Eleanor had heard stories of the former King's family, or rather her family, having magical powers; all royal families did. Very few commoners possessed the Druid gift; she just thought she happened to be one of them when she was growing up. Iny tried to help her learn to control it when she was young but it was wild and when it overtook her mind it was a desperate fight to regain her senses and control it. She eventually got frustrated and tired of dealing with it so she buried it. It had been easier after she met Colin. Everything was easy with him; he was so easy to love. She felt so guilty about sharing a kiss with the prince, and almost as guilty for cracking one of his ribs, although it served him right for pushing her boundaries. She felt exhausted; the sheer power of the magic she'd used had drained her already weakened body. Rayn told her that was common when magic first started expressing itself; she rested her head lightly against his back and hoped he wouldn't mind it too much.
They reached camp and found everything was packed and ready. Her horse was even saddled for her. She slipped off the side of Rayn's mount and walked to her own. Rayn tossed his saddle over his horse's back and pain shot through his handsome features; no one saw it but Leni. Pangs of guilt attacked her heart, he'd saved her from the raiders and she'd repaid him by trying to kill him. He probably avoided asking the healer to fix it just so he could make her feel guilty for days. She sighed and realized she had never even thanked him.
They rode all day. She was adept on a horse but she'd never ridden for so long before over rough terrain. Her legs were aching and her tailbone was still sore but she didn't complain. She wouldn't tolerate these men thinking she couldn't keep up.
Rayn slowed his horse to ride beside her for awhile, the men took turns "guarding" her, although it was clear she wasn't going anywhere or she would have tried to get away already. He hoped she felt guilty for hurting him earlier, as the day wore on the injury bothered him more and more. It was late afternoon and they'd have to stop soon to hunt for dinner. He was surprised that Eleanor didn't complain at all for the whole day; most women would be whining by lunch time that they were bored, sore, or tired but not this one. He refused to admit he was impressed but he was starting to feel more for her than just a wickedly strong attraction, he respected her.
They found a sandy beach along the stream and decided to stop for the night. Rayn was barely able to dismount without his side being seized with searing sharp pain. He should definitely make her feel guilty for this one.
"It's your turn to catch dinner tonight," he tried desperately to keep a straight face when he told her.
"What?" her eyes went wide.
She was easy to rile, he loved it.
"Come on, I'll help you. We'll need a few fish to feed all of us. It'll take too long for me to do it alone." He rubbed his side, silently explaining it was her duty to help since she'd put him in this predicament.
She looked at Kieran and he nodded, urging her to go with Rayn. Why would she look to him? Rayn felt the jealousy seeping in but she turned and followed him upstream. He showed her how to stand, with her feet wide, and hold her hands steady in the water with an arrow at the ready.
She was so angry she could spit. This was her payback, catching fish!? She hated the texture of live fish. She helped Colin hunt before and handled that rather easily but live fish were not her forte. And now she was stuck out in the cold water with him. A fish slid easily through the current, she waited patiently and closed her hands around it. When she tried to stand up her foot slipped off the rock she'd been standing on and she landed on her ass. She splashed, trying to recover before Rayn saw her. The water was knee deep and not dangerous but she was embarrassed. He looked up from his position a few feet away and smiled at her.
"Try again." He encouraged her.
She growled. He almost laughed at her; he'd never heard a woman get so exasperated that she actually growled. She repositioned herself quickly and prepared to try again. By the time she saw her next fish coming Rayn had already caught three of them. They were laying on the bank, each speared by an arrow just waiting to be cooked. Her stomach rumbled, her feet were numb in the cold water, and her back hurt from standing bent over for so long without moving.
She was not about to lose this fish too. She grabbed too soon and the fish escaped.
ARGH
She pounded the water with her fist, she was infuriated and Rayn made it look so easy.
"As much splashing as you're doing, it'll take hours to catch any more fish, "he waded towards her. "Let me show you, again." It was the fourth time he'd critiqued her position, style, or method.
She groaned and stood up. He could tell she was close to her breaking point, he didn't let on that he was close to his too. His ribs were on fire and they still needed a couple more fish. He stood behind her this time, so he could guide her hands exactly how they needed to go.
Her hands were on her hips, she rubbed the back of her neck with one before dropping it to her side casually. He knew she was tired, but he was going to teach her something even if it killed him. She pulled her wild hair forward over her right shoulder to get it out of the way.
"Get in your stance again." He instructed her.
She obediently bent forward and put her hands in the water. The ends of her hair floated on the current.
Oh GODS why did he think this was a good idea!?
He took a deep breath, "bend your knees, and make sure your fingertips are just brushing the bottom of the stream."
She leaned down farther and bent her knees; her round butt was hair's breadth from his groin. He clenched his fists, steeled his nerves, and plunged his hands into the water to join her.
She could feel his muscular body hovering just above her, and his hands were holding hers in the cold water. His face was next to hers on the left side, so close to her cheek she was almost brushing the stubble on his jaw. She tried to stay focused but it was very difficult. The muscles in her legs were burning from standing for so long but Rayn's warmth was surprisingly comfortable on her back. They stood close like that for what seemed like an eternity, and then finally a fish caught the current and swam directly for the opening between their legs.
"Steady, don't be too eager." He whispered to her. His warm breath caressed her cheek.
He was making it impossible to focus. She watched the fish swim closer, and then suddenly he whispered, "Now!"
He closed her hands on the fish, but it was bigger than the others and she wasn't prepared for it. He tried to hold on to it with her hands but she gave up and started to stand, knocking him backwards in the process and into the water. Now they were both wet.
"Stop!" he demanded. His temper was flaring, "try again, now. And this time, HOLD the fish and do not let go."
