Chapter 13

Note: Here's a nice length of a chapter for you all. If you don't particularly care for sex scenes, feel free to skip most of this chapter.

Few Hours Later

Alan had arrived with his regiment to clean up the mess and comfort Sigrid. Once he was sure everyone was safe he assigned twelve men to guard duty. He spread them out in pairs at critical areas of the Duke's keep. Alan himself stood outside the door for the night to put Elena at ease.

After they had all washed up, they prepared a simple dinner. Tilda wouldn't leave Elena's side and Ony was constantly perched on Tilda's shoulder. Tilda fed him small morsels as she ate. Bard was sitting on the bench next to Elena. Sidrid sat across from Bard and next to Bain.

Sidrid looked up at Bard with tired eyes, "Da, how are they getting in? They keep coming after us."

"I don't know," Bard said softly, "but I plan on finding out."

"Could Lieutenant Bryn have had this in play before he was killed?" Bain asked.

"Bryn was never quite that smart," Elena said as her brow furrowed in thought, "There have to be more than just Bryn."

"You know the men better than anyone," Bard said turning to Elena, "Who would have such a strong need to see us dead?"

"Alan would be the one to ask," Elena said as she looked towards the door, "The men have looser tongues with another man than me."

"But you seem to sense danger," Bard pointed out.

Elena thought for a moment, "I'm not sure I like the path this is taking."

"What do you mean, Mum?" Tilda asked quietly as she frowned hard.

"I fear coming to Dale has lost me my brother," Elena said as her throat felt like it was thickening, "I do not regret coming here and meeting you and all the wonderful people here, but I think my brother has lost his way. He is the only one I can think of with reason and knowledge to do this. He was also very close to Bryn."

"How do we prove who's behind this?" Bain asked as he sat up straighter.

A determined look set into Elena's face as she slowly stood, "We gather our evidence."

She stepped over the bench and took quick strides to the door. As she opened it, Alan turned towards it.

"Cuz?" he asked, "Is everything alright."

"If you'll come inside for a few moments, Alan," she said stepping aside to let him in, "We are going to put a stop to these attacks."

Alan's face soon mirrored Elena's in determination as he heard their theory about Aric.

"What would you have me do?" Alan asked as he stared into Elena's eyes.

"I need you to keep a closer eye on Aric," Elena said, "When you can't be near him assign Private Prazin and Philip to do so. They would never turn on me."

"Why not?" Bain asked.

"They owe me their lives," Elena said softly, "And now its time for them to repay that debt by saving ours."

"I'll see it done," Alan said standing.

He turned towards the door and then stopped as a thought popped into his head. He turned back towards them and offered Bard his hand. Bard took it. Alan held on tightly, but not in an intimidating way.

"I've heard you asked for my cousin's hand and she has said yes," Alan stated firmly, "As Aric has lost his place of privilege in my cousin's eyes it would be my honor as her next of kin to offer my blessings on your marriage. May it be long and filled with happiness."

Alan released his hand and bowed to Bard before straightening again to leave.

"I'm honored you believe me worthy of her," he said as he too stood before clasping his hand onto Alan's shoulder.

Alan mirrored the dwarven gesture of honor and respect, "Perhaps when this is all over and Dale has been restored to its former glory, I will be asking for your blessing as well. If I have proved my worth."

Elena smirked as Sigrid blushed and Bard nodded. Alan squeezed Sigrid's shoulder gently as he passed before heading out and shutting the door behind him.

Bard turned to Sigrid as he smiled, "That is a fine young man."

Sigrid blushed harder as she smiled and nodded.

"I think we should be getting to bed," Elena said.

"I'll sleep with Tilda tonight," Sigrid said as she ran her fingers through Tilda's hair, "Let's get you ready."

Elena helped Sigrid with Tilda before making sure all three children were settled in for the night. She walked back to the kitchen to find Bard sitting on a bench with his back against the table and his arms crossed. He looked up at her as she came in and he smiled. She smiled back as she stood in front of him. She ran her fingers through his hair as he uncrossed his arms and leaned forward into her. He wrapped his arms around her waist and buried his face in her stomach. She continued to run her fingers through his hair as he sighed contentedly.

