Ginny Hartman

by To Guard Her Heart

  Terric! She searched in front of her with her hands until they collided with a hard mass, her fingers trailing over the unmistakable metal links of chainmail. Pulling her hands back, she gasped. Icy fingers of fear gripped at her heart as she realized that Terric lay before her on the floor. She scooted frantically away from his form, but her body hit the cold wall behind her, stopping her from escaping.

  ***

  The moment Terric felt hands exploring his person, he became instantly alert. He sat up abruptly, as he witnessed a shaking Rosalind backing into the wall. He reached for her, clasping his hands around her wrists. “Your Highness, are you alright?”

  He could feel her trembling beneath his hands. He instinctively reached for her, pulling her into him. She let out a startled cry as she tried to shove him away, but it was no use, his grip was unyielding. He shook her gently at first, but became more forceful when she refused to stop fighting him.

  “Rosalind,” he spoke forcefully. When she didn't respond, he lowered his face to hers and noticed her eyes were pressed tightly closed. Perhaps she was still sleeping.

  He placed one hand on her cheek, rubbing furiously. “Rosalind, wake up. You're asleep; mayhap you've had a nightmare.”

  One final shake of her person, and he watched as her eyes flashed open in surprise then settled upon his face with a look akin to fear, and his heart lurched.

  ***

  Rosalind felt herself being forced awake. Awake. It meant that it had all been a dream, a very realistic, very horrific dream. He breathing was fast and shallow. She felt as if she had just run a race. Her first instinct upon seeing Terric was to try to run once more, but his grip was so firm on her, she knew she'd never get away. She didn't have the strength.

  Looking into his face, she was suddenly desperate to see what color his eyes were. “Unhand me,” she commanded lowly but forcefully. Terric did so without hesitation. She reached for his face and felt him wince at the contact, but she didn't care; she had to look into his eyes. Framing his face with her hands, she pulled him closer to her, closer to the where the fire was blazing in the hearth so she could get a better look. Sure enough, his eyes were as blue and clear as the sky had been earlier in the day when the sun was shining overhead.

  Rosalind felt herself exhale with some measure of relief, but she wasn't yet convinced that this Terric in front of her was the kind, noble Terric who would do anything to protect the Kingdom of Darth. She knew there was only one way to find out.

  Pulling him even closer, her hands still on his face, she closed her eyes, ignoring the questioning look on his face, and pressed her lips to his. His lips were warm and full, not hard and demanding. It should have been enough to convince her that this was not the same man in her dream, but it wasn't, she wanted more.

  Rosalind was unsure of how to proceed, having never been kissed before, but it didn't matter, for Terric soon took over. His hands went to her shoulders, then slowly moved up to her neck. His hands, though rough, were gentle against her smooth skin. His kiss was tentative at first, as if he was unsure of what he was doing, but it didn't take long before his lips melted completely into hers. A stirring warmth started in her belly, moving outwards to her limbs as he kissed her so tenderly. She breathed in his scent, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck, pulling him as close as she could. She felt hungry as she yearned for more of him, all of him.

  The kiss deepened into something more passionate, something more wild as he used his tongue to probe into her mouth, anxious to explore its sweet depths. Rosalind allowed him entrance, anxious to experience everything he had to offer. She'd never felt so alive.

  It seemed as if the kiss was only just beginning when she felt Terric abruptly pull back. Her mouth felt cold at the absence of his and she longed to pull him back to her, longed to explore more of him.

  “What just happened, Rosalind?” he asked, his voice sounding panicked.

  Was he referring to the earth-stopping kiss they had just shared or to what had occurred just prior to that? She suddenly found that she was too embarrassed to explain either, opting to remain silent instead.

  “Rosalind,” Terric interjected her thoughts. “I don't think you are aware of what just happened. You must have been sleep-walking. I should never have taken advantage of you like that.”

  “I had a dream,” she started shakily.

