I giggled when I read the review by someone who stated, "Ooh noooo short chapter again,more!"

Hopefully this chapter here satisfies!

**PLEASE NOTE***

I may be changing the rating on this story. There is a very slight lime-and I mean very slight-BUT there is a situation talked about that could be controversial. BUT-its necessary for my story-which you all will be reading about later on.

***PLEASE BE AWARE!***

For a reminder: Characters not mine. Story is mine.

Enjoy!

Lita looked back behind her, making sure no one was following her. She despised deception, but lying to Rosie was the only way she could make her escape. She refused to allow a counsel full of men who would sell their daughters for a gold coin, to determine her life. She had enough of that while living with her father.

She crept along the wall; her hands flushed up against it. The stables were in sight, only a few yards away.

She glanced down at the breeches she had taken from her husband's wardrobe. They were excessively large on her, but, with a leather strap, she secured them. She was also being swallowed whole by one of his riding shirts. 'At least it will keep me warm, and keep stares away.' She thought. She was thankful to be wearing her own riding boots-as his were simply too big.

She looked around once more before making a mad dash to the stables.

Instead of going through the main door, Lita slipped around to the windows that were situated at each stall-to allow the horses to breathe. Upon her approach, one horse in particular stuck its head outside and watched her.

She smiled at him. "Silva" her soft whisper had the horse moving its head.

She pushed him back a little and heaved herself up through the window.

Landed with a small thud in the stable-Lita stopped and listened again. When no noise could be heard, she quickly began assembling her ridding saddle.

"My lord? Should we stop her?" A young soldier rode up to Nephrite who stood outside, on the opposite end of the stable yard-while he wasn't close enough for Lita to hear or see them, mostly due to the night, he was able to watch her, as the stable was situated at the bottom of the small hill.

He looked up, "No. Let her think she has some freedom. Once she leaves I will follow. The rest of you will stay behind." The soldier nodded

"Our Queen, my lord, shes a feisty one."

Nephrite grinned, "That she is."

Lita opened the door to the stable, leading Silva out. She easily swung into the saddle. She made sure she had a small bag of food-for her and her horse, and a flask of water, before pushing her heels in gently and allowing Silva to run like the hounds of hell were after him.

Nephrite swung into his saddle as well, like he was born to ride a horse. He looked towards his general, "Hector, I will be back come morning-perhaps late afternoon. I trust you can hold the fort down until I return with my stubborn wife?"

Hector smiled, amusement clearly shown, "Of course my lord, and what a story you will be able to tell."

Nephrite laughed as he set his war horse off- if Lita wanted a chance at freedom, he would give it, but, it would come with a price.

Lita continued glancing back, "Something doesn't feel right Silva. I mean, it seemed a little too easy? Don't you think?" Her question only had the chocolate brown horse moving his head forward and then back up again-as if nodding his head in agreement.

"I have an idea—lets change course-move back towards the castle, then go west-instead of east. I think they'd expect me to go east. " she tapped her chin, her emerald eyes flashing with worry as she continued to look around the dense forest.

At her simple pull, the horse followed her commands.

It wasn't long before she heard the pounding on the ground-hoofs coming in fast.

Though, as Lita stopped to look around, she couldn't tell what direction it was coming from.

She pushed her horse into a full gallop-in any direction he wished.

The bushes slapped her face as she closed her eyes and ducked closer to Silva-hoping and praying that she would escape.

Within a moment, Silva came to a sudden stop-the momentum almost throwing her forward and off the horse-though she forced herself sideways and came to painful drop to his side.

"Silva!" she hissed, "That hurt!"

He pranced gently and brought his head down to nuzzle her, "ohh now you say sorry!"

She patted his head and looked at what stopped him.

Her heart sank as a massive river flowed before her—its current too powerful for her to cross safety. She wouldn't risk her life or Silva's.

"Once you escaped, where were you planning on going?" The masculine voice behind her had Lita's spine snapping straight.

She turned and froze, as her handsome husband sat regally upon his mocha brown steed.

He brought the horse closer-

Lita refused to be ashamed-at least not in front of him, "How did you find me so quickly?"

He chuckled as he slid off his horse, the movement smooth and practiced. "I'm a warrior Lita. I'm trained in the art of finding groups of rebellions. You, sadly, were not very good at hiding or escaping."

Lita's face burned, "Yeah, well, I'm not going back. I'd rather live in these forests then be forced into a life that dictates my life for me."

He took the few steps needed to stand beside her, though his blue eyes looked out into the raging river, instead of at her. He could see her body tense up, expecting some form of physical backlash.

"I used to come here when I was just a boy. I would ask myself if I had the courage to jump in this river-if I had the courage to allow it to take me wherever it wanted too." His voice, though he spoke softly, was still strong, powerful.

Lita eyed him as she too, took in the river.

"I never had the courage to do so. Something always stopped me. Duty. Honor. Maybe cowardness. I'm unsure which one. Maybe it was a mixture of everything. But I realized something while staring at this river. Regardless of whether I jumped in our not-my fate would still be decided for me."

He finally turned slightly and looked at Lita, "I realized that if I took on the position of King-that while my fate was played with-ultimately I decided life."

Lita took a step back as his eyes seemed to soften-instead of the anger she expected.

"You are a Queen now Lita. Yes, in reality your father sold you to me. He received a great wealth because of you. But what you do now is up to you. You could use this position that you have and do great things with it-to change others fates, or, you can continue to run from it."

