Aela Page 16

  Ayab finally caught up with Rom, and he decided from now on he was not going to complain. So he set his eyes determinedly on Rom’s back and made sure that he was not going to be left behind on his own again. The two continued to move through the forest, with Rom having to stop every now and then to cut a path through the bushes. By this time both men were bathed in sweat, their hearts were pounding and even Rom was finding the exertion making him breathless.

  Then, suddenly Rom dropped on the ground, flung his sword onto the earth and lay flat on his back panting for breath. Grateful for the short respite, Ayab lay prone on his stomach exhausted trying to catch pockets of air for his lungs, so that he didn’t asphyxiate himself. The thing that always concerned Ayab the most, was looking after his precious self and this was his prime aim, above any other considerations.

  After a short time, Ayab raised his head and lifted his eyes towards Rom’s prone figure lying flat on the ground. Ayab could hear heavy breathing coming from Rom, so he was aware that his new master was still alive.

  Neither men knew how long they lay there on the ground, but very soon, they both felt more relaxed with an energy surge coming back into their bodies. They slowly sat up and fixed each other with their eyes, with a white cold stare of hate.

  ‘I’m not going to have you hold me up Ayab, as my mission is so intensely urgent,’ stated Rom coolly.

  ‘Well, you are also exhausted, Mighty one, I am not holding you up, you too, must have a rest,’ exclaimed Ayab.

  There was a short pause, enough time for Rom to digest the retort, then he inexplicably began to laugh loudly. On hearing this, Ayab too started to laugh in his high pitch shrill manner.

  Once this outburst had abated, Rom ventured, ‘I think we need to call a truce between each other, because the reality is, that neither of us will survive without the other.’

  Ayab was totally relieved now that they were both going to work as a team, and his precious person would be saved. He agreed with Rom.

  ‘Come now, Ayab, we will continue on our way. This time I will not go so fast so that you can keep up with me. It is stupid, for me to be rushing hell bent without any concern for my own safety or respect for what my body can do for me.’

  So both the men got up wearily, continuing their trek through the trees, with Rom stopping every now and then to cut a pathway through some thick ferns, or make a detour around a small stream or rock, that was in their way.

  Aela was quite put out that she could no longer send her message to Rom and no images of his face appeared within her mind. What was he doing, where was he located, and was he coming back to her, whilst she was in her trance? So, she decided to give up for the moment, and rested her weary body, by leaning her back against the tree.

  As she did so she took in the sounds of the forest, animals and birds, and could almost feel the deep seated breathing from the cavernous depths of earth, as well as from the trunk of the tree, she was leaning against. In a strange way, by becoming one with her surroundings, she stopped panicking and began to feel at peace with the whole environment immediately around her.

  Aela muttered to herself, ‘Well, if Rom can’t reach me, I must make sure that I save myself without his help.’ With these thoughts, Aela placed her ear on the ground, to see if she could hear the sound of animals moving around and by the merest chance she may be able to detect footsteps of a fellow human.

  Much to her surprise, she could pick up a measured step of someone, as well as another person walking behind the first one. Her heart began to quicken with joy, at least if I am careful, I would be able to locate these two people and hopefully they would be friendly towards me, Aela placed her ear on the ground again and to her relief she realised that these two people were walking in her direction.

  Suddenly she saw two figures standing in the darkness of the trees, but Aela was unable to recognise who they were. So Aela impulsively jumped, up holding her dagger in her one hand. ‘Who are you? Are you a friend or a enemy? Don’t come too close to me otherwise I will cut you to pieces,’ commanded Aela.

  A deep male voice replied, ‘Is it you, Aela? My sacred pendant has been true, if it is you.’

  Aela shouted with sheer joy, ‘Rom, I know your voice! You have saved me.’

  Both rushed towards each other and Aela leapt onto Rom’s chest wrapping her legs around his body, they both fell down on the ground, laughing and crying at the same time.

  Ayab who was standing a little behind Rom was watching the whole scene. His first thoughts were, ‘We have another mouth to feed.’

