[C] Freedom

"Thank you."

He muttered as he adjusted where the patch sat until it was comfortable on his face before standing up and padding out of the water.

He started ringing the water out of his clothing, despite being soaked he felt good.

The water's freshness lingered on his skin leaving him feeling rejuvenated.

"We have to head back soon, time to hit the road."

The boy hummed as he stepped out of the water to get to his clothes.

He pulled his pants on and tied the strings around his slim waist.

"Can you check my neck?"he asked, amber eyes turning up to Bryn. He had cleaned it but he didn't know how well and he couldn't see it himself.

He wanted to make sure he wouldn't get an infection and the best way to do that would be to get someone else to look at it.

The boy pulled on his tunic and picked up his corset, waiting for Bryn to check his neck.

"Sure."

He murmured, stepping forward, his fingertips pressed under the boy's chin, tilting it up gently so he could properly inspect his throat.

"This might sting a bit."

He murmured, leaning over to collect some water in his hands before dripping it onto the wound. Fys had some dirt in it from when he had been resting on the ground.

Gently he used the sleeve of his tunic to brush the dirt away until the wound was clean.

"There you go."

The boy winced a little as Bryn rubbed at the cut with his tunic but he didn't complain.

He wouldn't complain about the state of his throat at all.

How could he?

The state of his throat was because he had finally escaped. He couldn't be upset about it if he tried.

"Thank you." The boy smiled up at Bryn as he pulled his corset around his waist, threading the ties expertly and pulling it tight around his waist.

"You're welcome, here."

Bryn picked up his own scarf from the ground, the fabric was a faded red from years spent around his throat, he had always worn it for luck.

Instead he wrapped it loosely around the boy's throat with a small smile.

"Now you look good as new, plus it will keep the dirt out of your cuts."

Leaning over he picked up his weapon belt and tied it securely back around his waist.

"Looks like we are good to go."

The boy raised his hand to the new addition around his throat as he watched the man pick up everything from the ground.

His cheeks flushed red and he pulled the scarf up to cover them.

This was the first gift he'd been given.

Fys nodded and headed back the way they had came, glancing back at Bryn; only his eyes on show now that the scarf covered the lower half of his face so Bryn couldn't see his red cheeks.

"Like you, this was their first little taste of freedom, I'm not surprised their happy, I doubt many of them have ever seen a river before."

They had lived out in the desert, it hardly offered up great landscapes.

Brynjolf went off to help load their dwindling supplies before getting his horse, which had been rested and fed well.

He trotted up beside the carriage, quickly counted all of the rescued elves as well as his squad, making sure no one had been left behind.

Nope, all accounted for.

"You alright Enfys?"

He asked, wheeling his horse around, the boy looked uncomfortable.

The boy's gaze turned up to Bryn from his spot sat at the edge of the carriage.

He nodded.

"I'm fine."

He was okay, just not too pleased with being around so many people. He wouldn't complain, though. He could deal with being around others for this.

Bryn offered the boy a bright smile and a nod, at least his time in the carriage might make him accustomed to being around people like this.

It wasn't an overly pleasant experience for anyone but they all had to deal with it until they got back to Kunla.

Once everyone was packed in they set off yet again, continuing on their journey and it in a few hours they would cross the border.

The boy smiled in return.

And then they were off.

Fys stayed up for as long as he could just like he had the night before, finally succumbing to sleep an hour before sunrise.

He was awake again at sunrise. He couldn't sleep while there was light in the sky. He'd never been able to. He'd have to take a nap for an hour or two during the day.

By the time Fys woke Bryn was back from scouting ahead, a smirk on his lips despite being awake the entire night. They had crossed the border without any issues, it seemed that they were in Faria's favor this trip, silently he thanked the goddess for her protection, despite her frowning upon their methods.

He would repay her tenfold for overlooking his use of violence to rescue the innocent.

The man took a large drink from his flask as he spoke to his squad, the scenery around them held all the beauty you would imagine from Kunla, the forest was dense a lush, everything was coated in green and the flowers bloom handsomely, their petals shining from the dew that collected on top of them.

ys' gaze followed the scenery.

It really was absolutely beautiful. Fys was so glad he could see all this himself instead of just hearing about it from Elementals that had travelled there.

He toyed with the hem of his tunic as he waited.

The carriage would stop at some point today so people could rest and eat.

That was his chance to get away from the crowd.

It was noon before they finally stopped at their newest camp site, the land belonged to one of Brynjolf's friends, who had volunteered to let them stay in one of his paddocks whenever they passed through.

Once again everything was unpacked and camp was set out on the edge of the field so that they could jump the gate and explore the woods a little bit.

