In the cave
The wind howled in the distance, its eerie sound echoing through the hollow trunks, sending shivers down one's spine. The crackling of the burning wood added to the ambience, creating a sense of warmth amidst the cold winter night. Dastan sat across the fire that Noori had set up for him, while she stood at the entrance of the cave, silently observing the heavy snowfall blanketing the landscape.
Leaning against one of the rocky walls of the cave, Noori watched the snowfall with a contemplative expression. Dastan glanced up at her, his gaze filled with curiosity as he studied her.
"Red hair…" he muttered to himself, a sense of familiarity washing over him. Something about Noori seemed off, and Dastan couldn't shake the feeling of déjà vu that had been nagging at him since they were by the lake. Now, with the warmth of the fire coursing through him, he finally had the clarity to ponder it further. "Have I seen them somewhere before?" he wondered aloud, his confusion evident.
"Have you watched me enough? Or do you want to continue?" Noori's sarcastic remark snapped Dastan out of his thoughts, and he quickly averted his gaze, feigning disinterest. "I was not looking at you!" he protested, shifting his focus to the fire.
"Of course you were not," Noori replied coolly, turning her attention back to the snow outside. Her ears strained to catch every howl of the wind, trying to decipher the mysterious voice that had guided her earlier. It couldn't have been a hallucination, as it had led her to Dastan. But where had it come from, and what did it mean? Lost in her thoughts, Noori eventually returned to the fire, her hands rubbing together as she blew into them, causing a faint red glow to emanate from her palms. Dastan's eyebrows lifted in surprise as he watched her, his gaze lingering on her bare, calloused hands.
"Why? Do you prefer the pretty ones?" Noori's question was sharp, catching Dastan off guard as he glanced up at her. "I prefer the ones that are not yours," he retorted, his tone unwavering. Noori held his gaze for a moment before shifting her focus to the fire, her expression unreadable.
"You really are an ungrateful Prince, aren't you?" Her words were plain, lacking any hint of emotion. "I save you thrice, and this is what I get in response?" she continued, her tone tinged with disappointment.
Dastan remained defensive. "How do I know that you actually saved me and it was not some sort of plot? I have heard that people of Nuria are extremely calculative. I have to be cautious," he explained, his suspicion evident.
Noori glanced at him, her demeanor unchanged by his words. "I am glad we are calculative, but at least I would never stab you in the back, would I?" Her tone carried a hint of implication that Dastan couldn't quite grasp.
"What do you mean by that?" Dastan questioned defensively, but Noori offered no further explanation. Instead, she rose and made her way to one side of the cave, settling down on the ground among the dirt and rocks. Dastan watched her with a look of distaste, unable to fathom how she could be comfortable lying directly on the muddy ground.
"You surely are uncultured, aren't you?" he muttered, his disbelief evident. Noori opened her eyes briefly, giving him a blank look before closing them again. "The storm will not end for the night at least. Get some rest while you can."
Dastan glanced towards the mouth of the cave, realizing that Noori was right; the snow was nearly blocking the opening. "Hey! Where do I sleep then?" he asked urgently, turning back to find Noori peacefully asleep.
"Wherever you please, Your Highness," she replied sarcastically, her voice muffled by sleep.
Dastan was incredulous. "What do you mean I sleep on the floor?! How can a prince of Solyria sleep on this floor?!" he exclaimed, springing to his feet in anger, which only elicited a heavy groan from Noori.
"Then don't sleep. The princess of Nuria is sleeping so let her sleep, because unlike someone, She had a long day and she needs to rest. On the dirty floor, so please be quiet," she retorted, her eyes closing comfortably as she made the rocky surface her pillow.
Dastan, seething with frustration, watched her settle in as if the rough ground was the height of comfort. It was unacceptable to him, but with no other choice, he resigned himself to staying awake, sitting by the crackling fire and hoping the snowstorm would end, freeing him from this makeshift prison.
The fire dwindled to mere embers as time passed, casting flickering shadows across the cave walls. Dastan, feeling the chill creep over him like icy fingers, scanned the dimly lit cavern for more wood to stoke the fire, but found none. Reluctantly, he turned his gaze towards Noori, who lay asleep with her back turned to him, her form outlined by the soft glow of the dying flames.
"How is she asleep?" he muttered, his breath forming mist in the cold air. As the fire diminished, Dastan's discomfort grew, the cold seeping into his bones. Suddenly, he jolted upright, feeling the icy grip of the frost tighten around his chest like a vice. He hurried over to Noori, intending to wake her, but before he could, she sprung up, dagger in hand, pressing it against his neck with deadly precision.
Dastan's heart thundered in his chest, adrenaline coursing through his veins as he felt the cold metal of the dagger against his skin. Anger surged within him, hot and fierce, overpowering any fear he might have felt. "Get this off me!" he demanded, his voice trembling with fury rather than fear.
Noori blinked, her red eyes wide with surprise as she registered the intensity of Dastan's reaction. Slowly, she withdrew the dagger, her expression shifting from confusion to wariness. "Why are you here?" she asked, her voice tinged with drowsiness, the soft echo of her words mingling with the crackling of the dying fire.
"Get this off me now!" Dastan repeated, his tone laced with frustration and anger, his gaze burning with intensity as he stared into Noori's eyes.
Noori complied, removing the dagger and casually returning it to its sheath. She then inquired about his presence, her arrogance evident, yet softened by the dim light and the quiet of the cave.
"So? Why are you here? I thought you were repulsed by me," she added haughtily, her gaze flickering with uncertainty.
"I am cold," Dastan retorted, his voice clipped with irritation, his jaw clenched tight as he struggled to control his emotions. Noori, though determined to provoke him, seemed to recognize his distress and nodded in understanding, her eyes softening with a hint of empathy. "I will let it slide this time," she conceded, her tone gentle yet teasing, before reaching out to him.
Dastan remained tense as Noori approached, her touch igniting a flurry of conflicting emotions within him. He fought the urge to pull away, instead allowing her to peel off his shirt, revealing the intricate blue lines etched across his bare chest.
"I guess we will need a while to fix this," she remarked with a smirk, her gaze meeting his with a teasing glint. Dastan stiffened at her words, his muscles coiled with tension, but he remained rooted to the spot, his eyes locked on hers.
As Noori's hand came to rest on his cold skin, Dastan could feel the warmth of her touch seeping into him, a stark contrast to the icy chill of the cave. Her lips moved in a rhythmic chant, whispering words that seemed to weave a spell around him. With each whispered syllable, he felt a surge of energy coursing through him, revitalizing his weary body.
His gaze never wavered from Noori's face, his eyes tracing the contours of her features with a mixture of fascination and uncertainty. There was something undeniably familiar about her, something that stirred a vague sense of recognition deep within him. Yet, try as he might, he couldn't quite grasp the significance of her presence or the secrets hidden behind those fiery locks of hair.
As the warmth continued to spread through him, Dastan found himself drawn to Noori, captivated by her enigmatic aura. Despite his reservations and the lingering distrust between them, he couldn't deny the undeniable pull she exerted over him. And in that fleeting moment, amidst the quiet of the cave and the flickering glow of the dying fire, Dastan couldn't help but wonder what secrets lay hidden beneath the surface of this mysterious woman before him.