Chapter 4-Projectiles

(Vidanric's POV)

That had been an unaccountably close call, I silently cursed myself for my impulse in wearing the ring at all tonight, I knew it was a mistake but I could not help myself, desperate for any connection at all to her. Russav was right I was a fool where she was concerned.

As I tore apart my wardrobe trying to find suitable clothes, my quick mind was trying to make sense of where I had lost control of myself tonight. You know you should never have kissed her, that's what did it.

My inner battle continued as I attempted to find a way to repair the situation. My logical side knew that Flauvic would never have tripped up like he did revealing himself before he was ready if I had not startled him with Meliara, but my heart panged for the irreparable damage I had done to my relationship with her. What little trust I had gained both as the Marquis was shattered. I jammed on my riding boots angrily, with a brief glance at my hand I covered my hand again with the glove, despite my close call, I could not bear to take it off.

If I could not have her, I at least had her former regard. I flung open the door again, then instantly chided myself on my lack of composure when I was supposed to be regaining it. The outrider was standing with a pale face in the center of my study, and I received her report without comment as to my inexplicable behavior. You have not behaved with such lack of composure since before you went to Marloven-Hess I chided myself again.

I nodded when she was finished and told her to grab some of the tea sitting on the platter on the table, and then take the rest of the day off. Then I grabbed my anonymous black cloak and hat but not before throwing on my chainmail. Within seconds I began to feel better, the chainmail served to remind me of school and my training finally kicked back in in full force. I was about to exit my study when I turned to the rider again,

"One last task for you," I began, "If the Countess of Tlanth comes by looking for me tell her I regret not being able to wait for her, but necessity called me away and her horse and things are awaiting her in the stable." With that last instruction I donned my hat and closed the door behind me.

My feet carried me to the stables as quickly as possible without running, and I began to release all of my pent-up energy when I could smell the familiar scent of hay, horse and damp wood. Riding had always calmed my troubled soul at school, I thanked the stable hand for his diligence, and he nodded wearily before bowing as I mounted my grey steed and galloped out without so much as a look back.

I set off at a steady gallop, no need to wear out my horse Marvo, before I needed to. No doubt Meliara would be furious that I had left without her, when I had said we should go together, but as usual wherever she was concerned I lost my functioning brain and my nerve, leaving bungled mistakes and grievous misunderstandings, I could not deal with that anymore, not while I could still recall the touch of her lips, not while I could feel the burn of embarrassment creep to my face even now as I thought of how flustered I was and nearly revealed myself before I wanted to.

Does she know what she does to men? She has bewitched two out of three of Remalna's most eligible bachelors into making serious errors and has the third entranced with her sparkling honest personality.

I very nearly kissed her back there in my study again, and no doubt she would have slapped me, as she not only no longer owed me a wager, and I had thoroughly embarrassed her. She was intoxicating though, from her crystalline shimmering shoes that she clumsily attempted to walk in all evening, to the pearl headdress that bridged the seam between her face and auburn hair.

When she danced though, it was like a goddess of old had graced us with her presence, there was nothing to compare. I smiled at the recollection of her face the shimmers of glitter refracting the lamplight as she whirled. When Mel danced it was like she finally let all of her cares go, and that was why.

I supposed that I should have to satisfy myself that the next time she saw me, she would give me a resounding slap, and that I would deserve it.

The rain was coming down in sheets now, slowing poor Marvo and forcing me from the warm memories to paying more attention to the road. The night crawled on, and soon my instinctive stomach told me it was about to be morning-even if the sun was choosing not to rise in this gloom-and that I was hungry.

I could feel Marvo starting to slow, but to my recollection, the inn where I would stop to break my fast was just over this next hill and change horses, making sure to stop here on the way out to reclaim my faithful horse.

His pace slowed as we approached the city gates and he halted in front of the inn as if he knew that I had meant to stop there, I patted him briefly before turning him over to a stablehand and asking for another horse. I walked inside and asked for a private room and some stew and coffee.

The maid smiled, "Here you are sir," she waved me into a smallish room that was clean and warm with a fire already blazing, "I shall bring your stew by shortly." After her steps faded out I allowed myself to sink into the chair, my muscles aching I had not ridden like this since chasing the Countess cross-country last year. I was also nowhere near my destination either.

The cape and hat I hung by the fireplace and removed my soggy boots next making sure to turn them up-side down to aide in the drying process, I was about to remove my chainmail when the tapestry ripped aside and a furious pair of blue eyes glared at me from a mud-splattered tiny frame.

