Chapter 1
A Surprising Revelation

"I think it's too quiet and calm out here. I believe that we're in the calm before the storm. And that the storm will hit very soon." Buriram Tourakom ----Buri as she liked to be called--- spoke softly so that she wouldn't wake anyone in the camp. Raoul, of Goldenlake & Malories' Peak, looked surprised with her assessment.
"What makes you say that? By the way, have you been having nightmares? Because the camp woke up to screams last night." Raoul watched her expression. "And you haven't looked like yourself for nearly a week. That's how long your people said you've been having nightmares. Buri tell me what's going on!" Raoul wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her to him.
"I don't have nightmares, Raoul, I have premonitions in the form of dreams. The latest collection of dream premonitions is telling me that the 'storm' won't be a large battle, instead someone will be kidnapped and tortured then left on the side of the road for the King, Queen, and two of us to find." Buri suddenly looked thoughtful. "But I don't think it will get that far. Someone will go after the kidnapped, and a big battle will erupt."
"Buri, who will be kidnapped?" Raoul thought to himself ~I hope it's not her. I don't want her to die.~ "Please tell me who it is. If it's you , I promise I will come after you. I swear it!" Now Raoul reached around her and linked his hands together, on her left shoulder, hugging her close.
"All I'm going to say is it's either going to be: me, you, or Alanna. As we're the closest to the King, Queen, and one another. Now I want to go to bed, so I can get what little dreamless sleep I can. Please help me down." Raoul dropped off the branch that they had been seated on and reached up to help her off the branch.
"Come with me. I have an idea." Raoul led her to his tent in the camp. "If you sleep here I'll wake you up if you start to have a nightmare!" Buri settled on to the mattress/bed with a wince of pain. "What's wrong? Are you hurt?" He sat down next to her. "Buri, let me see. Please if you're hurt, I'll never forgive myself for letting you try to sleep injured!"
Buri carefully lifted the edge of her shirt up in back and showed him what happened in her dreams. "In my dreams, the person who is kidnapped is whipped and I seem to take their place because the whip hits my back. That's the cause of the screams. I also can't seem to be woken up during the dreams, how you plan on waking me during the dreams is beyond me." Raoul ran a hand right above her welts to see if she could sense it. "Gods don't do that, Raoul, it hurts even though you aren't touching me!"
"Buri, I think you're lying to me. You're the one who is going to be kidnapped, aren't you? Look at me, Buri, you're crying?! Don't cry, please don't cry!" Raoul took her chin between his thumb and his forefinger and kissed her.
"What was that for? I don't need something like that to get in my way, really Raoul, I don't. But, Gods, it felt good!" Buri looked up at him with eyes that sparkled with unshed tears. He couldn't tell if they were from pain or happiness or sadness. "Raoul, have you fallen in love with me? Tell me the truth."
"I'm not sure, but I can tell you that I will do anything for you that I can. I know you don't want a relationship to bog you down, but please consider a chance to become the Lady of Goldenlake and Malorie's Peak, and my wife." With that said, he kissed her softly. "Get some sleep."

cliffhanger! Do you think she'll do it? any typos or run ons r the cause of my crazy computer! I don't own anything thats tammy's but I do own some soon to be introduced characters. g2g.