Dagonet

by rhiannonstorm

Dagonet survives the Saxons arrows, and meets a woman who will change his world even more than it already is. Fluffy stuff. The M rating is for future chapters.

7. Chapter 7

There are some explicit scenes and a touch of strong language. Just lettin' you know. I don't want to offend anyone, but I do not apologize for my portrayal of the characters. Enjoy!

Chapter 7

"Reckonings"

Rhiannon paced back and forth across the pharmacea, her hunting boots striking the stone floor in soft pats. Her arms were alternately crossed at her chest, or she was hitting the heels of her hands on her hips with a fair amount of force.

She did not doubt that Dagonet would come soon, and then they would go out into the woods together. He had mentioned that this would likely be a full day, so she had prepared for one. A full pack was perched on the table stuffed with a multitude of empty pouches, a little knife she reserved for the purpose of harvesting, a water skin, her cloak, and food stuffs that she had pilfered from the kitchen- goat cheese, barley cakes, and apples. She took care that there would be enough for both of them. More than enough actually. She wanted to be certain that Dagonet could eat enough to keep his strength up. Normally this day would have been more than easy on the warrior, but he was still healing and would surely grow tired if the day displayed any difficulty.

A shy smile turned Rhiannon's mouth upward as she drew up a mental image of Dagonet for what seemed like the thousandth time since she had risen. He was so ruggedly handsome. As far as she was concerned he was beautiful, not only outwardly, but inward as well. She didn't like to dwell as much on his looks, as his character. It made her feel superficial. Still, she decided that having good looks never hurt a person, but it was certainly his heart that drew and intrigued her. Her thoughts of the past days kept replaying. She was lucky to be betrothed to him. She had been telling herself that ever since she had found out that she was to wed him. It was an absolute truth. She only wished that the circumstances of their coming together might be different. What if she was not what he had in mind for a wife? They knew so little about each other. Even basic things about him she lacked knowledge of. It embarrassed her to a degree that the women at the tavern knew him better than she, and not only in a physical way. Little details when they would speak of him gave that away. Perhaps today would give her an opportunity to ask him about his life, his likes and dislikes.

Rhiannon wondered what his life in the Steppes had been like before he was taken from his home, and she wondered equally, if not more, if he ever intended to return there. As his wife, she would no doubt accompany him, and she liked some adventure here and there, but the Steppes bordered on frightening to her. She had heard of the harsh climate and lifestyle there. It was said that every day in that place was a struggle against the land itself for your life. What would that be like for her, but more importantly what might that be like if they had children?

'Children!'

Rhiannon clapped her hands to the sides of her head as her pacing took up more energy. She screwed her eyes shut and sucked in large amounts of air. Somehow she had to get a handle on the situation that she know found herself in.

She slowed her steps until she finally stood still. Dropping her hands to her sides, she opening her eyes again. She needed to stop thinking about it so much, and just roll with it. That was the only way that she was going to stop herself from going mad.

Rhiannon walked the few steps to the table and hopped up to sit on it's surface. She had meant to try to settle herself before Dagonet arrived, but the place that she had chosen to sit on only managed to bring up memories that flustered her more. She rolled her eyes upward, acknowledging the futility of seeking rest from...everything.

Rhiannon's leather clad legs swung back and forth in different directions with pendulum regularity. She stared at the grayish-brown floor, allowing her thoughts to have reign, against her better judgement. Her hands clenched at the edge of the table as she recalled the night that had passed between them.

She had loved being in his arms, and the way he had touched her...all the ways he had touched her. She remembered clearly the feel of his hands at her breasts, the way his hand twisted in her hair, but the recollection that made heat rise in her belly was that of the most intimate touch they had shared. She struggled to pull her mind away from the sensation of his hot hands, and his fingers, loving her and examining her most intimate places. She had loved holding him, feeling his hard body against her. She had felt the same need in him that had swallowed her.

She would try so hard to make him happy every day of their life together, 'but will that be enough?' She wondered. Dagonet deserved better than someone like her for a wife, but on the other hand she reasoned that no one would ever be good enough for him as far as she was concerned. Therefore, she might as well have him. She smiled a little at that.

