The man realized he was speaking without interruption, disappearing into his own story for a while. For a moment though he regarded her, eagerly waiting for her to speak and give him the answer to the question he sought, but at the same time he wanted to go back in time and comment on every other word she said to him if only he had given himself time to respond. Like when she mentioned that speaking of magic was blasphemy in the castle, or how such a strong emotion that cannot be seen or touched but only witnessed once touched by the heart; something as pure and true as love, is viewed as only a myth and uttered secretly within the castle walls of the King. He wanted to tell her just how much he disagreed, totally did, even though he never had a taste of this one heart-wrecking emotion himself.<br/><br/>When her lips moved to express her appreciation of his knowledge, the man thanked her in a tone hardly above a whisper and like a fine film of cobwebs floating in the air, he dropped his guards down around her.<br/><br/>Bereft of the feel of her lips, he surveyed them discreetly, waiting for them to speak her name and her story but quickly his irises fell to her hands as they dropped the flowers and berries on the blanket, her body shifting towards him. The man leaned back and suddenly felt cold, so cold that even the fire failed to warm him. It was the mixture of worry and despair he understood from her voice, but it was also confusion and excitement all at once that sparked in the man's eyes upon the mentioning of the man whose name should not be spoken aloud, or even whispered. His mouth dropped open slightly, watching the worry plague the female's fair features and he was not only captivated by the expression on her face but bitten by the distress she portrayed. Surrounding to these signs was a natural outcome, an unconscious tendency, both sweet and mind-blowing satisfactory.<span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">"I don't feel as safe anymore."</span></span>These words she communicated convincingly made Julian quickly rise to his feet with a blinding will to make sure the woman would arrive safely home before he hit the road once again, even if that meant riding back to Arendell and delaying his own journey back home.<br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">"I think we should move, now." </span></span><br/><br/><span style="color: #80BFBF">“What is going on?”</span>He asked, speaking the first thing he thought and the tone in his voice showed how the change in their previous dialogue caught him by surprise. He glanced around him, seriousness returning to his face as he thought for a moment that he might have done something which offended the woman, or that she simply did not feel at ease in his presence no more and for that he wished to grant her the desire to leave. He advanced to wear his frock coat back on and shoving the rest of the scattered items inside his travel bag.<span style="color: #80BFBF">“Yes, yes. I shall ride you back home. I am not very certain what worried you so, but we shall do as you say.”</span>Assuming that is where the female desired to go, Julian circled around the tree to get to his ride.<br/><br/>One hand across the withers of the beast's back, the man suddenly noted the strange silence which grew in proximity. Mystified, his brows furrowed and eyelids blinked a few times. His ears payed more attention to his surroundings than it did a moment ago. Brutal screams certainly not of a world he knew echoed in the dead of the night from a few miles south. His body tensed and every muscle in his body stood out. The man shot a glance at the woman with a glazed look in his greys.<span style="color: #80BFBF">“I take that back. I believe you're right, m'lady. We must hurry.”</span>Hurriedly he went back to pick up the last remaining item, his diary, when past the female's shoulder and across the display of the river behind her form, a strange green smoke seemed to slither between the trees and across the ground effortlessly, heading their way. It neared and neared.<span style="color: #80BFBF">“What...?”</span>To the side, the man cocked his head and eyebrows rose slightly as he registered with confusion what was happening; the distinct scent of death oh so familiar forced a harsh gasp out of his being. The sight was not purely illusory, it was real.<br/><br/>An arm around the female's waist, and a hand on her shoulder urged her to move along and the man's steps fell ahead of her, freeing the obsidian horse. He swung up onto the panicked beast and leaned forward, momentarily allowing his voice to speak to the horse, soothing it's inescapable behavior. Since there was no saddle, Julian kept enough room in front of him for the woman. The stirrups were secured in a way where they fell long enough so that his heels were not touching the horse.<span style="color: #80BFBF">"Where do you live? Home then, am I correct? I have lurked in the area for a few days to know where we currently stand."</span>His attention in great haste fell to the woman whose name was still a mystery to him and he reached down with one arm, offering an inviting hand to help her up.