As Father and son wordlessly rode toward home, Liam reflected on the meeting with King Caspar. It went quickly and very well. An agreement was reached easily. Caspar was ecstatic that Rey and Connor had come together on their own. He willingly blessed the courtship and future marriage. Their engagement would be announced at the spring masquerade after a few months of courtship and they would marry once Rey turned 18.

They would spend summers together with Rey coming to Connor since he would inherit O'Hagan Keep. Connor would spend winters at the castle training to someday be King once Rory passed on the crown. If he ever did. Caspar told Liam in secret that at the rate he was going, if nothing changed, the crowns would go straight to Connor and Rey.

Connor was given permission to go tell Rey before they left. Once he was gone, Caspar rounded his desk and stood before Liam. With a heavy sigh, Caspar gazed deeply but in a fatherly way at Liam.

"What seems to be eating at you, Son?" Caspar began. "Woman problems?" He chuckled.

Liam flicked his eyes up at the wise King who had been much like a father to him over the years. The corners of his lips tilted into a slightly unamused, smirk. "Yes."

"Ahh. What did you do, Liam?" Caspar gave a scolding look at him.

Liam chuckled. "I asked to marry Erin and she said no."

"Do you love her?" Caspar asked.

"Yes."

"Then give her time. She'll come around." Caspar reached out, patting Liam's shoulder.

"She is staying here. Her choice."

"Then I will speak with her once you are gone."

No," Liam shook his head. "She has to choose it. I do not want to force her."

"Sometimes you have to fight for what you want, Liam."

"I have fought!" Liam shouted as he stood from his chair, raking a hand furiously through his hair. "I fought loneliness for ten years! I fought guilt for finally moving on from Kyla! I fought an insane series of events that if I had not seen it with my own eyes I would never have believed!"

"Well," Caspar sighed. "If she doesn't follow, then I suppose it's not meant to be. However, sometimes we meet people who need to assist with moving on."

"Only time will tell," Liam gave a small, tight smile then deeply bowed. "Until Spring, My King." Then he pivoted to leave.

"Are you still thinking about Erin, father?" Connor asked as they trotted down the road.

"I am," Liam replied quietly.

"I will miss her," Connor added softly. "And Ashlynn."

Both men smiled fondly. That girl was a spitfire just like her mother.

"It'll be dark soon. Let us set up camp here for the night and let the horses rest. We should be home by noon tomorrow," Liam declared.

****

Rory, Erin and their party pushed the horses hard until they were forced to stop for the night. They hadn't seen any sign of being caught up to Liam and Connor. Erin and Ashlynn went with Rory to collect firewood while the others set up their camp.

Once they were far enough away, Rory turned to Erin. "We should leave before dawn tomorrow. Leave our tents, and ride out early."

"I agree," Erin nodded. "We somehow have to get separated from Kennedy and his group."

"It won't be easy," Rory sighed. "We will have to tie off the horses far enough away tonight that we won't be heard. We will have to walk them down the next hill then ride."

"Mommy, what are you guys talking about?" Ashlynn asked as she came up to them mid conversation with an armload of branches for kindling.

"Honey," Erin squatted in front of her daughter. "Kennedy wants to hurt Liam and we are trying to get to Liam first. You cannot say anything or act like you know a thing. When I wake you tomorrow morning, you must come without arguing, OK?" Ashlynn nodded a bit fearfully but Erin knew she would comply.

Rory sighed heavily as he raked his hand through his hair. "Another thing, Erin," He all but mumbled. "I think I should stay in your tent with you and Ashlynn."

Erin quirked an eyebrow, planting a fist on her hip as it popped out. "Really now?"

"Yes, Erin, I am serious." The look on his face was sincere. "It will keep Kennedy out. You said he tried to force himself before! What makes you think he wouldn't try again?"

"You're right," Erin conceded. "Alright. But no funny business!"

"Alright," Rory chuckled, putting his hands up in surrender. "I promise. I'm bringing you to Liam, remember?"

They collected a bit more wood then went back to their camp. Some had already hunted and were cooking dinner. Erin claimed a tent for her and Ashlynn closest to where the horses were tied off for the night. Rory went to his men one by one softly explaining the plan to leave before dawn in order to separate from Kennedy's group.

Ashlynn went to bed without arguing as Erin helped clean up after dinner. She was off behind a tree when she heard heavy, determined footsteps behind her.

"Hello, my lovely," Kennedy's husky voice made Erin's body go stiff. "All alone I see."

"I suggest you back off, Kennedy," Erin snapped, holding up the iron pot she had been washing ready to go Rapunzel on Kennedy's ass, or head, or groin without a moment's hesitation.

"Oh but pet, I missed you." Unexpectedly in two long strides, Erin was trapped between the tree and Kennedy. His nose grazed her pulse that was pounding in fear. "I will humbly admit that before was too soon. I frightened you. Now you have had more time. I miss those curves and your delightful sounds."

