Chapter 15

The room was warm, heavy with steam as Carolyn leaned back against the tub while Agnes added warm water.

"Mother, how do you know if you're really in love?"

Elizabeth smiled as she brushed her daughter's damp hair as it began to curl. "Do you think about him all the time?"

Carolyn was silent for a moment, considering before she replied. "Yes."

"Do your knees feel as weak as a newborn colt when he's near?"

"Yes."

"And when he looks at you does he steal your breath away?"

"Yes."

"Then what say you, daughter? Are you in love?"

Carolyn turned to look at her Mother with a smile. "Yes."

Elizabeth smiled back before standing, holding a cloth out. "Come, there are many things that must happen this evening."

Elizabeth helped her into in a lovely blue dress that Carolyn had never seen before.

"I had it made for you while you were away." Elizabeth told her. "For a special occasion."

"I hardly think dinner is a special occasion, Mother," Carolyn replied as her mother weaved pieces of her loose hair through a gold circlet around her head.

Elizabeth simply smiled and continued with her task. As she finished she called Agnes over to them. "You shall join us for dinner, Agnes."

When they arrived downstairs the men were waiting for them.

As Carolyn greeted the village priest who was joining them, she overheard James asking Agnes if she was ready to go home.

"Excuse me," Carolyn said taking a step back, "why wasn't I told that Agnes was leaving?" She asked before turning to Riddick. "Does that mean you're leaving as well?"

"We leave in the morning," Riddick told her watching the crest fallen look appear on her face. "Carolyn, you're coming with me."

Her eyes suddenly filled with tears. "You know that's not possible. Why would you tease me like that?" She asked.

"Carolyn," her father interjected, "Riddick has asked for your hand in marriage. We just signed the contracts."

"Marriage? But you snore!" Carolyn exclaimed causing James to burst out laughing as Charles calmed the priest and Elizabeth demanded to know how Carolyn could know such a thing.

Ignoring them all, Riddick closed the distance between the two of them and threading his hands thorough her hair, tilted her head back kissing her. The room fell silent.

Breaking the kiss, he pulled back. Carolyn's eyes fluttered open meeting his own. "We're getting married?"

"Here and now," He growled.

The priest ushered them over in front of the fireplace while the men from Furya and The Three Realms gathered round. The room fell silent as the priest began the ceremony. When he asked for Riddick's hand, he held it out willingly. Carolyn watched as the priest produced a knife, making a diagonal cut across his hand before turning to her expectantly.

Looking at Riddick with a tilt of her head, he simply looked back, no expression giving away his thoughts as blood pooled in his hand. Standing beside him, James raised an eyebrow as if daring her to do it. Looking at her parents, Elizabeth gave a slight nod and turned her palm outwards where Carolyn could see a thin silvery scar.

Looking back at Riddick, she held out her hand to the priest, who made the same cut on her palm before placing it on Riddick's, tying them together with a length of gold cloth. Carolyn glanced down at the cloth and back at Riddick. "Well, that was rather barbaric."

Chuckling, he nodded at the priest before kissing her soundly as the men in the hall erupted into cheers. A band of musicians began to play as Riddick unbound the cloth around their hands. Ripping the cloth in two, he began wrapping it around her still bleeding hand. The rest of the evening was spent visiting with hastily invited guests, as servants roamed the hall filling goblets with wine.

Dinner had barely been served when Elizabeth and Agnes led Carolyn upstairs.

After an hour of brushing, primping and advice, Carolyn ran them both out.

He found her in his room, drinking wine in front of the fireplace. She spared him a glance as he sat on the edge of the bed removing his boots and shirt. "Carolyn?"

He admired her silhouette in the firelight as she walked towards him, coming to stand between his legs. Reaching out, she let her fingers dance along his jaw, lowering her lips to place a gentle kiss on his mouth. "I know that you have faith in nothing, Riddick, but I have faith in you. Let me be that which you live for."

Gently, Riddick slipped the robe from her body pulling her to him in a desperate kiss, rolling them onto the bed, his broad form looming over her. "I've lived only for you since the day you were born."

Pulling back to finish undressing, Riddick lowered himself atop of her with a growl burying his face in her neck, lavishing attention there with his lips, his mouth, his tongue, locking their fingers together, their limbs intertwining before he plunged into her, her face contorting in a combination of pleasure and pain. Looking upon her in the soft glow of the firelight, her hair loose and wild, she was the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen.