AYLETH

When they finally reached the cottage, Ayleth's mouth dropped open. "Falek, why did you never bring me here?" she asked quietly as the horses wove between the trees on a narrow dirt road that opened within hedgerows.

A brook burbled behind the small house, it's thatched roof and peaked windows overlooking a tiny lawn and garden inside the gate.

It was the smallest, but most appealing home Ayleth had ever had the pleasure to attend and she looked at Etan with wide eyes. But his gaze in return was hooded and hot.

There was no hitching rail for the horses, but Falek led them around the fencing and hedges to another gate, only large enough for a single horse to walk through at a time, and the even smaller stable there, with open walls under the roof, and only four tie-stalls, and mangers at the back of each. "We'll leave the horses and our things here," Falek said, his voice edged and gruff. "Borsche and I will take the loft above so you may have the cottage."

About to join Etan on the short path back to the cottage, Ayleth glanced at her Knight Defender and hesitated. Even though her heart raced with anticipation, she also ached for him. His was the hardest road to walk in this, she supposed. Ayleth, though a traitor now, was still of the Royal blood—and there would be other Kingdoms on the Continent that would always welcome her for her power and influence. Etan as well, though fewer allies.

But Falek… By choosing to come with her, by vowing fealty to her over his vow to the King, he was a traitor in truth—and with no blue blood to protect him or offer benefit to others.

Unless she could protect him, every day could be his last.

And yet, here they were, and she knew the tension in his shoulders, the rasp in his voice, was only partly for the politics of it all.

He loved her and cared for her wellbeing.

He struggled to give her up into Etan's hands, she knew.

"Ayleth," Etan curled his tongue around her name in a way that gave her shivers. But she turned to face him and raised a hand.

"Just one moment. If I could speak with Falek alone, just for a moment, I promise," she said.

Etan's jaw tightened, but he nodded and walked to the gate into the cottage grounds, Borsche on his heels.

Ayleth turned back to where Falek—who had to have seen and heard every word and step, continued to unsaddle her horse and did not look up, even when Borsche slipped away.

The saddle leathers slapped against the seat as he flipped them over in preparation to tug the saddle from the horse's back. Ayleth stepped back far enough that Falek could turn with the saddle over his arm and place it on the separating beams between stalls.

"Falek," she said softly.

"You should go to your husband, Ayleth. He is eager to have you to himself."

She bit her lip. The temptation was there to do as he said, and have this conversation the following morning. But… something within her tugged towards her Knight Defender.

As he strode out of her horse's stall to circle into his own, she put a hand to his arm and he stopped, looking down at her, frowning. "Ayleth, go."

"Thank you, Falek. For all of this. Thank you for protecting me so I could be here. Thank you for giving Etan time to prove himself. Thank you for staying loyal even when it breached your vows. Thank you for… for Jareth, and for this. You are… you are the most important person in my life so far—until Etan—and I don't think I've ever told you that," she said, twisting her hands together at her waist. "To my heart you are more than a Knight. You are my… family. My brother. I've known that for a long time, but I never thought… I never imagined it would come to this. I know you hurt yourself, breaking your vow to my father. I am grateful."

Falek sighed and slumped under her hand. Then he turned to face her, his massive chest blocking her view of the horses behind. "The truth is, Ayleth, I am glad you found him. I was always worried that you would be saddled with some young buck who didn't know his ear from his asshole—I mean, behind. While I remain uncomfortable with the path we've been given to walk, I'm glad you walk it with him. If anything ever happens to me, he will watch over you. I know it. That gives me some measure of peace."

"Only some?"

Falek grimaced. "I have watched over you for fifteen years, Ayleth. Forgive me if it rankles to imagine another man between us. It is right and good that you should be close to your husband. But the… sense of protection… it does not fade quickly."

"I still need you, Falek. Just like Etan needs Borsche."

He nodded. "But neither of you will need us as much as you have because now you'll have each other. And that is also right and good. It is only difficult for those of us who are… less necessary than before."

Ayleth's tears welled again. Cursed emotion! She could never seem to have these conversations without it. She cleared her throat and blinked. "You will never be less necessary to me, Falek," she said softly. "I only hope you will have more rest than before. Not less presence. I hope you understand what I mean."

He gave a sad smile. "I do. And I think… I think you will be surprised how your heart is reshaped by this, Ayleth. Do not grieve it when it happens. It is the way the Father intended life to be. I only struggle because I want to see you safe. It is hard to trust you to someone else. But it is clear he loves you to his boots. He will do everything in his power to keep you safe. I'm certain of it."

She smiled. "Yes, he will. And we will both thank you for being a part of that, right to the end. This isn't an ending for you and I, Falek. This is just a new beginning."

He gave her a dry look. "As long as this new beginning involves Etan being the one to teach you how to swear, I am all for it."

Ayleth rolled her eyes as she pressed into his chest for a final hug before… before her wedding night.