Lita looked back at the river, unable to make eye contact any longer. She truly hated him and his words. Then made her think beyond herself. Damn him.

"I don't wish to force you into anything Lita. I won't lie to you. When your portrait was sent to me, I refused to look for any other woman. There was something in your eyes-even the artist captured it-that said you'd make a strong Queen. I wanted to give you time to get used to me. I know I'm not an easy man to get along with. I can't be. But, I disobeyed my own laws to make sure you were comfortable."

He sighed as Lita refused to look at him. He brought his hand out and grabbed her face gently, turning her. Her body flinched, "I will not cause you harm Lita. I have never raised my hand nor sword to a woman, and I never will. But I can no longer disobey the laws that have been in place for hundreds of years. You could be killed-as by our law standards, we are only married by a quill currently."

"But you're the king! Can't you change the laws?" Her green eyes flashed, "A king created them, a king can undo them!"

Nephrite smiled gently, "If only it was that simple."

"Please—I do not wish to be touched." She took a step back, her face drawn up in complete fear. Nephrite understood that many women had fears for the first time, but Lita's seemed different.

"Lita-has another man touched you against your will?"

She turned her head to the side, refusing to make eye contact.

The blood ran cold in Nephrites bones, "Who was it Lita?"

"I can't! Please!" Her body shook and Nephrite cursed himself as he took a step and engulfed her in his arms.

After a few moments, Lita finally spoke, "I am still a virgin Nephrite, my father made sure of that."

He thought for a few moments, his blue eyes narrowing, "You've said that before, haven't you?"

It seemed like hours had past before Lita felt comfortable speaking. She continued to think about her life before this-and a shudder ran down her spine. She would rather die then go back to the man who conveniently called himself father. She looked at the river again and decided on her fate.

She looked up at him, her emerald eyes wide and fearful, but also hopeful, "I don't want to go back to him." She stood on her tippy toes and brought her lips to his; all thoughts left Nephrite's mind at just the basic touch.

He quickly took control; pulling her body against his, his hands began pulling the overly large shirt from the leather strap that was securely wrapped around her waist.

Within a few seconds, he had the shirt pulled out, and brought it over her head. Beneath, she still wore a smaller shirt and Nephrite cursed at all the extra clothing. He heard her chuckle. There was something earthly about her laughs. Something that called to him. He continued ravaging her mouth as his hands worked at the rest of her clothes.

Lita, lost in the sensation herself, brought her hands to his breeches, and began undoing the leather strap tied around his waist. Nephrite pulled away, and she found herself whimpering at the loss of contact-he picked her up easily and laid her on the ground. Within moments his larger body covered hers-and she smiled as he had removed his shirt.

Her hands roamed his expansive toned stomach and chest.

She couldn't stop the sounds coming from her throat when his kisses began to trail down her neck. She was pulled forward as she felt her other blouse being pulled over her head and tossed aside.

His hands found her breast, and molded them to his hands. "Perfect Lita. You are beautiful."

She arched, as if his hands were controlling every ounce within her body.

They laid there in the aftermath-both breathing heavily.

Lita found herself snuggled up next to him, his arm wrapped securely around her petite waist; her head rested in the crook of his arm.

She thought back to their love-making. It had hurt, but not as bad as she had thought. And Nephrite-she smiled, he made sure to bring her such pleasures. She had never known such things before-and she oddly found herself wanting to repeat the act.

She was content to just lay there for the time being-though Nephrite had other things on his mind.

"Lita, I need you to be honest with me."

She glanced up, rubbing her head against his chest in an unusual display of affection, "Alright. You kept your word about intimacy—I will be honest."

"Did someone harm you? And there are other ways to harm a woman besides forcing her into sex."

Lita moved her head down, her arms tightening around his.

"Lita? Please tell me."

Lita sat up and turned away from him. Bringing her knees to her naked chest, she wrapped her arms around her legs and stared at the river.

Nephrite sat up as well.

"He always made sure I stayed a virgin. He never allowed himself to complete the act, but my fath—" she stopped, having to take in a few steady breaths. Nephrite's fist began to clench.

"My mother died giving birth to me. My father despised me. Then, around my 14th birthday, he started complementing me on how much I looked like my dead mother."

Nephrite brought his hand to her back, rubbing in circles. She turned her head slightly and smiled at him, though her eyes were full of tears.

"He started to dote on me. Then, he started asking for repayment. He would force me to stand naked in front of him- if I refused, he would have two of his guards undress me. He wouldn't touch me or allow anyone else too—just stare." Lita's body began to shake, she looked back at the river, "I hate him."

Nephrite stood, anger radiating off his body in waves. Grabbing his clothes, he quickly began to dress. Once dressed, he reached his hand down and helped Lita up. Giving her a gentle kiss, he helped her dress.

After he secured the leather strap around her waist, Lita finally braved to be speak, "My lord?"

"Lita, you do not need to address me as such. My name is Nephrite; you are entitled to use it."

She swallowed and nodded. When he brought her Silva, Lita glanced at the reigns.

"What do you plan on doing Neph?"

He stood by his horse, his blue eyes blazing, and his face a solid piece of stone.

"I plan on killing your father in the cruelest way I know."

O_O

I would not want to be on his bad side.

Again, this knowledge is essential to the story line-I PROMISE!

Thoughts? Reviews?

спасибо!

~LAla