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: one more chapter and an Epilogue left. Sad, isn't it?

AH/AY: damn, haven't thought about it… urg! It's still your fault she's pissed!

SweetSas: Andros kinda yelled at her, I wouldn't want to stay with a pissed Andros around… :P Oh well, you're probably hanging out with Maarten right now, say hello from me :P

Star Fata: well, don't feel guilty, since these are the last chapters I give a final push and besides, they were ready for what seems like eternity. Anyway:) I think Andros doesn't care about Karone so much now… Ashley kind of..ran away, that worries him more:D

Ani: Hey, thanks! This story means a lot to me :P and so does reviews! ;hinthint; Well, yeah my nick here was made in order to entertain the PRiS clan :P Oh and can I put your name in my warriors' wives list? It's for the Epilogue:D

C.C.C.: I love you. Ashley…will have to figure some stuff out, scroll down and see it:) and actually, that part you were talking about was a late change in that chapter's plot. :P

Phantom Rogue: lol, well, you read this already:P

zeopurple: "talk" is too gentle. :P just…scroll down! ;D

puasluoma: here. Fast enough:D

In the Clearing of the Forest
by DarkHonda aka Tal

Chapter thirteen

'Coran is Andros,' her mind kept screaming at her head as she kept running to wherever her legs took her, it took her a few minutes to reach the stables another two seconds to find Sienna and mount her and about a millisecond to decide she wants to go to her forest, the only place where she could think properly.

"Come on, Sienna," she whispered to her horse, "Let's go home," she said and urged the horse to gallop in a faster rhythm. Sienna was almost as anxious and confused as her owner, and it was the wind that came into their faces and took their breaths away, that relaxed both owner and horse.

Ashley was confused, 'if Coran is Andros,' she thought, 'then who is Andros?' but a part of her didn't want to know, a part of her refused to accept Andros, to accept Coran, anymore. 'He was constantly lying to me,' she thought as tears sprung in her eyes, 'he made me look like a complete fool,' she realized as fire surged within her, pure fury and disgust. She wasn't that angry that he lied to her as much as she was angry she actually took the bait, that he really convinced her. Looking back she could see a million things that could point Coran is Andros, 'but I was just too blind,' she thought miserably, 'too spellbound to see the signs.. Hoe could I have been so stupid!' her mind concluded, 'you are so stupid, Ashley of Hammond Hall,' she told herself, 'You should've seen the signs, you should've known!' her mind exclaimed as she remembered all of these times when he lied to her;

In their first moment in the forest, when he disappeared after TJ and Zhane called for Andros, and even before that, the red arrow, his arrow with his initial. His wide knowledge of the Kadan customs was exceptional for the simple servant he claimed to be, his language was flawless and he seemed educated, rareness among servants. 'Stars, even the way he carried himself! So nobly and proud, so unlike servants and his fencing style, he was too good for a servant!'

How could've she missed it?

'And stars, all the ugly things I said about him in his presence!' she remembered, regret and shame rising in her, she truly said thing that shouldn't have been said, he didn't deserve her lashing at him, but she couldn't help it! Andros…Coran…was everything she thought bad. 'No, Coran isn't bad, don't I love being with him?' she asked herself and immediately answered herself, 'but he was a fake, he's not really Coran, it was all only a pretense, a cold pretense. Why would Andros even bother to be with you unless it's to make you captive of an illusion?' she wondered as an approaching sound of hooves made her jump in her place, looking back to find determined hazel eyes looking at her. She glared at him and looked away, whispering Sienna to ride faster.

"I won't let you go back, if that's what you hoped doing," he told her harshly, his horse which quickly closed the gap between them, soon he was riding to her side, "You won't return to Hammond Hall, Ashley, I won't let you," he said determined and ordered Oz to block Sienna. Sienna jumped on her rear legs, a bit frightened, she neighed and Ashley held the reins tightly and hugged her horse's neck, murmuring soft words to her.