Kennedy reached out for Erin but she hit him hard on the temple with the pot. He cried out in pain gripping his head which gave Erin enough time to slip out from between Kennedy and the tree while he was stunned. Erin ran into a hard chest. Lips parting to scream until she peered up to see Rory.

"Oh, thank God!" She wrapped her arms around him.

"He tried again, didn't he?" Rory growled. Erin nodded against his chest. "I said you are to go nowhere alone! Do you understand?"

"Yes."

Rory led Erin back to her tent, lifted the flap then guided her inside. They both slipped in next to a peacefully sleeping Ashlynn. After that encounter, Erin was glad Rory had suggested not leaving her alone in the tent. Her body trembled as it came down from the adrenaline of how close she came to Kennedy's attack.

"You are safe now," Rory sighed, stretcheing an arm up to rest under his head. "Sleep."

After a few deep breaths and mental reminders Kennedy would not dare go against Rory, her body relaxed. Soon they were both asleep.

****

A few hours later, a sharp whistling outside their tent roused Rory. When he heard it again, he whistled back then gently shook Erin.

"It's time," He whispered as he got up. No one undressed to save time for this moment of their departure.

Erin stood, reaching down to scoop up a still sleeping Ashlynn. The sleeping girl groaned a bit but then settled her head onto Erin's shoulders. She silently followed Rory after he checked around the campsite and deemed it clear, waving Erin forward. Surrounded by the handful of soldiers, they walked silently toward the horses then led them by the reins to begin walking down the grass. They would avoid the main road until safely out of sight of the camp.

Once out of sight, Rory took Ashlynn and carefully passed her to Marcus then mounted his own horse. He checked to see that Erin was mounted before nodding for the men to resume their protective formation. They then began their ride quickly down the grass hill.

They briefly stopped for lunch to water the horses but shortly later, gruelingly continued on. As the day neared an end, two riders were sighted a little ways ahead of them. Rory sent one of his men ahead.

"He's going to check if it's Liam and Connor," Rory explained. "We are close to Liam's keep though so either way, we are almost to your destination."

Erin smiled warmly at him. Before long the scout returned, begrudgingly shaking his head. The riders were merchants, not Liam and Connor.

"If we ride hard, how long until we make it to Liam's keep? Perhaps he's home already."

"We can make it before nightfall," Rory answered. "If Kennedy catches up, that is if Liam's keep is truly where he is heading, we will be safer at the keep then out on the road. We need to press on."

They did ride on. Ashlynn was a trooper and didn't complain one bit. The sun began to set behind the horizon off to their side, blessing their ride with breathtaking colors. The more those colors changed the faster Erin's heart beat deeply plagued in anxiety. She began to recognize some of the landscape which made Erin's heart sore. Finally they made it to the gates. Erin led the group riding through. Aedan came rushing out, eyes wide in surprise to see Erin.

"Where is Liam?" Erin demanded after she dismounted, strolling confidently up to Aedan. Rory dismounted and came up behind Erin. Everyone around them bowed or curtsied when they recognized the prince.

"Erin!" Aedan exclaimed once he raised himself from his bow. "We weren't expecting you...Liam said that you were staying at court!"

"So he's back?" Erin asked, barely not panicking as she strode, nearly breaking into a run through the front doors of the keep, cloak billowing behind her. If Liam was back, she had to find him and warn about Kennedy who was surely headed surely right this way.

"Yes, but he said he did not want to be disturbed!" Aedan called after her but she didn't hear anything after the confirmation that Liam was indeed here, back home at the keep. Safe for now.

"She needs to warn him of a coming danger," Rory interfered and explained to Aedan. "I'll fill you in and we can get the men ready to defend this keep."

****

Earlier that morning, Kennedy's man who was on watch woke up only to realized that Erin and her group were gone. He had to wake up Kennedy and break the news. Kennedy was furious.

"Not only did you fall asleep and let them get away, but you slept until almost noon!" Kennedy yelled as they got their horses ready. "When we finish this mission, you will be flogged for your stupidity!"

"We won't make it by nightfall tonight," Another one of his men reported.

"I know that!" Kennedy yelled "We are a day behind! Now we will be facing him at his home! The whole purpose of leaving the castle when we did was to get him while on the road!"

They rode their horses fast and without stopping until the sun was finally completely gone beyond the horizon. Camp was set up quickly and the night watch was set. Kennedy took the first watch and stared off in the direction of Liam's keep, their end goal. Tomorrow they would arrive.

"I'm coming for you," Kennedy seethed into the night.

Crazy, busy day but here's the update!  Another tomorrow but later in the morning.  No school and I'm gonna sleep in! Woohoo!  Which means until like 7:00 instead of 5:30 lol

Enjoy, vote and comment! 

<3