“Oh really?” Caitlin arched her eyebrows and giggled. “That’s a fine boast. I think we may hae tae test that claim. I’ve never met anyone who can beat me yet,” she said.
Rhys’s eyes lit up as he enjoyed the teasing.
“I’ve been training a wee bit longer than ye. I had a sword put in my hand as soon as I was born. It’s always been my destiny tae be a warrior,” he said as a boast, puffing out his chest slightly, but Caitlin tilted her head and studied him closely. She then averted her gaze and spoke softly.
“Dae ye think that people are meant tae be certain things? Dae ye want tae be a warrior, or is that just what people expect of ye?” she asked.
Rhys had never really thought about anything like that. He took a few moments to chew on some food. Caitlin’s eyes darted up to look at him, waiting for his response. Her heart fluttered as she shared her innermost thoughts with him. It was scary, and it made her feel vulnerable, but she could also feel an invisible pull towards him.
“I dinnae ken, but I dae ken that I’m built like a warrior and that all the men before me hae been warriors. I dinnae ken what I’d dae if I was nae one.”
“People hae always thought I should be different. Can I ask ye a question, Rhys? What’s gaeing tae happen when we’re married? Will ye expect me tae be like every other wife and sit at home while ye gae out on adventures? Will ye allow me tae come back here and visit my family whenever I want? I’m sorry tae pepper ye with questions like this, but I’d like tae know what tae expect.”
Rhys blinked at her and she was afraid that she had pushed him with too many questions. She swallowed hard because her throat was dry and she realized how quickly her voice had rushed out in a breathless stream. “I’m sorry, I dinnae mean tae ask ye about things ye cannae answer,” she said.
Rhys reached over and instinctively placed a hand upon hers, trying to calm the trembling of her body. He smiled at her. His skin was warm and tough, and her hand looked so tiny under his palm. His strength was evident even in this simple gesture, and as he smiled at her with his bright eyes and his thick lips, she found herself drawn to him, as though there was an invisible thread pulling them together.
“Of course ye will see ye family,” he said, “and I’ll want ye tae be whatever ye want tae be. I hae nae real idea of what a wife is. My own ma died when I was young. Giving birth tae my brothers was tae much for her. There hae only ever been men in my life. But I like the idea of a wife coming with me on a hunt.” He smiled.
Caitlin felt the tension ease in her body. She relaxed with relief and nodded at him, returning a smile. She suddenly became aware that his hand had been upon hers for more than a few moments, and heat spread through her body. She remembered the fleeting kiss she had given him the previous night and her mind went to wild places. Powerful emotions rose within her and her heart thundered within her chest. Her tongue darted out to lick her lips and she could feel the breath rushing out in warm streams. The air seemed to shimmer between them and she wondered if he was experiencing the same thing as well, but her cheeks burned with embarrassment and she pulled her hand away, averting her gaze. She gulped down a few mouthfuls of water to try and calm herself, unsure if it actually worked.
After dinner, there was another period of dancing. This time Rhys was more comfortable in taking to the floor; he remembered the lessons that Caitlin had taught him the previous night. The tunes were merry and people clapped along, enjoying the sight of the betrothed couple getting along. It seemed as though peace was more popular than most people would have realized. While there were still people who stared at her with enmity, Caitlin saw happiness on most people’s faces. She was filled with a profound sense of responsibility as she knew that they had all pinned their hopes on her. At least she and Rhys were getting on well, and slowly but surely she was beginning to forget that he was the enemy. It was a shift in mindset that had been easier to achieve by spending more time with him. His charm was infectious and he was not the brute that he seemed.
They danced until they were exhausted and night had fully set in. A few people were setting themselves up for a long night of drinking, but Caitlin secretly wanted to be alone with Rhys, away from the crowd. She leaned in and asked Rhys if he wanted to take a little walk around the keep, under the pretense that she wanted to show him her home so that he might understand her a little better. Rhys was quick to agree and the two of them slipped out of the dining hall and walked through the keep. They passed through wide hallways that were lit by torches. Caitlin felt so small compared to Rhys. When they were standing side by side she had to look up to speak to him.
They stopped by the kitchen first, although they only popped their heads in because the servants were busy cleaning up all the dishes that had been used for the feast. It was a bustling atmosphere and they heard a lot of muttering about how gluttonous everyone was. Caitlin and Rhys snickered at each other and then left the servants to their duties. She told him how she used to run through as a child with her brothers in tow and they’d steal
