Chapter 6

"Pointless Explanations, and Beginnings"

Dagonet stared at the trails of Rhiannon's tears cast into a rainbow of iridescence by the flickering flamesthat danced in thefireplace. He drank in her beauty even as he was disturbed by it. She had accomplished the unlikely combination of appearing as a sort of living statue. She sat so still, her eyes closed to him, hands clenched in her lap. Her usually expressive facehad fallentotally passive. Only the flames and her tears gave her life in that moment, and it both awed and scared the man who had knelt before her.

He had said something wrong and he knew it, but could not quite place what it could have been. Dagonet had chosen his words carefully, and had spoken directly as was his habit. Still, something had gone awry, and he was hardly under the impression that she was a weak creature that would break even after all that she endured and had yet to come. She would not suddenly have given way like this. Whatever had happened was very much his doing he had no doubt. After she had refused to look at him, to acknowledge him at all, he had moved from the couch to her feet, and now kneeled before her, gazing into her flame-shadowed face. She looked ethereal, her tears giving the appearance of crystalline lava, her hair burnished...she appeared all at once to be formed of fire and shadow.

Dagonet reached out to touch her face, to wipe away the moisture left behind on her cheeks. Two, lone tears...it troubled him that she was this restrained. He had gathered that tears with her should not be taken lightly, though he knew there was certainly time for her to prove him wrong about that. He could not picture her as the sort of woman who would weep over foolishness though, no matter how he might try to conjure it up.

His calloused fingers brushed her cheek, and then the other before she opened her eyes. The fire turned her liquid eyes molten, and his breath caught. He did not take his hand from her face, but rather stroked the soft cheek, and felt her lean minutely into his touch. Her look was a sad one.

"What have I said that would hurt you so?" Dagonet asked, the timbre of his voice deep, but softened. He waited with apprehension to know what it was that so offended her. He seemed to always be the cause of trouble with her recently and despised himself for it.

Rhiannon hesitated a moment to try to order her feelings and thoughts, but knew that would take far longer than she wanted Dagonet to wait for an answer. He was far more than handsome, the flames behind him dancing their light and darkness over him. She held her tongue a moment more just to absorb the sight before her...to try to commit it to her memory. The great Knight kneeling before her was the epitome of everything she could have dreamed, had dreamed to some level, but certainly nothing that she had fantasized equaled the man before her. She thought of his kisses, and the more intimate touches that had followed, and found her throat closed tightly around her voice for a moment. It had been so... '

exquisite.

That was the only word that could describe what that encounter had been to her, and she wondered if it had been so touching to him. She knew that he had been with the women at the tavern, but that did not mean that she could not be special to him. At least she hoped. Hesitantly, she opened her mouth to speak.

"I would not listen to anyone when they tried to explain to me what had happened...between you and my uncle. I was so angry that I did not care to hear it..." Rhiannon took a deep breath as she prepared to continue. Dagonet lowered his hand to hold hers that were rigid fists in her lap. His expression was open, yet telling nothing. Rhiannon tentatively went on.

"I said terrible things to you...I am so sorry that I accused you of taking advantage, and comparing you to the Romans...I did not know that this was a punishment for you that you should marry me. Knowing my uncle though, I am hardly surprised." The last was said in a half joking manner that Dagonet did not fail to hear. He was pleased that at least she maintained a sense of humor.

Still, something she said confused him.

"Punishment?" Dagonet asked, openly puzzled.

"Yes, you said that had you not agreed to wed me the consequences would have been bad. Did you not? I hate knowing that you are forced to wed me. It is humiliating, and painful to me. I did not know till you told me just now that events unfolded in such a way. I cannot even explain to you how low I feel that I am made a penalty for you. I am not even sure now what to make of what has happened between us this night..." Rhiannon dropped off softly, her head lowered to her lap. Her words had been forceful at the first, but her embarrassment threatened to swallow her at the last. She fought the hard knot in her throat that presaged more tears.

