Emerald And Aharon

Chapter Eight

“I love you Aharon,” I stared at Emerald’s face and waited, “I must have been brought here by fate, the connection I feel to you I’ve never felt before.”

So she felt the connection to... and had she just said that she loved me? Was she really serious? How could she love a man she had just met? What kind of warrior was I for falling for a woman I had known for less than a day? I know my protest showed because she held up her hand.

“I know you feel it as well but no male warrior will admit to love at first sight. A female warrior can, and is expected to.”

I nodded my silent agreement; females were known to believe in love at first site, but not a male warrior.  Most warriors had a word for love at first sight: Lust. I continued to watch her, yes she was beautiful. Yes, I wanted her, who wouldn’t? But it was more than just that.  Standing like this and talking to her felt just so...right.

She continued, a faint smile on her face, “Let’s just get to know each other and see how this grows, ok?” I stared at her, dumbfounded.  This was not something I was expecting to hear, female warrior or not. 

When it came to the way Desiree was she demanded to know where our feelings stood and such right then, and the other women were similar.  I slowly nodded my head; it never hurt to be cautious.

We headed back to the house and breakfast was finished being placed on the table so we ate.  After filling my plate and taking a few bites I looked around the table at the assembled group and stated, “I’m leaving Desiree, I’m moving myself, Fire and Alleyne into a house nearby.” Everyone turned his or her eyes to focus on me and Emerald.

“You’re leaving mommy?” Alleyne said quietly, her eyes wide.

“We’ll talk about it later, child,” I said. I noticed the way Aurianna’s cold azure gaze focused on Emerald and her slight nod of approval. I was glad Aurianna liked her, it wasn’t a deciding factor, but I had a great deal of respect for her opinion. I glanced around at everyone else as Emerald excused herself to go outside.

“It's about time,” Auron said. “That woman has probably been cheating on you for years. You should-”

“Auron!” Aurianna snapped, her eyes flashing with fire.  This time Auron ignored his wife’s silent and verbal warning.

“You ought to give that little w***e what she deserves, hell I’ll give her what she deserves if you won’t,” he growled

“You’ll do no such thing!” Aurianna retorted. “Like it or not Auron, she is still my sister.”

"That doesn’t mean she has the right to cheat on Aharon,” he snapped back. “I don’t give a damn if she’s your sister or not, Auri, she is going to pay.” Auron rose then and headed outside.

“Auron don’t you dare hurt her!” Aurianna yelled after him. He didn’t respond as he continued outside. I came outside as I saw Emerald lead her horse out of the barn followed closely by Nightshade.

I stared at the 2 horses a moment and shook my head, as I climbed onto Nightshade’s back I asked Emerald, “Come with me?”

Emerald nodded and mounted her own horse and we started back towards Selllan and my old home, actually only Desiree’s home now.  We reached the house and I saw Desiree standing in the doorway watching us approach. I turned and glanced at Emerald, “there is a cart in the barn we can use to carry the girls’ and my things.  Hitch your horse up to it and I’ll start bringing the stuff out.”

Emerald nodded her head and turned her horse towards the barn and I turned my attention back to Desiree and dismounted off of Nightshade.  “It’s over Desiree,” I said as I paused at the door, looking at her, “last night was the final straw. I’ll give you the out that you seem so desperate to get that you would cheat on me and put our children at risk.  I am taking the girls with me,” and brushed past her into the house.

I started packing the girls’ stuff and piling it outside, Desiree had disappeared but I paid no attention to the fact.

There were some things that were too heavy to move by myself so I waited for Emerald with the cart and when she pulled to the front of the house we both started moving the furniture like Fire’s Crib and Alleyne’s dresser.

Soon everything was loaded into the cart and I passed Desiree who must have followed Emerald.  She reached out and touched my arm, “Aharon...” she whispered, tears in her eyes.

I yanked my arm away from her, glancing at her and seeing the bruises from where Emerald had I guess hit her and puffy eyes from crying.  For a second I felt sorry for her, but it passed, the girls deserved better, I deserved better. I turned my back on her and climbed onto Nightshade’s back.

“Goodbye Desiree, I hope you can live your life happily,” I glanced at Emerald, meeting her green eyes and for a second I let my guard down and let the feelings I felt for show in them and I saw them mirrored back in Emerald’s eyes.

I squeezed Nightshade’s sides and he started forward and I heard Emerald say goodbye to Desiree and follow.  We soon arrived back at the house where my girls and I would live. It was a friend’s old house that he left to me and Desiree, but we lived in Sellan so I had Auron keep an eye on it, planning on giving it to the first child, either mine or Auron’s that got married. Now it turns out I needed it and was glad to have it.

Emerald and I unpacked the cart, placing the furniture first and then everything else.  We didn’t say much to each other, but I was surprised at how strong Emerald was and how much she was willing to pitch in and haul equal to what I could do.

After we had finished Emerald tucked a stray strand of her dark auburn hair behind her ear and looked at me.

“I have some more business to deal with, come with me?”

Emerald nodded her head and we both climbed back onto our horses and rode back to Desiree’s. We soon reached the house and Desiree was outside, sitting on a rock sobbing. Without a word I got down and scooped her up and placed her on Nightshade’s back. She shrieked as I placed her there and Nightshade’s ears went flat against his skull.

“Quiet!” I hissed as I climbed up behind her, I patted Nightshade’s shoulder, “easy boy,” I murmured.

We rode in silence until we reached the local church where a few druid priests also resided in a building on the property. I saw one of them and dismounted, Desiree scrambling down after me.

As I approached him he put aside the hoe he was using in the garden, “what brings you here Aharon?”

“I’m here to renounce my vows.  I cannot, and will not stay with a woman who betrays me like she did.” I growled.

Emerald watched us both; a bemused look on her face but this was the way things were done for druids.

The priest nodded silently and had Desiree and I faced each other. As the priest spoke the words to the ceremony I looked into her eyes and I saw the pain and regret but did nothing. It was too late for pain and regret, she made her bed and by the gods she was going to lay in it. When it was finished I turned and mounted up onto Nightshade and started back towards my new home.  I knew Desiree was watching me, but I never looked back, there was no point.