The hero tricked me

The next morning I feel completely exhausted. I pull myself together and continue studying Uriel's numerous books. Among recipes for poisons, curses, healing potions, and so on, I find the recipe for a potion to restore mana. As my mana is still a bit lacking after healing Lionel's serious injuries, I nearly reached my limit. I could really use one of these. This witch's body is really not made for healing magic in the first place. Suddenly someone is knocking on the door. I peer through the window and shout after realizing who it is.

It's Lionel... again...?

"Please wait a moment."

I quickly try to roughly hide the potions and books. Then I use the spell to disguise my appearance and walk through the door. Slowly I open the door, while the last strands of my hair become white. I hardly dare to ask, but

"What brings you here...?"

I cut off my own sentence and look at him puzzled. He is covered in bleeding wounds. Not as deep as yesterday's, but you can't really call them scratches anymore. Embarrassed, he touches the back of his head and speaks.

"I had a run-in with some wolves and wanted to ask for your healing powers."

"Why, God? Why do you hate me?"  I whisper, slightly annoyed.

"What did you say?"

"Nothing, just stay here!"

I go inside and look for healing potions. Since I don't usually need them, I don't make them. But behind all the dusty potions in the corner of the cupboard, I find an old healing potion; the real Uriel must have brewed it a long time ago. I blow away all the dust.

"pfffffff"

I unscrew the lid to check the content just in case.

"Seems fine."

It's probably a few years old, but I think something like this has no expiration date.
I take the potion outside and hold it out to Lionel.

"Here, drink this. Your wounds are not deep, so this should be enough."

I turn around and try to go back into my hut, but he grabs my arm. I turn around and pull my arm back.

"Thank you very much. What do I owe you for the potion and my rescue yesterday?
I want to repay you."

I think for a moment and say, "Yesterday was simply a good deed. A silver coin for the potion, if you insist."

"Just a silver coin for such a valuable item?

I hesitate to answer him. Of course, such potions are hardly affordable, but what do I gain by making the hero of the story poor?

"I'm not giving you the potion for profit, and I don't sell anything except herbal teas; just take it and go."

He takes a silver coin from a small bag and gives it to me.

"You are truly generous."

I have to smile. A generous witch? I don't even know if witches have hearts!

"Have you thought twice about my offer from the other day?" he continues.

"No. There's nothing to think about."

"Then I'll be on my way again. Until we meet again. I hope that you can change your mind."

He takes the potion and disappears back into the forest. I have the bad feeling that I will see him again... in the near future. And not surprisingly, I was right.

After his departure, I start brewing my mana potions and some healing potions... just in case. I hope I don't have to heal him again, but obviously you never know. 
I mean, he is just a fictional character. Why did he drift away from the original storyline?

It turns out to be a wise decision, because Lionel has been showing up at my hut almost every day with new injuries since our encounter. I would love to send him away, but a part of me doesn't want the hero of the story to die. Especially not on my doorstep! On the first three days I still went out the door, giving him potions and listening to his request, which I always decline. But now I only push the potions through the door and immediately close it again.

But nothing seems to deter him. The more often he shows up, the more I doubt whether my decision is right. I was strong until today. Because if this continues like this, he will either never begin his mission or die on his way. Today he also stands before my hut and knocks on my door. I open the door, and before he starts to say the same things as always, I cut off his words and start speaking.

"Let me guess, you had a fight and you want me to heal you? Stop playing games. Why are you so interested in saving the princess? Just for the kingdom? That's a bit too much effort to get a healer?"

He looks straight into my eyes and starts speaking.

"You are right! I dedicated my life to the kingdom, but there is a bit of a personal interest involved. The crown prince is my friend. He saved me more than twice on the battlefield. Currently he is fighting on the border for the safety of our kingdom. He treasures his sister, the princess, more than his own life, but he can't leave the border at the moment. I want to save his sister to pay back what I owe him. I'm ashamed that I let my personal feelings get involved in this matter. It is not proper for a knight..."

"Very noble of you, but you know there is a saint named Rosa in the east temple who has immense healing powers."

She is the healer mentioned in the book, so he should take her and leave me alone.

"At the moment she is also needed on the border."

I look at him surprised. The saint should be near here. Don't tell me she left for the border because I did not spread any plagues and curses to the villagers that she needs to cure. Come on. There is no possibility that Uriel's existence and deeds were the only reason for her to stay in this town. And yet it seems to be the case.
I'm doomed!

I tried to stay out of the story path until now, but I mocked the story. Now I have to ensure the success of the mission myself. Seems like I am more of a sucker for happy endings than I thought. But I hope that I can also find a happy end for myself while risking so much for the happy end of the main characters. After I distract myself with this conclusion, I come back to my senses and look at Lionel.

"Ok, I will accompany you. But there are conditions."

His face brightens a bit.

"Sure, what are the conditions?"

I begin by listing, and he nods in agreement.

"First you have to trust me fully. Second, you have to ensure my safety as far as possible, and third, I want a part of the rescue reward."

I form a circle with my thumb and index finger to underline that I want gold coins. My safety and money will be the starting capital to ensure my own happy ending elsewhere. But I hope he is better at protecting others than protecting his own skin.

He replies directly with a slight smile.

"I will comply with your conditions! We will meet with the other members tomorrow morning in the tavern "To the Eagle". We will expect to depart in the evening."

"Fine, see you tomorrow."

After he is gone I cross my arms, and a thought comes to my mind. Why do I have the feeling that I got tricked?

Now I start to prepare for the mission. The highlight in my bag should be the potions, herbs, my notebook, and some knives. I mean, sure, the hero has a sword, but I should not use my dark magic to defend myself, so the knives are a nice backup.

The night begins to swallow the day, and I head to bed. That will likely be the last quiet night until the end of the story.

However it will end...