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Post by onyxfyrefly on May 7, 2012 7:26:20 GMT -5
Since the weather had been cooperating, Emmet and his men had erected a large tent between two wagons while they were plotting Ryan’s escape. This is where they met in order to debrief from the mission and to discuss their next plan of action.
Aislin was allowed to attend the meeting because she wanted to check on everyone’s injuries and had planned on departing before the real discussion began.
She looked up when Stephan blearily made his way into the tent. He had only been allowed to sleep for a couple of hours before being summoned to the meeting. Ryan had excused him but the young man had insisted on attending. He was practically asleep on his feet and Aislin wondered if he would be able to stay awake.
After wrapping a fresh bandage around Cody’s ankle and propping it up on a stool Aislin stood to leave when Emmet’s voice stopped her. “Would you please stay, Aislin?”
The request shocked the healer but she nodded and found a seat off to the side, it didn’t feel right to be sitting in the main circle with Ryan’s men.
“It is good to have you back, king Ryan,” said Emmet with a smile. “It was Aislin that discovered that you had disappeared and at first we feared the worst. May I ask how you ended up in that cell?”
Ryan glanced over at the healer but she was staring straight head. Slowly he began to tell the tale of his affair with Julianne but this story varied from the version that he’d told Aislin. Leaving out the parts about falling in love with a villager, Ryan described Julianne as a seductress who had lured him in and entranced him with her beauty. The healer frowned when Ryan claimed that Julianne had set up a trap for him, leading him into the woods so one of the villagers could attack him from behind.
Ryan shook his head and ran a hand through his hair, unconsciously brushing his fingers over the lump that had nearly disappeared. “My acts were foolish. I put the entire tribe in danger and I apologize. It was a novice’s mistake but it will not happen again.”
Across the tent Aislin fought the urge to jump up and call Ryan out. She had assumed that he would be honest with his men, especially since they risked their lives to save him, but apparently his version of the story was better than the truth. Keeping her mouth shut she listened as Emmet explained about the rescue mission.
The plan was fairly simple but rather dangerous because the men would be more or less on their own. Usually they fought as a group and even though each warrior was strong, their were stronger when they fought together.
Taylor and Justin both had the unique ability to throw their voices and they had placed themselves around the village in order to disorient the villagers. The ruse had worked beautifully and it was almost amusing watching the villagers run back and forth in an attempt to locate the owner of the voice.
Cody, Stephan, and Ethan had added to the chaos by dashing through the woods and the village, allowing the villagers to catch a glimpse of them before disappearing. This forced the villagers to separate and gave Emmet and Adam the opportunity to sneak into the village in order to free Ryan.
There had been a bit of fighting once the villagers realized that they were being tricked but overall the villagers seemed like they simply wanted to run the gypsies off instead of trying to capture or kill them.
The only weapon that had been brandished had been by Keith at the bridge. Aislin blushed and ducked her head as Emmet and Adam sang her praises. “It was the most brilliant shot I’ve ever seen!” exclaimed Adam.
“She managed to pin his jacket to the side of the building without even nicking his skin. I’ve never seen anyone make a shot like that let alone at that distance and in the dead of night,” said Emmet. When Aislin had first joined the tribe he was a little wary of her and was jealous because she knew so much about the neighboring village. After seeing her bravery and skills those thoughts had vanished and he realized that she was an asset to the clan.
“I thank you all for your efforts,” said Ryan with a smile. “I am in your debt and there shall be a feast in your honor.”
The men cheered then Emmet turned serious. “Thank you, king Ryan. Now, what should our next plan of action be? Should we retaliate?”
“Have the villagers come searching for us?”
“No,” replied Adam. “They have not made any moves against us nor do they seem to be planning to do so. Of course it is still early, they could be planning something but it may still be in its early stages.”
“Then let’s wait,” said Ryan. “Our tribe members have had enough to worry about in my absence and I want my men to be at their best when we attack. Rest and recuperate, my friends, we will wait to gain our revenge.”
Ryan’s words made something inside Aislin’s chest ache and she studied the ground at her feet as the meeting was concluded. She was reaching for her basket when Ryan’s next words made her pause.
“I am still quite weary and am going to take some time to recuperate and meditate on our next plan of action. Emmet you are in command until I return, only summon me in a dire emergency.” The young man nodded and Ryan smiled. “Get some rest, you have done well and I am proud to fight by your side.”
Aislin stood with the others and Ryan tried to catch her eye but she turned too quickly. With a sigh he left the tent and went in search of his sister, wondering what he was going to do with the fiery dancer.
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Post by celticbear on May 7, 2012 20:48:56 GMT -5
Great Update Onyx! I'm mad at Ryan for not telling his men truth! And when Ryan finds his sister he better go easy on her because if he doesn't then I have a feeling that fiery sister of his will run away to join Keith's Village!
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Post by onyxfyrefly on May 8, 2012 7:15:44 GMT -5
Caroline had spent the morning in her wagon and once Aislin told her that Ryan was going to be alright she had headed out into the woods. She knew that she was going to have to face her brother eventually but she wanted time to gather her thoughts.
