Disclaimer: Power Rangers belong to Saban and Disney. Characters you recognize are not mine, but characters you don't recognize, the plot and the idea are mine!

A/N: Well, chapter 10, first of all- I think it sucks, so… :D it sucks! But don't worry… next chap will be a WHOLE lot better (sexual tension, anyone?) stay tuned! Oh! And… it's 4 more chapters to the end (plus one epilogue)...

AH/AY: Well, it's not a game for him! You'll see in two chapters, why he did it…:D

Slytherin-Angel44: I hope you'd be able to tolerate the boredom of this chapter, but the next one is much better!

Phantom Rogue: Well, duh, of course they'll get into trouble! (except Carlos…;bashes him;)

BlackHalliwell: thanks!

zeopurple: well, it was Coran who was riding to her but, uh oh! She fainted:D I can't wait to see your reaction to the next chapter! (chapter 11)

Star Fata: thanks:)

SweetSas: I miss ya but I know you're busy with Maarten :P

C.C.C: thanks a bunch! Here's some more :D

Puasluoma: thanks! Here's more! ;)

In the Clearing of the Forest
by DarkHonda aka Tal

Chapter ten

Her consciousness slowly returned to her body, in a second, it seemed, her whole body was aching and her breathing heavier than she thought. It frightened her and when she finally opened her eyes she was terrified to find out she was at an unfamiliar room and a rather old looking woman was sitting in her bedside, knitting. When she noticed Ashley was awake she smiled in a sternly way before speaking;

"Nice to see you are back with us, Lady Ashley, the young master thought of the worst," she said, her voice keeping the same stoic timbre, almost craved in stone, almost cold if it wasn't for that warm gleam in her fire red eyes. It wasn't a burning fire but a stroking one, helpful; Ashley thought there was nothing more wondrous of that old woman's eyes. at that time she just smiled faintly at the grey haired woman. Her savior? She was wearing dark blue, and was knitting something of red wool.

Ashley tried to get up, but the old woman had stopped her immediately with a stern frown. "No, Lady Ashley, the young master has insisted of keeping you in bed for at least a week," Ashley snorted before she collapsed with laughter, her laugh was contagious and soon the old woman was laughing as well.

"Are you serious?" she managed to ask the old lady before giving in to laughter yet again, the old woman nodded, wiping tears from her eyes. Ashley slowly relaxed, wiping her own tears, leaning back on the pillows and lifting a questioning gaze to the old woman.
"Where am I?" she asked frowning a bit, biting her bottom lip in anxiety.

"Why, the Kadan Castle, of course," answered the old lady, "it was only your luck you fainted so close to the castle!" the old woman exclaimed and Ashley blushed, 'It wasn't like I actually intended to faint!' she answered in her heart, blush still covering her cheeks. The old lady smiled at her and Ashley felt herself relax, there was something reassuring in that woman, but who was she? Was she Andros' mother? Or maybe his nanny? Or grandmother?

"Who are you?" Ashley asked daringly, the old woman looked at her for a while before jumping in her seat in surprise.

"I'm so sorry! I forgot to introduce myself," she said and smiled shyly, which was pretty weird since she was so old. "I am Lady Deca of Kadan," she said proudly, "Andros' former nanny," she said with a sparkle of truth and amusement, Ashley giggled.

"Then you know Andros better than anyone, do you think you could tell me about him?" Ashley asked, still blushed. The old woman sent a devious glare at Ashley.

"Only after you eat the breakfast I have brought to you, you haven't eaten for two days now," Lady Deca said with a winning smile, Ashley pouted but accepter the deal laughingly, after all, she was a little hungry.

After Ashley had eaten her breakfast brought to her by Lady Deca on a tray, and right before Lady Deca has started to tell Lady Ashley how many tricks and taunts Andros has done in his brat years, a knock was heard and Lady Deca got up to open the door. Blondy and Baldy were standing there, both looking incredibley tired and bitter. They blushed as Lady Deca let them come in and walked away with the tray.
They were standing there, looking very embarrassed, both dirty, mud stains on their faces, 'and why does it seem they haven't changed their clothes for the last two days?' Ashley wondered and straightened up a little, smiling at them.

"Umm.. Ashley," Blondy began, squirming uncomfortably, "We, er.. just wanted to apologize for not treating you very well.."

"- - And for being complete incompetent idiots for not taking care of you, like you should've been taken care of, and we hope you'll accept our apology and won't - -"

"Hold it you guys," Ashley said, amusement written on her face, "Why are you apologizing? It's my fault for not drinking enough water. I'm the one should be apologizing to you guys, I'm really sorry for ruining the best trip ever," she said with an apologetic smile. Blondy and Baldy smiled and nodded happily.

"Thank you, Lady Ashley," Baldy said with an enormous smile and Ashley giggled.

"Why does it seem you didn't change your clothes since the day we came here?" she asked, the immediate affect has taken place, Blondy blushed and Baldy became silent in no time.

"Umm... Andros was not pleased with us...letting you er… fall so he um.." Blondy stuttered and Ashley was highly amused even though very angry at Andros, 'what could he have given them to do?' she asked herself.

