Time was funny to her, especially now. Now that she was happy, time seemed to go by all the faster, seemed to be slipping through her fingers one day after another, each day that she slipped away to see BrÃ¡dach at their spot. Before, it'd been a slow crawl, as though she'd done something to someone in another life and deserved to feel every second, of every minute, of every day for the rest of her life. But with him, it was different. It was a welcome change, to be sure, a pleasant change.<br/><br/>Except in one aspect.<br/><br/>Now that time was moving so fast, the wedding was beginning to loom nearer, reminders everywhere. If not the fittings for her dress, then the constant questions from her ladies-in-waiting of what she desired to be there and whether she was looking forward to it. Simprina had also been tasked with making sure she knew dignitaries from the area backward and forward, so there was always a sort of test going on whenever she wasn't up to her eyes in other tutors to make sure their customs were known and accepted and well looked after.<br/><br/>It was with all of this that it made it harder and harder to slip away. Not impossible as she'd managed to convince them that she needed time to familiarize herself with the kingdom and what it had to offer in a more hands-on sense, but it was becoming harder to slip away<span style="font-style: italic">unaccompanied</span>.<br/><br/>â€œIt's not right for you to be wandering around on your own,â€ she'd heard time and time again. â€œWhat if there are vagrants? What if another group tries to take you away again? Don't you worry about what would happen if, on one of these rides, you didn't come back?â€<br/><br/>Time and time again, she told them she was fine, that she trusted the people of their â€œgreat countryâ€ to keep a respectful distance, and that she'd nothing to fear as the family wouldn't let her fall to harm. Of course, her trust wasn't in the country, but in the one man she knew would keep her safe no matter what, the one man she could count on. The one man she actually<span style="font-style: italic">wanted</span>to be around.<br/><br/>It was one such instance that she was heading off to see him, attempting to make a hasty exit down the stairs when her ladies caught up with her.<br/><br/>â€œPrincess!â€<br/><br/>Simprina's voice resounded far higher than the borderline stampede of heels clicking down the marble hallway. She almost didn't stop, but when called again, she forced her steps to slow to a grinding halt, barely able to make herself turn around with a pleasant demeanor. â€œYes, Simprina?â€<br/><br/>â€œYou're needed in the library, m'lady,â€ she explained hastening down the stairs to escort her that way after a brief curtsy. â€œYou're required to go over a booklet of paintings of the dignitaries as well as the other members of the royal family. We need to make absolutely certain you've got the memorized.â€<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">But I've been going over them every day for weeks...</span>she thought angrily as the woman tried to drag her down another hallway in the politest way possible. â€œI'm also expected to know the country, correct?â€ Maria started. â€œI think my focus should be more on that than the dignit-â€<br/><br/>â€œPrincess, hold your tongue!â€ came a shocked, indignant reply, cutting her off. â€œNothing is more important than the family you're marrying into! His Royal Highness will be handling the kingdom so that can wait until after your wedding day.â€<br/><br/>How could she beg off? She couldn't insist without it seeming out of sorts, so she allowed herself to be led down a different hallway entirely, away from freedom as she'd come to know it, and into the vast library, settled into a chair at the end of a table strewn in pictures. Simprina then lorded over her, presenting picture after picture and asking who it was and their relation to the Sirmians.<br/><br/>All the while, she couldn't help wondering where BrÃ¡dach was, and when she could beg off, and if he'd still be there when she did.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000">The days came and went faster than he wanted. It was good in the sense that he did not have to spend too long alone without her, but in that same turn the time for her...wedding...was fast approaching. That thought...it...there were no words. <br/><br/>The more time that they spent together, the more that he felt she was his and not the prince's. Even if that thought was irrational and it could never be that was how he felt. Those moments that he spent with her were the happiest in his life and all he wanted was for those to continue. For them to be together always, whenever they wanted and not have to wait to see one another. It pained him, more than anything to walk past her in the castle and pretend they were nothing.<br/><br/>Still, he had started this with her, had taken that step and told her it would all be worth it. So, he would just continue to enjoy their time together and not think about her wedding. It was all that he could do.