Sitting down on a fallen log she allowed her mind to wander over the events of the past few months. For the first time in her life she was in love and unconsciously smiled when she thought of Keith. The smile faded when she remembered that she had fallen in love with a villager, a villager with a dangerous secret.
She was torn. One the one hand she had finally found someone that she loved and who loved her in return but on the other hand her brother had forbidden her to ever see him again. Caroline couldn’t go against Ryan’s wishes but she couldn’t bear the thought of losing Keith.
Letting her head rest in her hands, she was still deep in thought when someone sat down next to her. She didn’t have to look up to know it was Ryan but she wasn’t ready to face him yet.
The gypsy king glanced over at his sister and sighed while sitting back on his hands. They sat in silence for what seemed like hours before he finally spoke up. “Do you remember the night of the fire?”
His abrupt question made Caroline jump and she turned to look at him but Ryan was gazing off in the distance. Of course she remembered the night of the fire, it was the worst night of her life and she still sometimes woke screaming feeling smoke burning her lungs.
“Yes,” she finally answered.
“I remember your face that night as we watched the barn burn. You were forced to grow up in a matter of minutes and I hated myself for allowing that to happen. I’ve gone over the scenario dozens of times in my head and I know I could have done something to save mother and father that night.” Ryan turned and placed his hand on his sister’s shoulder. “I failed you that night and I swore it would never happen again. But it did. When I was captured I knew I had failed you again. I’m sorry, Caroline.”
Whatever the dancer was expecting it wasn’t this and she was shocked by the pain in Ryan’s voice. She had never seen him show so much emotion and it scared her. Even when their parents had perished he had set his jaw and led her back to the caravan, not making a sound when Meara set his broken wrist and tended to his burns. This was a side of her brother that she had never seen before and his vulnerability unnerved her.
“Ryan, there was nothing you could have done that night. We were unprepared and we paid a terrible price for our carelessness but we learned from that mistake. And it isn’t your fault that you were captured by the villagers, if I hadn’t said those horrid things that night then you wouldn’t have felt the need to go on a solo raid.”
Ryan looked into his sister’s brown eyes and sighed. He had lied to his men because he was ashamed of his affair with Julianne but he couldn’t lie to his sister. She was the only family he had left and she deserved to know the truth.
“I didn’t get captured because I was on a raid.”
“What?”
Ryan closed his eyes and began to speak and once he started he couldn’t stop. He told Caroline everything from his first meeting with Julianne on the night of the raid to the night of his capture. It felt good to get the burden off of his chest but he knew that every word cut his sister like a knife.
Finally he fell silent but Caroline couldn’t speak around the lump of emotion in her throat. Part of her was glad that her brother had found love and her heart went out to him because Julianne refused to join him but the other part of her was furious because while he was having an affair with a villager he was forbidding her to so the same.
She opened her mouth but Ryan held up a hand. “I know you are angry and you have every right to be. But believe me, I was only acting in your best interests.” He brushed a stray strand of hair from her face and smiled slightly. “Whenever I see you I still see the little girl who was afraid of garden snakes and couldn’t stand to get her skirts dirty and I still want to protect that little girl. But…that little girl is gone and in her place is a beautiful young woman who is capable of making her own decisions.”
“Does that mean…?”
Ryan shook his head. “No, I cannot give you my blessing. But I can give you something else. Your freedom.”
Caroline frowned. “My freedom?”
“I release you from your duties as a princess. You will have the choice to marry whoever you wish but you know the law. If you leave the tribe to pursue your love and we move on you cannot make any attempt to find us again. Understood?”
The dancer nodded slowly as she took in her brother’s words. She was given the opportunity to be with the man that she loved but if she followed her heart she would lose the only family that she had left. It was an impossible decision and it made her stomach twist with confusion.
Knowing that she needed some time to think things over, Ryan stood and placed a hand on her shoulder. “No matter what your decision is remember that I love you and that will never change.”
Caroline’s breath hitched and she felt her eyes burn with tears as her brother walked away. Placing a hand over she heart she swore she felt it breaking with every step that Ryan took.
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Post by celticbear on May 8, 2012 19:35:36 GMT -5
Wow! Ryan told Caroline the truth! Then did something I never thought he would do, GIVE HIS SISTER HER FREEDOM! Can't wait to find out what her choice is!
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Post by onyxfyrefly on May 9, 2012 7:28:02 GMT -5
Ryan spent most of his day resting but each time he attempted to sleep vivid images of the events of the past few months flashed before his eyes. Finally he gave up and decided to go for a walk to clear his head.
Topping a small rise he was surprised to see a familiar form sitting inside a large circle of rocks. “Aislin?”
The healer didn’t jump, it was as if she was expecting him. She simply turned her head and regarded him with an expressionless gaze before moving back to her original position. Ryan frowned then sat down near her, noticing that she held a bundle in her lap. “This is for you,” she said at last while handing him the bundle.
A crease appeared between Ryan’s eyes as he looked down at the item in his hands. It was a beautiful crimson scarf that he knew belonged to Julianne and it was wrapped around the dagger that he always carried in his belt. When he had been captured the villagers had taken the weapon and he had believed that he would never see it again.
“Where did you get this?”
