Even though Liam left the room, he didn't walk away. He leaned against the door completely heartbroken. The sound of her sobs travelled to the door. When Erin's maid came with fresh clothes, she blushed furiously when she saw Liam.

"Good morning," She mumbled and curtsied. Liam grunted then moved off the door and let her enter the room.

Beginning a slow trek down the hallway lost in thought, Liam didn't hear the footsteps coming quickly from behind him.

"Father!" Connor called, grinning when he saw his father in the hallway then jogged to catch up. "I need to speak with the King about-" He stopped when he saw Liam's disheveled state. "What happened?"

The hand touching his shoulder broke Liam from his daze. "Oh...Good morning, Connor."

"Father, what happened?" Connor was getting scared. Liam hadn't been like this since Kyla and Orla died.

"She doesn't want me," Liam mumbled.

Connor's brow furrowed in confusion then he realized he was talking about Erin. "What happened?" Connor asked again, a bit more urgently this time.

Liam rubbed his face with his hand before answering. "I asked her to marry me...she said no...Pack your bags. We are leaving to go home." With that sentence of vocalized finality, Liam's heart hardened again just like it had after Kyla's death.

"Father, we can't leave yet!" Connor argued. "I need you to speak to the King for me."

Liam frowned at his son then relaxed as he sighed heavily. "Why?"

"I uh..." Connor stuttered, blushing a little even. "I asked Rey to court me."

With that news, Liam finally smiled. A temporary salve to his heart. "That is wonderful! You may find it easier than expected to get the King's approval."

Connor tilted his head. "What do you mean?"

"When we first arrived here," Liam draped an arm across his son's shoulders and led him down the hallway toward the King's study. "Caspar actually brought up wanting to negotiate an arranged marriage for you and Rey. I will speak with him this morning and arrange everything."

"Thank you," Connor smiled, genuinely pleased.

****

Alice entered the room, shy and nervous because of what she walked in on earlier. Seeing Liam outside the door though, made her feel it was safe now to enter and retrieve the breakfast tray then help Erin dress for the day. When she saw Erin sobbing on the bed, concern filled her.

"Erin!" She called running straight toward the bed. "What happened?"

Still sobbing, Erin poured out everything that had happened from the feast to Liam's proposal and how she rejected him. She left out the time travel bit.

"Oh dear," Alice mumbled, not really sure what to say. It wasn't really her place. "Let's get you washed and dressed then we'll see if we can figure something out, alright?"

Erin nodded and complied numbly. After a warm bath then Alice brushing and braiding Erin's hair in a crown braid, she dressed in a floor length dark blue silk dress with a straight neckline, bell sleeves that flowed to her wrists and a silver chain for a belt. Erin still felt sad and her mind cloudy.

A knock at the door made Erin's heart race. Perhaps it was Liam back to fight for her, argue that a life together, for however long was still a hope. When she opened the door, she saw Rory. He had a large bruise on his jaw. Erin's brows furrowed, arms stubbornly crossing under her breasts.

"What are you doing here?" Erin demanded, clearly angry. "I thought I made myself crystal clear-"

"I know!" Rory interrupted with his hands up in surrender. "I came to apologize to you both." He looked over her shoulder into the room and didn't see Liam. "Where is Liam?"

Tears welled in Erin's eyes all over again. "He...He's...not here."

Now it was Rory's turn to get angry. "What happened? Did he hurt you?"

"No, no, nothing like that," Erin defended. "I hurt him."

"Let's go for a walk and you can explain," Rory offered, holding out his elbow. Seeing the genuine, warm smile and no glint of mischief, Erin took it. "As friends and friends only."

Accepting his arm, they walked in silence to a more secluded corridor that led to the gardens.

Rory guided Erin to sit on a bench then turned toward her. "I know you both went into your room last night. After the scene during the feast, I guessed what happened but finding you alone..."

"Oh, we did," Erin sighed fighting back tears. "It was wonderful."

"So what happened then?" Rory was truly confused.

"He asked me to marry him," Erin broke into crying again.

"Erin..." Rory began, gently taking both her hands in his. "When a man you love asks that, usually the woman is happy. There is something you are not telling me."

With a heavy sigh, Erin's hazel eyes met his. "I'm from the future, Rory. I'm not from this time."

After a moment of stunned silence, Rory broke out into boisterous laughter. That was the funniest, most preposterous thing he had heard in a very long time. His side began aching he was laughing so hard. When Rory observed that not only was Erin not laughing, but she looked genuinely hurt, he sucked in a breath and ceased his laughter.

"Oh...you're serious..." He murmured. Erin nodded. "How...How did you get here?"

"A few weeks ago, I simply woke up here. The last thing I remember is driving home from school with Ashlynn in my car."

