Chapter 12: Bridge Toll Troll

They left the town in high spirits after Lily had convinced him that skipping was the most efficient form of movement. It had been ridiculous to see this knight jump through the streets holding her hand and it had been even more fun.

Even as they skipped together, Lily could swear the ground was shaking beneath her. And yet he didn’t seem to struggle, in fact he seemed to be even lighter then Lily. Lily smiled; she had been smiling so much ever since they’d gotten closer. She wondered if he noticed.

‘Do you normally travel like this?’ he asked, her as they both flew in the air.

‘Yup!’ she said, trying her hardest to jump higher then him. It didn’t work but she enjoyed the feeling.

‘I can see why.’ His sword rustled violently against his hip like it was going to fly off. But it didn’t.

‘Are you having fun?’ She looked him deep in the eyes, the pitch black in his visor comforting her. She was learning to read him through it. Even if there was nothing there.

‘I am.’ He stared back at her, she wondered what kind of look he hid behind that helmet for the thousandth time.

‘Well, I can’t tell that!’ she laughed at him. He breathed; he’d found it funny too.

‘Soon, soon.’ he promised, ‘Don’t expect anything particularly amazing though.’

Her heart raced. Seeing his face for the first time? Could she handle that? Was he handsome? Scarred? Were his lips full or were they thin? She had so many questions. She wondered if all of them would be answered fully.

It was hard to hide the fact that she was stunned. He must have realised it too because he changed their conversation quickly.

‘Will we be sleeping under the skies tonight?’ he asked her. They both knew the answer but she played along.

‘Depends…’

‘On?’ he laughed.

‘If you care to build us a small house.’ She answered.

‘Unfortunately, I’m no carpenter.’

‘A house is like a piece of armour you live in,’ she spoke as though she knew everything about houses and armour, she knew neither, ‘I’m sure that’s enough for you to go off of and build me one.’

He chuckled.

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They’d stopped skipping together, Lily had run out of breath trying to keep up with Thorne. He had taken the efficiency she had partially lied about and doubled the distance that they should’ve taken.

Now they walked, side by side. Lily had already lost the confidence she’d had the other day; she was too nervous to grab at his hand again. But that didn’t mean she didn’t really want to.

Maybe she should just go ahead and…

The thought broke off as she saw they were approaching the bridge. She doubted Thorne knew about it; this was a part of her shortcut. But of course, shortcuts are never without their costs.

‘Thorne, whatever you do, don’t overreact,’ she said, digging in her pockets for her money purse. She found it, holding it tightly.

‘What are you talking about?’ he looked curiously at her, tilting his head.

‘Oh, you’ll see,’ she grimaced.

They got closer to the bridge. Lily saw a familiar green hand grab against the edge of the bridge. It swung over, towering at nearly triple their heights. Long, sickly-looking nails that hadn’t been trimmed properly and hair with bits of trinkets tangled in it.

‘Charles!’ she said, beaming.

Charles the toll troll smiled back at her, revealing a set of gnarly, wretched teeth. But they weren’t the kind of teeth that ate regular meat, no, this was a vegetarian troll. Which meant he primarily ate vegetarians.

‘I take it you have the usual tax,’ he said, holding out a calloused hand to her.

‘Course I do,’ She dropped the coins into his palms, they were so tiny compared to him. Lily didn’t want to know where he kept them all. She also didn’t want to know.

‘Off you go then, m’lady,’ Charles gave another toothy grin, ‘You and your betrothed I take it?’

Lily shook her head but winked at him.

The troll disappeared just as he’d came, under the bridge.

She turned back to look at Thorne and wished now, more than ever that she could see the expression on his face.

‘That was something,’ was all he had to say. She wondered if he was gaping. That would’ve been hilarious.

‘Something is an understatement,’ she giggled, ‘Now come on, we shouldn’t wait too long.’

‘Or you’ll have to pay another toll?’ Thorne asked, caught in-between a joke and a genuine question.

‘Or I’ll have to pay another toll.’ Lily gave him a half-hearted serious look before they ran across the bridge.

It wasn’t any old bridge; it had been well-kept by Charles. The stone had been laid fresh in some parts, some partially beautiful attempts at stone work had been done here and there. And the bridge was big, Lily guessed that it was wide enough to carry sixteen wagons side by side. Even though it hadn’t seen much use these days, it still served its purpose. After all, it’s not like rivers got any thinner.

When they’d gotten over the bridge, Lily was finally completely out of breath. And, like always, she had a bright idea.

‘Carry me.’

‘Hm,’ Thorne said, surprised but unopposed to the idea, ‘That’s- sure?’

‘Like you did back at Lustern,’ she chuckled, ‘But this time I’ll be happier, I promise.’

‘Alright.’ He took her in his arms again, and she felt like a kid all over again. But a happier kid.

‘Now run!’ she ordered, and he obliged much to her surprise.

She felt the wind rush in her face as he ran. He was so fast, too fast. Lily didn’t understand where all this extra energy had come from, he’d been so slow before.

‘Thorne!’ she screamed as they covered even more distance then before, ‘Since when- could you run like this!?’

‘Since today,’ he guessed as they passed where Lily had planned for them to rest, ‘I guess it’s thanks to all the rest I’ve gotten since meeting you.’

‘What in the world were you doing before you met me!?’ she yelled but she didn’t care. She just enjoyed the moment in his arms.

What a strange man.