Betrothed (NOT UPDATING ANYMORE)

Chapter Thirteen

I rode back to my father's camp and rallied almost a thousand men. "We are going to move quickly and light. It shouldn't take us that long to get there." I shouted. "There is a man there who is leading those barbarians. He's tall and muscular but a brute. Leave him to me. I'll deal with him and we will take the Princess back to safety along with destroying those barbarians." I lifted Fightweaver, it's metal singing for blood. The men lifted their swords and cheered.

I mounted my horse and kicked it to go a trot. "We go now!"

oOo

The village was chaos. Nicholas dragged me away from the men and the fighting and led me back to the forest. Terrence was no where to be found. Nicholas had a sword strapped to his side that was near me. I pulled it out of its sheath and pointed it at him. "I'm going back and I'm finding Terrence."

Nicolas slowed down and looked at me. He raised his hands. "You tricked me."

I rolled my eyes. "Please you should've seen that coming." I shivered as the icy wind blew my hair and ran through my clothes.

Nicolas placed his hands behind his back and started pacing around me. I had the sword at his chest as he circled around me. "You see, I also had a back up plan. Tell me Cassandra, do you remember my brothers?"

Just as he spoke, the two brothers stood on either side of him. I backed up and pointed the sword, my hands shaking. Nicholas sighed. "Get her."

I dropped the sword and started running. I was too slow, and they were too fast. I ended up getting caught in a bush and tried to get through. "Help!" One of the men had almost caught up to me. I felt my heart pounding. This was the end.

Images of Terrence and our future blurred through my mind as I tried to escape desperately. If I didn't make it out of here..Suddenly and unexpectedly, I was lifted up on a horse and carried away. I opened my eyes slowly and found Terrence looking down at me with relief. He wrapped his cloak around me noticing my shivering body. "Let's get you back to camp." I nodded weakly, feeling exhausted as I curled into his body.

oOo

I wasn't let out of Terrence's sight until he made sure that Nicholas and his brothers were under lock and key. Then he brought me to his tent and made sure I was warm.

I was wrapped in his cloak with a blanket around me as well. Hot tea was thrusted into my hands, somewhat warming me up.

Terrence sat down next to me near the fire. "I'm so glad you're safe," he pressed his lips to my temple as I laid my head down on his shoulder. After a moment of silence he asked, "Did he do anything to hurt you at all?"

I looked up into his eyes and shook my head. "But I might need to rinse my mouth out with some herbs to kill worms." Terrence chuckled and pulled me closer to him, his head resting on top of mine.

"I should've gone with you myself. I wasn't there to protect you. I'm so sorry." His heart pounded softly in his chest, his voice amplified as my ear was pressed against him.

"I don't care. Just as long as you're here with me now." I looked up at him and he bent his head pressing his lips to mine gently. He pulled away and I tucked my head into his neck breathing him in. I felt his breath hitch as I gently pressed my lips against his skin. I pulled away and looked up into his eyes smiling. "I love you."

oOo

I took a deep breath in when I made it back home. Since the snow covered everything, it looked dull and bare. Terrence dismounted from behind me and helped me down from his horse. Mother rushed through the door, lifting her skirts up higher than was modest and hugged me, holding me close.

"Cassandra," she breathed. Father was right next to her and he clapped Terrence on the shoulder. Mother checked me over as Father talked in hushed tones with Terrence. King James came up and Father clapped his shoulder. They started talking in hushed tones as well. Father turned to Terrence and smiled. "It's thanks to you that my daughter is safe. I'll be be forever in you're debt."

Terrence shrugged. "It's my duty as her betrothed to watch over and protect her." He pulled me close to him and mother pressed her hands to her mouth trying to hide her smile. Terrence looked at me and smiled, his eyes a stark blue amongst the snow. "It's also my duty, since I love her."

I smiled at him and looked at mother who was almost jumping with joy. Both Kings looked at each other and smiled. Father clasped Terrence's hand. "It's about time."

oOo

Almost as soon as mother heard the news wedding plans were being thrown here and there, even though Terrence and I weren't to be wed until we were of age. We were to be married in the spring as the winters were colder and would make traveling hard.

Nicholas and his brothers still had to be trailed, but it would happen under King James's court. Terrence would help his father in his kingdom and the both of us traveled back and forth to see each other as much as possible.

I was currently in my room, warming up near the fire and curled up on my sofa reading. I heard the door open and looked up seeing Terrence drenched in water from the snow. He was still in his travelling clothes, so I assumed he just arrived. He shook his hair and splattered water everywhere.

"Couldn't you change, maybe bathe at least before coming into my room and smelling like a mangy animal?" I asked him, unamused.

Terrence looked up at me with a smile. "Such a lovely greeting from a lovely woman." He pulled himself over the sofa so he was on top of me. He planted a kiss on my lips and smiled. "But Cass I'm your wonderful mangy animal." I pulled my book away and placed my hand on his chest attempting to push him away.

"At least go change first, you're going to get a cold still dressed in wet clothing. And I won't be the one to take care of you when you're sick." As a response, he kissed me once more before standing up and taking his shirt off. I felt my cheeks warm up. "What pray tell, are you doing?" I tried my best to keep my eyes away and used my book to cover my eyes.

"I'm drying my clothes," he said simply. I stood up and went to leave the room, my book still in my face. "Where do you think you are going?" He asked teasingly. He grabbed my wrist and pulled me over, my hands instantly letting the book fall to the floor. I tried my best to ignore how his muscles rippled as he put his arms around me and how warm his skin felt. 

"Was this really necessary?" I asked, my eyebrows raised and cheeks aflame. I tried looking anywhere but at him.

He shrugged, his muscles flexing as he did. "Is it distracting?" He asked quietly, tilting my chin with his hand making me look at him.

I felt the words escape from my lips as his close proximity was catching me off guard. "I-just go get changed." I blurted out as I shoved him out of my room.

****
Ooooh a double update!
Just gonna warn you, this is probably the only time I will ever double update and that's only because I NEED TO FINISH THIS STORY!!!

Hope you are having a nice Summer if you live in America and as always, thank you for reading!
-Hannah