Chapter 13

"Nothing has felt the same since I've been back. I haven't felt the same." She said pushing herself away from him, sitting up to look out over the valley below.

Riddick followed her up, trapping her between his legs. Spreading a hand out on her stomach, he pressed her back until she relaxed against him as they sat quietly watching the waterfall tumble over itself into the lake below.

"I fell in love with this spot when I first arrived here. It reminds me so much of my mother. I feel as though she's watching over me. This is the only place I've ever felt that way."

"Are you ever going to tell me how you came to Enchantment?"

"I actually arrived in the Realm of Ravensheart. But that's a story for another time." Carolyn said trying to shake the melancholy off. "How long are you to stay for?" she asked.

"I have no timetable."

"Would you like to ride into the village? There's a small fair going on today."

"If you'd like. Your Father doesn't expect us home until supper. I'll get the horses." He said getting to his feet.

"Just whistle." Carolyn informed him.

"Whistle?" Riddick asked with amusement.

Carolyn shrugged. "Do it your way then."

With a huff, Riddick turned back to where the horses had wondered and whistled. A distant whinny reached Carolyn's ears and she smiled as Riddick turned back to her. She was reaching out to him with her hands when the smile fell from his face. Carolyn sank back down, concern evident upon her face. "Riddick? What is it?"

Riddick took in the scene, eyes roving from Carolyn's narrow blanket in the tall grass and flowers to the sight of her reaching out for him, sucking in air through his nose, suddenly becoming an eight year old boy again, his only job to take care of the blonde in front of him.

"You're not from here." He said looking down at Carolyn where she sat on her heels watching him.

"No, but you already knew that." Carolyn slowly replied.

Riddick shook his head almost angrily. "No, I mean a different time and place. You don't belong here."

Carolyn suddenly felt sick to her stomach. Not even Charles and Elizabeth knew what Riddick was hinting at.

Riddick watched as she slowly stood, turning her back to him as she gathered her belongings.

"When you were a baby, your hair was the color of honeysuckle. Just a bit lighter than it is now. Your mother, Sasha, had long dark hair; it was almost to her knees."

He watched as Carolyn's shoulders' went straight and heard her intake of breath. Her body saying everything her mouth couldn't.

Carolyn hastily swiped at the tears that had fallen on her cheeks before turning back to face Riddick. "I think I've changed my mind. I'd like to go back home now."

Riddick stalked towards her grabbing her by her shoulders, "Who are you?" he asked pulling her against him.

"Riddick, please!" Carolyn cried out as she twisted in his grip.

"Tell me!" he demanded.

"Riddick stop! You're hurting me!" she yelled breaking free from his grasp, bringing a hand up to slap him soundly on the cheek. Chin quivering, she turned for her mare not once looking back.

Getting his emotions under control, he turned back to her spot walking around it, examining it from every angle convinced that this was the place from his dreams. And if this was the place, then he was certain that Carolyn had been the babe. Her mother had promised him two things. That he would remember when the time was right and that she was his.

Determination written across his face, Riddick mounted his own horse and headed back down the hill.

James met him at the stable looking quite put out. "What did ya do to the wee lass? She came riding in like the hounds of hell were on her heels." He demanded of Riddick. "She reminds me of my own sweet Janet," James continued referring to his youngest sister who was just out of the schoolroom, "and I'll not sit by and watch ya take advantage of the her."

"Her virtue is intact, James. Calm yourself."

James looked at him skeptically.

Riddick walked towards the house with James following. "Do you remember the reoccurring dream that I had one summer when we were seven or eight?"

"Aye, that was our eighth year. We turned nine that winter. You were so upset over that woman and baby you barely spoke to anyone for weeks. But what has that to do with Lady Carolyn?"

Riddick stopped walking and turned to look at James straight on. James studied his face for a few moments before shaking his head with a loud snort. "Surely you're not serious, Richard. You don't really believe that she's the woman from a dream you had twenty years ago."

"No, I don't believe she was the woman. I believe that she was the child." He replied striding with a purpose towards the manor.

James stood in the courtyard gaping behind him before snapping his mouth shut and hurrying to catch up with him, but it was too late. When he caught up to Riddick, he and Lord Charles were entering the older man's study. "Lord Charles, I'd like to speak to you about your daughter," were the last words James heard as the door shut in his face.