Forbidden Lovers

Part 5

Part 5

Hanni followed Ahylia, noticing that she had led her to the forest. Hanni had never ventured outside of the small town that surrounded the palace; this was a new world to her. Ahylia was happy to walk barefoot next to her, yet Hanni couldn’t help but to want to ask Ahylia where a stream was for her to clean her feet. Ahylia had lifted the skirts and tied them up in a knot, showing Hanni her legs.

Hanni could see the western horizon turning orange. She was unsure how she had gone all night without an ounce of sleep. Her emotions were riding the rolling hills and she wasn’t sure how she felt about anything.

She was pretty sure she didn’t regret her choice to run away, she was pretty sure Ahylia reflected Hanni’s forbidden feelings. This made her happy because she wasn’t alone in her oddity, but what did this mean for the future? Could Hanni and Ahylia actually pursue a relationship of this sort? As Hanni had previously thought their feelings were forbidden.

Hanni was terrified of this whole ordeal. She had refused the proposal that was her last hope, ran out, and then kissed a girl and liked it. And now here she was, running into the unknown with that girl. This was something outgoing and rebellious that younger Hanni would have been proud of. Present Hanni was now terrified, knowing the punishments for something like this. Present Hanni also knew and understood the feelings she felt when looking at Ahylia and the warmth that flooded her cheeks when hers and Ahylia’s eyes met.

“Hanni, I know a little cave that is up ahead. I have spare clothes there. I go there while I hunt, so I could stop and rest,” Ahylia told Hanni. Hanni began panicking. They were still hunting distance from the palace? That was much too close.

“Um, Ahylia, maybe we can grab your spare clothes and just go a bit farther? Then we can rest. I mean, I know they are still searching for us and if we are still hunting distance from the palace they’ll surely find us,” Hanni explained, attempting to keep her voice steady but gaining a tone of begging.

Ahylia came up and put her hands on Hanni’s shoulders, the contact making Hanni shudder at the yearning for more she felt around Ahylia. “Hanni, you don’t need to worry. I hunt here sometimes when there aren’t good enough pickings within the borders; we surpassed the Vetiti forest border a while back. These are illegal grounds, so they won’t find us here,” Ahylia told her in a calming voice.

She then pulled her hand up and put it on Hanni’s cheek, caressing the pale skin. Hanni sighed, relieved and unbelievably peaceful. It was amazing how easily Ahylia calmed her. “May I kiss you again, Hanni?” Ahylia asked, her eyes searching Hanni’s for some sign of emotion other than calm, something like longing.

Hanni’s heart surged and she nodded. No matter how nervous and terrified she felt about the rest of her life, she knew what her heart wanted. Ahylia and her love.

Ahylia smiled a little bit before placing her lips on Hanni’s. At first, Hanni’s lips were still getting used to the feel of Ahylia’s, but then Ahylia started experimentally moving her lips against Hanni’s, opening her mouth and slanting her warm lips against hers. It took Hanni a second to reciprocate, but once she did, and felt the warm puffs of air that Ahylia was breathing into her, she felt exhilarated.

Both girls pulled away all too soon, for their need for oxygen was too great. Ahylia smiled at Hanni and pulled farther away, just enough to see the entirety of Hanni’s beautiful face.

“I could get used to that,” Ahylia said, and Hanni just smiled, not sure how to respond. She could get used to that, too, but didn’t want to excite herself.

“Can we go find that cave?” Hanni asked. “This corset is killing me.”

Ahylia nodded at Hanni, looking down at the gown she wore. The hem brushed the forest floor, causing the edge to fray. Hanni watched as Ahylia released her skirts, but she pulled them up again right after, bunching up the fabric and pulled it back between her legs. After that, she wrapped the fabric around her waist and tied it. Hanni was amazed. Ahylia had just turned her long gown into a jumpsuit.