I chased after her and tap on her shoulder as soon as I was able to reach her, "tag! you're it!"
I ran off right after and stuck my tongue out to her. She giggled and chased after me, "You dare tag me!" she yelled with a huge grin. I ran quicker forward and turned around to face her as she runs towards me. "Tag! You're it again!" she said tapping on my shoulder. I pulled her into my arms and picked her up, throwing her over my shoulder.
"Arran!" She screamed. I laughed and started walking despite her protests. "We should get going and you're too slow," I said to her. She groaned, "put me down, I'll run, okay?" she said, trying to negotiate with me. I gave it a thought, "hmm..."
"So, is that a no?" she asked softly. I put her down and gave her a sheepish grin, "it's not a no, no?" I said. She rolled her eyes and started to jog towards our destination. I followed suit behind her. "Do you remember where you need to go?" I asked her to which she replied; "Yup! I do."
+++
We walked for the whole morning and decided to take a rest when the sun was glaring. "I've never asked but we've been walking for so long and you've been sweating, doesn't that hurt you?" I asked. "It does but the shock is not that painful, just a little tingly," she shrugged. She didn't tell me about this. Then again, I never asked her about it either.
"Look! The entrance!" Rhea exclaimed, running forward and pointing at the entrance of the town. I smiled, "we're here, Rhea, let's go."
We walked towards the entrance and two guards blocked our way, "Sorry sir, ma'am. We do not allow people to enter for no reason," One of them had said. Rhea looked at me worriedly. "I'm here to do business, you can ask the older people in the market about me, the name is Arran, I promised to be back and here I am," I said confidently.
They looked at each other and one of them took a leave to go into the market and ask around. "Do you so happen to be that legendary Arran as in Arran Frye who always have something that's out of the world for the witches and wizards in every town?" the other guard asked.
I nodded slightly, "That's a thing now? I've only been offering some old stuff that's most likely to be haunted and have magic sealed," I said, shrugging my shoulder. He nodded and as soon as the other guard came back after confirming with the people, we were invited in. "Sorry sir, but who is this woman with you?" The first guard asked.
"This is my wife Rhea, we move together now," I said, making it up just so they don't have a reason to not let her in. I saw Rhea's face turn a little red, causing the guards to doubt the statement. I pulled Rhea close to me by the waist, "She's still shy about it."
They looked at each other and allowed her to come with me. I lead her to a local witch to sell her the watch I found on the thug. I don't know if it has magic nor do I think it would be useful of some sort. As soon as we entered her little shop, a weird smell fills our noses. "I feel a little sleepy," Rhea said.
"Same," I agreed and the last thing I saw was the witch smiling of some sort of achievement.
+++
I tried pushing my eyes open and look around. My body feels so tingly all over. "Arran, you're awake," A voice beside me had said. I turned to my side to see Athea. She helped me sit up and handed me a cup of water. I took a sip and rubbed my head, "How is everything?"
"The procedure was successful and Rhea is now okay but she hasn't woken up. It's been a little over a day," she said. I nodded and tried getting down from the bed, "I had a really weird dream. It felt like reality," I stated.
Athea got to my aid and helped me down the bed, "Oh right. We put you both under a spell so you'd be in a dream so her soul and yours won't wander around," she explained, "What was the dream about anyway?"
"I was a traveling merchant and I had business in a town and had Rhea join me on my way," I said. She nodded and smiled. "Did you protect Rhea in your dream?" she asked.
"Yeah, I did. Which is honestly quite weird considering between me and her, she's the one who is a fighter," I chuckled. I walked out of the room I was in with Athea beside me, "Which room is Rhea in?" I asked. "I'll take you there," she said. I nodded and followed her as she leads me down the hallway. We walked past the stairs to the other hallway and opened the first door.
She walked in after I did and shut the door behind us. I went to Rhea and took a seat beside her. She lay there peacefully and her hair combed to the side. The blanket was pulled up to her mid-arm. "Don't worry we made sure that she's fine," The woman said as she walked towards my side.
Her room is like a little replicate of her house. Wooden wall and wooden floor with a magic cupboard and a small tree that works as a vanity. "The room is decorated very well. It's really pretty," I commented.
"We tried to make her room look and feel more home to her. Also, you've yet to look at your room. You looked for Rhea the moment you woke up. Go check it out after this, don't waste our effort," Athea chuckled slightly. I laughed and rubbed the back of my neck, "Sorry, I just wanted to see if Rhea is okay."
"Don't worry. I get it, you just want to see your lover," she teased.