<br/><br/>There he stood at the water's edge waiting, as he always did, but she never came...<br/><br/>â€œWhere is she?â€ he spoke to the space about him. The position of the sun told him that she was well over when they were to be meet and he almost thought of leaving. <br/><br/>Instead he made a campfire, then he stripped to his shorts and waded into the water to do bit for fishing by hand. It took extra skill and focus, which he hoped would help pass the time while he waited for her.</span><br/><br/>The names began to blur together the longer she tried to make herself focus. And, the more she tried to make herself focus, the less focusing she was able to do. Instead, her eyes kept flitting to the window and watching the sun move across the sky, her toe tapping in impatience.<br/><br/>Along with her impatience, this seemed to be a glowing example of how clueless Simprina could actually be. Whether it was her â€œdedication to her jobâ€ or an inane sense of oblivion, she seemed unaware of just how irritated Maria was becoming the longer the session drew out. As each passing moment meant less time with Brad, if any, depending on if she'd be able to get away without someone else deciding they needed to stop her for something.<br/><br/>â€œAnd this is Lo-â€<br/><br/>â€œI need air.â€ The statement was simple, interjected without much ado as she pushed back from the table, rising from her seat and excusing herself. Simprina looked as though she was going to stop her, a look of shock on her face from the sudden declaration. A hand raised ever so slightly in protest but quickly fell as Maria had already hastened out of the room,making a break for the door and not bothering to stop if anyone even said anything remotely<span style="font-style: italic">close</span>to her name.<br/><br/>Just in case.<br/><br/>By the time, she'd made it out of the castle and to the stables, the sun had already begun to set, inwardly irritated that it'd taken so long. She was  shorter with the attendants than usual, wanting the horse to get sorted as quickly as possible, and was only happy when she was atop it, riding out of the gate and taking off as â€œnonchalantlyâ€ as she could.<br/><br/>All the while, simply praying that he'd lingered long enough to catch him there, even if for only a moment.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000">The sun had begun to set and Brad found himself beside the fire on a blanket his gaze to the stars. For fish had been caught, gutted and fileted before being spitted and placed over the fire after a rub from some herbs he found growing in the area. They had just begun to crisp and were rotated when he heard the sound of hooves. <br/><br/>Slowly he got to his feet and drew his knife, just in case, while he waited to see who it was that approached. <br/><br/>When he spotted her there was no containing the smile on his face and he half jogged to meet her, his arms extended to help her down from the saddle. Wanting her in his arms as soon as possible, â€œI almost thought you were not going to make it....â€</span><br/><br/>The moment that she saw him, after rounding that corner, her heart skipped beats, her body felt light, the butterflies in her stomach took wing. And, despite all the sudden nerves, there was a sense of relief. She'd managed to catch him, to see him, and the fact that she'd taken so long no longer felt like an issue. That irritation melted away and had her practically jumping off of the horse, not wanting to be away from him any longer.<br/><br/>â€œI almost didn't think I could get away,â€ she replied, apology in her voice as she was lowered, arms holding him tightly. â€œI tried to get away at my usual time, but Simprina had to stop me to go over dignitary and family names again, and I didn't think I'd catch you before you left, and I'm sorry it took so long and I'm not sure how much time I have...â€ She rambled then, wanting to get it all out and apologize, to explain why she'd been so late so he wouldn't think she'd intended to.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000">He rose a finger to her lips to silence anymore apologies, then kissed her. Hand cupped the back of her head to hold her close to him, while his other arm encircled her waist. It did not matter why she was late, all that mattered was that they were together. That was all that ever mattered to him anymore. <br/><br/>When the kiss ended, he lingered, the back of his fingers caressed her cheek while he smiled, â€œI made us dinner....â€ he whispered. â€œHope it is up to your refined tastes, I only had the herbs around here, but I did catch them with my own hands...â€ another kiss stolen, this one quick and sweet.</span><br/><br/>She'd have launched into more, but his finger against her lips stopped her, and the kiss stole what little breath she had left. His skin burned against her, not realizing that he was shirtless right off as she was just so relieved to see him. It was almost too much for her heart, her head to take, that he really was right there, that he really was kissing her, holding her, that she'd made it despite how the day had gone.