A/N: As usual, I would recommend putting the video on loop. 

As they progressed farther up the staircase, (f/n) did realize that it was getting much colder. Not only that but it was also getting harder to breathe. She found herself resting more against Tarhuinn as well, and she could even hear his difficulty with breathing as well. The light of moon became brighter while the darker depths disappeared behind them.

Taking several more steps, the two of them were faced with a waterfall that covered the entirety of the next few steps. They didn't wish to get their supplies wet, but there was no other way up. Tarhuinn instructed her to take off her cloak and put it in her pack before handing the pack to him. It made sense to keep one article of clothing at least somewhat dry. Otherwise, they would be freezing completely the rest of the way up.

Once she had done so and he had done the same, Tarhuinn moved closer to the edge of the stairs. He leaned a bit into his left side and craned his neck to look beyond the waterfall. Concerned that he may slip and fall, she went over to him carefully and held onto his right arm. An appreciative smile crossed his lips, but he assured her that he would be fine. Regardless of his reassurance, she kept her hold on him. If he did happen to fall, though, they probably would both go tumbling down. There was no way that she had the upper body strength to pull him back up.

His focus, however, turned back to the stairs past the cascade of water. Swinging his left arm a few times, he released the pack in his hands and tossed it to the stairs beyond. It made contact with the stairs and slid a bit on them but otherwise stayed. He took her pack next and did the same. They would get wet through the bottom, but if they hurried, the contents inside wouldn't get wet too badly.

He moved back from the edge, and she let go of him and walked back herself. She inwardly sighed in relief that they were no longer near that long drop down. Tarhuinn took up her left hand again and advanced with her up the steps. (F/n) felt the frigid water coat her person, and she wished to dart back the way they came. Already, she was shivering. Her hand instinctively tightened around his in order to find a source of warmth.

When they moved past the fall of water, Tarhuinn let go of her and picked up their packs. He set them on a rock that was sticking slightly out of the stone wall. His right hand motioned her to come over, and she gave no argument. Her dry cloak was in there after all.

Rubbing her hands against her arms, she watched him pull out the cloak and hold it out to her. She took it as though it was the most precious gem in the world. Granted, putting it over cold and wet clothes wouldn't do her too good. "Tarhuinn, do you mind facing the other way?"

For a moment, he was confused by the request, but that puzzlement vanished quickly. "Of course, you might want to do the same, then, unless you want to watch me change." Heat hit her cheeks, and she shook her head. Turning to face away from him, she hung her cloak on the jutting out rock until she had her wet clothes off. A soft chuckle hit her ears, which caused her to pout some, but she went to the task at hand.

Out of her traveling clothes, she set them aside on the rock and grabbed her cloak. She kept her underclothes on since she could tolerate them being wet. It was either that or climbing the rest of the way nude under her cloak. The second option didn't seem like a swell one.

After wringing her hair out, she grabbed her cloak and tied it around her. She held it tightly to her body and announced that she was done. Tarhuinn finished shortly after her before he handed her pack to her. (F/n) slipped it through her arms and onto her back slowly since she didn't want the cloak to open accidentally on her. "What are we going to do with our wet clothes?"

"We'll have to carry them in our free hands. Once we get to the next room, we can let them dry out properly," he answered, picking up his own in his left hand while his right hand intertwined with her left.

There was the option to put them in her pack, but everything else would get wet. That would defeat the purpose of Tarhuinn throwing the packs over here in the first place. So, she took them up in her right hand and continued up the many steps with him.

It still wasn't easy to breathe, and the cold air was only making their wet forms worse. If she caught a cold, she wouldn't be surprised. Hopefully, they would be able to form a fire in the next room. Her body was also finding the option of cuddling up to Tarhuinn a must. The idea was embarrassing, but he technically held her close when they slept regardless.

By the time that they reached the top, though, she was somewhat dry. Her hair was still a little wet, and her underclothes were nearly done with drying. The ones in her hands were wetter but would hopefully dry with the night. Cold surrounded them, however, but at least they didn't have to walk up stairs anymore. She finally felt like she could catch her breath some.

Her eyes glanced up to the stone roof. There was a small hole in the ceiling, which permitted the moonlight to come in. Storm clouds would occasionally float by, explaining the instances where the stairwell grew dark. White flecks fell in through the hole, and she recognized it as snow. Well, Tarhuinn did mention that the third complex was at one of the highest points of the mountains.

Directing her gaze to the stone path and water path that were ahead, she slowly turned around. With all of their climbing today, she wondered if she would be able to train with him tomorrow. "It won't be too long to this cave room, right?" she asked, slouching over some due to her energy depletion.

"It'll only take a couple of minutes. And then, you'll be able to rest."

"Will we be able to have a fire?"

"We can try and see if we can make one," he responded, moving his right hand to her waist and pulling her close. She nearly wanted to stop there and snuggle into him. (F/n) forced herself to keep walking with him, though.

Reaching the cave room, she noticed that the water path flowed into a larger stream and went across the entire room. The rest of the room had jagged stones jutting out of the ground while there were a few smooth spots. At the end of the room, a tunnel presumably led to the next complex.

(F/n)'s focus shifted away from it however and to one of the smooth spots. Tarhuinn seemed to notice her gaze and began to walk over to it with her. She used the last of her energy, though, to increase their pace. Upon reaching it, she pulled away from him and collapsed onto the smooth stone. Unfortunately, there was no wood around, so a fire was out of the question. The only illumination in the space was the light that fell in through the small opening at the top of the room. A pile of snow lay directly under it.

This opening allowed the cold night air in as well. She pulled her cloak around her tighter while she laid out her clothes next to her. Tarhuinn did the same with his clothes, but he was sitting closer to the water. He pulled her, though, closer to him and rewrapped his right arm around her waist. The male proceeded to reach into his pack, and he pulled out some dried meat for both of them. (F/n) gratefully took a slice and began to take small bites from it before she finished it.

"(F/n), for sleeping arrangements tonight, it might be better if we use our cloaks as blankets."

"I was already planning on using mine as one."

"No, I mean combining them so that we sleep together in a makeshift bed."

Almost dropping the piece of meat, she moved away from him some. "But my clothes aren't dry yet, and I don't have a nightgown with me." Her one hand tightened around her cloak.

"I wouldn't look at you, but it would keep us warmer through the night."

That might be true, but she would only have her underclothes on. She could feel the heat in her cheeks, and she moved more away from him. (F/n) checked her clothes again, but they were still somewhat wet. Still, she didn't go away from them. It was as though she was trying to convince herself that staring at them would make them dry faster. Granted, she did desire to cuddle up to him but not without her cloak wrapped around her.

Frustrated that they weren't dry, she peeked over her left shoulder at him and speedily looked away. He had already untied his and was laying it on the stone ground. She pulled her cloak hood over her head to hide her burning cheeks. (F/n) was soon pulled back, however, and onto to his cloak. His hands slipped over her shoulders and towards the bow on the cloak.

Before he could untie it, she rested her hands over his and tried to get them off. This failed, and soon the cloak was slipping down her shoulders. She squeaked in embarrassment, going to grab it back, but he took it off and turned away from her. "Now, lay down. I'm not looking at you; I just want to keep you warm." Peeking over to him, she noted her cloak resting partially over him. Hesitantly, she laid herself down as she realized that he wasn't going to budge on the issue. (F/n) pulled the cloak over her and mentioned that she was covered. Swiftly, he rolled over to face her and brought her to his chest.