CHAPTER EIGHT
Sara laid quietly with her back toward Ian as she tried to close her eyes and sleep, painfully aware at the closeness of their bodies. Ian lay on his back, looking up at the darken ceiling. Finally he reached over and simply touched Sara's back.
"I heard you." His voice was a whisper. "I could feel you, even though I never showed it."
"What are you talking about Ian." Sara didn't turn as she found herself staring at the wall.
"All those times you came to my bed, trying to reach me. I heard your voice. I felt you lay next to me. I knew." He took a deep breath as he threw one arm over his eyes. "I was lost and didn't know how to react to your kindness."
"I was so afraid I had lost you Ian." Finally she turned over to face him. "I was afraid that I would never be able to tell you how I felt. That I. . . " She stopped talking abruptly as he turned his dark eyes toward her.
"I know Sara." His voice filled with compassion as he slowly turned on his side, facing her with a soft smile. "I always knew."
"Ian, all those things I said to you. . .all those times I turned you away so harshly. . . I just. . . " She felt as though she would cry.
"Shhh." He placed his finger against her lip. "It's all in the past now Sara."
"All those years I wasted. Can you ever forgive me Ian?" She reached out and stroked his hair.
"You were always forgiven Sara." His smile seemed to brighten the darkened room. "I would and will always forgive you."
"In unguarded moments, huh?" She grinned as she positioned her body against his comfortably.
"What?" She could hear his confusion.
"In another life you said you loved me, in unguarded moments." His warm breath tickled her neck.
"In another life?" He sounded amused. "Yes, most likely I have loved you in this way in many lifetimes."
"So what now? What do we do?" She scooted closer, feeling the strength in his arms as he held her.
"Tonight? Tonight we sleep. Tomorrow we face a new day, a new life and a new adventure and from there, we will see."
"Tomorrow then." Sara yawned as she snuggled deeper into Ian's embrace. "Did you really know when I laid next to you?"
"Painfully so my Beloved." With a soft kiss to her head, he held her tightly until he could feel her sleeping soundly. Only then did he close his own eyes for sleep to claim him.
Gabriel found it extremely hard to fall asleep. He and Dianna had talked quietly for a while, but soon he could tell she had fallen into a deep slumber and he closed his own eyes, trying to do the same. Ian's words kept echoing in his mind, causing him to steal glances of the young woman next to him. He fought his own conscience over the feelings he had begun to feel the moment he had looked into her eyes. Could he love her as a woman, or would he always see her as that small girl that had sneezingly stumbled into his life so many years ago. It was while these thoughts played through his mind that he did indeed fall asleep.
He had to have fallen asleep because when he slowly opened his eyes, the sun was peeking through the window, filling the room with a soft glow. He had to have fallen into a deep slumber because he remembered he and Dianna had been laying on opposite sides of the bed, but now, she was snuggled deep in his embrace, her head resting softly on his chest and one leg curled over his thighs. It felt natural and he wasn't sure he ever wanted the feeling to end.
"How long have you been awake." Dianna's whisper startled him.
"I thought you were still sleeping Princess." He stroked her hair softly as he spoke. "Did I wake you?"
"Your heart changed rhythms." She moved slightly so that she could look into his smiling face. "I'm a light sleeper."
"Did you rest all right?" He knew it was small talk, but wasn't ready for her to leave his embrace yet.
"Wonderfully." She yawned and sat up, grinning down at him. "How about you?"
"Once I got to sleep, I guess it was good." He smiled softly then asked in a quiet voice. "Did we. . . ahh. . . did we do anything last night? I mean I thought there was a lot more room between us last night than when I just woke up."
"Didn't I tell you? I'm a snuggler." Her giggle filled the room. "When I'm sleeping, I sort of just gravitate to the nearest warm person and snuggle." Seeing Gabriel blush slightly she moved closer to him. "We didn't do anything but sleep."
"Good." He breathed heavily then smiled.
"Would it have been bad if we had done something else?" Dianna questioned with a grin. "Would it have offended you?"
"No, I mean yes. . ." He cringed at the shock on her face. "I mean. . . Dianna look, give me time to know how I feel."
"You still see me as a little girl don't you." Her words were sad as she pretended to pout. "I grew up if you haven't noticed."
"Oh I've noticed all right." He scooted to the side of the bed and began to stand up. As his feet touched the floor he fell back onto the bed in pain. "DAMN!"
"Gabriel what's wrong?" Concern filled Dianna's voice and face as she grabbed Gabriel's hand tightly.
