Two weeks past before Aurora was once again strong enough.  Mostly, she complained that she couldn't compete. She also hated the confinement and the fact that everyone watched her constantly and tried to take care of her.  She said she still had two arms and legs and God forbid that a hole in her side kept them from working.

Neither William nor Kate told Aurora about Jocelyn's doings.  They knew with out a doubt that Aurora would try to kill her. No one really wanted that to come to pass. Hell would be to pay for all of them. 

Time came for the troop to be on the move again.  They all wanted to just go to London. Damn the rest of the season. Next year would bring better fortune for all, perhaps.

William was having a bit of a hard time. He didn't know if he could watch this new world he'd found slip behind him on the road.  Worst of all, he didn't know what to do about it.

"Why don't you ask her to come along?" Geoff offered, "After all, we all like to see you happy and she does make things more exciting,"

"That is true, but I couldn't ask her of that,"

"Ask what of whom?" Aurora said from atop her mount.

"Good day my lady," Geoff said with a dip of the head, "How be you?"

"Well Chaucer," she said in wonderment of his actions. 

"Aurora, may I have a moment with you?" Will said as he offered her a hand down. She took it and climbed down. He continued to lead her by this hand.

"Ah, night will be forever dark," Chaucer said once they had gone, "for every star in the heavens now rests in the boy's eyes. I bid you both good fortune,"

Aurora's back was pressed against the blacksmith shop's outer wall. She looked through the strands of hair that hand fallen in her eyes.  William's eyes darted everywhere but to her like he searched for the words he must now speak.

"I know you and I have had our past differences. But we've gotten past them and all the bad times that have crossed out paths. You know we're planning on going home to London?"

"Yes," she said softly.

"Well I, well we all were wondering if you might consider…"

She smiled and looked at him playfully before kissing him full on the mouth.  William was stiff at first, not knowing what to do, but he soon let in. He let in for what seemed like slow passing hours. They only stopped when the laugher of passing by children made them smile.

"I will heed for that to be a yes," he said deeply.

"Heed it as you will," she answered as she ran her hand across his cheek, "But be sure to take this as something more,"

She kissed him again with fiery strength in her eyes. He held her close, breathing in her very presence.

"That was something more," he said.

"How else must I prove what is written on my heart?"

"No, no. You need do nothing to prove it," he said, "only say what it is,"

"Well then," she smiled, "Perhaps you should know that I…"

"So has she decided if she's coming or not?" Watt asked as he rounded the corner.

William purged his lips and glared at him.  Aurora placed a hand on Will's hip and stepped out from the wall.  She walked over and placed her hands on Watt's shoulders, stood on her tiptoes, kissed him on the cheek, and continued on.

"What was that all about?"

"That was her way of saying yes," Will replied as he chased after her.

He saw her on her mount. She smiled at him and took of in a run.  He grabbed the nearest of the horses and prayed his bareback skills were well intact. 

He held on for dear life as he watched and followed her again through the forest.  He saw her drop the reins and stand up on the stirrups, her arms out.

"Aurora! Are you crazy?" he yelled at the top of his lungs.

"Let yourself be free!" she yelled back, "Put your life in the hands of fate!"

He watched in horror as she leapt from the horse, swung from a branch and flew off a cliff.  He screamed her name that was lost in the sound of water splashing. He slowed his horse and peered over the edge. She was just pushing her head to the surface.  He shook his head and smiled.

"Come on Will!" she yelled at him as she motioned with her arm.

"No! I'm staying here! You can play all you want!" he yelled back.

"Coward!" she teased, "For the sake of all that is holy, I did and I'm not a strong man as you are!"

"Do you insult me, woman?"

"Oh, indeed I do!"

He stepped back about four steps, said a silent prayer that he wouldn't break his neck, and ran and leapt off the cliff.

Aurora swam to get out of his way as he fell, his harms flailing about in the air. His feet touched the bottom after he hit, he pushed himself up and broke the surface laughing.

"I told you to let yourself be free," she said as she swam to him, "Only then can you truly feel alive,"

"Lady Draco," he said.

"Sir Thatcher,"

"I have a confession to make," he said as he placed his hand on her sides. He leaned his head to where his lips were almost touching her ear. He inhaled as though he meant to speak.

"It's hard, really, to put into words what it is when I see when I see you.  You're strong, a beautiful jouster, heroic warrior, and a gracious friend.  I've seen a hundred men, if not more, fall when they've been in chaos like you've faced.  It all makes me realize that I should never walk away from you," he said and took both of her hands into his and kissed the knuckles, "And watching you almost slip away; it made my eyes open.  I realize that…."

"I love you," Aurora said as she reared up out of the water and kissed him, causing them both to dive into the water.  They swam under the surface, their mouths still together. Only the need for air pushed them upwards and apart.

"With every breath of my body and more than life I do," Will said as he wiped the curls from his eyes.

"Bout time you came around, boy," she giggled, "And I know my father would be very happy and approve of it, sweet Orion,"