The response for the last chapter just. Blew. My. Mind. It made me so happy. I can't put the feeling into words. So thank you, really. And i can't believe i have already reached 1000 followers. You guys rock my world. I hope this chapter lives up to expectations (and doesn't exceed the PG-13 rating *cough*)

Also, a big thank you to all those who wished me and my boyfriend a happy anniversary, we had a fantastic time.



This chapter has references to sexual content (i tried to keep it within the bounds of the rating but it is by no means safe for work etc) and foul language/terms that may offend. Please please PLEASE keep this in mind.



Chapter Twenty One



Aurelia's whole world fractured and remade itself in that one night of revelation. She had no idea that one person could make another feel the way that Kailen made her feel. Some part of her knew that no other man could reduce her to this, that it was solely down to Kailen himself and the way she felt for him.

She was now spoiled for life. It would never be like this with anyone else.

For a man who wielded swords as a way of life, Kailen had the gentlest of hands. They held her with infinite care, drew nonsensical patterns on her back with his fingertips until she shivered with delight. His skin was rough with callouses, hardened by years of practise, but they might as well be covered with gloves of the softest doe skin with how wonderful they felt against her own.

She had felt nervous, the energy thrumming just below the surface of her skin. To stand before someone with no barriers, no clothes between you and their watchfulness was an act of courage. She was t her most vulnerable, it's like she put her heart into his very hands. When Kailen's hands helped her dress slip from her shoulders to pool soundlessly at her feet, Aurelia trembled with breathlessness and no small part of anticipation.

Kailen kept his eyes on her face for a moment, his gaze reassuring her, before they trailed down her body slowly, the grey if his eyes darkening with emotion. His gaze was like a physical force, brushing across her skin and she breathed in deeply, a little shocked.

His eyes met hers again and he said, "Beautiful." His voice roughened by want.

She opened her mouth to say something, but words failed her. Thank you seemed a bit redundant at this point. So she smiled at him, her own hands reaching out to Kailen's jacket. Her hands slid beneath the warm supple leather over his chest, travelling up to his wide shoulders and pushing it off. She enjoyed the feel of the body warm fabric, the hard lines of his muscles beneath her palms.

Kailen's own breathing faltered, before it quickened. A surge of satisfaction coursed through her with the knowledge that he was just as affected by this as she was.

Next went his shirt and he let her undress him at the pace that she set. He didn't hurry her. Instead, he seemed quite happy to let her explore to her heart's content and she appreciated that. Especially when all that skin was bared to her fingers and her eyes and she was finally, finally able to trace the incredible tattoos he had.

He laughed lowly, the sound vibrating beneath her hands, as he dipped his head to brush his lips against her forehead in an affectionate gesture. "I knew it."

"Knew what?" she asked absentmindedly, too caught up in her mapping of the dark markings.

"I knew that you liked the look of them. When i showed them to you that first time you couldn't keep your eyes away." He said smugly.

Aurelia didn't have the desire to deny it. Besides, Kailen spoke the truth, they really were fascinating to look at. Without giving much thought to it, she bent her head and traced part of the pattern with her tongue. He drew a sharp in drawn breath at the motion and his hand felt to her hips to keep her in place. "Do that again." He said roughly.

She obliged him happily.

Romans were nos stranger to sex, children grew up liberally in that regard, but this was Aurelia's first time and she didn't know what to expect in terms of feeling. She didn't have the time to worry about her inadequacy. Kailen kept her grounded, kept her thoughts on him and only him. He took his time with her, taking her nervous energy with his touch and turning it molten.

There was a moment of discomfort, of near pain that caused her to grip him tight to her and he stilled, whispered words of Celtic in her ear until her grip eased on him and she breathed easier. When it passed it took her to new heights of feeling until it crescendo into an explosion of pleasure that lasted for what felt like an eternity but was only minutes.

When their breathing and their heart rate slowed to normal, Kailen wrapped them up in the furs of the bed they were lying on and pulled Aurelia against her chest. Aurelia went willingly, her head nestled against his collarbone and neck. She could hear his heart beat with her ear pressed to his chest and she had never felt so comforted.

She was about to drift off to sleep when his hand came up and smoothed her hair down. "I'm going to court you."

She cracked an eye open and blinked. "You're going to court me?"

"I am." He said decisively. "Do you object?"

Aurelia opened both of her eyes and propped her chin up with a hand so she could see his face. "I have no objection considering what we just did and i am still i your bed." She pointed out. "But you don't need to court me. You already have me."

Kailen smirked. "I admit, it's a little strange to court you after we lie together, but i want to do this right." His face turned serious. "I want to win you. Always. Do i have your permission?"