"Its been a long day," she mumbled.

"Its better having you here," he said against her stomach before he leaned back enough to look up at her.

She smiled down at him, "At least its never boring."

He chuckled as he pulled her down to straddle his lap comfortably. One arm wrapped around her waist as the other slowly ran up her arm until he cupped her cheek. He pulled her forward as he leaned into her. She slowly closed her eyes as their lips met. He nudged her lips open and his tongue flicked in to meet hers. His arm around her waist held her tighter as his other hand moved to the back of her neck. His arm let go of her waist only to pull the tie from her braid before pulling her flush against him. The hand at her neck left to bury in her loose hair as he started to kiss down her jaw to her neck. She moaned softly as he sucked on a tender spot on her neck.

She tangled her fingers into his hair and tugged gently causing him to moan as well. One of her hands wandered down to grasp the back of his neck as she felt his body tighten in response. She shifted her hips a bit causing him to moan into her neck. His hands took hold of her hips as his lips reclaimed hers. She felt his length grow beneath her as his hands slid down to grasp her bum. He rocked against her gently while tugging her as close to him as he could. They moaned as they kissed.

She felt warmth throughout her body that pooled between her thighs. She leaned back enough to look into his eyes as the warmth enveloped him as well. A devilish smirk appeared on his face as he saw her flushed face. He looked down at her heaving chest and brought one hand up to unlace enough of her tunic to see her breasts bared before him. He leaned forward again, this time taking one rosy nipple into his mouth. She inhaled sharply at the wonderful sensations wringing through her. She moved her hips against his causing him to moan into her breast. A slow grin appeared on her face at his sounds. She gently rocked against him over and over. He took her other nipple into his mouth and nipped a bit as he sucked on her. His hands grasped her hips again, helping her rub against him.

"Baaard," she moaned softly as she buried her face in his neck causing him to lose hold of her nipple.

She wrapped her arms around him as she relished the sensations he was making her body feel.

"Elena," he whispered huskily into her ear.

"More," she begged.

"When we truly make love, My Heart," he whispered, "It will be in my bed without a scrap of cloth to separate us."

"Whats this then?" she asked confused as she continued to rub against him.

"This is just the part that comes before," he promised.

He ground his hips up into her making her moan louder.

"When do we get to the naked part?" she asked impatiently.

He chuckled huskily as he tried to steady his breathing, "Here I thought you'd want to wait for the wedding night."

She leaned back enough for him to see the happy gleam in her eyes, "I don't want to waste any time. Any day could be our last, I prefer to live life to the fullest with the man who holds my heart."

"Who am I to deny my Lady?" he asked as he wrapped her legs around his waist before standing.

She held on tight as he cupped her bum and carried her to his room. He used his back to shut the door and then set her gently on his bed. He finished unlacing her tunic before slowly bringing it up her body and tossing it on a stool behind him. She echoed his movements with his own shirt. She toed off her boots. He gently pulled her leggings down and off her legs. She unbuckled his belt. He took a step back to unlace his boots and remove them. He pulled his trousers down leaving them both bare before each other.

He looked up her body drinking in every inch. He noticed pale scars scattered around one of her hips and thighs. Soon his hands followed his eyes as they caressed up her body to tangle in her hair and pull her lips to his. She moaned into his mouth as she stroked her hands down his shoulders to grasp on his biceps. She hesitantly ran a hand down his chest to his hip as he ran a hand down to cup her. She moaned louder as he trailed kisses down her neck. He nudged her backwards gently until she was laying on the soft covers. He pulled her legs onto the bed before crawling up with her.

He held his body above her as his hand trailed along her warm slit. He felt the wetness and grinned.

"You ready, Love?" he asked quietly.