“It was on the bridge. Even if she can’t be with you, it is obvious that fair Julianne still cares for you. Are you sure she’s not worth fighting for?”
Ryan crumpled the scarf in his hands as Aislin spoke. Part of him wanted to believe that Julianne loved him but deep down he knew that she wasn’t the one for him. He shook his head and let go of the scarf, watching as the wind picked it up and tossed it into its currents. It caught on one of the rocks that made up the circle and fluttered now and then like a banner in the breeze.
“What is this place?” Ryan didn’t recognize the area, it was further North than he usually ventured.
“Legend says it is a fairy circle and if you manage to catch a fairy it will grant you a wish. I don’t know if that’s true but I find it calming, there’s an energy in the air here.”
“If the legends were true, what would you wish for?”
Aislin smiled slightly but the emotion didn’t reach her eyes. “Peace.”
“Peace?”
The healer nodded. “I am weary, all I wish for is peace.”
Ryan turned to face the young woman and noticed for the first time how exhausted she looked. There were dark circles under her eyes and she was nearly as thin as when she had joined the tribe. Even though she sat tall, Ryan could see how much effort it took to keep her posture.
“What ails you, Aislin?”
“Don’t worry yourself, king Ryan, my welfare is none of your concern.”
“That’s not true, as one of my tribe members your wellbeing is of the utmost importance to me. Now what’s wrong?”
Aislin laced her fingers together in her lap and shook her head. “Ever since my father’s death things have gone from bad to worse. I suppose I was hoping that things would calm down and I would once again have a sense of normalcy once I joined your tribe. With the events of late that has been impossible.” She shook her head and watched a dragonfly dart past before continuing. “Forgive me, I’m just overly tired. Once I get a full night’s rest I will be fine.”
Ryan moved to sit closer and was surprised when she flinched away. “I think it’s more than that. You’ve always been able to handle stressful situations with a grace that is unmatched. But lately you seem to be unhappy. What can I do to remedy this?”
“There’s nothing that you can do, king Ryan. Go back to your people, they have been concerned about you and I’m sure that they would love to spend some time with you. And you have a feast you should be planning, it would do the tribe good to have a celebration.”
“Don’t do this, Aislin. Don’t push me away.”
Ryan placed a hand on her shoulder but the moment he touched her she practically jumped to her feet. She walked to the edge of the circle and wrapped her arms around herself. Even from a distance Ryan could see that she was trembling and the sight of the usually stoic young woman in such distress unnerved him.
He stood and walked towards her, stopping when he was about an arm’s length away. “Aislin, please, let me help you.”
“Why? Why should you care?”
Her voice wavered and something inside of Ryan broke. “I care because since I was seventeen years old I have loved you.”
Aislin swallowed hard and shook her head sadly. “You have to stop saying things like that. It’s absurd.”
“Since when is the truth absurd?”
“You are a king and I am just a healer, we’re socially so far apart that we shouldn’t even be sharing the same air. It is madness to speak of love to someone like me.”
Ryan gently touched Aislin’s cheek, ignoring her flinch, turning her head until she met his eyes. “You are not just a healer. You’re a warrior, a trader, a spy, a hunter, a friend and so much more. You’re the bravest person I have ever met and you’re a survivor. With that said, why can’t you believe that I love you?”
“I believe that you love me but I can’t…won’t allow that to happen.” She tried to turn away but Ryan wouldn’t let her.
“Why not?”
“Because everyone I’ve ever cared for or loved is gone!” Aislin suddenly exclaimed. She covered her mouth with her hand but the words had already escaped.
Ryan froze as the pieces finally fell into place. She was scared. He had finally found a chink in the seemingly impenetrable armor that she surrounded herself with but he could tell that she was already attempting to amend her previous words.
“You say that you love me but why did you go running to Julianne? This morning you told me that you loved her and wanted to make her your queen.”
Aislin’s grey eyes flashed with anger and Ryan ran his hand through his hair. “Julianne was just a distraction. The only time I could stop thinking of you was when I was with her. I wanted to love her and for awhile I thought that I did but every time that I would walk into camp and see you I was reminded that you had stolen my heart. It always has always belonged to you and I’m sorry if I hurt you.”
Shaking her head, the healer tried to push past him but Ryan caught her wrists in his hands. “I don’t believe you, you can’t say that you love me then go running into the arms of another woman. Now let me go.”
“Aislin please, just listen to me.” She struggled in his grasp but Ryan knew if she really wanted to break free she could.
“No, I can no longer listen to this madness. You have no idea how hard it is to lose everyone that you love, to watch them die in your arms. I can’t do it again, I can’t lose you, I ca-” Her words were cut off when Ryan released her wrists and pulled her close as he kissed her.
Against her will, Aislin’s eyes closed as Ryan’s arms tightened around her. Deep down she felt something spark to life as she lost herself in Ryan’s kiss. Suddenly realizing her position she doused the growing spark and tore herself from Ryan’s embrace.
She pushed Ryan away and would have hated seeing the pain in his eyes but she was too mortified at her own situation. Holding back the flood of emotions that threatened to spill over the young woman turned and ran, disappearing into the approaching darkness before Ryan had a chance to react.
