Chapter Seven

The journey to Goldenlake wasn't particularly eventful. They rode all day- usually in near silence- then made camp at the side of the road where, if they had enough energy, they would make love.

When they finally did reach the castle of Goldenlake Raoul couldn't have been more relieved. He wanted to sleep in a real bed and have someone bring him food for once.

"Well, here we are." Raoul said as they approached the castle.

"I didn't expect it to be so... big." Kel looked at the high walls and looming towers.

"Well, it's not like I live here by myself." Raoul said. "My parents and brothers and their wives all live here too." Wife. Raoul loved that he could now use that word to describe Kel. "Kel, you didn't want a big wedding, did you?" He asked suddenly as they neared the castle. "I didn't even think of that."

Kel shook her head. "It might have been nice, but having a big wedding would mean organizing a big wedding." She made a face. "This way was simpler."

"As long as you're happy." He reached a hand out to her, but remembered just in time to pull back before Peachblossom could unarm him. He hadn't really wanted a large wedding either.

"My lord, we weren't expecting you!" An anxious servant said when Raoul and Kel came into the courtyard.

"I'm back for the winter. Have the tub in my room filled and some food sent up."

"And for you're companion?" The servant looked over at Kel, who was so heavily cloaked that you couldn't tell whether she was a man or a woman.

"My wife, Keladry, will be staying with me." Raoul said, trying not to laugh at the servant's shocked face.

"Y...yes milord. Of course." The servant bowed and scampered off, alerting a hostler on his way who came to take the horses.

"Peachblossom, be nice." Kel said severely. "If you bite the nice hostler I may have to get a nicer horse to ride."

Peachblossom blew through his nose, but allowed the hostler to lead him away.

"Come on, let's go get clean." Raoul said, taking Kel's arm and leading her into the keep. Raoul brought her straight to his rooms, which had been hastily dusted but were still large and comfortable. There was a small sitting room with a few chairs that branched out into a bedroom, study and dressing room. The colours were mostly dark red or brown but knick-knacks and paintings brightened the room with splashes of colour.

"How do you like it?" He asked as Kel studied his rooms.

"It's perfect." She came into his arms and kissed him warmly. "But you only ordered one bath."

"Well," Raoul ushered her into the dressing room. "My tub is very big, so..." He drew off Kel's clothes, and she his, and they splashed into the oversized bathtub together.

Raoul leaned against the back to the tub, enjoying the delicious feeling of hot water and wet Kel as she relaxed against him.

"Mmmm," She mumbled. "This is nice."

"It certainly is," Raoul said, looking through the clear water at her. Her skin was generally unmarred by bruises since she hadn't done much training during their journey. Raoul reached out of the bath to grab a soft cloth and some soap and lathered it onto Kel. He started with her shoulders and worked his way down. She leaned her head back against his shoulder, eyes closed and shivering lightly when he passed over a particularly sensitive spot. By this time he knew where most of them were and gently teased Kel until she turned over to face him and kissed him hotly.

Groaning as she slid against him, Raoul roughly pulled her against him and, with one hand tangled in her damp hair, held her head and kissed her hard.

Kel moaned softly and settled herself over him, her hands roaming freely over his chest. She too knew where all of his tender spots were and she was taking full advantage of it.

When Raoul thought he couldn't stand another moment of their heated foreplay Kel straddled him and they got down to business.

When they were done Kel and Raoul laid limply against each other as the murky, lukewarm water stilled around them.

Kel reluctantly got out of the tub and started drying off. Raoul followed suit, playfully rubbing a towel over Kel's hair, leaving it tangled and sticking out at weird angles.

"Hey!" She said indignantly, trying to smooth her hair, then poking Raoul in the ribs. "If you don't mind I'd like to avoid looking like I slept in a haystack."

"Oh, go ahead and ruin all my fun." Raoul muttered, yawning. "You tire me out, you know that? I'm going to sleep." He climbed into bed, pulling the heavy covers over himself. "Are you coming?"

