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Date Posted: 09:24:43 12/24/01 Mon
Author: Leigh
Subject: Re: Orignal Gemstone 5
In reply to: Leigh 's message, "Orignal Gemstone" on 03:53:05 12/24/01 Mon



It was daybreak when they finally crossed the border. So far there had been no sign of any pursuit by the Scythians and Nikita assumed that they had not discovered Michael's disappearance. Whatever Walter had put into the guards drinks had been enough to send them into a deep, almost unconscious-like, sleep. They'd barely even stirred when she had searched them for the key to the chains that had bound Michael.

And speaking of Michael, her mind was a flutter with questions about him and her body, she hated to admit, was more then a little aroused by his close proximity. He had drifted in and out of sleep through the night, alternately burrowing his face deeper into her neck or tightening in his arms about her waist.

She felt she understood perfectly now why Vatian laws did not allow warriors to fraternize with any males while fulfilling their mandatory years of service. It was maddening this desire that raged through her each time Michael unconsciously nuzzled her. And if it felt this good just to have a male snuggle up to you, what must it feel like to actually mate with one?

The thought had made her scowl at the darkness around her. And had gotten her a little angry at Michael too. That is, until he woke at one point in the night.

She'd known the moment he had awakened. Felt him lift his head from her shoulder and felt his body tense. She had said nothing, focusing all her attention instead on the path ahead of her. Then she had felt him breathe in deeply and felt his face press against the back of her head, his lips and nose next to her ear so that his warm breath tickled the sensitive skin behind her ear lobe. An area she had not even known was sensitive till that moment.

His fingers had spanned lazily across her stomach and she'd felt him press closer to her. So enthralled was she by the myriad of sensations flowing over her, even if she had wanted to speak, she doubted she could have thought of anything to say. But Michael did. With his mouth close to her ear, he said softly, "Thank you."

She had turned her head then and found herself engulfed in a wave of intimacy as he stared at her, his face less then an inch away. She'd wanted to lean forward, closing that last tiny little gap. Had wanted to press her cheek to his. Instead, though, she had gave him a small smile, then turned back to the front.

They'd ridden in silence after that. Both lost in thought.
After a time she'd felt him sigh again as his head returned to her shoulder and he'd drifted off to sleep.

*


Aella stood outside of the cabin door and waited for Nikita to emerge. The young M'yrene had decided against taking Michael and Walter back to Themiscya and had instead, opting instead to put them up here, in a cabin that the Vatians used when they were out hunting. It was small but it would provide Michael the quiet he needed in order to recuperate.

The door opened behind her and Aella straightened, turning to see Nikita exit. Their eyes met and by mutual agreement remained silent till they had mounted and ridden away from the cabin.

"What will you do now?" Aella asked, after they had ridden for several minutes and slowed to a trot.

"I don't know."

"Do you want him to stay?"

Nikita turned a puzzled look toward her sister. "Stay? Why?"

Aella shrugged. "Last night I got the impression that perhaps there was something -- maybe a feeling -- growing between you two."

Nikita laughed, her eyes crinkling as she took a deep breath and looked up at the sky. "He's a tempting man," she said at length, her mouth still curved into a smile. "And I admit a part of me enjoyed having him so near. But I think that that is only natural. It felt nice to be held by a strong warm body. But I wouldn't say that there was any 'feeling' growing between us."

Aella smiled, her dark eyes twinkling as she glanced sideways at her sister. "So you say."

"It’s the truth."

This time a small chuckle escaped the doyan's lips. "If you say so, Nikita. Now how about a race to the edge of the woods? It'll refresh us after our long journey and hasten our arrival back at Themiscya."

"Now that sounds good," Nikita agreed. And soon the peaceful morning air was rent with the whooping and laughter of the two sisters as they galloped away toward their home.


************


Slowly but steadily the city of Pontus was recovering from the attack it had suffered at the hands of the Scythians. The fields had been tilled, destroyed buildings and homes cleared away and new ones erected in their place. But as Madeline stood on the battlement of Pontus and looked out over the city, her eyes looked far from being content.

She wore a robe that was the color of the earth after a summer rain and trimmed with gold embroidery. The waist was belted with a double-twisted silk cord. The dark color accented the fairness of her skin and brought out the rich color of her eyes. Eyes that were troubled as she listened to Nikita's abbreviated description of how she had entered Scythia and, in Nikita's words, rescued Paul's nephew. When Nikita had finished speaking Madeline sighed then shook her head slowly.

