Chapter 15
“Natalie, come on sweetie, it’s time to wake up.” Isabelle knelt on the bed and lightly shook Natalie’s shoulder. Natalie whined with sleep interrupted and rolled further under the sheets to escape her mother’s nagging hand. “Come on Natalie, let’s go downstairs and get some breakfast.” Natalie groaned again and Isabelle straightened, putting her hands firmly on her hips, and sighed. She glanced around the room looking for means to wake her daughter. An idea struck her and she looked down at the covered lump on the bed with an ominous smirk.
“Well, I’m going down to eat before that big, fat, hairy spider drops onto your head.” Isabelle said as she quickly tickled her fingernails through Natalie’s hair and sent her screaming from the bed. Natalie stopped in the far corner running her hands frantically through her hair, trying to rid herself of the imaginary spider. Isabelle laughed gently. Natalie realized there was no spider and gave her mother a withering glare. Isabelle tossed some clean clothes on the bed and laughed at her daughter again. “Get dressed Natalie. Come on, I won’t trick you again.” When Natalie was dressed, Isabelle took her hand and walked out into the hall and towards the stairs. 
“Mommy, are Anook and Daddy going to be there?” Isabelle slowed; annoyance tickled the back of her throat with jealousy a bad taste on her tongue.
“I don’t know sweetie.” Isabelle said as they reached the stairs. Isabelle and Natalie walked down the stairs like a princess and a puppy.
“Look Mommy, there they are!” Natalie cried as she tore her hand from her mother’s grip and bolted down the stairs. Isabelle stopped in the middle of the stairs and stared down at the four adults her daughter had run to, Anook, Finn, and the two strangers that were in the room across the hall. Anook looked up at Isabelle and smiled, too eager to please. When Isabelle didn’t return the smile, she waved her hand, beckoning Isabelle. Finn also looked up to Isabelle and smiled gently, almost as if she were a child. Finn looked away to Anook as she said something and Isabelle reluctantly glided down the rest of the stairs to join the group.
“Isabelle, how nice of you to join us.” Anook said sweetly. “This is Nadine and Jian; they are friends of mine. They’ll be traveling with us.” Isabelle looked at everyone and then to Finn.
“‘Traveling with us?’ Where are you going?” Finn shifted uncomfortably under the glare of his former lover.
“I’m not even completely sure; right now we’re basically just wandering around.” Anook gave him a confused look, but Finn didn’t notice and kept talking. “We’ll be going through the mountains soon.” Isabelle continued to stare a hole through Finn as he wiggled in his seat, turning red and breaking a sweat. Anook saw the distress and came to the rescue, like any decent princess can do.
“Isabelle, would you please join us?” Anook rose out of her chair, offering it to Isabelle. Isabelle looked coldly to Anook then sat down gracefully. Anook pulled a chair from the next table over and used that to strategically seat herself between Isabelle and Finn.
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“Who is she?” Nadine asked while she and Anook were straightening up the packs; unfolding things, just to fold them up into smaller rolls and fitting them neatly into the packs. 
“She’s Finn’s old lover. That little girl that was there with her; that’s Finn’s daughter; Natalie.”
“Well why is she here and why in God’s name is she going with us? I know it’s just going to cause trouble! Her old thing with Finn is going to make her jealous about your new thing with Finn and that’s a lot of friction and tension that we don’t need.”
“Did you see the chain around her neck?”     
“Yeah, I also saw a chain around the woman across the room’s neck, and the bartender’s wife had one too, does that mean they’re coming with us?”
“No, it’s what was attached to that chain that is the reason we need her to come with us. She has an amulet just like ours” Nadine stopped and gaped at Anook.
“That’s just too ironic. You fall for a guy that has the ex-lover of a woman we were supposed to find.” Nadine laughed “This is just too weird.”
“Well you don’t have to tell me it’s weird. I figured out this was all too weird for me yesterday. Our amulets had a reaction to each other, a very strange one indeed. I’m not sure what happened or how, or why. What are these necklaces anyway?” Anook stared at her amulet, holding it and making the light throw shimmering flashes into her eyes. “And I thought it was weird when Finn came to talk to me last night when I went to bed.” Anook stopped folding a cloak and gave a sly little smile to Nadine, then continued to fold. Nadine’s face stretched into a look of surprise and blame.
“What happened? Tell me everything!”
“Nothing happened, Nadine. He came after I had already gone to bed; he knocked so I let him in. He seemed a bit stressed so I let him talk about when he got Isabelle pregnant.”