Now she had lost him again. Driving? Car? Nevermind. He shook his head slightly. "And Liam found you?"

"Well, Kennedy and a few others found Ashlynn who led them to me but we were near Liam's keep. It's been quite a journey for us and it finally came to a peak here. I just can't bear to see him hurt again if I were to suddenly disappear and return to my time."

"Erin," Rory began then sighed heavily. "I cannot believe I am saying this because I would love to be selfish and keep you for myself." Erin scowled at that but Rory continued, hands up in surrender. "However, I am attempting to be a good friend here to Liam and by extension to you so here goes..." Rory paused, inhaling deeply then releasing slowly before continuing. "Liam has been through alot. He knew Kyla since they were children and took years to finally confess he cared for her. If he is asking for your hand after a few mere weeks, he deeply cares for you. I feel it safe to presume, this whole different time aspect doesn't bother him. He would most likely rather have you with him for as long as he can, than be without you when you are here."

Erin gave a small smile and squeezed Rory's hands. "That last part...is exactly what he said to me."

"Then what are you waiting for?" Rory smiled, lighting up his handsome features. "Every marriage needs the King's blessing. Let's go find Liam then go to my father."

Rory stood, offering his hand to Erin who smiled up at him and took it. They began to walk toward the King's study when they heard someone coming. Rory quickly pulled Erin into an alcove.

"No one should be over here," Rory whispered, brow furrowed. Erin nodded and pressed herself against the stone, waiting for Rory's signal.

****

Kennedy whirled his little maid into an alcove and pinned her to the stone, immediately devouring her neck as he eagerly lifted her skirt. They were both heavily panting already and she was moaning his name as he assaulted her neck.

"Did you do it?" Kennedy asked as he pulled down his belt and teasingly rubbed her center with his arousal. It had been a lot of trouble getting the key to Erin's room to sneak in that morning. He was set on taking her with him back to his new keep.

"Ahh yes," She moaned, gripping his shoulders to brace herself. "I didn't have too."

"Explain," He demanded and pulled her dress down to plunder her breasts. "Was he with her last night?"

"Yes," She half moaned, half answered. "Yes...and this...morning..."

Grinning madly, he plunged into her. "Was he still there?"

"Nnnnn, no...ahh yes! More, Kennedy!" Her cries filled the corridor.

Rory rolled his eyes but listened carefully, scowling down at Erin. "Kennedy?" He silently mouthed to Erin and she shuddered.

"He...left...she rejected...him," the woman moaned.

Kennedy picked up speed of his thrusts and wanted to roughly finish himself off. "Excellent!" He growled and plundered more until his temporary companion cried out in her release. "Now...she's mine...Once I kill Liam. When is he leaving?"

"He's gone..." She chuckled. "He left after...seeing the King! YES!"

Kennedy came apart and filled her, chuckling darkly. "Excellent. Do not let Erin leave yet. I need a head start. She'll mourn right into my arms after Liam is dead." He kissed his companion roughly then pulled out and placed her on the floor. He fixed himself then kissed her again. "Thank you, Alice." He turned a quickly walked away.

Erin gasped, clapping her hand over her mouth. They heard footsteps coming their way so Rory turned toward Erin and pressed against her to hide from this traitor's view. "Shh!" The footsteps quickly passed then faded and disappeared down the corridor.

Fresh tears for a new reason and fear fell from Erin's eyes. "Ken...Kennedy is..." She forced out, finding it difficult to breathe. "Alice is my maid...We have to warn Liam!"

"No, Erin," Rory growled but not at her. "I won't let this happen. Kennedy is a traitor, isn't he?"

Erin nodded. "He tried to force himself on me a few weeks ago. Liam stopped him."

Rory's face turned red. "Get Ashlynn. We are leaving. My men and I will personally escort you but we have to leave quickly so maybe we can catch up to Liam and warn him. Meet me by the front gates as quickly as you can. Do not trust Alice. Say nothing to her about our plan to intervene. You are simply going for a ride with me if she pries." Erin nodded numbly as Rory took her hand quickly leading her back toward her room.

****

A few minutes later, Erin held Ashlynn's hand anxiously awaiting Rory at the front gate of the castle. Luckily, Alice had been off on other duties when Erin went to gather her bags. The hard part was tearing Ashlynn away from Ryan but she promised to let them visit as soon as possible.

Erin changed out of her dress into brown riding pants, knee high boots and a short green riding dress that went to mid thigh. A brown leather belt wrapped around her waist and a fur lined gray cloak draped over her shoulders. Ashlynn also changed into riding pants and a dress identical to Erin's.

"Where is Liam, Mommy? And Connor?" Ashlynn asked, innocently.