"That was foolish of you to have done," she told her, her voice sounding tired. "You put the empire's welfare in danger. Did you stop to consider what would have happened if you'd been captured? What they would have done to you? Stephen is not so bad, but Megara and especially Rhus, those two are ruthless and cold, Nikita. They would have been merciless had they captured you."

"But they didn't."

"This time." She turned her dark eyes to face her daughter. "But I fear that your involvement with the Scythians will not end here. They know of the prophecy and because of that they will not rest until they have you in their possession."

Nikita shook her head. "That won't happen, mother. We've already doubled the troops at each of the border crossings. The new fort that protects the Lysippe pass in the Caucuses is near completion. We're doing all that we can to prevent any more surprise attacks within our borders."

"And what about the enemies within our borders, Nikita? How are you protecting the empire from them?"

Nikita's eyes clouded. "You mean, Michael." Madeline stared at her quietly, her maternal eyes seeming to see into her daughter's soul. Nikita looked away as her brows furrowed slightly. It had been a week since she'd left Michael and Walter over at the hunter's cabin near Cheldesia. She'd sent a servant to deliver a wagon load of food and supplies to the two men immediately after she'd gotten back to Themiscya. And she'd sent Aella once to check on them. But she herself had not gone back.

"Michael is not the enemy, mother."

"He's Scythian," Madeline countered, her voice low and even. "The Scythians are our enemies."

"And have you forgotten that he saved my life?" Nikita shook her head and closed her eyes. "He didn't have to help me but he did. Was I wrong to think that I should return the favor?"

Madeline clasped her hands in front of her and watched her daughter quietly. Then, after a minute, she asked in her same calm manner: "Did you ever stop to think that he may have had an ulterior motive for helping you?"

"What?" Nikita looked at her mother with disbelief and irritation shining in her blue eyes. "And what ulterior motive would that be?"

Madeline took a deep breath and allowed her gaze to flow over her daughter's features. "You're a very beautiful woman," she said at last. "That alone could be a motive enough, but add on the fact that the Scythians know you are the Gemstone --" Madeline paused, the insinuation behind her words obvious.

Nikita turned away, not wanting her mother to see the pain that her words caused in her. "You think that this is all an elaborate plot by the Scythians? A plan to get Michael close to me?"

Madeline took a step closer to her daughter and placed a hand on her shoulder. "I'm asking you to review what is before you, Nikita. This physician appears saying that Michael needs your help; the relative ease with which you rescue this Michael; the ease with which you, Aella, and these two Scythians escape -- it all seems almost a little too convenient for me to believe that it wasn't all planned from the beginning." And with that Madeline turned and walked slowly back to her quarters leaving Nikita staring with unseeing eyes out at the land before her.


************



Madeline's words stayed with Nikita throughout the rest of the day and well into the night. It troubled her to such distraction that, rather then wait till morning, she rose in the middle of the night, got dressed and headed toward the stables. Silently, not wanting to wake the servants, she saddled up Aleria, climbed atop and rode off into the night.

The moon was full and provided ample light as she urged the stallion into a gallop. Aleria knew the road well. He snorted, excited at the chance to stretch his legs. With his nostrils flaring, tail held high and mane flying in the wind, he obeyed his mistresses promptings and sped through the night toward their destination.

Nikita felt her spirits lift as the night air rushed past her, catching her hair and setting it free from its restraint. She bent low, her face close to Aleria's mane, and held tightly on to the reins. All of her concentration focused on the path and the exhilarating thrill of riding with the wind.

The thoughts that had plagued her all day were swept away and she felt herself being drawn into a reckless mood.
"Ee-aaa!" she shouted, her voice blending with the thunder of Aleria's hooves as they pounded the ground. Her eyes were round and bright as she urged Aleria to go even faster.

She wasn't even aware she was crying until a rumbling began deep within her, worked its way up, and escaped her lips in a shaky sob. She tried to clamp down on her surging tide of emotions. But it was no use. Once they started her tears continued to flow till, unable to see the road before her, Nikita's grip on the reins grew lax and the pressure she exerted on Aleria lessened. Immediately the stallion slowed, then stopped as his mistress pressed her forehead against his mane and cried.

After several minutes Nikita sat up, wiped her hands across her face and took a deep shuddering breath. She couldn't even recall the last time she had cried and she almost felt ashamed for doing so now.

"Come boy," she said quietly, patting Aleria's neck with affection, "let' go home." Though her words suggested their destination was Themiscya, both horse and rider knew that, for tonight, home was a hunter's cabin at the edge of the Arconia forest.

*

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