Now at last he had it. She was confused. He smiled mildly relieved, but only mildly.

"Woman, you will look at me." Dagonets voice was firm, and insistent. He placed his hand under her chin to raise her head. Her eyes showed her wounds plainly as well as a her pride behind new tears that had begun to gather. She did not try to look away from him this time, and he leaned in closer so that they were nearly nose to nose. Each took comfort in the other's nearness, and stared into each other for answers.

Dagonet wove his fingers through hers, and leaned in quickly to press a tender, loving kiss against her small, rosy mouth. She kissed him back easily, and he prolonged their contact a moment to savor the affection that she gave him. Her lips moved against his without hesitation, but Dagonet kept his kiss as soft, and gentle as possible. He hated taking his mouth from hers, but knew it was necessary. This could not go on. Problems kept springing up from misunderstandings, so the only thing was to make her understand, and to make her know that he cared for her.

"Rhiannon, all that has happened between us has been what both of us wanted. I do care for you. What happened this night is what should go on between a man and a woman. There is no shame in it." He did not bother to add that it was even less reprehensible because they were betrothed. That was a subject that they had yet to discuss, but they would have to sooner or later. For now, he felt that later might be the better choice.

Rhiannon had a glimmer of a shy smile on her mouth, but it vanished almost as soon as he saw it.

"Do you understand that?" Dagonet asked, laying his forehead against hers.

"Yes." Rhiannon's voice sounded tired. Dagonet had been told that her sleep was troubled lately.His had been as well.

"You misunderstood me as well. The punishment was more directed at you than at me. I could either marry you, or..." Dagonet paused a moment, not wanting to tell her what her uncle would have done to her. So much had happened to her that he was in no hurry to tell her that she was very near to being drowned. He would tell her, just not this night. "...your uncle would have done with you as he saw fit."

Rhiannon was speechless. He had done this for her. She was not fit for this man at all. Surely he deserved some woman more worthy than she. He was revered by everyone whether they knew him personally or by reputation, and somehow she would be the one that would wed him. She would wed him because he took up her cause as his own. 'Because he feels he owes me something...It was a never-ending nightmare brought on by his sense of chivalry. "Am I really blaming him, or am I just angry at myself?" She already knew the answer. She was beginning to believe that she was the curse her uncle always implied she was.

"Do you understand at last?", Dagonet asked, feeling certain that all was solved in this matter at least. He knew how many things were left for them to discuss, but now at least there would be one less. Two actually, he supposed. Bors had been curious if a woman as passionate as this one seemed to be could be a virgin at twenty-five years. He did not seem to think it possible. Dagonet, upon remembering how it was that he found out she was intact, nearly gave in to the urge to yank her off her couch and under him. It was certainly a pleasant thought...

"Yes, I understand perfectly." Rhiannon stated, her voice sugar sweet. Sarcasm dripped from her tongue, but Dagonet let it go. She was hard to deal with and he was sure that sleep would make her easier on the morrow. Him as well. They were both too exhausted for this.

"Tomorrow if you will come with me, I will take you to places in the woods to find the herbs, and barks that you will need." He let his eyes wander the room before settling on her face again. Her mouth broke into a smile that was genuine and full of delight.

"Really? When?" She asked with so much enthusiasm that it warmed him through.

"As soon as you've breakfasted if you like. We will have to walk..I am not yet fit for a horse." He wondered if she would be up to it. He knew of the most wonderful places to take her for harvesting the plants she needed, but it would be a long walk.

"Thank you." Her smile grew and she squeezed his hands in hers. "I will be up early My Lord."

Dagonet stood, and raised her with him to pull her into his arms.

"Between us, there will be no titles." His voice was firm, and so were his eyes. There would be no argument.

