Recent Posts

Just when Oliver was about to step between the bushes where they had first heard the rustle of the leaves, another sound came from above them. And before he could react to see what might have caused the noise, another one issued from the other side, completely opposite the one where they were standing in. That's bizarre, Oliver thought even as he backed off from his spot and ran towards the source of the new sound, bow and arrow still at the ready in his hand albeit lowered to avoid any untoward accidents.

If Oliver hadn't been a seasoned hunter, he wouldn't have suspected a thing. But then, the young prince knew the Mercian forest like the back of his hand, and the consecutive noises that was distracting them from their hunt was too well-coordinated to be random spurts of animal movements. This part of the jungle didn't have a lot of small animals that would make such noise and immediately disappear out of sight just like that. Still, Oliver didn't know what it might be. If it was another hunting party playing with them, they would have known about it or have at least heard the raucous. But no, there were no other hunters in the forest today except them.

“Perhaps there is more than one?”

"Perhaps," Oliver replied halfheartedly, his mind still churning the possibilities and probabilities of what was really going on. "Keep your eyes and ears open. I don't think we're alone," he told Jeffrey and Lot as he started surveying the area around them. Starting from the source of the last noise, Oliver reached out and parted the bushes, inspecting the area for any signs of disturbance. No, the thought of catching the stag wasn't taking a back seat. Oliver was still hopeful they could find and snag the elusive animal. It's just that something else was nagging at the back of his mind, something that got his instincts kicking in high gear. Interestingly enough, it wasn't the bad kind of alert. It was actually making Oliver feel rather excited and curious. The feeling he usually gets when he's about to snag himself a nice and big catch. "Check the entire area out!" he called out to his Jeffrey and Lot before disappearing behind a clump of bushes.



ooc: so sorry this took forever.

"Those are quite big shoes to fill," Oliver remarked as he listened to her outline her supposedly duties and responsibilities around the school. If he didn't know any better, her uncle probably just took her in and find her something that would keep her busy while she was under the school's roof. What brought her here though was another matter that Oliver was only now just starting to think about. Sir Kaye hadn't exactly mentioned having a beautiful niece before or in any of their correspondence leading to this day. Where did she come from? And will she be staying and working here for good? Oliver was suddenly dying to know. So when she said something about having already learned all these things before, Oliver couldn't help but seize the opportunity. "You're quite adept at what you do, guest and student relations and such. Did you study it back at university?" he asked as matter-of-factly as he could, trying to mask his growing curiosity.

His eyebrows shot in mixed confusion and amusement when Yassia let out another foreign string of words that made Oliver wish he knew that language. Her mother tongue, it was clear to see now, was not English. Knowing what language she was speaking would definitely help narrow down his guesses as to where she really came from. "May I ask what it means then?" He couldn't help himself. He should just as easily shrug it off, but somehow he wanted to know, wanted to endear himself to her as much as he possibly could with what little time they were given.

He followed her into her office as she invited him in, and proceeded to walk towards a nearby window. He looked out at the winter wonderland outside and couldn't help but wish for a snow storm that could trap him inside the school for an indefinite period of time. But he was bolted out of his little reverie when she spoke a tad bit derisively in response to his earlier remark. He couldn't really blame her. He practically ran her over and didn't even stay long to at least apologize. "I hadn't meant to run, believe me. I stayed for as long as I could, but you were unconscious for quite a while. I had to leave the country for some important affairs overseas." Of course, she was already discharged from the hospital when he had returned from his trip. His friends only got her name, and Oliver had clung to that name as closely as he could. He never really expected to see her again, so this was all a very welcome surprise, one that he was still quite elated to be experiencing right now. "I'm really sorry. You disappeared as soon as you left the hospital. I tried to find you, but I realized that maybe you didn't want to be found...by me, no less."

Belatedly feeling the wetness of the hot chocolate down his back again, he gestured at his shirt and made a rather sheepish smile at Yassia. Then after assuming that she had understood what he meant, he proceeded to unbutton his shirt. Crazy, but it didn't occur to him at all to turn his back from her or something as he started to take his shirt off. Not that he was doing it on purpose, everything that had happened today was quite surreal than they already are, and Oliver felt like his head was just in the clouds, floating, not taking hold, just enjoying this wonderful moment with Yassia.