<br/><br/>After it'd ended, she still felt breathless, hardly able to breathe as he lingered close, as his whisper resounded. Then another kiss, and what little breath she'd regained was stolen once more. â€œYou made it, so...it'll be wonderful,â€ was all Maria managed to say at first, amid shaky breaths, a smile steadfast on her features. â€œAnd, you managed to catch it with just your hands? That's...impressive,â€ she added, eyes widened as she tried to figure out how one did that. â€œI can't imagine being able to do that...â€<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000">â€œYou just have to be good with your hands,â€ he explained, though there was a double meaning in his words. â€œAnd be very patient,â€ he continued, while his fingers interlaced with her own. â€œHow much time do you think we have left?â€ he asked, while he brought her hand to his lips to kiss.</span><br/><br/>The double meaning was definitely not missed, a reddish hue coloring her cheeks at the very thought. But, that thought started to fade when he asked how much time she thought they had. Already, she was having to think about leaving him, and it killed her. Who knew if she could get away tomorrow, or the next day, and her time with him tonight was so sparse...<br/><br/>Her smile faltered a bit as she dropped her eyes to their hands for a moment. â€œI don't know...an hour...maybe two?â€ she answered softly, teeth biting her lip as her forehead started to furrow, the happy thoughts of spending time with him now marred by the idea of having to leave and wondering if it'd be the last time.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000">â€œMultiply that by about four,â€ he smiled and kissed her again. â€œDon't fret, ok?â€ he said to her. â€œYou will stay here with me until we are done and then I will get you into the castle without anyone noticing you sneaking in....â€ he whispered. â€œSo...I want you to just smile for me and be happy while we are together. Ok?â€ he asked of her.<br/><br/>What time that they had together was precious so he did not want to have it ruined by even the smallest bit of unhappiness. He kicked himself for asking the question, but he needed, to know in order to figure out just how to get her back inside the castle.</span><br/><br/>Confusion etched itself into her features as he told her to multiply it, the kiss only momentarily distracting her. What confused her more...was he was going to sneak her back in. â€œBut...how are you going to manage that?â€ she couldn't help but ask, worry brewing behind her eyes. â€œI don't want us to risk something that could end up with you hurt because I was being selfish and stayed longer than I should have...there are so many people that wander those halls, how can we even possibly manage that?â€<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000">"I am a ranger, I am a Master at sneaking,"he smirked. "Plus, they leave me alone to roam and I found some places that I think many have for forgotten," he gave a shrug. "So, you relax and trust me? Ok?"</span><br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">But I'm about as sneaky as a hoard of men running in full metal armor...</span>she mused to herself, but nodded, a small smile appearing back on her lips, even if her eyes still appeared a fraction worried about the idea. â€œAlright...â€ Maria finally said aloud. â€œI trust you.â€<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000">"I've not let you down yet, nor do I ever plan on to..." he whispered, while his eyes held contact with her own. "Come on, lets eat while it is hot and then you can tell me about your day," he said and with her hand still in his own he led her over to the camp and handed her a fish on a stick once she was seated.</span><br/><br/>Nodding, she followed, settling down (secretly glad she went with one of the Sirmian dresses for lack of a corset this go around) and accepting the fish he offered. Blowing on it a bit so as to cool it, she started picking at it, slanting a glance at him with a curious sort of gaze. â€œSo...other than somehow managing to catch fish with your bare hands and making it taste delicious...â€ she started after putting a piece of it in her mouth to savor. â€œWhat else did you do?â€<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000">"I thought about you," he replied without hesitation while he took a bite of the hot fish. "Like I usually do with my time," he shrugged as if it were nothing special.</span><br/><br/>That was enough to make her blush once again, eyes dropping to her fish as her smile grew a bit more, along with becoming a bit shyer. To know that he was thinking about her just like she was thinking about him...it made her happy. Another glance at him, her mouth opening to say something, but then changing her mind, instead taking another bite of fish. â€œWell, my day was...boring, to say the least...Needlepoint, and staring at pictures of people made for a long...long day.