She nodded as he slipped a finger between her folds. She gasped at the feeling as he stroked her gently. She moaned as she grasped his shoulders to steady herself. He slipped a second finger in and continued to stroke. As he felt the small barrier inside her his chest tightened. She had never lain with a man and she had picked him. He felt unworthy as her whole body writhed with her building passion. She let go of him only to grab at the covers beneath her as he kissed down her body. His mouth replaced his fingers and he dove his tongue into her glistening folds making her mewl softly. He added his fingers again as he sped up. He brushed his thumb against her nub causing her to whimper his name.

"Please," she continued to whimper, "Bard please."

"I love the way you say my name," he chuckled as he kissed his way back up her body.

She caught his lips with hers in a searing kiss. She enjoyed the taste of herself on his tongue as he slipped a knee between her legs. He aimed himself at her entrance before brushing his tip in her wetness. He brushed up and down her slit covering himself with her.

"You sure Love?" he asked gently.

"You stop now My Lordand there will be hell to pay," she said narrowing her eyes at him in jest.

He chuckled again as he slowly slipped into her a bit. He pulled out and she whimpered before he pushed himself in again. Each time he pushed in a bit farther to let her slowly adjust to his size. As he reached her barrier he held himself still as she continued to adjust. She whimpered again when she noticed him not moving.

"Careful Love," he whispered as he kissed the tops of her breasts before kissing her gently, "This is the part that hurts a bit."

She wrapped her arms around his shoulders pulling him tight against her. She buried her face in his neck and nibbled a bit as he moved an arm around her waist to hold her tightly to him as well. He pulled out a bit and then pushed back to where he was. She moaned gently into his neck as he did this a few more times. Then he pushed hard through her barrier and buried himself to the hilt inside of her. She yelped as she bit his shoulder from the pain. A few tears trailed out of her eyes. He leaned back enough to look her in the eyes and wipe her tears away with his other hand.

He held on to her tightly as he watched the painful expression slowly fade from her face. She kissed him gently and he pulled out a bit causing her to wince.

"Are you okay?" he asked gently.

"I think so," she said quietly.

He pushed in and then back out as he watched her face.

"It gets better the more you do that," she whispered as her face flushed red.

He nodded and continued to gently push and then pull out a bit until she started moaning gently again. He started pulling out almost all the way before pushing himself back in to the hilt. Her moans grew louder as his joined hers. He tilted her hips up a bit for a better angle. As he sped up, their bodies slapped together loudly. Her moans turned into mewls as she felt her insides wind up. He buried his face in her neck moaning her name. He grabbed her thighs and brought them up higher on his hips. Her eyes started blinking rapidly as she felt something dam up inside her begging to be let free.

He felt her tightening around him and his body began to follow hers. Her hands clung to his shoulders as she arched into him. The dam inside of her started to overflow and break. She mewled out his name once more as stars starting to swim in her head. He felt her let loose and his thrusts became erratic as he followed her into bliss. He buried his face in her breasts as his seed filled her.

She smiled shyly as he looked into her eyes with a smirk on his.

"I could definitely get used to that My Lord," she mumbled as she ran a hand through his hair.

They both laughed quietly as they held each other.

"I certainly hope I will continue to please you My Lady," he said as he kissed her forehead tenderly, "I love you."

"I love you too," she whispered before yawning into her hand.

"I think maybe some sleep is in order," he said as he reluctantly pulled out of her.

She nodded, but made no effort to move. He got off the bed and walked over to a water basin on a small table. He dampened a clean piece of cloth before walking back to Elena. He gently parted her legs.

"I'm sorry this is a bit cold," he said as he slowly cleaned her.

She opened her eyes to watch him with a small smile on her face. When he was done, he washed himself before adding the cloth to a small basket bound for the laundry. He pulled the covers back on one side of the bed before lifting her into his arms. He carried her to the pulled down section of bedding and laid her down gently. He pulled back his own section and slipped into bed beside her. He pulled the covers over them. He pulled her into his arms kissing her again. She sighed contentedly as she laid her hand over his heart and her head on his chest. He wrapped an arm around her waist and settled his other hand on her hip.

"Goodnight Love," he whispered into her hair.

She sighed heavily as sleep took her.