Chapter Text
Martyn runs a shaky hand through his blond hair as he splits off from the group, thoughts racing as always. His tattered sleeve flicks back and forth in the wind as he enters the treeline, ready to collect some resources.
“They can tell just by my accent that I'm not posh…” he mutters to himself.
He was so consumed by his own thoughts he didn't notice the eyes following him. Eyes that have been following him almost as long as he's been in Oakhurst.
Before he knows what's happening, he's already pinned to the tree, dagger at his throat, facing a red-haired woman who's smiling pleasantly, like she didn't just assault him.
“Martyn Littlewood?” she asks, tilting her head.
“Who the hell are you?!” Martyn responds, thrashing wildly to try and break her hold. The dagger digs into his neck a fraction more, small drops of blood beading along the knife.
“Oh, don't be difficult, you're only going to hurt yourself.” she chastises.
He continues to thrash, and her smile drops minutely. In an instant, Martyn finds himself flat on his back, the wind knocked out of him.
“Let's try again.” the woman says, her boot resting on his sternum. “Are you Martyn Littlewood?”
When he doesn't answer she delivers a swift kick to his side. Martyn curls in on himself with a yelp as her steel-toed boots make contact.
“Yes! Yes, I'm Martyn Littlewood, stop! Please, just stop!”
The woman hums affirmatively.
“Good! I was pretty certain, but it's always best to be sure, right?”
Martyn yelps again as she grabs him by his collar and pulls him to his feet.
“Now, are you going to behave yourself and do as I say?”
Martyn nods hesitantly, eyes wide. She pats his cheek condescendingly.
“Good boy!”
Her hand grabs his wrist in an iron grip and she leads him further into the woods.
After a few moments of walking, Martyn speaks.
“Who are you?” No response.
“How did you find me?” Silence.
“Did someone send you? Because whoever I pissed off, they probably deserved it.”
“Oh good goddess, are you capable of shutting up for five minutes?” the woman snapped, turning back to glare at him. Martyn shuts up.
They walk a few paces more.
“...can I at least know your name?”
The woman sighs, still annoyed.
“Just call me Gem.”
Martyn repeated the name quietly to himself. After a bit more walking they come to a small camp.
“Sit.” Gem says, gesturing to a log. Martyn obeys.
She sits next to him and pokes at the fire, awakening the embers.
“I’m going to heat up some soup, you can have some.” Gem says, beginning the process of heating the soup and serving it in two bowls. Martyn looks down at the bowl she casually hands him in disbelief.
“I am… so confused by you. Why are you being nice to me after basically kidnapping me?” Martyn asks, slightly incredulous.
Gem looks at him, spoon pausing at her mouth. She swallows the soup and then speaks.
“Well, because I’m meant to bring you back alive. I'm not really used to doing that, so I'm sorry if I don't know how to act.” she explains. “It's gonna be super inconvenient if you like, struggle, so can you not do that?”
Martyn blinked at her.
“What?”
She begins explaining again but Martyn cuts her off.
“No, I heard you, but what!? Do you seriously expect me to cooperate while you, what, lead me to my death?!”
“Well, I don't know if they want you dead- well actually they did seem pretty upset…” Gem rests her chin in her palm and hums.
“You super pissed them off, man, I don't know what to tell you. They said something about you murdering their son and stealing his clothes? Kinda messed up dude, even for me and I've killed, like, way too many people.”
Martyn stilled.
“Wait, that's who sent you?” he said in disbelief. “ I was sure it was one of the dozens of other guys in the Capital I've scammed or otherwise annoyed. I didn't even mean to kill that one! I just needed a disguise and the idiot resisted way too hard!”
“Oh goddess forbid a guy fights back while you literally steal the clothes off his back.” Gem deadpans, obviously not impressed.
Martyn scoffs. “Well he obviously has- well had- the money to just buy more!”
Gem… giggles? Martyn wasn't expecting that kind of noise to come from her.
“You’re fun. I almost feel bad I have to bring you to your death.”
“I… thank you? I think?”
“Your soup’s getting cold.” Gem says as she finishes her own bowl.
Martyn looks down at the bowl, takes the spoon and begins to eat.
“Oh wow, this is good!” He's trying to stay in her good books, but Gem's eyes narrow. The soup is not that good, and she knows it.
Gem watches him eat. Martyn finds it a little unnerving, those big, green eyes watching him, taking in every detail. He feels the familiar urge to make some kind of quip or one-liner, but Gem's face has lost that easy smile. She feels like a different person than a few moments ago.
Martyn swallows, both the soup and the lump forming in his throat.
“Is everything ok?”
Gem nods stiffly. “Yes. I just remembered that I'm not meant to get attached, that's all. You're making it very hard by being likeable, but I guess I should've expected that. You are known for your silver tongue after all.”
