Days had passed since they had their moment yes! Their moment she thought. And she noticed he was avoiding her. His demeanor changed as day changes to night and it had her confused. What even had her confused was her feelings. She wasn't suppose to be feeling this way.

Her mind wandered as she slowly walked the courtyard.

The slight ruckus and noise from afar towards the stable caught everyone's attention except hers.
The stable boy was struggling with an unruly horse that just did not want to be saddled or ridden. The stallion reared up and lunged forward with his hooves causing the stable boy to fall back.

Quickly he stood and grabbed the harness and tried to calm him down. But the effort only won him a harsh nudge as the stallion reared up again and lunged forward trying to get free.
His last attempt at calming the wild beast only angered him more. With that he fought more and won, taking off on a full gallop towards the entrance of the courtyard in Tara's path heading straight for her.

She was so lost in her thoughts, she had no clue she was in any danger.
It wasn't until harsh arms took her around the waist and pulled her safely out of the way.

Frightened by what happened she quickly blinked and watched as the men passed her running after the stallion.

She turned to face Duncan as he still held her close.

His feature was unreadable . He quickly stood her up and scowled.
She did not understand why he looked so angry.
Trying to control her racing heart from the sudden frightening  experience, she breathed in deeply.

He was upset that she wasn't careful. The idea that she nearly got trampled  sent his heart racing as he quickly walked towards her and pulled her out of  the way.

"You must watch where you are going," he spoke in a gruff tone.

Confused with his demeanor she looked at him and frowned.

"I'm sorry I didn't see him coming," she replied thrown back at his manner of speaking  to her.

"Of course you did not," he grumbled turning to walk away.

"Excuse  me?" She trailed after him.

"What is your problem?" She asked.

He spun around to face her. Their eyes met and she could see he was annoyed and bothered but did not understand why.

"My problem, Is you," he growled. "You have been my problem since the day I laid my eyes on you"

He watched as her eyes saddened and immediately changed to anger.

"And you have been the bane of my existence  since I met you!" She whispered heatidly

Immediately his eyes shot up amused at her retort.

"Is that so," he was irritated with her response.

"Yes!" She snapped .

"T'is good to know how you really feel," his eyes darkened .

"Like wise," she shot back.

The little hellion before him stood with arms crossed and such a heated glare that felt the urge to grab her but refrained, turned and began to walk off.

"If I'm such a problem, then why did you kiss me?" She called out stopping him in his trail.

Like a clap of thunder that fell between them, they stood in silence.

Neither saw Aidan come close nor paid attention to his words .

"Children you are causing a scene," he said between his teeth watching onlookers stop to watch them.

"The reason we kissed," he said slowly walking towards her. He stood before her and looked deep into her eyes.

His eyes a stormy gray held control of his emotions and urges as his eyes swept over her hungrily.

"Curiosity .Need . Desire. I thought it best to quench our thirst before I took you to my bed.

Her eyes searched his and immediately  his heart quickened as her glare hardened and went cold and stepped closer towards him.

"I am so glad you took care of our baser needs Duncan, because trust me.....now you won't be an itch I'll be tempted to scratch,"  Tears burned at the back of her eyes but she refused to let them fall.

He frowned, he didn't like the way she said that. Promising daggers bathed in honey stared at him and he swore if they could they would pierce his heart.  He watched as she stormed off .

With grin Aidan turned to look at a now Irritated  Duncan.
"Charming is she not?" He teased.

"Aye, charming indeed." He shook his head.

With that said he turned towards the stable.

~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~

Aidan walked silently with Tara to her chamber.
His handsome face smiled at her as he let her walk in first and closed the door behind him.
She slowly  padded over to the bed, sat down and watched him as he pulled a chair close to the bed to sit beside her.
Silently they fidgeted then glanced at one another.

Breaking the silence together they spoke then stopped slowly Aidan smiled and apologized gesturing for her to speak first.
It was amazing how he was so much different from his brother.
Silently she gazed at his eyes the same color as first the most handsome guy she ever seen that before her he had a flirtatious playboy look to him. she only could imagine how many girls throw themselves at his feet he had a long dirty blonde hair flowing down his back she remembered his clean shaven face gave him a boyishly gorgeous look.

Smiling she looked away from him.
" I just wanted to say I'm sorry for my behavior ," she looked at him.
His dumbfounded look made her laugh "I mean a brat ," she assured him.
Acknowledging her words he smiled and nodded accepting her apology

"I apologize as well for the way my brute of a brother has treated you," a smile was all she gave an acceptance silently they looked around again slowly he looked at her.