Brynjolf rode toward the house, returning soon after with a large box in his lap.

Jumping down from his horse he set it out and shared it among the group, they had made a large batch of bread dough for them to cook over the fire.

Humble farmers couldn't offer much, but it was enough to fill their stomachs until they could go hunting.

Fys was off the carriage before it had even stopped properly.

He stretched out his stiff joints, moaning softly as laid out in the grass of the paddock.

Grass. Actual grass.

The boy stretched out and writhed, enjoying the feeling of the grass against his arms and the back of his neck.

This felt absolutely amazing.

The fires were made and in little time at all the smell of fresh bread filled the air, each person given enough dough to make a small roll for themselves.

Brynjolf got to work cooking them all and handing them out along with the rest of his men, some of the women who had been used as house slaves were eager to help cook, it got the baking done that much faster.

The Elf stood, padding past Fys and dropping a roll onto his stomach with a chuckle before flopping onto the ground himself, it was good to see the boy still enjoying himself.

Fys grunted when the roll dropped onto his stomach.

"Thanks," he murmured to the older Elf, leaning his head back so he could gaze up at him upside down as Bryn sat down.

He bit into the roll and groaned softly.

It was piping hot and tasted absolutely delicious. He hadn't had bread like this before.

As soon as he had swallowed, he took another eager bite.

Brynjolf rested his head on his folded arms as he looked up at the sky.

They were well into the Kunla realm now, they were safe and if they had been chased that would have ended long ago, no guard would come this deep, they didn't have to worry.

It had been nearly three days since Bryn had slept, it was rare that he got a fulls nights rest, he always felt that he was wasting time he could be using helping more slaves.

But even his body had its limits and moments after laying down he was fast asleep, snoring softly as the boy ate.

Fys patted his full stomach when he was finished with his roll.

At this rate the boy would be a healthy weight in no time. He was getting two good meals a day. No rotting food that would make him throw up or being left without.

The boy rolled over so he could speak to Bryn. His lips were parted to say something but they pressed closed when he noticed the man was asleep. A little smile curled his lips.

Fys sat up and crossed his legs.

He'd watch over the man while he slept just like Bryn had done for him.

He slept without a single movement for hours, his body was exhausted and he simply couldn't keep his eyes open now that he was able to relax.

His exposed eye constantly sported a dark ring from lack of sleep, he had been scolded more than once for not taking proper care of himself.

When he finally woke the sun was starting to set and his men had returned from a day of hunting, thinking it best to let the man sleep.

With a loud yawn and a groan his eye flickered opened groggily.

Enfys had stayed at the man's side for the entire time he slept.

When his men had returned from hunting, a few had ventured towards him and Fys had given them the stink eye, warning them to stay away from him while he slept.

He knew the men wouldn't harm their leader, but Bryn was sleeping and the man looked like he really needed it.

The boy gave a bright grin when Bryn's eyes flickered open.

"Evening," he chirped.

Brynjolf scratched his head as he sat up slowly, he hadn't meant to doze off but he felt better for it.

"Shit I must have been out for a while."

He murmured as he looked around, the sun was setting already.

His gaze flicked back over to Enfys with a small smirk.
"Have you been sitting there the entire time I was asleep?"

The boy nodded, just as a breeze passed them, making his hair and scarf flutter.

"Just like you did for me."

He felt that he owed it the Elf to help out in any little way he could.

Sitting and playing guard dog for the man while he slept was something he knew he could do, so he would do it if the man allowed him to. This was Fys' way of returning the kindness that Bryn had shown him in kind.

"Thank you, I appreciate it."

He replied, the boy must have known that he didn't need to, these men posed no threat to him at all, but the sentiment was heart warming.

"Well since we missed out on hunting how about I take you out and we can try catch some rabbits for dinner before it gets dark?"

He had promised to teach the boy to hunt his own food, there was no more of a perfect moment than now.

Fys smiled brightly when he was thanked. People here seemed to genuinely appreciate the little things he did. It was nice to be thanked for the things he did.

The boy's entire expression lit up in excitement at the prospect of going hunting.

The more time Bryn spent around the boy, the more he expressed himself. The Elf probably would have barely recognised him as the boy that had flinched away from him when he had wiped off his make-up.

Fys stood and almost bounced on the balls of his feet as he waited for Bryn to get up.

"We will need bows."

He said as he stood, dusting off any grass that clung to his body before padding over to the carriage and grabbing two quivers of arrows and two bows, handing one of each to Enfys.

"Lets get going then, before they go back to their warrens."

It was nice to see the boy so excited over the little things in life, like catching his own meal.

"Once we get them I'll show you how to skin and cook it."