176 – Lover’s Pact (1)

The sound of breathing echoed through the night air. She clenched his hand fiercely, unwilling to let go at any cost. Though her legs were burning, though her chest was heaving and her lungs burning hot, she dared not let go.

Her mind was a spiraling mass of emotion as she and he eloped through the cool summer’s night. At their heels, perhaps not a hundred meters away, were several lanterns. They teetered back and forth in the darkness, as if propped up by ghosts, unseen. She knew better, the voices of the men echoed through the woods, even as the two ran for all their worth.

She was beginning to regret, it was a sensation she fiercely denied yet given the flurry of ‘life’ coming at her -- she had to admit it was a valid sensation. She recounted the dozens of other ways she probably could have handled things, yet none seemed to matter and all seemed gray beneath the rose colored gaze of devotion.

She looked at his back, even as she struggled to suppress her breathing and somehow intake breath. He seemed large, larger than ever before and ever more dashing. He cut through the darkness of the woodlands without fear, despite the fact that she felt their mad dash was in vain.

They would be caught, and torn apart. She would probably suffer the same fate all those unprivileged faced. For a split second she thought of her family, and what they might endure because of her. It pained her heart, to think that her brothers and sisters might suffer, that her mother and father might be rendered to complete poverty and yet -- there was love.

She couldn’t deny the allure, the sensation of something blooming so fiercely within her heart. She recalled almost every moment spent together with this young man, ever since the day they first saw one another.

His skin was fair, it was apparent that he’d rarely seen a day of sun in his life, yet his hands were dirty with mud and his fine shoes caked as he ran along.

“Do you need me to carry you?” He whispered, almost viciously so that his voice would carry.

“I- I think I can … keep going..” The teenager girl’s young voice barely left her lips above the sound of a whisper, yet she could hear the sound of voices and shuffling towards their direction.

*We can’t keep this up...we should...we should stop.* She thought, her mind racing as she struggled for a way to tell him. She could only think of one.

She slowed down, coming to a halt and allowed her grip to falter so that their hands parted. There in the moonlight two lovers faced one another, like many other times. This time they were of two minds and two hearts.

“I can’t do this. You have your future to think about. And I have to think about my family. As much as I want this, this is selfish.” She began, her eyes downcast and her hands quivering. She spoke the words she wanted to say the least, yet the same ones she knew to be right -- at least the ones that made sense.

“Nonsense. There is no going back, Adena. I…” The young man stepped forward, slivers of moonlight shining through the sparse canopy of trees.

“It’s done. I threw away everything, my inheritance, my title. All of it. And I would do it again. For you.” The young man said as he grasped her quivering hand and held it, until she quivered no more. His embrace was like the finest drug, one that could cure any ailment of the mind or soul, at least this was what she thought as she considered his words.

She couldn’t help it, her heart fluttered. It was an excited response, one that she felt a tinge of guilt for experiencing.

*Everything. He gave up everything..for me.*

This thought brought tears to her eyes, for various reasons. She was profoundly touched, but the most prevalent thought was -- *Why can’t anyone else see how much we care for one another? If we could get them to acknowledge us then--*

“Hop on.” His voice drew her from the thoughts that distracted her, however brief. The sight of him kneeling in the deeply brown earth, beckoning her to a piggy back ride was one that she would never forget.

She bit her lip and stepped forward, falling onto him slightly. She underestimated just how draining her run had been. She wondered how a young man who’d rarely worked a day in his life was able to keep going when she, a peasant, spent nearly everyday toiling in physical effort. She was spent, completely.

“I knew you were tired. You’re a bad liar.” He whispered. The muddy hem of her cloth dress could be felt pressing against her as he lifted her up and began to move. The voices were closer now, and she realized that they wouldn’t make it. She even wondered where they were going, it was all so sudden. She assumed he had a plan, he seemed like he did. But none of that mattered, all that mattered was the moment. She rested her head against his back, nuzzling for warmth as she wrapped her arms around his neck. This was the place she was meant to be, at this moment. She was sure of it.

He ran for a time which seemed both too short and very long. She could hear his labored breathing, yet he never complained and never faltered --even when he misstepped.

“I don’t want any harm to come to you. We should stop this…” She tried once more to speak the words of reason, words that were impressed upon her by the realities of everyday life. The reality of classes and social status, the words of adults who simply didn’t understand.

“It’s too late. In order to make sure I could never go back...I took...I took half of the gold. And I bought a carriage in secret. We just have to make it. We just have to make..” He said, and suddenly they were falling, face first towards the dirt. She gasped, struggling to stifle her audible sounds as the two crumpled to the ground with a thud.

“I- I’m sorry. We will..have to walk from here.” He said, his body shuddering as he attempted to get to his feet.

“No. I shouldn’t have let you carry me. Here..” She said, renewed by his words and conviction.

“Hold onto me.”

And so the two continued, the footsteps got closer, shuffling through the brush -- but she didn’t care. A carriage, and money -- enough to start a new life with just the two of them. He had forsaken everything he had ever known, and done so for her. It was enough, more than enough. She hoisted him upwards, using every bit of experience and strength from her upbringing. She draped his arms across her chest, allowing them to fall freely even brushing against her breasts. His touch was electric, yet she ignored it as she focused her mind for the task ahead. She leaned forward as she lifted upwards and then she began to walk, quickly as her body would carry them.

She tried to control her breathing, to stretch out her stamina to the utmost limit. Occasionally he whispered to her, guiding her towards their destination and soon the dim moonlight revealed a shabby hut in the woods.

“There. The driver awaits.” He said, struggling to get to his own feet.

“I can go on my own now. Thank you, my love.” He said with a smile as he grasped her hand once more. Though her body was aching, her feet blistered and her hair a complete wreck -- to anyone looking she resembled a ray of sunshine.

The two made a mad dash for the wooden structure and as they drew near she noticed a dim light from within, candle or perhaps a lantern. Very faint. They quickly moved towards the door and once near it, he whispered the password. An older man’s voice replied, and the wooden door quickly squeaked open to allow them both to enter.

The two lovers quickly dipped inside, thankful to finally be out of the woods. They realized they only had a few precious moments, but with a carriage they could do it. With a carriage and money they could --

“Did you think you could get away from your father, boy? Especially after ye’ robbed him?” Another stern voice echoed from a dark corner of the small hut. He immediately went on edge, his hand outstretched to shield her from perceived danger.

He glanced towards the face of the man who was to be their carriage driver.

“What is the meaning of this? I paid you!” He practically spat.

“Aye. That you did. And your father paid me thrice what you did.” The man said with a shrug as he sat down.

“Me n’ you. We’re gonna have a chit-chat boy. And then yer’ gonna have a decision to make.” The sinister voice said as a man stepped out into the dim light of the hut. There was a long, sharp stiletto blade in his hand, one that he flicked and twirled menacingly. She felt her body stiffen and her eyes widen, she couldn’t help but recede into the safety of his back once more. And he stepped forward, ready to defend her at all costs.