The Lost Princess

Chapter 13 || Jumping To Conclusions

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Aster and I escaped as quickly as we entered. Holding the medicine tightly in my grasp, we rode till day break. Aster had the box with the gowns Idean made for Arabella fastened to his horse. I know Aster is becoming tired, as am I, but we have to be back for my voyage in less than a few hours, or the men would know of my absence, and wonder why it was important I leave, bringing Arabella unwanted questions. I had chosen Aster for his blind loyalty, and his knowledge of the castle, however, not many are as trusting as he.

My eyes are beginning to fall, but I force them open, allowing the ice winds of the morn to wake them.

"There it is!" Aster calls to me with obvious glee, pointing to our campsite that has been home for the past month. Soon he is pushing his horse faster than mine, taking the lead, and maniacally laughing into the wind. I shake my head and speed up to meet him at the camp. I leap of Fergus and meet up with Aster.

"Thank, my friend, for joining me, but we must keep that visit discrete to the other men, is that clear?" I met his eyes straight on.

"As crystal. There is at least an hour before I am supposed to really be about, so may I," he begins, before a deep yawn takes hold of him.

I nod, "Of course." Taking the box out of his hands, before he walks towards his tent. I let out a loud yawn of my own, heading towards my and Arabella's tent. I look down at the medicine in my hands, and my strides become more urgent, ripping the slit open, however, I find something I was not expecting.

Lying snuggled up on my cot is Arabella, but beside her is a very comfortable looking Aiden. His arms disappearing into the blanket, they appear to be sharing. What the hell is this! I want to scream. The sight alone is confusing. She's not yours. I think to myself. You have no right to be mad. But God! I was only gone for less than thirteen hours, and she is laying in the arms of another, and not just any other, my damn best friend!

I hear Arabella stir, and realize I had just been standing at the entrance staring at them. Her sleepy green eyes find mine, and she lets out an easy smile. "You made it," she whispers, trying to sit up, but Aiden is preventing her from moving, so in one stride I push Aiden off of her, landing him on the ground in a humph. Arabella's eyes fly open, as do Aiden's. "Leathan, why would you do that?" She yells, at the same time Aiden says, "What the hell?"

Aiden looks up then, and sees me, "Lea, I know what this looks like, but it's nothing like that. Ella is like a sister to me, and it is disrespectful to try anything with Queen, I would never. I have a wife," he continued, trying to get me to see reason, but my eyes seem to only see red.

Arabella spoke then, "Aiden, thank you for last night," she began, but I shot her a look, "I will see you later," she nods.

Aiden must have taken that as his hint to leave, for he was up before I had the chance to say anything else.

"Here is your medicine," I seethe, placing it at her side, adding the bag with the dresses. "And Idean made these for you," I add deadpan.

"Leathan, will you just stop for a moment. Nothing happened between Aiden and me. I just couldn't sleep last night because I was feeling awful, so he held me. He told me it was something that would help his wife sleep, and it did. It worked I felt a little better for a moment, long enough to sleep. You see it was nothing other, then the person you left to watch over me, watching over me. Aiden is a good man and shame on you for thinking anything vile." She huffed, reaching for the medicine. I flinched.

"Shame on me!" I shouted. She's right, the sane side of my brain screamed. Aiden would never. "I see, the man I left to watch over you is holding you tightly in his arms, and it's my fault."

"You jumped to conclusions, you have no business making," she replied, but her focus is on the medicine, taking out carefully the right herbs and placing them on her tongue. Then, she stopped moving, as if something just occurred to her.

"What?" I question, uneasy by her sudden change. One of her knowing smiles spreading across her face. I can't see why.

"Are you jealous of Aiden?"

"No," I say quickly, "What an absurd thought. Just take you medicine. I'm going to get some rest before we leave," I add, walking over to my pile of blankets.

"Good, you have no reason to be," I hear her whisper. "Leathan, come sleep in the cot. Get some proper sleep, before our journey," she calls. Her reasoning makes sense, and the night I held her in my arms was my best night sleep I had in years, so I joined her. Instead, this time is was not out of necessity rather want.

She turned to face me, giving a sweet sigh before her fair eyelids hid her emeralds from me, and she fell into an easy sleep. Her unruly mane of red curls tucked behind her ears, and I suddenly had an urge to touch it. I waited a moment to ensure she was truly asleep before I made the small reach to feel her soft, silky curls between my fingers. I watched as a strand looped perfectly around my forefinger before falling back into place. Was I jealous? I contemplated. I have never lost my temper over something like that. Then, again, no woman had ever caught my eye and intrigued my soul the way Arabella has.

Knowing I would not be able to do it just yet, I whispered," You were right," into her hair, before letting sleep descend upon me as well. 

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