The Guard at the Window (Laurance x Reader)

ii. The Journey Through the Woods

You heard something click against the stone wall. Your breath hitched. Your hand tightened around Laurance's as you froze and pulled him closer.

"I'm right here." Laurance's voice cut through the darkness like a small light, however dim it may have been. His hand kept a tight hold of yours while you felt the other brush against your shoulder. Even though he couldn't see you, you nodded and took a deep breath.

The tunnel seemed to take hours to travel through, just as it did in your memory. However, when you emerged on the other side the sun was still shining high noon. Was the never ending depth of darkness all in your head?

When your bare feet touched the soft grass beyond the tunnel it was like whatever was holding you tight let go. It wasn't so hard to breathe anymore and your hold on Laurance's hand loosened until your fingers slipped out of his.

You looked around in silent awe. There were so many trees. Golden rays of sun filtered through the leaves, creating a warmth beneath the canopy above you where the light shone. Birds were chirping and in the distance you swore you heard living water flowing through a creek. The air was fresh—much fresher than it had ever been in your tower. There was a crisp coldness to the atmosphere that made the hairs on your arm stand, but you relished in the feeling.

Laurance watched as you took in the world around you. He kept his distance as you admired the beauty of nature, but stayed close enough that he could protect you should anything happen.

You smiled. You never thought you would escape the confines of your tower, and that thought had only been solidified after your mother shot down your request to leave. But here you were, dewy grass beneath your feet and the towering trees just an arms length away from your fingertips.

Your joy made Laurance's own lips curl up. When you turned back to look at him, the dopey grin across his face made you chuckle.

"What?" you asked.

Laurance shook his head. "What do you mean what?"

"You keep looking at me."

Laurance playfully scoffed. "Am I not allowed to do that?"

"Well . . . Yes, but you have a certain look when you do."

He raised a brow. "Do I?" You nodded. "What look is it?

"It's—" You cut yourself off, trying to curl your lips in the same soft way as his. Laurance chuckled. "No. Okay, no. It's more like—" You tried twisting your lips again, this time raising your eyebrows ever so slightly.

Laurance laughed louder, covering his mouth in a poor attempt to stifle it. You huffed. "Okay, I don't know! But you're looking at me like that and it's . . . weird."

"Would you like me to stop looking at you?"

"I . . ." You trailed off. Did you really want that? "Yes."

"Alright, then I'll stop looking at you."

You nodded. The two of you held eye contact for a moment before you turned and looked behind you.

The forest was dense, but there was still space to frolick through it freely. The density of the trees didn't seem intimidating, no. Instead, there was an inviting light, one that beckoned you to travel further. Flowers bloomed across the forest floor, the ones that were on vines climbing up the tree trunks and dangling off the branches and leaves.

You were in awe.

"So where are we going?" you asked. You watched as a bird pecked at a branch.

"Well, I need to find my Lord and companions. As I told you earlier, we were unexpectedly separated." You heard the grass ruffle beneath Laurance's feet as he approached you, stopping at your side. "You're still free to go with me. Or you can do as you please and venture on your own."