Chapter 8

Trouble instantly forgot about Dirrach and moved for Aquila. But Dirrach stepped in front of him. “Leave her, Trouble, you have hurt her enough already.”
Trouble swung the back of his hand and hit Dirrach square on the jaw. The blow was so hard that he flew to the ground several feet away. “Don't ever step in between me and my wife again or you shall not live to regret it!” Trouble roared.
The hatred and ire disappeared as Trouble turned to Aquila. Aquila tried to back up more and fell off the bed. Trouble grabbed her and pulled her up to his chest. Aquila cringed, fearful of the pain he had caused her just before he left, but betrayal was all she felt.
“Aquila, my love!” Trouble implored softly. “Please let me speak on my behalf. Yes, I am the Woman. But I would not hurt you intentionally. I know, I treated you painfully at that point, but forgive me, I beg of you, for I cannot live without you. I wish now that I had thought about what I was doing instead of the pain of the past that that man has caused me.”
“You would not hurt me intentionally? You were sent to kill me!” Aquila balled her hands into fists and began beating his chest as hard as she could manage even though she knew he could hardly feel a thing.
“Yes, I was sent to kill you. But I did not because I fell in love with you. Can you not see that everything has changed? Do you know how many times I watched you sleep and could have taken that moment plus many more opportunities to carry out the job? My life was on the line the second I fell in love with you, too. Please, do not make this harder than it has to be,” Trouble pleaded as he allowed her to beat away at him.
Aquila sniffed as she ceased her flailing and wiped the tears from her eyes. She remained stiff and said nothing.
“Face it, Trouble. This scene is what I spared you from with your mother. You will get no where with Aquila, either,” Dirrach spoke from his place on the floor.
Aquila placed her fists against his chest and pushed. “Leave me, Trouble.”
After what seemed like hours of apologizing and pleading, Trouble would not be put off. “Aquila!”
Aquila stopped instantly and looked up at him. He was no longer pleading with her. His face and voice spoke of authority and complete seriousness as he continued, “If you cannot listen to my love speaking from my heart of how sorry I am for the way I treated you at our wedding and for the betrayal you must feel at finding out who I used to be, then I am going to have to stand on the grounds of your husband and final authority. My love will never change, and until you figure this out for yourself, you will submit to me as a wife should. I will not, for now, ask you to share my bed, but unless you can promise and prove your faithfulness to that promise, you will be subject to, what may seem like, imprisonment in your own home.”
She could hardly believe the change that came over him so suddenly and images of Duard popped into her mind. But it was worse. What had she been thinking of at their wedding? How much more oppressive Trouble could be than Duard if he was in the mind to. He had a mind to, now.
“Promise me you will not run, stick to your promise, and life will be easy. Run...and your liberties will be restricted,” Trouble informed her as he released his hold on her and stood.
“I will not run...but only because I could not win if I tried,” Aquila choked out and turned away.
Her eyes closed as Trouble placed a gentle kiss on the side of her head before turning to the man still sitting on the floor a few paces off. “As for you, you can get out and never come back. Why you even bothered to return is beyond me, but know now that you are not welcome and never will be welcome.”
Dirrach stood. “I received word of the death of the Woman and came to investigate the truth of such a tale. I can see now it was someone else you most certainly executed to fabricate such a lie.”
“For your information, it was the man who was sent to kill Aquila. I found it very convenient in my retirement. I send his head to the underground with my name on it and they think I'm dead, leaving me to live my life in quiet peace with my wife and family,” Trouble explained sardonically.
Pain shot through Aquila's heart at the word, “family.” They would have no family. She would not go anywhere near Trouble's bed for as long as she lived, instead living a life of solitude in her room other than fixing meals, which she would do, but nothing special. Trouble would get nothing from her other than those meals. He could suffer from his mistakes either alone in misery or with some other woman's company. She would release him from his vow to faithfulness, for she wanted no part of him, and she wanted no reason for him to force himself on her.
Dirrach looked at Aquila sorrowfully. “I will not forget about you. You shall be free one day.” And with that, he was gone.
If only you could help me, Aquila thought despairingly.
Trouble stood there for a moment and Aquila was suddenly aware that she was open in front of him with only her undergarments on. She grabbed the blanket from the floor and wrapped them around her. “I will go to my room now.”
Aquila ignored the pain she saw shoot across Trouble's eyes at her actions and trudged out the door and up the steps to her room in the top of the tower. She knew Trouble had followed her to the stairs and could feel his eyes on her back as she tripped on the edge of the blanket all the way up the stairs.

