Welcome to Gaia! ::

Eric turned away when their eyes met. He had not meant to stare at her or the child she was holding. His eyes had just been drawn to them. They were so...peaceful. When was the last time he had felt that way? It had been so long. Eric had noticed she had blushed, perhaps he wasn't as despicable to the elves has he had thought. She was different, this much he could tell. Was it her kindness, or her radiance? It wasn't just her beauty, although she was breathtaking. Eric caught himself looking up at her once more before he cast his eyes down again quickly. The last thing he needed was her meeting his gaze yet again and thinking him a scoundrel. Eric nodded as he listened to her speak. He kept his eyes averted and he moved cautiously and slowly. The last thing he needed was for her to call in the guards.

Eric's ribs were still recovering from the last beating. Wait, did she just...thank him? Eric's eyes shifted up automatically. The words were so unexpected, even though she seemed kind he had not expected thanks. At least not from an elf. Eric didn't know what to say, so instead he just nodded. He wasn't sure but her thanks had felt...genuine. From her stand point, she should hate him. Even if he had saved one elven child, who knew how many other elves he had killed. He could have massacred dozens of her kinsmen for all she knew. And yet, she had still thanked him. She did not seem angry or upset. She didn't seemed alarmed or scared by his presence. Here she was, alone with him, a human. But he could sense no hostility from her, definitely unlike the guards.

They genuinely wanted to beat and kill him. But perhaps she was not a warrior, she had never encountered him on the outskirts of the forest before. He felt he should say something to her. Eric parted his lips to speak and then closed them. But what could he say? Should he remind her he was a guard, someone who had butchered her kinsmen. He could not deny this, he had killed elves before, he had also killed humans before. It was a part of the job. He would not hesitate to kill her kinsmen again either, if it meant surviving, getting out, or even doing his duty as a guard.

She mentioned leaving. No doubt the guards were in a panic. He could tell by the way the elves acted around her, she was important. Who was she, exactly? Eric closed his eyes and sighed, "Yes...thank...you." She was being kind to him, she didn't need to be, nor should be, but she was. For that, he was grateful. As he followed her out, the guards were waiting outside. She mentioned they could leave, and they both looked at her before looking up at him. They glared at him, before trudging off. For a moment, he thought they wouldn't leave, he watched their backs as they disappeared into the shadows. He smiled as he heard them come around the back, they would silently stalk the two of them. Of course, who would leave an elf, let alone a maiden with a human guard. He approved silently, although he realized he should be cautious, because one wrong move with maiden would mean the two guardsmen would come rushing out, and more than likely, they would kill him.

He followed her a few steps behind. He made sure to move slowly and kept looking down at the ground. "Where are you taking me, now?"