Love Connections
Chapter 5
When Coleridge mentioned his little problem to the Elders, they were just as puzzled as he had been about it. They strongly suggested he stayed put for a while. Coleridge countered that he could enlist his son's help and Leo's. However, the Elders simply thought that the darklighter probably had some reason to follow him which would most certainly go away soon… Coleridge had his doubts on that but he agreed to follow their advice.
At the manor, Leo woke up with a start. This time he was certain he had felt the telltale of a darklighter's presence close by…
The sensation was fleeting however, and he looked around in puzzlement. Piper was still sleeping and he didn't want to disturb her. Not for something like this at least. After another moment without any other sign, he again believed that he had been mistaken. Although uneasily, he went back to sleep…
The Darklighter saw Jacob going way too close for comfort to the manor. His colleague obviously was not too worried about being discovered, but he was... That ended his watch for the night. He saw Jacob orbing out and then he did too, just in case.
Jacob himself had lost track of one of his targets and was now very frustrated. That was why he came to take a look at the place where his second target stayed. He wasn't worried about the whitelighter detecting him. On the contrary, he welcomed him to follow. However, he realized just in time that the little problem his partner had mentioned was actually living right by the second target. The sensation had been unmistakable as well. The moment he sensed the Archangel, Jacob orbed out in a hurry, determined to put as much distance between him and the danger as he could. Jacob then promised himself to have another discussion with his treacherous partner.
Cole felt a sudden chill, and he wondered about it for a moment. However, the sensation went away as fast as it had come, and by the time Phoebe reentered the room, he had already dismissed it.
"Is he sleeping?"
Phoebe came toward the bed and lied down before answering.
"Like an angel." She turned to Cole with an amused smile: "no pun intended…"
Cole still approved.
"Well, he might as well be one… I often wonder how I can possibly qualify as one myself…"
Phoebe snuggled to him.
"I disagree…"
"Of course, you would."
"And my opinion is the only one that matters…"
Cole laughed and tightened his hold on her.
"Ok now, I have to know the rest…"
Phoebe looked up with a mischievous expression.
"Really?"
"Really!" He insisted.
She drew a lazy line on his chest with her finger and said.
"You must be really interested…"
He chuckled:
"The night is young…"
Phoebe rested her head on his chest, then:
"Well there it is…"
'The Duke was relieved to hear the news about his son, but now he intended to take care of the new problem that had aroused…
He found Prue, still busy in the great hall, where she was making sure that her people would ration the food and drinks in prevision of a possible lengthy siege. He didn't lose any time and summarily dismissed the domestics, to Prue's utter displeasure. The man was taking too many liberties in her house, and she intended to have it with him, but again he didn't give her a chance, attacking first.
"What kind of trickery are you trying on me and my sons?"
Prue opened wide eyes at the obvious accusation.
"What are you talking about? We have been nothing if honest and up front in our intentions."
The Duke wasn't going to be deflated so easily.
"Are you trying to break our arrangement by having your sister seducing my son?"
Prue gasped at this.
"How dare you?"
"I have eyes… She was all over him…"
"Out of concern…"
The Duke insisted: "I've seen concern; that wasn't it…If you think you can get out of our agreement this way, you're gravely mistaken…"
Prue couldn't stand it anymore.
"Did it ever occur to you that your son might have been just as guilty? I should be the one insulted, as I have seen the way he looks at her…"
"My son is a man of honor," The Duke replied with a hint of hesitation. "Cole will fulfill his duty, and so will you," he added more forcefully.
"Far from me to try escaping my obligations…"
"I'll hold you to this, and so will my son as soon as he gets better…"
The two measured each other for another moment, and then the man left the room abruptly.
Prue sighed heavily. She hated what she had to do. With everything that she was, she knew where her duty lied, but it didn't make her feel better about it.
She went out in turn, determined to have the discussion that she should have had earlier with her sister, hadn't it been for her weakness.
Phoebe fell on her bed as soon as Leo had left. She cried inconsolably, like never in her entire life. "What cruel fate befell her", she thought bitterly. Her chest was so tight that she imagined the life being squeezed out of her slowly. At this point, she would almost have welcomed death, as she was certain that nothing else would stop this pain. However, she didn't have much time to dwell on her sorrow as another knock on the door interrupted her somber thoughts. She almost ignored it, but the knocking became more insistent and she got up slowly.
"Come in," she said in a strangled voice.
Prue entered the room and all the reproaches she had meant to give her sister stayed in her throat. Phoebe looked so pitiful. Her eyes were swollen and it was easy to guess that she had been crying … Prue had never known her sister to be in such pain and it broke her heart. She thought that losing Paul was difficult, but seeing her sister like this was almost too much to bear. Rather than the talk Prue intended to have with Phoebe, she ran to her and wrapped her arms around her, both of them in tears at this point. There was no need for words as they both shared a very similar grief.
Phoebe was the one who finally broke the silence.
"I'm so sorry to have added to your burden, I swear that I didn't mean to…"
"I know; I understand…"
Phoebe pulled away from her, almost angrily.
"Do you, really? Because I don't! What happened to me?"
"You simply fell in love, Phoebe…"
Phoebe:
"But why him; why now? How could I be so weak?"
"Love is not a weakness, but it can hurt."
Phoebe turned to her at this. She knew exactly what her sister meant.
Then, she seemed to make a decision.
"As soon as it's safe, I'll leave."
Prue gasped.
"Where would you go?"
"I'll go with Paul, live at his parents' Estate. I'll see from there. I can't stay here; it would be too hard for all of us…"
Prue sadly had to admit that it was the only solution. She wished that things were not so complicated. She took leave of her sister with a heavy heart, now convinced that she had lost a sister in the bargain at the same time as the man she loved. The price was starting to feel almost too high…
Her next stop was for her fiancé's room, where she found him awake but lost in thoughts. His vague expression told her that his state of mind was not much better than Phoebe's and hers.
"Are you feeling better," Prue asked?
Cole took a moment before acknowledging her, but when he did, she saw that he made an effort to cover his own pain.
"Yes… thank you for asking. Hopefully I'll be up soon and we can prepare for our nuptials…" he continued in a flat voice.
"Yes," Prue answered in kind. Not knowing what else to say, she simply took a seat and stayed by his side. It didn't take him long to return to his sad contemplation and Prue wondered what kind of life they could hope to have with such a somber beginning…
The next morning, things had not gotten any better, on the contrary. About five hundred meters away, De LaTour's army was massing around the castle, but still keeping at a safe distance from the defenses already in place. The Duke recommended that all those who were not to fight be relocated toward the center of the castle. There was no telling when the enemy would start his attack, and they followed the Duke's advice to the letter. The reinforcement would not be here for several days. All they could hope for was that they could hold the place until then.