"What did he make you do to you?" they squirmed uncomfortably again, "Please tell me?" she begged and they kept quiet. She was beginning to feel angry from their lack of response, "Look, if you won't tell me, I'll just wait until you're gone, change my clothes and go ask him. It's your choice," she threatened and they smiled. Blondy looked almost too happy, he nudged Baldy's arm.

"See?" he told him with a winning grin, "I told you," he added with now, a knowing smirk and looked back at Ashley, "Well, I had to clean the western stables with my presentable clothes, which are ruined, of course, since the stables weren't cleaned since about.. umm."

" -since Kadan the great built them!" Baldy cut in ruthlessly, Ashley had a real hard time suppressing her laughter, 'boy, that Andros does know how to punish,' she thought, rather amused even though she knew she had to be furious.
"Then," Baldy continued, "I had to clean the reception halls with my best shirt as my rug.."

"-and I had to clean the kitchens with my best shirt as a rag, before we switched!" He exclaimed and Ashley bit her bottom lip so hard to try not laughing. 'They switched?' her mind asked and she almost broke a rib trying to suppress all that laughter as Blondy continued his spiteful speech.
"And then he gave us night duties for three weeks in a row and right now I'm sure he's talking to Deca about not giving us any decent meals for the next decade!"

"- I so know it," Baldy added as they both whined, and that was the exact moment when Coran entered the room.

Ashley was smiling, her cheeks reddening at the concern in his eyes, suddenly she felt so guilty, so stupid. The worry in her eyes made her angry with herself, if Lady Deca was right (and Ashley had a strong feeling she was right), Coran (and Andros) had been worried sick, especially if he watched her fainting.
'How humiliating!' she thought as she diverted her gaze to a distant corner of the room as she absently noticed the weak excuses Baldy and Blondy used to get the hell out of the room and leave her alone with Coran. Suddenly, she felt so ashamed;
She kept staring at the same distant corner of the room, Coran was quiet and so did she. Both were sitting in total silence, it was very awkward to Ashley who was used to being comfortable around him, she sighed almost inaudibly. Suddenly she felt Coran's hand in hers, she looked down at their entwined fingers and blushed, she looked up to look into his soft hazel eyes, begging her silently, and she slowly let her hand slip from his…

"Ashley," he said quietly, and his voice seemed like a melody flying in the wind, she turned away from him. Disappointed from herself, from the pain she had probably forced on him, 'how could I be so stupid?' she thought and her heart raced when his hand rest on her chin and slowly turned her face to him. She had to face his puppy eyes again, suddenly he looked so sad, almost too sad, she feared his sadness, it was so pure that it made her want to cry. She refused to answer and only looked at him silently, he touched her face, caressing her cheek gently and in one fast movement crushed his lips on hers.
He tasted like honey, like a perfect day's grace, like lilies in the spring, suddenly he was everything and everything was him, his taste so dominant and strong, so gentle and giving into her…
'Is he that full of contrasts?' she asked herself before giving in to him again, letting him take her mind away from everything, as he explored her mouth and she explored his, tongues dancing in a now-too-familiar dance, it almost made her laugh.

Slowly, he pulled back, letting them both time catching their breaths, 'but stars, I don't need to breath when I'm with him,' she thought, 'only being with him revives me,' she thought fondly, yet the shame refused to leave her and she blushed again.

"Ashley," he whispered, "I was so worried, I should've come with you like you suggested," he decided and then his expression softened again, "I'm sorry, my forest nymph, please forgive me?" he asked and all she did was kiss him passionately, without answering…

The Morrow;
Ashley was awoken with a feather light kiss on her forehead; she opened her eyes to look at-

"Coran!" she almost jumped from her bed, "What are you doing here?" she asked, amazed he dared walking into her room in daylight. He chuckled deviously before answering, and tried to kiss her again, yet she made a protest sound and pulled the covers over her head, he only laughed.

"Well, I really wanted to see you this morning, Deca would serve your breakfast today and.."

"-And tell Andros I'm not going to stay in this bed for a whole week like he's planning," she pouted from underneath her covers and heard him laughing. She scowled.

"I have a hunch Andros knows it already, Deca made it pretty clear," he commented and Ashley grouchily frowned.

"What did he say?" She asked curiously and heard the warrior near her was still laughing.

"Well, he approved of your request," he said and Ashley peeked out of her covers opening one of her eyes.

"What request?" she asked frowning and saw his adorable smile and almost immediately her frown melted away.

"Your request to shorten your staying in bed," he said with a charming smile and Ashley almost screamed her anger.

"WHAT! I didn't ask for his approval!" she complained and Coran only laughed harder, holding his stomach, Ashley pouted. "I can't believe you're on his side," she said and he bit his bottom lip.

"I'm on your side, my silly forest nymph, always on your side," he said and only then she noticed his clothed that made him seem like a prince; golden breeches, black boots, red shirt that looked much more presentable than the usual red working shirt he wore and on his back was a crossbow hanged with a strap. On his black belt, she noticed, was a little scabbard filled with arrows too short to be handled with an arch, the ruby set sword though, was gone. She smiled to herself quietly and buried herself under the covers again, letting herself fall flat on her back.