"I need to write my family, and friends, and everyone." She shook her head. "I should have done it when we were still at the palace. Where do you keep your parchment and ink?"

"In the study. But can't it wait until tomorrow?" He looked beseechingly at Kel, who smiled crookedly at him.

"I guess." She slid into bed and snuggled up against him.

"That's better." He wrapped his arms around her, idly stroking her back. He kissed her forehead, then leaned his own head back against the pillows. Raoul wished this moment could last forever. It was so quiet and peaceful, and Kel's sleeping face was devoid of worry. He could have stayed there all day, just watching her sleep, but Raoul soon fell asleep himself.

When he woke up Raoul was alone. Pulling on a robe he ventured into the study where he found Kel beside a stack of parchment, scratching away with a quill.

"Hey," He came up behind her, resting his hands on her shoulders. "What are you doing? Writing a book?"

Kel looked up, smiling ruefully. "I just... there's a lot of people to tell and I want them to hear the whole story from me, not court gossip." She pushed back her bangs, leaving a smudge of black ink on her forehead. "I'm almost done though. This is the last one."

"Good." Raoul kissed the top of her head. "Do you want to go downstairs for breakfast or should I have someone bring it up?"

"Let's stay here." She said. "Unless... I should probably meet the rest of your family, shouldn't I?"

"That can wait." Raoul said. "After breakfast we can make introductions. I'll go find a servant." He left her to her letters and stuck his head out of his door. A servant and several of his family members were standing about, pretending to be doing something. "We're not coming out yet," he said darkly. "You, could you bring up some breakfast?"

"Yessir," The servant immediately left, leaving his aging mother and one of his older nieces staring at him.

"What?" Raoul asked. "Hasn't anyone told you it's rude to stare?"

"Is it true you married your squire?" His niece, Brina asked. "I mean, I thought it might just be someone with the same name but..."

"Yes, it's her. Now if you'll excuse me?" Raoul shut the door without waiting for a reply and turned around to find Kel standing right behind him. "Sorry," he started but she shook her head.

"Don't worry, I understand. I'd do the same thing." She smiled, reaching up to kiss Raoul.

He kissed her back warmly, nuzzling her neck before he pulled away to kiss her. Raoul was right in the middle of some very tricky work with his tongue when there was a knock on the door.

"My Lord? I have you're breakfast for you."

Oh, right. He untangled himself from Kel and cracked the door open, accepting the trays and telling the servant that they weren't to be bothered.

Raoul then put the trays on a table and looked over to Kel. "Are you hungry?"

She looked at the bowls of steaming porridge and plates of toast. "Not really." She admitted.

He had to agree. He'd much rather spend the rest of the day kissing Kel. Then again if they were going to be doing that all day they'd need to keep up their energy. Raoul said as much and Kel had to agree so they sat down and tried to act civilized for a few minutes while they wolfed down their breakfast.

When that was through Raoul didn't waste any time pulling Kel off to bed. By the time they were finished Raoul was completely exhausted and was ashamed to admit to himself that if he kept up a pace like this he would probably die. Why couldn't he have found Kel when he was sixteen? He could easily of kept up with her then. Oh, right, she hadn't even been born when he was sixteen. Raoul kicked that thought out of his mind and tried not to act tired when Kel started talking about meeting his family and about her own family he struggled to sound interested.

"You're not listening to me, are you?" Kel said, propping herself up on her elbow.

"Of course I am."

"Oh? So what was I talking about?"

"Er..."

"I thought so." She gave him a peck on the lips and laid down beside him. "I just wanted to see how long it would take for you to admit it." She yawned widely and fell asleep.

Raoul poked her awake.

"What?" She muttered, trying to grab his hand.

"You were teasing me."

"Uh huh." She rolled over so her back was to him.

Raoul poked her again. "That was mean."

"I'm terribly sorry." She muttered.

"Hmph." Raoul grumbled. He kept Kel awake for a good half hour before he gave up and went to sleep.