Martyn's face falls. “I- Wait- I’m being honest when I say I wasn't trying to trick you or anything-!”
Gem hums. “I was going to stay here for the night, but the sooner we get going the better.”
“Get going? Wait, we cant-!”
“Yeah yeah, you don't wanna die blah blah blah, save it. I've heard it all before.”
“No, I mean we literally cannot leave, there's like a magical barrier? Thingy?”
Gem stares at him.
“Uh huh.”
“I’m being serious!”
“Sure thing bud.”
She doesn't listen to any more of his protests, packing up her small camp and grabbing his wrist in her steel grip once again and beginning to pull him deeper into the wood. This time he tries to pull away.
Gems eyes blaze, and she easily overpowers him, pinning him underneath her on the forest floor.
“Do I need to tie you up?”
“Gem, listen to me. I have tried to leave, so has everyone in town-” Martyn's eyes widen. “The town! Surely they're wondering where I am by now!”
The sun had just dipped below the horizon and the red moon was beginning its ascent across the sky.
“We’ll be long gone before they can organise any kind of search party for you.” Gem said, pulling some rope from her pack.
“Gem- You know what, you’ll see.” Martyn lets her tie his wrists together. She pulls him up, and he stumbles slightly. She doesn't seem to care, dragging him along behind her by his bound wrists.
Gem follows the trail she left on her way in, the small scratches on the tree bark leading her. Right as they are about to exit the treeline she collides with… something.
“What…” she mumbles.
She reaches a hand out and comes into contact with a wall that's not there.
“I told you-”
“Shut up.” Gem snaps. She lets go of Martyn's wrists for a moment to touch the wall with both hands. It's solid. She pushes. It doesn't give.
“That is so weird...” she says, mostly to herself.
She picks up a rock and throws it. It flies to the other side with no resistance. Martyn watches as she does this, realising at once that this is his opportunity to run.
He takes one careful step back.
She doesn't notice.
He takes another.
And another.
He finally turns to make a run for it and crashes into a low hanging branch.
Martyn groans as he's knocked off his feet. Gem turns around and stares at him as he tries to stand.
“My goodness… you are pathetic.” she says, a little bit of shock in her voice.
“That's so rude!”
“Well it's true.”
Gem then groans, hands covering her face.
“Ok… ok….ok!” she claps once and looks around to Martyn, a slightly manic look in her eyes. She begins to pace back and forth, like an animal in a cage.
“So we’re stuck here! Cool! Awesome! Fine! This is all soooo fine.”
Martyn watches her pace.
“Yeah, you sound fine to me.”
“I am so fine! This is not affecting me in any negative way whatsoever!” she suddenly crouches, hands over her head and lets out a high pitched whine.
“How am I going to get my money now…” she says sadly.
“...the money from turning me in?” Martyn asks tentatively.
“Yeah… it was so much… I was going to buy a new sword…” she sniffs.
“I’m… sorry about that?” Martyn tries to comfort, but it feels a little bit weird, all things considered. “We are trying to figure out how to leave, so how about a truce? Maybe I can bring you back to the town…?”
Gem looks over at him. “...sure. Can't really do anything else…”
Martyn holds out his still bound wrists. “Uh… think you can…?”
Gem blinks. “...oh! Yeah sure! Sorry… I forgot I did that.”
She unties him quickly, winding the rope into a loop and tucking it back into her pack.
Martyn rubs his wrists. They weren't tied long, but it still hurt, especially with how roughly she was dragging him. “Thanks… Alright, I think we need to think of a cover story.”
“Cover story?”
“Yeah, you know, a reason why we know each other. I might be naturally talented at acting and improv but I don't think you share my talents.”
“Rude. But you're not wrong. Ok. What's our ‘cover’ story? " She puts physical quotes around the word cover.
Martyn hums, thinking. “Hmm, well my cover right now is that my rich father left me behind after I slept outside the carriage…maybe… ooo maybe you can be my bodyguard that he sent to find me!” Martyn claps. “It's perfect, I am a genius!”
Gem narrows her eyes with a sly grin. “Are you sure you don't just want me to protect you?”
Martyn splutters. “Ah well, you see- um-”
Gem giggles again. “It's ok, I need to keep you alive anyway.”
Martyn deflates a little. “Right, so you can get your money.”
“Yep! Mama needs a new sword, Martyn.”
Martyn groans. “Oh by the way, my name is Martyn Woodhurst here.”
Gem stares at him. “Thats the best fake name your natural improv talents could come up with?”
Martyn flushes. “Sh-shut up, I was under immense pressure, ok?!”
“If you say so…” Gem says teasingly.
The two begin their walk back towards Oakhurst, the red moon illuminating their path.