Dalliance

Chapter Four

Holly awoke in the early hours of the morning to hear the sound of wood being chopped in the short distance. Making her way to the window, she saw how it was Dawson. His long bangs were hung just over his eye as his muscles ripped when he brought the axe above him. Slamming it down, the wood did not stand a chance before falling on either side. He would then repeat the process, until his gaze caught her. For a moment, he lingered looking at her before continuing with his work. By the time Holly dressed for the day, he finished his morning chores and was near the lake, washing up. Again, her view of him was in a more seductive manner then their earlier years. His toned physique lured her deeply under his spell as he flexed as he moved. The scars from many fights in his adolescence still riddled his body, but alas, she could not tear her gaze. Feeling he was being watched, Dawson quickly turned to find her gaze towards him and although she tried to use a tree for cover, her dress gave her away.

"How long have you been watching me?" He asked as he made it known he saw her. Standing in front of her with a damp chest and a sinful grin, she glared.

"I was simply seeing who was in the lake..."

"I believe you were spying on me...perhaps your feelings for me have grown past the point of platonic." He teased as he leaned towards her, his muscles curving around her, entangling her in his damp embrace.

"You-" Before she could respond, her gaze caught something in the distance. "Smoke!"

Dawson turned quick before whistling for his horse and riding towards the scene. Seeing Holly's stern expression, he took her along before they both came across their home. Now it was nothing but a flat pile of ashes and a few charred remains of memories they both shared.

"Eleana!" Dawson cried out as he moved towards a woman who was crushed under a beam of the home. Using all of his strength, Dawson was able to push it from her body, but then saw how the damage was indeed fatal. Her stomach was impaled with a portion of the wood and the would was too large to stitch. With tears in their eyes, Dawson and Holly were forced to watch the person they love most suffer. Coughing up blood and breathing deep, Holly placed Eleana's head in her lap before Dawson took her hand.

"You two were crafted by God to end up life partners." Dawson looked deep towards Holly. "I never wished for anything more than that...I truly hope you can find your way to one another..." Her eyes trailed off slightly past Dawson until her chest ceased movement. Falling victim to mourning, Holly balled against Eleana before Dawson saw a single item lingering on the ground. Rising from the ashes in a literal action, he picked up a sword with a red string tied to the handle.

"It's Nicholas..." He spoke as he turned towards Holly. "He did this..." He motioned his arm around to show that several other buildings had been singed by fires-but nothing quite as bad as their childhood home.

"You cannot begin an uprising..."

"How can you be so calm about this?" He snapped at her as he threw the sword on the ground in disgust. "Has he caused you to be so crazed that you not only lie to me but side with him? Are your feelings growing for him?"

"Do not be absurd. I loathe him greater than anyone will ever truly comprehend! But retaliating now will mean certain death-we must break him from within."

"And how do you suggest one does that exactly?"

"When he returns, everything will be as he desires."

"Not everything..." Dawson was stern on his comment. "I would gladly break his neck if he were to take that innocence from you..."

Taking a deep breath, she felt Dawson's hand brush away a tear from her cheek. "We cannot allow him to ignore the consequences he has brought upon himself.

"I vow to you Dawson, he will know pain greater then ours combined. Even if it takes his entire kingdom crumbling at his feet. I promise, he will know this pain."