Chapter TwentyThree



Kailen couldn't stop touching the torque at her neck, his fingers running across the metal and tracing the carved design. It was like he was afraid it wasn't real, a figment of his imagination, and that the only way to make it real was to touch it.

They were back in Kailen's hut, their hut, to be exact. At least, Aurelia hoped it was still their hut. Kailen had yet to say anything to her directly. He had pushed his way through the crowd to her side, took her hand in front of the whole tribe and bowed to Calonus.

"Take her home, Kailen. See to her hurts." Calonus said.

"Yes, my King." And without so much as a look in her direction, he had spirited her away to the hut amidst congratulations from the rest of the tribe. She wasn't too sure how she felt about the fact that some of them had looked on as she was fighting Lena without so much as lifting a finger to stop it and they were now congratulating her on becoming part of them. Logically she knew it was their way to deal with their differences, but it was still jarring. She may now be part of the tribe but some of their ways seemed harsh to her.

Kailen had sat her down gently on the bed, one hand on her shoulder and one hand on the torque, his eyes following the movement. He moved away to the table where he poured fresh water into a bowl and brought it back to her along with a clean linen cloth. He pulled a chair closer and sat down in front of her, dabbing the linen cloth into the water and then began to clean the mud and blood off the side of her face.

Aurelia couldn't take the silence any longer. Words tripped over her tongue before she could get a proper handle on them. "I'm sorry, so so sorry. I don't know what came over me, the words she was saying were so hurtful;, and i know it's not an excuse to hurt another person, to nearly k-kill someone but i just couldn't stop it."

Kailen silenced her by gripping her chin and kissing her soundly. It wasn't like any other kiss they had shared before. It was full of desperation, distress and passion, that it threatened to overwhelm her. In the end it was Kailen who pulled away, resting his forehead against hers as he breathed deeply.

"You have no reason to apologise Aurelia, none. Lena had overheard s conversation between me and Bran about you-"

She gave him a suspicious look and his mouth finally, finally, turned up at the corners.

"Not that sort of conversation. I was telling him that i wanted to court you the British way and it must have incensed Lena to the point of striking out at you. This is partly my fault and it got you hurt."

Now his silence made sense. She had thought he was angry at her for hurting a member of his tribe, for breaking a rule in regards to being a War Prize, but the silence spoke of anger directed at himself. The Warrior in him couldn't stand the fact that someone he cared about had got hurt and he could not have done about it.

Aurelia's heart swelled for him, her hands reached up to frame his face and kissed him chastely on the mouth. Her relief that he wasn't angry at her was almost euphoric. "There was nothing you could have done to have stopped her. It was a long time coming"

Kailen made a noise of frustration. "That's not good enough. I should have cast her out of the tribe instead of just the Warrior Caste. I was too lenient with her."

Aurelia watched him pull back and resume his cleaning her face up. "You cast her out?"

He shrugged noncommittally. "It is against our way to hurt those that don't know how to properly defend themselves."

"Even in a tribe against tribe conflict?" Aurelia asked curiously.

"A Tribe will pitch their warriors against another tribe's warriors in combat. Farms and lands can be burnt, possessions stolen, but rarely the people. Tribes often protect those who can't fight by keeping them in the heart of their territory." Kailen explained.

"So hurting one of your own tribe members is frowned upon?" Aurelia ventured.

Kailen washed the cloth in the water, the surface turning a red brown, before wringing it out again. "One of the greatest taboos. Arguments and misunderstandings are bound to happen, its a part of tribe life. But if it's between a warrior and a farmer, or warrior and metal smith, you take it to our leaders to sort it out without violence.

"No matter the reason?"

Kailen met her eyes with a frown. "You think there should be exceptions to this rule? For there to be abuses of physical strength?"

Aurelia shook her head. "Not really, no. But not every situation can be so clear cut. Lena was hurting."

Kailen looked at her incredulously. "Are you defending her?" After what she did to you?"

"No, of course not! It's just, don't you need all the warriors you can get against the Roman army? Isn't it counter-productive to let her go now?"

Kailen remained silent but the short jerky movements of his task told her he was not happy in the turn of conversation.

"You know i'm right," She entreated softly to him. "Let her fight with you. At the end of it, if... If everything is a success, then you can think on her punishment."

"And until then?" He asked gruffly. "Am i supposed to reward all those who hurt you and disrespect me?"

Aurelia's lip curled in a self-deprecating smile. "You don't think that being beaten by me in front of her tribe-"

"Your tribe." He interjected readily.

"Our tribe wasn't enough? If all you say is true then a warrior being beaten by one who does not belong to her Caste has to hurt the ego and wound the pride." She finished.

"She shouldn't have done it in the first place." He said stubbornly.

She felt him weakening to her arguments. "And i would be the last person to argue with that, especially my ribs." She rubbed gingerly at the sore spot from where Lena had punched her.

Kailen let out a concerned sound and lightly splayed his hand over the area If he could take the pain away with his touch, he would have done so in an instant.

"Imagine how many Roman soldiers she could kill with all of that misdirected anger being pointed in the right direction." She mused out loud, surreptitiously watching his face from beneath her eyelashes.

His expression turned thoughtful, thumb absently stroking her side. "I'll think about it."

She beamed at him and he looked away with his own soft smile. "That's not a definite yes, just a maybe."

"As you say." She readily agreed. "Besides, you need all the help you can get now that Calonus has made me a shield maiden."

"Ah yes, he did didn't he." Kailen pulled her into his lap, mindful of her hurts and looked down at her. "I suppose i should curb my tongue from now on."

"You would if you knew what's good for you." She teased and pulled him down to kiss him.



