Aura (31 page)

Signi sighed, feeling suddenly meek and guilty then asked, hoping to appease her husband.  "What would you have me do?"
To make matters simple he answered:  "Just be yourself Signi, do not try to be one of the women at court.  I think we all like you better that way.  Think on that for a while."
Sillgrim pulled on the reigns of his horse and rode off in another direction, to check on his men.  Signi rode alone, looking like a beaten kitten.  Well, she decided; if he thought Aura so perfect, perhaps she should try to emulate her.  She had often heard how Aura used to fall asleep before Thorn got into bed at night.  She would see how Sillgrim liked the same treatment.  They were just one night away from home.  Let him sleep alone tonight.  She was going to deny him access to her bed.
Signi's well-made plans turned out to be a waste of time, for when Sillgrim entered the tent she found she could not feign sleep, even enough to fool him for a moment.  He just chuckled at her little game and decided to join in.  His wife was not only predictable, but so very obvious in her efforts to retaliate.  He also thought she might be a little jealous of the bits of attention that he gave Aura.  He could have told her that the sentiment was wasted.  He did not want Aura.  He was curious about the woman, but he did not lust after her, not anymore.  He had Signi and he was happy with his bride.
"Thorn says when Aura falls asleep before he goes to join her, he just spends the night holding her.  It makes him feel closer to her.  It would make it easier on me to hold you if you would at least pretend to sleep properly and relax Signi."  Sillgrim half instructed, half teased.
Signi turned to face Sillgrim as she hit his chest.  "I thought such things were not spoken of."
Sillgrim laughed and answered: "Amongst ladies they are not.  Amongst men they quite often are.  Signi, from what I have heard from Thorn they have a very different kind of relationship than we have, perhaps for them it is best.  But it does not mean that it would be right for us.  Let them live their lives their way."
She nodded then asked.  "Do you know what the plans are for tomorrow?"
"Yes," he answered.  "Edwin will leave us at first light.  Thorn says we are to prepare for a change in the weather, he says we are due for some cold rain and we are to dress with this in mind."
"It is only a little over a half a day ride from here to Thorn's home.  With weather such as you describe I am surprised he does not rise now and rouse the men to get to their homes, instead of waiting until morning."  She gave the matter a moment thought then asked.  "Does he do this for Aura?"
"No Signi, he does it for all of us and this includes the horses.  We all need the rest. Tomorrow will be soon enough to get home.  Everything will turn out, you will see."
"Yes," Signi answered with a sigh.  "We will."
For once Signi and Sillgrim just went to sleep, silently curled about each other and content to be that way.  Signi woke at first dawn and seemed surprised to feel so cared for, why?  She almost felt precious.  No wonder Aura and Thorn seemed so pleased with their lot in life.
Early in the morning Edwin bid everyone goodbye and galloped off with his men.  In a few hours he would be home with Elizabeth and his family and he could hardly wait to get there. 
Thorn decided to make use of whatever they had left of the good weather and followed Edwin's example.  Sillgrim rode alone amongst the men for a while then moved up to join his new family.  An hour from home the weather broke and the rains began to fall.
Sillgrim laughed at Thorn as he once more pulled Aura from her horse, and sat her before him, covering her with his cape.  Aura was engulfed in darkness, caught between Thorn and the cape that covered them both.  Sillgrim followed Thorn’s lead and pulled Signi before him, to cover her.  Their horses were taken to seat two men.
The people of Thorn's neat little town watched from their huts as the combined forces from Thorn and Sillgrim's army swelled the population.  Thorn's men soon dissipated as they had homes to go to.  Sillgrim's troops were ordered to make camp.  Sillgrim had been told that Thorn would show them where their new home would be.  There they would settle, make homes, plant crops and hopefully find a way to live in peace.
Either way there was no real hurry for Sillgrim to build his new home.  The cottage would do for a time, but he did not want to make it a permanent thing.  He wanted to be near his people, so he could rule over them properly and guard his lands.
Thorn smiled as he rode to the middle of the town and called to his people.  "I bring you two surprises.  First: the company of the new neighboring lord, his lady and his men.  You all know Signi, my sister. She is now the wife of Lord Sillgrim, whom Duke Vernon has placed under our supervision.  Sillgrim will guard and protect our South East gates.  Now," he paused as he opened his cape and got off of his horse, so he could reach up to help Aura off the horse.
Signi looked at her husband's face and saw a reflection of the admiration shown by the people and she asked.  "If Aura would have been free to wed, Sillgrim, would you have married me?"
