Chapter 12

More than a fortnight later Riddick's carriage and the men with it, including James, finally returned.

"I was just beginning to wonder if I should send out a search party." Riddick said in greeting.

"Never fear, Brother. You can't get rid of me that easily." James replied digging into the plate of food in front of him.

"Everything went smoothly?"

"Agnes and Lady Carolyn are both safe with her parents."

"You traveled all the way there with her?"

"Of course I did. One of us had too."

"James." Riddick growled, a warning in his voice. "You stayed to see her settled? Was she happy?"

"Lord and Lady Raven invited us to seek our rest with them before returning." James said with a shrug. "They were very gracious." He continued, reaching into his doublet to pull out a sealed letter, slamming it down on the table.

"What's that?" Riddick asked with a raised brow.

"Did you not demand that I return with no less than a letter from her father?" James smirked taking a last sip from his cup. "Enjoy your letter, Brother," he said standing and smacking his lips against Riddick's bald head. "It appears that someone has missed me."

Riddick frowned at the letter in front of him as James threw Isolaude over his shoulder, heading for the stairs.

Pushing back from the table, he carried himself over to his chair by the fire, setting his cup on the table next to him before opening the missive.

Greetings, Lord Riddick of Furya,

Lady Elizabeth and I cannot begin to tell you how happy we are to have our daughter home and alive. It is my understanding that we have you to thank for that. Please, name your reward and it shall be yours. Carolyn was a gift from the Gods themselves and nothing that you could possibly ask for would ever repay our debt to you.

Sir James was kind enough to relay his knowledge of the events that happened at Riddick Keep.

My daughter has been despondent since her return, allowing only Sir James to keep her company for any length of time, refusing even the comfort of her Mother. We haven't seen her like this since those first few months after her arrival here. I cannot fully express my deep regret that due to our isolation, I undoubtedly put my daughter into the position of danger that I did.

It is my hope, Lord Riddick, that Carolyn confided in you, in the time that she spent recovering in your home and that you might have a word or two of wisdom for myself and my Lady wife.

I anxiously await your reply,

Lord Charles Raven

Riddick slammed his head against the back of the chair. Picking up his cup, he drained the rest of his drink. With a sigh he folded the letter and headed up the stairs, stopping only to pound on James' door.

A shirtless James swung the door open, an arm stretched out as he leaned against the frame. Riddick could hear Isolaude giggling from the bed.

"Do you know what this says?" Riddick asked waving the letter in front of him.

"I can guess." James answered, a smirk firmly planted on his face.

Riddick's lips curled up in a sneer. "Be ready to go in the morning."

James laughed loudly before shutting the door in Riddick's face.

The morning that they were to cross the border into Enchantment, Riddick finally allowed James free rein with the pomp and circumstance. He wanted it to be crystal clear who had entered the Realm.

Caparisons bearing the shields of Furya and the House of Riddick covered the horses. Poles were assembled and adorned with banners of each. Once James was satisfied they continued on.

Things were not to go as planned though.

They were ambushed several leagues from the border. It didn't take long for them to realize that it was Riddick the attackers were after and James rallied the men around him.

"You realize I can take care of myself, don't you?" Riddick yelled at him over the melee'.

"Yes, but I do it better!" James yelled back pushing Riddick's horse aside as he took an arrow to the arm that was clearly meant for the larger man.

"You're an idiot!" Riddick yelled helping his men to finish off their attackers.

"Milady, Milady!" Agnes called out excitedly as she burst into Carolyn's chamber. "It's Sir James! He's returned!"

"Sir James?" Carolyn asked sleepily. "But how is that even possible. He would have had to come right back." She sat up rubbing her eyes before she realized just what Agnes had told her. "Oh Agnes! You don't think anything's happened to Lord Riddick do you?"

Agnes shrugged. "There's only one way to find out, Milady."

Carolyn scrambled out of bed, hurriedly dressing and doing her hair with Agnes's help. She had barely finished when she heard James calling up the stairs for them.

"Carolyn! Agnes!"

Picking up her skirts, Carolyn took off running.

Glancing at Riddick, James chuckled as he heard the pounding of feet and watched the flurry of skirts and stockings that was Carolyn Raven in a hurry. Skidding to a stop in front of him, Carolyn eyed his sling covered shoulder in horror "James! What happened? Is everything alright? Is Riddick well?"

"I'm fine, Carolyn." Riddick said from where he was standing in the shadows before stepping forward, all harsh planes and hard angles.

Carolyn slowly turned from where she still stood in front of James.

