Dalliance

Chapter Sixty One

Pulling at her binds and crying out for help although she was gagged, Holly prayed to not end this way. When placed on the ground, she could hear the steps around her as the men were collecting rocks-a fact unknown to her. Dawson ran to the stables, pulling a horse from its rest and rushing towards her aid, taking a safe distance to watch. The men had at least ten large rocks near her side by the time they showed a large sack that she was going to be placed in. One man lifted her inside while Dawson snuck to a man offset-putting him in to a choke hold until he could no longer breathe. Moving ahead to the two men remaining, he saw how the rocks were placed in the bottom of the bag first, and then she was. Sitting on the edge of the lake, the men when to push her in as they tied the top closed, before Dawson made himself known. The men drew their swords and their duel began.

Dawson was rusty at best with sword fighting, but was able to hold his own; coming out of the battle with a few scratches. With the first man bleeding from his right side, the last one became enraged-speaking in cruel phrases and foul language in hopes of persuading Dawson to become unfocused. But when it came to Holly, she was all he could focus on. Dawson dodged the man's thrusts, eventually kicking him far enough back to knock into Holly. Very quickly, she fell into the water with a splash as Dawson became distracted and was overtaken by his foe, being knocked to the ground. Just before he was stabbed, the man grunted and a dagger was revealed to be prominent in his back.  Falling on top of Dawson, he quickly pushed him off and dove into the water, not thinking twice as to who helped him.

Finding the bag resting soundly, he could feel Holly trying to break free, and prayed she would continue to fight it. Using his blade, he found the bag tie was made of a twine-type rope that was incredibly difficult to break with his sword. Pulling harsh on the wire, he found his fingers to ache and her kicking to have ceased. Growing frustrated, he accidentally slipped and cut his own hand, but found his task to still take his attention. A splash came at his side as he discovered Nicholas cut the bag itself; Dawson aided him. It tore somewhat easier and she was exposed to be unconscious.

Kicking off the floor of the lake, Dawson gasped for air while Nicholas helped pull her to land. Leaning his head to her chest, he tried to listen for a heartbeat but found silence. Taking her face, he gently held her.

"Come back to me, my love. Not like this...come on...fight for me..."

"Here..." Nicholas placed his hands on her chest, pumping the water from her lungs and motioned for Dawson to breathe into her mouth. Copying this process several times, she eventually began coughing before clinging onto Dawson and giving a thankful look to Nicholas.

"How did you know to do that?" Dawson asked after kissing Holly's damp forehead.

"I saw a healer do it once...when someone was choking...I thought it might work."

"Thank you."

"Yes...thank you." Holly spoke without looking to him as Nicholas left Dawson and Holly alone. By the time she fully recuperated, night had fallen and they were laying on their backs looking at the stars.

"This reminds me of right before I left."

He smiled. "We promised to never be apart for too long."

"Dawson...Vera-"

"I know. I know everything. I know what she did to you..." And as he explained in detail, Holly returned the favor and discussed everything she knew. Now, both caught up, they lingered in awe of the woman who nearly single-handedly ruined their lives.

"What do we do?"

"I do not want to think of her now...Please forgive me for all the pain that I have brought upon you. I knew what it must have been-"

She pulled him into a deep hug, surprising him.

"Deep down, I knew you had not done anything. I could feel it." A tear slid down her cheek. "It did not make the moment easier, but it was not impossible to bear. Dawson...what do we do from here?"

"We expose her."

"How?"

"By showing everyone that you are alive."

"How?"

"She is executing a beggar for taking something off a cart earlier this week...we will do it then...why I set him free."

"You will go against her?"

He nodded. "I would go against the world." Gently placing his hand on her cheek, he slowly moved in for a kiss before pressing his lips onto hers. She gave a wide smile until pulling him onto her, having them both fall back into the grass. "Not here..." She motioned to the bodies around them, as she spoke out of breath.

"I am desperate to claim you."

"As I am you." They shared another kiss while rising on their feet. He kissed her neck as they were anxious for a place to go. "Meet me in the stables in an hour. I will tell Vera that you were killed-it will make the moment of your "resurrection" that much sweeter."

Pulling him into a deep kiss, she slowly moved away. "Until then." He gave her the horse as they both returned to the castle; Holly, in the cellar, and Dawson, to deal with Vera.