***********

Trouble sank onto the bed and ran a hand through his hair. What was he doing? Imprisoning his own wife...it was selfish. But he would not be able to stand living life without her.
Aquila collapsed onto her mattress and sobbed. How could she have been so foolish as to believe there was a man that she could be happy with? His name should have completely given it away. He was nothing but trouble and found pleasure from bringing it to women. His mother was right in her assessment from the start.

************

Aquila tiptoed down the stairs early the next morning after carefully braiding her hair and pinning it to her head. She wanted to have breakfast ready and be back into her room before Trouble was up. Water was needed for the preparations of the meal and so she quietly slipped the bucket off the rung and slipped outside.
The sun was just beginning to rise and the wind was blowing. It would be a short and peaceful trip if all went as planned. Aquila sauntered down the path until she reached her little niche in the cave where the water trickled out of the rocks. Once the bucket was full she turned and made her way back up the mountain.
She carefully opened the door and stepped inside but stopped when she found Trouble sitting at the table. Aquila grumbled and went to the hearth where he had already started a fire.
All was quiet through the preparations and all through breakfast. Aquila even stayed to take care of the dishes but was headed back to her room when Trouble spoke. “Why must you do this to us?”
Aquila ignored him and disappeared upstairs. And so life droned on in the same manner day after day, week after week until one evening after supper when Aquila was about to go to bed. Nothing different had happened that day to warn Aquila of the change coming, so when she laid down on her bed and looked up to find Trouble standing over her, she nearly jumped out of her skin.
Clutching the covers to her shoulders, Aquila stared at him wide eyed. “What do you want?”
“We have been married for four months now and you still insist on living up here. But I am not having any more of this. I do not know what you want me to do to prove my love for you or change your mind about me, but I am putting an end to living separate lives here and now. You are coming downstairs with me tonight.” He was not angry but the authority in his voice told her she had no choice but to obey.
Holding the blanket securely around her with one hand, she gripped the cross pendant in the other and stood up. Her hair fell all around her and she curled her body up underneath it, wishing she could simply disappear. Instead, she slowly preceded him down the stairs feeling even more vulnerable now then ever before. The door to his bedroom was open and it seemed like she was walking to her death with every step she took towards it. She did not dare stop or look back for fear of letting on just how much she feared him.
She took one side of the bed the closest to the door and laid in it, her back to his side of the bed. Aquila felt the bed shift as Trouble climbed into bed. Aquila closed her eyes. Could she let go of her bitterness from his treatment of her and his betrayal? She still loved him even if she did not want to admit it, but she was afraid to allow herself to be vulnerable to hurt once more.

