@Vampiretwilight

Aela laughed a bit "I don't mind, I was just making sure you had something before we headed off. It's important on a long journey to have all the energy you can muster. Usually means eat when you can."
Aela heard the twins whispering, but was lost in thought as she thought about what laid ahead of them. She hoped that her powers would be enough to be useful.

Aela nodded "Yes, that sounds like the most viable option. Staying in taverns or inns would prove to be difficult. I am fine handling nights in the wilderness on my own. I came prepared."

@Emera Lore
They both simply nodded and kept walking. They still felt bad though. Then, things were silent for a moment before she spoke again. Emily and Eric both blinked. They both looked at her and nodded.

"Alright then..."
-"...Very well."

They were surprised that she was actually taking all that in stride like she was. They actually had not expected that. They kept walking. Emily sighed.

"Hopefully, she will truly be able to help, whomever this queen is."
-"Yes, and hopefully she is kind, unlike that woman who....did this to us."

Emily sighed and nodded. She glanced back at Aela. She slowed down a bit and let Eric walk ahead. She spoke quietly to Aela about something else. She whispered to her.
"Do you like my brother?"

Aela instantly flushed and she looked away."Am I really that obvious...?"
Aela sighs and just nods silently and says in a soft whisper "very much."

Aela fiddles with the ring on her finger trying not to make eye contact with Emily of her shame. What if she doesn't want Eric to be with someone? Why is she asking me now of all times? Am I being pushy? Is it obvious?

@Emera Lore
Emily blinked.
"I wouldn't have said obvious...."
She nodded when Aela admitted that she liked Eric. She faintly smiled a bit. She cleared her throat and spoke again.
"That is actually quite a relief to hear. I encourage you to admit it to him when you get the chance, a good opportunity if you will."
Emily glanced at her brother for a moment.

"He will probably pay me back for this when he finds out I said anything but...."
Emily smiled at her.
"He likes you too, you know. He just won't admit it. Whether it is pride, or simply trying to be a hero because he thinks you deserve someone better than him, I am not sure. He just is too stubborn to say it first. Anyway.... good luck."

She winked at her.

Eric blinked. He thought Emily was being suspicious and such after a bit. The time she took talking to Aela seemed to be to long to him. He glanced back at them.
-"What are you two talking about?"

Emily blinked and looked at him.
"...nothing!"

Eric narrowed his eyes and raised an eyebrow.

Aela was completely flushed now, silently walking next to Emily her eyes staring at the earth. Her head felt like it was spinning with tons of questions. Eric likes me?! Since when?! How long? How do I tell him? Should I make it cute? I've never thought that my confession would happen while on a journey... a very long journey.

"It was nothing really." Aela cleared her throat and changed the subject "I have a feeling the queen might be better than the mage who cursed you. They can't all be rotten to the core. And if we hit a dead end we will find another way. The kingdom itself might have countless answers or information you two chosen ones need to know about."

@Emera Lore
Eric narrowed his eyes.
-"I see...."
He was suspicious. He did not fully believe them. However, he would let it slide for now. He did not wish to argue or anything of the sort. It was not the time for that anyway.

Emily sighed in relief. She looked between the two of them. She hoped that things would work out and that they would all be ok. Anyway, she nodded at Aela spoke, obviously trying to change the subject.

Eric nodded at times. He listened. He looked at Aela.
-"One can only hope."

Emily blinked. She nodded once, looking at her brother.
"I suppose."

Eric took a breath. He pulled out something from the bag Aela gave him and began to munch on it. He closed his eyes. He thought it tasted good. Emily noticed what he was doing and faintly smiled.

Aela had wandered to the front of the group. She began singing, to pass the time while walking on the path. As she began singing the sun continued to rise and their small village seemed to be several yards behind them. The open hills with wildflowers lined the dirt road before them.
Aela noticed down the road that there were other people walking the opposite way. Her senses were on high alert, by their attire and the time it was safe to assume they might be traveling merchants. But something seemed off and her instincts knew something was off. She stopped and moved out of the way of the Merchants glancing to Emily and Eric to see if they felt the same way.

@Vampiretwilight

Aela had wandered to the front of the group. She began singing, to pass the time while walking on the path. As she began singing the sun continued to rise and their small village seemed to be several yards behind them. The open hills with wildflowers lined the dirt road before them.
Aela noticed down the road that there were other people walking the opposite way. Her senses were on high alert, by their attire and the time it was safe to assume they might be traveling merchants. But something seemed off and her instincts knew something was off. She stopped and moved out of the way of the Merchants glancing to Emily and Eric to see if they felt the same way.

@Emera Lore
Emily blinked and stopped in her tracks when Aela moved away from some people who were passing by. Eric did the same thing. They turned to look at her. They both frowned. But, they frowned in concern. They wondered if something was wrong.

"Are you alright?"
-"Is something the matter?"
"What happened?"
-"Yes, what happened?"

Eric and Emily walked right up to Aela. They had sensed something, but did not think it was a big danger, not at first anyway. They wondered what Aela was thinking.

