Aurora put some of the wood and the fire became bigger and stronger, and she sat down by the log, Elliot plummeted beside her.
The fire was magical,
"We need to bathe." One of the men stated.
"There is a lake close by," Douglas replied.
They all nodded and started getting up, Aurora did not know what she should do nor how she should respond.
Would it be fine if she joined them? Probably not, she would have to bathe when everyone else was sleeping.
She started to clean the mess that was left behind, when she was done Aurora sat by the fire and she liked the way it cackled.
After an hour had gone by all the men had come one by one and they sat by the fire to warm themselves up.
Elliot was also back and he was shivering a bit, they all spoke for hours to come, and when everyone had finally dispensed as they felt tired and went to bed.
She took her bathing stuff and headed to the waterfall rather than the lake. She stripped on the rock overlying the water.
She was left with her undergarments, she stood on the rock and the moon was full tonight and the water glistening.
She would swim over to the waterfall after jumping in. Aurora let her hair down and stood at the edge of the rock.
She closed her eyes and took in the moon.
"What are you doing?"
Aurora got such a fright that she lost her balance on the rock and splashed in the water, when she came up it was Caspian in just a loincloth.
He had come from underneath the waterfall.
"I didn't mean to frighten you." Caspian carried on.
"I thought you bathed earlier on."
"I didn't I want to do it in peace and quiet and most of all by a waterfall."
Aurora nodded, and she started to swim dousing her hair.
"Your hair looks magical under the moonlight."
"Thank you, My Lord."
When she finally got to the waterfall it was nice at first until the water started to drown her. Should she ask for help or that would be embarrassing?
Aurora felt a hand clutch her elbow and she was pulled into Caspian's bare arms. She wanted to push off his arms but she did need to take a bit of a break.
When she had caught her breath she went to the part of the water where she could touch the bottom of water and most of her body was still covered in water. She looked at the full moon, it was very beautiful when would she ever get the chance to feel this free and be here?
All she had known all her life was the palace and eerie places.
"Beautiful isn't it?"
Aurora jumped a bit, "Yes My Lord."
She tried not to tremble but the water was getting colder by the minute. She felt Caspian's arms go around her from the back and he was looking at the moon through her neck.
She could feel his warm breath, and his body on hers not only provided heat but showed her the differences between what made him male and her female.
This was a memory that she would never forget, her heart ached a bit, being under his arms and the moon so beautiful, this was a memory she would take to the grave.
"What are you thinking about Aurora?"
"This moment is beautiful." She said it lightly more to herself than to him.
Caspian turned her around, "I want to be yours as the moon belongs to the night."
Aurora looked into his eyes and he seemed sincere or did he know how to coax her with words, he lowered his face until their lips connected.
It felt so meaningful and right that they were there together, she felt not used but cherished. The way he held her and the way he seemed vulnerable saying those words to her.
She responded to the desperate kiss that they were sharing at this moment. After some time they pulled apart and Aurora made him look away as she went up to the bank and put on her clothes.
She looked away when he did the same thing, once dressed they headed back to the camp and Aurora was surprised when Caspian her hand in his.
"Goodnight My Lord."
"Where are you going?"
"To my tent," Aurora responded confused as to what he meant.
"You can't be the only woman that sleeps with men."
"Fine, I will get a blanket and sleep by the fire."
"You are truly something, come to my tent there is more than enough space for the both of us."
"I feel better sleeping by the fire My Lord."
"You don't want Elliot to see us? Is that it?"
"Elliot has nothing to do with it."
"Come into my tent, it is an order."
Aurora nodded and he pulled the flap back for her and she got in and it was like a palace in this tent. It was warm and comfortable.
There was a see-through flap in the tent and there were stars. Caspian motioned for her to sleep next to her,
"I just want to hold you Aurora you don't have to look at me like I am a wolf waiting to devour the ship."
Aurora got in next to him and he covered them both, his bed setup was very soft and the blankets were so warm.
"The stars are beautiful." Said Caspian.
"You read my mind."
"Don't forget us Aurora."
Aurora was surprised at his words, she turned to him wanting to ask what he meant but he just placed a kiss on her forehead, and they fell asleep holding on to each other.
The next morning Caspian woke up and the sun was already up, he looked to his side and found that Aurora was already gone.
He started to take in everything that had happened last night, if someone had told him he would be sleeping with a woman without sex he would have laughed in their faces.
He had to remember why he was here, to perfect his skills so he could impress Nadia's father, she had no time for another woman.
Aurora was blinding his judgment and he had to put a stop to that. He got dressed and went out,
"Sire."
They all greeted him and he could see Aurora in his peripheral view but he didn't spare her a glance. He ate his breakfast with Douglas.
He stole a glance at Aurora as she ate with Elliot beside her, better she be with him rather than him wasting her time, yet his heart hurt at the thought of her not being with him.
They set out once more and the hunt was going well, he was on target.
The day was going well,
"Sire! Watch out!"
Caspian turned too late as the arrow was coming towards him, he braced himself to get hit, and when he opened his eyes he found blood on himself.
Yet he did not know where the pain came from when he looked down at a sinking Aurora that had been severely hit.
He held her and tore off a piece of his garment to cover her wound, he picked her up and mounted her on his horse, he got up behind her and was on his way to the palace.
He nodded to Douglas that they carry on training and he might be back to carry on. He galloped his horse as much as he could.
When he sees the castle he feels a whole better, when he gets there he dismounts and carries Aurora to his chambers.
"Get me a physician." He ordered.
Caspian laid her down gently and she was very pale, why had she risked her life for just him? He was not worth it.
Only she had not hesitated to use themselves as a cover for him. All the men had stood there and here she was, so little didn't have to think twice to cover for him.
The physicians got in and Caspian had to wait outside, they finally let him in, "She is in critical condition and her dressing needs to be changed and cold cloths on her forehead so that her fever can go down. Also, feed her mainly broth."
Caspian nodded, and when they left her sat beside her on the bed, she was silent and brushed the tendrils of hair out of her face.
She looked dead still and he leaned down to see if she was breathing he exhaled when he heard her small breath.
Caspian leaned down and placed a kiss on her forehead,
"You can't die without my permission, you belong to me Aurora.