by Lauren Wood
Chapter 3
Aiden sat on the side of the battle field. It had been several years since he had even thought of Kyla Fleming. He thought back to those years where they would play for hours on end. Then he remembered how he had snuck out of the village and ran to where he was now.
Well not this exact point, but his new life. He was now 21 and one of the King’s best men in the army. Aiden was looked up to by many of his fellow soldiers. He thrived on making his enemies fear the mention of his name.
But now as he heard the news being delivered to him. Her long brown hair and those brown eyes, he closed his eyes and thought of her once more. It had been hard to move on and forget about her.
In all honesty he would admit to very few that he still thought of her from time to time. He did miss Kyla and would love to see her. But not under these types of circumstances, not where her brother’s life would now be in his hands.
“Sir they want you to rescue him. The English are camped out about five miles south. We can go and get him now.” Aiden heard being said to him.
“You said Colin Fleming right?” Aiden focused on the conversation once more. The flash of her had taken his mind off of everything being said. He hadn’t heard all of what had been said to him.
“Yes sir, they captured him recently.” The solider said to him.
He wondered if Kyla had ever married or not. Surely after all this time she would have found a man. But he had to focus on Colin right now and getting him out of the English camp safely.
“Let’s go, we come in from the west. Once we get closer we’ll figure out what to do.” Aiden stated.
Kyla Fleming, he thought as they rode toward the known camp site. He wondered how long after he left she had found out. Had she been upset when she found out? These were questions he hadn’t thought about for a few years now.
He did regret not saying goodbye to her many times after he had left. But slowly he had stopped thinking about her as much. Was she ever out of his mind completely? If he would be honest the answer would be no. Even now he realized that he thought about her many times a day sometimes.
Aiden had really thought getting away from her would calm his feelings down. But now here he was going to rescue her brother, and not able to focus on anything but her. He wondered what she looked like compared to all those years ago now.
He had been so love sick over her, and now he felt like he hadn’t been gone but a few hours. His heart sped up as he thought of her, and what he had always wanted to tell her. “If I rescue him, I’m telling her, I don’t care.” He whispered under his breath.
“There it is sir.” The soldier pointed towards the middle of the woods. There was a faint light coming from a fire that had been lit.
Aiden formulated a plan in his mind. He told the man what to do. He slipped off his horse and went quietly into the night. Aiden had become very good at rescuing people in the years. He had a natural ability to slip in and out of locations before anyone knew he was there. It was one of the many reasons why the men loved him, and why his reputation had spread among many people. Not for the first time he wondered if Kyla had ever heard him mentioned in these years.
About 10 minutes later Aiden was leading Colin away from the camp. The met up with the soldier and rode off quietly.
Chapter 4
“Kyla, there you are, I’ve been looking for you.” Her father came around the corner.
“Yes father, I’m sorry I was hoping for Colin’s safe return.” Kyla commented.
“Don’t worry love we have our best man on the job.” Her father stated.
Kyla knew all too well who he was talking about when he said that. Aiden Scott had ruined her life, but been quite the man for her father’s army. He had snuck on so many years ago, but she had heard his name many times.
She wondered on more than one occasion why he had left and not said anything to her. Kyla had thought they were closer than that. However, she had gone down to his father’s shop one afternoon and found out he was gone.
“I’m sorry Kyla he’s been gone a few months now. I would have thought he would tell you.” Aiden’s father had said to her so long ago now.
“Where has he gone?” She asked honestly not having a clue.
“He joined the army of course.” His father had stated.
Kyla had walked away from the blacksmith shop slowly. For many years she had asked herself why he had done it, but she could never figure out why. Her heart had felt empty through the years too. Aiden had been something more to her, now she realized that.
“Father, do you know if he ever.” She stopped for a minute. She suddenly realized that she was going to ask her father if Aiden had ever married.
“What Kyla?” Her father turned around, he had been deep in thought thankfully.
“Nothing I was just thinking. It isn’t anything really. How soon will they be back do you think?” She asked her father.
“I don’t know. It really depends on how many guards there are on Colin and so many other things.” Kyla watched as her father looked out the window.
She didn’t know what to say, so instead she walked away. She thought again about Aiden, what would he look like now? Kyla thought sadly about the one boy who had always held her heart. If she had only realized how much at the time he may never have been gone.
He’s probably married by now though, she thought. It was a thought she didn’t like having, but had to realize it could be true. After all if he could leave her so easily and not say goodbye, she hadn’t meant a thing to him. It was tough to admit, but she knew it was a fact she had to face.
“Colin, oh welcome back boy!” Kyla heard her father say behind her. She turned around to welcome her brother home and saw Aiden for the first time. Kyla stopped cold, he was watching her closely. She wanted to act like she had no clue who he was. But her shock at seeing him had been obvious to everyone.
“Do you remember Aiden Scott, you and him used to play as kids all the time?” Her brother said to Kyla.
