While Shai and Kruger had agreed the trip to Rome would be a short one, it was still one that was necessary, if not verbally spoken. From the moment they had arrived, there was a certain tension. A tension so thick, it could be cut with a knife.

Kruger's emotion's were clandestine, but were almost written from the top of his head to the tips of his toes. Shai had long since known this was going to be a living nightmare of sorts for him, but she also felt it was something that needed to be faced dead on with his eyes wide open. From that, perhaps an element of healing could be gained. A perspective long since visited, and hopefully put into the place where it belonged, not only in his mind and soul, but in his heart.

That day, Shai followed him closely. When he spoke, she listened. When he needed her touch, it was given. When he simply needed to be alone, she would trail off in the shadow's but never to a point that she could not see him fully.

There were moments, the Greek felt his pain as if a knife was being driven into her over and over, reaching the very pit of her until finally, she was consumed by it.

Upon reach of the coliseum, the screams of yester still echoed deeply within, as if they were trapped there. An eternity of blood and pain, death and destruction. If one was to breathe in deeply, the fringes of their nostrils would twitch, for the sweat and anger was still present in a ghostly niveous.

Within the cell, time stood still. Breath only existed. Drawn to one carving within it's wall, touch met and traced the letter's, before it held, and she knew it was left by his own hand. It felt like an eternity as she stood there and finally removed herself from the space to follow his footsteps.

The arena deserted, their footfalls echoed across the dirt and Shai kept a very close eye on Kruger.

There was a time, year's ago that Shai herself had been seated in the level boxes of Court, cheering as men fought to the death below. By her hand, roses had been thrown for the winner and fine Merlot goblets had been lifted in lengthy toast's. Ashamed was a feeble word to describe the regret she now held for such action's and liberties. If presented with the same today, she would have been the first one to protest such matches, such imprisonment's and needless demises.

Crouching down alongside of Kruger, burning tears began to flow and her arms came over and under him, cradling him close as she sunk to the ground entirely. Rocking him slowly, Shai's face was buried into his neck, the sound of her whisper's choking free.

"The constant reminder of this place is what the people of this city will always be destined to be faced with....there is no denying that. You were born in strength, mon amour. A strength to rise above and prove by your continued existence, that even at their hand's, you continued forward and it did not change who you are or what you are. Their lash may have destroyed your flesh but they did not destroy your spirit or your soul. Rise with me, Kruger and walk from here, a free man....with your back to them and do not look back."

That evening, when Shai and Kruger had returned to the hotel, she had instructed the bellman that they were to be served dinner in their suite and after such, were not to be disturbed. This being completely understood, the young Italian and bowed to her deeply and would take care of the menu post haste.

Upstairs, Kruger would find himself being taken care. Maybe not in an entirely outward way, but he was going to be wrapped up and shielded, comforted and loved. The day, so filled with such high emotions, pain and downright realizations, just to look at him, one could see the turmoil, but also perhaps a new realm of peace.

He had faced his dark enemy, his plague for so many years...Shai was more than positive he was still reeling. "Mon amour, I'll run you a hot bath..." Said as she had left him on the edge of the chaise and helped him remove his boots.

He lifted his feet to make it easier for her. They had come to an understanding long ago. He had questioned her and nearly destroyed them. Now he took her ministrations as what they were intended, ways to show how she felt about him.

"Thank you mon amour." In his head he could still see the names on that plaque. Many had come before him, and many after. He was tempted to stop when he no longer recognized names but he couldn't bring himself to leave them as silent victims. Each syllable released him further from his self imposed chains. Shai had stood with him silent and listening. "Not just for the boots or the bath...I needed you with me today." He kept his eyes on her as she worked his boots loose.

Still remaining there on her knees, she managed to pull one off and set it to the side there. A reach of touch and she stroked at his cheek in slow lingering passes.

"There is never a need to thank me, as we have chosen to walk through our lives together, that doesn't mean in the forward sense, but also in our past. But one thing I want you to think upon, mon amour...there is the reason you survived and they all live through you..." Having wanted to tell him that for hour's, she had waited intentionally for a time when she knew his head may be clearing a little. "they will always live through you.."