"Easy, girl, easy," she whispered, "It's just Oz, don't be scared," she reassured the horse before making her avoid Andros and his horse and ignore them both. When Sienna did so, Oz huffed in protest, almost outraged as Andros, Ashley tried to ignore, hoping Andros would just disappear. His cut from earlier, the one she wanted to clean and sooth so much, was bleeding again, his blood trickling along his cheek and his chin. She closed her eyes, trying to avoid seeing it again, it made her weak against him because she cared too much. For him. Andros. Coran. Whoever he might be.
But whoever he might be hurt her deeply, she was his even before he saved her from Elgar and it hurt her he didn't trust her feelings enough to tell her. 'I just wish I'd stop feeling do betrayed,' she wished but knew she would never stop, because he let her down big time.

She kept riding toward her home, most importantly, to her forest, her sadness slowly being replaced by anger. How did he dare doing this to her? Making everyone in Kadan Castle cope with this lie, deny her the truth she deserved to know. Suddenly, he blocked her again, "Enough with this," he ordered, his eyes fierce, glaring, "you are to return to Kadan Castle with me Ashley of Hammond Hall, it's too dangerous for us to leave the Kadan villages alone, we are at a time of war," he said coldly, harshly, Ashley swallowed, and then sent him a protesting glare.

"I think not, Coran," she paused for a second before adding, "wait, isn't it.. Andros? That's weird, I thought you were a simple servant…" she began saying but he glared a warning glare at her before taking Sienna's reins from her hands.

"It's Andros of Kadan, Lady Ashley, and now I suggest you to come with me willingly or else I'd have to force you," he ordered and frowned as he noticed her mocking expression, he tied Sienna's reins to a rope and tied the rope to Oz's reins so he would control both horses. Ashley jumped down from Sienna, running East- to Hammond Hall and he mounted off of Oz, ordered him to stay and ran after her catching her arm.

"Stop being a spoiled little girl, haven't I told you I'm not afraid taming you? Ashley, don't make me…" he tried to say and with one forceful swift she slapped his healthy cheek.

"Don't dare saying my name, you liar," she said with red fury in her eyes, he clenched his jaw and dragged her to Oz with him, she protested, fighting him in every way she could, she tried hitting him but it was like hitting a stone, she was sure he didn't even felt it. When they reached Oz, Andros took another rope from his saddle and even though she tried to evade him, he succeeded in tying her hands together; disabling her from hitting him, with a quick swift he put her on Sienna and mounted Oz.

"I hate you, whatever your name is," she said, and it was the only thing said between them during their ride back to Kadan Castle was.

When they reached the Castle's stables, he mounted off Oz and carefully carried her to the castle, not a word spoken between them. She was silent, brooding, not knowing what to think as he entered the Kadan Castle almost discreetly and went directly to her room, carrying her as gently as he could. When he reached her room he entered, closed the door behind him and let her down, then he slowly worked off the tying of the rope and in the moment he did so she slapped him again. He ignored the slight burn in his cheek and reached for something in the other side of the room, Ashley on the other hand, was rubbing her wrists… they were hurt, the rope wasn't gentle at all, she sighed silently and massaged them a little, Andros approached her, the yellow cloth in his hands and tried to put it on her wrists, she turned away from him.

"Don't touch me," she said, her voice unsteady, he looked into her eyes. His hazel eyes were shining with sorrow and sadness, 'stars, I want to hug him,' but she knew she couldn't, after all he is the reason for this. For this deceit, for this lie she has been living in the last month and a half and she wasn't ready to accept him. His eyes begged her to come back to him, but they also contained a tingle of firmness she wasn't ready to accept.