She thought of the little estate in Rome that she was losing. While it did hold some memories, she was not angry at it's loss as a trade for a new, and fuller life here. It was more a matter of how the property was being taken from her. The whole situation still made her feel violated. Rhiannon was more than aware that she had been a fool by not listening, not going to Dagonet for a full explanation, but he could have just as easily come to her.

'But, he did come to you, you little idiot...' She reminded herself, and grimaced a little.

Not even Bors had discussed any of this with her through the week. Vanora would drop unsubtle hints that she should speak to Dagonet and the sooner she did so the better for everyone.. Rhiannon's smile grew larger as she remembered that those had been Vanora's words almost verbatim every time that she saw her. Vanora was a good woman, and Rhiannon had liked her on sight. That first impression had proved accurate. The woman was invaluable to her.

Guinevere meanwhile had admonished her clearly, and pointedly, when she chose to advise her, but Arthur, Galahad, and Gawain stayed clear of the subject of Dagonet. She wondered how much longer they would have been able to stand not intervening in some way. She doubted it would have been very much longer. It was not their way to be silent.

Rhiannon turned herself a bit to look out of her window. The morning was still dim, but no longer dark. The sky showed a slit on the horizon that promised a glorified sun in only another hour or so. How something like the sun could begin in such a delicate way, with all it's pinks, lavenders, golds, and oranges was spellbinding, and she lost herself in it's beauty totally.

That was why the solid rap at the door nearly unseated her from her perch. The hard sound had made her jump what felt like a foot from the table. She hadn't realized that she was quite so on edge today.

'Yes you did.'

Pushing off the table, she started nervously toward the door when Dagonet opened it himself and entered.

He shut the door behind him without looking back, and stood there a moment taking her in. She looked similar to when he had first seen her.

'She had worn something similar under her dark cloak...'

That image of her had stayed in his memories, though neglected for a time. He recalled it now as he looked upon her, so similar to that first glimpse. She had been staring full at him, her hair swirling in the snowy, frigid wind. Though it whipped over her face, she had seemed not to notice and he had stared back. She had been so dark, so unusual...

Now as she stood before him, she wore a long, black tunic over a creamy cotton shirt with flared sleeves, black doeskin breeches encased her legs snugly, and she wore unusual thigh high boots that were turned down and cuffed at the knee. They appeared to be made out of a soft leather, and somewhat worn. The most dramatic thing for him however was her hair. For the first time he could remember, it was forced into some semblance of order. The crazy, distracting locks were pulled away into a long braid, although some stray curls had worked themselves out of their confines around her face. She was looking at him with so much pleasure it made her shine. She looked...sexy. There was no other word that he could think of.

"Good morning." He greeted her smiling.

"Good morning." Rhiannon echoed.

Several feet still separated them.

"Are you ready then?" Dagonet knew this was an unnecessary question. He had heard about a great deal of her preparation from the kitchen staff. Many of them still did not like this woman. They had all gossiped that she would bring trouble with her, and so she had in the way of a boat load of Romans.

Apparently, she had eaten almost an hour before he had. He had been told that she had taken her breakfast among the staff, in silence, and apparently in a hurry. The way in which the servants had described how she had eaten, made him laugh heartily as he pictured it. He remembered her ravenous meal in his chamber the first evening they had truly met, but from the sounds of her breakfast this day, that had been restrained. It made him laugh even as he thought of it.

The gentle rumbling sound made Rhiannon smile at him even more. It was a wonderful, warm sound and she wondered what had caused it.

"I think I have everything that I might need. What is so humorous? Do you think I look silly in these clothes of mine?"

Silly? Dagonet could see the good humor in her this morning, and was thankful that all sign of yesterdays storm clouds were past.

"You look very appealing. I was thinking of something that the kitchen workers told me this morning when I went to get an early breakfast and some food to take with us."

