Chapter 7

Rhia had arranged for Inara to stay with her for a few days. It was time to tell her everything and say goodbye. Her time was running out. Tomorrow she was to learn who her husband would be. Or at least who the council wanted her to marry but she already knew she wouldn't. She nearly had everything in place for her escape.

In order to avoid suspicion she had tucked her bag into the back of her wardrobe with her winter dresses. Only packing a few items at a time helped avoid the maids' notice of missing clothing. She wouldn't be taking much, just a couple changes and some money she had managed to save. Hopefully it would be enough for some new clothes and a new life when they found their place.

She had to wait until they were alone. Inara's guard would sleep in the small room linked to the one Niall slept in but both guards would be with them until they retired to her room for the evening. Time seemed to drag, testing her patience. What patience she possessed had been spent by the time it was lat enough to excuse themselves from her parents and go up to her chambers.

Hugging and kissing her parents was difficult at this point. Knowing she would leave them behind, probably forever, was ripping a piece of her heart away. She bid Niall a soft good night while Inara ignored (her guard). She had begun to notice a lack of interaction between them, whereas she had a type of friendship building with Niall.

She waited until the maids had helped them change and shut the door behind their ample backsides.

“We need to talk,” she bounced on the bed, patting the place beside her and oozing nervous energy. “You need to promise to keep this a secret though.”

Inara crawled up beside her and looked into her eyes to gauge how serious she was, “This must be huge. Who are we gonna kill?” she grinned at Rhia, trying to get a chuckle when she started wagging her eyebrows and nudging her.

“Hopefully nobody dies from this.” Famous last words, Rhia.

Inara went serious, she seemed to finally understand the weight her friend was carrying on her delicate shoulders. They sat in silence a moment, Inara silently giving her support and patiently waiting while Rhia gathered herself for the impending storm that began the moment she told her only friend the truth.

Sighing Rhia forced out, “I'm going away in a few days. Niall and I are going.”

“When will you be back?” Inara was nodding as if she already understood the answer. Her green eyes flashed as she answered for Rhia, “You don't think you're ever coming back.” It was more of a statement than a question, quickly followed by “We're coming with you.”

How did I know she would start there? Rhia thought while spouting her rehearsed response, “You can't go, Inara. I won't allow you to throw your life away with me. It is going to be dangerous and if we are caught the consequences will be unbearable.” She held onto her friend's shoulders and looked her in the eyes, trying to push her sincerity into Inara. She felt the moment when her will started to overtake Inara's and pushed her away, closing her eyes.

Inara touched her lightly and spoke softly, “Rhia, I could never let you go alone and you know I've always been miserable here. My happiness has only been two places- out there and with you. If you are out there, then there is no happiness in here.”

Rhia could feel the truth of her words, she didn't even need her powers here. She had always known this particular truth about her fiery friend.

“Can I know the reason we are leaving? Are you finally going to go to him?” She had been urging Rhia to listen to the goddess and take Niall as her lover, although she had felt this should be on the side. Perhaps she had merely been spouting what she though she should say. Inara seemed to genuinely want to go. “I had a feeling this was what you were up to so I packed appropriately. Of course I'll leave most of what I brought here but I brought some of my lighter dresses and some sturdy boots.” It was hard for Rhia not to be sucked in by her friend's exuberance.

♪ ♫ ♪ ♫ ♪ ♫ ♪ ♫ ♪

There was a light knock on the door connecting him to Rhiannon's room. His pulse jumped at the thought of having her alone with his bed so close and the rest of the house tucked away for the night. Before he could pull himself together and respond the door eased open and she quickly slipped in and closed it. The soft light cast by the only candle he had lit made this seem unreal. He struggled with his blood deprived brain to form coherent thoughts beyond those involving a lack of clothing and a probable death sentence.

He blinked and she was right in front of him. He could smell her sweet scent rising to tickle his nose and make his cock harden more. It was as if his body were reaching for her of it's own accord. She placed her hands on his bare chest, her touch branding him. Looking down into her gentle face he breathed, “You shouldn't be here.”

She parted her lips and he felt himself bend a little. He found himself seeing the logic of allowing a kiss. If he kissed her this one time he might be able to let it go and quit craving her. When his lips met her his brain melted, total liquification. He was drowning in her scent, her taste and the soft warmth of her flesh. The kiss deepened and grew hungrier. She snaked her arms up around his neck as he ran his hands around her waist and down over the firm globe of her behind. She moaned into his mouth and rocked her hips, pushing herself into his hands. His fingers began exploring the dips and valleys of her body, the soft spots and hard places.

When he felt her fingers loosening his breeches his brain suddenly switched on and he knew they needed to stop or they wouldn't. He took her hips in his hands and pushed and he stepped back. He took a deep breath and started to talk before his mouth found hers again.

“Rhiannon, you know we can't do this. You are to be betrothed tomorrow and we would have to leave or die. I will tell you now, I would not be able to share your affection with your husband. I could not bear the guilt of your punishment should we be found out, not for a moment.”

Rhia looked at him with a mixture of emotions playing across her face. Niall was certain he saw desire, sadness, anger and possibly determination just before a strange serenity settled there.

“You are right. It is not something to take lightly, I have given it great thought. I have plans, but not for tonight. I just needed to know for sure.”

With that she left him alone with his imagination making nightmares of her words. He had a sinking feeling that protecting her was about to get a lot harder.