  “That you were kissing me?” Terric interrupted, trying to lighten her somber mood a bit, though his mood was anything but.

  “Yes,” she said stoically. Not the reaction that Terric expected. “I was dreaming that I was at Brantonwall Castle searching for my parents. I went to the council room to find my father, but he wasn't there. No one was there except for you.” Rosalind swallowed hard before continuing. “You kissed me, then told me that you had killed my parents.”

  Terric sucked in a shocked breath. “I would never have killed them. I would have given my own life first. My entire life has been dedicated to defending the royalty of Darth. I swore an oath to personally defend King Cedric's life with my own, and that's exactly what I was doing the day they were killed. Had I abandoned my charge and attempted to save your parents, King Cedric would be dead right now. I would be dead. That's how things work in Darth. You should know that.”

  Rosalind listened to his impassioned speech with a measure of surprise. He continued, “I've gone over that day a thousand times in my mind, even before your accusation that I had somehow failed your parents. There was not a single thing I could have done differently, not one. I'm sorry for that too. I was sorry the moment it happened, I was even more sorry the moment you decided I was to blame, and I'll continue to be sorry for the rest of my life.” His fingers were digging into her arms as he spoke, his grip tightening with each impassioned word. Finally he released his hold on her, his head falling dejectedly to his chest. He would no longer look into her eyes.

  A pit formed in Rosalind's stomach. The strong, brave defender was gone, in his place was a shattered, tortured man. A man she had hurt very much. In her anger and grief she had only wanted to cast blame, and he was the person most worthy of it in her mind. She believed what he said, that there was nothing he could have done. She knew the moment that she kissed him that the dream she had wasn't symbolic of reality. This Terric, her Terric, would never kill an innocent human being. But she had hurt him. The knowledge of the pain she caused him twisted uncomfortably in her stomach.

  She had to apologize. She went on her knees before him, “Terric, I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking rationally when I accused you of failing my parents. I should have known that wasn't the case, that you are much to honorable to have just allowed something like that to have happened. Please forgive me,” she pleaded.

  Terric's eyes met hers. “Tis already forgiven.”

  “Thank you,” she muttered humbly, gratefully, before slowly rising from the floor and returning to the bed. As she laid once more on the straw mattress, she knew that sleep would never visit her this night. She was too afraid to close her eyes, afraid of the unwelcomed dreams that would haunt her. Besides, too much had happened, too many things that would keep her mind preoccupied. Nay, sleep would never come.

  ***

  Terric rolled onto his side once more, his tiredness all but forgotten. Knowing that Rosalind no longer blamed him for her parents’ death caused a fierce and sudden relief to consume him. He didn't know why it bothered him so badly that she thought so poorly of him, but it did. His honor was the most important thing he had, for which, if he didn't have it, he just assumed he be dead. He felt as if her forgiveness had been a gift that restored his sense of honor to him. He hadn't realized how much she had affected him.

  Or maybe he did. If he was being honest with himself, she had affected him from the moment he had found her lying in the woods. And he didn't even have to remind himself of how much she affected him while she danced the Saylatee. Ever since that night he had wanted to kiss her, to touch her. And speaking of kisses, her kiss tonight ha
d been a very pleasant and very unexpected surprise. He closed his eyes and relived that kiss, over and over in his mind until he finally fell asleep, only to dream of sweet Rosalind and her even sweeter kiss.

  Chapter 13

  A Temporary Home

  Morning finally came after Rosalind had endured the longest night of her life. She had spent the night thinking back to her dream, of touching the swirling wisps in front of her only to awaken and find herself besides Terric. The first time she had transported from one location to another, she had allowed Terric to convince her it hadn't really happened, but now that it had occurred twice, she wasn't as sure. But then again, she had been dreaming and mayhap she had been sleep-walking as Terric had suggested.

