Kainan chuckled. “Okay, but be careful Drew, we had better keep a watch. Get Rufas to keep first look out.”
Drew bowed his head. “Yes my Lord.”
“Drew, come on I thought I asked you to drop the title. You are my friend not my servant,” Kainan moaned at him.
“Sorry Kainan, I can’t help it. You are the First Prince of Malgar after all.” Drew smiled and Kainan grinned back at him. He was a dammed good friend and he was so glad he had come with them on this journey. Drew left closing the ram shackle door behind him with a heavy thud. Turning back to her he sat back down on the edge of the bed.
“I hope I didn’t put you on the spot then. You don’t mind do you, me sleeping in here with you? I really don’t want you to be on your own.” She reached forward and took hold of one of his hands and held it tightly.
“Kainan I would be terrified on my own.” His hand tightened on hers and he squeezed it gently, rays of warmth seemed to radiate from his hand to hers spreading all over her body.
“Now what do you do with this?” he whispered, gently lifting up the vial of blue oil.
“Kainan you know what Drew said about there being a pool nearby.” Her eyes widened in hopeful anticipation.
“Yes.” he replied, smiling at her.
“Do you think it would be safe for me to bathe?” She hesitated, looking deep into his dark eyes. “I feel dirty after being with those creatures. I can still smell them on me.” Smiling, his hand reached up to the stray lock of hair that never stayed in place, and gently moving it away from her eyes, he whispered.
“I will go and check for you, but I am sure it will be fine.” He stood up to leave, but then had a thought. “Arweyn, the thing is I will have to come with you. I cannot leave you alone again.” There was no way he was willing to risk her being snatched again.
“That’s okay; I wouldn’t feel safe without you there….” she stopped, her eyes remaining on him. “And besides, I will need you to massage the oil into my shoulder.” He looked at her. “If that is alright?” she quickly added.
“Yes of course it is. Good, well I will go and check with Rufas and take a look at this pool.” The young Prince replied, taking a deep breath. The thought of touching her, even if only to massage oil in to her injured shoulder sent quivers through his entire body.
He closed the door behind him and took another deep breath. He needed her so bad it hurt like crazy. It was like their souls were entwining together more and more each day. He looked over to Tolwein, who sat by the fire. He still gave him such an unnerving feeling in the pit of his stomach. After they had left the Gorzar camp Drew had told him he had his suspicions that Tolwein had broken the sticks purposely to attract the Gorzars attention. Kainan shook his head as he thought about it. Then there was Death Mountain; had he known about the creature in there? What about the wolf in the forest? Then as he thought even more, he had spent all that time talking to Arweyn back at the Keeper’s Cottage. Had he known full well what it had been, had they been hatching a plan between them? The problem was he had no proof and without that there was nothing he could do about it except watch him, carefully. Looking across he could see Pernash was already making coffee, he wandered over to him. Pernash looked up.
“My Lord coffee?” he offered, bowing his head and holding out a mug of steaming acorn coffee for him. Walking up to him, Kainan took the coffee gratefully. Taking a sip he puckered his lips together as the heat burned them.
“How is my Lady?” Pernash asked, concerned for her. Kainan looked at him and smiled, he had a new respect for Pernash since he had helped Arweyn with the Sandstar incident, this man he knew he could trust. He had truly shown loyalty and courage within him when the time came.
“She is fine thank you Pernash, and thanks for the coffee.” He added lifting his mug. Placing his other hand on Pernash’s arm he asked, looking around. “Pernash, where is Rufas?” He pointed to the edge of the clearing.
“He was over there last I saw him.” Following his finger, Kainan glanced into the trees and nodded.
“Thanks. Pernash stick some honey in that for me will you, I will be back in a moment.” He was about to walk off, then looking back behind him at the hut, he had a thought. She was in there alone, he looked across at Tolwein.
“Do me a favour and keep a watch on Lady Arweyn for me.” Kainan ordered patting his arm, Pernash nodding took the mug back off him.
