She felt the hand on her knee again, her mild exhaustion being too much to really do much else then curl in close. She tucked in with her head against his shoulder and Dodger let out a murmer of agreement before she was out like a light. Dodger shifted, her hand on his after she curled in closer. She had crashed hard and her body leaned more against him, lips parting as she sunk down at his shoulder.

By morning, they were collapsed together on the bed roll, her head on his stomach and his own on her bedroll pillow. The cloaks still lay draped over them and there was a faint frosting over the heavy cloth by morning. Eyelashes dusted with ice, she felt her alarm clock start to nose and push at her head, snorting into her hair softly and lip at her face. She lifted her head a little and groaned, dropping her head back down lightly and curling up in the warm cloth. “Sherlock stop…” she complained as he paced around them and returned, nosing her again like he was delightfully saying, “time to get up!”

She nudged him back, smirking a little as she chuckled and looked back to the fireplace, tossing a large branch onto it to keep it up and roaring. The flames licked at the sky and sparks dancing like fireflies as they escaped the burnning wood. She was content though, curled up under the blanket with him at her side. She was content to spend the night like this. Hell she might even fall asleep! She adjusted the way she was sitting and she nut up a little and just dropped her head onto his shoulder. Letting her exhaustion finally weigh on her. She was tired, it was exhausting riding a horse all day, maybe not as much for the horse but still!

“I don’t mind at all Dan.” she said with a soft chuckle as she allowed herself to relax further into the Wizard at her side, melting into the fireplace and the warmth of the cloak and his body. She didn’t mind his boldness, it was endearing after years of what felt like avoidance and ignorance. “I hope you don’t mind…” She murmured.

sextothebang:

“Very well then.  As you wish, Brooke.”  He smiled in return and nodded his head, “But I will only do so if you refer to me as Dan.  Daniel is a bit formal, and I am no knight, so the Sir is not needed.”  As per her request, he did decide to share the warmth with her, crossing his legs he rested his hands on his calves and looked back at the fire, an ever watchful eye simply making sure that it didn’t decide to get too out of control.

Looking over at her again though, Dan smiled, “I do apologize for my lewd comments earlier in the day, I was simply having a bit of fun.”  A gentle hand rests on her knee, “If I have made you uncomfortable with my ‘charm’, do let me know and I will be sure to ease off it a bit.”

“It’s a deal…Dan.” She said simply before feeling him settle in at her side. She let her own cloak drape around him as well, the fur soft and warm. It was like sharing two blankets, and kind of nice to be honest. She looked back when he spoke and let out a soft laugh. Brooke rubbed her hair a little, a faint blush spreading across her cheeks as she thought back to it. “Well, erm…I understand. You’re fine. Sometimes it’s not quite as fun to be appropriate.” she joked lightly, her gaze gentle as she looked over to him and offered a little smile.

Brooke felt his hand on her knee and looked down at it before eying him carefully, allowing the little smile to spread across her face as she blushed further. “Not uncomfortable, simply…shocked. We don’t have many men with such courage in the kingdom I must admit.” She said lightly, her voice low.

“I’m glad you enjoyed it.” she said with a small laugh, looking over thim with that equally devilish grin before she glanced back towards the fireplace. For the time at least. She tucked herself close to the crackling flames before she noticed him move. A slight blink and she watched him wrap the cloak around her shoulders as he moved to sit beside her. “Thank you Sir Daniel…I appreciate your kindness. I hope you will share the warmth with me.” She said with a smile, her hand resting on his leg before she retreated it to her lap and watched the for a few more moments.

“You may call me Brooke if you wish, many call me Dodger. A nickname I earned as a solider.” She told him, looking back in his direction as she moved a tad closer. He was another source of heat. She glanced over at Sherlock who was dozing under one of the trees, a large heavy blanket keeping him warm as he stood under the branches.