***************

One day a few weeks later, Trouble announced that he was taking a trip into town. He did not know when he would be back but that he would be back within a week or two depending on how well his business went.
Aquila did not ask what business it was. “That is fine. I shall be quite content to enjoy my solitude, so do not hurry back.”
Trouble only winked and mounted his horse. Aquila watched his retreating back and silently wished him to never return. Two weeks passed and there was no sign of Trouble. Aquila frowned but shrugged it off.
One morning a week later, Aquila stood at the edge of the cliff and pulled her robe tighter around her for warmth. Leaning against the wind, she scanned the horizon for any sign of Trouble. He should have been back last week. Aquila frowned and shivered as the cold continued to seep through her clothing.
Turning around, she gave up for the moment. If he was not coming home at all, or if something had happened to him, standing out there watching for him was not going to bring him back.
Aquila shoved the last piece of wood into the fire and sunk down in front of it. It was the last piece of wood Trouble had chopped last year. She had not planned on him being gone so long. Now, if she took the trip down the mountain to get wood and he came back while she was gone, he would not be happy with her.
Aquila crossed her arms over her chest in frustration. “You are just a bunch of trouble.”
The next morning, Aquila found herself once more searching every side of the mountain she could see from the castle grounds. Still, there was no one or no thing to give any clue as to where he was.
From then on the sun found Aquila standing outside searching for Trouble. Every morning found her wrapped in an extra layer of clothing. The inside of the castle was now just as cold as the outside that threatened to snow at any moment.
Two months after Trouble had left, and Aquila went down to bathe. She was just about to step in when she noticed it: she had gained a few pounds around her middle. At first, she frowned and tried to think of how much she was eating. She did not remember eating any more than usual and with the exercise routine she kept, walking up and down the mountain carrying water for the day, she had never gained weight.
Suddenly it hit her and she despairingly sank into the water. She was pregnant and alone. Where was Trouble? He had no clue and she had no way of reaching him. She had brought it on herself. If she had not wished him to never return, Deus would have brought him back. But Deus had heard her desire and granted it.
Week after week, Aquila kept on wondering if he would ever return. A few times she left the castle to find game for food, but she remained within a days travel and returned every night no matter how late. Her stomach progressively grew larger and larger making it incredibly difficult to make the trip up and down the mountain. It never ceased to amaze Aquila how fast her stomach grew in two months.
It was now late January, and though she had given up hope of him returning, Aquila still greeted the sun at the edge of the cliff. It had been four months since Trouble's departure and everything told her he would not be coming back.
It had been her foolish self that had brought this on her. Now four and a half months pregnant, she would eventually have to face the decision to move into town until her baby was delivered. Living alone on the mountain was not wise with no one to deliver the baby.
That evening as she was preparing to go down to take her bath in the pool, she heard the kitchen door open. It was so faint that she almost missed it but her solitary life for the past several months had tuned her ears to complete silence and the door, even when slowly and quietly pushed, made noise that she could pick up.
Aquila almost ran for the kitchen but stopped when it was evident whoever had come in was trying to be quiet. Instead she ran to her room and grabbed her bow and arrow.
Resting an arrow on the her finger, she pulled the string back and cautiously moved towards the kitchen. Someone was opening the door from the kitchen to the hallway when she got there and she prepared to let it fly.
Dirrach stepped through the opening and instantly went still. “Aquila, it is I, Dirrach.”
Aquila lowered the bow and sighed with relief. “What are you doing here?”
“I promised you that I would not leave you here. I make promises and keep them. Where is Trouble?”
“He left a few months ago saying that he would be back in a week or two but he has not returned.”
“It would be like that fool to get you pregnant and then leave you. How far are you along?” Dirrach questioned.
“He does not know I am pregnant. I am four and a half months along.”