The mischievous glint in his eyes, told her what she wanted to know and she laughed herself as she recalled what she must have looked like. She had cleaned her plate and swallowed her weak wine in 2 minutes flat. She laughed a little harder before she grabbed the pack off the table and slung it on her back. She was nervous.

Dagonet was secretly pleased that she had been totally prepared by the time he had come to her. More than that, she had obviously been eager for the day to begin, judging by all accounts. Now, she was shining like a light in the dim room, as if there were no where else she wanted to be but with him. It was almost as good as waking up with her twisted around him in bed. He smiled to himself as he opened the door and gestured for her to step out before him.

He knew it was too soon for him to be wandering about in the woods, especially the distance that he intended to go, but he needed this time with her. Who knew how little time there might be before he would be healed and their wedding would take place? Her uncle had oddly stayed out of the way ever since the Great Hall. He had said nothing more after that day, and kept mostly to himself. Murrelus took his meals in his chamber, and left everyone alone. Dagonet wondered at the peculiar behavior. This did not seem to fit the cunning, outspoken man he had met. He would have to ask Rhiannon about it.

She was so alluring in the clothes that she had chosen to wear, and didn't even seem aware of it. He watched her toned legs walk across the room, and out the door before he followed. If he had only looked at her face, he would have seen the smirk of satisfaction that shaped her lips. She had wondered how she would look to him in her strange clothes, and now she knew.

They were hunting clothes that she had designed herself, and had a fine tailor make for her at her tiny house in Rome. The tunic had been made later at Marius'. In her exile, and lacking servants, she had learned to hunt out of necessity. She had gotten quite good at it.

Dagonet and Rhiannon stood in the dark hallway and surveyed each other. The tension was noticeable. Neither really knew what to do now that emotions had been played out, and the enchantment of night was gone.

Rhiannon took the first step, and closed the small space between them. Looking into his gentle face, she wrapped her arms around his waist and pressed into him, in a tight embrace. She smiled into his chest as she felt his arms encircle her solidly. Turning her face upwards to grin at him, she found him smiling broadly down at her. She knew they had to look like two grinning fools just standing there as they were, but it felt so good to lower the tensity between them that she didn't care. Dagonet lowered his mouth to her forehead in a soft kiss.

"Shall we go, milady?" He asked finally.

Rhiannon stepped back from him with a nod, as he took her hand in his. The feel of her soft, smaller hand was precious to him. The fact that she was walking hand in hand with him was a sign of trust on her part. Dagonet tried to walk without showing weakness, seeing that the woman who walked beside him would be sure to notice even the slightest abnormality and worry both of them over it. He knew she was skilled and he would not underestimate that, however, he also knew that women were often going on about such things relentlessly. She would mean well and he knew it, but she would just have to learn to trust his instincts about himself.

Thus, they walked out of the fortress, and out into the moist, heavy, morning light. Though the world was still dim, they could hear the sounds of waking all around them as they walked virtually unnoticed toward the trees behind the fort. The only ones that took any note were the chickens who scampered here and there in impotent, clucking fits to get away from their feet.

Vanora was usually up and around this time of the morning, so she might have seen them go and happily so, but she was just as happily occupied with Bors. They were working on a potential number twelve.

Rhiannon saw Dagonet cast his eyes over to the cemetery that kept the fallen Knights. His face showed no expression as he kept up his long strides. She was glad that they would shortly be in the woods because she would never be able to keep up with him like this. Soon, he might be dragging her by the hand. She tried to pace her brisk steps to his.

She recalled the day that she had watched him go to the graves of Lancelot, and Tristan. There were other graves that he had stopped at briefly before he left, but she hadn't known those men at all. Lancelot and Tristan she had at least seen, and people had spoken of them so colorfully that she felt as though she had a good idea what they had been like in life.

Dagonet had gone there the day after she had stopped speaking to him. He had looked so weak and worn, but had gone alone to mourn his brothers. She had wanted to go to him so badly, but her pride had kept her away. Perhaps on that occasion it was for the best that he had been alone. She did not want to intrude on his sorrow over their loss. Sorrow of that sort was intimate and Rhiannon knew it well.