Leo came to see his brother before taking his post and this one was really upset at his own impotence.
"I should be out there helping, but as an imbecile I got myself hurt and now I feel like a woman cowering behind these walls…"
Leo was surprised by the intensity of his reaction.
"Hola, since when are you in such a hurry to battle? And besides, I wouldn't go and compare myself to a woman and a coward in the same phrase within these walls. Those girls are remarkably brave."
Leo immediately saw the softening in his brother's attitude and wondered about it.
"Brother, you still haven't told me what bothered you? Was it Lady Phoebe?"
Cole didn't answer, but he looked away and Leo understood that he had guessed right.
"Cole, you didn't…"
His brother turned abruptly toward him and his expression told him not to finish the sentence.
"Well," Leo said after a moment, "I guess that I'll take my post now…"
Leo was already on his way when Cole called back.
"Wasn't there something else you wanted to ask me?"
Leo came back hesitantly.
"I didn't think that you'd want to hear about it…"
"Come on, don't be shy," Cole said to him and for a moment, he almost smiled.
Leo stepped from one foot to the other with a little embarrassment.
"It's about…hem, it's about Lady Piper…"
"Yes and?"
Sometimes, Cole thought that Leo was still a little boy, one that would have grown much too fast.
"I gather that you're interested?" he insisted when Leo could not seem to find the words.
"Yes that's it…What do I do?"
"You're asking me?"
Leo became more animated.
"Who else am I gonna ask?"
Cole sighed.
"All I can tell you is that if you think that she's the one, you shouldn't hesitate to go to her. And don't wait too long…"
Leo could sense the emotional pain his brother was in through his words, and he understood then that his brother had found and lost love all at once. It pained him greatly to see him in such chagrin. He just wished that he knew what to say to alleviate Cole's pain, but nothing came to mind.
"I think that I'll follow your advice," he finally said.
Cole nodded in agreement, and then looked away, again lost in thoughts.
Leo stayed a moment longer but he could see that his brother had already dismissed him in his mind. He then left without another word.
Following his brother's advice as promised, he went to look for Piper. Leo was so nervous that when he finally found her, he stood there without a word, petrified.
Finally, Piper took the matter in her own hands.
"Good day! How are things outside?"
Leo smiled stupidly, feeling totally inept at the moment, and yet happy to be there with her.
"Nothing has changed," he managed to reply, but in a voice that he barely recognized as his own. He felt his face warming up and knew that she must have noticed his nervousness. Yet, she simply smiled and went on.
"I'm really glad that your father and you are here to help."
"Yes," was all Leo could say, and he berated himself for his stupidity.
He pursued, turning away from her.
"I have to go back…"
Piper called to him.
"Sir?"
Only half turning toward her, he said quickly:
"Leo… You can call me Leo."
Her smile brightened.
"Leo," Piper uttered softly and his heart melted.
"Leo, she repeated again, "will you have supper with me tonight?"
His smile was all the answer that she needed.
"Seven sharp, in the small salon…"
Leo nodded in agreement before almost running out.
Outside, he stopped and inhaled deeply. Then he smiled happily to himself before taking his post for the afternoon.
For the next few days, nothing really happened as the opponents were just standing each on their side, waiting for the other to make the first move. Leo came to realize that they might just have the advantage of surprise when their own army arrived. If De LaTour had known about this, he probably would have attacked by now.
The Duke agreed with this and hoped that their luck would hold until the said reinforcement had arrived. It was not to be…
Leo used this time to get better acquainted with Piper, whom he was growing fonder of for every passing moment. At first, it had been difficult to go passed his timidity, but soon he realized that he could talk to her almost as freely as he did his brother. By the morning of the third day of the siege, he already knew that he wanted her to be his wife. Leo just hoped that she felt the same. Something else, however, bothered him. He was so happy in spite of all the troubles. And yet, his brother and most other people in there were suffering. He was almost ashamed by his own joy.
Obviously there came a point where the Duke of De LaTour got tired of waiting and that morning, he made his first move.
Positioning his catapult, he began bombarding the walls, concentrating on the area of the drawbridge, which told the defenders that he intended an insertion shortly.
The noise was repetitive and unnerving to all inside the fortress. Cole, who had already recuperated most of his strength, was now itching to go out with his fellow men. Staying in this room day in and day out had done nothing to alleviate his pain and he needed to do something besides thinking about her. "And fast," he told himself. The other thing was that his father had come to him that morning and the conversation had been one that he would have preferred to forget about. It was a rather one-sided talk at that. His father had come in blazing. Without giving Cole a chance to explain himself, the Duke had started on a lengthy speech about his duty to him and his family. He had insisted on the fact that his feelings were of no consequence when the family's interests were at stake… Although he was upset at his father for his mistrust of his honor, Cole allowed him to say his piece, simply hoping that he would leave sooner if he did. After a few minutes, the Duke had seemed to deflate somewhat. He obviously had expected protestations from his son and his silence possibly worried him more than an all out fight.
Cole however, had already made up his mind, convinced by now that Phoebe had made the hard choice for him. Therefore, he didn't see the point in arguing with his father about this. He would do the right thing by his family, no matter how hard …
Outside, the archers were lining up, ready for an assault, while servants were dispatched to reinforce the walls with anything that they could find. Even the heavy wood that composed the large doors to the drawbridge were starting to give signs of weakness as the repeated hits from the catapult continued throughout the morning.
Phoebe jumped for every hit, now at the end of her resistance. For the last three days she had remained in her rooms, barely touching the food that was still brought regularly to her. She had slept only a few hours in all, and she didn't know how much more of this she could take. Prue and Piper had taken turns to keep her company on occasions, but neither one of them had been able to shake her out of her deep sorrow. By the afternoon of the third day, she finally decided that she had to go out of this room before she went crazy. Most of her windows had been walled with heavy planks and the darkness inside did nothing to help her. Only meaning to get some air from a walk in the inner courtyard, she stepped out of the room…
Cole was now going mad with impatience and the desire to help. He knew that the attack was imminent and that every good arm would count even if he only had one of use at the moment. Finally, he went out, determined to do whatever he could…
Phoebe didn't know exactly why, but instead of the courtyard, she found herself in the corridor leading to Cole's room. Just as she was about to turn back, she saw him…
Cole had his back to Phoebe, but as if he had felt her, he stopped and slowly turned toward her. She was stuck in place. She wanted to run away for fear of what would happen but she couldn't. Then, suddenly she took a step forward, and then another… That was enough for him to forget everything that wasn't her. He ran to her, almost lifting her off the ground in his arms. His lips found hers immediately and the kiss took both their breaths away. He only left her mouth to kiss her puffy eyes and her face, as if he could take away her pain in doing so. Phoebe wanted to protest but the moment he touched her, she knew that if felt right, as if they had been meant to be together forever. His arms around her felt like home. She responded by touching his face, caressing him hungrily.