Yassia's light and mischievous behavior now was quite a pleasant surprise to Oliver. He had seen glimpses of this playful side of hers in their first encounter and even in their little outings thereafter. But to find them all boldly directed at him now with such bravado and coquetry, it was overwhelming in a delightful way. Only a fool would not want to be overwhelmed like this every second of every day. And somehow the thought made him even more excited to starting anew with Yassia. It made him unbelievably giddy like a child that he still couldn't believe that this wasn't all but a dream, that this was, in fact, reality. He managed a chuckle when she only affirmed his statement about being a prick back in Camelot. "Nor will I," he responded, making the same promise of never lying to her again himself. Too much lies had drove them apart, and Oliver was not going to let that happen again. Never. "Well, I wouldn't mind sharing accountability, not when I'm sharing it with you," he added as he leaned down and planted a soft peck on the tip of her nose.

“It went that far north…”

A quizzical look appeared on Oliver's face at Yassia's whispered words, and he looked with undisguised bemusement at the play of emotions on her face. He couldn't help but wonder what must be running inside that pretty little head of hers. It took quite a while, and Oliver wasn't sure if it was a good thing or not this silence that she had momentarily lapsed into. He wondered what it was about his shooting star that had her stumped like that.

And then she told him her story--of her father breathing his last two years ago, during the harvest month, during the same time he wished on his shooting star; of her life changing with his because he wished for it; of him making all of this happen. Oliver wasn't quite sure what to feel. Oh, he believed her right then and there all right. He had known now not to doubt Yassia for one bit when it comes to the stars. But to wrap his mind around the circumstances, around the fact, that was still taking quite a bit of work in his mind. Did he really make this all happen? That it was his wish that made the difference for both of their lives that night? He was at a loss for words, to be honest. Clearly, he was very happy to have the stars bless their fates, but he also felt rather sad that it had to remind her of the day her father had left this world. "I'm sorry, I didn't meant to bring up the memory of your father's death," he apologized. He realized that those events that brought with them the shooting star may have been very sad, but they had also brought about this insane kind of happiness now that neither Oliver nor Yassia could hardly contain. After the storm really does come a beautiful rainbow. "But I'm glad that that star brought me to you, and you to me."

But trust the universe to throw in one more wrench into the already perfectly running mill. It seemed the test for Oliver and Yassia to prove their love to each other and to the world was not over yet. Oh, bring them on, Oliver would definitely say. Didn't he just promise to go through everything not to have Yassia taken away from him again? "Now, Edmund, there's no need to resort to violence. We can explain..," Oliver said taking his cue from Yassia. So it seemed that Yassia had left her refusal to Edmund's proposal in a letter so she could leave unnoticed. Quite a wise and cunning princess his lady was, Oliver couldn't help but think smugly. He would do exactly the same if he were in her place, steal away in the night. But then of course, the sight of the ugly menacing dagger in Edmund's hand was no joking matter and shouldn't be taken lightly.

"I've heard more than enough to know that you, two, have been playing me for a fool!" Edmund spat out as he advanced towards them. "Not just me, the entire Kingdom of Mercia!"

Oliver stepped back without stepping away from Yassia, fully shielding her from Edmund. "Edmund, Yassia is that woman, that nomad woman I have been telling you about."

"And why did neither of you tell me this before? You were enjoying yourselves playing this game, taking all of us for idiots with your playacting and drama!" he lashed out as he pointed the dagger at Oliver. There was so much anger and betrayal in Edmund's voice and eyes that Oliver almost felt for the pain his brother was suffering, almost forgot about the dagger that was but a few inches away from his face.

"Put down the dagger, Edmund, and let's talk. This is all my fault. Leave Yassia out of this," Oliver implored his brother yet again, while his one hand started to push Yassia farther away from him, away from Edmund and his dagger.

"Enough lies, you ungrateful bastard! You are still a good-for-nothing rebel who brought nothing but shame to this kingdom, to this family! I should have made sure my sword pierced your heart the first time I had the chance!" And before anybody else could move, Edmund lunged with the dagger towards Oliver.

“Then you have just made me the happiest woman alive.”

"Oh, I'm not even done with you yet, woman." Oliver couldn't help but tease now that all the insane tension of the moment had passed. Her kiss, the way she responded to him was more than Oliver could ever ask for. He had not realized how terribly and desperately he missed and craved for her touch until now. To have her respond so openly and eagerly to his touch was the most wonderful thing to have ever happened to him since they had parted ways in the Forest of Balor. He was just so unbelievably happy right now that he knew nothing would destroy this day...and even the following days hereafter. Mercia could go to war now and Oliver wouldn't even worry because he knew with Yassia, everything will turn out better in the end. It was so amazing what love could do and how love could make you feel so many magnificent things all at one time. Not only was he joyously happy, he also felt so alive, so strong and so invincible that he could and would do anything that Yassia would ask him to. He would battle even the strongest army or hunt down the scariest beast in the forest, and he knew he would return victorious. For he had Yassia's love, he had all the armor and ammunition he needed.

