Disclaimer: Characters you recognize not mine; plot, new characters, places etc. mine
A/N: here comes another one, the next one will take a little while though.
This chap dedicated to C.C.C. that made me post this one after receiving her/his review;) You're galactic, C.C.C. !
AH/AY: guinea pig :P ;gives you cookie;
Phantom Rogue: guinea pig2 :P and since you know what happens next… nana banana! ;gives you cookie;
Slytherin-Angel44: Twin brother… hold on, Andros HAS a twin! But it's Karone! (which hopefully, we would all meet in later chaps), what about your theory now:P maybe they're a triplet and servantboy was given away? ;gives you cookie;
TRISH: you'll find it out, scroll down:) ;gives you cookie;
zeopurple: as I said, check up the triplet theory, because Andros does have a twin who is Karone:P ;gives you cookie;
Star Fata: Aww man, since when Ashley does stuff she should've been doing? (aka sneaking in the forest, being mean to baldy and blondy… ;D ) ;gives you cookie;
thepoweroflove: there you go:) ;gives you cookie;
SweetSas: How do you know it's Andros……? ;snickersevilly and hands cookie;
C.C.C.: well, if it's so obvious why didn't he tell her he was Andros? as you would see in a sec, he affected her! and why did he run away half scared to death Andros would catch him with his arrows? I don't know what about you, I'd consider the triplet theory. Sounds fitting. ;hands chapter and cookie;
Why did everyone get cookies? Well, because I love you and I'm happy you reviewed!
In the Clearing of the Forest
by DarkHonda aka Tal
PRiS AU.
Chapter four
She couldn't forget her encounter with the attractive Kadan the previous day at the clearing of the forest. She didn't even know his name, just what he made her feel; mesmerized, embarrassed, melting, happy, spellbound. 'Definitely spellbound,' she thought to herself in the morning of the morrow, as she was sitting on her branch in the clearing of the forest. The sun has just risen and Sienna dared to visit other places than the clearing, in search after fresher grass. Ashley looked at the horizon, 'it's a nice morning,' she decided, smiling as she noticed a little fox from afar, drinking in the nearby stream. She smiled at nature's most amazing creation; there was nothing gentler and softer than that inspiring sight in front of her. 'Nature's glory,' she decided.
"So, are you coming here a lot?" someone asked and she lost her hold on the tree and fell, startled. She looked at the laughing Kadan in front of her, frowning, he was laughing at her.
"Would you please let me know next time that you're here, without scaring me to death?" she demanded from the ground, he offered his hand and she took it. His touch was electrifying, he was a man yet his touch was so gentle, soft, even caring in a way. She felt herself mesmerizing. Again.
She found herself wondering how it would feel like being in his strong arms, being able to touch him, being protected by him. She looked at their hands, clasped together and frowned. He laughed softly when he noticed, as he was pulling her up ever so lightly, yet this simple gesture, often made by two friends made her blush furiously, was this what they were, friends? 'I don't even know this guy, for all I care he can be Andros of Kadan himself, and I will not be friends with enemy number one!' she decided, frowning again. Yet it wasn't the only thing on her mind, for that was the first time his laughter kind of sounded good in her ears, and that alone scared her. 'What is happening to me?' she wondered.
"I thought it was your forest," he said half chuckling, waking her from her deep thoughts, her hand still in his. She didn't want to take her hand out of his in spite her thoughts, but she didn't have a choice, after all, she was betrothed to his master. She slid her hand slowly out of his, avoiding his gaze as she was doing so, still blushing. Yet when her hand was free of his hand, she replied.
"It is my forest, Kadan," she said proudly and dared to smile sweetly at him and he chuckled.
"Shouldn't you know everything about you forest, then?" he paused, "including stray wanderers who happen to stand behind your tree?" he asked, smirking in victory.
"No," she told him with a glint of truth in her eyes, leaning on her tree, "the forest has many secrets, I wouldn't even dream to know them all," she closed her eyes and happily filled her lungs with the forest's air. "And besides, Kadan, I thought I told you not to hunt here," She shot a warning glare at him and he put his hands in the air.
"See? No arrows!" he exclaimed while giving her the most innocent face she ever saw. She giggled as he continued and bowed in front of her, his head lower than hers and his eyes looking up at her. "I came to seek the wonderful company of a forest nymph," he smiled and she felt herself melting, "her name is Lady Ashley."
"Why, M'lord, I think you have found her," she smiled, deciding she would play his little game, if only to finally realize who he is. His smile was sly and seducing, maybe he was one of those men Charlotte, their cook, warned her about, those who want only one thing from a woman: to steal her innocence. Yet with the heat of the moment she decided to stick around and see if he really is one of those.
She looked at him curiously yet suspiciously; she circled him with her chin resting on her hand, examining his clothes checking he's not hiding any arrows. When she looked at his back she could hear him chuckle a bit, she smiled to herself and cast a glance at his back. It which was wrapped in a white tunic that was tightened to his body with a black belt, his nicely round butt was packed in red breeches. 'Yep, definitely a Kadan, only Kadans can look that good,' she told herself and quickly poked his left shoulder twice, he sent her an amused gaze with half a smile. She stifled a giggle, he was not the only one allowed to play.
"And you are?" she asked arrogantly as a tiny smile decorating her lips. His smile grew instantly bigger and she was captivated.
"Coran of Kadan," he bowed again, "the faithful servant of Milord Andros son of Tiaren of Kadan," he grinned fully now and she felt herself dissolving into a puddle of Ashley. Her eyes gleamed with curiosity, as a question formed in her mind. She blushed, a bit timid to ask, but eventually did.
"What can you tell me about you lord Andros of Kadan?" she asked quietly, yet he somehow looked happy with the question. He sat on the ground, his back leaning against the tree trunk and she sat next to him.
"What do you think of him?" he asked and for the first time, she felt uncomfortable with sharing her opinion about Andros of Kadan, his master. 'I know what I think of him and I must stand behind my opinion,' she decided and took a long breath.
"I think Andros of Kadan is nothing but a coward, a self proclaimed prince and basically a jerk." She said quietly without looking at his face, she actually felt the chill of shame wrapping her, embracing her. She couldn't even explain these feelings that suddenly encircled her heart, when she dared looking at him; he was looking rather sullen, frowning, maybe even mad? His hazel eyes lacked the twinkle that they possessed a minute ago.
"Prince Andros," she said mockingly, "is something I never wanted," she whispered to him, sighing. She couldn't understand how she told him that, with such a nerve she never thought she had. He eyed her eerily now and rather pensive, his expression changed to an unreadable one as she tried to figure out his awkwardness. She wondered why Coran was so uptight now, he looked weird frowning like this, she was used to see him laughing… And besides, she didn't even started talking about that snobbish prince that is staying in her house and haven't even tried to show himself in front of her!
Disappointed from Coran's lack of reaction, 'he didn't even protest against the horrible things I said about his master,' she mused and decided not to say anymore. Embarrassed, she quickly climbed on her tree, watching Coran getting up, turning away and leaving the forest quickly without another word.
She watched him leaving from a distance, he walked quickly, his steps large and his gaze stuck on the ground. It seemed he was in deep thought, his shoulders were stretched and he walked proudly. His sight made her tremble with an amazing warmth that flooded her, she wished she'd known what was wrong with him, what made him just get up and leave? Sure, she criticized his master, 'fine! So I insulted his master, but he could've just said something and not leaving me here hanged by a thread!' she exclaimed to her defense. But a gloomy feeling of loneliness was sneaking to her heart and she knew that tonight she wouldn't go down to dinner. Again.
A/N: review!