She stared at him, just beginning to understand that courting her was important to him. Whatever the reason, he felt like he needed to win her and no matter what she would say would fall on deaf ears. "Yes, you have my permission."

He smiled again and urged her to lie back against him, his chest rumbling in contentment. Minutes passed before she looked up at him again, this time with suspicion. "What does courting entail exactly?"

"You need to see, i wouldn't want to ruin it." He grinned and patted her into sleeping. "I am a little worried with what British courting means exactly." She grumbled and her reply was his sleepy laughter.



~

"My heart grows glad to see you return to yourself again," Bran said as he clapped Kailen o the back in a hearty show of brotherly affection.

Kailen grinned at him. "And i am glad you approve, old friend."

"Or perhaps 'return to yourself' is the wrong words o use," Bran mused. "I don't think i have ever seen you smile so much. It is almost disconcerting to see it."

Kailen's smile was now all teeth. "Well get used to it."

"I tease, i tease." Bran waved him away. "It happens to all men who have the love of a good woman. I am very happy for you."

"Gratitude." Kailen said honestly.

The two of them had ridden out on their war horses to scout the tribe's border of their territory. They had stationed their own sentries along the line, men with perfect vision and the fastest horses that could sound the alarm should they spot the Roman scouts that signalled the column of enemy soldiers advancing on them.

The restlessness of an impending fight had the two warriors patrolling the border themselves, per suing all avenues of possible defence.

"The ground is soft from the rain we had last night." Kailen said as he reigned his horse in by Bran and looked down the gently sloping hill they were on. "It's the best conditions to get people to dig trenches down at the bottom and sharpen wooden pikes at the base."

Bran nodded his approval. "The displaced earth could be used to make walls running along the sides, slow the shield wall down for our men to cut through the lines."

Kailen nodded. "I'll get the men out to make a start on it when we get back. Caratacus should lead them in the endeavour."

"The High King has a shadow over him." Bran murmured. "I worry for his spirit."

"I do as well. His agitation has not been helped with all the waiting. Purpose and action will see him right." Kailen promised.

Bran looked at him with a raised eyebrow. "Do you really believe that?"

Kailen's lips thinned. "The man has lost his entire tribe, his wife and family. They slaughtered everyone down to him and a mere handful of his personal bodyguard. No man can walk away from that without a dark taint. If i was in his position, i would do the exact same thing, or curl up in grief and never rise again."

Bran's frown softened, gaze turned inwards. "True. I would turn this land red if they took Elsa and my children from me."

Bran's words made Kailen think of Aurelia. He still found himself in a state of disbelief that she had agreed to be his woman, that he had left her that morning in their bed, warm and drowsy. He had kissed her, a lingering touch with a breathless "to remember me by,/2 before he left her for his patrol.

What would he do if Aurelia was taken from him? Taken by the Romans or killed because she loved a Briton? He could not look upon the High King without sadness, an uncomfortable remembrance of how important it was to prevail against the oncoming slaughter. If he failed, he could become Caratacus, a shell of a man that could only be filled by death and pain.

He could not let that happen. The survival of the tribe and the woman he planned to make his wife depended on him and the warriors that were his to command.

"I have decided to court Aurelia the British way." Kailen said, trying to shake off the despairing thought. "I want to do this the right way."

Bran laughed his bellowing laugh, head thrown back in mirth. "I hope you have warned the poor girl."

Kailen shrugged. "She knows my intention." He said evasively.

"But not the details," Bran filled in. "I look forward to the ensuing chaos."

Kailen reached out and squeezed Bran's arm. "I have learned from your own courtship of Elsa. I know what to do and not what to do."

"Elsa loved every minute of it." Bran protested good-naturedly. "I made no false move."

"If you say so." Kailen laughed.

There was a sound behind them and they turned to see Lena standing behind them, her face white and eyes wide.

"Lena?" Kailen called, concerned and alarmed. "What is it? Have you spotted the scouts?"

She seemed to have trouble swallowing, before an angry flush across her cheek. "No, no sighting of them yet. Edwin has come to relieve me of my sentry duty and i-" She stopped and gathered herself. "Do you wish for me to carry a message to our leaders?"

Kailen watched her for a moment, nonplussed by her behaviour. "If you could send for Caratacus and any able bodied men to the border with tools and wagons of lumber. The fortifications need to start as quickly as possible." He told her.

She nodded jerkily before turning around and walking quickly away.

Kailen looked o after her. "Odd." He murmured to himself.

"I can only assume she overheard our conversation." Bran said mildly. "And didn't take kindly to your intention to court Aurelia."

"I-" Kailen stopped and raised his eyebrows at Bran in disbelief. "Lena harbours feelings for me?" Kailen asked, bewilderment in his voice at the notion.

