Chapter Text
Guildford had already made up his mind to take her over the northern border before the sun came up.
Her.
He had yet to learn the real name of the woman on his back, yet here Guildford was making plans to aid her quest for freedom. Not only had Guildford decided to travel for three days with the stranger, he had also broken the long held rule no one is ever allowed to ride him in his Ethian form.
At this present moment Guildford should be on his way to a wedding. Not just any wedding, but his very own. Had he not been absorbed in distracting himself at the backwater tavern the night before his nuptials to Lady Jane Grey, would he even be on the road to Scotland with this unknown person. Guildford tried not to imagine the scandal his disappearance would cause. Leaving one of the most well connected noble women in the country standing at the alter; his father would be furious.
She had been rude – not Lady Jane Grey, no, he had barely a memory of knowing what his bride-to-be looked like since he was rarely at Court due to his Ethian curse. The woman who sat astride him was rude. With her bright hazel eyes, flushed cheeks, sweet rosy lips, who approached him at the tavern, only to critique his Latin, having the nerve to call him rude. She had most definitely been irritating too. Guildford knew promptly she was not a regular to the establishment and was ready to ignore her for the rest of the night, but in the same moment he was overcome with fascination wanting to know who this haughty beautiful woman was. The chance of finding out more was dashed with the Kingsland Guards arrival. Usually he would have slipped away into the night but on this occasion Guildford couldn't help but want to keep a protective eye on the brash brunette.
She held tight to his hand amongst the erupting brawl between Ethians and armored men, taking refuge with him under the stairs as he sough an exit.
“I didn't know it was like this?” she had said in bewilderment as the tavern was overcome with conflict between Kingsland Guards and Ethians.
“Guards are coming” A female voice bellowed above them followed by the thump of footsteps descending the stairs they were hiding under.
“Susannah!” the brunette woman exclaimed recognising the red haired lady now standing at the bottom of the stairs. Guildford knew her as a member of the Ethian pack.
With the door coming free from its lock Guildford took the woman's hand, drawing her body close to his, stealing her attention from the woman. “Last chance, come with me.”
He could see the hesitation in her eyes, a desire to run to her friend or trust him. Guildford gave her hand a squeeze, trying to reassure her safety if she was to follow.
“Go! Go! If you get caught, they'll dunk you,” the red haired woman yelled to them before fleeing the tavern herself.
---
The remnants of moonshine permeated the woods. Light breaking through clouds and branches bounced silver like off the dew wet leaves under foot. She could move fast, like a nimble deer, her hand grasped tightly to his as Guildford lead them in a frantic dash away from the tavern. He had done this run before though it was always on his own. Guildford had never seen a Guards venture this deep into the labyrinth of woodland to the east, but there was always the risk especially with the growing numbers of young men joining King Edward's hateful cause.
Guildford spotted a familiar oak tree, deciding its wide trunk would shield them enough to rest for a moment.
“I think we are safe here,” he said between gulps of breath. “Are you alright?”
The woman nodded as she leaned against the tree. “You are Ethian then?”
“Yes.” Guildford was surprised how quick he divulged this information to a complete stranger. His Ethianism had been a closely guarded secret known only to himself, his father, brother, and one servant. “Are you?” he asked in return.
“No.” Guildford took a step forward to look at her face trying to ascertain if she was lying or not. He thought back to her astonishment at how bad things were at the tavern, but then she knew the name of someone from within the Ethian Pack. She must have sensed his scepticism adding, “I would have changed the minute we were free from the tavern. Two humans running trough the woods are easier to spot than an animal at night I imagine.” He nodded deciding to believe her claim. “How come you didn't change?” she asked.
“I can't.” Guildford replied with another truth, once again appalled at how much he was revealing to her. The woman raised her eyebrows in curiosity. “A story for another time.” He was not going to divulge anything more, at least not here or to her.
She let her head fall back against the bark, closing her eyes. Guildford took the opportunity to let his eyes roam over face. Even in the shadows of the woodland glade this unknown woman was strikingly beautiful.
“I can feel you staring at me.” Her piercing gaze and annoyed tone catches him, but it does little to dim her charm or his confidence.
“It's not every day I get to take in the beauty of a damsel in distress under moonlight.”
“I'm not a damsel in distress!” she retorted.
“I saved your life.”
“You assisted me.”
“Just admit I saved you.”
“You are Galahad reborn, the very picture of chivalric manhood.” Her tone dripped with sarcasm.
“Did you say you are picturing my man...”