She was pulled up short and out of her thoughts as Dagonet stopped walking. He had noticed that she had been lost in her thoughts, but he did not ask though he wondered. She smiled at him again, an apologetic one for not paying attention.

"There are many places I want to take you, though I must confess that I may not be able to go to all of them. We may have to do this in parts." Dagonet's voice was clearly grudging.

"Of course. I trust you to not overdo yourself, Sir Knight." She answered playfully, and Dagonet was relieved.

"Come then." He redid his grip on her hand, and they walked into the dark trees.

Rhiannon loved forests. They enchanted her. She had not been able to walk freely in one for such a long time! At Marius' she had been unable to for fear of his soldiers. He was not above letting them rape, even one of his household. Marius had made his distaste for her lineage clear, so she had treaded very carefully. Her time there had been hellish. She had been relieved to see him die, and might have felt bad about that except that seeing Dagonet so near to death, not to mention Lucan, and all at his hands, alleviated any guilt. Marius had truly been an evil man.

Rhiannon wondered what Lucan would find to do today. She did not tell Dagonet that he had made it a habit to visit her over the last week. Lucan was introspective, and often tired of the children he played with. That was part of his appeal to her. She had been much the same throughout her life. Dagonet had managed to chase even the staunch Joles from the stable with his black moods, so Lucan hadn't stood a chance though Dagonet obviously adored the boy. She had no doubt that Guinevere would occupy him in her absence. Feeling confident that for the first time in days things were beginning to right themselves, Rhiannon walked along contentedly beside Dagonet.

The silence that lay between them was an easy one, and she simply enjoyed the day. The sky was becoming ever more light overhead, and bathed the tops of the dense trees, and new sunlight slanted between the trunks. Though their steps were light, the ground crunched with leaves and twigs that lay thick under their feet. Often she would find Dagonet pulling her through a copse, or over downed trees. There was evidence everywhere of the Woads having been here in battle. Thankfully all of the bodies had quickly been dealt with of Woad and Saxon alike, else disease would have hit. There had been so much death, and blood. She had no desire to see more and in such a glorious, holy sort of a place. The farther they walked, the more peaceful and undisturbed the forest seemed.

Dagonet was armed with a light sword and a dagger, but seemed unconcerned. The Woads still lived in the forest, but were camped farther down than their trek would carry them, and now they were firm allies with Arthur. Rhiannon had never hated them anyway. She had never been given a reason to hate any one race, or people. She had been taught better than that.

Her attention was drawn back out of her thoughts as Dagonet stopped and looked to her. She waited for him to say something but he merely looked at her for a moment. He squeezed her fingers and walked ahead of her and into a grassy clearing that sparkled with dew drops and warmth. As she took in the inviting and beautiful spot, Dagonet settled himself stiffly on a fallen tree at the edge of the clearing. Rhiannon sat down as well.

"This is breath-taking." She spoke softly, afraid that if she shattered the silence with her voice, this place would melt away like some bewitchment.

The grass was downy, and emerald, the heavy dew upon the blades showing off more brilliantly than diamonds under the fully illuminated sky. Birds sang and twittered morning songs, and crows sounded in the distance. The trees had left this little spot alone, and seemed to wall it in protectively. It felt like the heart of the forest lay in this open spot. She could not take it in quick enough. It was brilliant.

Dagonet was more than pleased that she liked it here. He had come here often and always alone because it gave him peace in it's solitude. It felt good having this woman here with him. He thought of telling her that, but chose to remain silent for now. That might be enough to start trouble. He had no idea how sensitive she might become if he brought them as a couple up. It didn't feel like time to start hashing all of their problems again, but they couldn't keep delaying all the things that lay before them. He simply smiled at her, and was gratified that she returned it easily.

"We have been walking about an hour, have we not?" Rhiannon knew it had actually been a bit longer because of where the sun now seemed to be, though obscured by the height of the trees.Dagonet nodded. "We have had to come farther than we normally would because so much was destroyed in the battle."

