A wonderful (k)night 7

"Annaaa!" it echoed once more. It seemed closer now.

"I'M HERE!" she screamed. A sob escaped her from relieve.

After a few times calling back and forth, John was now close.

"Watch out, there's a swamp here! We don't want both to get stuck!" she yelled.

Soon Anna saw movement from the corner of her eye.

"Oh god, I'm so glad you're here!"

"Don't worry now Anna, we will get you out!" John said, worry clear in his voice.

It had gotten dark and only the bright light from the moon gave them some sight.

Tom had come with John and both men took in the situation. Together they looked for a long and strong branch.

Anna had sunken down till just under her breasts. She was happy the men soon found what they were looking for.

They threw her one end of the branch and Anna grabbed it with all the strength she had left. She was scared the branch would snap or that she was too weak to hold on,… but before she knew it John and Tom took her arms and helped her with the last inches. She crawled to the steady ground and collapsed.

Immediately John took her in his arms.

"Oh Anna!" he rocked her softly against his body.

"Should I carry her?" Tom suggested, kneeling down next to them.

"No,… just,… maybe you can go to the house and warn everyone,… let them prepare a warm bath for her," John told him. "I'll carry her home."

"But your leg…?" Anna murmured, still resting her head against John's chest.

"It's fine Anna,… I can manage," he answered.

"I'll hurry!" Tom said before running off.

John scooped up Anna and held her tight in his strong arms. Anna's arms found their way around his neck. Her hand brushed the soft hairs on the back of his head.

He started walking slowly; minding where he placed his feet. The rocking of his steps and the sound of his steady heartbeat were soothing, and made Anna sleepy.

"You scared the hell out of me Anna," John started, almost whispering.

"I'm... sorry," she murmured back.

"No, don't be sorry. I was just so worried. When we found your sword, tinted with blood,… I could only think of the worst. I though someone had killed you, or taken you,…"

"I'm here now,…" she whispered against the warm and coarse hair that she found just under his throat.

"Yes, and I'm so happy nothing worse happened to you. I would have never forgiven myself."

"You learned me how to fight,… it saved me. You saved me," she pulled herself tighter to his body.

Their closeness made John stop walking. For a few seconds they just remained there, in the dark woods, taking in the feeling of their bodies pressed against each other.

Anna tilted her head so she could look at him. Her eyes were sleepy, dreamy,…

She relished for his lips on hers and she knew her eyes begged him to close the small distance that was left between them. She could tell he longed for the same. There was a hunger in his eyes. Without hesitation he pulled her closer, until their lips touched into a too short but perfect soft kiss.

When they parted they knew it was all right. They understood what it was between them. They had known it from the first night, and now it was confirmed with what they waited so long for. Anna loved him, utterly and unconditionally.

She caressed the back of his neck again, before resting her head back against him.

"You kiss me when I look most terribly,… It's not quite what I expected when I first thought about it." Anna smiled against him.

"Oh, so you thought about it before?" she could feel his silent laugh, deep in his chest

But Anna did not answer.

"I start to feel warm again," she shivered in delirium, before falling asleep in his arms.

Anna awoke when she felt the warmth of the house they entered. Mrs. Hughes was already waiting and John followed her to the bathing room. Downstairs he smoothly placed her to sit on a table. Her eyes blinked and her body shivered. In the light John could see how bad she looked. Her face was black and brown with mud and he could see some scratches and cuts on her cheeks.

Mrs. Hughes held her steady while John started undoing her laces and buttons.

Mrs. Hughes coughed. John looked at her and raised his eyebrows.

"Don't you think you should leave the room now, Sir John?"

"What,…oh,.." he hesitated and his cheeks turned red.

"Oh, never mind you. With the two of us we're faster anyway,…" she smirked. He smiled back and continued unbuttoning her shirt. Anna remained silent. She didn't mind his presence but her cheeks did flush pink.

When Anna was undressed he took her in his arms again and carried her to the bath. It was quite big for her. John slowly let her down into the steaming water.

Anna took in a deep breath and her muscles relaxed. John held her hair and brushed trough it with his fingers. He rinsed it with the clean water Mrs. Hughes gave him.

The housekeeper looked at them from afar, a loving smile on her face.

After a while it looked like Anna was asleep again.

"Why don't you fresh yourself up, as well?" Mrs. Hughes suggested to John. "It looks like you have been stuck in the swamp yourself!"

John stood up and nodded. He felt tired and Mrs. Hughes saw it.

"Why don't you heat up the bedroom after you're cleaned up,… I'll sent her up when she's ready."

Again John just nodded and walked out of the room.

Anna tried to open her eyes. "Mrs,… Hugh…"

"Yes, my dear?" the housekeeper immediately responded.