  The more she thought about it, the more confused she became, so to seek relief from the confusion, she thought about Terric and the kiss they had shared. She felt all warm and tingly recollecting the moment their lips had met, the way his soft lips molded over hers. She relived that kiss over and over again, even allowing herself to imagine kissing him once more, of kissing him longer. Little did she know how awkward she would feel when she had to face him in the light of morning.

  Terric rose first, stretching what she assumed had to be sore muscles from sleeping on the hard ground. He draped his cloak over his shoulders and walked towards the bed. “Rosalind, we must be on our way.”

  She slowly rose from the bed, avoiding looking into his face, afraid he'd be able to decipher the secret thoughts she had harbored for him all night long. He held her cloak in his hand and waited patiently while she adjusted and smoothed her dress before wrapping it around her shoulders, tying it securely at her neck. She chanced a quick glance at him then, her heart feeling light as he smiled at her. Mayhap things would not be so awkward between them after all.

  “It won't be as easy to sneak you out of the inn undetected. The innkeeper would surely be suspicious if I carried you out once more. He'd think I had a dead wife in my arms, or a wife that did nothing but sleep.” Rosalind's cheeks flamed as he referred to her as his wife. She knew it was just a convenient excuse to avoid suspicion, but suddenly she wished it was something more.

  “Put your hood on and just follow my lead,” he instructed, as he opened the door and signaled for her to exit. As soon as they were in the hall, he put one hand on her back and guided her down the short hall and towards the desk at the front of the inn. She kept her eyes downcast, fully relying on him to direct her where she should go.

  “Good day,” he called over her head, presumably to the innkeeper, before once more holding open the door and guiding her gently through.

  The first thing Rosalind noticed when she stepped outside was that it was raining. She felt the thick drops pelting down from the sky even through her thick cloak. Terric assisted her onto Stephen's back then mounted behind her.

  “I can't decide which is more uncomfortable, this rain or that blasted sun yesterday,” he groaned.

  Rosalind tilted her head up towards the rain, letting the cool drops splash against her face. “I don't mind the rain, not usually at least, though I do prefer the sun.”

  “Well you will mind it when it has soaked you completely down to the bone. I pray that neither one of us catches a chill.”

  “Your mother can heal us if we do,” she said with complete faith in his mother's abilities.

  “Aye, she'd give it her best try at least,” he said with a smile.

  It didn't take long for the pouring rain to soak them completely, and after riding for miles in the never-ending sheets of rain, Rosalind decided that the rain was most definitely more uncomfortable than the sun had been. Her woolen cloak clung to her like a second skin, a most irritating second skin. She longed to pull the dratted thing off but knew she couldn't.

  Finally she asked Terric, “How much longer until we arrive at our destination?”

  “We should arrive by late afternoon.”

  Still feeling apprehensive about the changes in her life, she asked, “Are you certain your mother won't mind having me? There is a chance I could have to be at the mercy of her goodness for a long time, longer then welcomed.”

  Terric laughed behind her, his chest rumbling against her back. “I'm absolutely certain she won't mind one bit. She's just as devoted as I am to the Kingdom and would gladly do anything to ensure the safety of Darth and its monarchs. And Gwendolyn will be most excited to have the company. I fear she gets rather bored at home without Aeden and me there to tease her.”

  He talked of his family with such fondness that Rosalind couldn't help being almost excited to get to meet them. If only it wasn't under such sad circumstances. Her emotions seemed to be on a constant up and down sway. From moment to moment she would experience such extreme emotions that it was beginning to wear her out. But alas, she had to admit that she was grateful that at least she was still able to experience something good, instead of the melancholy that she had been convinced would permanently reside in her heart.

  Soon, the exhaustion of a sleepless night overtook Rosalind and she fell asleep in Terric's arms and this time, there were no dreams to disturb her.

  ***

  “Rosalind, wake up. We are here.” Though she heard Terric's voice through the exhaustion crowding her mind, she couldn't bring herself to open her eyes and respond. Terric rode Stephen across the short drawbridge over the placid moat surrounding his family's home. The portcullis was raised, as it nearly always was, so in a matter of minutes they found themselves in the inner courtyard.

