Renisannce Romance

Caught

    Saphirra rubbed her eyes as the sun began to rise over the water.  She looked around and noticed she was still outside laying beside Rhett.  She quickly sat up and saw a fisherman tying up his boat with his morning catch.  She knew she had to get back before she was spotted.  She shook Rhett awake and he opened one eye with a sleepy smile, "Good morning beautiful."  He pulled her down to kiss him and she almost forgot they were not alone.  "Rhett, I have to get back before they notice I am not in my room!"  He was suddenly awake as he sat up and put his boots back on.  "We do not need to go back together, I will leave first in case the guards are out." He nodded, "Meet me back here tonight?"  She smiled and nodded her head and he reached for her hand and squeezed.  

    She crossed her arms over her body from the morning air and kept glancing back as she walked.  She smiled to herself as she walked right into Alexander her guard.  "Your Highness.  I thought I saw you out here this morning."  She looked at him with wide eyes as he looked behind her at Rhett and raised his eyebrow at her.  "Please do not tell anyone you saw me here."  Alexander nodded,  "My lady, I do not want to speak out of turn, but may I advise you?  Please be careful there are eyes everywhere and it does not look well on a queen to be out all night alone with a man."  "Thank you Alexander for your concern."

    She brushed past him as he followed her back to the castle.  She went to her room without being spotted and laid down on her bed without realizing her sister was already there.  She jumped as Avianna spoke, "I have been waiting all night! Tell me all the details."  Saphirra got under the blankets with her sister and began to tell her about the night.  Avianna listened and smiled intently to her sister.  "I believe I am in love with him.  I cannot go on without him Sister.  I fear I am in too deep already."  Avianna sighed, "I do think you are right.  I have never seen you talk about Christopher this way in the years you have been together."  "I don't know what to do Avi, I truly don't."  Avianna opened her arms as her big sister moved into them and they fell back asleep. 

*****

    "Your father said you did not come home last night?  Did you sleep in the stables again?  You know sleeping there puts you no closer to the Princess?"  Rhett shook his head as he took a bite of his scone and walked through the town square.  "Acutally, I slept with the Princess."  Twilia stopped and her eyes grew, "You what?"  She pulled him into an alley, "Tell me everything."  He told her about their night together and she listened intently even though she felt her chest tighten as he told her about their kiss and how beautiful she was.  "I truly think she is falling for me Twilia."  "Have you given any thought to how her husband would feel about this?"  He shook his head, "I suppose not, though I can only imagine how devastating it would be to believe she is yours when she is truly not.  The poor man may go mad when he finds out."  "Do you plan on him finding out?  Where do you honestly believe this affair will go Rhett?  She is a Princess and you are a stable boy, there is no future."  

    "Forgive me Twilia, but you did not see the way she looked into my eyes or the way she kissed me.  She will leave him I assure you."  Twilia looked at him with doubt in her eyes.  "I'm afraid you will end up heartbroken my friend."  "If I do, it was all worth it for a moment with her.  For that moment, she loved me and that is more than I ever dare hoped for."  He bit into an apple as he smiled and continued walking.  Twilia knew she could not convince him otherwise as he was already too far gone.  Her words were meaningless and only time would tell the truth.

*****

    That night they met at the stables as Rhett was feeding the horses.  She walked in and he crossed over to kiss her.  He cupped her chin and tilted her lips toward his.  She wrapped her arms around his waist.  "I have missed you today," she said as he pulled back.  "Waiting for you today was the longest day of my life I'm afraid."  She laughed as they walked to sit down in the barn loft.  "I am going to join the royal military," Rhett announced.  She looked at him in disbelief.  "They came to the town square this morning and announced they are taking new recruits.  This will allow me to be closer to you and maybe earn the respect of your family.  I will become a knight."  She shook her head, "My fiance is head of the royal militia.  You cannot join Rhett, it would not be appropriate."  He frowned, "So you do not want a chance at a future together?  You still want to marry him?"  "I do not know what I want Rhett!  I know I feel things with you I have never felt.  I cannot stay away from you.  I want you more than anything else in my life!"  Her words softened him, "I want to do this to allow us a chance at a life together, is that not what you want as well?  If it is not then I suggest you return to your husband."  She looked at him in shock, "I cannot believe you would say such a thing.  You know how I desire you!"  She began to storm off, but he grabbed her arm and spun her around back to him outside of the barn.  "I did not mean it, please stay with me."  He kissed her passionately before she followed him back into the barn and they talked until they fell asleep in each other's arms.

   Each night she faithfully met him and slept with him. They talked about life and what they hoped their future would be, though they both felt apprehensive of their uncertain future together.  After a week of staying the night with him, she had become used to waking up with the sun and Alexander meeting her to escort her back to her room.  It was forbidden for him to speak about her private life so she knew she could trust him.   

    She walked into her room and closed the door behind her.  She turned around to see Christopher sitting on her bed.  "I've come to your room to see you the last three nights, where were you?"  She stared at him without answering, "Saphirra, one of my men saw you with a man, who is he?"