Amber - 2001-05-15
he walked quietly, following him without questioning where they were going. She trusted him, and besides, he knew better than her how to act in these situations. She was tired, but she forced herself to keep going, keep moving. Hopefully, if the spell would work as she had intended it to, the thugs would sleep until the sun had set, then awaken slowly, confused and disoriented. By then, Selene and Trevor would hopefully be far enough away to escape any threat. Then, free to let her concentration go, she followed him blindly. She was so tired, and she felt so dirty. How she longed for a nice, hot bathtub back at the mansion. She sighed at the familiar sigh of homesickness and forcefully turned her thoughts from that matter.
At the stream, she helped as much as she could, feeling awkward and almost totally useless. The most she could manage with some degree of proficiency was setting his things down as he pulled them off. She kept her eyes politely averted, a slight blush on her cheeks. She'd never seen a man in less than full regal. Not even her father. She backed away a bit, still feeling guilty for causing him so much trouble, watching the forest around them, a bit afraid the thugs would be back.
Chestnut curls fell around her face, each and every one obstinately out of place, still full and bouncy despite her fatigue. She heard him move towards her but didn't raise her head, watching the pattern of the grass dancing by the stream. His touch was gentle, pulling her from her own little world back to this one, and she found herself looking into his eyes, his dark hair glistening with drops of water still caught, glistening in the sunlight. He really was the handsomest man she'd ever met, kind with a sort of charisma about him that made him hard not to like. She found herself not minding the liberties that no other courier would have ever dared, not caring that all the rules and laws she'd been taught from birth were slowly, gently, but obstinately being changed, by this world, this man.
Tears sprang to her eyes at his words. She would never be able to tell him how much she'd treasure those simple words, how wonderful they sounded to her right then. She smiled through her tears at him, for once totally speechless. And then, she found herself pulled into a sort of dream, some sort of world other than her own -- and he kissed her. Her heart raced in her chest, strange, unreal feelings coursing through her like a waterfall. He held her closer than she'd ever been to anyone but her mother, his touch soft. Her eyes widened a bit in surprise, and then, as the gentle magic of the kiss took hold, slowly closed.
When he pulled away, slowly, almost regretfully, she looked at him for a minute, looking at the way his hair fell in front of his eyes, the power underneath his gentle movements, the way his smile lit up his face. Her heart clenched in her chest as she realized just how close she had been to losing him, and.. how bad that would have hurt. "I was so afraid.." She said softly, her voice wavering just a bit. There was a slight silence before she flung her arms around him, burying her face in his chest. "I was so afraid I was going to lose you, Trevor.." She whispered, tears of relief and happiness sparkling under her eyelashes.
George - 2001-05-16
revor felt lightheaded, giddy even. If someone had told him when he had first met Selene that he would be holding her in this manner, would kiss her so sweetly, and now experience the feelings swirling through his heart and soul, he would have scoffed at the very idea and dismissed it as ludicrous. His perception of just who she really was had been radically changed. She was not the spoiled, shallow royal he had at first judged her to be, though she had displayed all the characteristics consistent with such a lineage. No, she was so much more. She, despite her initial attitudes, had risen above her circumstances and had proven that she had mettle worthy of a knight.
The young knight kissed the top of Selene’s head and gently ran his fingers through those unruly chestnut curls he had come to adore. He felt every inch the gallant knight who had just rescued the fair maiden from the clutches of a vicious, fire-breathing dragon, despite the fact that it had been the maiden performing the rescue in this case. He smiled at the incongruity and spoke quietly. “I felt the same way, Selene. I thought I had seen you for the last time.” He slipped an arm around her and held her close to his bare chest. Her hair tickled his skin pleasantly and her smooth cheek felt good against his flesh. His heart felt full to bursting and he felt like singing. He knew Selene could hear how his heart raced. It seemed like the whole world could hear its rhythmic pounding. Again, he questioned his heart. Am I in love with Selene? What of Azari? He was confused, but he knew that he felt good with Selene. She made him feel wanted, needed. He felt very masculine with her. That had to count for something, didn’t it? Azari was more an equal, despite her inexperience. She had the untamable spirit of a warrior and the stubbornness to match.
Trevor sighed at the whirl of thoughts and emotions assaulting his heart and mind. He knew he did not have to decide yet. There was plenty of time to sort out his jumbled emotions. Best to take things one at a time and let nature take its course. Meanwhile, here was Selene, so beautiful and dignified. There was a new atmosphere permeating their relationship. She seemed somehow more accessible and vulnerable, yet at the same time she had displayed strength and a strong will combined with a new sense of loyalty. Trevor had no doubt that any other courtier would have run for her life, leaving the exhausted knight to his fate at the hands of his enemies. And what of Selene’s feelings? Was she in love with him? Her behavior of late certainly indicated she was. How should he handle this situation? Again, letting nature have her way seemed the best course of action. He smiled to himself as a thought struck him. You might as well enjoy her attentions while you can, he mused.
Suddenly he longed for another kiss, partly desire and partly to show her the first was no accident. Trevor pulled her away from his body and knelt close to her, her face above his. He held both cheeks in his hands and pressed his lips against hers, tasting her sweet lips once more. Selene did not resist. Her lips returned his kiss eagerly.
Copyright (c) 1999-2001 Abigail Laughlin and the members of the Circle of Stone.