THE SECRET (The Power Of Love Conquers All)
CHAPTRE 23

An hour passed.The conversation they were talking about seemed to be enough for Ailean. Ailean exclaimed to stop the conversation. "We'll be gone by dawn, Carmous. We still had to make two days of travel to get home" Ailean said, recalling Carmous.

"Your love can sleep in our place" Carmous suggested after hearing Ailean. The old man said in a loud voice just before he looked at Ailean and Jacelyn, but when he turned around he saw that Jacelyn had fallen asleep. His voice instantly turned into a subtle whisper.

"He will sleep outside with us" Ailean replied firmly but using a delicate voice. "Jacelyn won't want you to give her a bed" she said.

Margaretha and Carmous did not dispute the Emperor's decision. Ailean leaned over, moved Jacelyn's body into her embrace, then stood up.

"The woman is like a dead man" Azril said with a smile as Ailean passed through her body.

"Do you want an extra blanket. The wind was very strong tonight" Margaretha said, reminding the woman that tonight the weather was quite extreme out there.

Garfie opened the door for Ailean when Ailean had almost reached the doorway where she was standing now. "We've got everything we need." The word Garfie represents Ailean speaking.

Ailean carried Jacelyn through the door, then suddenly the man stopped. He turned his body. "Thank you for Margaretha's dinner. It tastes so delicious." praise Ailean.

The praise sounded very awkward according to Ailean, but Margaretha looked very happy with what she had just said. The red hue on the woman's face looked as bright as a fire on the burning stove. Carmous also acted as if the compliment was on her. The man's chest expanded as if it would explode instantly.

Ailean continued to move towards the trees across the barn. The leaves of the trees could provide them with protection against the strong winds coming tonight, and also give them enough privacy. Ailean continued to hold Jacelyn while Azril woke up the tent for the woman, when the tent was ready Ailean knelt down put the woman on a bed that had been stretched Garfie in the tent covered with fine feathers.

"I promised him that he would get a warm bed in the cottage tonight" Azril said, feeling a little guilty to Jacelyn.

Ailean shook her head. "He stays with us" he said.

No one dared to dispute that statement. The men turned around and left as Ailean enveloped Jacelyn in a second robe. Jacelyn never opened her eyes in the slightest while Ailean was carrying her. The back of Ailean's hand stroked the woman's cheek.

"What am I gonna do with you?" whispered Ailean.

Ailean was reluctant to leave the woman. But he had to force himself to stand up and leave Jacelyn's tent. Ailean snatched one of the robes Azril offered her on the way to one of the nearby trees. Ailean swiped her shoulders on the tree trunk, sat down, and leaned back then closed her eyes.

Suddenly a strange sound was heard that Ailean had never heard before that woke her up in the middle of the night. The other knights also listened to the same thing, until the four knights woke up simultaneously at that time.

"What's that sound?" mumble Sgaire.

Jacelyn was the owner of the voice. The woman was fully conscious, and also suffered greatly. Jacelyn thought that she was in a very dangerous situation right now, freezing to death. His body could not stop shaking. His teeth were gritting and it was the sound that the knights outside his tent heard.

"I didn't mean to wake you, Sgaire," cried Jacelyn. His voice rang out in every single word. "I feel so cold."

"Do you really feel cold?" azril asked in great surprise, which sounded clear from the man's tone.

"I just said so" replied Jacelyn.

"Come on," Ailean ordered, sounding a little harsh. Jacelyn answered kindly. "No."

Ailean smiled in the darkness. "In that case, I should approach you."

"You must keep your distance from me, Ailean Henderson" Jacelyn ordered. "And if you're thinking of commanding me to stop the cold, I warn you, it won't work."

Ailean walked to the front of the tent. Jacelyn could only see the tip of Ailean's boots until the man removed the feathers covering the tent. The man shook it off in a matter of seconds.

"That could help," Jacelyn murmured. Jacelyn sat down so she could glare at Ailean.

Ailean pushed Jacelyn back to sleep and laid her body beside Jacelyn. Ailean lay on her side, giving warmth from her back to Jacelyn.

Suddenly, Sgaire appeared on Jacelyn's other side. The man lay on his side with his back to Jacelyn. Instinctively, Jacelyn shifted closer towards Ailean. Sgaire followed Jacelyn until her back was firmly attached to the woman's body.

"He feels like a block of ice" Sgaire said.

Jacelyn started laughing. That voice made both Ailean and Sgaire smile.

"Sgaire?"

"What's wrong?"

Sgaire sounded rude again. But Jacelyn didn't let that bother her. He was finally able to understand the man, and knew that all his rude behavior was just a surface. Behind that cruel look, inside was a very soft heart.

"Thank you."

"For what?"

"For those of you who have spoken at length about Shaista."

The knight sounded grumbling. Jacelyn laughed again.

"Jacelyn?" Ailean.

Jacelyn wriggled closer to Ailean's back before answering the man. "Yes, Ailean?"

"Stop moving and go to sleep." he ordered.

Jacelyn felt herself wanting to obey that order. Even the woman fell asleep as fast as lightning almost instantly as well.

Some time passed before Sgaire finally spoke again. The man wanted to make sure Jacelyn was completely asleep and could not listen to what she was going to say.

"Every time he's given a choice, he'll hang it on you" Sgaire told Ailean.

"What do you mean, Sgaire?"

"He's sticking to your back now, not mine. He also prefers riding with you. Didn't you see his pitiful looks when you threw him away for a ride with Azril today? He looks so pathetic."

Ailean smiled. "I know it" he admitted. "But, if he prefers me, it's only because I'm Ramsey's brother."

"You know clearly if the reason is more than that, Ailean."

Ailean did not respond to Sgaire's comments.

A few minutes passed and Sgaire spoke again. "Tell me, Ailean."

"Tell you what?"

"Are you going to defend it or not?"

"And if I won't defend her?"

"I'll do it."

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