"I appreciate your concern, however." He said as he studied her. Her coloring was much better and from what he just witnessed, she no longer had the limp that had plagued her at his home.

"Oh!" Carolyn said dropping her skirts that were still in her hands, reaching up to tuck a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

"Lord Riddick," she said holding out a hand towards him.

Riddick took it, bringing it to his mouth, his eyes never leaving hers. "It's good to see you again, Lady Carolyn."

"Ah! There you are!" Charles Raven called out with a clap of his hands. "Good morning, sweetheart," He said to Carolyn who jerked her hand away from Riddick, her face flushed.

"Father," Carolyn replied sweetly, "You didn't tell me we were expecting guests."

Lord Raven and Riddick glanced at each other. "It was a spur of the moment decision," Riddick said looking back at Carolyn. "I wanted to make sure your recovery was progressing."

"That was very kind of you, but not necessary, and it appears to have come at a price"

Charles interrupted. "Carolyn, your mother has breakfast ready. Would you escort Lord Riddick to the table? I would like to speak to Sir James."

"Of course, Father." Carolyn replied.

"After you," Riddick said with a wave of his hand.

As she passed, he fell into step beside her, placing a hand on her elbow. Carolyn slowed to match his pace.

They walked slowly, falling well behind her father and James. "What happened?" She asked glancing up at him. "You both look like hell."

His eyes hadn't left the top of her head since they had started walking. "You're no longer limping."

"It's not polite to change the subject," she said, "But since you were kind enough to ask, no. Enchantment is home to some wonderful hot springs. Agnes and I have spent a considerable amount of time there. It has helped tremendously."

"Really? I've never heard of healing hot springs before."

"Not healing, just therapeutic." She corrected. "Now, are you going to answer my question?"

"Do you realize," Riddick asked, "that this will be the first time that we've ever sat down to eat together outside of your chambers and with you dressed in something other than a bed gown?"

Carolyn blushed a deep shade of rose as Riddick pulled a chair away from the table for her. Seeing her settled he reached down ghosting a thumb along the scar running down her face. Unconsciously, Carolyn leaned into his touch.

Elizabeth discreetly coughed, breaking the spell that the two found themselves under and Riddick quickly took his seat next to her.

"This is unusual," Riddick commented on the table and room.

"Carolyn, brought this to us," Elizabeth explained. "She was accustomed to taking her meals with just her immediate family, away from the hustle and bustle of the rest of the household. So we had this separate dining room created."

"And while I can't be away from my men every meal, we agreed to always eat breakfast here, isn't that right, my darlings?" Charles asked beaming at his wife and daughter.

"I'm sorry. When she came to you?" Riddick asked.

Charles and Elizabeth both looked at Carolyn who was studying the food on her plate with great interest. "Carolyn, did you not tell him?" Elizabeth chided.

"It never came up," she mumbled.

Charles spoke up, "Carolyn came to us in her eighteenth year. How that happened is Carolyn's story to tell. What's important is that the three of us became a family almost instantly. We adopted Carolyn less than a year after her arrival. She's our daughter in every sense of the word."

"I shall look forward to hearing that story." Riddick replied looking over at Carolyn.

"It's a very personal story, Lord Riddick. I haven't shared it with many people."

"Then I count myself very lucky."

Carolyn couldn't believe his audacity in light of their parting, especially in front of her parents. "You seem very sure of yourself, Lord Riddick."

Riddick shrugged looking her in the eyes. "I always get what I want."

Carolyn silently fumed. Laying her napkin gently on the table she looked over at her mother. "I'm suddenly not feeling so well, Mother. May I be excused, please?"

"Of course, sweetheart. I'm sure it's simply all the excitement this morning."

Before Carolyn could push her chair back, Riddick was there pulling it out for her. "You're running," he said low enough so only she could hear.

Giving him a look that could kill, Carolyn calmly walked out of the room.

Sitting once again, Riddick listed to the sound of her limping footsteps as she made her way down the hall.

Agnes met her at the foot of the stairs. "The nerve of that man!" Carolyn railed. "Before it's over he'll be telling my parents that we were sleeping in the same room!

"But you were," Agnes replied.

"That's beside the point!" Carolyn snapped hating it when she became irrational. "Agnes, please have my horse saddled. I think it's time for a ride."

As Agnes left to do her bidding, Carolyn went to retrieve her cloak. She was loath to admit it but running down the stairs to meet James had in fact aggravated the wound on her leg. The cut had gone deep into the muscle and Carolyn was afraid it might never heal properly.

