The next day started with a bang, literally. William awoke to think the mercenaries had arrived. Actually, there was a mishap in the local market involving a supply of gunpowder being somehow set off. Luckily, it was a small barrel and did no more than make a big smoke and noise.
The knight dressed and made his way out to the street to see what had happened.
" Morrow," said a somewhat deep yet feminine voice.
" What is going on out here?" Will asked.
" Ah, people having shyte for brains is all," Aurora answered, " Care to join me for a morning ride? That is if you have not prearranged plans,"
" No, that would be lovely," William replied with a smile.
The two beauties continued their morning riding through the tall grass of a moor.
" You grew up around here didn't you?" William asked.
" Aye. How did you figure?" Aurora inquired.
" Anyone who's anyone knows of your father's tale. Atleast, anyone who ever dreamed of being as great of a knight,"
" I see," she said as she smiled a bit and adjusted a silver figure on her left ring finger.
" I remember watching him when the joust came to London. I always wanted to speak with him but I would grow too shy when he came near. I mean, he was a giant of a man,"
" Yes, that he was. I suppose you were able to see him in a longer stead than I. That's why I started to do this all, in attempts to grow closer with him. I was beating the hell out of every farm boy around here by the time I was eleven years of age. By the time that I got to where I could compete with the noblemen's boys, I ran into a few walls. But no matter how tired I was after the competition, I would practice until I worked out that flaw. For some reason, I felt if I could become flawless, I could hold on tighter to my father,"
" You ever get scared?" William asked after a time of quiet.
" All the time. But that's what makes it worth it though. Being scared out of your bleeding mind but doing it anyway," She answered and then took off, jumping her horse over a small stream causing her waist long hair to fly straight back. She then ran her horse into the trees.
William waited a bit before taking chase. He couldn't see her, but listened for the sound of the stallion's hoof beats on the leaves of the forest floor. Every now and again when light would break through the canopy, he would catch a glimpse of the shine of the white coat.
Eventually, he found the white beauty, riderless, on a large stone that jutted out over a deep running brook a toped with waterfall.
" Aurora?" he called and received no answer, " Aurora?"
He didn't pay attention to the ripples in the water as he edged to the end of the bolder, but soon, he felt arms about him and found himself in the water. He reached the surface and found his face next to the smiling one of the lady.
" You could get people killed like that," he said in a bit of a harsh tone.
" I'm sorry. That was not my intent," Aurora replied. She undid her long braid and dove down under the water and kicked her way to a stone that rose above the surface just in the middle.
William took his boots off and threw them ashore before going to join the girl. He wiped the golden locks from his face and sat beside her.
" I thought you were suppose to be a lady," he said, " But you wear pants, go ridding with a man unescorted, and go swimming with your clothes on,"
" You rather I go without?" she teased.
" I never implied that," he defended.
" I'm a lady by title, Will, not by nature. I'm the son my father never had,"
" So you are the only child of Sir Elose?"
" Yes, my mother died of infection when I was three,"
" I'm sorry. I never really knew my mother either. It was always just me and my father. He struggled hard to take care of me well and to make a living," William said.
" This was her ring here," Aurora said, referring to the dragon about her ring finger, " it's a tad bit large, but it keeps a piece of her near me always,"
She then reached down into the water and got a bit in her hand and proceeded to wet her hair down more as she started to rebraid it. William watched her for a moment as she close her eyes and in haled deeply to take in the sent of the brook.
"What?" she asked when she caught him looking at her.
" You know what Roland had the nerve to say?"
" There is no way for me to tell,"
" That I might have a fancy for you. Imagine that. Me, liking you in that matter. The lady who bruised me ass," William said with a hardy laugh.
" Thank you William. That I so reassuring for me. I find you lovely also, but do not see you in that light. We really ought to be getting back. Darius will give me hell about it if I'm gone for more than three hours. But meet me tonight at the clearing there. I'll show you some fun," Aurora said with a smirk.