She bounded into her room, shrugging her cloak from her shoulders and removing a small jeweled dagger from it. She set the dagger aside her, pulling out a smile pile of notes from her desk. She skimmed them aloud. Perhaps just to believe she still had a voice. She didn't really; it was hoarse from the air outside. The notes threatened her with force of marriage, and the chance to kill with her dagger. They continued on, at least one a day for about a fortnight now. Being scared of words scrawled on paper was useless. She slipped out of her riding breeches and button down shirt. Pulling a light chemise over her head, she fell into a tired sleep instantly.
She awoke with a servant bustling around in her room. Siobhan moaned opening her eyes. She left as if she had slept for days.
"M..Milady Garwood. I did not mean to wake you. Forgive me."
Siobhan offered her a friendly smile "'Tis no forgiveness needed. It was just high time I awoke."
The servant chuckled. "Aye, Milady. 'Tis almost one in the afternoon." Siobhan's eyes opened wider. She'd slept 11 hours. This was new to her. Never had she slept that long. She got up sleepily, sending the servant to fetch her a warm bath.
After a bath, she dried the copper curls and shut her now blue eyes. Why did she agree to meet Phillip tonight? Yes, he was a good friend but she'd finally relaxed. She had no desire to see what he wanted. She dressed in a new pair of breeches and buttoned a shirt over her slim figure, and pleasantly full chest. She pulled her dark cranberry cloak over her and set her beautiful dagger inside. She pulled the hood over her head and headed off.
She rode up to Phillip's earlier than she thought she would. Surely no one was home at this time. She was just about to knock on the door when Phillip himself opened the door. She was not sure he knew how to do this task. Surely everyone all his life had done it for him. He smiled to her and taking her hand gently and placing a soft kiss on it. As soon as he had, she snatched it away. She didn't need him flirting with her like this.
"What do you want, Phillip?" she asked crossly. By the stupid look on his face, she felt she got up and dressed for no good reason. You'd think she asked him something in Spanish, yet another language he didn't know. She couldn't get rid of a nagging feeling in her mind that tonight would be worth it.
"It's a good question. See, I had to write those horrid notes to you to make sure you could put up with it, but your a strong girl, and I want your hand in marriage." He said. There was a pause before he spoke again. "Close your mouth. People don't gape at me so, normally."
Siobhan gripped her dagger in one hand as she answered him. "No."
"No?" he said as if he'd never heard the word in his life before. Hah, you dimwit, Siobhan thought, he probably HASN'T heard it!
"Correct. No, I will not marry you, you bastard who scared me half to death!" she said calmly. Even she didn't know how she was staying calm though. Phillip slowly advanced on her and put an arm around her. He pulled her close, bringing hard demanding lips to hers. She used all her might and shoved him away. He tried to step to her again. Before his foot was completely lifted, her dagger was at his throat. "I do not return your feelings, Phillip. If you move toward me again, 'Tis you who walked upon my blade."
He set his foot back down. "Siobhan," he began. She hated her name from him. He, along with everybody else practically, could not say it properly. They made it sound like "Sighbin" instead of "Seahban" that it really was. He continued, "Face it. You're almost 18. You need to marry."
"I'd sooner join a convent than marry you!" she said spitefully. On that note, she turned and left the house. Collecting her horse she walked along it. The horse was as tired as she, and she wasn't sure if Myst could hold her. She swayed slightly sleepily. A hand in the darkness reached out, holding her waist, as she stood upright. The man was behind her. The hand was most definitely male. Too large to be a female. And it was most definitely not Phillips, that much she was thankful for. Although, she wanted no man.
As soon as she stood upright perfectly, she grasped her dagger and spun putting the dagger to the man's chest with a sharp blade. "Who are you and what do you want?"
"Dnieper and to keep you upright at the moment." He said a grin playing his lips. In a quick motion the man who introduced himself as Dnieper spun her and twisted her arm behind her back, forcing her to drop the dagger. "I won't hurt you. Put this away." He said letting her arm go and giving her the dagger.
"You could have just asked me to put it away" she grumbled, rubbing her shoulders.
"Would you have?" he questioned, already knowing her answer.
"Not on your life, you shallow...self-centered..." Siobhan paused and he finished.
