It’s Tara

You quickly turn your head, gripping the hilt of harmony, as you see... Tara. She flinches at your movement as you breathe a deep sigh of relief lowering your blade.

“You scared me.” You laugh out quietly, gripping your knees as you continue to laugh.

“Sorry, didn’t expect you to be so on edge.” Tara explained with a perplexed smile on your face as she sat down beside you on the stump as you make room for her, her arm pressing against yours as you two sit in silent for a while.

“Thank you, Tara.” You tell her as you both stare off into the forest “For staying with me, you didn’t have to but you did. So thank you.”

“There’s no need to thank me, I wanted to come with you, it was clear you needed help.” She replied almost jokingly.

“I really did, I don’t know what I would have done without you.” You add, you gently grab her hand as you both wrap each other’s fingers around your hands. “Tara... what did you talk to the Queen about before we left.”

Tara was silent for a few seconds “She asked me about my goal, about whether I still want to save my people from the demon ruling them.” She explained “I asked her what I needed to do to succeed.”

“What did she say?” You ask turning to look at her, she looks a bit apprehensive.

“That if I still wanted that... I’ll need to stay on my path and that I’ll make a choice at some point, she told me both will lead to pain but one to a future where my people are liberated.”

“What do you think she meant by that?” You ask.

“Who knows.” She replies.

“That woman... she turned out to be really cryptic at times.” You comment “Really wish she’d just talk plainly than in incomplete tales and riddles.” You are silent for a few seconds “Also she told me that she knew what we... did.”

“Oh I’m sure she did.” Tara responds as if hearing the most obvious thing in the world. “She must think she’s very clever...”

“Why did she kiss me to get to you?” You ask, a silly question... because you knew why.

“She must have assumed some things about us.” Tara explained.

You both laugh almost nervously, you peer down slightly to look at your hands still holding each other as you caress her hand with your thumb.

You squeeze her hand tenderly as she responds in kind. “Whatever happens, wherever this path may take you, I’ll be here to help.” You reassure her; she turns to face you, kisses your neck and rests her head on your shoulder.

You feel your heart beat at a faster pace and wave of anticipation and want overcome you, you press your arm closer and hold her hand tighter.

She moves her head from your shoulders and looks at you, a familiar silence between you, you lean forward and kiss her. She grabs hold of your cheek with her free hand and pulls you in deeper.

You both release your hands as you search around her body with both hands. Tara breaks the kiss as you both catch your breath and stare into each other’s eyes.

Tara rests her forehead on yours “Maybe... we should hold off until later.”

You’re insides, your very being and blood screams for you to go for it, to hold her, ravish and release.