Tatiana wasn't sure how long they had been walking for when he stopped them to make camp on the river bank. She sat on the ground where he'd left her, listening as he collected wood for a fire around them.
She wrapped her arms around herself tightly, feeling ill at ease in her helplessness. At least when they had been with her other two captors, she'd had safety in numbers. As Bran moved about though, she had no one around to keep an eye on her and make sure she was safe.
Her anxieties dispelled when she heard Bran return, and she listened keenly to his movements as he started a small fire in front of them. She eagerly scooted closer to the warmth when the fire caught, warming her cold feet by its warmth.
"Here, eat these," Bran said, taking one of her hands in his. He carefully placed what felt like berries in her outstretched palm, before sitting next to her.
"Why are you being so nice?" Tatiana asked, popping one of them in her mouth. The berry burst between her teeth, squirting its sweet juices.
"I told you, can't have my hostage dying on me," he answered. "I'm counting on Robin caring enough about you that we can manipulate him into doing what we want."
Tatiana screwed up her face. "I don't think he cares about me that much, otherwise wouldn't he have tried to rescue me already?"
"Yeah, if he knew where you were. But you're in the fey realm, so all he knows is that you're in trouble. He doesn't know where you are. And he's cut off from the Woodlands, so his power is diminished."
"I don't understand, is he part of the Woodlands?" Tatiana asked curiously.
"Geeze, he really didn't teach you much about us. The Woodlands are part of him, more like. Most Archfey have their own dominion in the realm, and they store their power there."
"Archfey?" Tatiana's head swam with questions.
"Strong fey, with a lot of mortals indebted to them, or a lot of mortals that worship them," Bran explained patiently.
"Oh. Are you an Archfey?" Tatiana asked curiously.
Bran laughed. "No, I haven't been around long enough to get many mortals indebted to me."
She finished off the last of her berries, before resting her chin on her knees. "How long have you been around?" she asked.
"About a century, I reckon," he answered. "I missed the Golden Age for tricking mortals, and the Seelies have sealed off or guard most of the gateways."
Tatiana tried to digest everything he'd said. She felt clueless, and a little bit frustrated. There was so much she didn't know, and she was thrown into the middle of it all. A hint of anger to Robin crept inside her, frustrated that he'd seemingly 'claimed' her without her knowing, placing a target on her back.
A cool breeze swept over them, and Tatiana felt herself being transported to another time and place again.
She watched as the dark-haired man that she knew to be Bran stood protectively in front of her, his sword drawn in one hand. In front of them, an ugly being cackled. It had an old man's body, wizened and grotesque, but a large head with the features of a child. Their shadows were long in the setting sun, and she couldn't see the river anywhere near them.
"Begone," Bran bellowed. "This mortal is under my protection, and you will suffer my wrath if you harm her!"
"You claim this mortal when another already has?" the ugly man asked with a rasping voice.
"I do, and you know I am bound to protect her, so you best leave us, old man," Bran said, gripping his sword tightly. Tatiana's heart fluttered, and she swallowed nervously as she watched the scene unfold.
With a sinister cackle, the ugly man sprung forward, and the vision dissipated before she could see if Bran struck him down.
She was back at the campfire, once again blind, shivering in the cool wind. She blinked and wrapped her arms tighter around herself.
"What did you see?" Bran asked.
She turned her face in the direction of his voice. He was so close to her, she could feel his body heat emanating from him.
"I saw a man attack us," she answered, her voice tight. "A horribly ugly old man, with a child's face. It was in the late afternoon, what time of day is it now?"
"The sun has already set, we should be safe for tonight if your vision is accurate," he said reassuringly.
Tatiana nodded, and remained silent. She didn't speak of what she heard in the vision, of Bran claiming her. She wasn't sure if saying it would make it come to pass, or if telling him would avoid it.
After some time, she ventured a question. "Can a mortal be claimed by more than one fey?" she asked curiously.
"I've heard of it," Bran answered, his voice betraying a hint of surprise at her question. "It doesn't usually end well though, either for the mortal or for the fey involved."
She nodded, feeling a pit of dread in her stomach. His words were said pleasantly enough, but her vision made his words more ominous than he intended. She silently prayed that the events in her vision would not come to pass.
"You should sleep, mortal," Bran said, his voice softer. "We've got another long day of walking tomorrow."
--
Tatiana woke slowly, in a haze. She wasn't sure how she had ended up curled up against Bran's warm body, but at some point, during the night she must have rolled over to him. Her cheeks flushed as she realized one of his arms were wrapped around her. She shook herself mentally. He was her captor, he was the reason she was blind and sore. He captured her to use as blackmail material against Robin.
A wave of guilt washed over her as she thought of Robin, and of the visions she'd had of her future, and of how close Bran was to her. She swallowed nervously as she thought about carefully extracting herself from Bran's embrace. He was so warm though, and she felt safe in his arms. He'd already protected her once, and if her vision was to be believed he'd protect her again soon. Of course, she wouldn't need protecting if he hadn't have kidnapped her, she reminded herself. His breath was warm on her skin, as he inhaled and exhaled heavily, and she couldn't help but be reminded of the vision she'd had in the river of him leaning down to kiss her, his body pressed against hers much like it was now.
