Hey guys here is chapter 2! Not sure if I included everything I wanted to, but I wanted to get something up tonight. I might add more later. Anyways, thanks for the favorites, follows, and reviews! I really appreciate them! :) I will reply to the reviews tomorrow!

I was really beginning to wish I had hung my dress in front of the fire. Even if it would have been there for only several minutes, it would have been better than nothing at all. The night wind was cold, and at the speed we were riding it plastered the wet fabric of my gown against my skin.

Bash had told me at the beginning of our ride that we couldn't trust another inn; we were going to have to sleep hidden in the forest, in a place he had camped before. We hadn't exchanged much conversation since then and I found that thoughts of Francis were filling my mind.

I didn't doubt Francis believed I had run off with Bash. I told him I couldn't trust him to put my well-being before France, but I knew he wouldn't take that as the sole reason for my disappearance. I couldn't tell Francis about the prophecy, or that I was leaving to save his life because he would find some way to prevent me from going.

Was he still searching for us? Or was he seeking consolation from the girl he had turned to before? Sure, I loved Francis; that's why I was leaving, wasn't it? However, I couldn't help but resent him for his hypocrisy. Francis was livid when Bash and I shared a simple kiss; he even threatened his own brother. Yet when I found out about Olivia and him, he said he would be King and could have mistresses if he pleased. Wasn't I enough for him? I admit I was blindsided by Francis' passionate words, words that I wonder if he really meant. I left because I loved him, but being away from his constant reassurance made me question if he loved me as much as he proclaimed.

Bash was so different than Francis… I glanced at him, galloping ahead of me, and instantly felt guilty. I still loved Francis, whatever he had done, so why was I thinking of Bash? Perhaps I was too weary and cold to think clearly. I nudged my horse and she sped until I was beside him.

"We are nearly there. Around the bend up ahead we are going to veer off the main path." Bash informed me, answering my unspoken question.

As we rounded the curve our horses slowed to a trot, and Bash led me through some underbrush to a tiny overgrown path I wouldn't have found if he hadn't revealed it to me. We had probably only rode a short distance from the main path, but the trail weaved between such dense foliage that it was hard to tell. Finally, we emerged in a small clearing.

"We can use that old lean-to as a shelter," Bash nodded his head in the direction of a simple wooden structure alongside a particularly broad tree. He dismounted his horse and tied each of our horses' reigns to a thin tree. "I'll build a quick fire to warm you up, and then I'll gather branches for the fire and to shield us from the wind."

Bash made his way over to me as I slid my foot out of its stirrup and swung my leg over my horse's back. I was about to slide down when I felt two strong hands grip my waist and set me on the ground as if I weighed no more than a child. As I turned to face Bash, he gave me a smirk and reached behind me to remove the saddlebag from my horse. His body was only several inches from mine, his face even closer, and I felt my breath hitch in my throat. Bash held my gaze, and I felt myself look from his pale, sparkling eyes to his lips. I had the sudden urge to pull his face to mine and kiss him.

But suddenly his eyebrows knitted together and he looked away, breaking our eye contact. He grabbed the saddlebag and stepped away and the moment was over. I was surprised at the part of me that was disappointed, and I reminded myself I should be thinking of Francis and not his brother.

I followed Bash to the lean-to and he set the saddle bag inside. There was a small pile of kindling inside the shelter, and he began to place them in a tepee formation, using leaves from the ground as tinder. I pulled the blanket out of the saddlebag, and arranged it on the ground next to the fire. Bash grabbed a flat plank of wood and a stick, and began rolling the stick between his palms until it smoked where it touched the plank. Carefully placing the plank underneath the tepee, he blew on it until flames consumed the tinder.

"Where did you learn to do that?" I asked Bash, stunned by his ability to make building fires seem effortless.

"I picked up a couple things while travelling. Being the king's bastard has its advantages. I don't have the responsibility that Francis has." He stood up and brushed his hands off on his pants. "I'm going to get some larger logs to keep the fire going through the night. If you're clothes aren't dry yet, hang them near the fire. I'll be back before long."

Nodding, I removed my cape, setting it down on the blanket. I took another look outside to make sure Bash was out of sight before I turned my back to the shelter's entrance and unlaced the rest of the bodice of my gown. I hung it on a sawed-off branch and debated whether I should remove my chemise dress. The fabric was quite thin, so I decided I would hang it up for a short while then put it back on before Bash returned. After I lifted the dress over my head, I turned back to hang it up when I spotted movement out of the corner of my eye.

I shrieked and covered my chest with my chemise when I saw Bash appear in the doorway. His eyes widened and he seemed to freeze in place.

"Bash!" I shouted, feeling my face grow hot. "Don't look!"

He spun around, facing away from me, and I slipped my chemise dress back on.

"I'm sorry, Mary," Bash apologized as I picked my cape up off the blanket, the only dry article of clothing I had. "I should have asked if you were decent."

I draped my cape over my shoulders and wrapped myself in it.

"That's alright; I just didn't expect you back so soon. You may turn around now."

Bash turned around, not looking embarrassed in the slightest, which made my cheeks flush all the more. He removed the belt that held his sword, and shed his surcoat.

"I placed branches and brush against the side of the shelter. They should help block out the wind and keep us warmer in here." I sat down on the edge of the blanket as Bash stepped around the fire and sat beside me.

We sat there for a while, staring into the fire, and I realized how exhausted I was. I felt myself nodding off as an arm wrapped around me, and suddenly I was lying down with a pillow under my head.

I managed to open my eyes and saw that the pillow I was resting my head on was Bash's leg. I probably should have protested, but I was too tired and thankful for the warmth of his arm around me to care.