She puts a hand over his mouth and a finger to her own lips. Then he heard it, a low rumble of voices in the distance from the direction they had come. They stand statute still, eyes locked on each others trying to discern the far away words and who it could be – Kingsland Guards? The Pack? Someone else?
Guildford carefully moves his hand to the concealed dagger at his hip while taking a step closer towards the woman. She removes her hand slowly from Guildford's mouth and he drops his forehead against the rough bark next to her head hoping his dark attire will hide them in the shadows of the woods. Seconds feel like minutes as Guildford listens intently trying to distinguish whether the sounds are moving further away or closer.
“I think they are going back towards the tavern,” Guildford whispers into her ear. He feels her nod letting him know she understands.
Guildford lifts his head to look at the woman. He means to step back but finds it hard to do anything else but stare into her bright and wide eyes, clearly seeing the green, gold and brown that make up her alluring hazel hue. They are inches away from each other, his nose almost touching hers. Her lips are parted, each breath she takes can be felt across his face. He realises her hands are continuing to clench at his shirt holding him close to her and his knee was still butted up against the tree between her skirts. It's maddening to Guildford that he could go from a heighten fear of being attacked by Kingsland Guards to wanting to kiss this nameless woman, yet he can't stop his eyes from flitting between her lips and eyes.
His heart begins to beat faster as she moves her face closer, their noses now touching. In slow increments their lips meet tentatively, brushing softly together. Guildford instantly feels as if his lips have touched hers a thousand times, while still marveling in the newness of having only kissed her now for the first time.
They pull away, Guildford feeling hazy at how familiar kissing this woman feels to him. She blinks slowly at him then asks, “can you kiss me again?” in a fervent yet quite tone. Guildford can't remember if he said yes before his lips found hers again.
The second kiss is slow, longer than the first, painted with a delicious awe. Guildford pays attention to her top lip, then the bottom, with teeth teasing her lip until she opens up to him with a sigh felt through every limb of his body. Loose strands of her hair tickle the sides of his hands as he holds her jaw, her own leave his shirt to wrap around his neck. His fingers move along her jaw to trail down the column of her neck. When his lips follow the path his hands had been, she rolls her hips against his, her tiny hands tangling in his curls. Guildford pushes back against her hips, growling into her neck as she pants heavily.
“I now understand why my maids enjoyed this,” she says above a whisper.
Guildford asks with a chuckle while nipping at her ear, “How many maids did you have?”
“Myself or the households?” the woman replies as she goes to pull him back into a kiss but Guildford steadies her. Maids? Household? Or did she say households - as in she had more than one house?
“Are you a noble woman? Because only a house belonging to nobility could afford many maids for one woman. And you said households meaning you had more than one house. Another indication you are from the noble class.” Guildford takes a step back putting space between them. He feels a slight panic realising the woman he was kissing was possibly the same rank as him, who now knows he is Ethian. “What is your name?”
“Tell me yours first.”
“Why were you at the tavern tonight? Has our esteemed Verity King Edward sent pretty noble women to find Ethians and turn us in?”
The woman snorts. “Firstly, you divulged that information without much of a fight. Secondly, I have my own reasons for being there. Thirdly, I'm guessing you are of nobility too? Though you wouldn't know from your -”
“-Latin? manners?” Guildford hums.
“I'm not here to hunt out Ethians. The only thing I am wanting is my freedom. My mother has arranged a marriage for me against my consent and I won't have it.”
“So you have run away?”
“This is actually my second attempt - hopefully final.”
“Your mother found you last time? And she is probably out looking for you now?”
“I imagine she is or her servants.” The woman hesitated with the rest of her response. “The wedding has passed, she might have given up. Honestly she probably thinks I'm halfway to France by now.”
“You've been traveling for a while then?”
“Yes, several days in fact. I had stopped in the tavern tonight looking for board. I'll continue my journey north to Scotland tomorrow.”
A heavy silence falls between them as Guildford thinks what to do. He too had his own arranged marriage planned for tomorrow. Like her he wasn't sure he wanted it, even with what his father promised - a potential cure for his curse.
“I can't believe I'm going to do this.” Guildford runs a hand through his curls. “Listen, there is a place I can take you, it's not far from here. A small cottage tucked away where no one would find you. You can stay there for the night, if you wish.” The woman shifts self-consciously mulling over his offer. “I know what it's like to be a situation where you are expected to do a certain thing, and then you got there you are not sure you could go through with it.”
The woman takes a step away from the shelter of the tree, looking around the woods contemplating his offer. Just when he think she is going to turn him down she stands squarely in front of him, hands on hips and head held high. “Lead the way.”