  Rosalind vaguely felt him put his arms firmly around her waist and pull her to the ground below. When he let go of her, she had no choice but to come fully alert lest she risk falling to the ground. She rubbed the back of her hand across her eyes, trying to wipe the sleepiness from them. Blinking several times, she focused her gaze on the small castle in front of her. It was a gray, L-shaped dwelling much smaller than her family's castle, but it had a quaint and inviting aura.

  While Rosalind stood observing her surroundings, she heard a girl’s voice calling out from behind, “Terric, is that you?”

  She and Terric both turned at the sound, as a petite girl with raven locks came prancing towards them. She threw herself at Terric, her arms going around his neck, as he lifted her feet off of the ground and spun her around in a half circle. “You are no longer a little child, my dear Gwendolyn.” Terric said, but made no move to release her.

  Gwendolyn threw back her head and smiled, clearly delighted to see her brother. “To what do we owe this unexpected visit? Please say you are staying longer than a day this time.”

  Terric finally let her go, as his eyes moved to where Rosalind stood observing the scene between the two of them, feeling like an intruder. “I regrettably cannot stay long. This visit is purely a business one. I need yours and mother's help.” Then, with one hand, he signaled Rosalind to step forward and reached up to withdraw her hood.

  Gwendolyn gasped, “Is this...”

  “Aye, it is.” Terric confirmed, knowing she knew full well who stood before him.

  Gwendolyn dipped into a deep curtsey before Rosalind. “Tis an honor, Your Highness.”

  Rosalind felt awkward being addressed so formally dressed in her soaked-through, borrowed cloak, standing in the center of the girl's courtyard. She waited for Gwendolyn to rise before saying, “Aye, the honor is all mine. I'm grateful for the help you are willing to offer me.”

  Gwendolyn turned curious eyes on her brother. “Let's go find Mother,” Terric said. “I'll explain everything to you both at the same time.”

  The trio walked towards the front door together. As soon as they entered, the warmth from the roaring fire in the pit in the middle of the floor made Rosalind shiver. She hadn't realized how cold she had become in her wet clothing. The great hall, though large, seemed inviting, with its black and red hand-painted tile floors, to the impressive wooden gallery above. “I know this isn't as grand as what you are accustomed to, but my mother and sister will do e
verything they can to ensure your comfort. You will be safe here at Emerson Castle.”

  “I think your home is lovely,” she said honestly. Everywhere she looked, she could imagine Terric as a young boy, growing up in what she could tell was a love-filled home.

  He surprised her then, by stepping forward and taking her into his arms, their wet bodies molding together before the fire. His face was so close to hers as he spoke, “I promise I'll do my best to find out who is behind these attacks.”

  “Please be safe,” she whispered.

  “My safety is of no consequence. I will give my everything to protect Darth.”

  “Tis of consequence to me,” she confessed timidly, unsure of where they stood after the kiss they had shared the previous night. “Promise me that you won't die. I cannot bear the thought of losing somebody else I care deeply about it.”

  Terric searched her face. “You know I don't take my promises lightly.”

  “Aye, I do. Do you promise me you'll come back for me?”

  Before he could answer, Gwendolyn had returned with her mother in tow. Terric quickly withdrew from her. They both turned towards the approaching figures as Rosalind watched Terric's mother and Gwendolyn walk to where they were standing. His mother looked like an older version of Gwendolyn, the only difference being that her raven hair was streaked liberally with gray and her skin, instead of being smooth, held wrinkles earned by the passage of time.

  Terric stepped forth and clasped his mother in a hug. She laughed in delight before pulling back and saying, “Tis so good to see you, I hardly care that you soaked my bodice through with your drenched cloak. You must go change at once before you catch a chill.”

  Ignoring her concern, he stepped towards Rosalind, “Mother, I would like to introduce you to Princess Rosalind, and Rosalind, I'd like to introduce you to my mother, Millicent.”