"Ah, of course. I had noticed, but for some reason didn't really think about it." She answered.

"Are you so anxious to be done with our day together?" Dagonet teased, glancing sideways at her.

Rhiannon only smiled as she looked down at her boots. She fidgeted only a moment. She did the only thing that could get her out of being shy at his question and changed the subject. "Water?" She asked, politely, as she slipped her pack off, and he did the same.

He nodded his head, and she dug out the water skin. She began to hand it to him, but he insisted that she drink first. Rather than argue, she took a couple of good long drinks, and then handed it over to him. Turning his head upward, he drank as she had before returning it.A sort of awkward silence settled over them. Rhiannon wished that her hair was down so she could hide under it. Instead she looked at the ground again, studying the tips of her boots that she had turned up for examination. All lay quiet between them for long minutes. Dagonet was the one whofinally spoke.

"There is a brook just on the other side of the clearing, and there we will find an abundance of mint, aloe, fern and mandrake. I will take you to gather lavender afterwards. There are other things we will find as well, so do not fear about going back empty handed. Things like apple tree bark, rosemary, and basil, as well as all lemon herbs can be found at the fort easily enough so do not worry over those."

Rhiannon listened carefully and wondered if so much could have been gathered at the fort today and set to dry, why had they come out here instead? She did not mind it, and was happy they were here, but wondered if Dagonet might not have a motive with this excursion. She supposed that if she wanted to know, she could always ask.

"Is there something you would like to speak to me about? You seem as though there is something bearing upon you."

Dagonet looked at her, not surprised in the least that she had picked that up from him. He had been thinking all morning of the things he needed to talk over with her.

"There are some things we do need to talk about." He told her. He spoke softly but sternly as was his way. She only nodded in response. He was unsure how to begin and decided to try to throw her off balance a little for fun.

"So, first thing, you have seen me in the all-together, and even washed me?"

Rhiannon pursed her lips to try to keep from smiling, but even had she succeeded, her sparkling golden eyes would have told on her. She cut her eyes over to him, and waited before answering. She knew that he knew that already. He had to of. She had taken care of him for weeks, and she couldn't have done it with him clothed for the Gods' sakes. He was waiting, looking amused. She turned her head to face him.

"You know I did." She answered him, lifting her chin in physical answer to his challenge. Her mouth still fought her smile. Dagonet couldn't help laughing. She was such a fiery, tempting, unusual, creature, and she tickled him. She smiled at last and laughed softly with him. He still hadn't thrown her as he had hoped though. One more try.

Dagonet slid an arm behind her and around her waist drawing her closer, and as he turned into her, he whispered in her ear, "If you have seen me unclothed, is it not only fair that I should see you as well?"

Rhiannon's eyes shot wide open at his question, and at the feel of his mouth so near her again. Tasting him only the night before had only made the fire in her worse, and now she was left momentarily confused.

"Well?" He prodded gently.

Rhiannon noted the smile he wore, and tried to scowl, but found that she could only smile like some laughing idiot today.

"You were wounded and I had to care for you." She answered in defense.

Dagonet just laughed again. He couldn't remember the last time that he had laughed so much. "And what did you think, or do you often see men naked?"

Rhiannon couldn't decide whether to glare or laugh, and came off with an interesting combination of the two.

"My Lord Knight, I have very rarely seen naked men, and never have I before seen one that was in the state of undress that you were."

"I thought we were beyond titles." Dagonet answered amused.

Rhiannon was hatefully befuddled. She was usually never at a loss for words, but he had managed to confuse her. She looked up at the sky because she felt it was better than gaping at the infuriating man like the moron she felt she was fast becoming. Dagonet read her emotions clearly on her expressive features and loved it. He had managed to do as he had intended. Amused triumph gave way as a question presented itself. Now what to do?

Without a second thought Dagonet hauled her into his lap. Her eyes had grown delightfully wide as she had wrapped her arms around his neck. Her soft bottom cradled in his lap was wonderful.

"How do you feel about weddings?"