He read the question right and gave her a direct answer.  "Aura was not for me, I soon realized that.  I would never have wed her, but it does not stop me from admiring her.  She is a great lady."  He then kissed her on the side of the head and reassured her.  "She does not have your beauty or passion.  We are well matched my wife, and I am sure you will be every bit the lady she is, in time.  I do not regret my choice of bride.  Never doubt that."
Signi leaned back against him in gratitude and sighed.  She would not disappoint him.  She could be every bit the lady Aura was.  She would just do it differently.  After all, she was born to it, but was Aura?  She watched her sister in law, as she got soaked with the rest of the people around her and smiled.  She decided it probably did not matter.  Aura was just being herself.  It was a natural thing.
Signi called out to Thorn and Aura, as she surprised Sillgrim by sliding off the horse.  “We should be getting in, we are getting soaked."
A few of Thorn's subjects recognized Signi and they flocked about her, as they had done with Aura.  Thorn, wound his arm about Aura's shoulders and they watched as his sister greeted her old friends together.  Signi was obviously uncomfortable, but managed to appear gracious.  Sillgrim smiled at his wife, knowing she sought to impress him with her mimicry.  He dismounted to stand beside her in order to encourage her.  Signi smiled at him, did a quick introduction then suggested they retire to the estate house, where they could change into something dry, warm up, and get something to eat.
The foursome made their way into the house and settled.  They dried themselves then ate.  Thorn watched the looks of surprise that crossed Aura's face, as she looked about at the house he had built.  Now she had a real household, with servants to command.  He wondered how she would take to that, knowing that she had loved the little cottage for it's cozy intimacy.
After the meal Thorn took Sillgrim and Signi to the cottage to get them settled.  He had sent servants to see to the care of the building earlier and was pleased to see that they had followed his orders so well.  He now stood before the fire in the cottage and warmed his hands before getting ready to return to his wife's side as he spoke to Sillgrim.  "I thought you might appreciate a bit of privacy as you have been very recently wed."  He teased.
"I think this piece of consideration is as much for you as it is for us, am I right Thorn?"  Sillgrim teased back.
Thorn just gave him a sheepish grin then answered.  "You think my home not large enough to lose you in, Sillgrim?"
"More than," came the answer.
"That is the idea.”  Thorn replied.  “In the meantime, I hope you are comfortable.  If you need anything you have but to ask."

Thorn looked through some of the things Aura had brought with her, wondering at the texture and quality of the clothes and other items before dismissing them as unimportant.  He then noticed a small stack of jewelry cases placed on the chest.
 
He opened each one and spread the cases out to display the jewels.  Who had she been?  The question struck him again.  He looked at the assortment of diamonds, emeralds, sapphires and other precious gems.   She had told him that she was the unwanted daughter.  He wondered what the daughters who had been wanted owned.  He walked up to her side and brushed the petal softness of her cheek with the back of a finger.  It no longer mattered, whatever she had been before, she was his wife now and there was no question of how much he wanted her.
Thorn undressed, doused the light, and climbed into the bed to gather Aura close.  He noted the warmth and softness of the feather blankets that surrounded them and smiled as the heat of the covers soaked through him.  He approved of her ideas on comfort.  It was his last thought before he sighed and fell asleep.
Dawn broke and with it Thorn noticed a chill.  He reached for Aura, to share her warmth, and found nothing.  Within moments he was out of bed, dressed and out of their room.  He ran down the stairs yelling her name.  When he got to the front door he jerked it open.  There was a heavy morning mist rolling in from the river towards the house and he could see next to nothing. 
It had happened again, he had just gotten Aura home to lose her again.  Thorn could barely breathe his chest felt so tight.  Somehow, as he stood on the threshold of their home, he managed to take a deep enough breath to fill his lungs and he screamed her name to the world.  The name sounded as if it had been ripped from his throat.
It was time, Aura noted as she heard Thorn scream her name.  She braced herself and took a deep calming breath.  She had been standing near the edge of the forest awaiting a sign that he had noticed that she was missing.  It had not taken long.  She dropped the cape onto the ground.  She would collect it later.  She then began to walk towards the house with steady, measured, steps.  It made her feel as if she was in a theatrical production.  And well, when a person thought about it, she was trying to create an effect so the description fit.  She got to the edge of the mist and kept walking.
Thorn saw Aura the moment she began to emerge from the fog and he stood watching her mesmerized by the view.  She looked like she was materializing out of the mist itself as she was coming towards him.  A breeze lifted the fog.  It swirled about her, giving him a clear view of her and he noted her state of dress, or was it undress? 
His first inclination was to rush over to her to cover her, she was almost naked, or at least there was not much of the dress to cover her upper body.  He did a quick scan of the area then realized that they were alone and that the show she was putting on was for him alone.  He slowly smiled in appreciation of her efforts and decided to watch her come the rest of the way to him.  As Aura got close enough for him to hear her she began to speak.  Thorn listened in wonder at what she said.
