Gale leaned back slightly, giving her a thoughtful look as he worked, but his expression softened when she spoke. He could hear the weight behind her words—the quiet frustration, the unspoken burden of responsibility. He had a feeling she didn't often show that side of herself, at least not to anyone who didn't really understand."Yeah, I imagine it does take a lot of courage," he said, keeping his tone low but steady. "And I can’t say it doesn’t get lonely, but... that's the price, right? Sometimes, the only person you’ve got is yourself." He shrugged lightly, his eyes scanning the fire as the meat slowly cooked. "But you already know that."When she mentioned the constant expectations, the weight of relying on others who weren’t family, Gale’s jaw tightened a little. It was a feeling he was familiar with, even if his had come from a different place. "Yeah," he agreed, his voice low. "People depending on you for everything... it's exhausting. Especially when they don’t understand what it really costs you to keep them safe, to keep them fed, to keep everything running smooth." He paused, his eyes flicking to her, a flicker of understanding there. "Sounds like you’re shouldering more than your share, honestly."His gaze softened when she spoke of being a king. "I can't imagine that pressure," he muttered, shaking his head. "Never wanted it. I’ve seen too much of what it does to people." His voice had a slight edge to it, a quiet bitterness beneath the calm.As she closed her eyes for a moment, Gale shifted slightly, watching her with a curious but cautious glance. "Books, huh?" he asked, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "I get it. Sometimes it’s the only place you can escape to." He let out a breath. The way she muttered the words didn’t escape him, and it made him feel a strange sense of sympathy for her. "No one should be stuck in that kind of role. Especially not you."When she smirked and teased him about the meat, his eyebrows lifted, a grin tugging at his lips. "Oh, you think I’m that confident, huh?" He gave her a playful look before grabbing a small, cooked piece of deer and holding it out to her. "Alright, Princess. But if you end up getting food poisoning, don't say I didn't warn you."He chuckled under his breath, leaning back against the tree and watching her, waiting to see if she’d take the bait.

(again I did pre-write some of these :)

Gale watched her closely as she took the piece of meat, a small smile playing on his lips as she cooled it off with a few breaths, clearly unsure of what to expect. His grin widened as she chewed, waiting for her reaction. When her eyes lit up, his chest swelled with a quiet sense of pride, even if he didn’t say anything about it.

"Better than the chefs, huh?" He couldn’t help but chuckle, crossing his arms. "Guess you’re just used to getting the fancy stuff. Ain’t nothing like a meal cooked over a fire, though." His voice was a mix of teasing and genuine satisfaction, glad that she at least appreciated the effort.

He fell quiet as she spoke about her brother, her words heavy with something he didn’t fully understand—yet. The way she pulled her knees close, the way she looked away for a moment, it was like the weight of the crown was pressing down on her all over again. Gale let her sit with that for a second, not pushing. Some things were better left unspoken.

"I can’t imagine it," Gale said after a pause, his voice thoughtful. "Not in the way you mean. Fighting for every meal..." His eyes flicked down to the fire, a bitter edge creeping into his voice. "That’s just how it’s been. Doesn’t feel like a choice sometimes." He looked back at her, his gaze softer now, though still carrying the weight of experience. "But I guess I never really had the luxury of not fighting, you know? For food, for survival… for anything."

When she mentioned the idea of living a life without struggle—without the constant grind of survival—he had to admit, for a fleeting moment, he imagined it. What would it be like to have someone else worry about where your next meal came from? To not always be looking over your shoulder? He let out a long sigh, running a hand through his hair, before he answered.

"Maybe... maybe for a day or two, just to see what it's like." His voice was distant for a second, like he was considering the impossible. "But then what? Do you just sit around waiting for someone else to take care of everything? Seems like a lot of sitting and doing nothing, if you ask me." He shook his head with a small laugh. "I guess I’m too used to the grind."

The shift in her tone caught his attention, and he glanced over at her when she brightened a little, her expression turning more playful again. "A taste of the castle life, huh?" He raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms. "Not sure I’d fit in with all the silk and velvet. I’m more used to leather and fur than gowns and banquets." There was a flicker of amusement in his eyes as he leaned back slightly. "But... I won’t lie. I’ve wondered about it. Just once. I mean, there’s always something about that kind of life that makes people curious, right? The food, the wine, the comfort. The lack of worrying for every little thing."

He leaned forward slightly, his voice quieter now. "I’m guessing there’s a reason you don’t just stay cooped up in your fancy castle all the time, though." He gave her a small, knowing smile. "You’re not exactly the type to just settle for all that royal glamour, are you?"

It wasn’t a question, really. Just an observation.

Gale laughed at her teasing. "Me? In a dress?" He shook his head, a grin on his face. "That’s a picture even your imagination can’t handle."

He nodded when she spoke about servants and roles, his expression thoughtful. "Yeah, the little things... they can make you feel more grounded than sitting around waiting for someone else to do it for you." He leaned forward slightly. "It’s funny how life traps you in these roles, thinking you want freedom, but sometimes what you need isn’t what you expect."

Her smile was contagious. "I figured," he teased back. "You’re definitely not the ‘princess locked in a tower’ type."

He leaned back, his voice softer. "No tower could hold you, Adeline." Then, with a playful smirk, he added.

The warmth between them grew, and for the first time in a while, Gale felt like he wasn’t just surviving, but living.

A snap from behind them caught his attention,him grabbing his bow and a arrow.He stood,creeping to the sound,bow loaded.Gale walked for a minute or two,eventually coming to a trap with a hare dangling from its foot.

He grabbed the hare from the trap,ringing its neck before walking back to Adeline,holding it by its ears.

"It'll make good pack meat." He says,tossing it near the tree.