Dagonet's question was straightforward, and he was smiling a little, but Rhiannon felt the tension in his arms that tightened around her. 'Is it possible that he is nervous?' What could she say? She was usually not one for lying, so she decided to be painfully honest. That seemed like the best course that either of them could take for straightening this whole muddled situation out. There was so much that she needed to say to him. Her honesty lent her words strength as she spoke, though she looked away from him. She felt that his eyes would have taken her courage.

"When I first saw you that day at Marius' home, I felt something come over me that I have never felt in my life. I just couldn't take my eyes off of you." Rhiannon's eyes had gone far away, and she paused a moment.

"I...I am not sure I have ever seen anything before that took my breath away as you did. You still do every time that I look at you." Rhiannon smiled gently, but it quickly faded. "When the men brought you back off the lake that day...I thought that you were dead."

Dagonet, who was listening to her candid confessions, saw tears pool in her eyes and spill over before the back of her hand wiped them hastily and roughly away. Her lips were trembling, and the urge to kiss her pain away was terrible. He would have if he hadn't been afraid that she would stop talking. He needed to hear this. He settled with hugging her nearer his chest. So much hurt, and all for him. He had no words for what that made him feel.

"I went to you, and you weren't dead...but there was so little life left in you, and there were broken arrows..." Rhiannon stopped speaking to try to gain more control of herself before she broke into sobs. Her tear blinded eyes stared blankly at the trees that bordered the little break in the forest. The deep breath she took to center herself felt raw in her knotted chest. She continued on almost brokenly...

"I would not even think that you could die...I would not let you, and because you did live, they let me take charge of you. No one else would. I willed you to live with every bit of stubbornness that I possess, and I possess a great deal of it I assure you." A humorless laugh shook her briefly, as again she paused to seek out control.

"The ride back to the Wall was the longest it seemed I had ever endured. I just knew that all that jostling was going to finish what the Saxons had started. I cursed all the way there. Then when finally we arrived..." She shook her head and closed her eyes only a second ",...then the fever took you, and I expected it, but it was so extreme. Touching your skin was akin to touching a fire, but the worst was having to finish digging the arrow out of your chest. I prayed you would not bleed to death, and it was a wonder that you had not died with it in you for that long, but I hadn't dared take it out in that filthy cart. It was so close to your heart..." Rhiannon's voice faded again as she lost herself in the pained remembrance that was not so long past. Her hesitance was not long, though she still fought her tears and emotions valiantly.

"Saxons came, and people began to evacuate, and they wanted to take you, but I would not let them, and Arthur stood by me. I did not know what might happen, and I have never before seen a battle, let alone been in the midst of one, but if they had moved you, you would have died without question.

There was a pause as Rhiannon took another breath, and momentarily lost herself in her recollections. When she spoke again, it was with a flat, dead voice.

Had the Saxons triumphed, or had they even attempted entering the room during the battle, my knife lay ready to kill you and I both." She stopped again, and Dagonet sat in stunned silence. He did not doubt the truth of her words, and his admiration for her grew as he considered what she would have done . Would she have had the courage? Probably. Suicides were often looked on as honorable in such cases, and had she killed him, there would have been more honor for him, than if the Saxons had finished him.Still, he did not dare speak, and after what seemed like an eternity, she again took up her tale.

"Finally it was over. It was a terrible battle that carried an equally terrible cost for your brothers, Tristan and Lancelot. Gawain was wounded by an arrow pretty badly, but he is strong like you." She smiled only a second, and Dagonet squeezed her reassuringly. His heart was deeply touched.

"I did the best I could, and was finally rewarded when consciousness began to break through all the sickness, and you would stir, even if it were only seconds. At least life was coming back to you.During that time I would let no one touch you, and while it might be unseemly for a woman to care for a nude man she is not wed to, it was the only way. With your fever, I was forever bathing you, and...caring for your needs."

'Caring for his needs...' That unmanned him a little. He knew precisely what she meant by that, and he hated the thought of her cleansing him of piss and worse than that as one would a baby. A frown creased his face, but Rhiannon did not see it because she still stared beyond him.

