Chapter 245: Intruders

Marriane pov

If i say that i did not know the man who was standing in front of me, would anyone believe that! Could it be that an imposter took his place when we were not around, he was definitely not the Cassius I know!

"I can walk, Cassius. This is not the time to show strength. We need to find a place to stay soon." I demanded but he just nodded, yet did not put me down. 

He was getting more and more comfortable with holding me in his arms. I closed my eyes as I knew he would not listen. And truth to be told, my right leg was hurt  due to the fall too.

But then he must be injured too. I shook my head to clear my thoughts.

"Marianne"

"Hmmm"

"If you want to learn anything, I can teach you." I furrowed my brows as his statement and looked at him again.

"I mean, I have been trained well in fencing, archery, horse riding, hunting and all other things you can fancy." 

'Was this really the time to brag about it?!'

"You are the second highest noble in the empire, your highness. Of course, you know everything. But I am well versed in everything I need to know. Do you think we fell because of me, if you would not have forced me to come along I would have won the race, and when we fell the reins were in your hand.`` I reminded him and he sighed.

"How many more times are you going to accuse me?" he asked and I looked back.

It was not about how we fell and he joined, it's about the change in his behavior.

"Cassius, is there something I should know more about?" I asked and his steps halted.

"Why do you think so? Anyways, do you want to eat something?" he asked out of the blue as if we were in a tea house or pastry shop.

"There are a few trees with fruits, shall we take some?" he cleared looking at my confused face and i nodded.

It was better than having nothing. He took me towards the trees and helped me in standing.

"Stay here, I will climb and bring some." he said as if he was fine.

"There is no need. Take the stick and try to hit the tree." i pointed at the stick but it was not lengthy enough

"It wont work, wait let me see nearby" i nodded and he walked around.

I sat there on the dry leaves looking at the way to get fruits. We have nothing with us, even water!! 

"This is Marianne's longest stick, Marianne. I guess I have to climb the tree." he replied with a sigh, and my eyes fell on his injured leg.

"Is there no other way? We can look for other trees that are not that tall." I suggested and he shook his head, but then he looked at me hesitatingly.

"What is it?" I asked the man who did not hesitate while kissing me, yet hesitating while plucking the fruits.

"If you hold you above and you will use the stick then it may work. Would you do that?" he asked and I hesitated. 

But before I could deny it, my stomach growled. And I knew I still had breakfast but he only had a cookie, so I nodded.

He was visibly surprised by my reply. He must be thinking I would deny it.

I stood up and walked towards the tree he moved and stood behind me.

"Are you ready, Marianne?" he asked and I nodded.

Passing the stick, he held my hips. I tried my best to not feel his hands that were moving but on the tree and fruits.

"A bit higher." I said as I tried to hit the stick on the fruits but the fruits were on higher branches so only leaves fell, as if mocking me for my futile efforts.

His grip on my hips tightened and he moved me higher. Now my hips were close to her face. I closed my eyes and then opened to look above again.

I took the stick and hit again and this time finally a few pears fell.

"Move a bit left" I instructed and he nodded. I smiled as a few more pears fell.

"Move a bit forward" he kept holding me higher and moving as I continued to try to get more fruit.

"I guess, that would be enough for the two of us for now." he said and I finally looked below.

There were more than two dozen pears on the ground.

"Yes, they are. Put me down ``I replied and his hands moved so slowly that I could not describe.

His hands moved to my waist then back and finally touching my shoulder and crown did he let me touch the ground.

We both walked and collected the fruits silently. Sitting on the dry leaves again we started nibbling the fruits.

This was the first time I ever sat in the woods and ate the fruits I plucked myself. Was that the reason it was so tasty!

But before we can eat further, we hear a few footsteps. There were more than four to five people who were walking towards us.

"Who are you and what are you doing in our area?" asked an old man, who was looking like the head of the group.

We saw a group of people coming towards us. They were clad in rough cotton and wild skin of animals. The fur was looking like it was not stitched properly. Their bodies were rough and scratched. They all were tribes that lived around.

They looked at us as if we were intruders, barged into their house to steal.

We stood up looking at them and introduced ourselves politely, even Cassius was much more humble than I had thought.

"We are just passers by who have lost their way and unfortunately our horse ran away and we did not know where to go" he said before I could introduce and I looked at him in bewilderment.