Dalliance

Chapter Thirty Four

Dawson paced back and forth in his chambers, contemplating what would make a man kill a child, as well as placing Holly's life in danger. Not only that, but the thought that the child was his. Of missing the times of being able to hold his own creation in his arms and thinking about what it would be like to see a piece of himself grow into the world he had come to know.

"You are not easy for me to understand." A voice spoke as he turned to find Holly standing behind him.

"Holly...what are you-"

"You and I had a planned walk earlier..."

He let out a sigh and went to speak before she held her hand up so he would cease his speaking.

"I saw you with my healer....I heard everything."

He froze, seeing the tears in her eyes as she leaped towards him, crying against his chest.

"It is alright, Holly-"

"Is it true though? Everything you spoke of?"

"It would make sense as to why the things were happening to you...-"

"I was with a child...I remember vaguely. I was sitting by the water and my reflection looked so happy. I was going to tell the father that day...but I fear it is not a memory-just a wish. He says I can never have a child now. I will never know what it is like to feel one growing inside of me...to never broaden an heir...the King will kill me for that."

"No he won't. Because I am going to get you out of here today."

"It is too dangerous..."

"I have spent the last six months here plotting on how to make you remember and I realize now that you may never-"

"Dawson, I-"

"And I also realized in that moment, that I will just make you fall in love with me again."

An appreciated smirk came over her face as she kissed his cheek. "What is your plan?"

"We will leave after he goes to dinner with his knights. I will claim a sickness and we will have an entire night's ride before they realize we've gone." He paused as he saw her apprehension. "I promise that I will not let harm come to you."

"I do not doubt it."

"Then what causes you such worry?"

"If I can never remember my love for you...you deserve someone who does. Someone who shared such beautiful memories with you."

"I know it is difficult to understand, but I do not wish for anything but you. I do not care if you do not remember...it will only make me work harder."

She smiled once more as a knock came on his door.

"I will meet you near the fountain at the time he takes dinner. We must leave quickly and quietly so bring only what is a complete necessity."

She nodded.

"Thank you." She said as a tear slid down her cheek. He exited his room and was instructed to spar with a new knight for the remainder of the day. All while Holly was going through her things and thinking of what was something she could not live without. Pairing perfumes in one satchel along with jewels in another, she saw how it would be too much to carry-especially quietly. She then turned towards the mirror and caught her own reflection. In her mind, she encouraged herself to trust Dawson, as even without her full memories-she did have a love for him.

"Only what's a necessity." With that phrase lingering in the air, she turned and dumped everything out onto the bed aside from a ruby necklace, her favorite book, a spare corset and skirt, and a canteen that was given to her by the healer. Stuffing the bag underneath her mattress, she had waited anxiously for her husband to take dinner.

Dawson paced back and forth in the garden as he was anxious to see her. With a horse at the ready, he moved back to the animal and gently rubbed its face as he spoke, "It is the first time she has shown affection like this...I am incredibly eager to take her from here...for her to experience life without being tied to that bastard..."

"I would hate to see if you found him kind..."

He turned to the sound of her voice and smiled as he saw the excitement in her eyes.

"We must go...are you ready?"

She took a deep breath and nodded. "I may not be able to remember where I'm from...but I know that here isn't it...I can feel it."

He slowly nodded. "You grew up in a cottage about five leagues from here."

"Would you be able to take me there?"

"You wish to go?"

"I do. If not for me, than for you."

"For me?"

"I can see when you talk about her how you miss her. I want to gift her back to you in anyway I can. You are risking your life for me Dawson...it is the least I can do..." He nodded as he assisted her onto the horse.

"To Seralake Mainland it is..."