He stopped only a moment, looking at her with such desire that she thought she could already feel him all over her.
Then she simply whispered:
"I want to be yours, even if just once…"
In spite of the pain in his shoulder, he carried her to his room, locking the door behind them. He laid her on the bed, while still kissing her hungrily. Only then did he pull away from her, hesitating.
"Are you certain," Cole asked hoarsely, almost afraid of her answer.
Rather than words, she proved it to him by pulling him to her and kissing him in turn. Then they forgot all about their doubts…
All that afternoon, they made love breathlessly, desperately. They didn't feel guilt, as it felt so right to both of them. They were oblivious to the clamors outside and the still deafening noise of the catapult. All that existed in that moment was each other.
Finally, after many hours, they were spent and just lying down in each other's arms. They had not said a single word for none was needed. Phoebe sensed that they had connected in a manner that transcended any conversation. No word could truly express the way she felt about him. Unfortunately, an insistent knocking on the door interrupted their perfect moment. Leo was calling to Cole.
"Brother? Something has happened… Lady Phoebe disappeared…"
Phoebe gasped, all the guilt returning at once. Cole put his fingers on her lips, and then tried his best to sound concerned. Although considering the situation, it wasn't too difficult.
"I'll be out in a moment, don't wait for me; go look for her…"
Leo seemed puzzled.
"Cole?"
Cole then sounded angry when he replied.
"Don't lose time; you've got to find her…"
"Right!" Leo answered, obviously put off with his brother's attitude.
Then they heard him walking away in a hurry and they both breathed a deep sigh of relief at the same time.
"I have to go…" Phoebe said very seriously.
Cole was loath to let go of her, even if he knew that she was right.
When he wouldn't release her, Phoebe continued sadly:
"You have to let me go…"
He breathed deeply and then:
"I can't lose you; not now."
Phoebe knew that she had to be reasonable for the both of them, even if she didn't want to.
"You know that we can never be together again. You have to accept it…"
"Can you? After this afternoon, can you really?"
Phoebe tried her best to sound firm when she answered.
"I have to and so do you…"
Reluctantly, he allowed her get out of bed and she put on her clothes slowly as he watched her. Cole couldn't keep his eyes from her, drinking every moment like a man lost in a desert, who had found an oasis, but then was about to lose it again.
Finally she was ready, but unwilling to move away. They looked in each other's eyes for a long moment before she found the courage to turn toward the door. Unable to contain himself, he ran to her and pressed her against it. He kissed her again breathlessly, but she pushed him away.
"We can't do this anymore…"
He took her face in his hands, forcing her to look up at him.
"No matter what happens, I will always love you. I may have to belong to another, but my heart will always be yours…"
Phoebe whispered:
"And mine yours, forever…"
Cole kissed her one last time before she found the courage to leave the room.
Rather than returning to her rooms, she directed her paces toward the great hall, where she was sure that she would find one or the other of her sisters, or at least someone to reassure that she wasn't lost. However, before she reached the hall, she stopped herself, afraid that they could read on her face the telltale of her long afternoon. She almost turned around but a scream of relief behind her made the decision for her.
"Where were you, we were worried sick?" Piper was questioning anxiously.
Phoebe slowly turned toward her sister, careful to dissimulate her true feelings.
"I was simply outside; I needed some air…"
"We looked everywhere…"
Phoebe became irritated with her sister's insistence.
"Obviously you haven't… But no matter, I wasn't lost and now I want to go back to my room." Her tone of voice softened.
"Tell everyone that I'm fine and I'm sorry I caused such trouble. Particularly in light of what's happening outside…"
"All that matters is that you're safe."
They were interrupted by a loud crash coming from the courtyard, followed by screams of fright.
The catapult had finally done its work and one of the projectiles had gone through the raised drawbridge.
The two sisters ran inside the great hall, and then to the nearest window as another loud crash was heard telling them that the end might be nearer than they had believed. Outside, the men were lighting up fires along the parapets and preparing their bows and the boiling oil to repress the attack. More of them were massing around the drawbridge, ready for an insertion. Another projectile hit it and crashed through. Then the attack seemed to stop. The men on the parapet looked nervously out in the field and one of them suddenly extended his arm and screamed something that they couldn't hear. All the rest of them stood at attention. Phoebe and Piper guessed that the enemy was now advancing on them. Where were the reinforcements, they both thought? They held each other, trembling in fear. Leo, who had already gone out to help with the defense, saw his brother running toward him and taking position wordlessly.
He puzzled about Cole's lack of concern for Lady Phoebe.
"We haven't found the Lady yet," Leo finally said while looking at the approaching army.
Cole didn't turn to him but answered.
"She was found and she's fine."
Leo sensed that his brother was not telling him everything but now was not the time for questioning, as the first few soldiers of the opposing army were laying down planks across the waterway and bringing in a large battering ram. The men who carried it were heavily armored, to protect themselves against the arrows. However, the Duke had ordered to hold off the shooting until it was absolutely necessary; they had to save the ammunitions for as long as they could. Moreover, a company of archers was standing at the ready, not 50 meters from the walls. They were well prepared and the two brothers feared that this might be the end.
The noise began again, this time fast and furious as the enemy hit the drawbridge repeatedly. The Duke finally ordered the men to counterattack. They started shooting at the soldiers carrying the battering ram and threw the boiling oil over them. However, their raised shields deflected most of it. It still slowed them down considerably, but then the archers' company attacked in turn. In the first volley, three of the defenders fell mortally wounded toward the courtyard, while the others stood fast, sending waves after waves of flaming arrows toward the company.
Meanwhile, swords in hands, the rest of the men were waiting for the drawbridge to fail, as it was obvious that it would soon. Leo and Cole stood among them, ready to fight by their men's side. Prue was watching from the main doors and her sisters soon joined her. Prue glanced suspiciously toward her middle sister, but this one looked away.
"Where were you," Prue asked.
Phoebe avoided her eyes while answering impatiently.
"Just out! Does it really matter now?"
Prue had to admit that indeed the time was not for recriminations and she resumed watching the battle.
As she saw the doors cave inwardly, Prue turned to her sisters nervously.
"There's no need for either one of you to be outside…"
"You shouldn't be here either and yet you are." Piper countered.
Prue had a good reason to be there. Paul had insisted on participating at the defense, and he now stood among the soldiers. She feared for all of them of course, but for him more than anyone else…
Phoebe and Piper had the same respective concerns and none of them budged from their observing post.
Cole had noticed them but tried his best not to look back. He didn't want to add fuel to the suppositions that were sure to come. "If they lived through this of course," he thought.