She shook her head. “I remember him.” She said trying to keep her voice as chilly as she could. Kyla felt her body betray her though. Her heart sped up at the sight of him.
“Ma’am, it is nice to see you again.” Aiden bowed at her feet.
Kyla felt angry at his false display of respect. She turned and left the room. She couldn’t be in the same room as him and not let her emotions take over. Kyla headed to the garden to get some fresh air.
She got to the bench in the middle of the garden and finally sat down. She took a few deep breaths and tried to get her head to stop swimming. She hadn’t expected quite that reaction when she first saw him again.
Kyla had wanted to be mean to him. However, she had realized that she could never say a bad work to him. The words she wanted to shout at him flooded her mind. She felt the tears well up in her eyes. She let the sobs hit her hard.
“Why do I have to feel this way about him? Why can’t I feel this way about someone who loves me?” Kyla thought to herself. She let the fresh air dry the wetness on her cheeks as she got her crying under control.
She knew that he would be around the castle for a few days. Surely her father would have sort of ceremony to celebrate the return of her brother. He would be honored and she would be expected to attend.
Kyla didn’t know how she would get through these days with him near her. She had thought she had learned to hate him since he’d been gone. But she found out that she still loved him and wanted him just as much as before.
She felt it was a cruel joke that someone played on her. How could you make me feel like this about him? She looked at the sky and questioned the planets.
“I have to be strong enough.” She stood up and went indoors. “Not tonight though.” She said under her breath and raced up to her room for the night. If she was lucky no one would bug her for a few days. She hoped that by the next time she stepped outside her room she would have her emotions under control.
Chapter
5
Aiden had stopped in his tracks as him and Colin had walked into the room. There was Kyla in the room, she looked beautiful. He had stopped and just looked at her. He hoped that she would notice him when she looked up at him. Aiden had seen her realization as she saw him, but then he had seen her eyes turn cold.
He heard the coldness in her voice as she said she remembered him. But he also saw how she ran out of the room quickly. Aiden wasn’t sure about her reaction. It had confused him. At first when her eyes had lit up he had hoped she would hug him.
But that hope had ended rather quickly. Then he was watching as she made her way out of the room. It felt like the last time she had left the blacksmith shop that day so long ago. He could remember wanting to tell her he had to leave.
Bain had convinced him to just leave. Aiden had almost given in and said goodbye. Was she upset about that? He wondered. Aiden had wanted to follow her and go to her, but the King had stopped him.
He stood there not listening to anything the King or Colin said to him. Instead he wished he could be with Kyla right now. His heart had skipped a beat when he first saw her. Aiden knew that he loved her and wanted to still have her hand in marriage.
Even though he was one of the King’s best men, he knew that he still didn’t stand a chance to wed her. In the long run it would all come down to him being the son of the blacksmith. Aiden was upset; he had worked so hard to change how people saw him. But it had been there when Colin asked her if she remembered him. He would always be known as the blacksmith’s son.
“I’m sorry sir. I’m really tired after the ride back though. Do you mind if I go get some sleep?” Aiden finally asked. He couldn’t think of anything but Kyla. If he had a better feeling about her he would have sought her out. Instead he made his way home to his parent’s house.
He talked to them for a few minutes. But then excused himself and went to his room. He sat there and thought about her more. Kyla, I wish I could have told you so long ago how I felt, he thought. He would try and talk to her in the next few days. The King had already told him that in two days there would be a feast, he must come.
Aiden wanted to spend the rest of his life with Kyla, not go back to the army. But how could he as a blacksmith son’s be her husband? How would that work? He could never give her everything she needed or wanted.
He knew that if he wanted he could ask the king for her hand in marriage, and he would probably allow it to happen. But it wasn’t the approval of the king he wanted, well not just his. He had wanted her to want him.
Aiden didn’t think that was the case. He had been shocked to learn that she hadn’t married yet though. On their trip back to the castle Aiden had asked Colin. “So did your sister get married yet?”
“Not yet.” Colin had answered.
He had thought of how their reunion could be at that point. What he had imagined and what happened were completely different though. Aiden would much rather have had her jump into his arms and cry out her love to him, but that hadn’t happened.
Aiden wondered if his life had even been worth it. Wouldn’t my life be better with her love? He thought out loud. He knew the answer was yes, but it all comes back to who you are, he thought again. I’m a fearsome soldier though?
“You remember Aiden; he was the blacksmith son’s?” He could hear the echo of the words that Colin had used to describe him.
“Why not he’s the King’s best man? Why couldn’t he have said that?” Colin wondered aloud.
Would it matter with her reaction? Then he pictured the coldness in her eyes and voice as she had said she knew who he was. Aiden had felt his heart being cut like a knife at that point. But he swore he saw something else in her eyes at first. Was he only hoping for more than what was there? He thought he might be going crazy.
Chapter 6
Kyla didn’t sleep well that night. All she dreamt of was Aiden Scott and how he had betrayed her friendship. To her it was him saying that he didn’t think she was important to him. It had hurt her so much since she had cared about him.