"You were so ill...I worried and could barely sleep...I could not eat anymore without retching. I thought that if you died I might die as well. Everyday that I was with you I found myself caring about you more and more. I knew that you were a good man from the things that people would tell me, and I had seen you with Lucan and the way that you cared for him. Your heart is such a good one and I could not help but admire you. I thought about you, and wondered about you...I wanted to talk to you, and know you, and yet I already felt as though I did know you." She shook herself. "That sounds foolish doesn't it?" She finally turned her head to look at him, curious about what reception she was going to get after all that she had confessed. Dagonet's eyes were soft as he studied her, and he touched her cheek tenderly.

"You have endured much for me." He told her, awed by the power of her feelings, and commitment for him that were becoming increasingly apparent.

"It was as much for me as it was for you I think." She answered truthfully. "You drew me in a way that I have never experienced before, and I could not let that go. I had to know what it was that intrigued me and pulled me to you."

"Would you not have done as much for someone else in my place?" Dagonet asked, though he was positive that she would have. He already knew her heart to be a gentle one.

" I believe so, but it meant so much more to me that it was you. I did not even know you, but you felt...necessary.

Dagonet warmed at her words. She had turned from him, and he could feel that her body had grown taut.

Dagonet gazed at the profile of her face as she had yet to look at him. The morning light gave its grace to them as they sat there in warm silence for awhile.

Rhiannon did not believe what she had just divulged to him. The feeling of needing him was not foreign to her, but she had not planned to get him in the woods and begin confessing that she was besotted with him. 'What can he possibly think of me now? He is experienced with women and I must look like a fool.'

Dagonet could see that her mind was hard at work, and she would still not look at him. He decided to pursue their conversation now, no matter the risks.

"You still have not answered my question?" He reminded softly and conversationally.

Rhiannon did turn to him then, slightly puzzled looking.

She raised an eyebrow in question.

"I asked you what you think of weddings...especially ones that concern both of us I might add."

"Oh...yes, I did not answer that did I? I was going to say that...I think I would be...I would be fortunate to marry a man such as you." She was smiling, but had looked away before she had finished speaking.

"Will you say that as you look at me?"

Rhiannon looked to Dagonet and realized that he wanted very much to have her approval. That caught her quite off guard, and filled her with a sweet warmth. ' He does care for me...'

Rhiannon cradled Dagonet's face in her hands, and leaned her forehead against his for a moment. She gazed deeply into his dark eyes only a moment before leaning back to answer him once and for all on this matter.

"You are exactly the sort of man I had always dreamed of marrying." Rhiannon's eyes were sincere as was her soft voice.

The corner of Dagonet's mouth lifted in a smile. This was going far better than he could have hoped for.

"Do you wish to marry me?" Dagonet pursued because there was much left unsaid with her answer.

"I do wish it."

The answer had scarcely left her mouth before Dagonet covered it with his own, kissing her with reverence and depth.Rhiannon had been startled at first but soon melted in his treasured embrace, loving him with her lips and tongue as he did her. His arms had gathered her so tightly against him that she wondered that she could even breath at all. She smiled happily as they kissed, unable to repress her rapture. Dagonet felt the smile, and rejoiced that she was his, willingly his.The gloom and confusion of the last week melted away for both of them.

Breaking the kiss, Dagonet looked at her face and saw both the wonder and...something else...something he would not dare to name though he wanted to. The emotion he saw in her was deep and made his chest constrict so that he felt he could not breathe.

"I asked you last night if perhaps I was not what you wanted for a husband...?"

Rhiannon heard the halting question and recalled how insulting it had sounded when he had first said it, but now he only sounded vulnerable. After all she had told him, he still was not sure...she wondered what more she might say to convince him. Then it came to her.