“Only four? You look like you're seven!”
“Well, thank you for your kind assessment,” Aquila frowned.
Dirrach shook his head. “I am sorry. That was rude of me. Please forgive my thoughtlessness.”
Aquila shrugged. “Am I really that big?”
Dirrach nodded. “Yes, but there is no time to talk of that. My men are waiting outside and I would rather not be found by Trouble.”
“Men?” Aquila sounded hesitant.
“Yes. You do not think I would come alone with the possibility of running into Trouble? I would be foolish to think I could face him now. You do not understand what he is capable of. Now hurry and get your things!'
Aquila hurried to the cook's quarters, where she had moved her belongings, and quickly packed a small bag with two of her robes and some other personal belongings. She returned to the kitchen in only ten minutes and Dirrach led her outside.
True enough, there was a band of twenty men on horses sitting outside. Dirrach motioned to one and he dismounted. “Aquila, this is Yerik. He will be your sole guardian. Yerik, help Lady Aquila onto her horse,” Dirrach instructed.
Yerik gave a curt but awkward bow and then led her to a saddled horse. Aquila tied her bag onto the saddle horn and then turned to Yerik. “How do you want to do this? I'm four months pregnant and short.”
Yerik chuckled and dropped to one knee. “Step on my knee and I will help you the rest of the way.”
Aquila obeyed and stepped up on his knee with one foot. The other one she simultaneously placed in the stirrup and grabbed a hold of the saddle horn and the back of the saddle. Unfortunately her stomach was refusing her the ability to finish the rest of the way. Yerik reached up and grabbed her around the waist. He stood and lifted her onto the saddle with a grunt. Aquila was embarrassed at the extra weight and apologized.
Yerik shrugged and mounted his horse. He nodded at Dirrach and Dirrach nodded back, then waved his hand. “Let us go, men. It will be slow going down the mountain, but once we reach the bottom, there should be no problems.”
So the journey began. Aquila could hardly believe what was happening.
As Dirrach said, the trek down the mountain was slow. Aquila was certain that, even in her pregnant state, she could have made it down and back up on foot faster than it took them to make it on the horses.
When they finally made it down the mountain, Dirrach led them off the beaten path and through the thick of the forest for a few miles until they came to the edge of the forest. “We shall set up camp here. Yerik, make sure that Lady Aquila is situated comfortably,” Dirrach ordered.
“Yes, Lord Dirrach,” Yerik replied.
“Lord Dirrach,” Aquila quickly spoke. “Might I set up camp on the outskirts of your outfit?”
“Wish granted, Yerik, see that it is done,” Dirrach conceeded.
Yerik saluted and then led Aquila towards the west a little ways. “You should be more comfortable here, Lady Aquila.”
When Yerik had dismounted and awkwardly assisted Aquila off her horse, Aquila took a quick look around and then smiled up at her guard. “Thank you, this will do nicely.”
Aquila began to clear a spot off underneath a tree for her blanket. Realizing that Yerik had not moved on yet, she looked up. “Thank you, Lord Yerik. You have been so kind, but I might ask you to do me one more thing.”
“Yes?”
“Relax and go settle in for the night. I am quite used to setting up 'camp' for myself and I will not need your assistance. I feel I am intruding on your time by keeping longer than necessary,” Aquila smiled.
“Oh, no ma'am. As your guard I will be setting up camp within a few feet from you. You are not intruding on my time, I assure you,” Yerik explained.
“Oh.” Aquila was rather uncomfortable with this arrangement. Yerik was still a stranger and she did not make it a habit of sleeping near strange men.
Dirrach walked up at that moment. “Uh, Yerik, perhaps maybe I should take the first night's guard duty. Just until Lady Aquila is comfortable with your presence.”
“Yes, Lord Dirrach. I agree with your decision whole heartedly.” With a hardly satisfactory salute to Dirrach and a curt bow to Aquila, he ambled back over to the fire where the other men were coaxing into life.
“Thank you, Lord Dirrach, I was feeling quite odd trying to explain to him that I would rather he not spend his night so close. But, Lord Dirrach, I do not know tat I shall ever be comfortable sleeping in such close quarters with him. Might it be arranged this way every night?” Aquila requested.
Dirrach bowed. “I see no reason not. Rest easy tonight, Aquila.”
Aquila nodded and Dirrach moved to a tree twenty feet away. When her bed roll, that had been provided, was laid out, she let herself gently down on top of it and fell fast asleep wondering where Trouble had run off to.

