Chapter 2

Roisin pov

reached a unique dwelling that looked like an actual house in a tree. It was a drab color, like trees when winter comes. He opened the door and held it open for me. I was shocked by the decor on the inside. The actual furniture made from wood, furs, antlers, and lots of leather was placed around it, which reminded me of a hunting lodge.

"Wow, cliche bachelor life I see," chuckling at my joke. He scowls and walks towards a kitchen of sorts and gets a cup of water. "You have actual running water," I gasp, wondering how they managed that marvel. Torin rolled his eyes at me.

"We aren't that uncivilized, there is a bathroom in here as well," he says.

"You made me piss in a tree hole for laughs," I scowl and he laughs at me. I shake my head and sit on the soft fur couch.

"You can have the room in the back and I will use the couch or floor," he states.

"No it's fine, I'll sleep on this dead animal, you keep your room," I grin smugly, patting the couch.

"Fine female, have it your way, the facility is the room to the right down the hall," he nods and disappears into the dark hallway. I get up and hang my still damp clothing across the numerous antlers in the living room. I chuckle at the pair of underwear dangling from one. I fluffed the fur pillow and stretched out on the soft furry couch and fell into a very deep sleep.

I wake the next morning with my arm hanging off the couch and my face wet from my own drool. I sat up and a long strand of saliva followed. I wiped it off with the back of my hand and noticed Torin looking at me shaking his head and scowling. His eyes traveled around the room and stopped at each piece of my clothing hanging throughout. He ran his hand over his face and walked back down his hallway. I hurried and grabbed each article of clothing and folded them nicely. Torin came back and threw a dark green shirt and pair of leather pants at me.

"They were my younger brother's and should fit you," he mumbles. I grin and hold the clothes in my arms.

"Do you have a shower?" I asked, hope shining in my eyes. He nods his head and I jump up in happiness. I run down the hall and turn right into a large rustic bathroom. A big wooden tub with a shower head above it. I smile, it's been a long time since I enjoyed a shower. I do my business then climb over the sides of the tub and turn the nozzles on. I sighed at the actual hot water flowing out over my body. I threw the clothes l had on off to the floor and noticed an actual bar of soap. I lifted it to my nose, it smelled like wildflowers and I gushed as I lathered my whole body. I washed until the water turned cold. Turning off the nozzles I scanned the room and spotted an actual towel. I climbed out and wrapped myself in the thick material and dried myself and wrapped it around my hair. I was in a much better mood. I lift the leather pants and shimmy them up my legs marveling at the softness of the material. They were a perfect fit, forming perfectly to all my slight curves. I smiled, running my hands down my hips. The shirt was a little large, showing my slight cleavage, there wasn't much there so I shrugged my shoulders and tied a knot at the bottom of the shirt so it wasn't so long. I picked up my dirty wet clothes and headed to the living room.

"They fit, excellent," Torin smiles and I nod.

"Do you have a hairbrush?" I ask, removing the towel from my hair, the long strands covering my face. He chuckles and grabs my hand pulling me towards the hall. I moved the hair from my eyes and I'm surprised by his room, very fancy, in a gaudy sense, and reminded me of the time I visited Versailles. I glance at Torin, he's full of surprises. He led me to a chair to sit on and started brushing my hair. I closed my eyes as his fingers massaged my scalp and I could feel him braiding my hair. I grin slightly, it reminded me of my mother doing it for me when I was little. When he finished he stepped away. I stood and moved in front of a full-length mirror. I frowned at the reflection staring back at me. I touched the glass and followed my finger. I'd lost a lot of weight, my once pale skin a nice tan color, and my hair had grown to a surprising length. Torin had given me a crown braid, my hands touching it carefully. I grinned and looked over at him.

"Thank you, it's lovely," I smile. He nodded his head and left his room, so I followed him. We went back to the living room and Torin stood in the kitchen chewing his bottom lip.

"I don't have any food here. I'll need to hunt if you're hungry," he scowls.

"I've got food in my bag but it's at the platform wood house thing," I mumble. He looks at me and runs out of his house. I just stand there rolling my eyes. I sit down on the animal couch and wait for him to return. He comes back quickly carrying my backpack. I grabbed it and digging through the pockets found some homemade jerky, trail mix, granola bars, and pine nuts. I placed it all on the wooden coffee table. "This is all my rations," I grin, grabbing a piece of deer jerky. Torin surveyed the selection curiously and also grabbed a piece of the dried meat. I watched as he smelled it and bit a piece off. He chewed and nodded his head.

"This is good deer," he grins. He tried everything I had on the table and seemed pleased with it.

"So what are we doing today?" I asked, my belly full.

"Hunt, need more food," he grins looking at what was left on the table.

"I'd like to help, if that's alright," I mumble, eyeing him. He nods his head and goes to a closet and brings out a large black bow and quiver full of arrows. I grab mine and stand, waiting to be hauled around like a sack. He shakes his head.

"You must learn how to travel the trees," he frowns. I scowl at him, how in the hell was I going to be able to run and jump around like a fucking squirrel? Torin opened the door and waved to me to follow. I shoulder my bow and quiver walking out after him. I look around at all the branches and then towards the nonexistent ground, frowning deeply. "Don't focus below yourself," Torin states, jumping onto a limb several feet away. I purse my lips and shake my head. There was no way my short legs could make a jump like him.

"Come female, I won't let you fall," he smiles, holding his arms out to me. My bare feet grasp the tree bark underneath and I shake my head as I start to run, jumping off and towards Torin. I swear I closed my eyes as the air flew past me. I sighed when my feet fell on solid bark. I opened my eyes and smiled, I had done it, easy peasy. Torin nods his head and continues off, expecting me to follow him. I struggled to try to keep up with his quick moves, he practically ran through the branches, not once worried about falling or missing a step. I thanked God for my excellent balance, if not for it, I would have surely tumbled to my death. I look up and can see a break in the thick foliage, bright sunlight cascading through the opening. Torin pauses and waits for me to catch up. I finally reached the spot and looked up at him waiting for what was next. He does a loud high-pitched whistle, the sound I recall from earlier, and Cadac and Adrit dropped from above. The three of them spoke in elvish to each other, leaving me to stand there in confusion. Adrit hands me a soft leather bag and smiles.

"You will gather edibles from our land," Cadac grins. I raised my brow, eyeing them, so much for being an honored guest I mused. I looked down wondering where the ground actually was. I looked up and each of them jumped off the branch, falling downward. Oh hell no, I curse to myself. "Jump I will catch you," Torin yells at me. I scowl and take a step off the branch, keeping my eyes closed as the wind whipped past me. I felt large arms grab me and lower me to the solid ground. I exhaled the breath caught in my chest and glanced at my surroundings. It was absolutely stunning, the air even felt clean and the colors were amazing. There were berry bushes and several fruit trees. I smile and run off to an apple tree, grabbing one off a low branch and taking a big bite. I sighed at the delicious taste. I heard rustling in the underbrush and saw what looked like a rabbit, only this one was very large. I quietly grabbed my bow and readied my arrow to take aim. I nailed it, making a clean kill. I removed my arrow and tried stuffing the large hare into the leather bag, half of the body hanging out. I pulled the bag further onto my shoulder and went to collect apples and wild spices. My bag was overflowing so I returned to the tree we had come from and sat leaning my back against it. My eyelids closed and I drifted off with the strange sun shining down on me.