Going Nowhere, partner to LupineBridge's story.

The suit wasn’t really built for stealth, but when something is almost halfway animated by magic, is it even really built at all? Joe shook his head. These are not the things he should be thinking. His thoughts should be precise, careful, not wandering at all. He watched the arrow pierce the bandit’s throat, and nearly cried. Perched as he was between two trees, he had a perfect view of the archer. There was a time when he would’ve been standing there next to her, flinging spells or inventions. Joe hoped desperately that that time would come again. He had been helping out and earning his worth in elven villages across the countryside, looking for a woman who was almost human, till you saw the ears.

Joe didn’t really even remember the healing process, after his battle. He had simply dragged himself from the field, repaired his suit, added a few things that should’ve been obvious, and set out. There are things more important than flesh wounds. He had been travelling for quite some time, and he had finally found her again. He had been to this village already, helped enough to get a good look, and not be glared at upon entering. He was on his way to the next even, but she was here. Joe waited till she was in the village for a few minutes, and then headed in himself. It occurred to him that it was more than a little creepy, the way he was conducting himself. It then occurred to him that he couldn’t give less of a damn. He darkened the visor of his helmet, so she couldn’t see the tears when she saw him.

Inside, Joe loitered with an expertise born of a youth spent watching people. He started to sing, and then he saw her. His jaw dropped and his heart sang for him. She noticed him. He didn’t have any words. A treant passed behind her. She was still beautiful. Disheveled, a bit dirty, and covered in what was likely to be someone else’s blood. Just like when he had seen her the first time, and she was just as beautiful now as then. He didn’t have any words, and she was staring still.
“Thralvila!” Joe yelled at the elven merchant in desperation. “You had wanted my help?” Joe licked his lips, heart suddenly beating madly. He heard her rustle the leaves behind him.

“He wants a letter, from his sister,” she said. Joe’s heart melted. Even if they weren’t quite the words he wanted to hear, they were from her, and they were for him. That was enough. He turned and smiled at her without realizing the helmet’s mask covered his mouth. She had a hood on, the odd clothing fluctuation she wore when she thought she was being tricky. He loved her for that, even now. He must have said something, because now he was walking towards the inn, and she was following him hesitantly. If she wanted to be tricky for a while, he could pretend he wouldn’t know who she was just by the way she walked. For now, anyway.