" You are not from this time are you?"  he asked in a low voice they could only hear.  Startled her eyes grew wide as she looked quickly to his face the thump in his heart prepared him for her answer that can mean the seer was telling the truth.

Nodding her head she looked up at him, is stern features turned pale.

" Then it is true ?" He swallowed.

"Where? how ?" he questioned.

"It's Complicated you wouldn't understand much less believe it if I told you"  with a quick sigh, she softly climbed off the bed, walked  to the nearby table where her backpack sat not noticing what she was doing she walked with it to the bed and sat before him again.

"I am listening it would not hurt to listen,"  he said.
Watching her sigh she shrugs and began to talk to him as if he were a lifelong friend.  Chattering he listened silently and watch that she opened the backpack and pulled out what looked to be like a wooden handle with bristles ,she put it in her hair and raked it vigorously until her tresses turned into soft shiny  ringlets again.

He was fascinated with the way she looked at him and talked with him with odd gestures. She returned her attention to the backpack and pulled out a shiny trinket with deft hands she tossed her hair forward and gathered the soft mane, rolled it and pinned the shining object to her head.

He smiles to himself she looks so young and so beautiful he watched her every move again she moved to the bag and pulled out a small pouch of some sort and pulled out a white cloth and put it to her face .He was in awe that the soot  from under her eyes went away as well as a strange coloring on her lips leaving them a soft pink,  Her face had a beautiful glow now that he saw her he wondered how his brother could treat her with such cruelty. But then duty and honor drove his brother no emotions crossed his life.
Then to his amazement and shock she pulled out a small square blue pouch and pulled what look like string from around the top of it.  She unwrapped it and pulled a white piece of parchment from another shiny parchment and put it in her mouth. He watched dumbfounded as she began to chew the parchment.

Noticing Aidan looked at her strangely, she stopped talking.

"What is wrong?" she looked at him puzzled as he  pointed to her lips with a frown.
She giggled.
"It's gum,"  she beamed taking a piece out of the pouch and then un wrapping it she offered it to him as he slowly reached for it.
" You chew it," she urged showing him.

Slowly he put the gum in his mouth. the taste was recognizable it was mint but very strong he coughed and wheezed.
Tara nodded and laughed .
"It's called icebreaker,"

" What a peculiar name ," he coughed hard before clearing his throat and sucking in a bit of air.

Slowly he smiled and asked her to continue she went on with a sad look as she got to the part of falling from the top floor of the chapel and waking up to this place.
"I don't understand how this could happen," tears began to well up in her eyes.
" There must be an explanation a logical explanation," he  suggested still chewing on the tasty parchment.

Gratified and amused he looked at her in a few way .
"You really are from the future ," he ventured

" Liora of the seer was telling the truth ," he whispered in amazement .
"Liora the seer ?who is she ?," Tara looked at him .

"She is a seer, she sees things , she tells the future to my father,"  he whispered so no one can hear .

"Can she help me ?" Tara whispered .

Nodding refusing he gave her a sad look.

The short pang of hope what his denial.

" I would not dally or mention the thought ," he warned then a slow smile crossed his face.

"It is not all that bad here ,Tara " he assured her in a convincing tone.

He leans closer slowly he tipped her chin up.

" I like having you around besides who gets under my brother's skin better than you,"

His impish smile pulled a smile of her own before she saddened slightly .

"He is so...," She fumed briefly .

"Arrogant ?" he added.

Nodding her head. "Yes..very," she said.

Tossing his head back he gave a hearty laugh that warmed her heart.

"Aye lass, having you here will be the best thing this keep has ever needed," he smiled.

He gently pulled her hands together and lean down and kiss each one before putting the chair back in its place.

Watching Aiden walk to  the door she called his name in a low voice.
Turning he looked at the small face of his new found friend.

Promising brown eyes stared at him.

" Nothings changed between your brother and I, he still has me as his worst nightmare,"  she stared at him .

Slowly the side of his lips lifted to a smile of excitement and mischief.
With a knowing wink and nod  he walked out the door leaving her to her thoughts.
Leaning against the door, he chuckled to himself.

The Lord of Chaswick, fiercest Warrior Knight was in for the Battle of his life.

And so it was said, so it was done.
Duncan and Tara forged their fate that very day with their heated words and gazes that promised war was to be had.