FOREVER KNIGHTS: #16 To Keep Her

He heard a twig crunch and his head spun. Peering further into the woods. He knew instinctively what she needed to hear. “I won’t force you back, I swear by all that’s holy.” There was no response, so he added. “I’d love to see your face?”

She leaned from behind a tree. A white cloak trimming her silver hair and sheltering her face from the falling snow. She walked soundlessly.

His heart skipped a beat.

“Els.” Without meaning to, he slumped to his knees in relief. Somehow finding her hand when she came close enough and pushing the back of it against his forehead. Taking in the unusual warmth at the contact. “I’ve missed you…”

She said nothing.

When he looked up at her, he found her chin lifted and her staring down at him. But as he looked at her, he would’ve sworn he saw emotion swirling through the dark depths of her eyes. And the slight shiver of her bottom lip.

Trying not to show weakness?

Her eyes flicked over the woods.

Avoiding looking back at me. He rose.

“Elsabet?”

“Yes?” She blinked up at him.

He knew he should probably release her hand, but she hadn’t tugged it away and he was disinclined to ever let it go. “Come inside?”

“No.” She shook her head adamantly. Eyes huge.

Thinking I’ll never let her leave. Can’t blame her for that.

“I let you go, Elsabet. I’ll never keep you prisoner again.”

“You let me go?” She said derisively.

“Come now,” He tilted his head chidingly at her. “After all that time, as careful as I was. You think I’d really hand you a way out by accident.”

“Why would you do that?” She asked in shock.

“Because keeping you would’ve meant losing you. I finally understood that. I’ll never hold you prisoner in WaterRose again.”

“Won’t you?” She quirked a blonde brow. “How do I know this isn’t a grand ploy to get me to walk back in there so you can lock me in?”

“You think I want you back so badly?”

Damn straight I do.

She stared at him a long moment before crossing her arms. And even beneath the cloak he could perceive the cock of her hip. “Do you?”

“Absolutely.” He nodded emphatically. “But I wouldn’t lie to you about it. I’d tell you, you’re going back and drag you kicking and screaming and anyone who didn’t like it could be damned.”

Her expression cleared. “You’re right. You would’ve.”

He nodded.

“I’m not going in there though.”

“I understand.” His had fell away.

“Did you get your lumps of chocolate this year?” She queried. Staring at him a long while.

Every year.

“Yes.” He sighed before grumbling. “I ended up with far too much because someone has done deliveries to the peasants of Ardae again this year.”

“I didn’t know someone was?”

“Yes. I’m being replaced with the people, I fear.”

“Isn’t that a good thing if someone is helping do what you do? Caring for them?” She cocked her head.

“Perhaps…” His lip curled. “Doesn’t mean I’m fond of the idea. Anyway, was curiosity because you might finally share a cup with me?”

“Out here.” She gestured around. “Not in there.” She pointed back toward the castle. “Take in your tree. Bring me out the chocolate.”

“Will you wait?”

“Perhaps…”

Hesitating a moment, he nodded. Catching her fingertips to give them a light squeeze before backing up. Letting her hand slip away.

Stay. His stare conveyed. Wait for me.

He sawed through the tree as quickly as he could. Willing to snap the damn thing off with my hands if its faster.

Dragging it into WaterRose he barely tossed it in the Parlor, propping it on the settee before heating the chocolate over the fire. Burning himself twice in the process and barely noticing.

“What is that smell?” Elengard entered the room sniffing.

“My hand.”

“It smells terribly.”

“I may’ve burnt away the hair.” He remarked. Stirring the pot faster as he tried to break the chunks into smaller bits.

“What is the hurry.”

“She’s out there.” He gestured toward the window. “Waiting in the woods for some.”

“What?” Elengard blinked kneeling opposite him. “Pull out the pan.” They plucked the chunks into smaller bits. “Ouch. Ouch.”

Soon it was melted into a smooth consistency.

Elengard rushed in to add cream to it. Then offered a wooden cask with a small stopper. “Pour it in here.”

He complied.

She handed him the cask and two wooden cups. “Go. Go!”

He took them and left.