"You're hurt," he said and for a minute she didn't know if he meant her soul or her wrists. He reached for her arms again, forcing her to reach her arms to him as he slowly caressed her delicate now red, skin with a wet yellow cloth he found, she looked at him; so concentrated in his actions and she knew it's all wrong.
"You didn't give me a chance, and you wouldn't have even if I asked for one," he told her suddenly, "I tried to tell you yesterday, I didn't mean for it to last this long, I was going to tell you everything when I told you about the prophecy but you wouldn't listen…" he stopped and reached for her other arm and started soothing the skin with the wet cloth.

"I'm hurt because you hurt me," she told him and pulled her hand from his, "nothing you can say will ever make me trust you again, or make me want to be with you again, nothing," she told him and he touched her chin and made her look into his tortured hazel eyes.

"I love you," he confessed and she could see the truth in his eyes, it hurt her more than she could admit, but she didn't love him. She couldn't! That man, that man in front of her, lied to her, made her believe he's someone he's clearly not. He made her feel for him but abused her feeling by lying, how would she ever be able to trust him?
Before she could answer, a knock was heard on the door and it was opened; Zhane stood there, and peeked in.

"I thought I'd find you here," he said with a kind smile, "Andros, your father wishes to talk to you," he said in the first time, fully concerned.

"Tell him I'll talk to him later, we are busy right now," Andros said quietly and Zhane nodded his agreement.

"I believe you are, my friend, but Tiaren's orders are to bring you back with me," he said and then slightly paused, "I think he wishes to officially declare," he paused again and looked at Ashley a little worried, "- - declare war on the Darkondians, Andros, I think it's the one you were telling me about," he added and Ashley looked at Andros, he seemed very worried for a few seconds before hiding it away.

"Thank you, my friend, wait for me, I have to talk with Ashley before going," Andros said quietly and Ashley could've adored the perfect stillness of his voice if she hadn't been so angry with him, Zhane closed the door muttering something about Karone and Andros' attention was again, turned to her.

"I never told you my theory of the prophecy, it's quite different from what our fathers believe, but it's time for us to share this knowledge of mine, since half of it has already came true," he explained to her now curious eyes, yet she remained silent. He sighed, "The ancient prophecy is about a union between the two who hold the Power, our fathers interpreted it as a physical union and therefore marriage has to be involved," he quietly said, "I believe the union is not physical, Zordon the prophet was never a materialist, I studied his prophecies myself, Ashley," he said her name and it made her shudder, "I think he meant a mental union," he took a long breath before continuing, "I think he meant love."

When the words left his mouth, Ashley felt her heart race, now she was confused more than ever; 'was it that convenient to believe Coran and Andros are two different entities?' she asked herself, yet deep within her heart she knew it was, maybe, maybe a little part of her did know, did recognize Andros as Coran but her mind refused to accept it, to accept the perfect warrior Coran was the hated Andros. But what is she going to do now? And what was he talking about? Love? How could he ask her to love him after what he did to her, after making fun of her in public, after disgracing everything she is?

Now he looked at her, waiting for anything she might say and to be honest, she didn't know what to say, she had to think about it. She couldn't say anything before she thought about it and accepted Coran is Andros. She looked into his hazel eyes and sighed silently, he rose from his place in front of her and reached for the door.

"I love you , Ashley of Hammond Hall, you might hate whatever I am, but I love you," he said and sent her an arrogant glare, making her heart race again, she only touched her souring wrists as he quietly closed the door and left. She immediately fell with her back on the bed, sighing out loud.

"What am I going to do?" she asked herself loudly and closed her eyes. 'How could I have told him, in his face, that he's a jerk, but am I not being a jerk by doing this?' she wondered, 'I love Coran but isn't Coran and Andros one?' she mused, 'Am I that of a hypocrite that I deny my own feeling just because my pride is hurt?' she asked herself, yet remained silent. She could hear the neighing of horses from her window but didn't rise up to watch, as she knew they were leaving to war and couldn't stop the tears that ran down her cheeks.

A/N: well, she slapped him. Twice. :D
Next chapter is the last one (before the Epilogue) and I swear that if you guys are not reviewing I won't post it.