~



That evening the Silure tribe welcomed Aurelia into the fold by means of firelight, drink, and celebration. I t was normally a quiet affair, where the initiate was given gifts of jewellery, tools and food by those who would take them in as family, but Aurelia's initiation was an excuse for the whole tribe to come together and break the tension. The impending battle with Aquilla's legion had put everyone on edge and the idea of revelry was welcomed by all.

Aurelia was seated by the large bonfire constructed in the middle of the village, seated by Kailen and the other warriors. People were placing little gifts by their feet with murmurs of welcome and Kailen's back grew straighter with his bursting pride for his woman. Aurelia wanted to elbow him in the side without being discreet to get him to stop but he was smiling and laughing and she restrained herself admirably.

Laughter will be few and far between in the coming days, Aurelia thought glumly. It was best to cherish them now.

Next up was Bran and Elsa with their gift of a tin brooch in the shape of a fire serpent for her cloak and what looked like dried crushed up leaves in a small wooden pot.

Aurelia looked at the contents of the pot curiously before raising her eyes to the grinning couple. "What is it?"

"Loras leaf." Bran said with no small amount of smugness. "Put it in Kailen's drink an hour before you couple with him and you will have babies in next to no time."

Aurelia choked.

Elsa put her arm around her husband's waist and hugged him to her. "It's how we have been blessed with so many children. It works, i assure you."

"Oh my Gods," she said in a strangled voice before she quickly handed it over to a thoughtful Kailen like she was handling wood straight from the fire pit.

Kailen put it amongst the other gifts, pride of place at the very front with a little smirk of his own thrown Aurelia's way. "We shall certainly keep it in mind for the future. Thank you for the gifts."

Elsa moved away but Bran caught her eyes before nodding over his shoulder. "Someone would like to talk to you." He said for her ears only. "If i were you i would let her stew for a bit before i heard what she had to say."

Aurelia followed his gaze across the fire to the opposite side. Standing apart from everyone else was Lena, her eyes darting around the revellers, always restless. Her expression was hard to read, but it certainly wasn't happy. It wasn't lost on Aurelia that those around her gave her a wide birth. They weren't outwardly hostile, but they made no effort in including her. Being cast out must make that person a form of leper to the British tribe, like they don't know where she now belonged. Hierarchy was very important, everyone knew their place in the grand scheme of things. Lena was now an unwelcome unknown entity.

Aurelia looked back at Bran and nodded her head in thanks.

"I look forward to training you in our sessions, little one." Bran said fondly. "I will make you fast and strong."

Kailen put his hand up to Bran, shaking his head. "I'll be training her to start with, before she works up to your skill level."

"Don't you trust me with the safety of your woman, old friend?" Bran teased.

"You forget just how strong you are," Kailen pointed out. "Getting pummeled by you is like being kicked by a horse."

Bran's expression turned into outraged indignation. "I would not pummel Aurelia!"

"You still forget your strength." Kailen persisted.

Bran opened his mouth to protest, but then just shook his head sheepishly. "I can't really argue with that." He slapped Kailen on the shoulder and then followed Elsa into the crowd.

Aurelia glanced back at Lena and saw she hadn't moved. Deciding now was the time, she whispered to Kailen that she'll be back soon and got up to head for Lena.

Lena saw her coming and stood her ground, her expression growing weary as Aurelia stood before her.

"Did you come here to gloat at me?" Lena asked without much fire in her words. If anything, she sounded defeated.

Aurelia shook her head. "I'm not here to gloat, Lena. I'm here to clear the air between us."

Lena snorted derisively, but Aurelia ignored it.

"There's no point in asking for an apology from you, it would be insincere and that's even if i get one in the first place. You're not sorry for what you did and to be honest, i don't really care. I'm not looking for you to be sorry."

"Then what are you looking for?" Lena asked suspiciously.

"I've talked to Kailen about withdrawing his order to have you thrown from the warrior caste, he's not completely against the idea. There is a Roman army heading our way and Kailen needs all the help he can get, you included."

"You wouldn't do that out of the goodness of your heart," Lena accused. "So what's the catch?"

Aurelia shrugged. "You're right, i wouldn't do this out of the goodness of my heart for someone who has proved themselves to be a vindictive spiteful human being. I did it so i don't have to worry about you sticking a knife into my back the moment i step out of my door. We are never going to be Friends, you and i. That's fair enough but i'm not going anywhere, so how about we call it truce and leave each other alone?"

"You're paying me off by getting my honour back?" Lena asked in an incredulous voice.

Aurelia stared her down. "Are you saying you don't want to be a Shield Maiden again?"

Aurelia knew Lena wouldn't be able to turn it down, warrior blood flowed in her veins and the thought of never holding a sword again must be devastating to her.

"Fine," Lena snapped. "You hold up your end of the bargain and we'll never have to speak to each other again."

"Deal." Aurelia concluded before she turned around and walked back to Kailen's side.

Kailen watched her the whole time. "What was that all about?" He asked tightly.

Aurelia touched his arm to calm him. "Nothing you should be worried about. We've come to an understanding. All is well."

Kailen didn't look reassured but he let the subject lie. When Aurelia quickly glanced back to where Lena was, she was gone.



~



That evening, when the Silure tribe celebrated the act of being alive, Aquilla's army crested the hill adjacent to the Silure's border territory. Twelve hundred soldiers in full war regalia in ordered lines, eyes on the horizon and the promise of battle.

War was about to begin.



~





The loras plant, as you probably guessed, is entirely made up. I blame Dasha for wantting a Bran boosted 'energy drink' for fatherhood. You have it, are you happy now???