Ayce nodded. "Okay." He replied softly, taking Nolan's hand. He picked up the canteen again, holding it in his other hand. He shifted slightly, still wobbling a little as his muscles got used to fully bearing his own weight again. Which sounded sad, but…in Raifa, he had always been either chained or being dragged or supported by a guard. He hadn't had to stand on his own in a long time.
Nolan kept a tight grip on Ayce, not because he was afraid he would run, but to help support him. "You're doing great." He smiled. He slowly started to step towards the entrance. He watched Ayce, going as slow as he needed too.
Ayce kept pace with him carefully, looking down at his feet so that he wouldn't trip. "Thank you." He said softly. He held tightly to Nolan, still trying not to fall as he walked. Why now? Was the question that still swirled around in his brain. Why get me out now instead of 100 years ago when I first went in?
"Of course." Nolan offered him a small smile. He held open the fron door for him, letting it close behind him. "Our first stop is going to be a town. We'll get you some proper clothes and restock our supplies." He explained, walking slowly beside Ayce.
Ayce nodded. "Okay." He said softly. His eyes flicked to Nolan, and he hesitated. "I-I need to…wash off, too…" He said slowly, looking back down at his feet to make sure he didn't trip and fall and tear open the still healing wounds. "And…do something about my hair…"
"We'll take care of all of that. I promise." Nolan said with a small smile. "Once we get there, we'll get a room and a bath. Get something warm to eat. Then we'll get supplies."
Ayce nodded. "Okay." He said softly, following Nolan's lead and gripping tightly to him. He stumbled slightly, nearly falling. Take forever this'll take so long and then…and… His thoughts were a jumble.
Nolan helped steady him. "I got you. Take it slow. I don't want you to hurt yourself." He pulled Ayce closer to his body. He didn't want anything to happen to the fae.
Ayce looked at him, and nodded. "Okay." He said softly, holding onto Nolan. He kept his focus on the ground to watch where he was going.
Nolan was a little irritated about how slow they were going but he didn't let it show. It wasn't Ayce's fault. And it would probably take hik a long tine to feel confortable on his feet. The best thing Nolan could do was help him through it
Ayce walked as fast as he could, but he was weak from the years in the dungeon. He knew that, and felt guilty for slowing Nolan down like this. His legs also hurt quite a lot due to injuries on his thighs, but he had already decided he wasn't going to say anything.
Nolan kept his eye on Ayce the entire time they walked. He wanted to make sure nothing was going to happen. "What do you perfer, sunset or sunrise?" He asked
"Sunset." Ayce said softly. He glanced at Nolan. "You?" He sucked his upper lip between his teeth for a moment, then released it with a soft sigh.
"Sunrise. It reminds me thats it's a new day, a new beginning. Anything can happen." Nolan smiled. He loved to watch the sunrise in the mornings during training.
Ayce nodded slightly. He looked down at his feet still, trying not to trip and fall. How much farther? He wondered. But he wasn't going to ask. He knew he was the reason they were traveling so slow.
"Have you ever wanted a pet?" Nolan kept talking to keep Ayce distracted form walking. "I always have. I'm not sure what kind of pet I want though. Dogs seem like fun, maybe a cat. Then again birds can always be useful if they're trained to carry messages. Maybe a lizard, just because they're cool."
Ayce glanced up at him. "I…had a cat once. Before…" His eyes slid away. "I don't know what happened to it." Before the dungeons, he meant. Before Raifa. But he couldn't bring himself to say it.
Nolan smiled and nodded. "We'll get you a whole army of cats when we get back, how does that sound?" He asked. "And whatever else you want. Name it and I'll make sure you get it."
Ayce looked at him, eyes confused. "Why?" He asked softly. "Why are you doing…any of this?" He looked down at the ground. "I don't understand…" He mumbled something to himself. The stars stand alone the stars dont need support or help so why do you?
(bump?)
"Becuase you deserve all the kindness of the world. Not what you went through. No one deserves that. I want to try and right the wrong that has been done against you." Nolan looked down at him. "I would like to see you smile again."
"Oh." Ayce replied faintly. "Thank you…" He stumbled slightly, and leaned against Nolan a bit as he caught his footing. Killed her he probably killed her because I wouldn't listen i wouldn't listen so i got thrown away and she got killed. He thought. The "he" wasn't Nolan, obviously, but someone else.
Nolan held Ayce close to his side as the other caught his footing. "You don't need to thank me, just get better." He said. They didn't get as far as he was hoping. It eventually got too dark to continue. He set up camp, starting a small fire.
Ayce sat down on the ground when they stopped, knees pulled to his chest again. He didn't know if there was some way he could help. If he could. He didn't have the strength to do much. And especially not after walking all day, he didn't have much energy to spare.
Nolan moved to the fae's side once he finished. "You should get some rest. We're walking again tomorrow." He placed a tentative hand on his back and caressed his skin softly.