Ch 14

Stephanie nervously paced waiting for Batista to appear. She looked out the window seeing Rob, Randy, and Shane setting up the archery range in the courtyard. Her eyes were drawn to Randy as he took a practice shot at the target. She still couldn't believe that she was married to him in another life. She was startled when someone tapped her shoulder.

"You ready to go riding?" Batista stood behind her smiling.

"As ready as I'll ever be," Stephanie took one last look at Rob before following Batista to the stables. She felt her stomach flip flopping as they approached the horses.

"Relax Steph, I won't let you get hurt. Do you want me to help you?"

"Yes please," she almost screamed with surprise as he lifted her onto the horse. "You should have warned me before you did that."

"What fun would that be," he laughed as she got as comfortable as she could while he climbed on his horse. "Want to race Steph?"

"No way, I'll fall off," she stuttered as he came near her.

"Come on princess catch me," he pulled the horse's rein galloping out of the stable leaving Stephanie behind stunned for a minute.

"Princess catch me," she said the words slowly as she closed her eyes remembering sitting on a horse watching him leave her before as a bunch of knights watched her with wide smiles while snickering. "I'll catch you Sir Dave," the words rolled off her lips as her eyes opened wide with not a hint of fear in them. She took off after him urging her horse on till she caught up with him.

"Very good Steph," he yelled at her as they slowed the horses. "Are you starting to remember our rides yet?"

"Yes, you were always challenging me like that. You also used to torment me till I gave in and raced you," she looked around at how beautiful the forest looked. "Can we ride through there without getting lost?"

"Of course, don't you remember our spot?" he winked at her guiding his horse along the edge of the forest till he found the overgrown path. They slowly rode through the forest as Stephanie let memories fill her head of riding through there many times with him. Batista suddenly stopped climbing off his horse tying it to a nearby tree grabbing the blanket from his saddle bag. He grabbed Stephanie's horse tying it too before helping her to the ground.

"Come on," he led her on another path as she felt like she was walking back in time. Batista pushed some branches away revealing their spot. Stephanie remembered it instantly getting tears in her eyes seeing the small pond with the glass like surface. She kneeled near the water touching the surface feeling the cool water.

"We spent so many days here. In the warm weather we went swimming," she closed her eyes seeing them lying in the grass near the pond. It hit her suddenly as she turned looking at Batista with shock. "We were secret lovers."

"Yeah for years behind your family and Randy's back," he couldn't help turning red.

"I could never marry you because you didn't have enough power for my dad. Randy on the other hand , his parents owned a manor providing my father with loads of money," she sighed.

"I was a poor farm boy. Good enough to die for the king but not good enough for his daughter to wed," he smirked putting the blanket down on the ground.

"Oh Batista I'm so sorry," she was sincere as she remembered how her father treated him badly.

"It wasn't your fault," he sat down throwing a few stones into the water. Stephanie kneeled next to him resting her hand on his knee.

"I've known you for all these years why didn't we feel something before?" Stephanie couldn't help feeling confused.

"It's being back here at the castle. This place brings all the memories back. Let's face it we didn't have that deep connection like Sabrina had with Taker and Kane. Most of our relationship was based on lust and the forbidden moments," Batista looked at the calm water remembering swimming with Stephanie many times before they made love for hours.

"I did get off on betraying my father," Stephanie laughed patting Batista's knee. "Do you mind if we stay here for while? It feels really good here."

"We can stay as long as you like," Batista caressed her hand as they sat silently enjoying the peacefulness.

Kane and Sabrina walked along the shore. Kane suddenly stopped pulling Sabrina against him.

"Do you remember anything special about this place?" he whispered in her ear as the stood not far from the cliffs.

"Help refresh my memory," she smiled looking out over the sea.

"Think about after I was brought back to the castle. You spent weeks by my bedside nursing me back to health even though I never spoke to you. I slept most of the time sleeping while you held my hand cleaning my wounds," he kissed her forehead. "Think about a time you went walking along the shore after taking care of me."

Sabrina closed her eyes trying to remember when she finally did smiling.

"You came to see me here while I was walking. You took me by complete surprise when you came up behind me wrapping your arms tightly around me," she smiled letting the memories take her away back to that moment.

Sabrina had spent the day by Glen's side again. She was confused since he didn't say much and always looked at her with a dazed stare. She silently prayed for his quick recovery.

"Queen Sabrina," his voice made her get tears in her eyes as she turned staring up into Glen's caring eyes. She embraced him relieved to see him walking. The coloring had returned to his handsome face.

"Sir Glen I have missed you endlessly," she held on to him tightly.

"I have dreamed of you every evening," Glen stroked her hair happy to have his love back in his arms.

"I feared you died in battle," Sabrina caressed his face.

"I tried to find my death many times but it wouldn't come," Glen caressed her back.

"You will stay with me right. You will not return to battle," Sabrina searched his eyes.

"That is not my choice if my king orders it I must go," Glen frowned.

"I will not let Marcus send you into battle," Sabrina looked up the castle knowing her husband was meeting with her father at that moment.

"Do you love Marcus?" Glen asked the question that had been haunting his soul.

"I do love him. It is not like the love I have for you. My life is entwined with yours," Sabrina caressed his chest. "I love you Sir Glen always forever my love is yours."

"I love you," Glen leaned down giving her a forbidden kiss. "We must be careful my love. Come to me tonight after Marcus falls asleep."

"I shall come," Sabrina smiled as they headed back towards the castle.

Sabrina did go to Glen's room after her husband fell asleep. The two lovers made love through the night till Sabrina left with tears in her eyes to return to her husband.

Kane kissed her softly bringing her back to the present. She smiled kissing him back with passion.

"You became mine again after our meeting here. Every night you slept in my bed sneaking back to your husband in the morning," Kane ran his finger along her cheeks. "I want to make love to you now."

"Not here Kane," she kissed his hand. Kane pulled her tightly against him running his lips along her neck. She melted in his embrace.

"Does my love want to go back to the castle?"

"Yes," she softly said trying to keep her desire for him under control.

"Come on sweetheart," Kane took her hand leading her along the shore as they both smiled knowing passion would consume them the minute they entered his room.