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Post by onyxfyrefly on May 11, 2012 8:05:24 GMT -5
Ryan stood stunned for several moments, trying to process what had just happened. He hadn’t planned on kissing Aislin and he certainly hadn’t anticipated the horrified look on her face when she pushed him away. He briefly considered running after her but he knew that she wouldn’t be found if she didn’t want to be found.
He returned to camp in a daze, nearly bumping into one of his people and blaming his clumsiness on his exhaustion. His men pulled him to the side to go over the details of the upcoming celebration and Ryan wanted nothing more to pass the project over to his sister. Unfortunately Caroline wouldn’t even look him in the eye let alone assist with the planning of a feast.
Somehow he made it through the evening without offending anyone but he couldn’t help looking around every few minutes to see if Aislin returned to camp. His weariness finally caught up with him and he was forced to head to bed, glancing around once more to see if the healer had returned.
The next morning Ryan woke at dawn, something didn’t sit right with him. After getting changed and pulling on his cloak he walked into the camp and met Meara. The older woman looked worried as she rushed up to him.
“What’s wrong, Meara?”
“Aislin never returned last night. After the ordeal with the villagers I fear for her safety.”
Her words made Ryan’s stomach twist into knots and he made himself stay calm. “I’m sure she’s fine. She’s too smart to get herself captured. I’ll go and see if I can find her.” Meara nodded and watched as Ryan walked to the edge of the woods.
As soon as he was out of sight of the camp Ryan stopped and leaned against a tree. Aislin knew every inch of these woods and he had no idea where to start looking for her. He doubted that she would go near the village or the harbor but there were dozens of places where she could disappear.
He closed his eyes and thought over their discussion from the previous night. Suddenly Aislin’s words came rushing back to him, ‘Because everyone I’ve ever cared for or loved is gone!’. The words were so clear that he swore they had been spoke out loud.
Opening his eyes he began to walk towards the North with a determined stride, letting his feet guide him through the unfamiliar territory. Soon he was approaching the small cemetery and his heart sank when he saw the image in front of him.
A small figure that could easily be identified as Aislin was curled up near Darcy’s grave, her pale arm reaching out towards the headstone.
As Ryan approached he noticed the tiny drops of drew that clung to her hair and clothes and shone like diamonds in the early morning light. Surely she hadn’t spent the entire night here?
Kneeling next to her, a wave of déjà vu hit him as he remembered performing the exact same action several months prior. He brushed her hair away from her face and gasped when he felt her ice cold skin under his hands. Leaning close he listened for a breath and after several agonizing seconds he heard the ragged sound from between her lips.
Ryan pulled off his cloak and wrapped it around the young woman then pulled her into his arms. She may have been breathing but he had no idea how she was still alive. Her entire body was stiff and felt like ice in his arms. He could see the dried tracks of her tears staining her cheeks and he smoothed her hair back as he held her close.
“Aislin, can you hear me?” he asked while stroking her ice cold cheek.
“Aislin, please wake up…don’t do this to me,” Ryan pleaded as he ran his hands up and down her arms, attempting to coax some warmth into her body. He knew that he should take her back to camp so Meara could help her but something held him in place and he couldn’t convince himself to move.
“Please…” he whispered as he let his forehead rest against hers. She wasn’t quite as cold as before but he hated the boneless way she lay in his arms. Ryan didn’t know what to do, he could practically feel her life draining away.
Steeling himself, he was getting ready to force himself to his feet when the healer let out a soft moan. Looking down, Ryan watched as her eyelids fluttered several times and he shook her gently. “Stay with me, Aislin.”
It took several minutes before the grey eyes opened and stayed that way. Aislin looked around in confusion and blinked to clear her vision. “Ryan? What’s going on? Where are we?”
“You don’t remember?”
Aislin furrowed her brow in concentration as she fought to recall the events from the previous night. She remembered arguing with Ryan, his kiss, and the inescapable desire to get away. She had started running and hadn’t stopped until her legs had given out. The moment that she hit the ground her body was wracked with sobs and she struggled to breathe against the searing pain in her chest. After that things began to lose focus.
“I remember running and crying then…” she couldn’t finish as she was caught up in a fit of coughing. Ryan helped her sit up as the ragged coughs tore at her lungs. Finally she was able to breathe again and she fell limply into his arms.
“We need to get back to camp,” said Ryan while adjusting his hold but Aislin’s hand on his arm stopped him.
“No.”
“What do you mean? You’re ill, I have to get you home.”
Instead of looking at Ryan, Aislin turned her head and looked towards her sister’s grave. She reached towards the marker and let her hand rest against the soft earth. “It should have been me,” she whispered.
“Don’t say things like that.”
“But it’s true. Darcy had a family, a future. She deserved to live. I have nothing…just memories.”
Ryan gently touched Aislin’s cheek and turned her head until she met his eyes, frowning when he felt the once ice cold skin now burn with fever.
“That’s not true, you still have a family. There is a tribe that relies on you, that needs you…that loves you.”
Aislin’s eyes closed as a pained grimace crossed her face and Ryan knew that the time for talking had passed, he had to get her back to camp. Carefully he stood and cradled her close to his body as he walked as quickly as he could back to the caravan.
