New Dreams for Old
Prologue
Her lungs were burning, her head ached, and with each
step, her legs seemed more likely to collapse under her. They had been
running for hours, it seemed, and still they flew through the shadows, stumbling
over stones and roots while the branches of the trees clutched at their clothes
and hair. She was faintly aware of the sting of numerous scratches on her
face and arms, the cool trickle of blood that slowly made its way down her
cheek.
She could hear the voices growing closer, could hear the low rumble of horses' hooves as they broke through the undergrowth. One voice rose above the others, shouting distorted orders and sending icy waves of fear through her. Her lover heard it too, for she could feel him stiffen even as he ran. His grip on her hand tightened until it was almost painful, and he pulled her forward more urgently, his harsh breathing gaining a ragged edge that matched her own.
A triumphant shout behind them told her that their path had been discovered, and the rumbling of the horses became a thunder as their pursuers crashed through the trees. She threw a glance over her shoulder, her heart clutching in her chest as she saw for the first time the dim flicker of torches burning in the shadows behind them. Darker silhouettes against the trees. They were close now. So close….
Her foot caught on a stone and she fell to the ground, a long-suppressed sob breaking from her throat as she fell. Her companion had turned in an instant, pulling her from the earth and into his arms, whispering words that she could not understand, pulling her forward gently, urging her on with hands and voice. She shook her head.
"I..I can't… They're coming… They're almost here…." Her legs gave way beneath her and she fell to her knees, sobbing against his chest, her fingers curling helplessly in the torn fabric of his shirt. "He's found us… He's found us…. I'm so sorry… I…."
He sank down beside her, gathering her into his arms. "Shh…. It's all right…."
She shook her head miserably. "You should have gone on alone. You could have made it back to your men by now, and I…."
She could feel the gentle pressure of his lips against her hair, the faint stirring of his breath on her cheek as he laughed softly. His chest rose and fell heavily under her fingers, smooth and broad under the tattered shirt that he wore. His lips touched her hair again, then moved to her temple, lingering there for a moment before brushing lightly against her brow. She shivered slightly as he murmured against her skin. His breath was warm, his touch gentle.
"Do you think I could have left you?"
"I thought you had forgotten me…."
He pulled her closer still, lowering his forehead until it rested on her dark curls. When he spoke, his voice was little more than a hoarse whisper. "Never. Never you…."
She smiled, but it faded quickly and she let out a shuddering breath, then closed her eyes and uncurled her fingers against the smooth skin of his chest. "He'll kill you… You know that…."
"Maybe…."
She opened her eyes looked up into his. They were dark, and deep, the color of richly polished mahogany, with a sparkle in them that spoke of confidence and no small amount of mischief. His hair clung to his forehead and temples in unruly curls, damp with sweat and blood from a large gash at his hairline. A similar wound cut a crimson path through the dark stubble on his jaw line, disappearing into the thick chestnut curls that fell over his shoulders. A smile tugged lightly at his full lips.
"But that's only if he can catch us."
"What?"
He laughed again, softly, standing and pulling her by the hand to stand with him. "Listen… What do you hear?"
She shook her head, then turned it, not quite looking over her shoulder. "I hear horses, and voices, and they're getting closer…." She looked back into his laughing eyes, her voice trembling. "Please, darling… Before it's too late…."
He smiled and traced the pad of his thumb lightly over the cut on her cheek. "No, love… What else do you hear?"
She shook her head, not understanding, but as she opened her mouth to repeat her plea, she heard it. A gentle rumble, the rhythmic, hissing crash of waves breaking upon ancient rock, the sharp cry of gulls circling in an unseen sky. She drew a quick breath. How could she have missed it before?
"The sea…."
His smile widened, his even white teeth a sharp contrast to his tanned skin. "The sea." He slid his hand down her cheek, over her shoulder, letting it linger on the soft skin of her arm before taking her small hand in his once more. He took a step back toward the sound, and she followed, a great swell of hope rising in her breast.
"And your men?"
He glanced over his shoulder toward the sound of the sea. "Are waiting with my ship in a cove not far from here." He then turned and looked over her shoulder toward the shouting voices of their pursuers, then into her eyes. The laughter still lingered, but there was also determination and that same silent urgency. "But our 'friends' are getting closer. Hurry, love…."
He needed to say nothing more. In the space of a breath, they were racing through the shadows once more, toward the sound of the sea and the thin patches of gray-blue sky that could be seen through the most distant trees. He urged her on, and she followed, barely aware of the darkness and the thorns and the stones flying under her feet as they tore through the trees, until the patches of sky grew brighter and the undergrowth thinned to make way for large, uneven clumps of dull green sea grass.
The trees fell back suddenly, and they emerged into the sunlight. The ground was harder than it had been in the forest, covered with scrub grass and large boulders that climbed up before them like a huge stone staircase. He scrambled up the first step, turning to help her follow. It was more difficult for her in her heavy skirts, and he had to pull her up most of the way, the muscles in his bronzed arms straining as she scrambled up the sheer stone face. By the time they reached a small alcove at the top of the third stone step, they were both panting and their bodies were covered with a thin sheet of sweat, but they looked at each other and could not banish the smiles from their faces.