Rising, Shai pressed a kiss to the top of his head and went into the bathroom which wasn't far away to set the tub to filling.

"Nos morituri te salutant." He said it quietly, it was expected from them but it had come to mean more to those forced to say it. "Those words were forgiveness between us, fight hard live if you can and if not, kill me honorably with no bad feelings." Did she hear him in the other room? He wasn't sure as he couldn't really hear himself.

The sound of water running into the tub had him standing to undress. His shirt went to the bed, as did his trousers and he stood looking at himself naked in the mirror. "Ego dimittet vobis." He moved to stand in the doorway and lean there to watch her. He was addicted to her, and nothing could replace that need he always felt when he looked at her. Perhaps that was the reason behind the strange way he reacted to what happened to her.

He stepped through the door making his way towards the tub. One foot and then another went into the hot water. He seated himself gingerly took her hand and kissed the knuckles.

Yes, she could still hear him, she heard every word and wondered if he would embrace at some point, the fact that while they had all been thrown together by viciousness, that somehow perhaps they eventually thought of themselves as respected and loyal comrades.

Leaving the city of Rome at nearly dawn the next day, they had gotten a later start than Kruger and Shai had wanted. The Greek had spent the majority of an hour, locked in the bathroom and was violently ill.

Assuring the Blacksmith she was just fine, she had perhaps eaten too much of the salmon that had been dined on the night before. Or perhaps it was the Peach Brandy she had so adored. Regardless of the cause, when she had finally emerged, olive hued features were no longer pasty pale and she was ready for the next stop in their journey.

Whisked away by carriage, she hoped the city of Anguillara Sabazia would offer Kruger the same peace and tranquility it had given Shai on so many holiday's before. It was hard to believe this small town was only approximately 30 miles outside of Rome. Nestled at the edge of the volcanic seaside of Lake Bracciano and was simply stunning.

The villas hung precariously from God made cliff sides and was so privately inclined, one was to think that civilization could never be reached, especially when reaching the countryside outskirts.

In dulcet tones during their travel, Shai spoke of the children and regarded a small villa on the lip of the town's main quarter, it was there she had brought Tristan and Molly shortly after they had been handed over to her. While she hadn't remained for long, perhaps several months, she had longed for the area since her departure. Having felt it was important for the three to bond, alone and amongst only themselves, they were only a year old after all and needed that sequestered attention.

After what seemed like an eternity, the carriage finally came to a halt and the driver hopped down to open the door. With the familiar sounds of the sea mingling with the heavy taste of salt in the air, they had arrived. Faced with a grand chalet, for as far as the eye could see in one direction were acres of olive and fruit trees.

"Shai, splendido rivederti finalmente! Questo deve essere il Signore che ci ha scritto di, come dice...Kruger Allen. Un piacere, caro signore.... un piacere davvero." Abelie, came rushing outside and was beaming a bright smile. Kruger may notice, that the old woman resembled someone else. Perhaps Rochelle? It would be a fair thought as the two were sisters and Abelie was the oldest.

A flurry of motion, Abelie was kissing both of the Blacksmith's cheeks and giving his stomach a pat, like only an Italian mother can and going on about the preparations that had been made in anticipation of their arrival. Assuring the two, none would be left on the property, by the time evening came, they would have the quiet solitude that had been expressed in Shai's letter.

The Chalet Ticino while not overly large, was equipped with several bedrooms, marble floors throughout and decorated in true Italian style. All the while, comfortable and homey. The fireplace within the only living room was an absolute showpiece as it took up one entire wall from floor to ceiling and was so elaborate, many had thought it to be surreal.

While several maid's were finishing up the interior cleaning, two gardeners were making their final rounds and soon pulling their carts back down the dirt road, while Abelie and the present footman helped the two with their trunks and getting them upstairs.

It was Shai's hope this leg of their journey would be spent, as had been intended.

(tbc)

If one didn't know better, they would have thought themselves to have fallen off the world as it was known and were lingering somewhere between Pluto and The Horseman, for the quiet and peace that was the sublime hills of Anguillara Sabazia.

