22 Chapter 22: In the name of..

I looked at Don a little cautious. It had been a whole day since the weird occurrence the day prior; Ever since I felt like he had put some distance between us. I was so scared of crossing an unmarked line I didn't dare to speak. How did one reconcile with a friend; Should I just apologies?

"Don, I-I'm sorry. About what I said yesterday. You are working your hardest to protect me and I'm just being a weird deadweight who-" he cut me off suddenly. The anger in his tone caught me off guard; did I make the situation worse?

"Don't, nothing concerning my actions are your fault. In fact not only should I be the one to apologies but I should thank you as well." It was strange but the anger in his voice didn't seem to be directed at me. I looked on confused and slightly flustered.

" I realized the other day that an old problem of mine I thought I had fixed in fact wasn't; You also helped remind me of what was important. Heh I owe you a lot; as a knight and as a man I promise to repay that debt my lady." I blushed insanely and my eyes widened at his words and actions. He placed a fist roughly across his chest and bowed as low as he could go while still holding the reigns and guiding the wagon. Why did he call me his lady?! I wasn't a noble! And he wasn't a knight acting on my orders.

I panicked struggling to come up with words to stop him.

"No that's..I mean.. why?" He looked up at me with a serious expression

"It is important that a knight keeps his promises my lady; I vowed I would protect you with my life to Count Rory until that monster was caught. I Vowed again I would repay my debt to you for showing me the faults in my character. I-" I cut him off confused on where this was all call coming from.

"But we never made a vow!" I said panicking Even more. What the heck?!

"We never agreed on anything and I don't remember doing any of that!" My face was hot with embarrassment. Why was this guy always so excessive?!

"My lady-" he said trying to continue.

"Don't call me that!" I didn't know where to look or what to say to stop this crazy talk.

"Have you ever heard of courtly love My lady?" Said Don pushing forward and completely ignoring my statement.

I had pondered the words as it seemed very familiar but I couldn't quite remember it's meaning. I shook my head and he smiled a bit.

"In short it's where a knight will take on quest in his lady's name to bring glory and fame to her." I felt like there was so much more I was missing about it's true meaning from the title. What was courtly or lovely about that? Besides my parents were once C class adventurers why would I want someone else to bring me fame when I can do that myself? Thortnhuff wasn't an official noble status; but in Elvish culture it is a legendary last name of an elvin adventurer that saved many in the fallen elvin kingdoms of old. He had gained a noble rank among the humans that couldn't be passed down. One of my ancestors married that man and passed it on regardless. Many times I had thought about leaving and bringing glory back to that name. How could I let Someone else do it?

"Don that's-" he raised a hand with a determined look on his face. His voice was low and held no room for argument.

"Let me do this much." I gritted my teeth with a sigh but didn't relent as An idea came to mind

" How about I join you instead? You can protect me when I reach my limits. We can even go to the guild hall once we reach Durum to get me registered as an adventurer. " Don looked exasperated and with a heavy sigh.

"You never give in do you? Why does it feel like you are just using me as life insurance .." I blushed guiltily.

"That's..!" I started but He shook his head.

" it's fine. I have one condition, you will continue allowing me to partake in courtly love with you." My mind reeled a few steps back, wasn't the whole point to not allow him to do things in my name?? I stared on perplexed but finally let it go with a sigh; I would be there to so it really didn't matter right?

"Sure Don. " not that it would change much of anything. What could possibly go wrong?