Nadine made a face of approval of what her friend had managed to learn, just by listening. Anook stopped folding, her hands tangled in a woolen mass on her lap. She began recalling everything Finn had told her the night before, how sensitive he was, how he had bared his feelings and soul to her in the hungry glow of the two flames. In that time, Finn reminded her more of an injured child than she had ever seen an adult look. He had been hurt to many times just by not seeing his daughter and the pain of ending his love for Isabelle. Anook continued aloud.
“He told me how her family wouldn’t…couldn’t accept him. He told me that when they disowned her and refused him he got scared ran off. Over time he said he stopped loving her, he went back to see her after two years; that’s when he met Natalie for the first time. He loves her so much.” Anook looked up at Nadine who was close to tears from the touching story. Anook then burst into an impish grin and let the mischief glide across her face.
“That’s when he kissed me…” Anook’s smile got bigger when this fact was said aloud. Nadine just stared with a devilish grin on her face. She was encouraging Anook to continue. “It was just a little one; at first.” Nadine gasped in delight.
“There was more than one and the others weren’t little? Why are you stopping? Keep talking!”
“Well when he kissed me first, it was just a little one, like I said. Then he pulled away and looked down so I got his attention again, rather roughly, but I got his attention back none-the-less. Then he pulled away again. I was confused and I think he could see that because he kissed me again and said I was beautiful. Then he left.” Nadine giggled like a child with candy when Anook finished. Nadine was still giggling when someone knocked on the door.
“Come in.” Anook said with humor still in her voice. Finn opened the door and Nadine began laughing again. Anook giggled at Nadine’s laughter and turned to face Finn again. He looked from one smiling girl to the other, a dumbfounded expression gracing his features.
“What are you two talking about in here that has you so giddy?”
“Nothing.” Anook said with a smile. “What is it, Finn?”
“I was just looking for Nat, I thought she might be with you, but now I know she’s with Isabelle since she’s not here.” At that very moment Natalie came bouncing into view behind Finn’s legs. She crashed into him and giggled with the pure ring of an innocent child. The sound made Finn beam with joy and a deep ache of delight uncurl inside of Anook.
“There she is! My best girl! What would you say to a special treat of ginger-beer?” Finn asked his daughter as he swung the dress clad girl into his arms to mold to him perfectly.
“Really?! Thank you Daddy! Can we sing the songs with the traders like Anook taught me?” Anook gave Natalie a frightened look and quickly tried to shake her head without Finn noticing. Finn did notice and gave Anook a glare of reprimand.
“How about we stick to ginger-beer for now, you look too pretty to be singing such terrible songs. I’ll teach you nice songs that won’t make your mother mad.” Finn walked out of the room carrying Natalie in his arms, smiling at Anook as he closed the door behind him. Nadine melted to the bed smothering her face in the blankets and gave an excited scream. She came up holding the light quilt to her mouth, but her eyes were glittering and one could tell she was smiling.
“You’re right, he does love his daughter. And he SO has a thing for you!” Nadine said when she finally lowered the quilt. They both laughed until they cried and finished folding the clothes, chatting lightly.
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In these sections I have to get Isabelle to travel, get group out of inn, and learn about Isabelle and Jian
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Setting down his pack, Finn told everyone that he was going down to wash up and left them. He walked down the small hill to where a little heated spring lie hidden in a small cluster of trees. Upon entering the warm enclosure the spring was in, Finn started to relax. He found a dead log leaning against a tree and used it as a chair, crossing his long legs in front of him on the soft, needle strewn floor. Finn closed his eyes and let the tranquility and peaceful nature of this new-found sanctuary seep into his soul. He was exhausted and tried to fight off the sleep that was intruding on him, but was losing. He drifted into a light sleep and listened to the quite water lapping at the large stones lining the pool.
A snapping twig brought Finn to his feet, searching for the source of his disturbance. Isabelle stood frozen at the top of the clearing, just inside the entrance. Finn looked up at her seeing how the setting sun behind her made her hair glow and wondered why he had ever left her. She was so beautiful and Finn felt his old desire for her rekindle like dry brush under lightning. He thought of Anook; he couldn’t manage to do anything to risk losing her. He turned away from Isabelle and looked down at his feet.
“What do you want, Isabelle?”
“Nothing, I just came to talk.” Isabelle moved down into the warm hollow with slow and quiet grace.
“Can we talk later? I need a bath, I’m filthy.” Finn said still standing with his back to her.
