chapter six

Jasper dropped off the gowns with the seamstress after being with martha and went to Hannah's room. she was already asleep when he got there.

He sat beside her sleeping form on the bed, and ran his hand through her hair. It had grown so much, since the night he asked her to marry him.

He remembered with a smile. she had cried. That was his Hannah, she was so srong, with the softest of hearts. And she was his. His to have and to hold. to call his own. and he was grateful. to God the giver of his good.

He was grateful. And so he would protect that which God had given him to protect. He reached into the pocket of his trousers and dug out the necklace martha had given him for her. he ran his hand across the cool surface of the pendant, and whispered, " protect her."

He watched her as she slept. Did she dream? was she safe?

He didn't know, and he tore at him.

what had martha called her? A traveller.

He unclapsed the necklace and put it on her gently, hooking together once he was done. she stirred a little but didn't wake up. And so watching her, because he really didn't want to wake her up, as much as he worried, he knew she needed rest. she had been so tired and weak.

And so watching her, he prayed a silent prayer for her safety, before finally, at last, sleep took him, and he dozed off, beside his beloved.

~~~

she walked accross the flowery field, a blossom in hand, as the fresh evening breeze caressed her cheek. she inhaled the sweetness of the air, gulping in it's freshness, with her head raised toward heaven, a smile on her face, she said a prayer of thanks.

the air blew past her and seduced her gown, she let out a tingling laugh, unbothered, undisturbed. she was so happy.

she walked toward him, for he smiled, waiting for to reach him, his hand in his pocket, at the doorstep of a cabin she knew and loved. her heart swelled at the sight of him, she wondered it didn't just burst as she drew closer. when she reached him, he brought out his hands and broughter her closer to him, so that they were breaths away.

" Hannah." he sighed, and she breathed him in.

" this place... what is this place?"

" A place for you and me, my Love. A place for just us." he brought her closer and kissed her, first slowly, achingly slow, as though he was relearning her. And then ache gave way to need.

sparks flew in that quiet garden of hearts as their lips blended. they let it light them up, here was love, unadulterated, undefined, and yet so known.

Here was a place and time away from the chaos that surrounded them and they washed and renewed by the sweetness of it all, the sweetness of each other.

He kissed her like a starved man, hungry and needy. completely insatiable. the more he took, the more he needed.

He brought to the floor and ran his hand through her, singing her praises as one sang to a goddess to whom he was devout. He trailed kisses down her neck reverentially. And his reverence was her delight, the feel of him was her redemption.

" kiss me, Jasper. I didn't realise how much i've needed you. kiss me." He obliged her, their tongues tangled up, doing an ancient dance. And she was slowly loosing her grip. when she came up for air, she called out his name.

" I love you. I love you so much it hurts." He looked down at her, found she looked thoroughly kissed.

" I love you right back." And he kissed her again.

~~~

she woke up feeling better, less ill, more at peace, a smile on her face. she reached for Jasper's sleeping form and ran a finger across his temple. oh how much she loved him!

He had come back and stayed with her, and she was so grateful she had someone who knew to be there for her without asking. she was a blessed woman and she knew it.

She stayed on her side and watched him sleep. she couldn't but think tht it was the warrior in him that made him sleep so quietly, as if still attune to his surroundings. Maybe it was, afterall she knew him to be a light sleeper.

" My Love." she whispered.

It occured to her at that moment that with all that had been going on, trying to makesense of the dreams, the Joy of Cephas's arrival she hadn't given much thought to their wedding. Their wedding.

so she thought now.

And realised with some amusement that she didn't know the first thing about planning a wedding. she made a face at herself and shook her head

Her mother would probably know some, she was sure so she would go to her in time, but there had to be things she wanted. things that said, ' I'm Hannah, and i'm very proud and grateful to be Jasper's wife.' she smiled at the thought.

A few things swam in her head, aftersome moments passed and she had given it some thought. for one thing, she wanted to have blue, sky blue.

How did the saying go again?

something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue...

she smiled again. Yes, she definitely wanted something blue.

She would have to go to the castle's seamstress for her wedding gown, but she didn't want to rush it. she couldn't wait to be Jasper's wife, but she didn't want to rush any of it all.

she wanted to take her time, savour all of it all. Because in the end, it wasn't everyday you got married, right?

She didn't know if she wanted an outdoor wedding, but thought it would be really sweet and nice. she would have to talk to Jasper about it, she thought, and caressed his temple. But that was when he woke up, and although she was tempted to wake him up at that moment, she decided to let him sleep. He needed it as much as she had needed hers. She thought of the dream she had had and wandered if he had had the same one, or was he at the at that moment having it?

she wouldn't be surprised if did, or was having it. it had felt all so real, had left her feelibg a special kind of way.

" My love." she said agin, and let her mind wander towards tthoughts of meadows and fresh flowery fields.