Ember rode through ancient woodland on a sweet chestnut mare Cora. It was late afternoon and they would be stopping for the night anytime. She smiled broadly to Gerard riding his dapple gray stallion Bell next to her, and the answering spark in his gray eyes made her heart skip a bit. She was overflowing with happiness, Gerard was somehow everything she longed for without even knowing that. She was drawn to him from the first glimpse and now she was on her way to start her new life at his side, her beloved husband! They would live in Yorkshire on a farm with Gerard's parents and younger brothers. Gerard had favor of his lord for helping to fight in some skirmish few years ago and it was the lord himself, that granted Gerard use of these horses, so he could bring his bride home all the way from Scottish Highlands. Ember was sure that she could make the lord's favor even greater, so that they will live happily, protected and respected. She was so engrossed in her musings, that she first started, when an arrow struck her shoulder. Gerard has already drawn his sword, he grabbed Cora's reins and urged both horses to gallop. "Hold on!" He grunted to her through gritted teeth and she bent over horse's neck gripping it's mane and trying to ignore pain burning in her shoulder. They took no more than ten wild jumps when Gerard yelped and fell off his horse three arrows protruding from his back and thigh. Immediately a tall man with ragged long blond hair appeared next to him with a saber and cut fallen Gerard across the chest, meaning surely to decapitate him, but missing due to Gerard rolling over after the fall. Ember screeched seeing blood welling from the deep cut and feeling the life of her beloved slipping away. Without a thought she let go of Cora and tumbled down on the other side of the road. She gripped the shaft of the arrow in her shoulder, yanked it out and shifted. It all took less than a thought, and just as the brigand was lifting his saber to kill Gerard she leaped across the path and bit him in a half. She could sense six more men, three in the brush behind her, two up in the trees and one ahead. In front of her Gerard was bleeding to death, there was no time to lose. It took few heartbeats and the men were all dead, the one ahead managed to mount Cora and attempted to flee on horseback, but no horse could race against her. She flew back and shifted falling to her knees at Gerard side, he tried to say something his eyes wide open stared at her face, but he was very pale and blood was bobbling in his wound with each labored breath. Ember laid her hand on his chest, closed her eyes and willed light and heat into the wound, she willed it to go away, disappear and... it was done, Gerard's eyes were closed now and he relaxed into healing dream Ember sent him. Quickly she turned him over and yanked the arrows out immediately closing the wounds there. Then she called their horses back and impressed upon their minds that they were to follow her. She shifted again and lifted Gerard's limp body in her enormous talons. She could not fly high, as not to cool her burden too much, but after a short while she noticed a brook crossing the woodlands. She flown up the stream for several miles to be sure to have lost any pursuers, that might come upon the site of the ambush. Ambush! No, she will not think about it now, she needed to get Gerard warm soon.
Gerard woke when the last of twilight was gone, he laid on sheepskins from horses backs bundled in all their blankets and there was a fire burning nearby, warming him on one side. Their horses were grazing nearby. "Ember" he rasped " I am here beloved" she rushed to him from where she was finishing to build a shelter from branches. She knelt beside him gripping his hand and kissing it relieved. "I got shot!" "Yes, but you are fine now" "The robbers?" "They're gone now beloved, do not worry" "How?" "They got startled and fled, I bound your wounds, but none of them are severe, you need not to worry." Ember hated the lie, yet could not get herself to tell him the truth either. He looked conflicted for a while but then relented further questions. Ember thrown about for a while and come back with a wooden cup filled with warm liquid. "Drink it husband, it will ease the last of your pain". Gerard accepted the cup and watched her intensely while drinking up its contents. "You truly are a healer wife" he said after a short while. "I can feel no pain at all". Ember smiled at his praise, she was not sure why this human was so important to her, but she felt him almost as a part of herself, she longed to be with him more with each passing day. She knew old tales about dragon riders, but after living for centuries without meeting any case of such bond, it become more a legend than knowledge. Now she was almost sure Gerard would bond to her as she was apparently bound to him. Today's ambush shook her, she was so close to losing him! Flames rose in her chest and she felt urge to search the woods for anybody who could belong to the group and char them to cinders, women and children alike. She pushed the thought down along with the heat. Gerard was watching her with his beautiful eyes. "I am too warm in these blankets woman" He freed himself with a grunt, Ember has changed him into spare shirt and breeches as his clothes was torn and stained. He stood up and went a bit off to relieve himself. Ember moved the skins and plaids into the shelter and sat to unpack some food. They ate some cheese and bread and drank water she brought from the brook. Then he rose and reached out his hand to her. She stood up to face him. He spread his arms and she stepped closer taking one of his hands as the other arm wrapped around her and pulled her close to his chest. He kissed her and she felt her heart burning stronger in her chest, every inch of her skin prickling with anticipation of what was to come, as his hands stroked her back. He was alive, she's saved him and now they were going to be together forever, she wrapped her arms around him and let him nudge her towards the shelter and the nest of sheepskin and blankets she's prepared for them there.
Ember woke up in the world of pain. She was not sure if she really woke up at all because all she could see was darkness. She vaguely remembered reminder of their travel to Yorkshire, long rides during the day hasty lovemaking before retiring for the night spent in shelters, barns and inns along the way. They come home late last night and Gerard led Ember to a small house, with two rooms, where they laid to sleep in a bed that was made ready for them in one of the rooms. How did she end up so sore?
"She is awake" Gerard's voice sounded and that made strange dread to spread in Ember's insides. He removed the blindfold and Ember saw, that she was lying only in her shift, her wrists and ankles manacled to a stone table in some dark stony building. "So you thought, that you could just worm your way into my household? Defile the souls of people here! How dare you, monster!" Hatred shone in his eyes raw and unbridled. But Ember did not want to believe it. "Husband! What is this?" Blow to her stomach. "I am not your husband witch!" He spat and another blow struck her jaw.