"My foot. Stepped in some broken glass last night." He grimaced as he pulled the foot up that Ian had carefully bandaged.
"Gabriel! Dianna! What's going on?" Sara's voice came from outside the closed door.
"DO NOT BREAK DOWN THE DOOR!" Gabriel struggled to stand carefully with Dianna's help and hobbled to the door. "I'm all right." He opened it and saw the concerned faces of Sara and Ian. "You two are up early."
"What happened?" Sara questioned, still disquieted.
"Foot is still sore." He tried to smile and allowed Ian to help him to the sofa. "I don't remember it hurting this bad last night." He watched Dianna sit on the floor and remove the bandage. "Honest, I'll be all right."
"It's not too bad." She suddenly stood and started for the kitchen. "Let me see if I can find something to ease the pain."
"Aspirins are in the bathroom." Gabriel called out as he looked first at Ian then at Sara. "So did the two of you sleep all right?"
"Just fine." Ian muttered as he took Dianna's place, looking at the wound.
"You're a regular kitchen Witch Gabriel Bowman." Dianna returned with several bottles, a cloth and a bowl. Shooing Ian away, she sat and began to mix various herbs and liquids into the bowl. "This will take the stinging away and promote healing. . . the natural way." Grinning she looked at the three. "Although it would be much better if these herbs were fresh." As she began to gently apply the remedy, her hand was suddenly covered with a series of delicate metal veins. She looked up at Sara in surprise. "What's this thing doing?"
"If I remember that one, it heals." Sara shrugged. "Touch the wound and concentrate." Dianna nodded and did as she was instructed. "Will it to healed."
"It tickles." Gabriel said trying not to jerk his foot out of Dianna's hand. "It's warm."
"It's intoxicating." Ian said quietly as he remembered Sara removing the arrow from his body so long ago.
"Yeah." Gabriel smiled widely as Dianna finally removed her hand and looked at his foot. "You're right. It's all healed now." Her eyes sparkled as she looked up at Gabriel. "Gabriel, all the cuts are gone. Try standing on it." Slowly and carefully Gabriel stood, favoring the wounded foot. Beaming he put all his weight on it. "This is so cool." Dianna stood and watched Gabriel in amazement.
"Well, guess that's your first lesson." Sara shrugged. "Wish it had been this easy when I wore it."
"Sara, " Ian whispered, "You were not opened to such things. The Princess has been raised to believe the unbelievable."
"Not so unbelievable Ian." Dianna whispered quietly then brightened as she looked at everyone with twinkling eyes. "So, any coffee made?"
"Yeah." Sara was amazed at the way Dianna was accepting what had just happened. "Cream and sugar?"
"Nope, black and strong." Dianna began walking back toward the kitchen with the bowl and bottles in hand. Suddenly she stopped and almost dropped what she carried.
"Dianna? Princess?" Gabriel could see the woman stiffen. "Honey, what's wrong." She carefully sat the bowl and other things on the counter then turned toward the three, her eyes wide and full of fright. "Baby?"
"It really happened didn't it." She looked at the bracelet. "You told me years ago this could happen." Shaking her head she swayed slightly, causing Ian and Gabriel both to start for her. She raised her hand to stop them. "Just hold up a minute guys, I'm fine, really." She looked into Sara's eyes. "How did you do it? I mean, I knew about this thing, and have a bit of background with shall we say strange things. But you? You. . ."
"I was terrified most of the time." The women shared a knowing look for several, long silent seconds. "I won't lie and say it will be easy Dianna, but I can think of no one else I would rather see wear that thing."
"I just hope I can do it justice." Dianna felt stronger as she nodded to Sara.
"You will Princess." Ian whispered, breaking the spell between the women. "We will take our leave now."
"I thought you were going to show Dianna. . ." Gabriel started but was cut off as Ian grinned.
"We will return Myth. . .Gabriel. There are just some things we need to get from the Mansion that will help Dianna. We will return later in the day." Nodding to Gabriel he then looked at Dianna. "I am sure there are things that the two of you wish to discuss in private."
"I certainly have a thing or two I want to discuss." Dianna stood with hands on her hips as her eyes glanced toward Gabriel.
"Come Sara." Ian held his hand out to Sara and waited until she took it. "We will return around five this afternoon. Grinning he lead Sara out the door.
"Well now." Gabriel said uncomfortably as the door shut. "Didn't you say something about wanting some coffee?"
"I did Gabriel Bowman." Smiling Dianna headed once again to the kitchen. "We can talk as we drink."