“No-one is to go in with her, understand?” Pernash nodded, looking over towards the hut. After what happened yesterday he would watch that door like a hawk.
Walking off in the direction Pernash had pointed Kainan soon came across Rufas, he was talking to Drew. In his left hand Drew held a bunch of rabbits tied together.
“Dinner!” Drew crowed, lifting the rabbits and grinning from ear to ear.
“Excellent Drew. I look forward to another great rabbit stew.” He turned grinning to himself. “Rufas, this pool, can you show me where it is?”
“Of course my Lord, It’s over here through the trees. Lady Arweyn is well?” Rufas asked nervously, as he showed Kainan the pool. Kainan looked at him. He was full of remorse this he could see, he would punish him no more, Arweyn was safe and unharmed and that was all that mattered.
“Yes Rufas she is fine, we were lucky this time.”
“I am so sorry.” Rufas lowered his head shamefully. He still felt so bad that he had left her, it had been his fault.
“Rufas, what is done is done, she was tricked and you were distracted, let’s just make sure it does not happen again. Okay?” Rufas nodded.
“Yes my Lord, thank you.”
***
It was a small natural pool entirely enclosed by a fifty foot gorge. A stunning waterfall cascaded across the top of the lush vegetation that overhung the edge of the gorge and a rainbow of colour shimmered through the water as it pounded on the rocks below. Arweyn had carefully followed Kainan down the embankment to a small clearing at the bottom. Looking at the pool she sighed, the sun was just beginning to set; and as it did it cast a beautiful red shadow that glistened like magic across the surface of the water.
“It is so beautiful,” she said cheerily. Having seen so much death and destruction in the last few days, a scene of such beauty was a relief to her troubled eyes. She breathed deeply, inhaling the scent coming from the un-seasonal flowers that lined the edge of the embankment. Finally for the first time in days she felt relaxed, and best of all she had Kainan all to herself.
“Arweyn,” Kainan called, interrupting her thoughts. She looked at him and smiled. He was looking up toward the sky, the afternoon sun was beginning to dip down behind the gorge, dark ominous clouds were beginning to gather and the air had a sultry heaviness as if a storm was coming.
“I don’t think the weather will hold long, do you still wish to bathe?” Kainan half whispered. He was secretly hoping that she did, as he had decided that he too would join her in the water for a swim.
“Oh yes Kainan!” Arweyn cheered, as she undid her cloak placing it on a fallen log next to her. Then opening her bag she pulled out the vial of oil looked around then placed it on a flattish stone by the water’s edge.
Turning to him she smiled. “Can you please undo my dress, I cannot lift my arm.” Turning her back to him she pulled her long hair away from her neck. Reaching forward, his hands trembling slightly, he began to undo her corset ties. When he finished she took off her boots and then slipped off her outer dress, leaving on her almost see through under dress which did nothing to hide what was beneath it, merely softening her body into a vision of beauty beyond anything he could have imagined. Carefully she leaned into the water trying to wash her dress. Kainan could see she was struggling.
“Here, let me help you,” he offered, bending down next to her. Taking hold of her dress he began rinsing it in the water. He could not help himself, and he felt his eyes straying towards her ample cleavage which was heaving out of her low cut under dress. He took a deep breath, control K
ainan control, he could hear himself saying over and over. She was so damned gorgeous, he really didn’t know if he could anymore.
“Thanks,” she whispered in his ear as she took the dress from him. Then standing up she threw the dress over a bush.
“Well are you coming in or not!” she laughed happily as she began walking into the pool of cool blue water. “Ohh, it is so cold!” she shivered, laughing as she waded through the water.
Kainan stayed kneeling on the bank he could hardly move himself. He stared at her longingly, he was mesmerised. She was so gorgeous; he had to find the courage to tell her how he felt about her.
“You bet!” he shouted back at her. Unclasping his cloak he threw it down, then slipped off his shirt, took off boots, his sword and belt and slipped off his trousers, and leaving his under shorts on he dived into the water.