One of the stable lads helped her to mount her horse and then handed her the packed basket that she kept in the stable.

Riddick cursed under his breath as he watched her ride away before turning his attention back to the table and it occupants.

Elizabeth had excused herself from the table earlier leaving Charles, Riddick and James to talk amongst themselves, when Gerard, Charles' Sergeant-at-arms joined them.

At last, Charles stood and motioned for Riddick to follow him. They walked the same windowed hallway that Carolyn had fled down earlier.

"I appreciate you having me on such short notice, Lord Raven."

"Not at all, Elizabeth and I are thrilled that you're here." Charles replied.

Riddick chuckled. "You do realize that I drove your daughter away, don't you?"

"It's the most emotion I've seen out of her in weeks." Charles declared. "Besides," he said with a wink, "I happen to know where she went."

Stepping out into the courtyard a stable lad came forward with a saddled horse. "This is Gypsy Vanner. He's one of my best."

Riddick clucked appreciatively as he circled the horse, slipping it a carrot the stable lad produced.

"Go out the gates and circle around to the North. In a few leagues you'll reach a hill overlooking a shallow pool with a waterfall. You won't be able to miss her."

Charles handed him a basket. "We won't expect you for lunch. Dinner is at sundown."

Grinning, Riddick put his heels to the horse and took off at a canter.

He saw her horse first, as it wandered the hillside, lazily munching its fill on the tall, sweet, grass. Dismounting, he took the basket and walked the rest of the way up the hill.

It was a beautiful view, looking down into the valley as the waterfall tumbled into the pool of water which eventually meandered into a small stream winding its way through the countryside. Crouching down to his feet he looked over something that was even more beautiful than the scenery.

She had taken the time to spread a blanket and using her cloak as a pillow had settled in to read before falling asleep, if the book on her stomach was any indication. There was no wind where they were and her cheeks were pink from the sun and she hadn't got her skirts put back down from where she had rubbed his ointment into her skin, the jar lying next to her.

It was nice to see her out and about and somewhere other than a sick room. As much as he teased her earlier about eating at a table with clothes on, he was also deadly serious. While hurt and under his protection, his behavior had to be above reproach. And while he had made many mistakes while she was there, her honor remained intact.

Now, however, now they were equals and he looked forward to the chase; however, at this moment, he wanted nothing more than to see her. To see how well she had healed since they had been apart.

Grabbing the jar, he took a seat on the blanket by her feet. Flipping her skirts to her knees he slipped off her shoe, followed by her stocking.

Kneading her foot, he gently placed it in his lap as he rubbed cream into the scar running down her leg.

"Riddick," Carolyn breathed stirring in her sleep. She opened her eyes with a sigh.

Looking at her face, his hands never left her body.

She smiled sleepily, his touch seeming to have soothed her earlier anger. "I've missed you doing that."

"So have I," he replied as his hands continued to run up and down her leg.

Reaching over, he ran his hand up to her other knee loosening that garter as well. Knowing that she had only received scratches on her upper thigh, he used his hand to explore, feeling only smooth skin.

The breath in Carolyn's throat hitched at the feel of his hand on her inner leg and she watched as he slowly spread himself beside her.

Carolyn instinctively rolled towards him placing her hand upon his chest as Riddick leaned forward capturing her mouth with his. It was soft and gentle and he let Carolyn set the pace as she slowly parted her lips and hesitantly caressed his lips with her tongue. Riddick moaned, slipping his hand into her hair pulling her closer, causing her curls to cascade over his hand.

Carolyn's intake of breath was the opening he needed as his tongue gently made its way into her mouth, her gasp turning into a whimper of need as Riddick slid a leg between hers and slowly turned her on to her back. Carolyn broke the kiss, biting at her swollen lips, her chest heaving as Riddick ran his hand down her arm settling at her waist, nuzzling at her hairline as she caught her breath and unclenched her hand from the fabric of his shirt.

"We were attacked early this morning, just leagues away from crossing over into Enchantment. That arrow in James' shoulder was meant for me."

"Riddick!" Carolyn said in alarm pulling back to see his face. "Who would do such a thing?"

With a kiss, Riddick settled her back down again. "I don't know. I have many enemies, Carolyn. They won't be able to hide forever though. These were just hired men. When they continue to fail, the guilty party will be forced to show himself."

Carolyn reached up to run her fingers along his jaw line. "Thank you for telling me. Since my return everyone has been treating me as though I'm going to break." She looked up at him, "If I was going to break it would have been the night that you rescued me or the day that I left you. I'm stronger than they think I am.