“I would really like to talk now, when no one is around.” She stopped a breath away behind him, not touching, her breath fluttering against the shirt on his back. Isabelle brought her hands to the small of his back, slowly sliding them up to his shoulders and back down again. “Please?” she asked leaning into him, her breasts brushing against his back. Finn turned under her hands and looked down at her. Isabelle could feel his pulse quicken and his nipples harden under her fingers.
“We can’t do this Isabelle; I can’t do this.” He said closing his eyes with the wondrous feel of her hands on his chest.
“Yes you can.” Isabelle whispered, slowly rubbing her fingers on his nipples. She stepped into him and slid her arms over his shoulders, letting his hair brush her fingertips. Finn opened his eyes and looked down at her. Isabelle rose on her toes and gently kissed his unwilling lips. She sank back down onto her feet and stared up at him with smoky, seductive eyes. The look in her eyes made Finn forget everything that was holding him back and he kissed her, but not gently as she had been with him, but violently and with lust overcoming him.
Isabelle wrapped her arms around his neck tightly, bringing him down to her as she parted her lips for his tongue, which was stroking them, as if begging for admittance. Finn explored her mouth and found nothing had changed since he had last kissed her. Isabelle un-wrapped her arms from behind his neck and pushed him away, they were both breathless with desire. She slid her hands underneath his loose shirt and felt his hard muscles underneath his taut skin. She lifted his shirt to his shoulders and Finn removed it the rest of the way. Isabelle melted to him and feasted on his skin, leaving wet lines from one nipple to the other. Finn groaned while her tongue circled his right nipple in a wet dance. After he thought the pleasure would kill him he lifted her face and kissed her again while working at the ties in the back of her dress. He got them untied and tore it over her head, dropping it next to his own discarded shirt and stepped back to admire her.
He stared at her naked form and remembered how every inch felt against him, how warm she felt in the morning. How wonderful she looked with her hair framing her face when she rocked herself back and forth on top of his body. He remembered it all; he took a slow step to her and gently took a curl that had been hanging above one of her stiff nipples, into his fingertips. Finn took her in his arms gently and possessively hugged her to him. He kissed the top of her head and broke away from her to begin removing his pants. When he got them off, Isabelle saw he was stretched, hard and ready. She panted through parted lips while she stared at him. Finn took Isabelle and cupped her breasts in his large rough, hands, kneading and pulling them, drawing small noises from Isabelle. He was gentle and rough at the same time. He let go quickly and led her into the warm water.
They waded to the nearest stone, and Finn leaned Isabelle against the stone and bending over her, kissing her neck, moving up to her jaw, then her mouth. He continued to kiss her, over her face, her shoulders, neck and breasts. He scraped his teeth and slid his tongue over the places he knew she liked. Isabelle moaned when he knelt in front of her and slowly trailed his tongue from her breasts, down her stomach, and then sank under the water to where her groin was. He kissed her there and explored her deeply with his tongue.
He slid his hands up her legs and body when he surfaced, sliding his hands over her breasts and raising her arms above her head. With one hand, he positioned himself just outside of her opening and stared into her eyes before pushing himself inside of her. She gasped and wrapped her legs around his waist, making the warm water splash. Finn worked himself in and out of her slowly at first, almost gently. Isabelle helplessly moaned while Finn worked himself in and out of her; her arms still trapped. Once Finn had enough room to move in her, he braced his legs in the warm sand underneath him and began to move quicker and harder. Isabelle rolled her head back and closed her eyes, exposing her neck. Finn licked a slow line up it and Isabelle cried out, begging for more. Finn pumped himself harder and faster and with every thrust Isabelle let out a small cry of pleasure.
Chapter ?
“Anook, go find Finn and Isabelle, tell them that dinner is ready.” Nadine said as she bent over the fire, stirring contents that were bubbling fragrantly in a small pot. Anook nodded and cheerfully set out for the hot spring down the hill. Over the time they had been traveling from the inn, Anook and Finn had snuck off on a number of occasions, whenever they could be alone. Nothing serious ever happened; it was always just a little kissing and pawing; she even had dreams about him kissing her. Anook wet her smiling lips, hoping she might even get to see Finn undressed, and walked into the warm clearing. Sounds of water splashing met her approach like a friendly dog, but the sounds that accompanied the splashes were not friendly at all.
