...Anya lay in her bed, too excited to sleep, she got up and paced the room; too excited by the myriad of new and exciting sensations swirling through her mind and body, starting when she sat and watched the dark stranger from the stairs. She spun around smiling with her eyes closed, falling onto her bed and closing her eyes, seeing him, thinking about him. She sat up, suddenly serious.

What had brought him here, what did the letter say that upset her parents? She sat up and walked across the room, she listened to the door. Hearing nothing, she peeked out. Seeing no one, she ran into her room, grabbing a robe to wrap around her chilled body, and slipped on her fur lined slippers.

She slipped out the door and stood in the frame, waiting to see if anyone would notice. She smiled and walked quietly, looking over the banister, seeing nothing and hearing the muffled voices from her father's study. She quickly snuck down the steps and ran into the kitchen, stopping to look back. She sighed and waited for a few moments, still seeing or hearing nothing, she began to creep to the cellar door.

She smiled remebering the vent her and Broten had listened to their parents discussion of punishments when they were little; things were different before he left for school. She again looked around, sensing she was being watched, but seeing no one continued through the door, and crept slowly down the narrow, dark steps.

Halfway down the steps she heard the door above open and cringed, she stood with her eyes closed, hoping it wasn't her brother, she haerd the crackle of a flint. Suddenly frightened, she tried running down the dark stairs, and yelped as she missed one. She tumbled down the rest of them, feeling a sharp pain shoot up through her leg, she silently hissed and looked up watching with dread as the flickering glow of a candled descended.

She closed her eyes, hoping it was her father, hearing nothing, but she knew someone was there, watching her. She opened her eyes and gasped surprised seeing the dark stranger that had disturbed her household on such a stormy night. She held her breath, looking into his eyes, and blushed looking down at her ankle, the intense pain breaking the spell.

"In a basement beautiful?" He looked up hearing her parents voices clearly through the vent and smiled.

"Better be quiet, what goes down, can also go up." He winked at her and set the candle down near her leg.

He chuckled when she jumped as he touched her leg, lifting it to see what damage had been done, he glanced up noticing her robe spread behind her, and her gown had slipped up to tease him just above her knees. He lightly squeezed her foot, starting from the toes and working up, noticing tears jump into her eyes when he pressed around the ankle, he felt around and noticing no breaks, looked at her watching him intently and got a wicked thought.

He continued sliding his hand up her leg, sliding her gown higher, finally stopping just below the inner thigh watching her eyes grow large and frightened. He smiled more softly and pulled her gown down to cover her on the floor, and helped wrap the robe around her, feeling the chill in the air. He double checked her ankle, and kissed it softly.

"Nothing serious pet, it's just a sprain, I think it'll be more painful explaining it to your mother." He chuckled and stood up, looking down at her now smiling at his joke.

He helped her over to the stairs, and let her tentatively step up, she began to fall forward, the pain too much for her at that time. He sighed and turned to step behind her, reaching his arm under her rear and press the other one against her lower back; he easily lifted her to his chest.

"Hold on sweet, I wouldn't want to drop you." He smiled pleased by the tender sensation he felt when she wrapped her arms tightly around his neck.

He began to carry her up the stairs, halfway to the top she raised her head from his shoulder.

"What was it?" Her voice was curious.

"What was what sweet? He smiled playfully, knowing what she was asking about.

She rolled her eyes and sighed "The letter your brought my parents. What was the news that upset them so?" She looked into his eyes, and reached out to touch his face lightly, as they stepped into the dark kitchen.

"Wait here pet." He walked down the steps and picked up the flickering candle, carrying it upstairs and blowing it out before entering the kitchen. He slipped it into a pouch.

She now noticed his firm, large body, he was no longer wearing the cloak; but tight leather leggings and a dry tunic. He turned and smiled watching her looking at him, knowng the look in her eyes and flattered that he had stirred it in such innocence.

"The threat of war and loss of an old friend." He quickly crossed the kitchen, and looked out into the foyer and stepped out far enough to look up the steps. Still hearing the voices from the study, he walked back, again picking her up and rushed her onto the steps, and stopped briefly before carrying her up them.

He set her down in front of her door, and opened it, scooping her in and shutting it quietly behind him, hearing a knock on the door downstairs. He pulled it open a crack and nodded, hearing who it was that arrived.

"Who's that?" She asked, hopping on one foot over to her bed, collapsing into it, and setting herself up to look at him with her head tilted to one side.

"You'll meet them in the morning, I think it's past your bedtime." He walked over and sat next to her on the bed, looking at the wall that would be next to her brother's room, he frowned noticing no vents.

He walked over and again, double checked her ankle, he looked up into her eyes, watching his hand on her skin. He glanced down and noticed her legs were inadvertantly spread, allowing him more room to look at her ankle. He slid the hem of her gown up higher than necessary, exposing most of her thighs and rested his hand in the same spot she grew fearful of in the cellar, and gently carressed them with his thumbs, enjoying the silky fleshiness against his rough hands.

"Close your eyes love, I have a surprise for you." She looked at him warily, seeing his friendly smile, and playful gleam in his eyes; she smiled and did as he told her to. He leaned up between her legs and brushed his lips lightly across her mouth, holding them there, watching for her expression.

Her eyes sprang open shocked, but she did not pull away, he finished the kiss a little more intently, licking her lips lightly with his tongue feeling them part. He pulled away and smiled, nodding.

