“What do you mean?” Ava asked. “How can you help Zoe?”
“I can take her away from Arlen,” Damalia clarified. “I have some money and spent years traveling before settling here. I can guide her somewhere safe.”
“Are you sure? A maiden abandoning her temple post is a serious crime. If you were caught aiding her escape, the consequences could be...” she trailed off, unable to finish the sentence.
Damalia nodded under her cloak. “Yes, I’m sure. I'll help her escape as long as you promise not to join us."
"What?" Ava shook her head vehemently. "I was the one that promised to help her. I can't ask you to do that. I'm coming with you."
Damalia's posture stiffened. She always managed to radiate obstinance and confidence when she wanted to. "No," she said forcefully. "Either you stay here or I won't help at all. That is my condition."
Ava was sure the other woman was bluffing. Damalia was reluctant to deny her anything if she asked sweetly enough. After pondering her otpions for a moment, she decided to relent to the other woman's terms. With her small frame and weaker consitution, Ava realized she would probably just slow the other women down anyways.
"Fine," she huffed. "I accept your condition. I will stay here."
Damalia sighed in relief. She really had been bluffing. "Good. It will take me a few days to make preparations, but I should be ready to leave with her by the end of the week. We should go as soon as possible; before she starts showing.”
A wave of fondness crashed over Ava as she reached out and touched her friend’s cold hands. “I know you’ve often implied that you're not a good person, but I think you’ve just proved yourself wrong.”
“How?” Damalia asked in confusion.
The maiden chuckled to herself in disbelief. “I mean, it’s so generous to do something like this for a person you don’t even know. I think it’s the definition of selfless.”
Damalia sighed, rubbing a thumb against Ava’s knuckle. “Oh my dove,” she breathed. “You must know that I am not doing this for her.”
The implication of her words hung heavily in the air. Ava could feel gooseflesh prickle up her arms. She was grateful for the hood that obscured Damalia’s face. It meant the other woman couldn’t see the blush that painted her cheeks.
She cleared her throat, but her voice was tight with emotion. “Thank you, Lia. Thank you for doing this.” Ava tentatively moved towards the hooded figure. “May I….,” she inhaled shakily, hoping she wasn't overstepping a boundary. “May I hug you? You can keep your cloak on. I promise I won’t peak.”
Rather than reply, the taller woman forcefully wrapped her arms around Ava’s small frame, totally encompassing her. Ava could feel her body melt into the embrace, her stress and worries floating away. Instead, she felt safe. She felt protected. She felt at home.
The maiden buried her nose in Damalia’s emerald green cloak and inhaled. It smelled like lilac, fresh rain, and parchment. Ava found herself nuzzling into it.
“Please,” she whispered into the fabric. “Please be careful on your journey with Zoe. The town is still dangerous and I worry for you.”
“You shouldn’t.”
“I can’t help it,” Ava insisted, resting her blonde head on Damalia’s lean, sturdy chest. She could hear her heart beating furiously through her ribs. “You are my most precious friend. I’ll always worry for you.” Determined not to cry, she sniffed and tried to lighten the mood. “I mean, who would read me such wonderful stories if you stopped visiting?”
“I’m sure you could find someone else,” Damalia responded playfully. She tucked an errant blonde curl behind her ear, taking the time to run her long, manicured nails against her jawline. The sensation made Ava shiver. The gentle carress caused warmth to flutter through her.
“I doubt that,” the young maiden insisted. “Regardless, I don’t want to find someone else.”
“Good.”
Ava brightened at the smile in Damalia’s voice.
They held each other in silence until Damalia sighed. “I will travel with her in three nights' time. I’ll leave early tonight to begin making preparations. It will be at least two days' journey to the other village and another two back. You probably won’t see me for a week total. Take the upcoming days to explain to Zoe what's going on. She may be desperate, but she still might need some convincing to go along with our plan.”
“I’ll do my best,” Ava assured. “I will meet you here in three days time to begin your voyage.”
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