Meara was waiting and the healer’s eyes widened when she saw Aislin’s still form in his arms. “What happened?”
“She spent all night outside and has developed some type of cough and a fever.”
“Bring her inside.”
Ryan placed Aislin on the cot and watched as Meara bustled around the small space. He held the young woman’s hand until Meara shooed him away. “I will tend to her. I will call you as soon as I’m finished.”
Ryan was reluctant to leave but he trusted Meara and sat down on the steps of her wagon to wait. He let his head rest in his hands and hated the fact that his actions caused Aislin so much distress. If he hadn’t kissed her then she wouldn’t be in this predicament and he wouldn’t forgive himself if anything happened to her.
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Post by laurenne on May 11, 2012 11:27:18 GMT -5
It's not his fault, he has to stop blaming himself. She'llfet better, I know she will. More soon, please.
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Post by onyxfyrefly on May 12, 2012 7:29:23 GMT -5
It was nearly an hour before Meara emerged. Ryan jumped up and the healer gave him a slight smile. “She’s going to be fine, it’s just a touch of a cold. I managed to stop the fever before it got too high and gave her something for the cough.”
“May I see her?”
For once the older woman paused and regarded the young man for a long time. “I cannot stop you but she doesn’t seem very inclined to talk. Do not upset her, king Ryan. You may have rank over me but I am your elder, remember that.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Ryan stepped into the darkened wagon and again was reminded of the night they found Aislin. He sat down on a low stool next to her cot and waited for her to stir. Eventually she rolled over and seemed to stare through Ryan. She did look better, she wasn’t nearly as pale but she looked so miserable that Ryan’s heart broke.
Finally she spoke but her words weren’t exactly what Ryan was expecting. “Why did you name me successor? Do you not trust your own sister?”
Ryan ran a hand through his hair then sat back and crossed his arms. “It’s not that I don’t trust Caroline, but she never wanted to rule the tribe. She would have been content to be a queen and assist with the leadership but I know to rule in my absence isn’t the life that she wanted. Then when she began her affair with Keith I knew that I could not force her to lead the tribe when her heart lies with him.”
“So you approve of this romance?”
“No, I still do not approve but I gave her a choice. I released her of her duties as princess. Now she has the option to marry whoever she chooses.”
Aislin coughed and settled back against the pillows. “But if she chooses Keith and we move on she cannot follow us, correct?” Ryan nodded and the healer closed her eyes. “You have backed her into a corner and are forcing her to make an impossible decision. She has to either follow her heart or stay with her family, that’s hardly fair.”
“It may not seem fair but at least she has the choice, I could have forbidden the relationship and moved the tribe.”
With a sigh Aislin nodded. “I suppose you are right.” She turned and met his eyes once more. “But now that Caroline has been freed of her position am I to take over the role? Why would you assume I would want that responsibility? Why would you force this burden upon me?”
Ryan leaned forward and let his elbows rest on his knees. “I know and my actions are inexcusable but ever since we discovered Keith’s identity I have worried about the safety of the tribe. My people seem reluctant to leave and I know that it is going to take all of the efforts of my men to keep them safe. I didn’t know who else I could trust to care for the tribe and keep them safe in the event of a tragedy. I’m sorry if I offended you, Aislin, but you’re the only one I could turn to.”
Silence fell between them as Aislin processed this new information. She was honored that Ryan trusted her enough to name her his successor but she wondered if he had an ulterior motive. He said that he loved her, could this be an attempt to make her his queen?
“Thank you, king Ryan. It is an honor and I will not let you down.”
She pulled the blanket up to her chin and settled against the pillows, using her exhaustion as an excuse to end the discussion.
Ryan started to stand but stopped himself. There had been something weighing heavily on his mind and he wouldn’t rest until he had an answer.
“Why did you run last night?”
The grey eyes flew open and Aislin frowned. “I ran because you kissed me and I was unprepared for your actions.”
“I saw the look on your face, you looked like you saw a ghost. I apologize if my actions were too bold but I don’t believe that a simple kiss would lead to that kind of reaction.”
The healer pulled her knees to her chest and studied a knot in the wood on the far wall. “I ran because…I can’t lose you again.”
“What?”
“Ryan, when your tribe was forced to leave I was barely thirteen, just a child. After you left something strange started to happen. Every time that I thought of you my stomach would twist into painful knots and my chest would ache. I couldn’t understand what was wrong with me, I was too ill to eat or sleep and nothing that Meave tried would soothe my symptoms.”
“My parents began to fear the worst when Darcy came to visit me. I was staying in Meave’s wagon because they didn’t want my mysterious disease to spread. My sister sat down next to me and told me that I was suffering from a broken heart. I thought she had gone mad, I was just a child, but the more I thought about it the more it made sense. I looked at the relationships that I had with the people in my tribe and compared it to the relationship I had with you.”
“And?” Ryan prompted when Aislin fell silent.
“There was no comparison. I cared for everyone in my tribe but I…I guess you could say that I fancied you. Darcy said that she knew that you had cared for me more than you could ever care for her and once she had recovered from the initial shock she had tried to explain the situation to father. Of course he wouldn’t listen, the heir of one tribe marrying the youngest daughter was absurd and he wouldn’t hear of it.”