"How dare you!" she screeched her voice rather hoarse.

In spite of her anger I could see the tired circles under her eyes, and she swayed where she as standing in the doorway. I tried to grasp her arm only to steady her, but she slapped me square across my cheek. Life did that sting!

"How dare you!" she repeated with less conviction bracing herself into the door frame. I backed off, she was clearly furious with me, and anything else I did would simply provoke her further.

Instead I stood there stupidly, waiting for her verbal onslaught to begin. For once again my training had left me, Marvolen-Hess trained me how to fight against tyrants who had innumerable odds, but not against an angry countess in matters of the heart.

She finally raised her head to look at me again, staring right through me it seemed. The expression on her face-well there was no other way to describe it-she wanted to kill me I was sure. Meliara stood slowly, and took a step towards me, closing the tapestry behind her. Her next step caused her to blanch and pitch forward.

Dashing forward, I just caught her before she fell to the ground. "You are not all right." I stated thickly.

She seemed too tired to argue as I lay her on the bench. I covered her in a blanket from the bed and relinquished my coffee for her. She slowly sat up to drink the coffee. Something does not make sense, she isn't just tired.

"Countess?" I began looking up at her from where I was kneeling next to her. She placed the cup on the table nearby with a shaking hand, trying so hard to conceal it from me, but failing as it clattered when it came in contact with the surface.

"Might I?" I asked motioning to her left boot. She shook her head quickly. "You have injured yourself, I am merely trying to help." I replied in exasperation. Why is she so damned stubborn?

She sighed, "The horse hit a rut as I was trying to catch up with you and threw me, I barely managed to re-mount."

I should have waited. "Well you're certainly a better rider than most, but I must check your ankle for damage." I said stonily, giving up for the time being on trying to conceal my emotions from her. She mutely nodded her assent.

At that point the maid returned with additional food, "Is there anything else you need sir?" she asked cheerily

"Yes, bring me some warmed towels and keem leaves, and check my companion's horse for injuries." I stated ignoring the food and not even glancing in her direction as I tried to wriggle Meliara's boot off with as little discomfort to her as possible.

After a few minutes Meliara drew in a sharp intake of breath as I finally removed her boot and then cut off her thick soaked stocking. I would have liked to save her stocking, but seeing as removing the entire stocking would have required her to stand and me leave her for privacy I decided to cut it.

Her ankle was a mottled red, purple and blue. I noticed she refused to look at it and merely gritted her teeth.

I gingerly applied pressure in certain areas trying to ascertain the damage. She bit her lip to keep from crying out. "Well it appears to be a sprain, thankfully it is not broken, but if you apply too much strain on it, it won't take much to break it again."

The maid returned and laid her medicinal basket next to me, then departed silently.

In order to maintain my sanity and try to remove her mind from the pain I continued my one-sided conversation with her, "I shall not attempt to dissuade you from your course. I know what the Hill People mean to you. What I shall do is try to brace your ankle as best I can." All the while I cleaned and wound the bandage around her leg. Then I pulled off both of my boots and removed my dirks from either one. The thick leather casing and sturdy hilts would have to serve as make-shift splints.

"These will serve as splints for your ankle, but also additional protection should you need it. Therefore, I will bind them with stiff cord, but only once in case you need to loose them quickly. Your boot should provide the rest of the support you need."

I looked up at her after replacing her boot, her face was still rather pale but some of her color was returning . "Thank you." She said meekly, looking down at her hands again.

"Do not remove your boot unless you must, or it has been two days," I said returning my attention to the basket as I replaced the gear, "I am not sure if you can properly bind it again."

"That was not intended as an insult either." I added quickly, turning to see her expression.

She just stared at me. I gave her the bowl of stew the maid had brought in, then sat down to eat my own. We ate in an awkward silence, and it was then I knew we had lost all of our progress for sure. Or rather I had lost it, first by kissing her, and then by running off without her. Since when have I become such a coward?

My lips must have curled a little in my own self-mocking, because she (who had been studiously watching me) spoke finally, "Do you find this situation funny? I do not." She said with more than a hint of sarcasm.

Funny yes, but not how you think I do. "Lady Meliara, I do not find your present situation at all funny." I said the court drawl instinctively coming out.

I could see her cringe visibly, and I mentally kicked myself. All she has ever wanted out of me is honesty and yet my training can't even give her that.

She threw her empty stew bowl at me.

We were apparently back to projectiles.

A/N: Please review, and thank you to those that already have! I would like at least one review per chapter, it's only fair!