"Could I… have something to eat?" her voice cracked.

"Of course, let me have a look in the kitchens. But I'm afraid we only have some fruit left," the woman told her.

"That would be lovely," Anna smiled.

Mrs. Hughes left the room. Everything was silent now and Anna let out a sigh.

She thought back about what happened and how lucky she was John had found her. How he had taken her in his strong arms and how she had liked leaning against him. She felt save in his arms. And even the smell of the soggy mud on her body, hadn't made his smell less heavenly.

She thought about her fingers in his hair and how she wanted to explore more. His lips had felt much softer than she expected. The feeling it had given her came back in an instant.

He had undressed her and she hadn't felt shame; she had felt treasured.

Anna took a bar of soap from the edge of the bathtub. Slowly she washed herself. Her clean pale skin gleamed in the candlelight.

She had rested for several minutes when Mrs. Hughes entered the room again. On her arm hung Anna's nightgown.

"Sir John gave it to me. He's building the fire in your room now," she told Anna, and handed her a bowl with sliced apples and blueberries. Anna shoved the fruit in her mouth.

"Steady on girl," Mrs. Hughes laughed.

Anna stepped out the bathtub a bit wobbly, but found her strength back after a few seconds. She dried herself and Mrs. Hughes pulled the nightgown over Anna's head. The creamy cotton fabric almost reached the floor.

"Mary was a tall girl compared to you," the housekeeper remembered her. "But it sure looks fine on you too."

Anna felt her energy had refilled a little and wished Mrs. Hughes goodnight.

Gently she walked up the stairs, holding the hem of the nightdress a bit up, to protect herself from tripping.

Her blond hair flowed from a loose tail, along her collarbone, into soft curls. The curls slightly bounced on her breast with every step.

Light glowed against the walls of the bedroom when she entered it. The fire John had built was burning fiercely and made the room very comfortable.

John stared at Anna as she walked in. The reflection of the flames flared in his eyes.

He only wore some old cotton trousers. Nothing else. Her eyes caught his bare chest.

Anna's mind immediately filled with images and fantasies she'd had in the bathtub. She yearned to be close to him. A desire fluttered trough her body, up to her blushing cheeks.

"I'm glad you look so much better," Sir John began, taking a step closer, a bit wavering.

"I am. Much better," Anna smiled at him, still waiting at the door, staring back at him.

"Come in. You should get in bed. Stay warm."

He kept his eyes on her while he said that.

Anna pressed her lips together in a shy smile. She walked to the bed, glancing at him from under her lashes. She opened the curtains with her back to him and stood still for a second.

She turned to look at him over her shoulder. He just sat down on his improvised floor bed.

"J-John,..?" she nervously asked.

"What is it Anna?" he looked worried, ready to be right at her side.

She blushed again and shyly started, "Well,… it's just,…. Would you mind,…"

"Yes?" he tried to encourage her.

"Well, I hope it doesn't sound too silly,… if I'd ask you to,… hold me a while. Just until I fall asleep." She felt stupid to have asked such a thing and didn't dare to look at him. But she had nothing in mind other then him comforting her. That Molesley guy had scared the hell out of her and she liked to talk a bit to get her mind off things.

Without hesitation Sir John got up again and walked towards her.

He lovingly pulled her against him and took her in his arms. He kissed the line of her hair and kept her there for a few seconds. When he pulled back Anna looked up at him with admiration and an overwhelming desire she hadn't known before.

But, before she could do anything he stepped away further and walked up to the bed. He pulled away the furs and blankets so she was able to step in.

So she did, without saying a word.

As soon as she laid her head on the pillow he followed her. Anna was a bit shy to touch him until he held his hand out for her. She moved over to him and fitted perfectly against his shoulder, wrapped by his strong arm.

Her hand found a place on his chest, her fingers softly wandering trough his chest hair.

"Thank you," she smiled, flush against him.

In response he pulled her even closer and brushed a strand of hair from her shoulder. He did it so softly, trailing her upper arm; it caused a shiver to run through her body.

They only talked a little.

In short, she told him what had happened. He just listened and chuckled when she told him about how she had cut Molesley with the sword.

"Somehow I'm glad Molesley picked side for the French. It gives me the more justification to kill him next time we meet," he tried to reassure her.

Anna looked up and reached for his cheek. He had clearly washed and shaved himself. She relished in his smell. She closed her eyes.

"Just keep yourself from harm. I don't want to lose you."

"I'll do anything for you Anna," he whispered against her silky hair.

She couldn't see his smile but she did feel his feather light kiss on her forehead, just before she fell asleep in his arms.


I had written a hot scene in the bathtub, but it was quite awkward, because this isn't a very sexy story,... so just be patient before something really happens :-)

It won't be long now ;-)