“I hated the way that I felt when you left so I swore I would never get close enough to anyone to get hurt again, but the Fates had different plans…”
Aislin couldn’t look at Ryan anymore so she rolled over and faced the wall. Ryan wouldn’t be deterred and sat on the edge of the cot so he could hear her speak.
“You don’t know what it is like to see those you love dying all around you while you live. You can’t possibly know the pain of watching your mother waste away before your eyes or feel your sister’s life drain away in a river of blood. You don’t know what it’s like to watch your child take their last breath…”The young woman couldn’t finish, she turned her head and buried her face in the pillow.
Ryan sat in shock at her last words. Aislin had a child? He didn’t remember her saying anything about getting married or bringing a child into this world. Suddenly he recalled their discussion at the cemetery the day of the feast.
“You said that a member of the tribe took in Darcy’s daughter…you took her in, didn’t you?”
Aislin nodded but didn’t lift her head, she simply turned slightly so Ryan could hear her speak. “It was the least I could do. I failed Darcy, I let her life slip through my fingers, so I thought I could give Madison a good life. I tried to be a good mother but I failed her too. My baby girl died in my arms and I wasn’t even allowed to bury her…she was carted out with the others.”
Her breath hitched as tears began to roll down her cheeks. Ryan pulled her close and she turned, burying her head in his chest as she cried. He gently stroked her hair, realizing that this was the first time he could ever remember seeing Aislin cry. Even when they were children and she had broken her arm by falling out of a tree she had not let a single tear fall.
“I’m so sorry, Aislin. Fate has not been kind but you cannot let the pain from your past rule your future.”
“I can’t do it anymore, I can’t watch anyone else I love die. If I refuse to love then it won’t hurt as much when someone is taken away from me.”
Ryan tipped Aislin’s chin up and wiped her tears away. “Nothing in this life is certain. There are no guarantees in life and tomorrow is not promised to us. Why not enjoy what you have while you have it? Do not dwell on your loved ones’ deaths, celebrate their lives.”
The healer swallowed hard and let her head rest against Ryan’s chest as she considered his words. He was right, there was nothing she could have done to save her family and there were many bright memories that still brought a smile to her face. She was also a healer and couldn’t let fear rule her life. In fact she had to be as brave if not braver than the warriors. Yes, they may have to face danger head on but she was the one that had to deal with the aftermath.
“You’re right, thank you.” She sat up slightly and gently touched his cheek. “I just have one request of you.”
“Of course, anything.”
“Never die.”
Ryan chuckled and brushed away a few stray tears from her face. “I will do my best but why am I forbidden to die?”
“Because I don’t want to lose another person that I love.”
The gypsy king went very still at her words. “You…you love me?”
“Yes, for more years than I can remember. I was just too scared to say it, I’m afraid that if I say it out loud then you will be taken from me.”
Ryan beamed and pulled her close. “I will never leave you, Aislin. I promise.”
He leaned down to kiss her when she quickly turned her head away and coughed. He held her through the coughing fit then helped her settle back down against the pillows. Her eyes were already growing heavy and he pressed a gentle kiss against her forehead.
“Sleep well, my love. I’ll be here when you wake.”
She smiled and let her eyes close, finally feeling the peace that she had craved. As she drifted off she couldn’t help but wonder what the tribe members would think when they discovered that the gypsy king was in love with a healer.
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Post by fallingn2ct on May 12, 2012 9:21:10 GMT -5
I think the tribe will love that they are in love So sorry I haven't commented as of late, finally just caught up. Fabulous Onyx
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Post by onyxfyrefly on May 13, 2012 6:46:33 GMT -5
Three days later the gypsy camp was full of excitement as they prepared for the feast. It had been too long since they had had a reason to celebrate and they went all out, hanging bright banners and ribbons from the trees as several of the women oversaw the cooking of the decadent dishes.
Aislin wandered into camp and smiled at Ryan who was helping Abby attach a banner to a nearby tree. Out of the corner of her eye she glimpsed Caroline and went to sit with the young woman.
“I’m glad you’re feeling better, Aislin.”
“Thank you, but you seem to be doing poorly. What ails you?”
The dancer sighed and toyed with her long hair. “It’s complicated.”
It was obvious that the young woman didn’t want to talk so Aislin simply let her hand rest on her shoulder. “I can tell that you’re conflicted and angry but remember that Ryan loves you. I know that some of the choices he makes seem hard and unfair but he’s only thinking of your wellbeing.”
“I know, I just wish I wasn’t forced to make an impossible choice.”
“Then don’t make a choice.”
“What?”
Aislin glanced around at the camp before meeting Caroline’s dark eyes. “As far as I know Ryan does not have any plans to move the tribe so you do not have to make any kind of choice.”
“What will I do if Ryan changes his mind and moves on?”
“Worry about that when the time comes.”
Caroline thought about Aislin’s words for a long time before smiling slightly. “You’re right, thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Now will you be honoring us with a dance tonight?”
----------------------------------------------------
As soon as the sun set the feast commenced. For the first time in months the gypsies let themselves relax and indulged in the food, the wine, and the high spirits. Caroline actually stayed for the celebration and entertained them all with her dancing. Ryan seemed pleased with her presence but he could tell that she was distracted and noticed that she often sat by herself, away from the main group.