The Duke came toward them, sword in hand. He was ready to fight and so were they all, in spite of their understandable fear.
Finally the drawbridge, weakened by the catapult and the battering ram, gave way, coming down all at once from all the weak spots. The enemies simply dropped the ram to the ground and turned back, obviously leaving room for the next wave.
This one didn't take long to come as at least a hundred men, maybe more started running toward the now gaping hole where the door had stood. The Duke ordered his men in position and they waited for them. The archers managed to thin their ranks slightly as they were charging but not enough to diminish the threat significantly, and soon the first of the charging men crossed the large hole in the wall and ran toward the waiting soldiers inside.
The battle that ensued was rather unequal, as they were fighting at least three against one in favor of the enemy. Yet, the Duke's men held their ground whilst the girls finally saw that they should reenter the castle at this point, which they did, albeit reluctantly. The heavy doors didn't muffle the sounds of the battle however, as swords were clashing in a deafening manner, mixed with the screams of rage and pain from the men. They found themselves praying for the safety of their defenders.
The Duke and his sons were fighting fiercely using their learnt skills to kill three of the attackers for each one of their numbers falling. However, their ranks were thinning rapidly and the battle seemed hopelessly lost when a clamor came from outside the walls. A trumpet sounded retreat apparently, because the attackers began moving away from them. Unfortunately, this was too late for the Duke who was still fighting with a particularly skilled enemy. This one finally managed to impale the Duke, now mortally wounded. Nevertheless, the Duke managed to retaliate by cutting his head with one big swipe of his sword before falling heavily to the ground.
As the last of the attackers left the courtyard, the men left alive looked at each other in surprise, until they saw the messenger that the Duke had dispatched to fetch the reinforcements coming through the doors in turn. He soon reassured them that the enemy was retreating rapidly, now overwhelmingly outnumbered not only by the Duke of Cairns' army, but also by men who had deserted the girls earlier but returned after hearing of his involvement.
Reassured as to the fate of the battle, the brothers finally saw that their father was down and they ran toward him.
Cole was the first to bend toward the Duke, a sad expression crossing his features as he recognized the gravity of his father's wound.
This one was still barely alive, but managed to look at his sons.
"Cole," he said under his breath, "my domain is now yours…"
"No father, we'll help you…"
The Duke's lips expanded in a failed attempt at a smile.
"I'm done for… You have better make me proud," he added.
Cole, now resigned, answered.
"I'll honor you, father."
Leo took his father's hand and this one managed to squeeze his one last time before he expired…
The two brothers stayed by their father's for a long moment, still shocked by his passing, but then Cole took his brother' shoulder and shook him up.
"We have many wounded to attend to; this day is not over yet. Our father would want us to take care of them…"
Leo nodded weakly, and then he followed him. The ladies were already tending to the wounded, along with many servants. The two brothers and the men still standing helped carry those who couldn't walk inside. Then they began the grim task of digging the graves of their fallen. Their army had followed the enemy in its retreat until they were certain that they had left the Ladies' land for good. Then after they returned, they camped out of the fortress's walls and helped in the task as well.
Cole rapidly took control of the situation. He had never wished to be in charge, but his father had nevertheless raised him with this in mind. It had always been his destiny to inherit the family's holdings and responsibilities. He was going to honor this.
However, no matter how sad the circumstances were, there was one bright point that didn't escape him, and as soon as he could free himself, he went to see Prue.
Cole found her and her sisters, still tending to some wounded men, now lying in the great hall.
"Lady Prue," he called to her. She finished bandaging the man she had been treating before turning to him.
"Yes?"
"I have to talk to you; right now…"
Prue went to him, a little uncertain.
Cole started rapidly:
"The circumstances have changed considerably and I had to rethink our arrangement…"
Prue was about to protest but he didn't give her the chance.
"I can't in all conscience marry you… and since my father is dead, I don't have to impose the same conditions on you as he did. I have no ambition over your land, unlike him."
"What will happen of us in the future? We still haven't got enough means to defend ourselves…"
Leo had just entered the hall as well and was going toward Piper.
This distracted Prue's attention as well as Cole's, but she soon returned to the problem at hand.
"So?"
"As I told you, I have no ambition to take your land, and as you can see, our two families will most probably be tied by marriage very soon…"
Cole was indicating his brother and Piper. Then he added:
"And god willing, more than once," he said again, turning his attention toward Phoebe.
"Because of this, my family will protect yours for all times, I promise you that on my honor."
Prue couldn't help asking.
"Could this be put in writing as well?"
Cole gave her an amused smile.
"Of course, if that's what you want. I wouldn't want to have any bad blood between us since I may soon need your permission for something dear to my heart."
Prue had no doubts on what he was talking about, and wasn't surprised either when he left her abruptly, not waiting for an answer.
Phoebe was wiping her forehead at the moment, just getting up from tending to yet another wounded when she felt strong arms around her waist and jumped in surprise.
She turned toward Cole, trying to push him off.
"No you mustn't!"
Cole was not going to be turned away so easily.
"Phoebe, I just promised to your sister all the protection of my armies and assured her that I wanted nothing of your estate… That is except one thing…"
She stopped struggling and looked up with a renewed hope.
"Yes?"
Cole gazed at her with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes.
"My only condition is that you will marry me…"
Then when she didn't answer, he became nervous.
"You will, won't you?" He asked anxiously.
Then she kissed him and almost screamed.
"Yes, of course yes."
Paul, who had entered shortly before this, and witnessed what just happened, came to Prue with a puzzled expression.
"Does this mean what I think it means?"
Prue smiled happily:
"I think so."
******************
Phoebe fell silent and Cole questioned:
"That's it?"
She laughed a little before answering.
"What else do you want?"
Cole smiled.
"I don't know, maybe that they all lived happily ever after…"
Phoebe now laughed frankly.
"I never imagined you for such a romantic…"
Cole teased.
"Goes to say…"
"Well that's all I saw in the dream. At least in that one… But I imagine they did…"
"And where was Paige all this time?"
"I think that she fell for the stable boy, who bore a very strong resemblance to her present boyfriend from the description she gave to me. I can't be sure of course, since I haven't seen him yet…"
"The stable boy?"
"Hey love happens between all kinds of people. Look at us…"
"You got that right… So, what else did you see?"
Phoebe turned toward him purposefully.
"Later…"
Cole didn't protest…
Jacob was waiting for him and his expression told the Darklighter that a problem had aroused.
"You didn't think of mentioning that the Archangel lived in the house next to the other whitelighter?"
"I thought that I told you that he was not going to be a problem…"
"I happen to disagree on this," Jacob protested. "However, I'll still honor our arrangement but from now on, no more dissimulation."