â€<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000">"Have you started to write in the book I gave you?" he asked and shifted so that he faced her completely. "Or, are you waiting for when I get the chance to sneak you away for longer adventures before you write in it?" he asked with a teasing grin. Though his eyes were on how she smiled and how it made her eyes seem to light up with a kind of life. An energy....she was so beautiful when she smiled. It was how he always wanted her when they were together. Smiling and happy.</span><br/><br/>His teasing grin was met with a grin of her own and then a nonchalant shrug like it was nothing big. â€œOh, you know...â€ she said with a light wave of her hand. â€œI've written...some...â€ Another bite of fish and she left it at that, not quite willing to divulge what it was she'd put in it yet. Not ready to embarrass herself with her inner musings about him, about them, about what she wished could be and wasn't.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000">"Oh, I see" he began and set his fish aside. "You are going to force me to sneak into your bedroom at night..." his tone low and teasing. "Crawl under your sheets, up along your bed..." tone practically purred out. "And then..." he left it at that and picked up his fish to eat again.</span><br/><br/>Her chewing slowed as he started to paint a sort of picture, eyes widening, fully focused on what he was saying as her mind began to play it out. She'd almost begun to lean in, to want more...but he stopped, her eyes narrowing before she pretended like she didn't want to know what would have been tacked on the end of his sentence, taking a bite of fish with mock indignance. â€œTwas my master plan, after all, for...that...â€ was all she said before popping another piece in her mouth.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000">He just chuckled and continued to eat his fish, when he was done he  leaned back on the blanket and looked up at the stars. "You know...with my blanket on the grass and my shirt torssed somewhere....I could use another blanket to cover me..." he said in a nonchalant tone.</span><br/><br/>She'd finished her finish before he did, unable to eat it all, having set it beside her and contented herself to watch the fire. But, when he commented about needing a blanket, she glanced down at him. â€œWell, what a coincidence...â€ Maria remarked as she closed the gap, nestling into him and resting her head on his chest. â€œI was just thinking how blanket-like I am.â€<br/><br/>Her thumb smoothed out across his skin, as she lay there for a moment before breaking the silence again. â€œCan I ask you something?â€<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000">His arm had come up to rub along her back, his eyes drifted close and he simply relaxed. "Sure. You can ask me anything," he said in a half sigh of relaxtion. "What's on your mind?" he asked himself his fingers at the knots on the back of her dress, where he began to undo them so that he could slip his hand in and touch her bare back and not fabric.</span><br/><br/>When his fingers broke through the cloth barrier, there was a shiver, goosebumps forming on her skin for a moment as her heart rate rose a fraction more. It took her a bit to ask, as she was a bit...shy, in this regard, but when she finally managed to, her voice was soft. â€œCan I ask...what you think about when you...when you think about me? Is it thinking about us? Is it just..thinking in general? I know that might sound...intrusive, but I have to wonder if you think about what I think about when I think about you?â€<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000">That was an interesting set of questions that took him a moment to think about before he answered, if only to properly gather his thoughts. â€œI think...about how you looked the last time we saw one another...â€ his voice shifted and took on an almost faraway feel as he focused on his thoughts when they were apart. â€œI think about your smile, your laugh....how you feel in my arms, how your skin feels against mine....,â€ a pause while he just rubbed her back for a bit. â€œI think about how you smelled, the talks that we had and about what it would be life to walk with you down the market place, together...holding my hand....â€ now voice just above a whisper. â€œHow it would be to sleep next to you at night....to hold you and wake up to you....â€ he sighed. â€œAbout a future with you....â€ he kissed the top of her head. â€œThat is what I think about when I think about you...â€</span><br/><br/>She almost wondered if asking such a question was a bad thing, if it was something she should have just kept to herself and wondered about in those moments where she was thinking about him. Her heart fairly stopped while she waited, breath scant, and only when he started to speak did her worry become nonexistent, instead replaced by something else.<br/><br/>Something about what he said, it resonated. It was much like her own train of thoughts, her own wonderings whenever he crossed her mind, which was constant more often than not. Remembering how he last looked, that last smile he gave her, the way his voice sounded and was comforting, familiar, warm. The way his skin felt against hers. Everything about him that she lost herself in.