When she whispered her words of love, Oliver felt it ring not just in his ears but all throughout his mind, his heart, his body, his entire being. To love and be loved as much in return was a dream he had never thought he would given. Then he remembered it, that wish he made once before when he was at his lowest of low after a rather painful break-up years ago. Pain could hardly pierce the happiness his heart was wrapped in now, but the memory of that one wish he made at a star that blazed brightly through the night skies--could this be it? Could this be the love he had heartily wished for? He had remembered that same wish when he first met Yassia, when she lay in his arms in the middle of a jungle after his arrow had wounded her. He had dismissed the wish knowing he could never be with her then. But here was Yassia now, loving him as much as he loved her back. Despite all the obstacles that they had to go through to get here, they have arrived, maybe not unscathed but not totally destroyed either.

"I have wished for this, you know," he spoke gently when they broke the kiss again. His eyes tenderly gazed at her as he reached a hand up and lovingly tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. "At a bright shooting star," he chuckled, feeling like a little kid confessing shyly to doing something to his parents. "When I first met you all grimy and ragged at the Forest of Balor, when you spoke of wanting me as much as I wanted you, I thought that was it. I thought that was all the stars would give me, and I was content. I had learned to prepare myself into being put into an arranged marriage should my father want it." There was so much to say, so much to tell her, and Oliver was just bursting with the words now. He wanted her to know everything that had happened since they had parted, wanted her to understand. "But I've never really forgotten you. I've never forgotten that feisty little nomad that had sneaked into my life and had stolen my heart all in one night. I knew I could never be with you then, but the thought that someone liked you felt just as strongly towards someone like me...it was what kept me going all these years."

Hidden fully by the darkness, Edmund listened in, seething in anger, his fist clenched tightly by his side as he watched his one and only brother and the woman he had planned to make his queen betray him. Having a hard time sleeping, Edmund had seen the letter Yassia had slipped under his door, and he had rushed as soon as he could to her chambers. When he didn't find her there, Edmund came down to the stables, but had never expected to be greeted by this scene before him. They were both players, yes, Oliver and Yassia, thinking all of this was but a petty game to them. And he thought his brother had changed! Oliver was only devising the greatest game plan of his life, to destroy him, to destroy Mercia. Hadn't he been doing that all his life? And Yassia...he had never thought her to be the kind to play along with his brother's games. Edmund had expected more of her. How wrong he was! It took all self-control not to pounce on them, but Edmund stayed hidden, wanting to get more information that would incriminate the two. Oh, there would be more than scars once Edmund had taken his revenge on Oliver and Yassia.

"Yes, it's erm...well, it's educational."

Oliver smiled at his most honored guest. He could see that Griff was not quite so taken with the cold weather up here, and for a while there Oliver felt bad for practically forcing him into having this hunt. What else was there for men to do around Mercia really. They can't play swords or shoot at an unmoving target all day long. And besides, Oliver was not really fond of swords to begin with. They also couldn't spend the whole day at the tavern, not with Griff set to get married to Caitrin and with Yassia currently in residence at the castle. The tavern almost always spell bad news even if all one did there was eat. He briefly wondered if Griff had a green thumb and if spending time with the gardeners would have been a better idea than braving the cold air out here. "There's a bow and some arrows. Let's get to work or our ladies back at home might find us useless," he teased gesturing for his servant to give Griff the extra bow and a quiver full of arrows they had brought. Oliver had only meant to tease Griff about Caitrin, yet he had inadvertently included himself and Yassia with his "our ladies" remark. He cast a furtive little glance at Griff for his reaction, wondering if he knew anything about him and Yassia. He hoped Griff would just brush off that part.

"It's Oliver," he implored Griff when the man call him 'sire'. Griff was practically a friend now, and Oliver would rather his friends call him by his name rather than some form of respect for his title. It somehow made Oliver feel like they were putting him at arm's length away when addressing him like that, and he wasn't quite comfortable with it. Now, Oliver could clearly see that Griff was being too polite to complain about the harsh Mercian weather, so he went to the bag slung over Lot's shoulders and fished out a smaller leather water bag that didn't exactly contain water. "Here's something to warm you up. I can't enjoy this excursion if you aren't enjoying it yourself," he added with a grin as he tossed the bag of wine at Griff.