The Darklighter acquiesced in silence and as soon as Jacob orbed out, he smiled…
Chapter 5
When Coleridge mentioned his little problem to the Elders, they were just as puzzled as he had been about it. They strongly suggested he stayed put for a while. Coleridge countered that he could enlist his son's help and Leo's. However, the Elders simply thought that the darklighter probably had some reason to follow him which would most certainly go away soon… Coleridge had his doubts on that but he agreed to follow their advice.
At the manor, Leo woke up with a start. This time he was certain he had felt the telltale of a darklighter's presence close by…
The sensation was fleeting however, and he looked around in puzzlement. Piper was still sleeping and he didn't want to disturb her. Not for something like this at least. After another moment without any other sign, he again believed that he had been mistaken. Although uneasily, he went back to sleep…
The Darklighter saw Jacob going way too close for comfort to the manor. His colleague obviously was not too worried about being discovered, but he was... That ended his watch for the night. He saw Jacob orbing out and then he did too, just in case.
Jacob himself had lost track of one of his targets and was now very frustrated. That was why he came to take a look at the place where his second target stayed. He wasn't worried about the whitelighter detecting him. On the contrary, he welcomed him to follow. However, he realized just in time that the little problem his partner had mentioned was actually living right by the second target. The sensation had been unmistakable as well. The moment he sensed the Archangel, Jacob orbed out in a hurry, determined to put as much distance between him and the danger as he could. Jacob then promised himself to have another discussion with his treacherous partner.
Cole felt a sudden chill, and he wondered about it for a moment. However, the sensation went away as fast as it had come, and by the time Phoebe reentered the room, he had already dismissed it.
"Is he sleeping?"
Phoebe came toward the bed and lied down before answering.
"Like an angel." She turned to Cole with an amused smile: "no pun intended…"
Cole still approved.
"Well, he might as well be one… I often wonder how I can possibly qualify as one myself…"
Phoebe snuggled to him.
"I disagree…"
"Of course, you would."
"And my opinion is the only one that matters…"
Cole laughed and tightened his hold on her.
"Ok now, I have to know the rest…"
Phoebe looked up with a mischievous expression.
"Really?"
"Really!" He insisted.
She drew a lazy line on his chest with her finger and said.
"You must be really interested…"
He chuckled:
"The night is young…"
Phoebe rested her head on his chest, then:
"Well there it is…"
'The Duke was relieved to hear the news about his son, but now he intended to take care of the new problem that had aroused…
He found Prue, still busy in the great hall, where she was making sure that her people would ration the food and drinks in prevision of a possible lengthy siege. He didn't lose any time and summarily dismissed the domestics, to Prue's utter displeasure. The man was taking too many liberties in her house, and she intended to have it with him, but again he didn't give her a chance, attacking first.
"What kind of trickery are you trying on me and my sons?"
Prue opened wide eyes at the obvious accusation.
"What are you talking about? We have been nothing if honest and up front in our intentions."
The Duke wasn't going to be deflated so easily.
"Are you trying to break our arrangement by having your sister seducing my son?"
Prue gasped at this.
"How dare you?"
"I have eyes… She was all over him…"
"Out of concern…"
The Duke insisted: "I've seen concern; that wasn't it…If you think you can get out of our agreement this way, you're gravely mistaken…"
Prue couldn't stand it anymore.
"Did it ever occur to you that your son might have been just as guilty? I should be the one insulted, as I have seen the way he looks at her…"
"My son is a man of honor," The Duke replied with a hint of hesitation. "Cole will fulfill his duty, and so will you," he added more forcefully.
"Far from me to try escaping my obligations…"
"I'll hold you to this, and so will my son as soon as he gets better…"
The two measured each other for another moment, and then the man left the room abruptly.
Prue sighed heavily. She hated what she had to do. With everything that she was, she knew where her duty lied, but it didn't make her feel better about it.
She went out in turn, determined to have the discussion that she should have had earlier with her sister, hadn't it been for her weakness.
Phoebe fell on her bed as soon as Leo had left. She cried inconsolably, like never in her entire life. "What cruel fate befell her", she thought bitterly. Her chest was so tight that she imagined the life being squeezed out of her slowly. At this point, she would almost have welcomed death, as she was certain that nothing else would stop this pain. However, she didn't have much time to dwell on her sorrow as another knock on the door interrupted her somber thoughts. She almost ignored it, but the knocking became more insistent and she got up slowly.
"Come in," she said in a strangled voice.
Prue entered the room and all the reproaches she had meant to give her sister stayed in her throat. Phoebe looked so pitiful. Her eyes were swollen and it was easy to guess that she had been crying … Prue had never known her sister to be in such pain and it broke her heart. She thought that losing Paul was difficult, but seeing her sister like this was almost too much to bear. Rather than the talk Prue intended to have with Phoebe, she ran to her and wrapped her arms around her, both of them in tears at this point. There was no need for words as they both shared a very similar grief.
Phoebe was the one who finally broke the silence.
"I'm so sorry to have added to your burden, I swear that I didn't mean to…"
"I know; I understand…"
Phoebe pulled away from her, almost angrily.
"Do you, really? Because I don't! What happened to me?"
"You simply fell in love, Phoebe…"
Phoebe:
"But why him; why now? How could I be so weak?"
"Love is not a weakness, but it can hurt."
Phoebe turned to her at this. She knew exactly what her sister meant.
Then, she seemed to make a decision.
"As soon as it's safe, I'll leave."
Prue gasped.
"Where would you go?"
"I'll go with Paul, live at his parents' Estate. I'll see from there. I can't stay here; it would be too hard for all of us…"
Prue sadly had to admit that it was the only solution. She wished that things were not so complicated. She took leave of her sister with a heavy heart, now convinced that she had lost a sister in the bargain at the same time as the man she loved. The price was starting to feel almost too high…
Her next stop was for her fiancé's room, where she found him awake but lost in thoughts. His vague expression told her that his state of mind was not much better than Phoebe's and hers.
"Are you feeling better," Prue asked?
Cole took a moment before acknowledging her, but when he did, she saw that he made an effort to cover his own pain.
"Yes… thank you for asking. Hopefully I'll be up soon and we can prepare for our nuptials…" he continued in a flat voice.
"Yes," Prue answered in kind. Not knowing what else to say, she simply took a seat and stayed by his side. It didn't take him long to return to his sad contemplation and Prue wondered what kind of life they could hope to have with such a somber beginning…
The next morning, things had not gotten any better, on the contrary. About five hundred meters away, De LaTour's army was massing around the castle, but still keeping at a safe distance from the defenses already in place. The Duke recommended that all those who were not to fight be relocated toward the center of the castle. There was no telling when the enemy would start his attack, and they followed the Duke's advice to the letter. The reinforcement would not be here for several days. All they could hope for was that they could hold the place until then.