"I have been sent to you through time over many centuries from the future, to be your bride and wife.  I have left my life behind of my own free will, to be with you.  I will never return to my own time again."
Thorn said nothing as she reached him.  He picked her up and carried her to their room.  As he put her down he kissed her then murmured.  "You will drive me crazy woman."
Aura smiled as he said that, pressing close to him as she returned his kisses and guided his hands to her back to teach him how to undo the clasps and zipper of the gown.  Thorn gave a throaty growl as her gown slipped from her to form a silken pile on the floor.  She was driving him wild, his hands shook so hard he could not seem to get his own pants undone.
Aura was not being any help to him, as he fumbled with the ties on his clothing.  She was standing next to him, casting him molten looks, touching his shoulders and chest, running her fingers down his arms.  He stopped his struggles for a few moments as he captured her and kissed her with a deep growing passion.  Her mouth opened in silent invitation beneath his and the kiss deepened, to go on and on until neither of them was quite aware of where they were.
Aura had not quite expected to be so affected by the teasing of her husband.  She had meant to rouse him into wanting her, but from the moment she had touched him it had seemed as if she could not keep her hands off of his body.  No matter how fast he moved he wasn’t able to get himself undressed fast enough to satisfy her.  They kissed, his arms crushing her to himself and her hands moved from his shoulders to the knot he had created on his trousers when he had tried to undo them.  She undid the knot and raised her arms to encircle his neck as he picked her up. 
Somehow, Thorn found, he had managed to get rid of his pants and he was on the bed with his wife.  He was frantic in his need for her.  He had planned this moment, although it was not happening the way he had imagined.  He wanted to love her slowly, showing her what she had missed but he couldn’t wait.  He parted her legs, as he devoured her lips with his and entered her.
Aura’s body moved to meet his and she whimpered in her search for release.  Their joining was wild.  Frantic.  Explosive.  Thorn felt her climax a heartbeat after his and as he lay over her, trying to catch his breath while listening to her fight for her own, he chuckled to himself.  He had forgotten how abandoned and wanton she could be.  God had been kind to him.
Thorn then remembered her words to him, as she had come to him from out of the mist.  "I have come to you from over time, many centuries in the future."  Could she be a witch?  Thorn wondered then answered himself.  It was not possible, but nobody was going to know about this but them.
Thorn rolled over onto his back, taking Aura with him and she gave him a self-satisfied smile.  Well, he thought, why not?  She had every right to feel pleased with herself.  He was definitely pleased with her.  He felt her move against him as she reached to nibble at him from his chin up to his ear and he squirmed as he felt his body reacting again to her love play.  He could not believe he was ready for her again and he could not believe she wanted him so soon.  He had been sure that he was going to have to exercise restraint with her.  Now he felt anything was possible.  He was not about to let her take the initiative in their lovemaking.  He rolled back over onto her, pinning her beneath him, and gave a wickedly seductive laugh.
"You play games with a man who knows too much about this sort of thing Aura."
"I certainly hope so." She teased back with a giggle and a gasp, as he raked a taut nipple with his teeth.
Aura did not care.  Her body was on fire.  Thorn’s mouth suckled and kissed at her breasts while his hands stroked her body and it was driving her crazy.  Had she gone too far she wondered then decided no, this was the way it was supposed to be.  She wrapped her legs about her husband as he entered her again and almost passed out as he repeatedly drove into her.  She met each thrust of his with one of her own, until finally, both spent and exhausted, they lay still, wrapped about each other on the bed.  They parted for a moment as he withdrew from within her body then covered them with the covers, as the room, which had seemed so stifling a few moments ago, now felt cold.
Thorn held Aura against himself and kissed the side of her head as he pillowed her against his shoulder.  He could feel himself drifting off and he sighed, thinking of the woman he held in his arms.  He was going to have a very long talk with her when they woke.  He decided they probably had some very interesting things to speak of.  He then closed his eyes and slipped off into sleep.
It had happened, Thorn woke and Aura still curled sleeping within the curve of his arms.  He smiled and gave a deep sigh of contentment.  Until she woke and they had time to talk, he would pretend that there was nothing at all different about her, or of their being together, for in all honesty, he had to admit, there was nothing strange about the union.  There was, however, much that was strange about Aura.
Aura stirred in her sleep and gave a bit of a whimper and he propped himself up on an elbow to see what was wrong.   She appeared disturbed, so with a calloused hand he gently stroked her head, pushing her hair away from her face as he did.  Something was troubling her, she was restless and he wondered what it was that she dreamed of to cause her such unrest.
