Sorry for taking a long time posting this but life is really busy for a bit. I'll post next week I promise, but then I'll be away for two weeks so..... no promises.

Forbidden

A knock on the door roused Rahl from his musing. "Enter" he said with an air of non-chalice. A grin appeared on his face when he saw who it was. "Ah yes, Shara dear, I have been waiting for you."

Shara looked him over for a moment, as if trying to read him and slowly made her way to the plush chair that she normally sat in. He followed her with his eyes and waited until she was seated until he got up and started to pace. She was here and now all he had to do was get the words that were in his mind out in a formidable way. He paced as he thought of a way to put the facts so that she would appreciate their importance but not be terrified.

After a slight hesitation he started," As you most likely heard through the gossip channels, my solders captured a beast that was lurking in the woods. It is common knowledge that this beast is just a protective measure to defend our son, I just want you to know that this is not the truth. This beast is not of my creation, I do not know who created it. I am merely keeping it here so that we can find out who created it so that we may apprehend them. "

He paused and resumed his pacing. He glanced over at his wife to see how she was taking this. She was of course as composed as ever, her eyes that trailed him were slightly wide but that was the extent of her distress. Why did he ever worry about telling her this, she was obviously not the average woman who swooned at the slightest thing. He loved that about her.

"Even though the beast is locked up in a safe location, I do not want you anywhere near it. I don't care if such things interest you or anything of the sort, I forbid you from even entering the same wing as the beast is being held. "

She looked as if she were about to protest so he came and stood before her. He sunk to his knees and looked up at her with pleading eyes. He willed that she would just understand and take his advice.

"Please love; I am only doing this for you wellbeing. I would not forbid you to go near it for no reason, you know that. I only know that this beast is lethal and wish that no harm will come to you. I know that you are a strong woman and that I have offended you by ordering you about, I am sorry. I just hope that you head my words and go not near the beast."

She stared him down for a few minutes, her eyes slightly glaring and her lips ready to spit out insults and how insulted she felt. He pleaded her with his eyes to understand. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, her eyes cooled and she let a hand slid to his cheek.

"You are right; your lack of confidence in my ability to defend myself insults me greatly. Lucky for you, I understand that you are just acting like the man you are and trying to defend your wife. "She kissed his forehead softly."

"Just try not to repeat it again; I won't always be as forgiving. I may not have all of the magic I used to, but I have plenty enough to make you regret thinking me weak and feeble."With a light tap on his cheek she stood up and let a smile fall on her lips.

"Is that all you wanted to tell me or do you have anything else you will forbid me from doing?" she asked with a raised brow.

A smirk fell on his face as he got what she was inferring. "No, that isn't the end of what I want to forbid you from doing in the least," he muttered as he pulled her closer to him by the waist. He spelled the room before their lips came together. There was no way he wanted anyone bothering them when she was in this mood.

~*~*~*~

After leaving the study she knew that she had wasted some time. She felt the clock ticking in her brain as she tried to come up with a way to accomplish what she needed before it was too late. She felt her brain firing away, as it came up and dismissed plans. Finally something plausible popped into her mind and she decided to just go with it. Before she could submit to the side of her that was utterly terrified, she made her way toward the part of the castle that Rahl had just forbid her from entering.

She found the way to the beast's holding place easy enough. She felt herself slowing down as she neared it and almost turned around before she remembered that she had to do this for hers and her son's life. She didn't even want to speculate what might happen if ever she didn't hold up her end of the bargain. All she knew was that it wouldn't be good for anyone.

With new found determination she walked right up to the beast's cell and was ready to initiate her plan that would give her another day or two.