Oliver had thought she felt Yassia stiffen at his touch when he had rushed to steady her, to keep her from falling when all her world seemed to be crumbling down upon her. He was afraid that she would push him away and completely close herself to him for good. He didn't know what he'd do if that ever happens. It would kill him for sure, tear his heart into pieces, and throw it out for the wolves to feast on. So he held her tight, tighter than he ever could, as if clinging onto her for dear life. He wanted to show her, make her feel that no matter what, he was not letting go, he will not let her go. He wanted her to feel that he will always be there to catch her every time she falls, he will always be her sanctuary, the one person she can come to for refuge, for shelter when the storm winds blow against her. Oliver vowed to protect her even it meant letting go of everything else in his life. What mattered now was her, only her.

When he felt her melt in his arms, clinging back, and just succumbing to his embrace, Oliver felt his heart melt as well with such gratitude and love that he wasn't quite sure if he was still alive or already high up there with the stars. This happiness that was slowly lighting up the dark recesses of his heart and mind was too unbelievable and too massive to take in all at one time. But he embraced it. He embraced it all and opened up his arms to receive this beautiful gift that he was given now. With that happiness also came an uncanny strength that grew steadily from inside him, telling him that from here on out, he knew he can battle anything, he can take on anything life throws at him, because he knew Yassia was there with him. She maybe his weakness, but she was also his strength, the reason he was alive, the reason he will continue to live with purpose and love. Suddenly, the future doesn't seem so bleak and dark now.

"I always knew that I could conquer the whole world if I only had you by my side."

No words could measure up to the wave of emotions that this brought Oliver. Hearing it from Yassia's lips was not just mere affirmation of her feelings for him, but it was also a perfect mirroring of how he felt towards her. And Oliver couldn't have been more thankful to know that she felt the same way. How have they been so blind and so stubborn to admit it all this time?

"I want you as my sword and my shield, but most of all I want you as the man at my side."

He would gladly be her sword and shield, and so much more. She need not even ask. Oliver will give it all to her, he will give all of himself to her. It was a promise he once made before, and like her, he was going to make that promise again now, only that he will make sure not to turn his back away from it again.

"I won’t let you leave ever again, you hear me?"

He nodded vigorously, eagerly, wanting so bad to hold on to the moment and not let it slip away. Oliver was already on his feet even before she could finish asking him. Boldly, he reached out and cupped her cheeks in his hands, and leaned in to capture her soft, tender lips in a warm and heartfelt kiss, pouring all his love and happiness and hope and gratitude into it. Not holding anything back, not hiding anything anymore. As bare as he could ever get, Oliver showed her all. "Never again," he whispered when he pulled back for air and rested his forehead against hers. "I will be your sword, your shield. I will be all that you want me to be, my love," he promised as he feathered a light kiss on her lips, before turning it into another passionate and heated one.

As their lips danced, Oliver's hands moved down to her shoulders, down her arms and around the small of her back to pull her even closer to him. A not-so-distant and fond memory of their first meeting flitted across Oliver's mind, and he smiled through the kiss as he felt like he and Yassia had finally come full circle, that the stars, cruel they may be, had indeed wanted them to meet, had wanted their paths to cross, no matter how improbable it had seemed. Oliver understood this now. He couldn't have appreciated Yassia then than he did now. He felt how heart-wrenching it was to have her so near and yet so far. He felt how painful it was to lose her affection, to not hear her say the words of love she had said to him once before. Knowing now that she, too, had suffered the same way, Oliver decided he was going to remedy all of that. No more heartaches. No more pain. They have finally found each other again. Nothing and nobody will tear them apart anymore.

He should have known Yassia wouldn't be so easily appeased. His stunned silence had come off as a slight to her even though Oliver didn't intend it to be. He should have known better than to not say anything. She was all so agitated at the events of the night that nothing would calm her down. And Oliver with his alcohol-muddled mind was only making things worse for both of them. She was right, of course, Oliver had to admit that. He should have known better than to overlook such a fact, but what can he do, really? He was born and raised in a kingdom where men rule and women are the strong support beside him. An apology could have been appropriate, but he doubt that would simmer down her enraged feelings. Worse, it might even cause her to explode. Words are just not enough. He decided that he would just accept her words even though they sliced through his heart yet again.