Sara laid quietly with her back toward Ian as she tried to close her eyes and sleep, painfully aware at the closeness of their bodies. Ian lay on his back, looking up at the darken ceiling. Finally he reached over and simply touched Sara's back.
"I heard you." His voice was a whisper. "I could feel you, even though I never showed it."
"What are you talking about Ian." Sara didn't turn as she found herself staring at the wall.
"All those times you came to my bed, trying to reach me. I heard your voice. I felt you lay next to me. I knew." He took a deep breath as he threw one arm over his eyes. "I was lost and didn't know how to react to your kindness."
"I was so afraid I had lost you Ian." Finally she turned over to face him. "I was afraid that I would never be able to tell you how I felt. That I. . . " She stopped talking abruptly as he turned his dark eyes toward her.
"I know Sara." His voice filled with compassion as he slowly turned on his side, facing her with a soft smile. "I always knew."
"Ian, all those things I said to you. . .all those times I turned you away so harshly. . . I just. . . " She felt as though she would cry.
"Shhh." He placed his finger against her lip. "It's all in the past now Sara."
"All those years I wasted. Can you ever forgive me Ian?" She reached out and stroked his hair.
"You were always forgiven Sara." His smile seemed to brighten the darkened room. "I would and will always forgive you."
"In unguarded moments, huh?" She grinned as she positioned her body against his comfortably.
"What?" She could hear his confusion.
"In another life you said you loved me, in unguarded moments." His warm breath tickled her neck.
"In another life?" He sounded amused. "Yes, most likely I have loved you in this way in many lifetimes."
"So what now? What do we do?" She scooted closer, feeling the strength in his arms as he held her.
"Tonight? Tonight we sleep. Tomorrow we face a new day, a new life and a new adventure and from there, we will see."
"Tomorrow then." Sara yawned as she snuggled deeper into Ian's embrace. "Did you really know when I laid next to you?"
"Painfully so my Beloved." With a soft kiss to her head, he held her tightly until he could feel her sleeping soundly. Only then did he close his own eyes for sleep to claim him.
Gabriel found it extremely hard to fall asleep. He and Dianna had talked quietly for a while, but soon he could tell she had fallen into a deep slumber and he closed his own eyes, trying to do the same. Ian's words kept echoing in his mind, causing him to steal glances of the young woman next to him. He fought his own conscience over the feelings he had begun to feel the moment he had looked into her eyes. Could he love her as a woman, or would he always see her as that small girl that had sneezingly stumbled into his life so many years ago. It was while these thoughts played through his mind that he did indeed fall asleep.
He had to have fallen asleep because when he slowly opened his eyes, the sun was peeking through the window, filling the room with a soft glow. He had to have fallen into a deep slumber because he remembered he and Dianna had been laying on opposite sides of the bed, but now, she was snuggled deep in his embrace, her head resting softly on his chest and one leg curled over his thighs. It felt natural and he wasn't sure he ever wanted the feeling to end.
"How long have you been awake." Dianna's whisper startled him.
"I thought you were still sleeping Princess." He stroked her hair softly as he spoke. "Did I wake you?"
"Your heart changed rhythms." She moved slightly so that she could look into his smiling face. "I'm a light sleeper."
"Did you rest all right?" He knew it was small talk, but wasn't ready for her to leave his embrace yet.
"Wonderfully." She yawned and sat up, grinning down at him. "How about you?"
"Once I got to sleep, I guess it was good." He smiled softly then asked in a quiet voice. "Did we. . . ahh. . . did we do anything last night? I mean I thought there was a lot more room between us last night than when I just woke up."
"Didn't I tell you? I'm a snuggler." Her giggle filled the room. "When I'm sleeping, I sort of just gravitate to the nearest warm person and snuggle." Seeing Gabriel blush slightly she moved closer to him. "We didn't do anything but sleep."
"Good." He breathed heavily then smiled.
"Would it have been bad if we had done something else?" Dianna questioned with a grin. "Would it have offended you?"
"No, I mean yes. . ." He cringed at the shock on her face. "I mean. . . Dianna look, give me time to know how I feel."
"You still see me as a little girl don't you." Her words were sad as she pretended to pout. "I grew up if you haven't noticed."
"Oh I've noticed all right." He scooted to the side of the bed and began to stand up. As his feet touched the floor he fell back onto the bed in pain. "DAMN!"
"Gabriel what's wrong?" Concern filled Dianna's voice and face as she grabbed Gabriel's hand tightly.
