Lithoniel

It didn't take long before they found Kolvar. To begin with, he hadn't gone far, and he was clearly waiting for them. He looked anxious when he saw them. He was fidgeting, his eyes darting between her and Rolim, his posture a bit hunched like he was ashamed of himself.

"I'll leave you two alone." Rolim said when none of them said a word.

The silence lasted for more than a few moments. Then Kolvar took a deep breath like he was mustering the courage to speak.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said..."

"You don't have to apologize, Kolvar. It doesn't matter now."

"Of course it matters! We have to solve the misunderstanding!"

"Kolvar, I don't think it's a misunderstanding. The way you think it's simply the way the whole tribe thinks. I can't fault you for that." She felt oddly tranquil as she said it.

"Lithoniel, I don't care about custom and traditions." He denied, understanding the underlying meaning behind her words. "You know I never cared about the circumstances of your birth."

Lithoniel tightened her lips but said nothing.

" I was just..." He rubbed the nape of his neck. "...frustrated. You and Rolim..."

"I'm sorry." She answered automatically, though she was starting to wonder why she was apologizing in the first place.

"That's not the only reason. This mission..." Not that again.

She let out a tired sigh. "I can't leave them, Kolvar." She said for the umpteenth time.

"Why? They never did anything for you. And if you're worried about your trial, going back is much more important..."

"It's not for that." She cut him short.

"Then, what? You said we shouldn't look for them. Besides, you know they could attack at any moment. Otherwise, you wouldn't ask Fennan to reinforce our defenses."

"I said I shouldn't look for them, but now that I found them, I can't just abandon..." She trailed off, shock sweeping through her. "Wait a second. Defenses?" She said, her grey-purple eyes peering at him. "How do you know what I said to Fennan?"

Kolvar's eyes widened, the expression on his face changing as surprise quickly turned into alarm, and then fear.

"What are you hiding, Kolvar?"

However, Kolvar bowed his head and refused to meet her gaze, which made her only more suspicious.

"Answer me." She demanded.

"I...may have followed you." He admitted eventually.

"Follow me?" She asked in disbelief. "Why? We weren't talking at the time, so why did you follow me?"

"I-I..." He stuttered. He kept wringing his hand, avoiding her gaze.

"Wait," She narrowed her eyes, a disturbing thought coming into her mind out of nowhere. "that was the first time, right?"

But Kolvar kept staring at his feet.

"Right, Kolvar?" She insisted.

"It wasn't...it wasn't the first time."

Lithoniel froze, staring at him with wide eyes.

"It started years ago when Naeran harassed you the first time." He continued. "I wanted to make sure he didn't make trouble for you so I..."

"You started following me." She said. "But Naeran stopped doing that years ago."

"Yes, you grew up, became strong." He sounded wistful. "You didn't need my protection anymore."

"So, why didn't you stop?" She whispered.

Something flickered in his gaze.

"It was already a habit. I-I couldn't stop myself. Every night I had to make sure...you were safe."

Lithoniel couldn't believe what she was hearing. "You sneaked in my tent? When I was asleep?!"

"Lithoniel...I..."

"No, stop!" She said, shutting her eyes and starting to massage her temples.

She was fuming, but she couldn't deal with this. Not now.

"Let's...let's just pretend this conversation never happened. Alright?"

Kolvar eagerly nodded like a happy puppy, his childish face brightening. However, she didn't let this fool her. Not this time.

"You won't do it again, right?" She asked. She had to make sure of it. Lithoniel couldn't even think about Kolvar spying on her when she and Rolim were...

She shivered. "You won't, right?"

"I won't" He swore, and Lithoniel sighed with relief.

How did he do it without me noticing? She couldn't help but wonder. I could understand if it was Rolim, but Kolvar...

She was still thinking about it when Kolvar cleared his throat.

"About the rescue mission...do you really have to do it?" He asked.

Lithoniel stared at him, trying to look at him the same way as before, but she couldn't.

"I have to. I thought a lot about it, Kolvar, and I know you are right. I know I shouldn't try to help them and I know that even if I succeed no one will thank me, maybe not even the people that I'm about to rescue."

"Then, why? Why are you doing this?" He asked, his voice full of wonder.

"If I leave them now, how am I any different from those people who hated me for most of my life?"

Kolvar opened his mouth wide.

"Rolim said that I shouldn't do it just because I think I have something to prove." She smiled sadly. "He was right. I used to think that way, but not anymore. I'm not doing this because I have something to prove to them, but for myself, because I think it's the right thing to do."

Kolvar pressed his lips together and frowned.

"Don't worry, Kolvar. I won't force you to join the mission." She said, well aware he didn't think the same way.

"Lithoniel I thought you forgive me." He looked distressed.

"And I do." She said, but she looked wary. "But we need a lookout. Besides, someone needs to stay behind."

"Stay behind?"

"In case we fail."

"Lithoniel, now, wait a minute..."

"Kolvar, the Loremaster must know what we saw here."

"But why me?" He argued. "Rolim is stronger than me..."

"Rolim is the strongest among us." She agreed with him. "but he is also the slowest. You're much faster than him, and you have more chances to make it back than any of us."

"That can be true, but..." He started arguing, but she couldn't indulge him this time.

"Sorry, Kolvar. I didn't take this choice lightly. This is the best option." She said firmly. "We've been away for too long. Let's get back to Rolim." She said and started walking soon followed by Kolvar.

However, she turned back to look at him from time to time, for the first time wondering if the small elf was really the simple and innocent person she'd always believed him to be.