We travelled for what it seemed an eternity.
The landscape was different now; fields and hills were all around us. Although everything was abandoned because of the Barbarians' attacks, nature was showing its strength. Green grass and flowers had just bloomed from the earth. Every now and then there was a destroyed cottage along the way. I looked at the shattered buildings with anger in my heart: this had to stop, I thought. I don't know how, but it must end soon.
Guillaume did not talk. He showed no sign of anger at the destruction. I wondered if he was having second thoughts about my coming with him to his castle. What would we find there?
I was feeling better. The sense of confusion and weakness was no longer in my head. I felt grateful and happy to be alive and helped by him, but I reminded myself that I was still a woman on my own in the world. I had to find my father's allies in order to fight the Barbarians.
Night time eventually cast its thick blue velvet over us, but Guillaume didn't stop. Our horses were still trotting peacefully, as if they had just begun the journey. I was astonished. "Are these magic horses you have?" I asked him playfully. "Any other horse would have stopped hours before from exhaustion." He turned toward me and smiled. "Let's just say I trained them well. We will stop in a few hours." We rode on through the night. As the sun rose, he finally told me: "I guess we could use some sleep. What do you think?" I simply nodded. I was so tired that I couldn't even talk.
We were at the end of a deserted corn field. There was a small lake and a large oak tree that would protect us from the sun.
While Guillaume was securing the animals with a rope to the tree, I sat by the tree and leaned my head back. Within moments I fell asleep.
I woke up with a start. "Hey, Caroline, what's wrong?" Guillaume was lying by my side, looking down at me, worried. I was shaking and totally covered in sweat.
"I...I was having a nightmare, I think." I whispered. Despite the warm light of the sun, I was freezing. I couldn't remember every detail, though images of my burning castle and dead brothers kept dancing in my mind. He glanced at me.
"Caroline...you cannot be a real warrior if you keep living those terrible moments over and over like this. This will only sap your strength and concentration." He shook his head and looked at me sternly. How could this passionate, gentle lover now be a stern knight and warrior?
I stared back for a moment, surprised at his rebuke, then angry. "I'm curious, Guillaume. How did you react after your wife's disappearance? Were you so strong to cancel all the nightmares from your head every night, or didn't you sleep at all?"
He pressed his lips tightly together and clenched his fists. He didn't avoid my gaze.
"Well, I had the courage to keep on with my life," he said coldly. "You should do the same. I built my own world again. A world you don't even know, Caroline. You can't even imagine how many responsibilities and problems I face every day."
I didn't want to show him my disappointment and irritation at his tone. I tried to control myself and remained silent.
He stood up and spoke again.
"I could have had nightmares, but I didn't put myself in one trouble after another like you are."
I stood up in front of him. He was taller, but I faced him with all the pride I could gather. I stretched my toned, trained body, as if I were preparing for a battle. I tossed my blonde locks on my back.
"Oh, really?" I ironically asked.
"There is a difference between the two of us," he said. "I'm a man. I could have all the women I wanted without losing my honour or my virtue. Every time I had a woman she was the one who showed weakness, not me. And believe me, I've had many. "
I got furious in an instant. He was speaking of women as they were objects, mere instruments. Was he the same man I met the night before?!?!
"You cannot order me around, Guillaume Deschamps. You and I were complete strangers until last night. Who do you think you are?! A perfect hero who casts spells on every woman he meets?!"
He probably didn't expect such a violent reaction. He looked at me with astonishment, but immediately regained his cool attitude. Then he shook his head again.
"You forget that I was the one that rescued you the night before. I could have just left you there, at the mercy of thieves and wild animals. You could show a bit of gratitude instead of acting like a little girl. I am just giving you advice." His blue eyes were like two pieces of ice.
I clenched my teeth. I wanted to hit him hard.
"I am not questioning your good heart," I retorted. "I am questioning the way you're behaving and talking right now. I'm free, Guillaume. I could sleep with whomever I want; I could have decided to die on that stone if I wanted to. And most of all, I can leave whenever I wish." I crossed my arms because my hands were shaking. I turned away from him.
I didn't want to tell him that losing my virginity to him was the best thing I've ever done. He stepped toward me and grabbed my shoulders firmly.
"You listen to me," he said. "It's not like I'm making you stay. I'm not saying that you owe me anything or claiming any power on you--"
"What do you want from me, then?"
He remained cool and calm.
"Frankly, I want you to leave me in peace," he said. "So if you want to go, I'm not stopping you."
He paused. I could hear the furious pounding of our hearts and nothing else. "I should be the one to ask you, lady. What do you want from me?"
"I just don't want to be treated like a whore." I blurted out, turning on him, full of anger.
He smiled a cruel smile. "Then don't act like one."
I raised my hand and HIT him on the face as hard as I could. He flinched, but stood still.
I was so furious that I started to pound his chest with both fists. "YOU ARE...YOU ARE...." I shouted, totally out of control, not even able to find the right words to insult him.
He caught my wrists. As I defiantly lifted my head, our eyes met. He was livid, and so was I. We glared at each other.
Suddenly, he wrapped his arms around me and kissed me hard.
I fought him with all my strength, biting him hard on his lower lip; the blood came out and mixed with our saliva. I wanted to tell him that I despised him, but it was impossible...
He slammed me hard back against the tree. My skin scratched against the bark. I kept on striking out at him; he managed to catch my hands again. His body pressed mine even harder. I was strong but slender, and he he was too powerful for me...
He pressed his cock between my legs, breathing heavily. I dug my nails into his skin. Incredibly, a strong rush of desire briefly overcame me, but as my body focused on his cock against my sex, my mind still rebelled against his arrogance.
He undid his belt. His pants dropped. He was still holding me with the other hand, kissing me in the meantime. As he reached down and lifted my skirts roughly, he pushed my hands out of the way and pinned me against the tree with his body. His cock was hard now, and my hips were bare. He lifted my legs with his arms and wrapped them around his body. My slit was against his cock. He kissed me hard. For a moment I responded to his kiss and pressed my hips down so that my clit pressed hard against the tip of his cock. Then, angrily, I turned my head to avoid him.
"You're acting exactly like those drunk thieves -- aren't you proud of yourself?" I hissed, biting his arm hard.
He playfully asked back: "I'm only taking what you want to give...aren't YOU proud of yourself?" My teeth sank into his neck in response. His cock found my wet entrance and he smiled. "You impossible, questioning creature. I will have you now..." "Bastard," I replied.
He plunged inside me and I moaned. I wanted to flee from him, to hurt him...and I couldn't.
I tightened my grip around his hips. We stared at each other with venom and lust mixed together.
My juices were dripping down his cock and balls. I was experiencing breathtaking pleasure, but still wanted to resist..