  Aela and Rom locked their arms together around each other’s necks and their fiery lips met passionately. Ayab detecting that he was being completely ignored said, ‘Just a moment, you two, I must remind you, that I am also important and we still haven’t got out of this blasted impenetrable forest. So either control your passion for each other and give us time to think, how we can get out of this mess. We still do not have any food or shelter and we do not know how to get back to civilization at this stage.’

  These words had an immediate effect on the two lovers and they looked up at Ayab, who was now standing quite close to them.

  Aela was the first to speak, ‘Who is this man? Why is he with you, Rom?’

  ‘His name is Ayab and I found him in the forest alone. We decided to team up, as we thought there was a better chance of getting out of this place, if the two of us put our heads together. But I am warning you Aela, don’t trust this scoundrel. He is completely ego-centred and only thinks of himself and changes loyalties constantly, depending on which side he thinks is the winner.’

  ‘I think you are being too harsh about me’, exclaimed Ayab insincerely.

  Aela, quickly assessing the situation realized that he was a snake in the grass that Rom was alluding to. She looked at Ayab. ‘I always respect Rom’s assessment of people and from the looks of you, I wouldn’t trust you as far as I could throw you.’

  At this Ayab was completely mortified and disgusted and turned his back on them.

  Before he knew it he heard a whistling sound of a missile going past his right ear and a short dagger was impaled in the trunk of the tree in front of him.

  ‘Don’t you ever dare to turn your back on me at any time,’ yelled Aela.

  With this command Ayab quickly turned around and dropped on his knees. ‘Oh, I’m so sorry my gracious lady. Please don’t kill me because I can be useful to you. I pledge my absolute loyalty to you and that I will always protect you.’

  At this statement Aela just burst into hysterical laughter, got up from Rom’s embrace and walked over to the tree to wrench the dagger out of the tree trunk.

  ‘Well, for the time being your life is spared, but if at any time you cross me, you will be killed instantly,’ hissed Aela in Ayab’s ear. ‘Get up you rogue!’, she then placed the dagger back into the pouch which was strapped to one of her legs.

  Rom had observed the scene and was highly amused and he looked at Ayab, ‘Well, you’ve heard what the lady thinks of you and what she will do to you if you ever cross her. My advice is I wouldn’t cause her to be angry towards you, because you would be killed in an instant. Let us all sit down, so we can work out a plan to get out of the forest.’

  Without any complaints from Ayab or Aela they all sat on the ground facing each other.

  Aela asked Rom ‘How did you find me here?’

  ‘Easy,’ Rom replied ‘I called upon Athunor our goddess to activate my pendant, so it would lead me to you.’

  Aela gave a sigh and held her hands in prayer in front of her. ‘Thank you, Athunor, for safely delivering Rom to me.’ Then she unfolded her hands and placed them on her knees looking steadily at Rom.

  After a short pause, Rom began to chant harmoniously, ‘Athunor Athunor, great Goddess show us the pathway of truth, so we can recover the Sacred Sword. Take it back to our homeland, use its magical powers to free our people from the oppressive rule of Brude. So we all can live harmoniously as a co
mmunity and prosper with our crops and cattle.’

  ‘You certainly don’t mind asking for everything at once,’ Ayab stated acidly.

  Rom completely ignored Ayab’s comments and continued with his prayer, ‘We need your help now, Athunor, grant us this favour Oh, powerful one.’

  Ayab was rapidly losing patience, especially as the hunger pangs were gnawing away in his empty belly. ‘I have had enough of this mumbo jumbo, I am going to find my own way out of this wretched place.’

  So he stormed off running blindly through the forest swearing to himself as he stumbled on. Totally ignoring Ayab’s flight from them, they continued to chant their prayers to the Moon Goddess. Alas no thoughts appeared in their minds and there were no images or messages from their sacred goddess Athunor. Exhausted, they both fell into a deep sleep, lying in each other’s arms, oblivious to the sounds and smells of the forest around them.

  No one knew how long the two lovers lay there, but soon Rom slowly opened his eyes to take in his surroundings. He gazed tenderly at Aela’s upturned face lying on his chest and a surge of protective love overwhelmed him. Somehow they must find a way to a village, warmth, food and sanctuary. Aela began to stir, she opened her eyes and smiled, when she saw Rom’s face looking down at her.

