Two of the Same

Chapter Nine *Gwyn*

She stood in court yard watching the trees sway in the wind as she waited with the guards to leave. She had changed from her usually apparel of a dress into a pair of green leather hunting pants and a black leather tunic. She didn't wear any royal jewels, not even her circlet; the only gem on her person was the ring on the finger of her right hand. This was the only thing she had left from her father, and the only thing that stood between her mind and her brother's. she twirled it again, a nervous habit she had seem to have grown accustomed to. She turned to the sound of approaching footsteps to see Arul dressed, just as she was, in non descript riding clothes. His broad sword strapped in a plain leather case at his side and his shield tied to his back. He was carrying and quiver of arrows and a long sleek bow. As he drew nearer he dropped to his knees and presented the bow and quiver to Gwyn.

"Your arrows my lady, as you requested." He said his head bowed not raising his eyes to meet hers. She could tell that he wasn't happy with the current situation. He didn't trust Avian as she did, and in all honesty she couldn't blame him, she wasn't sure herself why it was she trusted the criminal so much but it was just something about him that gave her such a peace of mind. Such a stillness as if she and he were the only ones left in the world. It was a feeling that she found such great comfort in. she needed him along for the travel, she needed that peace now so more then ever.

"Arul, do you trust me?" she asked remembering how she had felt when her father had asked her that very same question. Arul paused for a moment before he answered.

"my lady it's not a question about trust..." he began slowly as though he were trying to pick his words carefully.

"Maybe it should be then my dear captain," she mused her tone very steady as she looked over at him her eyes soft "Do you trust me?" she asked him again and this time the captain nodded his head immediately, no sign of hesitation or doubt in his eyes. Gwyn was comforted at this.

"I need you on my side Arul, I need to know that I have someone to count on..." she hugged herself as the breeze blew in but no hint of cold touched her skin, instead she was trying to ward off the creeping loneliness that was beginning to worm its way into her heart.

"My lady," Arul said taking a step forward closing the distance between them, "Gwyn." He whispered her name, his voice constricted with emotion, like he was holding back the words he wanted to say. Gwyn turned to him, he was close enough that her folded arms were pressed against his chest; she wouldn't meet his eyes, her feelings had tangled themselves so thoroughly that they were left in a big jumbled heap of emotions. She couldn't decipher one feeling from another; Gwyn had known for a long time the captain's feelings for her, his attempts at courting her were honest and genuine. She had seen the way he looked after her when she passed him, or the way he would stand near her, protecting her from any unseen threat; but she had never known what she had felt in return, her emotions like stone blocks in a lake, buried so deep it was almost like they weren't there at all; now with Tyrain gone the damn had broken leaving her to drown in this sea of unfamiliar emotions and no clue how to navigate. That was why she was so drawn to Avian, he added to the chaos of emotions yes but he also acted like and island keeping her feet dry and letting her examine all the emotions without being over whelmed. He was like her life raft keeping her afloat, keeping her from losing herself. Arul took her chin gently in his hand, his fingers rough and calloused from years of swords play, he lifted her face to his so that their eyes met.

"I will always be on your side, I will always be here." He vowed in a whispered his eyes glued to hers, not daring to stray. The intensity of his gaze seared Gwyn to the core.

"We had better get going the trails rough in the dark and we have a few people that we need to...recruit before we embark on this grand and jolly quest of ours." A voice interrupted the moment making both Gwyn and Arul jump apart in shock. Gwyn turned to see Avian standing before them his face freshly shaved and washed his hair combed and trimmed. He was tying the deer hide arm guards onto his right arm. His lean body was fitted into a dark blue tunic with a deer hide vest and black riding pants. The shirt was open at his chest and as he turned something green peered out and a curious glint of gold was caught in the sunlight but Avian turned once more before Gwyn could be sure of what she had seen. He looked up at her and his eyes seemed to be even more vibrant that when she had last seen them, only now they were flecked with shards of gold around the iris and again she felt that isolated feeling of watching the emotions go past her. Her cheeks reddened as Avian watched her, his eyes examining her she felt almost as though he were seeing all the way down into her soul. She adverted her eyes as a shyness over took her, she cleared her throat. Gwyn could feel another pair of eyes on her, Arul's and she felt a small amount of guilt seep into her mind like poison and shame kept her eyes glued to the ground. She knew that she was being unfair encouraging him and then scorning him over and over again, but Gwyn didn't know what she could do about the feelings of another when she didn't understand her own feelings to begin with.