Aela glanced over and shook her head "Something is wrong with those merchants. It's not magic related though, it's different... its blood lust. Just act natural if they attack I will handle it."
The merchants began to slowly pass they smiled and waved their wagon behind them showed off several goods some of which were meat items. The merchants nodded to Aela who was smiling and waving one hand in her cloak gripping a short sword. Just in case things got out of hand. They continued on their way and Aela walked quickly away then began to sprint her senses increasing with danger. Aela looked around possible bandits? Or would it be a ambush? She didn't see anything yet. She just needed to get out of there.

@Emera Lore
Emily blinked. So did Eric. They both frowned and nodded.
"I see."
-"I understand."

They were both on guard after that. They were relieved when the merchants came and went. They proceeded walking with Aela after that. Emily gasped and Erics' eyes went wide when Aela suddenly broke into a run like that. They picked up the pace. They practically ran as well. They tried to catch up with her.

"What is going on?!"
-"What is the matter?!"
Both Eric and Emily sounded equally concerned. They sensed something amiss, but they did not know what.

@Vampiretwilight

Aela was only able to say "Ambush! Merchant's usually don't visit the village doesn't that strike you as odd?" As soon as Aela finished her sentence she pulled out a short sword in one hand and a dagger in another metal clashing with another sword.
A bandit smiled as the others closed in around them. Aela locked in combat glanced over to the twins. worried that they might not know how to fight.
Aela's opponent spoke "Look what we have here. A couple of youngsters going on a journey together. Drop your belongings, money and jewelry. Then we just might let you go."

@Emera Lore
Emily gasped. Eric stepped in front of her.

-"Leave. Them. Alone."
Eric narrowed his eyes. He had the same look on his face his father did whenever his family was in danger and he was in a fury. Eric stepped forward.

Emily frowned.
"Eric...."

Eric raised a hand to make her be quiet. Somehow, he knew what he was doing. Eric walked forward some more.
-"You do not wish to cross me. You WILL leave here.....NOW!!"

His voice rose to a shout and Emily gasped again. She watched with wide eyes. She looked at Aela. She went over to try and pull her out of the way.

Eric glared at the bandits.

Aela wasn't expecting a shout from Eric. And it broke her concentration with that and Emily pulling her away from her opponent made the perfect opening. Blood split onto the dirt as metal had met Aela's right shoulder. She was pulled back dropping her weapons. Aela winced as she sat up holding her wound glaring at her opponent.

"That ring on your finger and your stance. You were the captian's daughter weren't you. Fancy that!" He laughs "It's been a while since I've seen that style of fighting. A shame he failed to kill me." The bandits laughed.

Aela gritted her teeth but kept back as Eric was about to handle the situation.

Her opponent now facing Eric along with several others laughed a chorus. "What do you think you are gonna do boy? Now that you refuse to cooperate I've decided to kill you and take your delicate companions."

@Vampiretwilight
Aela wasn't expecting a shout from Eric. And it broke her concentration with that and Emily pulling her away from her opponent made the perfect opening. Blood split onto the dirt as metal had met Aela's right shoulder. She was pulled back dropping her weapons. Aela winced as she sat up holding her wound glaring at her opponent.

"That ring on your finger and your stance. You were the captian's daughter weren't you. Fancy that!" He laughs "It's been a while since I've seen that style of fighting. A shame he failed to kill me." The bandits laughed.

Aela gritted her teeth but kept back as Eric was about to handle the situation.

Her opponent now facing Eric along with several others laughed a chorus. He began sizing Eric up with his sword and some others had battle axes or other weapons "What do you think you are gonna do boy? Now that you refuse to cooperate I've decided to kill you and take your delicate companions."

@Emera Lore
Eric glared.
"You will not even get the chance."

He stepped forward. He took a fighting stance. He charged forth. In a matter of minutes, at least three of the goons were on the ground, groaning, out cold.

Eric backed up.
"Good thing father taught me some of his old tricks."
He could not help but smirk.

Emily blinked. She looked both shocked and surprised.
"oh wow...."

@Vampiretwilight

Aela watched Eric in awe but also glanced over at Emily to make sure she was okay. She was holding her injured shoulder the wound wasn’t deep just a graze.

The bandit laughed as he flicked off Aela’s blood off his blade. “Seems that there’s fire in these youngersters. Let’s dance young man.” Other bandits start closing around Eric and some try to get close to Aela and Emily.

@Emera Lore
Eric sighed.
-"Good thing I packed some tricks that do not require being very fast."

He glanced back at Aela and Emily for a moment. He looked at the bandit leader again.
-"Have it your way."

He charged again, now wearing a ring, or what looked like a ring anyway. He struck with that fist at at least five of them, including the leader himself. The wounds already started turning purple after a few moments.

Emily blinked and gasped.
"You brought fathers' special poison ring?!"
Her eyes were wide. She backed away a bit.

Eric glanced back at them and nodded.
-"Along with a few other weapons he gave me. You never know what we might need."

A poison ring? Seems your dad has some nice moves Emily. Aela smiled and stood up grabbing her blades and offered a dagger to Emily as some bandits began closing in around them.

The leader waited and held his sword aloft attacking Eric’s legs. “Come on kid is that the best you got a poision ring to do your battles?”