Early afternoon turned into dusk and then night as neither Kruger or Shai stirred from the bed, nor shifted the tussled sheets one shred.

Exhausted. That was the word for them both.

Open windows allowing a cool breeze to flow, it became slightly chilled as the sun dipped beyond the horizon and destined shadows writhed their way across the walls, before being left in absolute darkness.

Having become accustomed to the constant life at Belglade, the silence for Shai....was almost too silent at one time or another, having been expecting to hear a Sophie giggle or a Thomas' not so thunderous footfalls running through the leaves near the house.

When wakefulness finally began to pull at her senses, the Greek found herself still wrapped, a leg here, an arm there about the Blacksmith and nuzzled at his collarbone with a whisper. "Are you awake, mon amour or are you in a dreamy place of all that is surreal and untouched by the caress of even a passing glance...." Tender lids had still not opened, and she was quite certain she would fall back into a heady sleep if there was no reply from him.

He didn't startle at her voice, a smile was inside him waiting to get out. "I am in heaven the arms of a goddess about me, what more could a man ask for?" He opened his eyes and ravished her face with them. He held her close unwilling to give up the closeness. He kissed her gently at first, then more passionately.

"This is perhaps the first place that has left me feeling normal on our journey mon amour." He laid his hand on her side, stroking her hip lightly. "I suppose we could hole up here for a month and never move." He laid his head on the pillow and let that inner smile bubble forth. Kruger just watched his dark eyed beauty in the darkening room. "What's on your mind Shai?"

Sliding the arch of her foot up his calf and around the taut muscle there, a press of supple flesh into him with a breathy sigh of contentment. This was also the first time since their journey had begun that she felt relaxed and not in a dead rush to get to dinner, or the theatre or somewhere that they just had to tour.

While she missed Belglade, there was something almost sinful in a very blatant fact, one that would be murmured against his lips. "You, and the fact that I have you all to myself....perhaps my intentions are to keep you here hostage...." While sleepy in voice, dark eyes near twinkled in amusement there in the dark as she regarded him with an almost carnal intensity.

He gave a deep laugh as she caressed him in ways she knew would entice him. "You do have the bonds that will keep me from moving, except in those ways to draw pleasure from the both of us." His fingers clamped down on her hip he kissed her playfully. "Tell me mon amour where shall we begin our dance."

He curled into her, his toes already clenching at the thought of how he would enjoy everything she could do to him. Every portion of her that touched him seemed to burn with desire. "Mon amour vous n'avez aucune id?e ? quel point j'ai besoin d'?tre une partie de vous."

Lids still at half mast, dropped closed at the feel of him at her hip. While breath remained sheltered, it came then in an almost gasp and she dipped to dive, catching his lower lip between her teeth to be suckled lightly, before the sound of his voice, his words, spiraled their way not just into her line of hearing, but deep within the recesses.

Did he understand how he tortured her so? Such tortured bliss at every pass, every turn. There was no ceiling to them that could ever be reached, it just went on and on into an endless sky. "Me dire pourquoi vous me devez donc, mon amour.....Il faut savoir." Fingertips dancing their way down his chest, her thumbnail slipping across the very tip of his nipple....over....and over again in maddening passes.

Kruger sat up and put his back against the headboard, pulling her onto his lap. He let his lips slip down across her chest, one hand coming up to cup her breast. He teased at the nipple with his lips before looking up into those eyes. "Tu es ma lumi?re dans l'obscurit? ... mon lieu saint."

There was need in his voice, desire in the digging fingertips that dug down her spine. "I would give all to make you eternally happy mon amour. Never doubt what I feel for you."

A slow tilt of her head, unruly tendrils fell to stroke at his chest a moment while she shifted the swell of her hips to nestle herself at the apex of his thighs. While sensation was a constant source of influx, even when he simply looked at her....twin palms rose to his cheeks, his jaw line and finally to rest at his chest.

"The fact that you exist, makes me something more than happy, Kruger...." Gaze dipping down and away for a moment, it soon found it's way back to his gaze. "We have lived a lifetime in the months we have been together. Do you think I doubt your feelings for me, mon amour?" She needed blatant honesty....blunt.

