Movement woke her up, and she tried to sit up hurriedly. Instead, she fell back down on the bed. Awful memories rushed to the front of her mind, and she sunk her head back into the pillow more. Morning light filtered through the window. A slight smile touched her lips. She never thought that she'd see it again. The sun was warm on her skin. It was a gentle warmth unlike the heat from the lava or the harshness from the flames in the fireplace.

"You're up." Her attention turned to Keiran. She still couldn't believe that he risked everything to save her. But, she took comfort in the fact that he knew the truth like her. Someone still trusted her, and she might be able to trust him back. There wasn't really reason to doubt him, but she couldn't destroy the natural wall that had formed after the prior events. He smiled to her and helped to sit her up. "Everything is ready."

"Where did you sleep?" He didn't look too exhausted, but she could see the faint dark circles under his eyes.

"With a blanket on the floor." Before she could utter a word, he answered, "It's fine, (f/n). We have more important things to worry about." He turned around and grabbed something from out of her field of vision. It came into sight soon after, and it was a simple dark brown dress. The length of it, though, and the sleeves wouldn't fit. "I know that it'll be awkward, but it'll draw less attention from those who see us."

She knew that he wasn't trying to offend her. If she didn't hide her loss of limbs, she would be more noticeable, especially while in the Kingdom of Credel. Her eyes glanced at the rags she was in. It'd be nice to get out of them. "I'll try my best not to see anything."

"I ... Thank you." She gave him the signal to go ahead. Keiran stepped forward and used one of his daggers to cut through the rags. He gently slipped them off of her. His optics did their best not to fall on her bare form. Keiran never dreamed that he'd ever see her so vulnerable, and he did his best to keep a blush off of his cheeks. Her skin where it wasn't bandaged was so soft. It was addictive to touch.

When he paused, she looked up to him. His eyes weren't on her. "Keiran, it's fine. Just slip it over my head."

"... Yes, but." His words trailed off. There was another matter to take care of. "Well, do you need to relieve yourself beforehand. It'll be easier before I put this on you."

"Oh right." She really had been hoping to avoid such a thing, but it was unavoidable. Honestly, she should be embarrassed by this whole situation, especially with a man seeing her bare. She had assistants back in the castle, but all were women. However, the present situation wasn't as humiliating as being in prison. There were only bars. Some women roughly changed her into rags. Guards didn't watch her being changed, but they heard every sound, from stomach grumbles to relieving herself, over the two days. "Yes, that would be good before we travel."

Keiran retrieved a bucket and pot of water and set it beside the bed. Without looking, he carefully lifted her up and placed her on it. His arms stayed on her to keep her stable. It was indeed awkward, but there wasn't a way around it, and her heart was beating. That was something even if lingering thoughts of death still greeted her in the quieter times. Hopefully, the hope that awaited her would chase those thoughts away eventually.

"How did you come by this place?" she asked, hoping that her voice would drown out the other sounds some.

"On my trips up north, I saw it was abandoned and stocked it for this purpose when I heard the news." Keiran kept a hand on her, and she leaned into it when his other grabbed the water pot. He poured it down and rinsed her off. "Do you want me to ... wipe you off?" There definitely was heat in his cheeks, and despite his feelings her, he felt disrespectful asking.

"No, it's fine. The water was enough." He nodded and lifted her onto the bed before he draped the dress over her. It felt heavy and very strange, and she hated how it tugged slightly on her bandages.

"I'll change the bandages at our next stop. I don't want to take much longer." She nodded at his words. They were changed last night; they should be fine. Was it ideal? No, but it could be worse. He left her on the bed for the moment and grabbed some of the smaller items from the house. Keiran went outside and came back in to grab some items. Nothing heavy or large. "Okay, we're ready."

"You'll need to tell me how you managed this all in a day," she mentioned as he lifted her up gently. She winced from the fabric tugging the bandages again.

A soft laugh parted from him. "I will." He held her so gently, like she was glass. She appreciated it and watched him as he carried her. His expression was now serious, and his caramel optics showed focus and worry. (F/n) let a faint smile touch her lips and rested her head against him, not noticing how his heart skipped a beat at the action. Keiran would do his best to keep her safe, and that gave her some peace.

Her full attention, though, went to what her eyes saw next. Grass blew in a gentle wind. Sunlight gave the plains a golden hue with the occasional emerald blade. Northern red oaks spanned over the landscape. It was a simple scene, but she felt tears begin to form in the corners of her (e/c) eyes. Thanks to Keiran she could see the beauty of morning again. She imagined the afterlife to be more beautiful, especially with her parents there, but it was nice to be alive and witnessing the sun shining over it all. Her heart beat with hope at what lay ahead.