Rhiannon raised a hand to his cheek and rubbed the stubbled skin gently. Her lips were tentative at first as she initiated the kiss, but her passion built quickly in her and his hadas well. Their kisses were so powerful, and deep, and her body spoke a language all its own. She pressed her breasts purposefully against him, and caressed his neck, thick as warrior's were wont to be. One of his hands moved up to caress a breast firmly, and his mouth broke from hers to suckle at her exposed neck. Dagonet's other hand gripped one cheek solidly. Rhiannon gasped at the pleasure of his attentions and leaned her head a little to lick at his ear lobe. She heard him moan in pleasure, and suddenly, in a whirlwind of movement,they were no longer sitting, but lying on the soft, grassy carpet, his weight heavy on her.

She knew vaguely that this should not be happening according to the standards that she had been taught, but she could not help the starvation that this man made her feel. That was the only thing that was real to her and she gave into it without any further doubt.

Her legs had instinctively opened to Dagonet when he had laid her down. Now she wrapped them around his middle, as he licked and suckled down the length of her throat. His fingers had navigated their way through her tunic laces deftly, and now were alternately rubbing, and pinching lightly at her nipples through her blouse. It impassioned her and made her thrust her heavy breasts upward into his hands. Rhiannon jolted as she felt Dagonet's hand skim her bare belly as he lifted her blouse. Her nipples hardened even more and grew painful. Dagonet looked at her with a slow smile full of heat when he heard her moan for him. Raising her blouse more, he finally exposed her to her bodice. 'So many damn clothes...'

The thin bodice encased her breasts but the tops were exposed and Dagonet was dying for a taste of her, and the sight of her that no other man would, or couldhave. He had imagined her body often and would not be put off. He began desperately untying the front laces of her undergarment while she quivered beneath him.

"Dagonet..."

The breathy way that she moaned his name, made his stomach clench into a knot. His erection was so hard that he felt he might kill someone if he did not make love to her, despite his intentions to go more slowly with her. His body was being unforgiving and ungovernable. Nothing in his life felt as good as she did, soft and achingly luscious beneath him.Dagonet looked into her hazy eyes, and saw all of her desire for him, just as he could feel it radiating from her body.

Without a word, he lowered his gaze to her exposed breasts. They were snowy like the rest of her, the nipples large and deeply shaded pink. They were hard and beckoned to him for attention. She was perfect.Dagonet lowered his head slowly and took one taut nipple into his hot mouth, as Rhiannon cried out, and ground heatedly into him. Even through their garments, he was so hard that she could feel her movements bruising her soft flesh, but she did not care. Her body was in need of his, and she was determined that if she could not convince Dagonet of her feelings for him with her words, then she would do so with her body.She was flooded with moisture, and burned. Her body did indeed speak volumes as she writhed and clutched at the man atop her. Dagonet laved her nipple and nibbled at it carefully, as his other hand explored her belly to the edge of her breeches. He intended that those would not remain on her long. He was fully determined that he would make her his and soon. Rhiannon was of the same mind and gave of herself willingly. Neither imagined the surprise that lay in store for them in the following moments.

"So this is where you've been...with this Roman bitch who is obviously in heat."

Dagonet jerked upward, and spun his back to Rhiannon to hide her partly uncovered body. Rhiannon struggled upward in surprise as she yanked her shirt down. She looked around Dagonet to see who had spat those hate filled words. There, at the opposite end of the clearing, stood a woman that Rhiannon clearly remembered from the tavern. Her hands rested on her hips in an angry attitude, and she glared at Dagonet with pure venom.

Dagonet stood from his kneeling position to confront the woman head on. Before he had time to speak, the woman,whose name Rhiannon recalled as Aria, said one last thing before turning on her heel and stomping away to the fortress...

"You are my lover. I will permit none else to have you. Tell your little foreign dog that."

With that, the slender woman, grown ugly with too many years of her profession and bad health, was gone. Rhiannon stared in shocked anger where the woman had stood.

I want to aplogize for this chapter taking so long. First, it was one that I had been thinking about for awhile, and I wanted it to be just right. In the second place, my computer has been down for awhile, so that delayed me as well. I thank everyone for reading and reviewing. Please keep it up. I love hearing all the comments. There ought to be some interesting things happening in the next chapter...