She laughed breathlessly and lay her head on the warm stone at her back, taking deep breaths of the salty air and relishing the feeling of the sunlight on her face. Her arms and legs felt as though they would never move again, and her sweat was stinging the scratches on her face and arms, but the air was cool, and smelled of the sea and sand and a thousand possibilities.
She opened her eyes and looked at her companion. He was watching her, a deceptively lazy half-smile on his own lips. His eyes, though, were intense, dark and steady, still sparkling with mischief and something more. She could not pull her own gaze away as he moved nearer, slowly, keeping her eyes locked with his. She could feel her heart pounding against her ribs, and as she felt the first brush of his lips on hers, she closed her eyes, sighing softly as his hand released hers and slipped around her waist to pull her closer. She let her hands slide over his arms and the broad expanse of his shoulders, at last tangling her fingers in his thick brown hair with a sigh of pleasure.
He made a sound somewhere between a sigh and a groan and pulled her still closer, his lips moving hungrily over hers, leaving fire wherever they touched. She was lost in the sensation, aware only of his strong hands moving over her back to tangle themselves in her hair, the beautiful, urgent pressure of his lips, the sound of his breath and the scent of his skin. But it could last for only a moment.
It was her lover who first heard the sound of hoof beats on the hard ground. He pulled away from the kiss, quickly if somewhat reluctantly, and looked toward the sound. They were still hidden the small niche, but would not remain so for long. He looked at her, and an understanding passed between them. He took her hand once more, gripping it tightly, then leaned forward and ventured another sweet kiss before rising to the balls of his feet in preparation. She did the same, and in an instant they had dashed out of the rock, running along a thin ridge of stone toward the edge of the wall of boulders and the freedom of the sea.
A shout rose up from below them, a guttural howl filled with rage and the promise of revenge.
"There they are!"
They were flying along the rocks now, barely aware of the sound of men dismounting and the clumsy ringing of armor as their pursuers tried to follow them up the steep stairway of rock. The sea wind sang in their ears, and she could see the endless green of the sea stretching away below them, to the horizon and beyond.
An arrow whistled past her ear, and another, and still they ran, heedless of the sharp rocks at their feet and the angry cries of the men at their backs. All at once her lover stopped with a harsh cry, throwing his free arm around her waist and pulling her back against him. She looked at her companion in confusion, then back at the men still struggling to gain the first stone step, then at the sheer drop-off that had suddenly appeared before them.
She let out a small shriek of terror as she watched a few loose rocks fall from the edge of the overhang and bounce along the cliff face toward the sea. Her lover held her close, rubbing his thumb across the back of her hand and whispering into her ear.
"Shh… It's all right, love… It will be all right…." He looked over his shoulder at their pursuers, then at the sea, then followed her gaze down the cliff and out to the open sea. His brow furrowed thoughtfully, but soon a slow smile spread over his features, and he pulled away from her slightly, looking down into her eyes.
"Do you trust me?"
She looked back at the men following them. They had reached the top of the first step and were now struggling to climb the second. She looked back into her lover's eyes and nodded, her voice breathless.
"Yes."
His smile widened, and he raised her hand to lips, placing a burning kiss on her palm. "Good. Then follow me."
She looked around her in confusion. The men pursuing them had reached the second stair and were reaching for the third. There was no safety in that direction, and she and her lover stood on a narrow ledge of rock with a sheer drop on three sides. There could be no escape. "Follow you? But where…?"
"We're going to jump."
Her eyes flew back to his. "Jump?"
He looked over his shoulder at their pursuers, then back at her, a smile lingering on his lips and reassurance in his eyes. "Love, do you trust me?"
She hesitated for only a moment, venturing another furtive glance toward the men following them, then looked back at her lover and nodded.
"Yes."
He took a step toward the edge and she followed, taking a few deep breaths as she looked down at the dark green of the sea. He gripped her hand tightly and looked at her, taking a steadying breath himself.
"Are you ready?"
She took another deep breath, barely aware of the gulls crying overhead and the steady crash of the waves. She nodded slightly, but as he moved forward toward the edge, she pulled back suddenly on his hand, and he turned to face her, his eyes dark with concern.
"Oliver…?" She began, raising her eyes to his. He said nothing in reply, only waited for her to continue. She took a deep breath.
"I love you."
The smile spread once more over his face, lighting up his deep brown eyes. "I love you too, Katie."
They gazed at each other for a moment longer, looking away only to glance behind them as the armored men started making their way across the narrow ledge. There was little time.
His fingers tightened around hers again, and she looked up into his face. After a moment, his eyes returned to hers, he nodded faintly, and she knew it was time. She took a deep breath, looked back at the vast expanse of the sea, and jumped.
Disclaimer: I own nothing related to Harry Potter or the books by J.K. Rowling. I simply have a severe case of novel envy.
