Aura.

"So what time is this wedding to take place tomorrow?"

"In the early afternoon, or late morning." Sillgrim answered.

"We plan to leave for our home tomorrow. Should you wish to join us we will wait until after the ceremony. That way we can travel in harmony, unhindered by bandits."

"Somehow I have trouble picturing you with that particular problem even on your own." Sillgrim commented.

"You are right. Most men tend to leave me and my forces alone."

"We will travel with you, and we will be happy to do so."

"Prepare to ride long and hard then. I will let Signi know. Aura already knows how I like to travel, she will be prepared." Thorn replied.

"You make no allowances for the ladies?" Sillgrim asked in surprise, thinking a woman not up to such punishment.

Thorn smiled and answered. "You will find they are tougher than they look and they are more than happy to get the trip over with as well. Remember Sillgrim. I have traveled with both Signi and Aura. I know what to expect. I have the advantage over you in judging what to do."

Sillgrim nodded in agreement and the two men looked about them. The meal had ended and they sat alone. Signi and Aura had moved off to talk with others. They got up and joined them.

Aura gave Thorn a soft loving smile, as he approached from behind to wind his arms about her waist. He looked down at her and leaned over to kiss her on the side of the temple. "I can hardly believe you are really here." He whispered in her ear as he held her.

"I am here Thorn and unless you no longer want me, I will never leave you." Aura replied in a voice meant for his ears only.

"Where were you?" He asked. "I looked, we all looked."

Aura closed her eyes as if it hurt to speak, and answered. "I am not sure telling you would be such a good thing. I am not from your world Thorn and I guess before I could come back to stay I had to make a clean break of my old life. I pray to G.o.d I have done the right thing."

Thorn sighed softly and answered: "If you are with me it is the right thing. Never forget or doubt that."

CHAPTER x.x.xI.

For the first time since Aura had made herself known to Thorn they were alone, and he was unsure of what he should say or do. He wanted desperately to pull her into his arms, and crush her to himself. He wanted to feel her lips under his, to devour them. He wanted to possess her, to feel himself surging deep inside of her, but some inner sense told him that the time was not right. He would, he promised, try to find out what had happened, though he was unsure how to broach the subject. To cover his indecision and feelings of awkwardness, he said nothing, hoping that things would fall into place on their own.

In his usual style Thorn undressed, tossing his clothes as he shed them on the floor. By the time he reached the bed he was naked and he slid in between the covers. He squirmed about trying to make himself comfortable then noticed that he was not the only one who did not know what to expect.

Aura had entered the room just before Thorn and she was still standing by the doorway, with a deep crimson blush spread across her face. She had forgotten that he slept naked and only now remembered that she had usually been asleep by the time he had joined her. She had never watched him disrobe to retire and she felt very awkward about the idea of him watching her undress, which she knew he would do. It was just something that went without saying that he would enjoy. If for no other reason than it would make her blush.

Thorn smiled in amus.e.m.e.nt at the look of embarra.s.sment on Aura"s face. He then sat up, letting the covers drop down to his waist as he spoke.

"You cannot be embarra.s.sed by the sight of a man"s body when you have healed so many?"

Aura said nothing as she walked to a corner of the room and took Sid out of the bag. She decided, as the snake was always left to roam through the night, that she should let Thorn know of its existence. It also gave her time to deal with her uneasiness.

"I want you to meet Sid, Thorn. He hunts for mice and rats during the night. I will be glad to see him home and safe."

"Your replacement for Roger I presume?" Thorn asked with distaste. He did not share Aura"s fondness for snakes.

"I bought him with my own money and he is mine. He will take care of the rats and other rodents in our home until he dies and this time he had better die of natural causes. I brought him because I cannot live in a house infested with vermin. I especially despise rats." She defended her reasoning and need for having Sid about.

"I understand Aura and it is all right. I dare say I will get used to him in time."

Aura looked at Thorn for a few moments then sighed, she had forgotten so much about the man. She was certain that she could not remember feeling so breathless in his company. She certainly didn"t remember him watching her with the intensity he was showing at the moment. She then acknowledged that they had not really spent much of their waking moments together. They had both spent their time working on their own projects, to the point of exhaustion. She found that the way his eyes lingered on her made her skin tingle and flush. She didn"t really mind the feeling, whereas she thought she might have before.

Thorn"s gaze caused Aura to feel a sudden engulfing heat and felt it burn from deep within. She wanted him. It would have been much easier if he would have just picked her up at the door and carried her to the bed. Within moments they would have been lost in the depths of their needs. What made it so difficult now was that as much as she craved his touch, his kisses and his possession, she wanted to let him know that she had returned for more than mere s.e.x. She sighed in her disappointment and dropped her eyes from the picture he presented before her.