Leo came to see his brother before taking his post and this one was really upset at his own impotence.
"I should be out there helping, but as an imbecile I got myself hurt and now I feel like a woman cowering behind these walls…"
Leo was surprised by the intensity of his reaction.
"Hola, since when are you in such a hurry to battle? And besides, I wouldn't go and compare myself to a woman and a coward in the same phrase within these walls. Those girls are remarkably brave."
Leo immediately saw the softening in his brother's attitude and wondered about it.
"Brother, you still haven't told me what bothered you? Was it Lady Phoebe?"
Cole didn't answer, but he looked away and Leo understood that he had guessed right.
"Cole, you didn't…"
His brother turned abruptly toward him and his expression told him not to finish the sentence.
"Well," Leo said after a moment, "I guess that I'll take my post now…"
Leo was already on his way when Cole called back.
"Wasn't there something else you wanted to ask me?"
Leo came back hesitantly.
"I didn't think that you'd want to hear about it…"
"Come on, don't be shy," Cole said to him and for a moment, he almost smiled.
Leo stepped from one foot to the other with a little embarrassment.
"It's about…hem, it's about Lady Piper…"
"Yes and?"
Sometimes, Cole thought that Leo was still a little boy, one that would have grown much too fast.
"I gather that you're interested?" he insisted when Leo could not seem to find the words.
"Yes that's it…What do I do?"
"You're asking me?"
Leo became more animated.
"Who else am I gonna ask?"
Cole sighed.
"All I can tell you is that if you think that she's the one, you shouldn't hesitate to go to her. And don't wait too long…"
Leo could sense the emotional pain his brother was in through his words, and he understood then that his brother had found and lost love all at once. It pained him greatly to see him in such chagrin. He just wished that he knew what to say to alleviate Cole's pain, but nothing came to mind.
"I think that I'll follow your advice," he finally said.
Cole nodded in agreement, and then looked away, again lost in thoughts.
Leo stayed a moment longer but he could see that his brother had already dismissed him in his mind. He then left without another word.
Following his brother's advice as promised, he went to look for Piper. Leo was so nervous that when he finally found her, he stood there without a word, petrified.
Finally, Piper took the matter in her own hands.
"Good day! How are things outside?"
Leo smiled stupidly, feeling totally inept at the moment, and yet happy to be there with her.
"Nothing has changed," he managed to reply, but in a voice that he barely recognized as his own. He felt his face warming up and knew that she must have noticed his nervousness. Yet, she simply smiled and went on.
"I'm really glad that your father and you are here to help."
"Yes," was all Leo could say, and he berated himself for his stupidity.
He pursued, turning away from her.
"I have to go back…"
Piper called to him.
"Sir?"
Only half turning toward her, he said quickly:
"Leo… You can call me Leo."
Her smile brightened.
"Leo," Piper uttered softly and his heart melted.
"Leo, she repeated again, "will you have supper with me tonight?"
His smile was all the answer that she needed.
"Seven sharp, in the small salon…"
Leo nodded in agreement before almost running out.
Outside, he stopped and inhaled deeply. Then he smiled happily to himself before taking his post for the afternoon.
For the next few days, nothing really happened as the opponents were just standing each on their side, waiting for the other to make the first move. Leo came to realize that they might just have the advantage of surprise when their own army arrived. If De LaTour had known about this, he probably would have attacked by now.
The Duke agreed with this and hoped that their luck would hold until the said reinforcement had arrived. It was not to be…
Leo used this time to get better acquainted with Piper, whom he was growing fonder of for every passing moment. At first, it had been difficult to go passed his timidity, but soon he realized that he could talk to her almost as freely as he did his brother. By the morning of the third day of the siege, he already knew that he wanted her to be his wife. Leo just hoped that she felt the same. Something else, however, bothered him. He was so happy in spite of all the troubles. And yet, his brother and most other people in there were suffering. He was almost ashamed by his own joy.
Obviously there came a point where the Duke of De LaTour got tired of waiting and that morning, he made his first move.
Positioning his catapult, he began bombarding the walls, concentrating on the area of the drawbridge, which told the defenders that he intended an insertion shortly.
The noise was repetitive and unnerving to all inside the fortress. Cole, who had already recuperated most of his strength, was now itching to go out with his fellow men. Staying in this room day in and day out had done nothing to alleviate his pain and he needed to do something besides thinking about her. "And fast," he told himself. The other thing was that his father had come to him that morning and the conversation had been one that he would have preferred to forget about. It was a rather one-sided talk at that. His father had come in blazing. Without giving Cole a chance to explain himself, the Duke had started on a lengthy speech about his duty to him and his family. He had insisted on the fact that his feelings were of no consequence when the family's interests were at stake… Although he was upset at his father for his mistrust of his honor, Cole allowed him to say his piece, simply hoping that he would leave sooner if he did. After a few minutes, the Duke had seemed to deflate somewhat. He obviously had expected protestations from his son and his silence possibly worried him more than an all out fight.
Cole however, had already made up his mind, convinced by now that Phoebe had made the hard choice for him. Therefore, he didn't see the point in arguing with his father about this. He would do the right thing by his family, no matter how hard …
Outside, the archers were lining up, ready for an assault, while servants were dispatched to reinforce the walls with anything that they could find. Even the heavy wood that composed the large doors to the drawbridge were starting to give signs of weakness as the repeated hits from the catapult continued throughout the morning.
Phoebe jumped for every hit, now at the end of her resistance. For the last three days she had remained in her rooms, barely touching the food that was still brought regularly to her. She had slept only a few hours in all, and she didn't know how much more of this she could take. Prue and Piper had taken turns to keep her company on occasions, but neither one of them had been able to shake her out of her deep sorrow. By the afternoon of the third day, she finally decided that she had to go out of this room before she went crazy. Most of her windows had been walled with heavy planks and the darkness inside did nothing to help her. Only meaning to get some air from a walk in the inner courtyard, she stepped out of the room…
Cole was now going mad with impatience and the desire to help. He knew that the attack was imminent and that every good arm would count even if he only had one of use at the moment. Finally, he went out, determined to do whatever he could…
Phoebe didn't know exactly why, but instead of the courtyard, she found herself in the corridor leading to Cole's room. Just as she was about to turn back, she saw him…
Cole had his back to Phoebe, but as if he had felt her, he stopped and slowly turned toward her. She was stuck in place. She wanted to run away for fear of what would happen but she couldn't. Then, suddenly she took a step forward, and then another… That was enough for him to forget everything that wasn't her. He ran to her, almost lifting her off the ground in his arms. His lips found hers immediately and the kiss took both their breaths away. He only left her mouth to kiss her puffy eyes and her face, as if he could take away her pain in doing so. Phoebe wanted to protest but the moment he touched her, she knew that if felt right, as if they had been meant to be together forever. His arms around her felt like home. She responded by touching his face, caressing him hungrily.
