“What about the armory, and where dae the warriors sleep?” Rhys asked. The question didn’t strike Caitlin as strange since Rhys was a warrior and interested in war. She took him through the bowels of the keep out towards a courtyard that opened up at the rear. High walls stood around the courtyard. There was a large garden in between, and the moon shone down. It hung in the sky like a silver coin and it was accompanied by pretty, twinkling stars. It was a breathtaking sight to behold.
But as Caitlin looked up towards the sky she noticed that Rhys wasn’t looking at it. He was glancing around, looking in the dimly illuminated corners of the courtyard. Caitlin rolled her eyes. “Why is it that men are always focused on battling and war when there’s always sae much beauty tae be seen?” she asked in a huff, directing his gaze from the courtyard to the sky. He smiled abashedly. She rolled her eyes and pointed out the armory, which was near the keep, and then gestured to the very end of the courtyard. “Most of the warriors and servants stay there,” she said. Before he could suggest that they go into the armory to look at the weapons, which was what she was afraid he would do, she took his hand.
“I want tae take ye tae my favorite place in the whole keep,” she said. She strolled away and it was quite an amusing sight, to see this giant of a man being pulled along by Caitlin. She led him to the walls and walked up the steps. The air was a little cooler as it washed over the walls and her skin prickled, fighting with the innate warmth that came with being in Rhys’s presence. She skipped as she walked and led him down the long walls. Their feet clacked against the stone surface and heat touched their bodies as they walked past flickering flames. Eventually, they reached a small tower at the intersection of the walls. It was quiet, peaceful. A halo of orange light glowed from a torch near them, and it illuminated them in soft light. The moon and the stars were their only companions. Caitlin smiled as she leaned against the curved wall and looked out into the darkness.
“It may nae look like much nae, but in the daytime, ye can see for miles,” she said, imagining the vast expanse of the countryside. “I love imagining that I can open up my arms and just take it all in. It’s sae beautiful tae see the rolling hills and think about what else is out there, beyond the horizon. Ye see birds soar and animals running across the hills, and ye get tae see people tae. I used tae like making up stories about them.”
Rhys came to stand beside her and leaned against the wall as well. His arm nestled against her and she could feel the heat emanating from his body; it was even more powerful than that coming from the fire.
“Where’s ye favorite place?” Caitlin asked softly. Rhys pulled at his tunic and cleared his throat before gesturing with his hand.
“Out there,” he said. “I love being in the wild. When I was a wee lad I used tae spend hours out there, sometimes days. I used tae gae out with my sword and sleep on the ground, drink from streams, and then I’d come back with a beast. I used tae make Da proud when I’d go and track prey for days on end. He never used tae worry about me, and I never used tae worry about getting back. I knew I’d always return. I used tae run with the wolves and climb trees. I used tae swim in the stream with the fish. About the only thing I couldnae dae was fly with the birds. I always felt like that was the life for me. Maybe nae a warrior, but a hunter. I used tae love seeing people’s faces light up when I brought a beast back for a feast. They all knew they’d be gaeing tae sleep with full bellies that night. And then I’d gae out and dae it all again the next day.”
“That sounds very noble of ye,” Caitlin said, but Rhys scoffed and shook his head.
“Lass, if ye couldnae tell by now, there is naething noble about me.” He stepped back and opened his palms. “I mean, look at me. I hae been fidgeting in this tunic all night. Dae ye really think this suits me?”
He looked at her earnestly and she was not going to refuse an excuse to look at him without having to be coy and hide her interest. She allowed her eyes to roam up and down his body, moving over every inch of him. His broad shoulders led to an expanse of chest and when she looked at him he took up her entire world. The fire flickered behind him, casting him in a faint glow. The features of his face were obscured slightly by darkness, but his eyes gleamed and she could see the brightness and curiosity in them. His hair was wild and his beard was thick. The tunic seemed incongruous with the man wearing it. As she looked at him she could well understand that he was made to be in the wild, running along with the animals, a part of the natural world.