As the night progressed Ryan took turns pulling each of his men to the front and singing their praises. The warriors complimented each other as well and everyone was shocked when Emmet stood and called Aislin to the front.
The healer sat stunned for several beats before going to join the gypsy. “Our men would not have been nearly as successful without Aislin’s assistance.” He proceeded to tell the tribe about the way she helped locate Ryan after his capture and she blushed when he spoke of the shot that had allowed them to escape.
The tribe members cheered and Ryan came to stand next to her as Emmet sat down. “As you can all see, we acquired a great asset when Aislin came and joined our tribe. We not only gained a healer but we gained a warrior, a trader and a friend,” said Ryan. “Aislin is all of these things and most importantly she is my choice.”
A silence fell over the camp at Ryan’s words. Gypsies were allowed to marry whoever they chose with the exception of the royal families. As the king, Ryan was expected to marry someone of rank or at least someone higher up in society than a mere healer. By declaring that he chose Aislin he was stating that he was going to court her with the intention of marrying her one day and it went against generations of tradition.
Aislin’s eyes widened at his words but Ryan simply smiled and took her hands in his. “In my eyes there is no one else more important to this tribe than you. You are my successor, my choice, and…my love.”
Caroline broke the silence by jumping to her feet and raising her glass to the sky in a toast and soon the rest of the tribe followed suit. It was obvious that times were changing and most of the gypsies were content to embrace the new ways but there were a few who only raised their glasses out of respect for their king.
Ryan hugged Aislin tightly then motioned to the musicians, pulling his love into his arms as they danced. He didn’t care if the tribe didn’t approve of their relationship, he finally could be with the woman that he loved and nothing else mattered.
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Post by celticbear on May 13, 2012 20:37:22 GMT -5
Way to go Ryan! Glad AISLIN told Caroline to follow her heart! I hope before the night ends Caroline seeks out Keith!
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Post by laurenne on May 14, 2012 0:09:59 GMT -5
I hope Carolune seeks Keiths out, but he had better not come charging in and ruin the evening. More soon, please.
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Post by onyxfyrefly on May 14, 2012 7:23:29 GMT -5
Two weeks after Ryan had been captured Aislin walked into camp and saw him slip into the tent with his men. She frowned and went to visit Cara who had recently discovered that she was expecting.
The sun was low in the sky when Ryan finally emerged and Aislin hurried to meet him. His face lit up when he saw her and he hugged her close. “Walk with me?” she asked before leading him into the woods.
As soon as they were out of earshot she turned and crossed her arms. “You’re planning a raid, aren’t you?” Ryan closed his eyes and nodded. “Why? We have more than enough gold and supplies, why do you want to put yourself and your men at risk?”
Ryan shook his head and leaned against a tree. “I cannot let my capture by the villagers go unnoticed, they have to be taught a lesson.”
“Taught a lesson? You were on their land! They had every right!”
He stepped close and gently grasped her arms, leaning down so his words wouldn’t carry. “I am the king, I have to set an example for my people. I cannot just ignore the villagers’ actions, my people would see me as weak.”
“Don’t do this, Ryan,” Aislin pleaded. “You don’t have to prove anything to anyone. You are the king, if they do not respect your decisions then they don’t deserve to be a part of this tribe.”
“It’s not that easy. If I start to refuse to go on raids and shy away from my duties then the tribe could rise up against me. Leading this tribe is a delicate manner and lately there has been some unrest.”
The young woman turned her head away at his last words. She knew exactly what he meant. Many of the tribe members did not approve of her relationship with Ryan and she hated the extra strain it was causing him.
“Please don’t go,” she whispered.
Ryan let his hands come up to frame her face. “I have to.” He gently tipped her chin up and forced her to meet his gaze. “It will be fine.”
“You promised you would never leave me.”
“And I have no intention of breaking that promise.” Ryan kissed Aislin gently then wrapped an arm around her waist as he led them back to camp. “Come, there is a lot to be done before the raid.”
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Two nights later Aislin was pacing the camp waiting for Ryan and his men to come back from the raid. She had wanted to accompany them but Ryan had forbidden it. She had followed them to the river and as soon as they entered the village she could hear shouts and the sounds of breaking glass. It was then that she knew why Ryan had prohibited her from going; they weren’t going on a raid to steal gold or jewels, they were going to do damage and to attempt to frighten the villagers.
She was startled out of her musings by the return of the raiding party. The moment she saw them her stomach plummeted and she wanted to be sick. Ryan was being carried by four of his men and a huge red stain was spreading across his side.
Aislin snapped back to reality in an instant as she rushed towards the group. Ryan’s handsome features were twisted into a grimace of pain and she allowed herself to look upon her love for a brief moment before leading them to her wagon. She was going to call out to Meara but the older woman was already waiting for her when they arrived.
The men placed Ryan on the cot and only Emmet stayed behind as she dropped to her knees next to the wounded gypsy. “What happened?”
“He was shot,” replied Emmet.
“Shot? By whom? Keith?”
