"Forgive me that I scared you.", with a heavy growl, he managed to pull himself up. "I didn't want to spy on you. I just waited here for your return."

The regret on his face was real, you could tell. Even the way he said the words. He sounded so innocent and soft. As if he was talking to a loved one.

Hastily, you closed your eyes and regained your distance.

"It's fine.", you said and leaned against the door of the mere's box. "What are you doing here? It's late. You should go to sleep. Rest will be important for the next days before you leave."

A soft laugh escaped him. He tilted his head, looking down. A few strands of his Auburn hair fell into his face.
You suppressed the urge to take those strands and play with them between your fingers.

"I wanted to apologise. For my behaviour. And for what has happened.", he looked you straight on the face, his bright eyes were sparkling with regret. "By all means, I never wanted to hurt you. I never wished to make you cry. To be honest, it hurt me. It hurt to see your tears. I... I know this may sound strange but I grew very fond of you in the past weeks. I like you a lot. Seeing you sad makes me unhappy."

Carefully, he reached out to stroke your cheek.

His touch was so soft and tender that you couldn't help but press your face into it. A shaking breath escaped your lips, as you closed your eyes and grabbed his hand with yours. You wanted to enjoy this touch. Even if it was just for a second.

"No...", you sighed and shook your head slightly. "It's not that I'm sad. The pain is in the past. But the memories never fail to make me loos my mind. But... that's not really why I was so impulsive. It actually felt quite good to get it off my chest."

A soft smile appeared on his face, as he let his thumb stroke over your cheek. Tilting his head, he bowed down to you to take a better look of your calm face.

"Then why were you so upset?", he asked.

His lips were only a few centimetres away from yours. The heat of his breath stroked over yous lips.

How would they feel like on top of yours?

Would he taste sweet or spicy?

"I was upset because...", slowly, you opened your eyes to glare at him. "I was upset that you decided to leave."

A hint of surprise appeared on his face.

"But why? I am a general, it is my duty to serve the emperor. Didn't you expect me to leave again one day?"

"I- I did but... but I didn't want you to. I still don't want you to leave. The injured foot aside. I don't want you to go and risk your life, Morvran. I don't want to loose someone I love again.", you didn't realised what you said until the words were already spoken.

Shocked, you looked at him, already regretting what you had said. It had not been supposed for his ears. He was not meant to ever hear about the feelings you had for him. Your heart was racing inside your chest, it was almost bursting out of it.

The blue of his eyes was staring into your (E/C) eyes. His eyebrows were raised, he seemed to be in shock. He wasn't moving, only his chest rose gently while he breathed.

But as you wanted to move away, as the urge to feel overcame you, he reached out for your face and grabbed it with both hands.

"Don't.", he whispered and pressed his lips onto yours.

The kiss was warm and filled with desire.

The way he pressed his lips onto yours told you, that he did not want to part. With eager, he pressed you against his chest. You did not resist.

Laying both hands on his muscular chest, you let yourself fall against him. Unable to balance his and your weight, Morvran stumbled back. Together, you two landed in the stack of hay, you on top of him. Still kissing, you had to suppress a smile.

As the air in your lungs began to burn, you two had to separate and catch your breaths.

Smiling, he leaned back and wiped his face with both hands.

"I... I wouldn't have thought I would actually do that.", he whispered, hands still covering his eyes.

A little unsure, you leaned back, your eyes were checking his reaction.

Suddenly, a strange warmth filled your cheeks. Immediately, your face turned red and you covered it.

What had you done?

You had kissed your master. Your master had kissed YOU.

Even worse. You had enjoyed it a lot more than you were supposed to.

No. You shook of the thoughts. This war wrong. He was a nobleman, supposed to marry a noblewoman. A servant like you was just for passing the time. But you would not sell yourself to him.

He needed someone of his stand. You would never meet those expectations.

Hastily, you jumped up, turned around and wanted to run.
But Morvran jumped after you and grabbed your wrist. Doing so, he used the injured foot so much, a sharp pain chased through his body, forcing him let go of you.

Worried but more scared, you hesitated for a moment. In the end, the guilt overcame you.

His voice haunted you, as you stormed through the door into the dark, cold night. Tears were filling your eyes. A strange pulling grew inside of your chest. It was painful but not unbearably. What was unbearable, however, were the feelings that crossed your mind.

If he would not return from war, it would only break your heart even more. The pain would have killed you.

It was better this way.

And if he returned, he would be celebrated as a hero. A hero that would marry a rich woman.

A hero that would forget you.