He stopped only a moment, looking at her with such desire that she thought she could already feel him all over her.
Then she simply whispered:
"I want to be yours, even if just once…"
In spite of the pain in his shoulder, he carried her to his room, locking the door behind them. He laid her on the bed, while still kissing her hungrily. Only then did he pull away from her, hesitating.
"Are you certain," Cole asked hoarsely, almost afraid of her answer.
Rather than words, she proved it to him by pulling him to her and kissing him in turn. Then they forgot all about their doubts…
All that afternoon, they made love breathlessly, desperately. They didn't feel guilt, as it felt so right to both of them. They were oblivious to the clamors outside and the still deafening noise of the catapult. All that existed in that moment was each other.
Finally, after many hours, they were spent and just lying down in each other's arms. They had not said a single word for none was needed. Phoebe sensed that they had connected in a manner that transcended any conversation. No word could truly express the way she felt about him. Unfortunately, an insistent knocking on the door interrupted their perfect moment. Leo was calling to Cole.
"Brother? Something has happened… Lady Phoebe disappeared…"
Phoebe gasped, all the guilt returning at once. Cole put his fingers on her lips, and then tried his best to sound concerned. Although considering the situation, it wasn't too difficult.
"I'll be out in a moment, don't wait for me; go look for her…"
Leo seemed puzzled.
"Cole?"
Cole then sounded angry when he replied.
"Don't lose time; you've got to find her…"
"Right!" Leo answered, obviously put off with his brother's attitude.
Then they heard him walking away in a hurry and they both breathed a deep sigh of relief at the same time.
"I have to go…" Phoebe said very seriously.
Cole was loath to let go of her, even if he knew that she was right.
When he wouldn't release her, Phoebe continued sadly:
"You have to let me go…"
He breathed deeply and then:
"I can't lose you; not now."
Phoebe knew that she had to be reasonable for the both of them, even if she didn't want to.
"You know that we can never be together again. You have to accept it…"
"Can you? After this afternoon, can you really?"
Phoebe tried her best to sound firm when she answered.
"I have to and so do you…"
Reluctantly, he allowed her get out of bed and she put on her clothes slowly as he watched her. Cole couldn't keep his eyes from her, drinking every moment like a man lost in a desert, who had found an oasis, but then was about to lose it again.
Finally she was ready, but unwilling to move away. They looked in each other's eyes for a long moment before she found the courage to turn toward the door. Unable to contain himself, he ran to her and pressed her against it. He kissed her again breathlessly, but she pushed him away.
"We can't do this anymore…"
He took her face in his hands, forcing her to look up at him.
"No matter what happens, I will always love you. I may have to belong to another, but my heart will always be yours…"
Phoebe whispered:
"And mine yours, forever…"
Cole kissed her one last time before she found the courage to leave the room.
Rather than returning to her rooms, she directed her paces toward the great hall, where she was sure that she would find one or the other of her sisters, or at least someone to reassure that she wasn't lost. However, before she reached the hall, she stopped herself, afraid that they could read on her face the telltale of her long afternoon. She almost turned around but a scream of relief behind her made the decision for her.
"Where were you, we were worried sick?" Piper was questioning anxiously.
Phoebe slowly turned toward her sister, careful to dissimulate her true feelings.
"I was simply outside; I needed some air…"
"We looked everywhere…"
Phoebe became irritated with her sister's insistence.
"Obviously you haven't… But no matter, I wasn't lost and now I want to go back to my room." Her tone of voice softened.
"Tell everyone that I'm fine and I'm sorry I caused such trouble. Particularly in light of what's happening outside…"
"All that matters is that you're safe."
They were interrupted by a loud crash coming from the courtyard, followed by screams of fright.
The catapult had finally done its work and one of the projectiles had gone through the raised drawbridge.
The two sisters ran inside the great hall, and then to the nearest window as another loud crash was heard telling them that the end might be nearer than they had believed. Outside, the men were lighting up fires along the parapets and preparing their bows and the boiling oil to repress the attack. More of them were massing around the drawbridge, ready for an insertion. Another projectile hit it and crashed through. Then the attack seemed to stop. The men on the parapet looked nervously out in the field and one of them suddenly extended his arm and screamed something that they couldn't hear. All the rest of them stood at attention. Phoebe and Piper guessed that the enemy was now advancing on them. Where were the reinforcements, they both thought? They held each other, trembling in fear. Leo, who had already gone out to help with the defense, saw his brother running toward him and taking position wordlessly.
He puzzled about Cole's lack of concern for Lady Phoebe.
"We haven't found the Lady yet," Leo finally said while looking at the approaching army.
Cole didn't turn to him but answered.
"She was found and she's fine."
Leo sensed that his brother was not telling him everything but now was not the time for questioning, as the first few soldiers of the opposing army were laying down planks across the waterway and bringing in a large battering ram. The men who carried it were heavily armored, to protect themselves against the arrows. However, the Duke had ordered to hold off the shooting until it was absolutely necessary; they had to save the ammunitions for as long as they could. Moreover, a company of archers was standing at the ready, not 50 meters from the walls. They were well prepared and the two brothers feared that this might be the end.
The noise began again, this time fast and furious as the enemy hit the drawbridge repeatedly. The Duke finally ordered the men to counterattack. They started shooting at the soldiers carrying the battering ram and threw the boiling oil over them. However, their raised shields deflected most of it. It still slowed them down considerably, but then the archers' company attacked in turn. In the first volley, three of the defenders fell mortally wounded toward the courtyard, while the others stood fast, sending waves after waves of flaming arrows toward the company.
Meanwhile, swords in hands, the rest of the men were waiting for the drawbridge to fail, as it was obvious that it would soon. Leo and Cole stood among them, ready to fight by their men's side. Prue was watching from the main doors and her sisters soon joined her. Prue glanced suspiciously toward her middle sister, but this one looked away.
"Where were you," Prue asked.
Phoebe avoided her eyes while answering impatiently.
"Just out! Does it really matter now?"
Prue had to admit that indeed the time was not for recriminations and she resumed watching the battle.
As she saw the doors cave inwardly, Prue turned to her sisters nervously.
"There's no need for either one of you to be outside…"
"You shouldn't be here either and yet you are." Piper countered.
Prue had a good reason to be there. Paul had insisted on participating at the defense, and he now stood among the soldiers. She feared for all of them of course, but for him more than anyone else…
Phoebe and Piper had the same respective concerns and none of them budged from their observing post.
Cole had noticed them but tried his best not to look back. He didn't want to add fuel to the suppositions that were sure to come. "If they lived through this of course," he thought.