Of course, her reaction to his rather hasty proposal was not surprising. The slap that made contact with his cheek hurt more than the last one she had given him. No, not physically, but emotionally. He had deserved the last slap for being such a jerk, but this one...he had asked her to marry him out of his love for her, nothing else. It was a slap to his feelings. But then of course, it took him a while to realize that he might as well have done the same damage to her as before. Any woman with a sound mind and heart would think him mad for blurting it out like that. But a wounded woman? Oliver should have realized that Yassia was already down in the pits, and his proposal was like kicking her down even more. She had taken it as the ultimate insult, the last straw. He should have at least let her calm down before striking another blow like that. No all Oliver could do was to helplessly shake his head as she threw one slur after another at him. Boldly, he moved closer towards her, his arms outstretched, his eyes beseeching. She was taking this the wrong way. This was not how it's supposed to turn out. This was happening all wrong. "Yassia, you don't under--" he had started, but was cut off when she mentioned Edmund...and their friendship...and him marrying her for pity.

Was that how she was interpreting this? That he offered to marry her because he pitied her? Where had she ever gotten that idea? Had she not noticed anything at all from all the days and moments that they had spent together? From the moment she healed him of the sword wound, to their little picnic in the forest, to their archery lesson, to their thrilling chase in the woods...and even tonight as he was taking her to Edmund. Everything he did because of his love for her. Can she not see it? Had he really been that good in hiding his feelings? Somehow, Oliver knew the answer to that. He had hidden his feelings all too well that Yassia now thinks there was nothing there. If only she knew how he suffered in silence every time he would see her with Edmund. If only--Oliver was going to stop thinking that way now. He had to put his foot down or else, he would lose Yassia forever, and he just can't afford that. "I don't want to wake up every morning beside a woman I married for pity either." How to say it? Oliver didn't realize until now how difficult this was turning out to be. Yassia was just burning with fury right now, and it would not do well to meet that with equal intensity. Oliver knew he had to humble himself, be the water to her fire. That is what true love is about, right? He could burst with all the love he has for this lady right here, and he was afraid he might not be able to say the right things. He was afraid to make the same mistake again. He finally decided he might as well be straightforward about it.

"I love you," Oliver finally expressed with as much intensity in his eyes as there was in his words. "I have never stopped loving you, Yassia. Since that day you captured my heart in the Forest of Balor up until this very moment right here, my heart aches with love only for you." He took a deep and heavy sigh as he stood there in front of her, practically confessing all, pouring out all the bottled up feelings. "Edmund...you needed him for Ailantha, and it hurts so much to know that I can't give you what he can so easily. But I can't lose you again, Yassia. I know you hate me for all that I have put you through, but I will take that hatred...just don't leave."

The moment she pulled the hood back, Oliver almost winced at the full sight of her, as if figuratively he had been blinded by light. As his eyes adjust to the darkness, his heart skipped a beat when she saw her face. She was, and always will be, beautiful in his eyes, but he saw something else there, something that had made him flinch in the first place. The twinkle that he had gotten used to seeing in her eyes every time they meet was no longer there. In its place was anger, betrayal and a deep sense of sadness that seemed to extend even towards him. He was really starting to hate the searing pain that was now enclosing not only his head but a good deal of his chest. He didn't like seeing her like this. She was not supposed to look and feel so desperate and wretched. Edmund's proposal was supposed to make her the happiest woman alive. Not only would she be guaranteed the army she needed to take back her country, she would also find herself soon-to-be Queen of Mercia. Surely, that would be a dream come true for any lady. But it seems, to Yassia, it only made her even more miserable. At the back of his drunken mind, something was telling Oliver that he was missing a point somewhere, that he needed to fight the headache and try to see clearly as he always does in situations like this.

"I’m not the one playing games here, but that trait seems to run in the family! Your brother betrayed me and you knew it!"

Then she spoke, and the glare she sent his way was like a dagger--no, a million daggers--straight to his heart. Oliver tried not to get himself distracted by the sadness in her eyes to understand her words clearly. She was now accusing his family of being deceitful now, and Oliver was tempted to defend themselves. How dare she speak of his family like that? After all that they had done for her? After all the troubles they were about to go through just to give her what she needed? But then he stopped at her allegations of Edmund's duplicity. Did Edmund take back his promise? Edmund was bent on proposing to her, did he have a case of the cold feet? That was just absurd. Edmund was even more convinced of the marriage than he was. He couldn't have changed his mind in the few minutes since they had spoken. If anything, Oliver knew his brother to be very stubborn. What Edmund wants, Edmund gets. And he wanted Yassia.