“Thank you…” she whispered softly as she watched Sherlock suck down the water. She filled her own canteen with water and set it aside carefully, taking the saddle off the beast and brushing him down quick and firmly before pulling her hair back and kicking out her own bed roll, throwing her cloak around her shoulders once more. “That poor monster has had to carry the both of us all day, I can imagine he’s ready for a rest.” she said to him, nodding to the horse before looking back over to him and nodding with a smile.

She sat down nearby after gathering a good amount of firewood, digging a pit out carefully and letting him ignite it. It was much easier then trying to catch a spark herself, and if he didn’t mind. Neither did she. It was much colder here in the higher mountains and she tuckered down in her cloak, her shoulders hunched up. “I agree, though I must admit, I do not miss the cold air that seems to linger so north in the mountains.” She muttered with a bitter shiver.

She could see his smirk from the corner of her eye as she let the horse walk with a soft snort. They’d need to take a break soon and let Sherlock get a drink. Perhaps there would be a small stream that crawled through the mountains. She turned her head to listen closely, sensitive hearing picking up more then any mere mortal. Nothing yet. Soon perhaps. She simply ushered Sherlock along. She enjoyed her time spent atop the beast, having a close bond with the creature.

“I am glad that you are enjoying the swiftness of travel by horseback.” she said with a bright laugh, a little bubbly as she dropped her hand down to the horn of the saddle. “If you ever wish to take another trip, I would be happy to take you when you wish.” She told him casually, eyes closing as she relaxed further.

She felt his fingers move to her waist again and her eyes widened a tiny bit but she let her eyes close and she pressed her fingers into the reins she held. She gritted her teeth a tiny bit and as they rode slowly she exhaled. After only a moment or two though she finally relaxed a little and closed her eyes slowly. “It is unbecoming of a Queen to be so close, but I must admit…you have quite the charm.” she whispered, tapping Sherlock’s sides a bit harder to get him moving a little faster.

When the path finally leveled out for the time being, she didn’t seem to try and move away. In fact she seem’d rather comfortable leaned up against him. The sun shone bright above the sky, signaling it was sometime around noonish.

She squeaked softly as she attempted to scoot forward on the saddle, finding it harder then she had thought to stay there, having to cling to the horn of the saddle. After a moment she just gave up and let herself slide back against him, sighing softly as she blushed and hunching her shoulders up. “Forgive me Sir. The path is far steeper then I anticipated.” She murmered, looking over her shoulder to him and squeezing the sides of the horse tighter in her shoulders. She hoped it leveled out soon, this was kind of sort of awkward.

She heard the delightful little snort of Sherlock from ahead, as if he was laughing at her and she wrinkled her nose a little. She let out a soft noise and shifted, her hips moving as she gripped the reigns tight.

She felt weight on her shoulder and smirked a little, hearing his voice so close to her ear. She gritted her teeth and fought back the shiver that tried to run up her spine. She cast a look over her shoulder, exhaling as she looked back. Damn him. Damn him and his low tone. Damn him and how close he felt he needed to be. She shifted, leaning forward a tiny bit on the saddle and hearing his inquiry. “I guess it depends on how high your home is in the mountains. I estimate by tomorrow night if we keep at this pace.” She told him casually.

The terrible idea to lean back against him came to mind but she threw it out the window faster then she could complete the thought. She never thought this trip would cause her so many emotional problems! She stretched though, looking at the mountain as the path grew just slightly steeper. As a result, she slid back in the saddle and her face turned scarlet.

She chuckled as he boasted so cockily, her hand brushing her hair behind her ear as she felt he horse shift slightly under her, her legs gripping the beast before she glanced over her shoulder. “You are an ally, I simply wish to help you in any way I can.” She said softly, releasing the reins of her horse and tying them lightly around the horn of the saddle. She wouldn’t dare admit out loud that she found the wizard charming, endearing really, and perhaps quite a bit attractive. Despite his raggedy clothes and tousled mess of hair.

Maybe it was her lack of social interaction with someone who had the guts to talk to her. Or her lack of physical contact in several years. Such the burden of being a queen right? There had been rumors of his clan’s prowess. If he was indeed where he’d come from. She frowned at the thought and pushed it back, scolding herself mentally to stop acting so childish.