Rhiannon nodded, awestruck again at his warmth, strength, the smell of him that was so like his taste. She felt heat curling in her stomach again, and pushed closer, flattening her breasts against him. His arms tightened, even as his eyes darkened into a color like the night sky. He had such a way of making her irrational. She feared that in the end of all this he would think her no better than a whore, but she had not the will or even truly the want to restrain herself.

"Stay with me this night, Dagonet."

The words were out of her mouth before she knew it. Dagonet saw the shock in her eyes, mixed with her desire, and smiled sensually down at her.

"I would, sweet one, but tonight is not the night for this. I would rather take my time with you than have you right here on the floor, or on your table. When I make you mine, it will not be in such a way. Tonight, I have no such patience in me, and you deserve so much more." She blushed sweetly.

He was hard as a rock, and wishing abjectly that he did not have to say no to the soft woman pushing into him. Dagonet remembered how wet she had been, and clenched his jaw. Rhiannon's nipples had grown hard, and were pushing into his chest. He nearly let go of her waist to cup one plump breast, but held tighter to her instead. Her hazy eyes mirrored his own regret. He did not think he would even be able to kiss her goodnight. He was drained and knew she had to be as well.

"Shall we say goodnight then?" He murmured, as he placed his mouth at her temple.

"I guess we had better." Rhiannon murmured back resignedly.

Dagonet straightened up, and put his hands on her hips to distance them a little.

"I will meet you here tomorrow, and we will go. It will be a long day on foot, so bring all that you will need, and dress comfortably." Dagonet instructed softly.

"Are you up to such a strenuous day?" Rhiannon asked, concerned.

"It will be fine. You healed me well." The pride in Dagonet's voice was obvious. It made her smile.

"Very well. I will be ready." She told him, all smiles.

"Goodnight then. Sleep well."

"Goodnight."

Dagonet dropped his arms, and turned resolutely to the door, and as he was pulling the door shut behind him, he was only thankful that she did not call him back, or stop him with a touch. He would not have left her.

He had been surprised that she had asked him to stay with her. She was very forward, and yet so naive. It amused him, but concerned him as well. That naivete could cause her much pain. As her husband he could protect her though.

Husband.

He held himself taller as he walked down the dim corridor. He had dreamed of a woman that would love him, that would desire him, and need him. Someone who would want him and only him. He had wanted a family of his own as long as he could remember, and Bors had been a constant source of envy for him over the years. He had so hungered for love, but had finally resigned himself to being alone.

Rhiannon...

Every time that he looked on her she seemed more beautiful than before in her unique way. Her face was so expressive, and her manner was unrestrained, and certainly she was intelligent. Brave as well. She had demonstrated that many times.

She cared for him he knew, but he wondered if she could ever love him...if she could want him as he had so needed to be.

Some here were suspicious of her because she was part Roman, and she had drawn more Romans here. Still, the villagers that had come from Marius' estate had quickly made it known how she had risked her life in healing them, and provided extra food to their children, those with child, the ailing, and the old. Soldiers had been everywhere and yet she had defied them without thought of herself apparently.

Dagonet listened to their tales carefully, and swelled with pride over each story.

She was a good healer. Better than good. She also had a big heart, and that touched him deeply. Honestly, she was a prize for him, and she thought she would be a punishment. He snorted at the idea. He was beginning to think that her uncle had done him a favor.

Murrelus, lying in his darkened room, was hoping for just that. It was a big gamble to throw the large Knight and his niece together this way, but he did not for a second doubt their affection for one another. As an added bonus, Dagonet was a good man. At any rate, he could not take Rhiannon back to Rome. There were some things that were simply worse than death for a woman.

Murrelus rolled over and in minutes fell into untroubled sleep, his mind satisfied with his work.

I want to apologize that I can no longer respond to my reviews here, so I will be taking care of that individually. Also, I know that Rhiannon is being difficult, and a little whiney.lol She is a typical woman in that way, but bear with her. She does this when she doesn't know what else to do. Thanks so much everyone for the reviews.