Swimming underneath he emerged just in front of her. “Cold? It is bloody freezing!” he laughed, shaking the water off his face, and gasping from the shock.
She laughed at him. “I know but doesn’t it feel great.” She floated onto her back, the water made her shoulder feel so much better and at last she felt clean from the slime that Gorzar had left on her with his sickening tongue. She looked over at Kainan, grinning.
“What?” Kainan questioned, looking at her with his head tilted, as she began wading towards him.
“Nothing!” she grinned, and then suddenly she skimmed her hands across the surface of the water splashing him across his face.
“Why you!” he yelled as he dived forward splashing her back. She squealed as she tried to wade away.
“Oh no, you don’t get away that easily!” Diving under the water he came up behind her grabbing her and pulling her backwards into the water. Squealing even louder, she turned and splashed him back vigorously. He returned the fire splashing back twice as hard.
“Enough, enough Kainan please,” she begged, holding her hands to her face trying to shield herself from the pounding water.
“Do you yield?” he teased, still continuing with the splashing.
“Yes, yes, I yield,” she laughed, swimming away from him. She swam over to the waterfall, climbed up onto a rock and sat underneath. Closing her eyes she let the water pound across her body, it felt so good. Kainan swam towards her. He stopped within a few feet and stared at her, she was absolutely bewitching. Her dress was now all but see through giving Kainan near naked view of her curvaceous body. His heart pounded uncontrollably, what she did to him, he swallowed hard. He had to tell her or it was going to kill him.
“Kainan,” she called to him, she could see him watching her.
“Kainan!” she called louder.
He shook himself from his trance. “Sorry. What, what’s wrong?” He swam up to her. She looked down at him, smiling.
“Can you help me down; I think I have over done it with my shoulder.” She looked down at his strong muscular arms that were now held out to catch her. She slipped down into them and he lowered her gently and slowly back into the water. Kainan stared at her, he had felt her beautiful body push against him as she entered the water, and he felt on fire.
“Will you massage the oil in my shoulder for me now,” she whispered, hardly daring to look at him. He just nodded as he let her go. She swam to the bank and picked up the vial. He swam over to her and they stood half out of the water. Arweyn handed him the vial.
“You will need to rub quite hard Kainan,” she murmured quietly, handing him the vial.
“Okay, but I don’t want to hurt you.” Raising her hand to his face, she ran her fingers down his cheek.
“You could never hurt me Kainan,” she turned her back to him and pulled down the straps of her under dress, letting it hang loosely over her breasts. Kainan swallowed nervously as he moved her hair to one side. Undoing the vial he poured the oil onto her right shoulder. Slowly he began to massage in the oil. He could feel his hands tremble as he touched her beautiful soft skin. He noticed on her right shoulder she had a small tattoo of a dragonfly and on her left shoulder one of a flower.
“How long have you had the dragonfly and the flower tattoo,” he asked, running his finger across it.
“I have had the dragonfly all my life,” she replied, turning her head towards him. “It is the mark of a Faerling.” Their eyes met, and she held them there for a few moments. “I had the starflower done when my father died.”
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you,” Kainan apologised, as he continued to massage the oil into her shoulder.
“No it is fine, it makes me happy. My father always used to bring me starflowers to cheer me up if I was down or sick. I remember he had given me a huge bunch of red ones the day he died because I was so sick. So I had the tattoo in his memory. You are the only other person who knows about it.” Kainan continued to rub the oil into her soft skin, gently. Slowly he began to massage the back of her neck. What he really wanted was to kiss it, to kiss her, he took another deep breath. Arweyn closed her eyes for a brief moment as she felt his hands move around her neck, it was tantalising. Her breasts heaved as she breathed deeply, her dress slipping further down, barely hanging on to her.
“You never told me what happened at the cottage?” Arweyn questioned, trying to stay focused.
“No I didn’t.” Kainan hesitated. “The old man, Belsere he was dead when we found him, they had killed him.”
“Oh no, so we didn’t get the Book?” Arweyn sighed disappointed.
