To Castle Dor

Salomon turned his head and glared at the irritating young woman riding on her horse beside him. She had been very surprised at the knowledge of who he was, but she still treated him as an equal and it grated on his nerves. He had no idea what had compelled him to offer to take her back to Castle Dor to rest from her travels. It would have been better and a lot more peaceful to have just left her where she was. But he knew he couldn't just leave a defenseless young woman out alone in the cold rain when shelter was so close. And also, something made him suspicious about this woman. It would be best to have her close. She had refused to tell him more of herself and her origin rather than that her name was Fallon and she lived about two days west of there. He decided to try again. "Who is your family, girl?" he asked sternly, drawing his eyebrows together over his blue eyes and giving her his most fierce 'I will brook no nonsense' look.

She turned in her saddle quickly and leaned over so that her face was close to his. "I do have a name you know," she growled, "I would be much obliged if you did not call me 'girl.'" She sniffed. "I am a woman."

That she certainly was. She had neglected to pull her hood back up after they left the riverbank, and he had an unobstructed view of her damp black ringlets and lovely heart shaped face. Indeed, she had the body of a woman. As his eyes took in the sight of her petite yet voluptuous figure, he was surprised at his own audacity. Never before had he stared at a woman so impolitely, but even as he mentally berated himself for the action, he could not tear his eyes away from the small expanse of pale cleavage peeking out from the tight bodice of her dress. He forced himself to meet her eyes. Enchanting green eyes that were now lit up with anger and annoyance.

"Alright, Fallon," he said finally, stressing her name, "But you still have not answered my question."

She settled back on her mount and glared at him, her pretty pouting lips settled in a frown. "What if I choose not to answer your question, milord?" She used the title with heavy sarcasm and Salomon did not miss it.

He gritted his teeth and tried to reply civilly. "I wish that you would. Please." Using the word 'please' piqued his irritation even more.

She studied him for a moment. "Fine," she replied after a moment, "But there is not much to know. I am the daughter of two poor peasants, and I wanted to see more of the world. I left my home two days ago. I do not plan to go back for some time. That is all there is to tell."

He could see no lie in her cool green eyes, but still something about her tugged at his mind, as if warning him that something was amiss. "Very well," he said after a little while later, "But there is a large storm blowing in. It should be here by this evening or tomorrow morning. I don't know how long it will last, but it seems to be a bad one. You should stay there until it passes."

"I thank you for your hospitality," she replied icily, "But it's not as if I've never been out in a storm before. I am not frightened." She sniffed and lifted her chin haughtily.

Salomon growled under his breath in annoyance at the sensitiveness of this woman. "I did not accuse you of being frightened," he said through clenched teeth, "I am simply stating the facts that the storm will be bad, and you will need shelter. It is one of my duties to see to the safety of my cousin's people." His people, too. His future people, at least. "You will stay in the castle until the storm passes."

"Will you bodily force me to stay?" she snarled, "Or would you choose to use sweet reason?"

His anger now at a fever-pitch, he shot back, "Although I have not known you for more than half an hour, I can already see that no amount of 'sweet reasoning' would work with a woman so hard-headed as you! So, yes, I do plan to bodily force you to stay at Castle Dor until the storm passes if you refuse to stay willingly. If I were you, I would choose to stay willingly. The dungeons are not very comfortable." He knew he would not put her into a dungeon really, but she did not know that.

Fallon's cheeks reddened in indignation. "You wouldn't dare."

"I would," he lied, "But I won't if you accept my offer."

"Fine," she spat. Then she turned her head and refused to look at him for a long time. Salomon did not mind. He did not particularly want to argue with her anymore, and he enjoyed admiring her profile as he rode. She was a very beautiful woman.

After a while, they could see Castle Dor rising in the distance. He saw Fallon's mouth open a little in awe as she stared at the large structure. She quickly concealed her wonder, and turned to him.

"This is to be where I am staying?" she said.

Salomon nodded and dismounted. He took the reins of her horse lifted his hand to her. She stared at him a moment. Then finally, she placed her hand in his and dismounted. Of its own will, his heart beat faster at the feel of her warm little hand in his. Her skin was so soft and smooth. He longed to bring the small hand up to his lips and kiss it. A throat clearing called him from his thoughts. Fallon stood looking up at him and blushing. He realized that he had not let go of her hand yet. He dropped it with a murmured, "I'm sorry." He began walking away briskly. He called over his shoulder, "Follow me." He did not wait to see if she would.