Thorn smiled, wondering what was going through her mind and teased. "Are you coming to bed, or have you changed your mind? Do you plan to sit on the floor and play with that snake all night?"

Aura rose, as she was at the point of doing anyway and picked up a clean nightgown. Thorn laughed as she looked for a place to change and asked. "Do you think you need to crawl off into a corner to change? Do you think I do not remember every curve and plane of your body? Do you think I do not remember the feel of your skin and the taste of your lips?" He then grew pensive as he continued. "Every night I used to imagine you in my bed. I would remember the feel of your body next to mine, the sound of your breathing in the night, the feel and taste of your lips on mine. Why did you leave me Aura? Why?"

Silent tears ran down her face as she raised her eyes to look at him, meeting his gaze with her own. "I did not leave, not of my own free will and certainly not in my heart." She sat by his side, on the edge of the bed and continued. "I never realized I loved you until I was gone, until you were no longer there. When we were apart I could feel every time you were sick or injured, almost as if a part of us were joined. I could feel your arms about me at night, though you were not there and I could not return. I did not know how to, though I wanted to with all my heart."

"I prayed, I never lost faith, not even once." Thorn felt that if he told her how he had not lost faith it might help her believe, for he had a feeling that she was beginning to give his theory her support.

"I know, but you must try to understand Thorn." She pleaded for him to recognize her problem. "I do not have the kind of faith that you have. The type of faith, that would help me believe, I have never experienced. I had to seek help to find the kind of strength you take for granted. I needed to find a way to understand what happened. I don"t think I ever will, but I am willing to accept it for what it is."

Thorn thought to take her into his arms at this, but Aura held him off with her hands. He gave her a look of inquiry, but backed off, in respect for her feelings. She spent some time getting herself together then began anew.

"I was told to believe, to hold fast to he who believes, to take all that bound me to where I was. I did all this and I am prepared to continue to do so, but I will need your help, your strength."

"What would you have me do?" Thorn asked. He would do anything.

"Hold me Thorn? Please do not punish me, I cannot take much more of this. It has been too painful, too difficult."

Thorn took his tear-drenched wife into his arms and attempted to comfort her. She was special to him, he had dedicated many prayers for her return and she was right. He should not be making this hard for her. It was obvious that she had come very far and things were difficult enough without him making them even more so. He looked down at her and smiled. It figured. She was fast asleep and probably because, as usual, she had worked herself into a state of exhaustion, both physically and mentally.

Well, he thought, one good turn deserved another. He lifted her onto the bed and disrobed her, remembering the zipper in her last gown. He smiled down at her as his eyes caressed her in her sleep, and he memorized every inch of her all over again. He reached out with a shaky hand to bring a stray lock of hair to his lips and moaned as the scent held within wafted over him. Lord he had missed her. He curled up beside her and covered the both of them with her blankets to ward off the chill of the night. He then drew her close and kissed her on the temple as he gave a light sigh. He buried his face into her neck and inhaled even more of the fragrances he had missed so much. He vowed with all of his body and soul, that he would bind her to him, no matter how. She moved closer to him in her sleep, winding an arm about his shoulder and sighed softly. She had been very tired, he understood. He was just as tired in his own way. Within moments he also fell asleep and for once, he found peace in his dreams.

Aura woke first in the morning and although she felt a bit surprised to feel Thorn"s skin next to hers, she decided she liked it. She raised a hand to touch his strong chiseled profile and gave a tender, secretive smile. She had made the right choice, she was sure of it. He had become everything that she had ever wanted.

Feeling a pressing need to rise and relieve her bladder she became aware of how tight Thorn was holding her and she wondered how it was possible for him to maintain his grip while he still slept. He had, as she recalled, held her like this all night, in varying degrees of possessiveness. He moved now, releasing her enough for her to squirm out of his arms and she rose to dress and see to her needs. She finished as Thorn woke and gave him a wide loving smile as his gaze rested on her. He looked for a moment as if he doubted she was real then rose onto an elbow to watch her closer.

"You always were good at getting out of bed without rousing me." He remarked with a pleased grin. It did not matter to him if she had not woken him as long as she was still with him.

"You sleep too sound." Aura defended herself then taunted. "I am surprised you have made it this long without one of your enemies slitting your throat in the night. I bet if your foes knew what I know they would choose to attack in the middle of the night. That way when you woke in the morning, you would be left to wonder what had happened."

