Page 90 of Grounded By Love
He just wished she was safer with him. Clearly, he wasn't going to be able to protect her at the castle, while his father was tainting peoples’ minds. They were easily swayed by power and money, when it came to judging a human female.
He needed to be their leader to guide them correctly. Humans deserved the war the rock giants had brought to them, but if he was the rock giant king he could do more to spare innocent civilians like Claira.
It seemed as though hours passed, as she laid in the bag. Since she wasn't able to tell the passing of the sun, she had no idea how much time had gone by. All she knew was she was growing weary of being in no position to defend herself.
After bumping into all the trees around her, she decided to stop rolling around. There was no need for her to be bruising herself.
Then a few hours or what she thought was a few hours later, the sound of hooves could be heard beating a rythym against the ground. Was it someone new? Or was it the same giants coming back to finish her off? They could’ve changed their minds and decided it was better to kill her.
She was both alarmed and excited about the prospect of a rider. Although it could be the giants coming back to finish her off, it could be someone coming to rescue her.
The hooves drew near, and then grew distant. She tried to let out a sound, but the gag in her mouth allowed her no such opportunity, feeling desperate she flopped around in her bag. She needed to make any sound she possibly could.
Thankfully, she heard the hooves coming back towards her, maybe the rider had caught sight of her in the bag or had heard her.
She tried to smile around the gag in her mouth. Even if the rider wasn't friendly, she might have a better opportunity surviving with the rider than staying tied in a bag. There was no way she was going to get the ropes off her wrists and ankles.
The sound of the hooves beating against the ground suddenly stopped, and she felt her sense of hope slowly leave her, but then she heard leaves crackling under someone's footsteps.
Rolling herself across the ground she tried to make some noise, until she hit something. This time though the hit was less hard and there were... feet below her side.
Her muscles tensed, as hands came down to run up and over her body. It felt like the person was checking her over, and then they left to untied the bottom of the bag she was in.
Finally, she was going to be able to see, was going to see where she was and who her rescuer was.
The light was blinding, as the bag came up and over her head, and she was forced to shut her eyes tight.
"Claira." Arms came down to cuddle her head against a familiar chest.
A chest she knew very well and that deep voice that soothed her very soul. Blinking her eyes, they grew accustomed to the bright light of the sun, until Kaeldar's worried face greeted her, and she beamed around the gag.
His eyes darkened, as they landed on the gag still in her mouth. One of his hands came up, untied it, and slid it from her mouth.
Working her jaw Claira heard it pop into place. “Thank you, that feels a world better.”
“I’m sure it was an unpleasant journey.” His voice was deep and gravelly with barely contained fury. Kaeldar cut her wrists and ankles lose from their tight bindings.
Once free of the bindings her arms came up to wrap around his neck. Her arms were like rigid bands of steel. She never wanted to let go of him ever again, and she never wanted to be in this kind of situation again.
If she remained with Kaeldar she would be forced into situations like this all over again. In the end, she might just have to leave him to stay safe, if he would let her go.
Hot thick tears poured out of her eyes, as she took comfort in his arms being around her. All she wanted to do right at that moment was to cuddle up and let him defend her from everything around them, from any danger.
She wasn’t normally so reliant on another, but she felt like she deserved to be fragile. It was good to let one’s emotions out instead of keeping them bottled up. She had done her best, but she needed to shed a few tears to keep herself steady.
"Shhh, Claira. You will be alright, now that I’m here." His deep voice tried to coax her out of her tears.
He sat there on the ground holding her close, as tears leaked from her eyes onto his large shoulder. She’d thought she was going to die all alone. She thought no one would ever find her body, and she would’ve been left to waste away out here.
"I regret this happened to you." He apologized to her.
"I thought I wouldn't survive." She choked out, as she leaned away from his chest and lifted her hands up to rub the wetness from her eyes and her cheeks. "But," she added, "it isn't your fault, and you shouldn't be sorry for anything. This was bound to happen at some point. Neither of us could’ve predicted when or how it would happen. At least, you found me." Claira smiled, as one of her hands came up to brush against his cheek. She loved the feel of her soft skin brushing up against the stubble on his face.
"It doesn't mean I won't kill whoever did this to you."
Claira was shocked by his declaration, and she completely believed him, when he said he would, for she could see the fire burning in his obsidian eyes.
"Do you know who it was?"
