on the hill and sang to the sunlit cloud that was in eager anticipation of much rain. There was an expanding of the colours of the town, a brightening reflected on the lake's surface as the day strengthened.

And there it was, everything that ever mattered to her. Their land was what they made of her and for Ines she was her shelter. She hoped that her return would provide some solace to her heart as the city walls welcomed her back.

'Come,' Landos said from her right. 'We go from the back.'

'If the general sees us, we're screwed,' Matthew murmured worriedly.

'Wow,' she exclaimed in realisation. 'I totally forgot! What are we going to say?'

'We are sorry, but the safety of this world rests upon our shoulders. We simply had to go save some lives.'

Ines was aware he was trying to lift her spirits, but it just wasn't working.

'You should find a better excuse, man,' Landos patted his shoulder, like his was consoling him for his lack of humor.

'Yep,' he sighed in defeat without taking his eyes off her.

She unwillingly averted her gaze and headed towards the eastern side of the wall where they knew the patrolling was sparse. She was planning to go alone, just her and no one else, that way she wouldn't have to fear for the safety of the others. That was her risk to take, and hers only.

In those times of the sword, the castle stood proud on the blue beyond, a symbol of the kingdom's prosperity. Its walls were made to protect a community, to echo with laughter and to defend against those who came with cold hearts to wield cold metal.

She gazed at the beautiful sight of her homeland and recalled all the good memories she had while growing up. They weren't a lot, but they were precious. Unable to restrain her anticipation, she quickened her pace and after a few minutes she finally reached the big stone walls.

'I'm going up,' she announced once the others caught up with her.

'You know we can't come with you, right?' Inerma raised her brows.

'I know. Besides, I wouldn't ask that of you. I have learned my lesson from last time.'

'We'll give you about three hours,' Landos said. 'Don't make us come and rescue you again.'

'I won't need rescuing. I'll meet you here.'

She beckoned them to leave and seek a hiding place, and the elves nodded at her, stepping away from the walls towards the woods. Matthew didn't budge, though, he waved at them without following them.

'You won't be having any fun today, my friend,' Landos was about to pull him by the arm, but Matthew broke free from his hold.

'Not a chance,' he stubbornly said.

'You really have a death wish!' The elf hooked his arm around Matthew's neck and forcefully dragged him away. The two men started wrestling, pushing and kicking each other, until Matthew decided he had had enough and with a twist of his body he was freed from his grip.

Landos glared at him in anger, throwing harsh words at his direction. Ines could see they were having a heated argument, but she couldn't hear what they were saying. The elf was obviously trying to knock some sense into him, while Matthew stood with his arms crossed over his chest, unconvinced about the seriousness of his injury.

'Some things never change,' Inerma commented.

'Yeah. They're never gonna grow up.'

'How are your powers lately?'

'Fine, I guess,' Ines shrugged her shoulders.

The two women watched them in silence, amused by their childishness. Ines tried not to laugh at Matthew's frustration and kept staring at him with a smile on her lips.

'I highly recommend that you go now, before he notices,' Inerma spoke. 'They are too engrossed in their quarrel to pay any attention.'

'You think so?'

'Yeah, I've got your back.'

'Thanks,' she gave her a grateful smile and sneaked towards the city wall.

Ines touched the stones that formed the impenetrable fortifications of the city. They were rough, but steady, so it wouldn't be difficult to climb up. She fixed her armour, she wore her gloves and with a determined expression on her face she began her ascent.

Her muscles tensed from the effort to keep her balance while finding her footing over the stones. As she climbed, the adrenaline coursing through her veins urged her to surpass her limits and ignore the thundering sound of an imminent storm approaching.

Out there there was no safety rope, no soft mats to land on like they had at the camp. All she had was the wall, the wind and a long way up. She didn't let fear cloud her mind. There were hand holds there, she knew it, she just had to think back to her training.

Little by little, she made it to the top. She swiftly jumped over the ledge and crunched down, scanning her surroundings for guards. There were only a few during that time of the day, either patrolling or fixing their weapons. Ines would have to enter one of the small weapon storages that were built alongside the wall and take the stairs down to the city.

With slow movements she progressed towards the nearest one. Thankfully there wasn't any guard at that few metres' distance she had to cover and she easily hid inside the empty storage room. The winding staircase was her only escape root.

She was about to fly down the stairs when she suddenly felt a strong hand circle around her left wrist. With no time to react, Ines was being tugged backwards and spun around with great force. Her gasp of surprise was muffled by a rough hand over her mouth, making sure to drown any sound.

Her head collided with a hard chest, her arm still wrapped in a tight hold. Once her body was facing her attacker, she looked up at the face of her captor and her eyes widened in shock. 

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A/N:  Thank you for reading! Your support means the world to me. I'm sending you hugs and kisses right at this moment <3

Phrase of chapter:  festina lente / make haste slowly  - Augustus