He watched her face, adjust to the sensations he had stirred, he could tell she was aroused, but confused by him. He smiled devilishly, realising he had her trust, even is she didn't realize it yet.

"I didn't tell you to open them." He looked at her sternly and chuckled watching her close them again.

He sat near her, letting his body press against hers and pressed something slightly cold into her hands, he again kissed her, feeling her eagerly respond. She pressed against him and he had to push her back to regain control of his desire to press her into the bed and have her there.

"Open them." He said tightly, still focusing on pushing his painful arousal down.

"My dagger!" She exclaimed happily and quickly hugged him tightly, he felt her breasts pressing against his chest.

"Careful with those love, until you understand what they do to a man." He stood up and walked across the room, again inspecting the wall, hoping to get his wicked thoughts about her out of his head, looking back at her puzzlement.

"Father gave me this, a few weeks after Broten returned from school with some friends, he told me" She bent her head down and furrowed her brows, cutley imitating his deep tone "Any daughter of mine should be able to defend herself, and should have a weapon as pretty and special as she is." She smiled happily remembering that day.

He smiled, hearing no pride or vanity in the statement, but knowing her father, he could hear him saying it just like that.

"Lord knows my brother won't." She looked at him frightened by the thought, as he turned his attention from the wall to her.

"What about your brother?" He asked, his interest now completely shifted from any wickedness with her, curious why her father would give it to her.

She shrugged. "Ever since he started to attend schools in Nayvor, he changed. Even after he was done with school there, he returned there frequently for visits." She shifted suddenly uncomfortable under the intense look he was listening to her with. She looked down at the dagger glittering in the candlelight.

He noticed her blush, a sad look clouding her eyes. He frowned, knowing he wasn't responsible for this emotion, and walked over to sit next to her on the bed. He reached out and brushed back a stray hair, hoping to comfort her.

"I won't say anything little love, I promise you. If you trust no one but your parents, know that you can trust me; always. I swear this to you sweetling."

His interest in this information and the recent concerns about this area; was part of the reason he was sent to escort them to Bovane; this made her even more precious to him and his interests.

"He brings friends over when father has to travel. Mother doesn't leave me alone with." She looked across to the wall Davin was inspecting earlier.

"I hear them talk sometimes." He grew slightly angry watching tears spring into her eyes, looking at him sadly.

"They say frightful things about me. I don't understand all of it, but I asked my father." She sighed softly, relieved she had someone else to talk to.

That's when he gave me the dagger, he told me when he leaves, to stay near my mother, and when i'm in my room, to keep my door locked." She took a key out of her drawer and twisted it around in her fingers with a wistful smile.

"What else do they talk about?" He laid with her on the bed, and hugged her tightly to him.

"They don't like father and they start to talk about Bovane and Nayvor, but when they start talking about what the do there. It's the only time I don't hear them." She rolled over and curled into his chest, feeling safer than she had felt in a long time.

He lay there quietly, feeling no arousal, just a desire to take her away. He held her close and brushed her hair, sensing her sleepiness. He found himself fearing that if they spoke about her like that and knowing personally the difficulties she presented him in controlling his desire for her. He feared what they would do if they found her alone.

He sat up and lifted a chain from his neck and raised her to his chest lightly and slipped it around her neck, letting her sink into his arms, as he fell to the bed with her.

"If you're brother or any of his friends try anything or you hear them mention any names or plan to harm anyone. You get to Bovane and find me, just ride North my love, and you'll find me."

He lay quietly watching her inspect the pendant, lightly fingering one side. He closed his eyes, feeling a peace he hadn't felt since before the battle. He held her tightly, not wanting to leave.

"A crown and a ring?" She looked into his eyes curiously as he opened them.

"King and country; love." He smiled as she turned it over and quietly read the name.

"Cesare?" Her voice was dreamy with sleep.

He kissed her and smiled.

"Davin Cesare, it's my name pet." He heard her say it, and decided he liked hearing it on her lips.

"You will always find me in Bovane, if you say it. someone will find me for you." He whispered lightly against her ear, making her giggle and squirm against him, pusing him away playfully.

He stood up and swore softly seeing the threat of the sun rising, knowing it would not be good to be found in her room, especially laying with her in bed. He jumped up from the bed and looked at her.

"Do you have anything long?" His eyes were eager.

She shook her head not sure what he was asking for.

"Rope, twine, a petticoat; anything long enough to let me slip out the window?"

She smiled pointing to her drawers. "Scarves and belts in the top one."

He walked over and smiled, looking down at a colorful assortment of soft and silky undergarments. He turned to her and smiled, returing to rummage through the variety of colors and materials.

He found several scarves, and enough wrap around belts to reach most of the way to the ground. He quickly tied them together, looped them around her bed post and jumped onto the window ledge, letting the lenght of material drop.

"I hope you enjoy travel pet, and I'll see you have enough adventure for both of us." He blew her a kiss and easily slipped out the window.

She hobbled over and watched him quickly climb down the rope and tumble to the ground, springing into a stand. He looked up to her and waved before heading to the stables.

She quickly lifted up the rope and closed the window and pulled the drapes shut. She climbed into bed, and kicked the tangled mass of knoted silk and cord into the blankets tucked into the foot of her bed. She lay there drowsy, looking at the gift he had given her, glimmering in the candle, flickering before burning out...