<br/><br/>What surprised her, to some degree, was he thought about the future, a future with her. That train of thought was one she often thought of despite not wanting to, as she knew most of what she wanted couldn't be no matter how much she wanted it. Even something as simple as waking up beside him sounded like heaven, and to be able to go anywhere, do anything, and do it together... Lifting her head, she looked down at him, a hand caressing his cheek lightly while she just took in his features, eyes slipping over the entirety of him from what she could see before finally coming to rest on his eyes.<br/><br/>She didn't say anything for a while, simply looking down at him with an expression of loving, even if the smallest hint of sadness had worked its way in. But, after that moment passed, she leaned down and kissed him, a slow, soft, loving kiss.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000">A look that stole his breath away and had his heart pounding in his chest before she kissed him. This was too good to be true. Too perfect, too much of how he dreamed at night. A moment he wished would never end as he kissed her back, with the same slow, soft and loving tenderness as she gave him. Right now he prayed to whatever God there be that he would never lose this, would never be forced to not be able to hold her, kiss her and be with her. Even in this capacity it was far better than nothing, because at least it was something. At least it gave them moments like this, moments when they could at least pretend they had a future with one another. A future that they both dreamed of...</span><br/><br/>Like each kiss before it, the kiss was perfect. It would linger long after it was done, and be burned into her memory to dream about. It sent her heart racing, her head light, and she was secretly glad they were laying or her knees, too, would have gone weak.<br/><br/>These were the moments she'd live on until the end of her days. These were the moments she craved, dreamed about, wrote about in that book he'd given her. And the only thing that would have made it all better, would have been not to hide it. She wanted with him what she'd be forced to have with Ivor, but, as long as Fate didn't tear them apart with its signature cruel sense of humor, she'd survive it...because she had him.<br/><br/>After the kiss naturally ended, and a few, shorter sweet kisses were peppered atop his lips, her thumb smoothed over his cheek again and a light smile touched on her features. â€œI'm really glad I have you, BrÃ¡dach, that I can have these moments with you and just...<span style="font-style: italic">be</span>with you...â€<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000">There was so much that he wanted to say to her, so much that he wished he could express to her, wished that he could convey to her, but to what end? It could make the moment better, or it could make the moment worse. Words always had that way of either making it better or worse...<br/><br/>So, what to do? What to do in a situation that held so much promise and emotion? <br/><br/>Simple...<br/><br/>Without another thought he merely brought her back down to him, his lips met her own and that was all that there was too it. Just them. Their private world. Their expression of their feelings for one another, in the only place where they could be together. These moments would be what he held on to when it came to be that they could no longer be together. On those nights, when he was alone and his thoughts went to her as he knew they would he would think of these moments and remember this kiss.<br/><br/>And every single kiss that they ever shared....</span><br/><br/>Another kiss and whatever conscious thought train she had vanished. Her hand migrated a bit further, toward the back of his head, entangling in his hair while the kiss resumed, heart threatening to pound out of her chest.<br/><br/>In the back of her mind, however, there were still thoughts. Thoughts of what she'd wanted to say to him, but second-guessed herself about. It wouldn't have been fair to say what she wanted to him, not really. Sure, he may have liked hearing it, but what good would it have done? All it would have amounted to was something else, another level, to this relationship that couldn't have been dealt with. It would have been one more thing that she was doing, feeling, that she shouldn't have been.<br/><br/>She also knew, in the back of her mind, that there would come a time where they'd likely be forced apart, where she wouldn't have him waiting for her in a clearing to be together away from the rest of the world. It wasn't something she intended to let happen, if at all possible, but she also knew...there'd be at least...one night coming up that they'd be apart. Moments like this, kisses like these, would hold her over until she could reconnect with him.<br/><br/>And she<span style="font-style: italic">would</span>reconnect with him.