The Duke came toward them, sword in hand. He was ready to fight and so were they all, in spite of their understandable fear.
Finally the drawbridge, weakened by the catapult and the battering ram, gave way, coming down all at once from all the weak spots. The enemies simply dropped the ram to the ground and turned back, obviously leaving room for the next wave.
This one didn't take long to come as at least a hundred men, maybe more started running toward the now gaping hole where the door had stood. The Duke ordered his men in position and they waited for them. The archers managed to thin their ranks slightly as they were charging but not enough to diminish the threat significantly, and soon the first of the charging men crossed the large hole in the wall and ran toward the waiting soldiers inside.
The battle that ensued was rather unequal, as they were fighting at least three against one in favor of the enemy. Yet, the Duke's men held their ground whilst the girls finally saw that they should reenter the castle at this point, which they did, albeit reluctantly. The heavy doors didn't muffle the sounds of the battle however, as swords were clashing in a deafening manner, mixed with the screams of rage and pain from the men. They found themselves praying for the safety of their defenders.
The Duke and his sons were fighting fiercely using their learnt skills to kill three of the attackers for each one of their numbers falling. However, their ranks were thinning rapidly and the battle seemed hopelessly lost when a clamor came from outside the walls. A trumpet sounded retreat apparently, because the attackers began moving away from them. Unfortunately, this was too late for the Duke who was still fighting with a particularly skilled enemy. This one finally managed to impale the Duke, now mortally wounded. Nevertheless, the Duke managed to retaliate by cutting his head with one big swipe of his sword before falling heavily to the ground.
As the last of the attackers left the courtyard, the men left alive looked at each other in surprise, until they saw the messenger that the Duke had dispatched to fetch the reinforcements coming through the doors in turn. He soon reassured them that the enemy was retreating rapidly, now overwhelmingly outnumbered not only by the Duke of Cairns' army, but also by men who had deserted the girls earlier but returned after hearing of his involvement.
Reassured as to the fate of the battle, the brothers finally saw that their father was down and they ran toward him.
Cole was the first to bend toward the Duke, a sad expression crossing his features as he recognized the gravity of his father's wound.
This one was still barely alive, but managed to look at his sons.
"Cole," he said under his breath, "my domain is now yours…"
"No father, we'll help you…"
The Duke's lips expanded in a failed attempt at a smile.
"I'm done for… You have better make me proud," he added.
Cole, now resigned, answered.
"I'll honor you, father."
Leo took his father's hand and this one managed to squeeze his one last time before he expired…
The two brothers stayed by their father's for a long moment, still shocked by his passing, but then Cole took his brother' shoulder and shook him up.
"We have many wounded to attend to; this day is not over yet. Our father would want us to take care of them…"
Leo nodded weakly, and then he followed him. The ladies were already tending to the wounded, along with many servants. The two brothers and the men still standing helped carry those who couldn't walk inside. Then they began the grim task of digging the graves of their fallen. Their army had followed the enemy in its retreat until they were certain that they had left the Ladies' land for good. Then after they returned, they camped out of the fortress's walls and helped in the task as well.
Cole rapidly took control of the situation. He had never wished to be in charge, but his father had nevertheless raised him with this in mind. It had always been his destiny to inherit the family's holdings and responsibilities. He was going to honor this.
However, no matter how sad the circumstances were, there was one bright point that didn't escape him, and as soon as he could free himself, he went to see Prue.
Cole found her and her sisters, still tending to some wounded men, now lying in the great hall.
"Lady Prue," he called to her. She finished bandaging the man she had been treating before turning to him.
"Yes?"
"I have to talk to you; right now…"
Prue went to him, a little uncertain.
Cole started rapidly:
"The circumstances have changed considerably and I had to rethink our arrangement…"
Prue was about to protest but he didn't give her the chance.
"I can't in all conscience marry you… and since my father is dead, I don't have to impose the same conditions on you as he did. I have no ambition over your land, unlike him."
"What will happen of us in the future? We still haven't got enough means to defend ourselves…"
Leo had just entered the hall as well and was going toward Piper.
This distracted Prue's attention as well as Cole's, but she soon returned to the problem at hand.
"So?"
"As I told you, I have no ambition to take your land, and as you can see, our two families will most probably be tied by marriage very soon…"
Cole was indicating his brother and Piper. Then he added:
"And god willing, more than once," he said again, turning his attention toward Phoebe.
"Because of this, my family will protect yours for all times, I promise you that on my honor."
Prue couldn't help asking.
"Could this be put in writing as well?"
Cole gave her an amused smile.
"Of course, if that's what you want. I wouldn't want to have any bad blood between us since I may soon need your permission for something dear to my heart."
Prue had no doubts on what he was talking about, and wasn't surprised either when he left her abruptly, not waiting for an answer.
Phoebe was wiping her forehead at the moment, just getting up from tending to yet another wounded when she felt strong arms around her waist and jumped in surprise.
She turned toward Cole, trying to push him off.
"No you mustn't!"
Cole was not going to be turned away so easily.
"Phoebe, I just promised to your sister all the protection of my armies and assured her that I wanted nothing of your estate… That is except one thing…"
She stopped struggling and looked up with a renewed hope.
"Yes?"
Cole gazed at her with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes.
"My only condition is that you will marry me…"
Then when she didn't answer, he became nervous.
"You will, won't you?" He asked anxiously.
Then she kissed him and almost screamed.
"Yes, of course yes."
Paul, who had entered shortly before this, and witnessed what just happened, came to Prue with a puzzled expression.
"Does this mean what I think it means?"
Prue smiled happily:
"I think so."
******************
Phoebe fell silent and Cole questioned:
"That's it?"
She laughed a little before answering.
"What else do you want?"
Cole smiled.
"I don't know, maybe that they all lived happily ever after…"
Phoebe now laughed frankly.
"I never imagined you for such a romantic…"
Cole teased.
"Goes to say…"
"Well that's all I saw in the dream. At least in that one… But I imagine they did…"
"And where was Paige all this time?"
"I think that she fell for the stable boy, who bore a very strong resemblance to her present boyfriend from the description she gave to me. I can't be sure of course, since I haven't seen him yet…"
"The stable boy?"
"Hey love happens between all kinds of people. Look at us…"
"You got that right… So, what else did you see?"
Phoebe turned toward him purposefully.
"Later…"
Cole didn't protest…
Jacob was waiting for him and his expression told the Darklighter that a problem had aroused.
"You didn't think of mentioning that the Archangel lived in the house next to the other whitelighter?"
"I thought that I told you that he was not going to be a problem…"
"I happen to disagree on this," Jacob protested. "However, I'll still honor our arrangement but from now on, no more dissimulation."
The Darklighter acquiesced in silence and as soon as Jacob orbed out, he smiled…