𝘚𝘦𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘴, 𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘓𝘪𝘦𝘴

The First Night (part 1)

We had travelled for a few hours before we came to a rest under a copse of trees. We wanted to put as much distance between us and the town as possible.

Lena and I shared out the food our chef had prepared us but we also regulated how much we ate, in order to conserve as much as possible.

Once we had eaten, we were eager to move on again and find another spot to turn in for the night.

***

The sun had begun to set as the group made their beds up and picked at the food they had given themselves for the evening. They had found a dense wooded area so were concealed by trees.

Wymond looked up at the sky: a deep, blood red, spreading from the far hills and up, slowly fading into a blue, as it neared him.

"Hilda."

She heard him, even though it was a whisper, and she moved into his arms.

Wymond placed a kiss on the top of her head and breathed in her scent: fresh like the wind and flowery, roses maybe.

"Follow me," he breathed.

He led her to where the trees thinned and revealed the edge of the steep rock face. Somewhere, in the valley, there was Oxbourne - a ready army, he was sure.

At the edge, he could see a far way into the distance: more mountains; more valleys; more rolling hills, like in the town.

"It is beautiful." Hilda breathed.

Wymond rested his head on hers and took in the scene for a moment. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out the ring. He stood back from his wife and took her left hand. Looking into her stunning eyes, he slowly slipped the ring onto her finger. They were still for a few long moments. Then Hilda's face lit up. She smiled a gorgeous smile in recognition that they had finally found a token of their marriage. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she whispered something in his ear...

He followed her into the thinning trees and then behind a large boulder. There, she grabbed his shirt and pulled his face down to meet hers. Their rosy lips touched and did not break away. She moved her hands to his shirt and began to unbutton it. He fumbled at her belt until he felt it loosen. Then his trousers were off and they were on the bare earth, him on top of her. Hilda's skin was like fire beneath his touch and she moaned into a kiss as he moved into her.

Their breathing was quickening. The night was becoming hotter and hotter. His head was crying out for more.

***

Wymond and I lay breathing deeply in each others arms. I had not felt that happy and relaxed in weeks. The pressure of being in another mans bed at night had disappeared and I was free.

I wondered how late it had got before Ferox did something about me not being back but I quickly pushed the thought out of my head.

I turned my face to my husband and I told him how much I loved him.

"I love you too, Hilda." He murmured as he kissed me softly on my temple.

***

Lena raised her eyebrows to her sister as her and Wymond returned from a suspicious trip but she let it go. Her and Kamden would surely do the same?

"I will take first watch," Wymond said as he slumped down next to a tree.

Kamden looked up from a map, his brow creased as he did so. "Only if you are sure," he said, "but wake me up in a few hours."

It was then that Lena realized the stars were coming out and they needed to sleep.

Lena bade goodnight to Hilda and she watched as her sister lay her head in Wymond's lap. Unexpected she felt two hands grab her waist and twist her around until she was facing Kamden. She smiled a toothy as his mouth met hers. Her hands moved up from his hands on her hips to the back of his neck. Breaking away, her eyes fluttered open too look directly into the blue of her lovers; even in the twilight they were bright.

She lay down in the crook of Kamden's arm and was surprised how quickly sleep came to her. The last thing she could remember was the touch of his hand on her stomach and the sound of his breathing slowly leveling out into sleep.