Did you guys like the little back history twist I put in last chapter? Thought I might surprise you all :) Anyway, enjoy!
Amaya stared at Tristan who was unable to wipe the smirk from his face. "Took you long enough." He said to her, smoothly capturing her lips with his as she remained perfectly frozen in place. When he pulled back, she still hadn't moved. "It took me a while to remember also." She blinked then shook her head.
"That was you? You were the shaggy haired boy who was no fun to creep up on?" He chuckled, his smile widening as he nodded his head. "And we fell into the river." She continued slowly, making sure she remembered everything correctly. "Because of the wolves. Were there three? I seem to remember three." He frowned, thinking back.
"I thought there was only one."
"But still, you nearly drowned and I saved your life." She crowed, smirking at him as she pushed against his shoulders and trapped him to the ground, her hair falling forwards and brushed against his face before it rose on the wind, flickering gracefully as Tristan exhaled deeply, watching her as she angled her body towards him, arching an eyebrow. "You nearly drowned like a fish that couldn't swim." Tristan said nothing but grabbed her waist, spinning Amaya onto her back then pinned her wrists down beside her face, snatching her lips with his to silence her.
He remembered seeing her as a child. She had been rather plain then, nothing extraordinary to look at save for her eyes. Tristan couldn't understand how he could have forgotten eyes as deeply mystifying and enchanting as hers. Plus the smile, the smile that had stolen his heart and left him barren and empty until she had returned, bringing it with her. Fate was mystifying. Amaya made a small noise like a half-hearted grunt, trying to shove him off but he pressed harder into her mouth, claiming it for his own.
Breathing deeply Amaya watched Tristan when he pulled back, all words stolen from her as he returned her gaze. "I think you over praise yourself." He told her with a slight tone of amusement. "After all, you only kept my head above water." She smirked at him.
"That's twice I've saved your life now, scout." He pursed his lips then glanced towards the edge.
"Are you still afraid of heights?" Suddenly she paled and her eyes widened in fear.
"Don't you dare!" She warned him but he merely chuckled and shifted off her, laying down on his back.
"I wouldn't dream of such a thing." He assured her gently, lifting one hand to touch the back of his fingers against her face, brushing against her lips as she relaxed then moved closer to him.
"Why did you not tell me before?" He shrugged.
"It was not important." Amaya rolled her eyes.
"Not important that we've met before?"
"If it was important, you would have remembered sooner." Tristan answered, closing his eyes as the sun finally lost the fight against the darkness and slipped away, leaving them both in the darkest part of dusk before slowly, the moon and stars began to shine around them. Amaya turned her face towards the stars, mapping out the ones her mother had taught her from a young age.
After a while Amaya closed her eyes, basking in the warmth that Tristan provided her, constantly looking back to the first time they had met. The world was such a small place, it seemed. Tristan also had trouble keeping the encounter from his mind. Perhaps they were really meant to meet and their paths were entwined, perhaps even joined.
Slowly he turned his head, looking to her and a slow smile crept to his features. He turned over and lifted himself up on his arm, supporting his weight as he slowly reached out and rested his hand on her face, turning her head to look at him as she opened her eyes to him. His chest burned brightly and his desire to touch her strengthened but he held himself back, not wanting to push her too far too quickly. She lifted herself up and kissed him slowly, drawing him closer to her as she guided him towards her, closing the distance between them before she sighed and spoke in a quiet voice.
"We should be going back." Tristan grunted, exhaling heavily but nodded his head in agreement. His arm curled around her waist and he lifted her up easily, drawing her close to press his lips to her neck, running his tongue over the satiny skin as she whimpered quietly, her hands fisting into his jacket until he pulled away and strode over to the horses.
He waited beside Arluin after he had tightened the girth and run down the stirrups, offering his hand to Amaya who smiled at him. "Where have these manners suddenly come from?" She asked him jestingly as she took the reins and let him lift her up into the saddle.
"I've always had them." He answered with a shrug, placing her foot in the stirrup as she found the other. He placed a lingering kiss on her calf and Amaya felt her skin begin to tingle at the touch. Slowly he looked up at her. "Just never needed them before." She smirked then wheeled Arluin around, moving him back so that Tristan could mount up. They trotted through the trees, the light quickly fading so they hurried to find the road then galloped back to the fort together.
However when they reached the treeline, Tristan slowed to a halt and Amaya glanced back before pulling Arluin to a stop also. "Tristan?" She questioned him with a puzzled look, turning Arluin around and trotted back to him. "What is it?" He shook his head.
"Nothing." He clucked his tongue and jerked his chin towards the city. "You should go." She just looked at him, her shoulders tensing as she narrowed her eyes.
"Where are you going now?" She questioned him slowly, glancing up to the sky. "It's dark. You can't possibly be going scouting now."
"I do not want to be seen with you." He told her and Amaya recoiled slightly, flinching as Tristan cursed. "No, I did not mean it like that. Maya!" She had already turned Arluin around and started to canter away but Tristan was faster, moving his horse to block the way so that Arluin lifted his head and gave a small rear with an outraged snort. "Maya, I did not mean it like that." She turned her head away from him as he gripped Arluin's reins, keeping him still.
"You are ashamed of me." She growled at him, lifting her chin indignantly. "Because I am just a maid and you are a revered knight and notorious warrior."
"No!" He snapped at her sharply then sighed. "I meant I do not want people to know. If they see us entering the city together from the woods, they will assume things." Amaya arched her eyebrow.
"What things?" Tristan frowned at her then chuckled, letting go of Arluin's reins and rested his hand on hers, softly running his thumb over the curve in her wrist.
"That I had you, Maya." She blinked at him. "It is what lovers do, go to the woods so that they will not be discovered." She rolled her eyes but relaxed, smiling softly to him.
"I do not care what they think." He sighed in exasperation.
"Amaya, people can be cruel. If they believe your reputation to be ruined then they will have no respect for you. They will shun you and spit on you in the street." Listening Amaya slowly nodded her head, looking down to Tristan's hand that continued to rest upon hers. He moved his mount closer, his body facing hers as he lifted his hand to her face and turned her chin towards him. "Just remember, I am not very good with words." He whispered then placed a light kiss on her lips which she accepted with a tender smile, gazing up to him as his hand remained at her face. Chuckling again he flicked her under the chin then pulled his horse away, letting her have the room she needed to canter back to the city. "Goodnight Maya."
"Goodnight Tristan. Thank you for today." She murmured softly then smirked. "Until next time, my assumed lover." He smirked, shaking his head as Amaya cantered forwards, easing into a gallop as she headed back for the city. Tristan remained in the trees, watching her go until she was a tiny blur down the road but he did not look away until he saw the small shape pass into the city through the front gates which swung open to admit her.