Bran shrugged. "She has for awhile now. You just never noticed these things, not until Aurelia came along."

Kailen looked back to where Lena had retreated. "I did not mean to inflict hurt."

"No one will accuse you of it," Bran reassured him. "These things happen. In time she will get over it and attached herself to someone who can return her feelings. Do not feel guilt over it."

Kailen nodded his head reluctantly. Bran spoke the truth but he still didn't like to inflict hurt on those he called friend, conscious or unconsciously done.

Bran pressed his heels into the horse's sides and urges it on. "Come, we have to see the rest before we head back and you see your Aurelia again."

My Aurelia. He liked the sound of that.



~



Renna took one look at her before smiling a bright smile. "I suppose congratulations are in order to you and Kailen."

"Um." Aurelia had no idea what to say to that as she dropped her basket of dirty clothes by the river bank to sit by Renna who was washing her own clothes.

Renna waved her away. "It's alright, Vaughan told me that Kailen had been absentminded al day yesterday and Bran had sent him home to sort himself out." She cut a sly look at Aurelia. "Your neck confirmed my suspicions."

"My neck?" Aurelia suddenly reddened with embarrassment, her hand clapping over the exposed skin. "Oh my Gods," she groaned. "What has he done?"

"He left his mark on you." Renna teased as she pointed at the reddened spot just below her jaw on the left side. "Right there."

"You are heartless," Aurelia mumbled as she bent her head down to hide her blush and got to work o scrubbing the clothes clean in the cold water.

Renna just giggled in reply.

"So you spoke to Vaughan again," Aurelia said just to change the subject, but was delighted to see Renna ducking her head to hide her own reaction.

"I thought about what you had said, about Vaughan having feelings for me." Renna said, her eyes on the task before her as if it was the most fascinating thing in the world.

"And?" Aurelia prompted.

"And you were right," Renna answered. "Knowing now what i do, i realised his quietness and avoiding my eyes wasn't because he didn't like me. I don't know how i missed it."

"People often miss a lot of things when their attention is elsewhere," Aurelia assured her.

"I suppose so," She mused. "He's actually rather sweet when you get him talking."

"Really," Aurelia said neutrally but obviously not neutral enough as Renna elbowed her in the ribs.

"It's not like that," she smiled. "It's too soon. But maybe someday."

Aurelia didn't answer, she felt that whatever she said would be too condescending, especially now her and Kailen were lovers. Renna needed time to heal her heart and no words from Aurelia would give her that. Still, she looked forward to a time when Renna could move on and look to a future with another in it.

"Roman."

Aurelia and Renna both looked behind them at the voice to see Lena. Her voice held all the fury in her face and Aurelia immediately stood up. She got the distinct impression that she did not want to be sitting down for what was looking to be an inevitable confrontation with the British Shield maiden.

"Lena." Aurelia said neutrally.

Renna stood beside her. "Lena, don't-"

"Quiet," Lena hissed at Renna, making a cutting motion with her hand and Renna subsided. "I'm not here to talk you, i'm here for the Roman whore."

Aurelia felt the flush of anger and narrowed her eyes. "Is that the only insult you have learned, Lena? Because i'm getting tired of hearing it coming from your mouth."

Lena bared her sharp teeth and strode towards them until she was almost nose to nose with Aurelia. "Why use anything else when what i say is the truth?" She leaned closer and pronounced the words clearer. "Roman. Whore."

Aurelia knew that Lena was tall, but it wasn't until they were close that she realised Lena towered a head taller and she used it to her advantage, purposely intimidating Aurelia.

It was working.

"Isn't it enough that you Romans try and take our lands that you have to take our men as well?" She said in a low, threatening voice.

"It was not my intent to take anyone." Aurelia said.

Lena sneered. "But it happened anyway. You feel entitled to take everything. It makes me sick. You make me sick." Lena's hands came up and shoved Aurelia. Aurelia reeled back but kept her balance and out of the river behind her.

"Lena, stop it." Renna cried out. "What are you doing?"

"I'm teaching this Roman a lesson." Lena growled. "She has no right to Kailen."

"She has every right." Renna growled back. "Kailen has claimed her as his woman."

Lena's eyes flashed with hatred. "You have already spread your legs for him? Why should i even be surprised?"

Aurelia didn't even have to think about it. It was like her body was pulled by someone else as she stepped forward, raising her hand and slapping Lena hard across her face.

Lena's head snapped back with the force of the blow and Aurelia's hand stung from the contact. Everything was silent as Lena reached up to her cheek, a shocked expression on her face.

In an instant Lena's eyes narrowed on Aurelia and chaos erupted.

~