Thorn gave Aura’s forehead a light kiss and murmured soft words of comfort and love then with a slight wiggling movement he sunk further into the warmth of the blankets to hold her closer.  He found that the comfort he offered was a bit like a two edged sword, for the warmth of the bed lulled him back to sleep while he would have rather stayed awake watching Aura as she slept.  Her restlessness meant nothing to him, for as long as she lay safe within the confines of his arms, he felt confident that he could deal with anything that might be bothering her.
Aura could feel Thorn's arms about her, holding her close like a possession he could not bare to be parted from.  She could feel the darkness of time creeping about her and she gave a shiver of fear.  She felt the draw and her subconscious screamed.  NO. This is not supposed to be happening.  She woke from her dream with a start.
Thorn felt Aura’s body jerk as she woke then watched as she focused her gaze on him.  In sheer relief she wrapped her arms about him and buried her face in his shoulder.  He tightened his hold on her shaking body and stroked the back of her head to offer her comfort.  What on earth could she fear?  He was not about to ask.  She would need time to collect herself before they could speak of it with any degree of coherence.
It took her awhile to quit shaking and to settle down enough to carry on a conversation.  When he was sure that she was able to do so he began.
"You had a bad dream my love?"
"There is a draw back to my time when there should be none.  I have severed all of my ties, what could be wrong Thorn?"  Aura poured out her fears.
"Perhaps it has to do with me?  He wondered aloud.
Aura looked at him in question.  "How?  I do not understand."  After all it was she who was out of place here, not him.
"I have told you nothing of my past, nor do I know much of yours.  We love each other, we belong to each other, we are good together, but it is not enough.  We need a bond.  Perhaps full knowledge and acceptance of our pasts, as well as thoughts of our future together is needed.  My past is open.  I have been a soldier and leader of my people.   There have been women in my past as is the way of all soldiers, but they have been no more than that.  Until I met you I never really believed a woman could be special, although I did pray that I might be wrong.  I also prayed fervidly that God might grant me my soul's mate."
“I felt a soul mate was more important than just a wife, for it is the soul that lives on and not the body.  If it was not for that, there were many women who would have been acceptable as a wife.  Perhaps I endanger our relationship by asking for too much."
He stopped speaking and Aura took over.  "You have not told me anything that I didn’t know.  I don’t think that is the problem.  I am afraid that the trouble is mine.  With that in mind I guess it is my turn to tell my story."  She sighed then began.  "I never knew my real father.  My mother hated me.  I have never known the touch of any man before yours."
"You proved that to me the first time I took you."  Thorn teased with a smug smile of masculine satisfaction.
Aura gave him an exasperated frown as she snapped.  "Thorn this is serious, it could be important to our staying together for the rest of our lives."
"You are right, carry on."
"At the risk of sounding sorry for myself, I will tell you about my life as it was.  I had been pushed aside while my mother catered to and pampered my stepsisters.  I feel that for the first time in my life, I am loved for myself and I am free to give my love in return.  This is not what you want to hear about though, is it?"
"Aura, you must tell me what you feel inside of you.  The things you believe I need to hear from you.  Not the things you think I want to hear.  I might need to know these things, for they might help us deal with each other, to understand the differences between our life styles."
"Then you will want to know about when and where I came from.  I was born in the year nineteen seventy-four.  I am now twenty one."  She looked at him to see if he doubted her, but his face gave away nothing of his inner thoughts.  She continued.  "You cannot begin to imagine what it is like to live in my time.  The trip we took four days to travel in this time, would have taken us only a few hours in my time.  We travel differently.  We use horses only for show or hobby."
She stalled and he gave her some time to gather her thoughts before urging her on.  "There is more I know.  Do not be afraid."
She nodded and proceeded.  "The air is not so clean, the water not so pure.  The people are not as open or trusting.  We travel on paved roads by automobiles and other such modes of transportation.  We travel like birds in airplanes, over rail by trains.  There are people everywhere and despite all the technological advances of our age, they do have their problems.  Perhaps even more than you have."
"There are various forms of entertainment, including television, radio, theaters and such.  On the seas we travel in ships large enough to put Vernon's palace into.  In this time period I have yet to see a ship I would feel comfortable on."
"What are these things? Automobiles, trains, planes, television, radio, theaters?"
"Where do I start?  These are things as familiar to me as a walk across your courtyard is to you.  Cars, trains, trucks and motorcycles have taken the place of carts and horses.  If you wish I could draw you pictures and tell you what they are used for.  Planes carry people and cargo from place to place through the air.  We watch things happen on shows and movies, while sitting in our homes.  We listen to music and reports on the radio."