He closed his eyes at her touch, feeling the brush of that curl across his chest. He let his hand round the curve of her backside and linger there. "No I don't doubt you, it has been some time since I gave the words to you...I want you to know my heart only grows stronger."

He kissed the apex of the V that defined the start her cleavage. He held her tightly to himself taking pleasure in the way her stomach and his joined together.

Watching him, Shai's fingers came to twine into his hair holding him closer and closer yet. A breath of a whisper at the top of his head. "And you, mon amour....what would make you happy beyond measure..?" The base of his neck reached, her nails wandered a path down his spine, and rounded between them at their stomachs to flutter the back of her hand at his groin....just barely there.

He gave a halting breath following the trail of her nails to their final destination. Her words sparked something strange in him. He locked his eyes on hers...

"Marry me Shai...officially, legally." He wasn't sure why he asked now, months of time together, countless nights and days of lovemaking. Her question now seemed to lock that conclusion into his mind. "Make me happy beyond measure, Mon Amour."

Holding his gaze, eternity was going to be set to motion in the matter of dulcet breath and hour glass sand, grain by grain. In the matter of those very moment's, Shai found herself standing at the door of the Forge, unsure of who she was there to see by sight, only by name. And there he was.

Drawing her hand up from it's nestled placement, her touch across his cheek so very light it was nearly not there. They were then standing beneath a lantern hung high on it's post and she was staring up at him, wishing for the evening to never end...for him to never stop speaking, to never stop humming, to never stop finishing her sentences and thoughts before they ever tumbled from her lips.

That day, that evening, he had become her past, her present and her future. And her, his. Unbeknownst to either of them.

Every step they took together, good and bad, steps she would retake over and over with him, as long as she knew it was he she would wake to every morning to greet the sun and his arms, the ones she would fall asleep within every night. "I love you, Kruger Allen....I will marry you every day of my life, as if it was the first time."

Her lips brushing his. "Oui....I will be honored to be your wife...."

He had no ring to bestow, that could be addressed at a later date. He remembered the woman he first met, but she changed daily for him. She grew in his esteem every time he saw her. Every moment they spent together.

"When I wake Shai, I need you more than the moment I fell asleep." His voice was a raspy whisper. "I should have asked much earlier, but things keep getting in our way." He let his fingers fall into those places that belonged to them. He was stuck in the moment of her acceptance. He let his mouth cover hers tongue begging entrance to that warm place so it could dance and tease her. He could almost forget that she was poised above him, his desires able to be read like the needle on a compass.

"I love you Shai Vevea, my betrothed."

(Posted for Kruger)

Kruger stood in amazement at the time that had passed so quickly. They were meant to return home soon, but there were reasons he didn?t want to. One such reason stood outside hanging laundry. He watched her for some time through the window, taking note of her curves as though he had never seen them before. Was he insatiable? The thought had crossed his mind often enough. Whatever he was, she responded to him so perhaps being insatiable was not so bad a thing after all.

He moved through the villa slowly contemplating all that was necessary upon his return. He?d better not have to track down that trapper. Still in the back of his mind was the threat to burn the entire mountain down. Would he still do so? A check of his anger and frustration told him that he would. He hadn?t required more than the man could do. Failure was one thing, but running hiding, these things would receive no mercy from the smith.

There were moments in the solitude here that he could believe that was a different life and a different Kruger. Silly was the word that came to mind when he would travel that path. Shai was before him, beside him always. The roles they filled for each other seemed to endlessly rotate on a spindle. Many times repeating themselves as need required. It could be said that need of that fluidity of role was a big part of what kept them together. He had asked for her hand though, adding a role to the two of them. Kruger looked forward to that role very much. It was already an assumed position though the title was lacking. The show of unity to the world was less important to him than actually walking together as one.

He drew a cool drink and made his way out to where Shai was working. She was steadily reclaiming her freedom. This was a difficult kind of relief for him. On one hand he was glad to see her taking back what she had given up, but on the other it was him that she was taking it from. Having her need him at all times was addictive. He knew that this time would come, but he hadn?t known how much he would still crave to be at her side.

She made him feel?powerful.