  Slowly and gently Rom lowered his face towards Aela’s, and when their two lips touched each other a fiery ribbon of passion surged between the two. Both tore off each other’s clothes throwing them into the air in absolute abandon until they were both were naked, lying on the soft moss on the ground.

  Waves of unbridled passion surged through their bodies as their arms and legs were moulded together as one. Rom’s hands begin to caress sensuously Aela’s body, she could feel Rom’s body warmth on top of her. She tasted the salty sweat from the taut skin around Rom’s smooth, muscular chest as she moved her soft open mouth up and down his body. At the same time, she could hear the rapid beating of her heart against his as she responded to his hands delving into the innermost parts of her thighs.

  She then started groaning in ecstasy, simultaneously opening her legs to receive his erect penis inside her. As Rom thrust himself time and time again into her, until both bodies were as one responding to each other’s love and desire for the other. At this moment the two lovers sank further into each other as they continued to unabatedly enjoy their fusion of passion.

  Then Rom let out an exultant cry of sheer triumph as he once more released his life giving sperm into Aela’s body. She in turn uttered a primal joyful sound of fulfilment as she received Rom’s gift of life and true love.

  Then suddenly they were both satiated and spent of all emotion as they lay in each other’s arms panting loudly, drinking in the sweet smell of each other’s bodies. Then more gently, as their two hearts began to beat slowly and rhythmically in unison, soon they were in a deep sleep of utter contentment, their bodies still locked together. At irregular intervals, both awoke, again and again they rose to higher heights of passion of pure love for each other, until all energy was drained from their bodies. This time their sleep was one of sublime exhaustion, contentment, coupled with complete fulfilment.

  It was not until the first illuminated liquid golden rays of sunlight began to flicker through the dense leaves and branches of the trees they were lying under that the two lovers began to stir in each other’s arms. Aela was the first to be alert to life and laughingly tickled Rom’s nose with a fallen leaf, that she had carelessly picked up from the ground.

  Rom opened his eyes taking in the scene instantly and he hugged Aela close to his chest. They then both rolled over each other a couple of times, before becoming breathless again.

  ‘You are wonderful my darling,’ exclaimed Aela, as she sat up beside Rom.

  ‘You are my fairy princess,’ exulted Rom as he played with her long blonde tangled shiny hair.

  ‘Oh, Rom I am so hungry; I could eat you alive’ but you are too divine for tha,’ sighed Aela.

  ‘We must hunt for some fresh meat and gather wild berries before we die of starvation,’ added Rom.

  So the two lovers hurriedly dressed, adjusted their weapons and began to look around their surroundings in earnest. Without saying a word Rom consulted his sacred pendant and he motioned for Aela to follow him in the direction he was compelled by his pendant to go. Very soon they came upon a gentle stream of water flowing into a clear blue lake, surrounded by a thick, dark mass of trees.

  Without saying a word, both stripped off their clothes and dived into the velvety, liquid water, savouring the refreshing and relaxing sensation, encompassing their tired satiated bodies. They made love again and again as they lay half in and half out of the water at the edge of the lake, completely wrapped in their own simmering passion for each other.

  As the sun rose higher in the clear blue sky, Aela and Rom then lay naked on a nearby flat rock, that was jutting over the water of the lake. They both felt the warmth of the sun seeping through their bodies, as the droplets of crystal liquid was dried from their muscular bodies, giving them renewed life-giving energy.

  But the severe gnawing pangs of hunger blotted out any further feelings of pleasure they have felt towards each other, quickly and silently they dressed once more.

  ‘I will go looking for game,’ stated Rom, ‘You can seek some edible roots and berries, Aela. We can meet back on this rock once we have found something to eat.’

  Ayab made steady progress through the forest and was feeling very pleased with himself when suddenly his world was turned upside down. He was thrust on his stomach, with his arms pinned tightly behind his back and he felt a very heavy weight lying on his legs. Piercing pain was stabbing in his legs as Ayab lay face down on the ground. He let out a heavy groan of agony as he tried to frantically free himself from this iron grip, but to no avail.