"Granted, I sleep well when I need not be wary." Thorn admitted.

"Likely story, you always sleep like someone struck you over the head." Aura teased, in obvious high spirits.

Thorn watched with approval as her smile flashed and her eyes appeared lit from within. He had never seen her so lighthearted. She danced about as she teased keeping herself out of the range of his grasp and he laughed in glee as she forgot herself and stepped a little too close. She had swung about and he had managed to catch a handful of hair as it had fanned about her.

"Not fair," Aura accused and she laughed as he captured the rest of her. His lips covered her and the laughter stopped as she moaned and wound her arms about his neck.

There was no pa.s.sion in this kiss, only a burning need to touch and be touched. When it might have changed to something more demanding he pulled away, unwrapping her arms from about himself and with a voice, thick with need, explained.

"No. When I next make you mine it will be in our home and in our own bed. This time we will do things right."

Aura agreed, so she said nothing. She understood, or thought she did. He did not want a repeat of their life before. He wanted something better; he wanted a life where they were one in all things. She gave a lithe stretch and tossed him a Cheshire smile.

"I almost feel as if I could go back to sleep. Does that sound lazy of me?"

Thorn grinned back and answered. "I would not worry about it, for I know of few women less apt to be lazy than you, although you do tend to drift off too easily. I have never met anyone who can go from wide awake into total sleep as you do."

"Really?" She replied, continuing her light teasing banter. "They do say a clear conscience makes for a quick and easy sleep."

Thorn chuckled as he rose and dressed. Aura rolled over onto the other side of the bed, where she sat facing the other direction so she would not have to watch him. He taunted her from behind.

"You really have not changed that much have you? You used to avoid looking at me before. I could never understand it. Why does the sight of my body embarra.s.s you when others do not?"

Thorn sat close beside her and she turned to view his fully clad body and replied. "The other men are patients who need to be cared for so they may live and heal. I see no further than that with them. But you Thorn," Aura stopped to run her tongue over her dry lips in a nervous gesture, before relaying the rest of her thoughts. "I am affected by the mere sight of you Thorn. I can feel something deep inside of me. I sense when you walk into a room, even when I do not see you. I am not used to these things and I am not so sure I can handle it. I will need some time to get used to the feeling. Can you give me this?" She ended on a breathless note and looked down at her hand, which she had earlier folded on her lap.

He understood, she did not need to say anymore. Thorn decided he liked this and with a light touch, he cupped her chin in his fingers and raised it until she was looking into his eyes, instead of at her hands.

"I am a patient man Aura, I will give you all the time you need. All things come to pa.s.s when the time is right."

Thorn bent and gave her a long sweet kiss that lasted until they were interrupted by a knock on the door. He looked long and deep into her eyes for a moment, followed with another quick kiss then rose to answer the door. Aura moved to begin the packing of the few things she had.

Signi was at the door, dressed in pale pink and gold, and she teased as she breezed into the room. "Up and dressed so early? I would have thought you abed until noon, I would have been." She paused then as she saw the empty sack and looked about in uncertainty as she asked. "Sid still free?"

Aura smiled her amus.e.m.e.nt and went to a corner, where Sid had coiled himself up to sleep. She put him back into his sack and closed it.

"Feel better Signi?"

Signi could sense Aura"s amus.e.m.e.nt, and in some ways she could see her point of view. It did seem silly, but she couldn"t shake the way she felt about the snake. "I have come to talk to you before the wedding. I need some answers."

Thorn laughed at that then left, saying he had to prepare his men for their trip home and needed to let Edwin know what had happened. Edwin had elected to stay with the men instead of accompanying his brother to the banquet.

"Men can be so irritating at times." Signi declared as she watched her brother leave then changed the subject as she confided. "Sillgrim came to my room last night for the first time. He said he could not sleep because he could not get me out of his mind."

"You welcomed him?" Aura asked, making sure that what had happened was of Signi"s free will.

"It is proper, we are due to be wed today. Aura, I never thought it could be anything like that between a man and a woman. He made me feel so complete. It hurt a little at first, but it was worth it in the end. I feel as if I could walk on air."

Aura smiled, content with what she heard. "I am happy you are pleased Signi. A part of me feared you might be discontented with Sillgrim, after all, he was not your first choice."

"I never knew Sillgrim when I made my first choice. I daresay things have probably turned out for the best. Thorn and he have become fast friends. If Thorn approves of Sillgrim, Edwin will. I am truly happy. But are you? You do not seem that overjoyed to be back with my brother."