"Lord..."
"Hmm?" she questioned, not understanding.
"I'm the shallow, self-centered Lord of Janae." He said simply, rubbing her neck and shoulders for her.
Her words were stammered. "Oh, goodness. I'm sorry. What...is your name?"
"Lord Dnieper Sien Janae. And you?" he questioned with a growing curiosity to the gorgeous woman with odd eyes. They were the brightest green when she attacked and now were a decently pale blue. They contradicted greatly with her copper curls. Her hair looked soft, she overall looked greatly desireful.
"My name? Siobhan Aral Garwood"
"Siobhan. Beautiful name for a beautiful woman." He replied. She was astonished! He was the third person to say her name right. Only her mother and father had gotten it right before "Do you gape at people often?" he questioned.
"So it seems tonight," she quickly retorted defiantly. "Dnieper," she started. He was astonished too. Rarely did anyone say his name right either. She laughed. "First, you are gaping as much as I. Second, I don't need your help home she said as she stumbled again.
He pulled the reigns on the horse to stop it. He walked around front the beast and whispered words Siobhan could not hear. Then he walked back to her side, putting one boot in the stirrup. "Dnieper, Myst does not enjoy being ridden by strangers." She finished as he swung himself into the saddle. Myst didn't make a voice. Siobhan looked astonished.
He leaned over very far in the saddle and linked an arm around her, just under her breasts. He heaved her up in front of him. She lay back against him, exhausted. "You can sleep, Siobhan. I know where Garwood Manor is" Siobhan was asleep before he finished the phrase. His arm tightly held her on the horse, her small body, pressed so tightly against his. She had laid her head near his shoulder, so she would be stable. He smiled at her. She finally looked innocent. Her temper was sharp but oh god, that's what he liked about this girl.
He shook her gently and whispered in her ear, "Siobhan, we're here."
"Mm hmm" she mumbled, nuzzling more into his shoulder. He kissed her cheek. Most people of society did though, so she didn't stir. He nibbled the ear he'd whispered to. A rush of passion overtook her and she awoke with a start. He laughed. She turned in his arms and kissed him very gently.
"Come back tomorrow. Bring Myst with you then," she said softly as she was set down. On the next note she added, "In secret come, in silence. I'll wait for you at 9 p.m. sharp." He nodded and turned toward his own lands. She cautiously walked inside. Her father approached her.
"What did he say, ma ch�re?" he questioned.
"He offered marriage. I denied," she said and turned away toward her room. She changed quickly and fell asleep with childish images and adult passions.
9 p.m. came and went. It was two after nine. Where was he! Goddamn him! She was dressed casually in a long dress of dark midnight blue velvet. He strode up on Myst just as she was beginning to get annoyed. "You're two minutes late," she whispered.
"Sorry, I didn't think you would be counting the seconds." She nodded and led him to a forest so they could talk. She stood against a tree. Dnieper stood against Myst.
They spoke over an hour before Dnieper took a step closer to Siobhan. When she didn't mind he took another until he was inches from her. His lips touched hers gently and she responded gently. Their kisses became feverishly demanding. Then Siobhan stopped them. She didn't want to loose control.
Every night for two weeks they'd meet at 9 p.m. At 11 or 12 they'd depart. On the end of the fortnight, they were speaking as one of the female servants came out and walking in the woods found them.
Dnieper didn't flinch as he dropped to one knee, and proposed to her. The servant gasped. Siobhan did too. She nodded as Dnieper put a ring on her finger.
Here it was, three years later. Siobhan never forgot that night. She yelled to her daughter. "Aurelie, they are flowers and you CAN NOT use magic on them." She rolled her eyes and put Aurelie to bed, which seemed greatly needed. She slipped into bed with Dnieper and he pulled her close.
"You remember how I proposed?" he whispered.
"How could I forget?"
"I paid her, the servant. To come find us, so I'd have a witness. That way if you said no, you'd still be forced to marry me because it was us alone."
She slapped him hard. The connection of hand to skin could be heard. "You wicked man! You could have told me!"
"I am sorry Siobhan Aral Janae." She laughed as he kissed her neck, both falling asleep tightly in each other's arms.
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� Nicole Lynn J.M. 1999