**********

Aquila woke up with the sun and was surprised to find that the men had already rolled up their beds. There was one lonely cup hanging beside the fire and Yerik poured it full of coffee. He almost spilled it when she walked up. “Good morning, Lady Aquila. Would you like some coffee?”
“Oh, yes, please,” Aquila said.
Yerik handed it to her. “You are an early riser.”
“I slept late today. I am used to waking up before the sun to look for my husband,” Aquila commented.
Aquila did not miss the looks that Yerik and Dirrach exchanged. “Your husband?” Yerik raised an eyebrow. “I was under the impression that one does not look for a husband she does not care for.”
Aquila shrugged and sipped at the dark steamy liquid. “If you were pregnant and unsure of your future, you, too, would be looking for your husband.”
“Let us be glad we got there before that fool did,” Dirrach scowled. “Well, let us mount up and ride.”
Aquila looked mournfully at her cup of coffee and sighed. It would have to go or she would dump the scalding coffee down her front and regret it terribly.
Yerik took the cup and did the honors before assisting her up onto the horse again. From then on they rode hard. Just after noon, Aquila could tell Yerik was watching her closely. She knew he was concerned about her health and endurance level so she looked at him and smiled her gratitude for his sympathy.
Still, they rode on, barely stopping to grab a bite to eat. That night Aquila crawled into her bed role and wiped a tear from her eye. She truly was not used to riding horses but she did not want to tell Dirrach this. He was a determined man.
The next morning Aquila woke up to Dirrach's prodding. “Aquila, it is time to go.”
Aquila jumped, startled. “Oh!”
She rolled herself to the side and pushed up from the ground. Yerik was there with some form of food in his hand. She looked at it and then back up at him, questions in her eyes. “Do not ask. Just eat,” Yerik wrinkled his nose and ordered.
Aquila hesitantly complied. When it was through, Yerik lifted her onto her horse and away they went. “Where are you originally from, Lady Aquila?” Yerik asked once they were well on their way.
“Braedoch, from the old Romany clan,” Aquila answered.
“The Romany's, eh?” Yerik's eyebrows rose. “They were all killed, were they not?”
“Mostly. We are the last of our clan.”
“We?”
“My brothers and sisters and I,” Aquila said.
“How many are there?”
“There is nine of us total. We were banished just over two years ago from our home and now we are all over the world. Or so it seems. Really we are only spread out over a wide region, but it seems the only thing tying us together is our hearts,” Aquila explained sadly.
“Come to think of it, I think I remember hearing of some Romany's,” Yerik scratched his head for a moment, trying to recall the name. “I just did not put it all together until now. A sister of yours, named Wren?”
Aquila smiled at the mention of her closest sister. “Yes, Wren, the adventurous one. She has made quite a name for herself, I hear.”
“It is quite amazing how she can track people down like she does. How she must be able to handle herself in order to survive in a world that is predominantly man's. Incredible, I say,” Yerik shook his head.
Aquila started to think about Wren and forgot about the world around her. How many times had she wondered where Wren was? It was no different now. Aquila longed to see one of Wren's falcons soar overhead with a missive from her dear sister. She would not mind if it was Wren, herself, who soared above. Why could Deus have not given them wings?
“Lady Aquila?” Yerik interrupted her thoughts.
Aquila quickly looked over at his concerned face. “Hm?”
“Are you feeling well?”
“Yes, why do you ask?” Aquila raised her eyebrows.
“You looked a little dazed right then and I did not know if it had something to do with your pregnancy and the hard traveling,” Yerik explained.
Aquila smiled. “I am fine. I was just thinking of my sister.”
“I hope I did not bring you sadness by asking you questions about them,” Yerik said apologetically.
“No. You have done no wrong, I assure you,” Aquila assured him.
Yerik continued to make small talk and Aquila quickly warmed up to her companion. Dirrach also hung around and talked with her frequently.
One night after Dirrach had pressed them further into the night, Aquila's thoughts turned back to Trouble. Am I doing the right thing? What is he doing now? Does he know that I have left or is he still gone? Could he be dead by unforeseen circumstances and I am out here running for nothing? Is he hurt and alone somewhere? Does he still love me? Did he find some other woman who could give her love to him and did he totally take me out of the picture? Do I want out of the picture?
It did not help when Yerik reached up to help her down. In her mind she saw Trouble and remembered how Trouble's hands could go around her waist. She had to blink twice after being set on the ground to set herself straight and keep from calling him Trouble.
Aquila lay back on her bedroll that night and dreamed of the last night with Trouble. He had been gentle and loving as he always had been. The rough ground almost made her wish to be in his arms again, but she quickly pushed the thought aside. Life was different now.