"My foot. Stepped in some broken glass last night." He grimaced as he pulled the foot up that Ian had carefully bandaged.
"Gabriel! Dianna! What's going on?" Sara's voice came from outside the closed door.
"DO NOT BREAK DOWN THE DOOR!" Gabriel struggled to stand carefully with Dianna's help and hobbled to the door. "I'm all right." He opened it and saw the concerned faces of Sara and Ian. "You two are up early."
"What happened?" Sara questioned, still disquieted.
"Foot is still sore." He tried to smile and allowed Ian to help him to the sofa. "I don't remember it hurting this bad last night." He watched Dianna sit on the floor and remove the bandage. "Honest, I'll be all right."
"It's not too bad." She suddenly stood and started for the kitchen. "Let me see if I can find something to ease the pain."
"Aspirins are in the bathroom." Gabriel called out as he looked first at Ian then at Sara. "So did the two of you sleep all right?"
"Just fine." Ian muttered as he took Dianna's place, looking at the wound.
"You're a regular kitchen Witch Gabriel Bowman." Dianna returned with several bottles, a cloth and a bowl. Shooing Ian away, she sat and began to mix various herbs and liquids into the bowl. "This will take the stinging away and promote healing. . . the natural way." Grinning she looked at the three. "Although it would be much better if these herbs were fresh." As she began to gently apply the remedy, her hand was suddenly covered with a series of delicate metal veins. She looked up at Sara in surprise. "What's this thing doing?"
"If I remember that one, it heals." Sara shrugged. "Touch the wound and concentrate." Dianna nodded and did as she was instructed. "Will it to healed."
"It tickles." Gabriel said trying not to jerk his foot out of Dianna's hand. "It's warm."
"It's intoxicating." Ian said quietly as he remembered Sara removing the arrow from his body so long ago.
"Yeah." Gabriel smiled widely as Dianna finally removed her hand and looked at his foot. "You're right. It's all healed now." Her eyes sparkled as she looked up at Gabriel. "Gabriel, all the cuts are gone. Try standing on it." Slowly and carefully Gabriel stood, favoring the wounded foot. Beaming he put all his weight on it. "This is so cool." Dianna stood and watched Gabriel in amazement.
"Well, guess that's your first lesson." Sara shrugged. "Wish it had been this easy when I wore it."
"Sara, " Ian whispered, "You were not opened to such things. The Princess has been raised to believe the unbelievable."
"Not so unbelievable Ian." Dianna whispered quietly then brightened as she looked at everyone with twinkling eyes. "So, any coffee made?"
"Yeah." Sara was amazed at the way Dianna was accepting what had just happened. "Cream and sugar?"
"Nope, black and strong." Dianna began walking back toward the kitchen with the bowl and bottles in hand. Suddenly she stopped and almost dropped what she carried.
"Dianna? Princess?" Gabriel could see the woman stiffen. "Honey, what's wrong." She carefully sat the bowl and other things on the counter then turned toward the three, her eyes wide and full of fright. "Baby?"
"It really happened didn't it." She looked at the bracelet. "You told me years ago this could happen." Shaking her head she swayed slightly, causing Ian and Gabriel both to start for her. She raised her hand to stop them. "Just hold up a minute guys, I'm fine, really." She looked into Sara's eyes. "How did you do it? I mean, I knew about this thing, and have a bit of background with shall we say strange things. But you? You. . ."
"I was terrified most of the time." The women shared a knowing look for several, long silent seconds. "I won't lie and say it will be easy Dianna, but I can think of no one else I would rather see wear that thing."
"I just hope I can do it justice." Dianna felt stronger as she nodded to Sara.
"You will Princess." Ian whispered, breaking the spell between the women. "We will take our leave now."
"I thought you were going to show Dianna. . ." Gabriel started but was cut off as Ian grinned.
"We will return Myth. . .Gabriel. There are just some things we need to get from the Mansion that will help Dianna. We will return later in the day." Nodding to Gabriel he then looked at Dianna. "I am sure there are things that the two of you wish to discuss in private."
"I certainly have a thing or two I want to discuss." Dianna stood with hands on her hips as her eyes glanced toward Gabriel.
"Come Sara." Ian held his hand out to Sara and waited until she took it. "We will return around five this afternoon. Grinning he lead Sara out the door.
"Well now." Gabriel said uncomfortably as the door shut. "Didn't you say something about wanting some coffee?"
"I did Gabriel Bowman." Smiling Dianna headed once again to the kitchen. "We can talk as we drink."