Kainan shook his head. “No, and we didn’t realise until it was too late that you had been swapped with a changeling.”
“A changeling,” she whispered, her face was inches away from his. His breathing was deep and shallow, and she could feel his breath on her face. She could feel her lips tingle with anticipation.
“How did you know it was not me?” her voice merely a whisper.
Kainan stopped and put the lid back on the oil. Reaching up with his other hand he stroked her face. “I tried to kiss you, but it was not you.”
“Kiss me?” she turned her body around, as she did her breasts brushed against his chest sending fire through his body.
Slowly his hand caressed her cheek, her hair and the back of her neck. With a touch so soft it made her shiver. Before he realised what he was doing he was kissing her neck, the hollow of her throat, nuzzling his face into her hair. Then gently he pushed his lips against hers. Arweyn melted into the kiss and as he pulled her in closer he deepened the kiss, and she felt warmth and tingles of excitement spreading through her whole body. She had been waiting so long for this moment. She ran her fingers down the firmness of his chest to his navel, feeling every ripple of his strong firm muscles. Then her hand moved around to his back caressing him gently.
As their lips parted Kainan looked deeply and longingly into her eyes, he ran his hands through her wet hair, and down her back. Arweyn shivered with delight, pressing her body against his. They were in a world of their own.
“PRINCE KAINAN!” A voice yelled from above them. The both jumped, startled by the sudden interruption, bringing them both instantaneously back into the real world. Kainan shot a glance up towards the trees. It was Tolwein.
“My Lord, it is time to eat,” he yelled from behind the trees, not daring to venture closer to the pool.
Kainan closed his eyes and frowned, he could not believe it! Finally he had her alone and Tolwein had to come along and spoil it.
“Okay we will be a moment!” Kainan yelled back sharply. He turned back to Arweyn, pulling a strand of hair away from her eyes. Then running his hand down her soft cheek, his hand cupped her face.
“Sorry, incredibly bad timing.” She nodded, smiling as she leaned into his hand. He could not have been more right. She had decided she would give herself willingly to him, yet it was not meant to be. He leaned forward; he was not going to let her go that easily. His lips came down to claim hers once more. His arms closed around her so tightly she could hardly breathe. Deliriously happy she leaned into him. He hel
d her close for a long, long kiss. She felt overwhelming comfort and relief, dissolving all the pain she felt, all the fears she had. He loosened his hold and looked deep into her eyes, smiling.
“Are you hungry?”
She licked her lips teasingly. “Famished!” she replied with a giggle and pulling her dress back up she headed out of the water. Kainan shook his head as he watched her climb out, he could not believe his luck. He had been waiting so long for this moment, so long to get Arweyn alone and Tolwein had to come along and spoil it. He ran his hand down his chest where she had run her fingers down him. He could still feel her touch on him, she drove him insane. He watched as she walked over to her bag and pulled out the nightgown from the inn, he watched as she undid the straps of her under dress. He wanted her so bad it hurt. He wanted to join with her, but not just casually, he wanted to join with her for life. He wanted, no he needed to join their souls.
She was just about to slip off her dress when she stopped. She could feel his gaze upon her, and it made her tingle with excitement. When he had kissed her, she took a deep breath her chest rising and falling sharply. When he had kissed her she had felt the wave of love he had for her pass through her whole body. She knew in her heart that he was the one, the one she would give herself too. She turned and looked at him; he wanted her as much as she wanted him.
“Do you mind?” she asked innocently, covering herself with her dress.
“No, not at all,” he replied, grinning. She cocked her head to one side, and raised an eyebrow.
“Okay, Okay.” Raising his hands he turned around. Arweyn quickly slipped off the wet under dress and pulled on the nightgown.
“Okay you can turn around.” She announced as she tied up the ribbon on the front of the gown.
Kainan climbed out of the water and shook himself down and then grabbed his clothes.
“Well?” he asked, looking at her.
“What?” she replied.
“Are you going to turn around,” he joked, and she laughed at him.
Deragan Sword Prophecy: Book 01 - Kainan Page 39