"It is not so simple for us Signi, we have been parted a long time. Thorn is trying to be very understanding without knowing any of the facts. There are barriers and I believe we both expected this."

"You mean to say he did not take you into his arms last night and make love to you?" Signi sounded astonished. It would have been the first thing she would have thought Thorn would have done.

"Not as Sillgrim did with you." Aura admitted. "Somehow I do not think it would have been right if he would have. Signi, we love each other and I think we are content to let the moment come. And Signi? It will come."

"You are sure of this?" Signi worried aloud.

"Thorn was very tired from his long forced ride last night. I was not any better, although in my case it was basically nerves. We slept, nothing more."

Signi felt disappointed, but she shrugged it off as she turned around to show Aura her dress, which one of the reasons she had come in the first place.

"What do you think of it Aura? It is my wedding gown."

"It is beautiful Signi. It is just too bad that you will not be wearing it for long. You do know Thorn and Sillgrim have decided to travel as soon as the ceremony is over?" Aura was half afraid the men might not have mentioned this to Signi.

"Sillgrim and I spoke of it last night. We have a lot of work to do before winter sets in and Sillgrim wants to get started. I understand the reasons, I grew up in that part of the world. His people will be mine. We both want the best for them. Thorn has offered to help in anyway he can."

"Very neighborly of him, don"t you think?" Aura asked.

"Yes, considering he is not quite finished with his own home." Signi informed her.

This was news to Aura, who, while she knew that he had planned to begin building, had no idea he had even begun the actual work.

"I see I am in for a few changes when I get home." Aura commented with a smile. "Well I have a few surprises for him also, so I guess that will make us even."

"I am so happy that we are going to be living close to each other Aura. We can see each other often."

Aura nodded then opened one of her boxes to bring out a jeweler"s box. "Signi I would be honored if you would wear these for your wedding. They were a gift from my stepfather. They would finish off your outfit so nicely."

Signi took the flat velvet case, embossed with an exclusive jeweler"s stamp on the top and opened it to reveal a diamond necklace and earring set. She gasped at the exquisite beauty of the jewels and asked. "I thought you were the unwanted daughter."

"Yes, well, I was away for over three years. By the time I got back they were feeling very guilty over the way they had treated me. Jewelry was one of the main ways that they used to try to bridge the gap. Please say that you will wear them? They will go together so well with the dress."

Signi nodded her head, her eyes sparkling with enthusiastic excitement. The jewels were gorgeous. Aura had her turn around to put the necklace around her neck. Signi turned to her after the jewels were secured, and fingered the gems as she sought Aura"s opinion.

"How do I look?"

"Like a Princess." Aura a.s.sured her. "You are so beautiful Signi. Sillgrim is very lucky. When is the ceremony?"

"As soon as I go down to join the rest the ceremony will start. "

"Then perhaps we should get it over with. I will go ahead to tell them you are on your way. Give me about ten minutes then follow. Anyone who looks like you do right now has the right to make a grand entrance, especially on their wedding day."

"Ten minutes?" Signi had no idea what Aura was talking about, though she did know that she spoke of a period of time. "How long is ten minutes?"

Aura sighed, more in irritation with herself than anything else. She should have realized there were still some gaps to fill.

"Just give me time to let them know before starting down. You should have some idea how long that should take. Edwin and Thorn should have finished what they set out to do earlier and should be waiting for us below. Oh and Signi, good luck." Aura hugged her sister in law then hurried away.

The ceremony was dispensed with almost faster than Aura remembered her own wedding taking and that, as memory served her well, had not been long. Thorn stood on one side of her, holding her hand tight in his and Edwin stood on the other, watching the groom with a wariness Aura decided the man had earned. It had not been that long since they had ridden into battle against each other.

As the ceremony was taking place Signi and Aura"s possessions were carried out of the building and packed into a cart for the journey. All except for the bag that moved when anyone tried to lift it. That was left for Aura to transport herself.

Thorn told both of the girls, as soon as the ceremony was over, that they had best change before the trip. There was no time left, after that, for congratulations, or formalities. It was time to ride.

CHAPTER x.x.xII.

The trip was very much as Aura remembered. They rode until she was ready to almost fall off the saddle then Thorn lifted her from her horse to hold her in front of himself, until they were ready to make camp. When they stopped she moved about the camp, stretching her muscles while Edwin and Sillgrim approached Thorn about the pace they were traveling at.

"Who do you want to kill first Thorn, the horses, the men who follow us on foot, or your wife?" Edwin growled. He was exhausted. Thorn had never driven their troops like this before and while the men who followed them were not theirs they still deserved a degree of consideration.