Keiran noticed her tears, and his thumb ran along her side gently. He noticed the small smile that touched her lips, and he couldn't help but admire her all the more. She was so beautiful, inside and out.

Ahead of them was a painted stallion with a saddle and some light supply bags tied to him. He flicked his white mane and stomped his hooves a little as if he was ready to get going too. Her tears steadily stopped, and he lifted her up, leaning her against the neck of the stallion. Keiran hopped on after and brought her up against his chest.

Placing the hood of his brown cloak over his head, he grabbed a brown cloak in front of him and draped it around her shoulders. He pulled up her hood next. And, they were off. The stallion started at a steady pace before going faster. A quiet groan left her. She wanted to adjust so that her bandages wouldn't scrape against the saddle so much. No doubt fresh blood was decorating them, but she knew that they needed to go fast.

"I'm sorry, (F/n). Try to endure it. We can't risk slowing down." She gave a short nod.

"Shouldn't we have traveled last night, though? The cover of night would help."

"It would've, but you needed rest. I did too. Besides, we look like travelers right now, nothing more, and we're not going on any main roads." His right arm adjusted against his waist while his left continued to grip the bridle. "And, we're less likely to encounter robbers at this time. I trust that I can take a few but not more than that."

"Yes, I suppose that makes sense. Can you answer now? How you managed it all?"

"So impatient," he chuckled out. "You're certainly showing me a lot of sides to you."

"Well, I guess you're all I have for now. I've dealt with enough for a lifetime, and I'm not going to worry about etiquette right now." Her words rang in his ears. He was; wasn't he? A smile touched his lips. Keiran didn't mind that. Soon, there would be another, May, but she wouldn't detract from his growing relationship with (F/n). If anyone read his thoughts, they'd think that he had planned this out with Felin and Kendra, but he hadn't. All they did was give him the opportunity. And no, he would've saved (F/n) from the punishment she endured if he could've, but he was one man, and he could not take on so many at once. "So, are you going to tell me? We're riding for quite some time, right?"

"Yes, but if I tell you now, promise me that you'll keep an eye out. I think that we'll be fine, but it doesn't hurt to keep an eye out." She nodded against him. "Very well, then. After I heard the news and discovered the scheme Felin and Kendra worked up, I knew that I didn't have much time to act. No one questioned me not working yesterday given the situation, so I ran off to my room in the castle and grabbed what I could. I placed it in the bags you see on our ride."

"And, where did our ride come from? I don't recognize this horse."

"I bought him from the stables outside of Credel. I rode him to the home we were at last night, and I stationed him there while I put down my belongings for the night." He paused when the stallion came up towards several oaks and had to duck under. Keiran leaned them both forward with the horse before he sat them both up straight again. "Afterwards, I rode off to the entrance to Mount Imnis. I stationed him off of the path and behind some rocks. From there, I examined the area inside and found a small ledge beneath the tip of the path that dropped down into the lava. And, I waited."

"You really didn't hesitate after hearing what they said." She let out a sigh and gave a faint smile. "There wasn't any time to spare, or you could've been caught. And, you used the dismal atmosphere of the castle to your advantage. You're certainly no average blacksmith."

"I find it wise to study other things besides just my trade."

"I wish I had been wiser. I focused so much on my studies for healing others and the trainings mother and father wanted me to go through as heir, but that was it. I focused on little else and was too trusting." She released a rough huff of air. "I wish you had been at my trial."

"Don't blame this on yourself, (F/n)." His tone was firm, and it surprised her as it was such a sudden change. There was passion in it too. "No one expects their own blood to betray them, especially in such a horrid way. And what your mentor did, he should've never been allowed to teach anyone let alone be allowed in the castle." His grip would've tightened on her, but he didn't wish to harm her. "They took your kind heart and exploited it for their own selfish, power hungry desires. That's not your fault; it's theirs and theirs alone. They will face the consequences."

He'd make sure of it. They took the woman he admired and loved, and they put her through sorrows no one so kind-hearted should ever have to endure. What they did to her was unforgivable.

(F/n) was quiet. A sad smile touched her lips. He sounded so sure of himself, and that they'd face justice. Not to mention that he thought so highly of her. How could someone who she barely knew until now have so much faith in her while her sister and mentor thought of her as nothing more than an obstacle to their desires? "Keiran, thank you for telling me."

"Of course, (F/n)." She deserved the world, and he'd make sure that he'd replace this darkness she experienced with a bright future. He'd give up everything just so that he could be beside her and help her retake what was rightfully hers.