When Adara woke moonlight shone down through the small window, illuminating her and Dagonet. She lay with her head resting on his bare chest, and he had one arm wrapped around her slim shoulders.
Adara felt a strange wave of pleasure and pain wash over her. Pleasure because she was lying in his arms. Pain because she knew she had to leave him. The longer she stayed, the less likely she was to leave, and if he woke, she knew she would never find the will power to leave him.
She knew she could not stay. She would end up as Vanora was: the lover of a knight, bearing his children and watching him ride out to do battle with her people. And if there was one thing Adara had, it was self-pride. She admitted she may have given in to herself last night, but that was the last time.
Slowly, agonisingly slowly, she eased her way away from the warm sleeping form of her lover, and out into the cold air. She dressed quickly, avoiding looking at Dagonet for fear she may give in and never leave the room.
When she was dressed she made her way towards the door, but stopped before reaching it. Slowly, fighting herself every second, she turned back to him. In two short strides she had crossed the distance between them, and kissed his cheek gently. He murmured, but did not wake.
"I love you," Adara whispered gently, finally admitting something she had known since she had woken in his arms on the long ride as he carried her away from the battlefield.
Tears filling her eyes she pulled her cloak around her, and left the room quietly, never to return. Tears were streaming down her face as she left the garrison, and the slightest thing would have made her turn back, but she carried on walking: walking away from the man she loved, from everything she could have had, from the place she had left her heart.
Adara stole silently up to the top of the wall. It was ridiculous to try to get out through the gates, for they would be guarded. What she planned was equally as ludicrous, but it was better to die escaping, Adara thought, than live a captive.
The section of the wall was deserted: the guards were no doubt dozing or entertaining women and wine. Adara walked slowly to the edge of the wall and looked down. This was it. One movement and her decision would be made, no turning back.
She heaved her shoulders as she sighed, and turned back briefly, half-hoping to see Dagonet coming towards her to take her back, but he was still sleeping, unaware that his lover was leaving him.
Adara turned back to face the North: her country, her people's land. She could not abandon all that for a man she had known only twelve days. With tears blurring her vision, she swung herself over the wall in a swift movement.
She landed heavily, and heard the distinctive cracking of bones. Adara lay there for a moment, marvelling that she was still alive, before slowly moving. She reckoned she had cracked two ribs and broken her arm, but besides that she had got off remarkably well.
Cursing slightly she pulled her aching body upwards, and with one last look up, back at the wall, she set off at a swift run towards the forests, and safety.