She had to admit though that she never told him how she had felt. The fact was she hadn’t realized how much he had meant until it was too late. He had been gone, and she was mad at him for leaving.
“You shouldn’t be mad at him.” She said to herself in the night. Kyla knew it was true. She just didn’t want her thoughts to betray her while he was here. If he had left once before, he’ll leave again. Kyla couldn’t let her emotions make her feel like she loved him. Not again, I can’t feel that pain of him leaving me.
By the time morning came around she hoped she could see him and not react in anyway like she truly felt. Instead she hoped that her emotions would allow themselves to be shut off for the next few days. Kyla wanted to be cold and distance from Aiden, she didn’t want to be hurt again.
“Kyla did you know your brother is back?” Her mother said as she came down the stairs.
“Yes mother I saw him last night.” Kyla stated.
Kyla thought about pointing out that her childhood friend was the one who rescued him. But then she felt her heart flutter at the thought of his name.
“Well you should be sure to thank that brave soldier who saved him.” Her mother said.
“I will mother.” Kyla answered. Clearly her mother didn’t realize that the brave soldier was her childhood companion Aiden. Kyla knew if her mother knew that she wouldn’t be pushing her so much to thank him, unless her mother’s thought of Aiden had changed. She knew that when he had simply been the son of the blacksmith, well her mother would never have agreed to the marriage of the two. Had Kyla actually wanted that such a young age? She didn’t know for sure, but she knew her feelings for Aiden had been more than just a passing fancy. Of course it had taken him leaving and not seeing him for years to realize it.
How stupid could she be? She wondered and almost asked aloud. But her mother wouldn’t know what she was talking about Kyla was sure of that. Instead she walked down to the dining hall; she could hear the man talking there. As she approached them she became more nervous. Kyla was still so hurt about him leaving like he did, she wanted to act upset at him, but didn’t know if she could do it.
“Well good morning Kyla!” Her brother was the first to see her when she walked into the room.
Aiden turned around and saw her. He stood up and bowed to her once again. “Good morning.” He said and pulled out a chair for her to sit down beside him.
Kyla didn’t want to sit there, but couldn’t figure out a reason to not be pleasant. After all he had saved her brother; she shouldn’t be too mean to him. “Thank you and good morning everyone.” Kyla sat and said looking at her brother and father, but trying to not look at Aiden.
It was helpless though he asked her a question, and she had to look at him. As soon as she looked into his green eyes though she realized she didn’t remember his question.
“I’m sorry I missed your question.” She said, and tried to sound cold and hard, but thought her voice sounded too pleasant.
“I asked if you ever married.” He stated again.
“Well I don’t know if that is any of your business or not.” Kyla said her voice harsh. She had been shocked by his question. But mostly she had been mad at it, and at the fact that he had left with no word to her.
He was shocked by her reply; she could see it in his eyes. Her father though was the first to speak. “Kyla I don’t think that is a very nice response. Aiden here was just asking a simple question.” Her father reprimanded her.
“I’m sorry father.” She looked down at the ground. Then she looked over at Aiden, she was unable to hide the pain in her eyes though. “No I never married. The man that I loved left in the middle of the night; he didn’t say a word to me about it.” She stated.
Aiden’s eyes widened at the comment. He wanted to ask if he was the man, but didn’t dare hold this conversation in front of the other men in the room.
“Kyla, I think perhaps you need a little mo
re sleep.” Her father shouted at her.
Kyla turned towards her father and said. “I think you are right father, I didn’t sleep well last night. Excuse me I must go back upstairs.” She stood up and walked out of the room quickly.
She hadn’t been able to control her emotions around Aiden at all. Kyla had hoped that she would be able to converse with him and not show any emotion. Instead she had basically told him she loved him right there in front of her brother and father.
Her father had shouted at her so quickly Kyla hadn’t been able to see how Aiden had reacted to her comment. It could have told her a lot about how he felt though. “Why do you keep thinking he cared, he left in the middle of the night?” She stated to herself.
Kyla knew she was just a foolish young girl still at the age of 21. But she had always wanted him since he left, and before even, if she would admit the truth to anyone.
She lay on her bed and cried. Kyla had nothing else to do but cry. She didn’t even want to attend the feast when it took place. She was sure that he would avoid her after today. If she had to watch him dance with another female it might kill her. The pain in her heart felt like it covered the whole area.
Chapter 7
Aiden hadn’t said much after Kyla left the dining hall. He had been so shocked by her comment about the person she loved leaving in the middle of the night. It had to be him, and the look he had seen in her eyes. It had been unmistakable to him, she was in pain. He had listened to the King’s apology for his daughter and accepted it. But what he really wanted to do was track her down, go up to her room and explain himself. However, that would be inappropriate.
He also wanted to ask the King or Colin who Kyla had been talking about. He was still afraid to hear the answer though, because maybe there had been someone else. It could have happened he had been gone for 5 years now. Aiden wondered if he was just hoping that she had been in love with him.