  ‘Who have we here?’ stated a male voice. ‘Well if it isn’t our old friend Ayab, the biggest cur in the world, who would kill his own mother, if he thought it was to his own advantage. What are you doing in the woods, my friend? Tell me the truth instantly or I will wring your neck now,’ threatened the voice.

  By that time Ayab was in panic mode as he tried to squirm his way out of the iron grip but was soon exhausted. ‘Don’t kill me, don’t kill me, I haven’t done anything wrong’ bleated Ayab.

  ‘Yes you have, you scum,’ hissed the voice. ‘With you escaping, as well as Rom and Aela, myself and my men have had to flee into the forest, running away from Brude who has sworn to kill us because we have failed in our duty,’ angrily yelled the voice, as he tightened the grip still further around Ayab’s arms.

  Ayab let out another yell of pain, ‘I know where Rom and Aela are hiding in the forest.’

  ‘I don’t believe you,’ retorted the voice.

  ‘I was with them yesterday, but I decided to leave them, to make my own way to a village, food and shelter,’ desperately replied Ayab.

  The stranglehold on Ayab’s arms loosened a fraction.

  ‘Can you take us to them now?’ demanded the voice.

  ‘Yes, yes.’ Ayab quickly replied.

  ‘Men, come, tie up this idiot. He is going to take us to our ticket of freedom. By handing over Rom and Aela to Brude, we will be pardoned and back in favour again.’

  There was intense activity as Ayab’s hands were tied behind his back and he was dragged to his feet.

  ‘Okay show us the direction in the forest where Rom and Aela are hiding!’ demanded the leader of the group of fugitives.

  Ayab momentarily lifted his eyes to the skies, randomly pointed his head in a certain direction and the party moved off together, walking deeper into the woods.

  Rom was fortunate to catch and kill a large hare and Aela was equally active in her quest in finding an ample supply of wild berries and fruits in a secluded grove near the placid lake. They met each other, back at the jutting rock of the lake of love.

  Very soon Rom had collected enough wood to light a fire, using a couple of flint stones he kep
t handy in a pouch attached to his belt. The sweet smell of cooking meat permeated the air and as soon as the hare was properly roasted, the pair lost no time in devouring the meal they had prepared. Now that their stomachs were full, they could both lay comfortably in each other’s arms again feeling sublimely content.

  Suddenly, through the distance, they both heard the breaking of twigs, and the sound of voices that appeared to be moving closer and closer to them. Rom immediately leapt up using his feet to trample the flames of the fire, in order blot out the tell tail spiral of wispy smoke, hanging in the air that would let their enemies know of their whereabouts.

  He placed his forefinger on his lips to warn Aela to be silent and the couple lay flat on the ground holding their prone bodies very still.

  Soon they heard the odd words that the human group were saying to each other, as they steadily approached closer to Aela and Rom’s hiding place.

  ‘Are you sure we are heading in the right direction, you miserable piece of meat?’

  ‘Yes, yes, I am sure that Rom and Aela are close by,’ replied Ayab, but not very convincingly.

  ‘Well for your sake you had better be spot on, otherwise I will wring your neck now,’ replied one of the men in the group.

  The others muttered in agreement, as they continued to make their way through the thick bracken. The party came within a hair’s breath of where Aela and Rom were hiding, who in turn were hardly daring to breathe.

  Then, the party moved steadily on and was soon out of earshot of the couple.

  ‘That was a close one,’ whispered Rom into Aela’s ear. ‘We must be so careful from now on and one of us has to be awake on duty, when the other is sleeping,’ muttered Rom.

  Aela nodded in agreement and buried her head still deeper into Rom’s chest, as if wanting to blot out any black thoughts of danger for ever.

  ‘Let us sneak off now whilst we can Aela, before they backtrack and discover us,’ commanded Rom.

  Not wanting to lose a moment of their freedom, the two lovers moved swiftly and silently heading into the opposite direction of the fugitive group. Every now and again Rom stopped to consult his pendant, closed his eyes momentarily and then continued in a certain direction, with Aela following close on his heels.