The deep steady rhythm of her breathing was the only thing that soothed his tormented mind. Dawn was breaking through the small window of their room, her pale hair was sprawled out on the pillow. She had a small smile pulling on her lips, she was everything. He felt a smile spreading on his face as looked upon his sleeping wife.
He would have to leave, that morning. Halt had told him the night before about their next assignment, they would be leaving to meet Horace on the road. It seemed they could never be together; their jobs had them traveling too often.
How long would they be apart this time? How long until he could see her again? When would be the next time he could look in her eyes and let her know how much he loves her? He reached up, caressing her face with his rough calloused hands, bending down to kiss her forehead.
She would be leaving too, heading north for Lady Pauline. Halt had told Will about the upcoming assignment for Alyss, a simple task but one that would separate them even longer. She sighed happily, her eyes fluttering open to look at him. Her smile growing over her angelic face.
"I didn't mean to wake you," he smiled, kissing her on the cheek.
"You didn't," she sat up in their bed, stretching as she set her feet on the floor. "Shall I make breakfast?"
"I don't have time," he sighed following his wife out of the room, his boots whispering over the freshly swept floor, he had already completed the household chores for her. "I'm sure Halt's already waiting for me."
"Halt can have breakfast too," her sweet smile flashed over her shoulder at him as she carried the coffeepot out to fill from the barrel by the veranda.
"I'm afraid he'll insist we leave," Will watched Alyss from the doorway, watching her graceful frame in the golden glow of the rising sun. All around them the birds were singing as they began their day. What he would give to have breakfast with her before he set off with Halt to meet Horace. "Gilan said it was urgent."
"It's always urgent with Rangers," she smiled passing him in the door, her hand gently drawing him in by the shoulder. "And what better way to begin a trip than with a hot meal and fresh coffee?"
He had to concede the point, the trip would be dismal if he rode out without breakfast, and he would be in a foul mood without at least one cup of coffee. He allowed himself to be lead back into the cabin. Alyss smiled sweetly, allowing the bearded Ranger to assist with the cooking, his arms wrapped around her waist, his head on her shoulder.
"You're making this difficult," Alyss smiled at her husband.
"Not nearly as much as you are," he breathed in her scent, grinning. "do you know how hard it is to cook with a person wiggling around in your arms?"
Alyss laughed, turning to face him and wrapping her arms around his neck. "I do," she kissed him.
He wanted to stay, he wanted to stay with his wife and enjoy the rising sun and the arrival of spring in the clearing. He hated leaving her alone, he hated being away for weeks at a time. He held her close and backed away from stove.
"Will," she pulled back, her smile spreading. "We don't have time for this. Halt will want to leave."
She would remind of that, she was a Courier after all. But he still held her, pulling her farther from the meal sitting on the fire. This was a time he wanted with her, this was a rare moment for them. Halt could wait, he would understand. Halt could be understanding, if Alyss told him to be.
"I love you," he whispered leaning against the table, holding her close to him, burying his face in her long blond hair.
"I love you too," she folded her hands over his, leaning back against his chest. "I wish I wasn't leaving. I wanted to be here when you got home."
"I'll be here when you arrive," he whispered, "and then we'll go out to eat with Halt and Pauline at Jenny's."
She sighed, turning to look him in the eye. "You can't promise that," he knew it was true, her way of keeping disappointment at bay. But he could make that promise to her. They would go to eat at Jenny's with Halt and Pauline as soon as she returned from her assignment. He smiled, forcing his own disappointment down.
"I can Alyss," he pulled her close again, wrapping his arms around her stomach. "I can make that promise to you, because I know we'll be home together soon." He could see her smile growing. He held her tighter, kissing her on the cheek.
If tomorrow never comes, will she know how much I loved her? Did I try in every way to show her every day, she's my only one? If my time on earth were through and she must face this world without me, is the love I gave her in the past going to be enough to last, if tomorrow never comes?
Will looked down at the arrow protruding from his arm, sweat beading his brow. That had been close, too close. A few centimeters to the right and there was a very real possibility Will Treaty would not have returned to the small cabin outside of Wensley Village.
He gritted his teeth, reaching up to break off the end of the arrow. Pain radiated down his arm as the shaft split beneath his hand. He ripped off part of his shirt and tied it around his arm, staunching the flow of blood running down his arm. He had to find Halt and Horace, make sure they were unhurt.
The cry of a Kingfisher sounded from his left. Or something similar to the cry of a Kingfisher came from Will's left. Will returned the call with of a Laughing Kookaburra, letting Halt know he was okay. All that was left was to locate Horace and get out of the area.
Halt had Horace, Will felt relief flood through him seeing the knight with his former mentor. They had all survived, they had saved a whole farming hamlet and it seemed Will was the only one to suffer an injury.
"Let me see that," Halt roughly began probing at Will's injury, his small throwing knife coming to his hand to cut the arrow from Will's arm.
"Careful," Will began before Halt's knife dung into his skin. "Would you please let that—Halt!" Will cried indignantly as the grey bearded Ranger pulled the arrow head from his arm. "I am capable of removing an arrow from my own arm."
"And I am capable of doing it for you, not be quite while I stitch that up," Halt had his medical kit out in seconds, all the while scolding Will.
"I'm not a child Halt," Will brooded watching as Halt stitched up the arrow wound.
"It's just his way of showing he cares," Horace beamed from where he was watching the Ranger's, remembering the time in Gallica when Halt had probed at a large bruise on his arm after a test of strength. "And he's handling yours much nicer than he does my injuries."
Halt turned a withering look on the knight, "Well, I'm sorry to be concerned. I'll try to hold back next time."
"Please do," Will grumbled pulling his arm away from Halt and rolling his sleeve down. "Your ministrations are a little painful," Will could not force his smile back, the grin showed just as the gruff Ranger turned back to his former apprentice.
He breathed in the deep fresh air of the cabin, the scent of cedar logs stacked beside the hearth and the spring rain that had heralded his arrival. It was good to be home, and she was already back. Will smiled wrapping his arms around Alyss, lifting her from the ground and spinning around.
"I love you," she kissed him, wrapping her arms around his neck as he set her back on the ground.
"I love you, more than you'll ever know," he responded. "I'll never stop loving you."
If tomorrow never comes, she will know how much I love her, Will smiled walking with his wife across the cabin to the door again. Ready for a long meal with his family, so they would all know how much he cared about them.
A/N Did you love this? Are you a fan of my writing style? Review and then go check out my other stories, they're waiting for you! And I promise, you'll like them if you loved this.