"I thought his friendliness and willingness to help me was born out of goodwill, but I should have known that nothing comes without a prize,”

Oliver felt his hand tighten on the horse's reins in his hand. Even with alcohol swimming in his head, this one was not hard to comprehend. Edmund had indeed proposed, and she had turned it down. Sadly, with alcohol swimming in his head, Oliver was not in total control of his senses, and more often than not, the wrong words always find their way out. "Shouldn't you be grateful instead?! Edmund would willingly give you his army, and he could lose them all if the fight for Ailantha goes downhill! He could even lose the trust of his own people for risking our army for you! But you, you have nothing to lose! You are going to be queen!" Oliver still couldn't wrap his head around that fact. Everything was being handed to her on a silver platter. Why was she refusing such a wonderful gift? It didn't make any sense at all.

“So I’m leaving. I’m going back to Ailantha and try my luck alone.”

This time, Oliver couldn't help but scoff at her. "I knew you were stubborn, but this is just plain stupid! This is for you! Why are you refusing it?!" Oliver let go of the reins and grabbed Yassia by the arm pulling her to him. "Why are you being so bloody difficult?!" Exasperated and at his wit's end, his voice got a tad bit louder that some horses had started to let out low snorts at being unnecessarily disturbed. His voice had also unknowingly sounded like a plea without Oliver intending it to. He had to make her understand. She cannot go back to Ailantha. She cannot leave. The thought of losing her again was much too painful that Oliver would rather take what the stars would give him--Yassia as his brother's queen--than be without her. At least that way, he could still see her everyday. At least that way, he could still adore and love her even from a distance, even if she doesn't love him back anymore.

Mounted high up on Arrow, his horse, Oliver tried to see as far as his eyes could to where the stag had rushed off to. It had galloped away as soon as it heard the sound of hooves, leaving hardly a trace. They should have just left the horses in the clearing like they usually do, Oliver thought, but somehow the forest animals were rather skittish and quick today that it was getting to be quite an effort to follow them on foot. They had spotted the stag once, but it had evaded them not soon after. Since then, they were having trouble tracking it down again. Their regular tracker had bailed out at the last minute on a family emergency, and Oliver wouldn't want to keep him away from it. Sadly, the new tracker he recommended was not as good as he was. And Oliver mirrored his friend's disappointment in their unfortunate predicament right now.

“I doubt a few hares will have the ladies swooning tonight.”

Oliver chuckled at Jeffrey, and found himself grinning a tad bit meaningfully when a thought came to him, of one very special woman who was rather impressed with him catching hares and cooking them for a small feast in the jungle. That was a fond memory, and every time Oliver would come to the forest, he would always remember that one beautiful day when he and Yassia had the time of their lives just having fun eating hares and berries and learning archery, not caring about anything or anyone. Then he looked back at his friend and just shook his head in amusement. Jeffrey and his women, some things never change. He wondered if they ever will for him. A couple of years ago, before he met Yassia in the Forest of Balor, he would probably be thinking the same thing as his best friend. Aiming to take home the most extraordinary catch, not for anything, but mainly for impressing the ladies of the court as well as the maidens of the village. It sure adds extra bonus points to one's courting or flirting. Now, he wondered if Yassia would be impressed if he brought home a stag.

Oliver dismounted from Arrow and reached a hand out to rest on his best friend's shoulder. "Worry not, my friend. We will find that stag, and you will have multitudes of women throwing themselves at your feet as you march back home with that lovely animal's amazing antlers," he reassured him, trying to look as serious as he could, but eventually ended up laughing. After all, male deers do use their antlers to fight off others to attract mates. "I'm sorry. Let's go." He gave the reins of his horse to his servant Lot, then took his bow and a quiver full of arrows before walking towards the last spot they had seen the stag. He squatted down, took the glove off of his right hand, and touched the ground. Soft, undisturbed, he thought quizzically. He looked around for any prints of the stag's hooves, but found nothing. This was weird. That stag didn't just fly, did it? Then his eyes spotted a trail of rocks not far ahead, and realization hit Oliver. "Rocks. Wise stag," he muttered. Then he turned to Jeffrey. "Let's follow this trail of rocks and see where it leads. I have a feeling our dear stag is trying to shake us off its tail by avoiding the soft ground."