Anook saw the source of the noise and her steps froze; Finn had Isabelle pinned against a large boulder and was holding her wrists above her head with one hand, driving himself in and out of her at a rapid pace. His head was bowed to her breasts and her head was reclined back exposing the stretched line of her neck. Isabelle started to clench her captured hands into fists and she made moaning sounds; crying his name as he moved faster. Finn let out a cry and slumped against Isabelle, releasing her hands from their prison. Isabelle raised his head from her shoulder and kissed him long and deep, making Finn stand straighter. He buried his hands in her red curls and kissed her back.
Anook turned on her heel and ran, not back towards camp, but away into the bordering woods. Using her inborn stealth, she raced along the tree line without being seen. She ran and ran until she could run no more. She had run herself right into the middle of the woods; she didn’t know where she was and the woods were so thick, it was like dusk. Running had exhausted her and all Anook wanted to do was cry. She collapsed against a tree and put her forehead to her knees, drawing her legs close to her chest. Anook held her breath, trying not to cry, but she did not succeed. She let her breath go in a loud, shaking sob. Anook sat rocking with her hair falling around her, veiling her face from all her surroundings, crying her heart out at Finn’s betrayal.
Minutes went by, Anook’s body trembling with the tears pent up. She wondered how Finn could mislead her emotions like he had. He had her convinced that he actually loved her, or at least liked her enough to stay with one woman. Anook raised her head, her hair falling obediently back into place, like a warm shield. Her eyes red and puffy, cheeks stained with tears. Anook silently shook as she cried the sorrows from so many years away, she never allowed herself to cry. Movement caught her attention and she jerked her head to see what it was.
A woman clothed in a tattered dress the color of leaves in the summertime, stood leaning against a tree, stroking her hand tenderly across the bark. Her skin was a silver color that looked like moving marble that if the light hit it at the right angle, it looked iridescent. Her eyes were the same silver, moving, swirling clouds of silver, but a few shades paler. The woman’s hair floated delicately around her long silvery neck in deep chestnut wisps. She pushed herself from the tree and started to sing in a high voice that reminded Anook very much like a bell. She took slow, lazy steps that were as graceful as the swaying branches of a willow tree. The pointed ends of her dress bounced against her knees, giving her a childish appearance as she walked. Anook slowly rose to follow the girl of swirling silver, when she slyly looked over her shoulder, smiled, winked, and burst into a run. 
“Wait!” Anook yelled as she ran after her. The graceful Anook was clumsy in comparison to the girl who was running as soundlessly and gracefully as the wind. Anook chased after her through tangling branches and over crackling, autumn leaves. She was losing the silver woman; all she saw was her hair and skirt floating out behind her and glimpses of her flowing arms. The tall silver woman had increased her speed and had lost Anook. She was left chasing shadows and dreams in the quiet shadows of the forest. After a minute of running, Anook finally found the girl, who had stopped running and was now bending over a stream, looking down at a woman who was made completely of water. The woman of water was leaning on the shore. From the waist down, there was nothing but the trickling stream, the only thing Anook could see was the moving, liquid upper-body; the rest of her was the rushing water itself for she dissolved and formed only as much as she needed to. Both the woman of water and of sliver turned to look at her as she stood, out of breath in her path’s opening. The women of sliver and water began to turn away to leave when Anook spoke her objections.
“Wait! Don’t go again, please. Who are you?” The woman that moved like a willow in the wind walked soundlessly to Anook. She walked so gracefully Anook thought she was floating. The woman stopped inches from Anook.
“We are two of the nymphs of this forest. I am the nymph of a silver maple on the north side of the forest; this is the nymph of this stream.” She said it so simply that Anook had to stop and just stare into her face, which was swirling with pearlescent silver streams just under her invisible skin. Her sparkling, silver eyes flicked down to Anook’s neck and spotted her amulet, which had fallen out of her dress when she was running.
“Who are you?” The woman asked in a low voice; her eyes wide and staring at the amulet. Anook started to answer but the woman of silver waited for no answer. She grabbed Anook’s wrist and began dragging Anook off to the path opposite of the one they had entered. The path was next to the stream and the water nymph dissolved back into the rushing water to become an invisible spectator of the silver woman and Anook’s progress.
“Where are we going?” Anook asked as she tried to fight her wrist out of the strong, silver hand. 
“We’re going to see the Wiseman.”
“The who?” Anook asked as she tried to dig her feet into the ground.
“The Wiseman of this forest; he is knowledgeable in many things. I’m…” The woman of silver paused before speaking cautiously “curious about your necklace.”

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