Thread: The Shifter's Claimed Bride-Mate (Ruphhausin & darkangel76)

As he moved Dancing Wind and Lavender Mist, Brian's mind was telling him how intensely wrong it was. Not the taking of Elana itself, rather the idea he was giving her to the Prince Elect of Southweastern Lass. He heard everything that she said, and he manuvered the two horses through the Forest. He soon found one of the natural clearings at a high point of the Forest, moving the horses up and then securing them to the same tree. First taking advantage, he used a naturally inward curved log as a trough, putting the horse feed for them both in it. It was more than clean enough, and there was room for both portions for the two mounts. He had them by the stream that flowed from the river, where it collected to branch off to where a natural steam filled the just not quite surrounded area, more than enough room in it for them, the horses and for the shelter he set up. The hot spring, which flowed from the mountain on the other side and ran contrary to the river, was off to one side. It allow the steam that rose to move through the center of the dense collection of interweaving branches and limbs that gave a natural skylight to the clearing, but there was enough that kept the right amount there. The clearing, in the middle of a cold Forest at night, felt like a room of a castle that had a fire going. After getting the open shelter up, which really was extra protection from any rain that might fall, he then got her off of Lavender Mist. He set her down, and something in him was touched. She was a very beautiful young woman, and his loins did ache for what she had to offer. He ignored them for the time being, and then started to take off his clothing. He had not bathed, and he had a change of clothing himself. His people did not have shame, and he used a large contraption to take the right amount of hot water from the spring and cold from the stream. He was soon bathing in front of her, soaping and then rinsing himself off. After drying himself and then putting on something to sleep in, he looked at her again. When he spoke, his tone was a bit softer. His words were still clear, but his thoughts remained firm. The Council will have things to say on the matter, that is why I am taking you there first. We sleep here for the night, and they we begin the next leg of the journey tomorrow. It will take most of the day through the densest part of this area of the Forest of Arun, and few if any of your people know how to navigate it. He moved to lay down next to her, her hands and feet having been rebound so that she couldn't try to attack or escape. He laid on his side, looking at her for a while. He didn't know why he felt drawn to her, but something told him she was different than those of her father's household he was used to. He reached out and brushed a strand of hair from her face, then spoke again. You don't even know why it is called the Forest of Arun, do you, Elana? You have no understanding of whose Forest this is and always has been.. or why it stretches so far on the Continent. He gave her a look that told him he was actually sorry that this had to happen, and he waited until sleep started taking them both, somehow knowing when she had fallen asleep before doing so himself.