“I’m not sure,” said the young man. “The villagers were expecting us and we didn’t have the element of surprise this time. In the chaos a gun went off but I don’t know who fired it.”
Aislin did her best to listen to Emmet as she worked on getting Ryan’s shirt off. When the task took too long she simply pulled a knife from her boot and cut the material away. She attempted to find the wound but the sheer amount of blood made the task impossible.
For a split second she had a flashback and it wasn’t Ryan in front of her, it was Darcy. She could hear the cries of her sister and the newborn as her only sibling’s life slipped away beneath her hands.
Pulling herself back to the present she took the soaked cloth that Meara handed her and began to clear away the blood. It was tedious work but the two healers worked in silence until she could finally glimpse the wound. There, right below his ribs was a decent sized hole and she pressed a clean cloth over it in an attempt to slow the bleeding.
After searching for another moment or two she growled something under her breath. There was no exit wound so the bullet was still inside, she prayed that it would be shallow enough that she could retrieve it.
Gently she probed the area with her fingers and her eyes lit up in triumph when she felt the hard mass beneath her fingers. It seemed like Ryan had twisted in order to avoid the shot so the wound was shallow and the bullet was trapped about six inches away just beneath the skin.
Without having to ask, Meara handed Aislin a long, thin blade and gave Emmet a well worn piece of leather. “Give him that to bite down on and help hold him still, I have to remove the bullet.”
Emmet did as he was told but the strip of leather barely muffled Ryan’s scream as Aislin removed the bullet. The procedure took mere moments but by the time they were finished Ryan was trembling and involuntary tears streaked his cheeks.
Aislin forced herself to ignore the sight and grabbed the bowl and bottle that Meara handed her. The bottle was full of a rough, homemade alcohol and the bowl contained a thick salve. She poured the alcohol onto each wound, ignoring Ryan’s cries which were growing weaker by the second then packed the salve into each wound. Ryan groaned and tried to arch away from her actions but Emmet held him tight.
After threading a wickedly sharp needle with a thick black thread, Aislin quickly stitched up the two wounds and wrapped a clean bandage around his midsection. Finally she allowed herself to sit back and let out the breath she was holding.
“Is there anyone else who needs my attention, Emmet?”
The gypsy met Meara’s eyes over Aislin’s shoulder and the older woman shook her head. “No ma’am.”
“Good, you may go now. Meara, I thank you for your assistance this evening. I am in your debt.”
“Nonsense. You did the hard work, I was merely an extra set of hands. You are a fine healer, Aislin.”
“Removing the bullet was the easy part, now I have to keep him alive.” Aislin poured some warm water into a basin and began to wash the blood from her hands as the other two stood and prepared to leave. “Please tell Caroline that she can come in, I can hear her pacing from here.”
Emmet and Meara left and Aislin heard Caroline enter her wagon but she didn’t turn to face the young woman. She continued to scrub her hands until they were clean then picked then remnants of Ryan’s shirt off of the floor and cut away the bloody material, tossing the ruined portion into the fire while saving the rest for scraps.
She carefully sat down on the edge of the bed and brushed a few lingering tears off of Ryan’s cheeks. He had finally fallen unconscious while she was stitching up the wounds and she watched the steady rise and fall of his chest for a long time.
“You tipped them off, didn’t you?”
Caroline didn’t speak but the ragged sob spoke volumes.
“You do realize that your brother, the king, could have been killed?”
“Yes.”
Raising her head, Aislin regarded the dancer for a long time before speaking. “Do you love him?”
“My brother? Of course I love him!”
The healer shook her head. “Not him. The highwayman, Keith.”
Caroline sat stunned for several beats before giving a tiny nod of her head. “Yes.”
“I thought so, you’re too loyal to your brother otherwise.” Aislin shifted into a more comfortable position and slowly carded her fingers through Ryan’s hair. “I love him, you know. Your actions could have killed him and as his successor I have every right to expel you from this tribe.”
The dancer nodded and hung her head, preparing for her punishment.
“But I won’t.”
Caroline’s head snapped up and she frowned at the healer. “Why?”
“Because I’m sick of the fighting too. I know why you told the villagers about the raid. You are in love and you can’t bear to lose him. I fought Ryan for days but neither he or his men would listen and look what happened. This ends now, Caroline. As soon as Ryan is healed I want to meet with the villagers and see if we can settle our differences. I’ll need your help, some of the men on both sides are more than a little blood thirsty. Will you stand by me?”
“I will.”
“Good, now go and get some rest. I will fetch you if anything changes.”
“Thank you, Aislin. For everything. My brother is blessed to have found someone like you…as am I.”
The healer nodded her thanks and watched as the young woman slipped into the darkness. Aislin knew she was going to meet Keith and she hoped that no one else had been seriously injured. Sitting down on the stool next to the cot she prayed that her love would be enough to help Ryan see reason once and for all.
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Post by onyxfyrefly on May 14, 2012 7:25:22 GMT -5
Just a little disclaimer, I SWEAR I had written this before I read Fall's story 'Torn', any similarities are coincidental. And I may be scarce the next few days, I'm going to a concert. Care to guess which one?
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Post by laurenne on May 14, 2012 11:30:53 GMT -5
I hope they are able to come to an agreement. More soon, please.
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