"What's this about recruits? There was nothing said about bringing more people, the castle guards will be enough." Arul said his voice tight with distrust as he eyed Avian suspiciously. Avian returned Arul's glare with one of his own and he walked towards them.

"The palace guards, honestly?" he asked his voice dripping with contempt as he tossed a not so subtle inspecting look around the men who had gathered around them. "Yes your men may be trained and can fight like a unit but they are also bound by honor, a luxury your enemies will not be so inclined to act upon. We are going into a land that is filled with people that don't fight fair." Arul scoffed self assured in the capabilities of his men. His indignation flared Avian's temper and he clenched his fist the leather glove squeezing his hand tightly.

"If a woman were injured in the road during an ambush what would your men do?" Avian demanded. Arul looked taken aback at the prospect.

"They would aid said woman in any manner they could, it is the knights way." Avian nodded knowingly.

"That's the problem," he said and walked towards his horse pushing past Arul. Arul, quick as a flash, reached out grabbing Avian's arm in a tight vice.

"And what do you suggest, we throw away our morals, that is easy for you to say when you have no soul you hellhound." He said with clenched teach and spit on the ground at Avian's feet. Avian's hand grabbed a fist full of Arul's tunic and pulled him even closer.

"No, I'm saying you can have your moral blinders on in the middle of combat, because chances are your enemy was the one who put that woman there, or even worse, your enemy is that woman." Avian's words stone walled Arul and he pulled free from the Captain's grasp.

Gwyn was surprised herself to hear what was waiting for them, to hear the rules of battle didn't apply everywhere as it did in the kingdom. It painted the world in a more savage light, and Gwyn didn't like it. She turned back to her own horse, a white stallion, it had been her horse for as long as she could remember; she had grown up with it, however the discrepancy between their heights was now huge. She felt someone come up behind her, his body close to hers; she tensed as she felt his breath on the back of her neck.

"Do you need help, princess?" Avian's whisper was low, he was so close that she could feel the vibrations from his voice in his chest. She didn't want to admit that she wasn't sure she could saddle her horse on her own, but she didn't want to injury herself or her steed. Her jaw tightened slightly and she nodded her head stiffly.

"Turn around." He whispered his hands on her shoulders gently turning her; when she was facing him he smiled and his hands fell to her waist. His strong hands were tight at her waist as lifted her in the air as though it were nothing. Gwyn put the palms of her hands flat on top of Avian's shoulders to keep herself steady. He grinned slightly at her touch but his hair fell into his face so she couldn't be certain. Avian set her gently on the saddle, his hands lingering upon her waist.

"Are you alright Princess?" he asked through the smile on his lips.

"Gwyn." She corrected him firmly.

"Gwyn." He repeated softly, retracting his hands from her waist and leaving her to mount his own horse. She could still feel the warmth of his hands on her hips, almost as if they were still there. As she moved her feet into the stirrups she looked up to see Arul watching her, his eyes blank of all emotion, his jaw tight. Again that feeling of guilt picked at her conscious and she lowered eyes to the road.

"Well if there people that we need, then we had better get started in finding them, we have little time to waste." She said letting the authority in her voice take control, allowing her body to fall back into the natural rhythm of being a princess, or commanding attention and respect from her peers and people. The guards sat at attention in their saddles awaiting orders, the Captain in front of them nodded his head grimly. "Avian, lead the way." She said gesturing towards the castle's gate.

"As you wish." He said with a little bow and the spurred his horse forward sending the small group of travelers off, cantering down the stone pathway. Gwyn could feel her hair being blown from her shoulders and she could feel the stones of worries weighing heavily on her heart.

Gods above please guide me through this she sent her silent prayer her eyes flitting to the sky before she too was galloping down the road, Gwyn wouldn't realize until later on she was taking her first steps on the path of her own destiny.