"After breakfast you are to meet Tiaren of Kadan and Karone, my – master's – sister," he said clearly before she heard the door opened and closed gently. She lazily took the covers off of her body and stretched, yawning.

A few hours later, in one of the Grand Reception Hall of the Kadan Castle;
Ashley entered to the Grand Reception Hall quite scared; it wasn't Coran who accompanied her to the nerve wrecking meeting, but Carlos, the mysterious watcher.
He was the one knocking on her room's door and Lady Deca quickly introduced her to him and vice versa, he told her he's the one to chaperone her to the reception hall and she nodded her agreement. The two immediately left for the Grand Reception Hall.

Ashley was wearing a beautiful yet modest pale yellow dress, and when she made her entrance along with Carlos to the grand reception hall, the dress was the most beautiful thing in the room, except its owner. The people waiting for the maid and her chaperone were in complete awe from her beauty, and she only blushed shyly, she was too nervous. Most of the warriors sitting in the giant table in the Grand Hall were old, old enough to be her father but there were some young warriors here and there, but no one, absolutely no one, could have been compared to Coran in her eyes.

Her heart stopped when she noticed he wasn't there. 'Why?' she thought, insulted, almost betrayed, but then she remembered that all he is in the Kadan Castle is a servant and as a servant his place is not among the respectful Tiaren's warriors. She smiled nervously and offered a slight bow. The man sitting in the center of the table was Tiren, she knew, he was the taller and the most beautiful of all the other warriors present in the Hall; his eyes were dark blue, almost grey, his hair was silver with white stripes and he wore a white working shirt and a golden vest on it. She couldn't see what color were his breeches but she assumed it was black and his smile, was truly, one of the warmest smiles anyone had to offer her.

"Welcome to Kadan Castle, Lady Ashley," he said as he rose up his feet and walked to her, reaching his hands to her. She blushed.

"Thank you, Lord Tiaren," she said modestly and bowed her head a bit, "I must thank you again for your generous hospitality and I am sorry I haven't been in my best when I first came to Kadan Castle," she said, "I must beg for your forgiveness, milord," she said and Tiaren smiled at her.

"No need, Child," he reassured her, "I've heard from my son that the night before your arrival was very emotional for you and I know it does take a lot of courage to leave the comfort of your house, and come alone to a foreign place. You have my appreciation for coming here, Lady Ashley," he said and bowed his head to her. She blushed a redder shade now, and then, reassured, let herself relax in Tiaren's presence.

"Thank you, Lord Tiaren," she said and Tiaren laughed.

"No, Child," he said jokingly, "You must call me Tiaren or else I will be angry with you, as I am not that old to be called Lord by beautiful maids," he said and Ashley giggled, blushing.

"Thank you, Tiaren," she boldly said his name, he smiled happily at her and nodded in his head to two of the warriors standing in the far end of the Hall, Ashley could barely recognize them as Blondy and Baldy, who disappeared mysteriously a second later.

"Child, I understand you were explained about the prophecy and that you agreed to the only solution our society offers to the prophecy," he said and she nodded. "I know it must've been hard to accept the fact you are to marry a complete stranger, but I understand you are approving of my son, Andros?" he asked and Ashley knew it was her chance to get her marriage canceled, the way she always wanted it to be, but she couldn't. It wasn't only her private fate that the prophecy concerned to, but the fate of her whole people, and thus she nodded silently. Tiaren smiled happily.

"You shall meet my daughter, Karone, Andros' sister, she will instruct you about the Kadan life and I hope you will become great friends," he said and Ashley smiled at him, "In the mean time, the men you see here today," he said and gestured to the other warriors in the Hall, "are the Kadan warriors, they are you protectors and shall remain your protectors forever, you couldn't have found a better protected place than my castle, child, and I hope you will enjoy your staying,"

And she did…
At her first week everything was so new and unfamiliar but slowly, with the help of Karone, Andros' lovely sister, who helped her and accompanied her almost every hour of her first week, that beautiful friendly blue eyed maid, whose fiancé was the funniest warrior on KO-35. Karone was a sweet girl who was always so helpful and understanding, Ashley and Karone used to spend hours, talking, embroidering, reading… Everything with Karone was so wonderful and soon there was a fierce friendship between the two girls.

At her second week, Ashley was allowed to explore the Kadan Castle with Coran, and many times they sparred and fenced for hours each day, in a secluded part of the castle only Coran knew. She was the winner in most of their fencing yet he was the winner in their sparring in which they fought hand to hand, body to body. Many times he told her that she was the only human on KO-35 that could actually beat him in fencing and she always sent him an arrogant look only causing him to tickle her.

On her third week, Coran dared taking her to the Castle's grounds, mainly they were riding around the giant castle, talking and sometimes even walking, kissing, holding hands…

Soon, it has been a month since Lady Ashley arrived the Kadan Castle…

A/N: NOT cliffy! (but let me tell you this, chap 10 is only a bridge chap, trust me, the next one is going to be SO much better!)
Review!