Panting over her head Gabel grabbed the back of her neck and brought her lips to his.
He kissed her again and again.
Every time their kiss broke it was immediately replaced with another. Trying to make up for the past year and a half.
His hands gently over her hair, arms and waist.
Elara caressed his chest, then ran her fingers down across his abdomen.
Another kiss broke and this time Gabel moved his forehead to rest against hers.
"Do you even understand how much I desire you? It physically pains me Elara."
She rubbed her head against his, but said nothing.
"Do you hear what I am saying to you?"
From the corner of her eye, a quick tear rolled down across her cheek.
Gabel wiped it away, then kissed the wet trail it had left behind.
"I wish I could have been there, when our son was born. You are so brave Elara, I am so proud of you."
She released a soft pained cry, and moved her head to rest of his shoulder.
"Shhh," his arms wrapped around her, holding her body to his.
From a small window on the side of the barn, he could see it was almost sunset.
Fuck.
He groaned, and loosened his arms around her.
"Here, let me help you."
Bringing a hand up to her hair, he picked out several stray pieces of straw. Then Moving his gaze down to her body, he started pulling more straw that was stuck all around her dress.
When she was hay free, he moved to his own trousers, tying them closed.
His eyes stayed locked on her, watching as she adjusted the bodice of her dress.
"Hold still," he chuckled, spotting another piece of straw stuck behind her head.
"Thank you sir."
"Tell me, how is it that even with your hair full of hay you are still more beautiful than any woman that has ever lived? huh?"
Elara matched his playfull tone and pushed him on his chest, "Now I believe have told you once before, lying to a lady is not the knightly thing to do. What will you do when everyone finds out you lie to charm women?"
Gabel smirked and reached out for her small waist.
"This mouth of mine speaks no mistruths my lady I swear. And as long as I can continue using this mouth to charm this woman right here, I do not care."
Leaning over he playfully showered her face with light kisses.
Her hands flung up, trying to shield her face from his sudden attack.
Gabel took hold of them, moving them to wrap around his neck.
"Tell me the truth, do you think of me often?"
One of her eyebrows slightly raised, "My son looks exactly like you. How could I possibly go a day without thinking of you?"
He smiled, then moved one of her hands to his lips, gently kissing her palm.
"You occupied my thoughts every single day. I often wouldn't sleep. You were like my own personal plague."
Her faces scrunched into a displeased expression.
"A beautiful one of course."
While trying to pull her hands away from his grip she shouted haughtily, "Sir I do not wish to be compared to a plague! Now unhand me!"
Gabel tightened his grip, "Im sorry my lady but its true, I was sick over you."
She tried to pull away from him once more.
Does she even know how happy she makes his heart?
Chuckling, he let her hands go but immidiatly grabbed her by her waist, smooshing her body tightly to his.
Her small frame pushed against him for a second.
Then as if giving up, she returned his embrace wrapping her arms around him.
They stood still in their embrace. The minutes flying by like mere seconds.
Over her shoulder, he caught another glimps of the sky through the partly opened barn door.
The sun was now setting.
Though it felt like a knife to the chest, Gabel tore his body from hers. Taking hold of her hand, he walked towards the barn door.
Outside, beautiful orange and red colors danced around. It felt as if the sky was putting on this display just for them.
His chest grew tight.
While letting out a deep breath, he closed his eyes, trying to stop this moment from ever reaching an end.
"It's okay...if you have to go."
He opened his eyes and looked down to her.
"I dont want to..I just want to...."
His words stopped, as he felt something wet roll from his eye.
Elara squeezed his arm then reached up touching the small tear with her fingertip.
"Gabel, its okay...you can go."
It felt unbearable, to have to separate from her again.
Leaning down, he passionately brought his lips back to hers.
After the kiss broke he turned away and started walking over to his horse.
Elara slowly followed behind him.
Once at his steed he turned back to her with a blank face, "Will you wait for me? I am going to speak with my commander. I will come up with a way for all of us to be together."
She smiled, "Yes Gabel Lachzion, I will wait for you."
A half smile pulled at his lips.
"I promise I shall return for you and our son."
She nodded and stepped back as he mounted his steed.
Turning his horse around he glanced over his shoulder back at her once more.
"I almost forgot to ask, what have you named him?"
Elara's arms wrapped around her torso, tightly hugging herself.
"Cassian, his name is Cassian."
A huge Boyish smile spread over Gabel's face.
His heart felt close to bursting.
She had named their son after his uncle he had once told her about.
"Elara..I love you."
With that he gallopped up the path leaving her behind in the beaming colors of the sunset.
