Hidden - part 6

Hi! Thanks for visiting my blog :) This is part six of a little story I'm writing. For anyone who is new here, I would recommend you start at part one and work your way through. Happy reading!

"All settled in?" Breg asks, sticking his head into our tent.
"Yes, we're fine, thanks," Andrew says. I look up a minute too late, and Breg has already left.
"Are you ok?" Andrew asks me, turning my head so that he is looking into my eyes.
"I'm fine," I say, not meeting his gaze. I keep wracking my brains, trying to think of a solution, but I don't see any. The nomadic life that all wizards have to live is already wearing on Andrew - I can see it in his eyes. He can't keep going like this for years, always looking over his shoulder, watching for the king's men, come to kill all traces of magic.
I can't watch anything destroy the man I love. I brought him here to save him. Now, I need to find a way to keep him.
"Megs, what's wrong?"
"Nothing," I mumble. He doesn't look away. I try not to meet his gaze, but eventually my eyes are drawn up to his. There's not point trying to keep secrets from Andrew. "This doesn't suit you," I say finally. "You can't keep running your whole life. I know you. You need a home, not a series of camps."
"I'll be fine," Andrew says. "Really, Megan, don't worry about me. I know we need to stay ahead of the king's men if we want to survive. I will do what is necessary."
Far from reassuring me, his words only heighten my sense of alarm. His voice sounds so weary. How long before weariness starts to wear him down? Constant fear can do a lot to a person if they don't know how to deal with it. Most people here to alright, but I've seen the back vans - people with vacant expressions, herded along by the others, those who can't cope with the ever changing situation and the fear that comes with it.
How long do I have before I lose Andrew to that? If I know anything, it is that I won't survive losing him. I need to find us a safe place before it's too late. I lie back on the bed, thinking. If we went off on our own, we'd be harder to find, but when they did find us - which they would, eventually - we'd have no chance of escape.
No, sticking with the group is really the only option. Then we need to find a place for all of us that is hidden enough to hide us forever, so that we can finally be safe. Of course, the others will have thought of that; if they haven't found such a place in all these years, I doubt I will.
"Tell me what you're thinking," Andrew coaxes softly, but I turn my face away. He will only try to reassure me more. I don't need reassurances; I need a solution, and right now, I don't have one.
"Come on, you should train," I say, making an effort to shake off the gloom that surrounds me.
"We've had a long ride to get here; I'm sure they'll give us the day off," Andrew says.
"Don't be lazy," I chide, swatting him playfully on the arm. "I didn't drag you through miles of forest to get here and have you slack off!"
Catching on to my light hearted tone, Andrew laughs and ducks out from under the tent flap. I follow and find Breg waiting. Apparently, I am not the only one who still expects a full day's training.
I sit against a tree and watch as Breg takes Andrew through various exercises in magic, working on everything from power to control. After about half an hour, Andrew takes Breg's arm and turns him so that they are facing away while Andrew whispers something in his ear.
I frown, wondering what they are up to. Breg nods and proceeds to instruct Andrew in a hushed voice, so that I can't hear. Before I can get up to ask what's going on, Andrew nods and comes over to sit beside me. "What was that about?" I ask.
Andrew doesn't answer, his eyes closed, focusing hard on something.
"Andrew, what - "
I break off as the strangest feeling sweeps through me. It's as though all of the dark cobwebs in my mind are being swept away by a bright ray of sunlight. The gloom that has had me ever since I realised that this camp is not a long term solution for Andrew vanishes. In an instant, I feel... happy. Amazingly happy.
Andrew's eyes are open and he's grinning at me. "I can see that worked."
"What did you do?" I giggle, not even alarmed, my heart is so  light.
"Happiness spell," Andrew says. "It's not permanent, but I could tell that you needed it."
I lean forward and kiss him. "You're right. Thank you."
As we walk back to the tent a few hours later, though I know I should feel worried and upset, all I can feel is confident. This will work out, somehow. We will find a place that is truly hidden, that the king's men can never find. I fall asleep in Andrew's arms thinking about it.
The dream creeps up on me.
For a while, I am just gazing blankly at the horizon, not really aware of what I am seeing. By the time I realise, the king's men are close; much too close. There is not time to break camp and move on - they will be on us in minutes. We'll have to hide or fight.
I glance over at Andrew. He is sleeping peacefully. I don't want him to have to awake to a bloody battle. I raise my arms, imagining a shining bubble, a dome covering our whole campsite, hiding us from the soldiers. As sometimes happens in dreams, what I imagine comes to life and a clear dome shimmers above us.
I giggle as the king's men come to a bewildered stop, looking all around for us. My task completed, I lie down next to Andrew, finally safe.
"Megs, wake up," Andrew says urgently, shaking my shoulder. "There's something wrong."
I sit up abruptly and know at once that the calming effects of the happiness spell have worn off. Fear sings through me as I hear people shouting outside.
"Where could they have gone?"
"I don't know, but they were right here!"
"Well obviously they aren't anymore!"
"Ouch! What is that?"
The angry voices get further and further away, but the tense, worried atmosphere that suddenly pervades the whole camp does not. I exchange a glance with Andrew.
Something is terribly wrong.

To be continued.