Breathe

                                    

                                          
It was a long walk back to the small town of Arcadia Oaks.
A long, dark walk.
It was quiet for the most part, and Maia stayed back with Douxie and Archie while the others led the way. Judging from Douxie's expression, he seemed more than upset with staying put. 
"It's for your own good," Maia mumbled, more to herself than to him. 
"The Arcane Order can find us here," he snapped. "I don't want to put you in danger, Maia!"
"Likewise, my wizard," she said. "You'll injure yourself further if you leave now."
"Maia—" He stumbled on a twig and cursed quietly, grabbing Maia's arm for support. "I'm not putting you in danger like this, Maia."
"This isn't up for debate. You're going to rest and then we'll head off."
"We?"
"We can go to my place," Jim interrupted, turning and walking backwards. "You'll be alright with that?"
"Who?" Maia asked.
"You. I assume Douxie won't be staying long."
"Which I won't be," Douxie chimed in.
"Then of course, Trollhunter." She shrugged. "Can't be so different from the castle."
"Princess, it's very different from the castle," Archie said.
"How so?"
"Well, for one..."
~ • ~
"Whoever came up with...refrigerators—" She glanced back at Jim to see if she'd pronounced it right, and grinned when he nodded— "I bloody love them." Maia peered at the machine curiously, prying the door open only to close it again. "But...how do you know if the light is off when it closes?"
"What is it with people's fascination about fridges," Jim muttered, helping Douxie to the couch. "Right, you two settle in, I'll go see if my Mum is home."
Maia settled next to Douxie on the couch and took his face in her hands, inspecting him closely for any serious injuries. "How do you feel? Does anything hurt?"
"Stop fussing," he said, nudging her hands away. "I'm fine, I promise."
"No, you're not." She rubbed a finger over a cut on his cheek. "You need to stop being so reckless. Nine hundred years and nothing has changed."
"I've changed," he protested.
"Mmm, no. You're still as reckless as ever." She shook her head and kissed his cheek gently. "We can head out tomorrow."
"No, no, no," he said. "No, you can't come with me."
"Sorry?"
"It's too dangerous, Maia, you..." He sighed. "You have to stay here."
"What? No! I'm coming with you, you can't just...You're not leaving me here! You can't leave me here."
Archie flew in and settled in Douxie's lap. "You have to understand, Princess. With the Order coming after us, it's already very dangerous."
"I can't be worrying about Nari and you," Douxie said, wincing as he moved his arm. 
Maia scowled at him. The nerve! "Are you implying that I can't look after myself, Hisirdoux?"
The wizard paled. "Uh, n-no, that's not—"
Jim walked back into the room with a ginger-haired woman and a troll-looking creature. "I'm back! Maia, this is my mother, Barbara, and...uh, my former teacher, Strickler."
"Please, call me Walt," the troll said with something of a bow. "It's my honour, Your Highness."
"Uh...how do you know me?"
"I've been around since ancient times, I know more than you think."
Maia shot Douxie a look, then got up and glanced at Barbara. "Jim told me you were a healer?"
"A doctor," she corrected, her gaze straying to Douxie. "I'll have a look."
"Honestly, Dr Lake, I'm fine," Douxie said. "Really—"
"Don't take anything he says as true," Maia said, giving him a look. "He's a liar and is clearly in pain."
"Maia!" Douxie exclaimed.
"When she is done, I expect you to be resting," she said. "That and nothing else, clear?"
"You can't keep bossing me around, we're not in—" He cut himself off, but Maia already knew what he was going to say.
We're not in Camelot anymore.
Of that, she was painfully aware.
"I'll make sure he gets his rest," Barbara assured her gently.
"Did you want to get something to eat?" Jim offered. "We can swing by the diner? It should still be open."
"Nari's with Toby..." Maia said hesitantly, reorganising her thoughts. There was maybe a bit too much input for her to multitask. "Will they be alright?"
"For now, yeah." Jim pointed to the door. "They're just across the road, so if you want to check on them, we can."
"And the others are safe?"
"Of course. Unless the Order decides to crash the party any time soon, the worst we'll have to deal with is raccoons and maybe the rogue goblin."
"Party? What party?"
"Uh...yeah, never mind." Jim gave her a sheepish smile. "Figure of speech...sorta."
"You don't have to stay," Archie said, flying over to her and hovering just near her shoulders. "If you want to explore, you should. It's your freedom."
Maia glanced back at Douxie again and shook her head. "I'd like to stay here, if that's alright?"
"Of course it is," Strickler said. 
"I'll make some dinner for us," Jim said. "Uh...is there anything you can't eat?"
Maia shrugged. "I don't think so."
"She doesn't like olives," Douxie chimed in.
Maia gave him a surprised look. How does he remember that?
"Cool. Cool, cool. Something with no olives, coming up."
He walked away and dragged Strickler with him, while Maia lingered beside Barbara who was still checking Douie for injuries.
A few minutes later, Barbara turned to Maia and pointed to a bag hanging over the stair railings. "I have a first-aid kit in there, could you get it for me?"
Maia didn't know what she was talking about, but nodded anyway, walking over to the bag and looking through the contents for a moment, before glancing back. Archie sighed and flew over to her, pointing out the smaller red bag inside. 
"Will he be okay?" she asked, handing the kit to Barbara and watching Douxie wince as sat up straighter. 
"You worry too much, love," he replied. "I'll be fine."
Barbara sighed. "If you weren't in such a rush to leave, I'd recommend resting a day or two. You're gonna feel sore for a while."
"Nothing I can't handle." He ran a hand down his face and then tilted his head to the ceiling. "Though...do you have any painkillers? My back is killing me."
"Unbelievable," Maia mumbled. "You are unbelievable, Doux."
"I can still hear you, you know."