"They already left," Erin answered dryly, disappointment and tension in her voice.

"Why?"

"To...get a head start."

"Why?"

"I don't know, honey.

"Why?"

"Ashlynn!" Just as Erin was going to scold her daughter, Rory rode up with six other mounted horses and one unmounted.

"Erin, this mare is for you," Rory announced. "I felt you would want Ashlynn riding with someone. This is Marcus, my second. She can ride with him."

Erin nodded, guiding Ashlynn over to the soldier by the hand. Marcus lifted the grinning, squealing girl to sit in front of him. Erin then went to her horse quickly mounting expertly. Rory's eyebrows rose high in surprise while the corners of his lips tilted into a grin.

"I have skills you don't know about," She smirked, sending a playful wink.

It was enjoyable now that she and Rory had come to an understanding. She now saw the Prince as an important ally instead of annoying threat.

Rory chuckled, shaking his head, "Liam is a lucky man."

"Why is that?" Another frighteningly familiar voice asked.

Erin paled when she looked over her shoulder and saw Kennedy with a dozen burly, armed men also mounted on large horses. Erin gave Rory a terror filled glance swallowing nervously, all color draining from her cheeks. He simply nodded his understanding and assurance.

"He is lucky to have this fine woman in his life," Rory answered Kennedy in bold confidence, raising his chin.

"Indeed he is," Kennedy seethed, eyes boring into Erin. "Well!" His features melted into charming as he grinned at Erin and the Prince. "I am riding in that same direction to my destination. Why don't we ride along with you? As an official, royal escort, Your Highness."

Erin swallowed hard as Rory trotted his horse closer to hers. "Of course." Turning to one of his men close by, Rory whispered something to him. With a dutiful nod, he rode off back toward the castle.

"Let's ride!" Rory called. In silent obedience, his men shifted forming a protective row of three behind Rory and Erin then the other two, including Marcus who had Ashlynn, rode in front of them. Kennedy and his men followed behind Rory's.

They began their journey riding quickly across the land, rarely stopping so they could close the distance between their party and Liam's.

After a time, Rory glanced over his shoulder to check on Kennedy's group. Satisfied they were a safe distance behind them, Rory carefully slipped his hand onto Erin's thigh. The sudden touch startled her at first. Having a lethal predator so near her, had Erin's nerves hypersensitivity on edge. When she looked down at Rory's hand, her nerves calmed a bit but she still aimed a confused brow at him.

"Forgive my intrusion touch, Erin," Rory spoke quietly. "Take this dagger and tuck it in your boot for your own defense. Marcus will take excellent care of Ashlynn as if she were his own. However, you need something to be able to defend yourself. Please do not go anywhere without myself or one of my men beside you."

"Thank you," She smiled, taking the dagger under the guise of stroking Rory's hand with hers then did as he requested, sliding it down the shaft of her boot. Luckily the cloak draped over her shoulders covered most of the gesture. Rory respectfully retrieved his hand as soon as Erin had the dagger in hers. "What do you think he is up to?"

Rory hummed before answering, eyes watchfully observing the horizon under a furrowed brow. "It's hard to know for sure, but my guess is he was not expecting you to be leaving. Now he is following you to Liam."

Like a true predator, following the trail to his prey.

"Then what are we going to do when we reach either Liam's camp or the keep?" Erin asked, growing fearful of unintentionally bringing an ambush of Kennedy and his men to Liam's home.

"Fear not, Erin," Rory smiled charmingly at her. "I sent one of my men to gather more of my men to follow us at an undetectable distance. They will intervene if and when we need them."

"Wow, you thought of everything, didn't you?" Erin smirked. Rory gave her a stern look.

"I have known Liam and Kennedy all my life, Erin," Rory explained tersely. "Both of them would spend summers here. We trained together. Kennedy has always been jealous of Liam's success, furious that everything seemed to come so easily for Liam. In truth, Liam has always worked incredibly hard for all he has and to protect everything or everyone that is his."

"I see," Erin replied thoughtfully peering back at the lush green landscape.

"I confess that I was not always the best of friend to Liam. It was more out of boredom than vengeance," The Prince smirked, shaking his head. "I have a dark past because of boredom. Kennedy's is dark because of jealousy. Kyla kept her brother grounded throughout their youth. I owe this support to Liam to makeup for my past indiscretions."

"Next perhaps should be your wife, Rory," Erin said kindly but truthfully.

Rory chuckled darkly, "One battle at a time, Erin. One battle at a time."

Uh uh!  He's baaaaaack!  Dun dun duuuuun!  What do you think will happen with Rory and Erin?  Can he be trusted?

Now Kennedy is following them.  Will he get Erin?

Let me know your guesses!

Enjoy, vote and comment!

<3