Auron went out one morning as he usually did to train but did not return for lunch. A young boy found me at home later in the evening, telling me I had to go to the docks.

"Now. He said to pack your things. You have to go. Now, miss, he said!"

"Who said? Who sent you?" I asked, bending down to the boy's eye-level.

"The man in red. He said to get you."

I thanked the boy and sent him back off, wondering as to why Auron couldn't come get me himself. By the time I had packed the few belongings I had collected while in Luca and made it to the docks, all the ships were tossing their ropes and I heard Auron call my name from one of them.

I ran to one of the smaller ships and was able to board just in time, finding Auron on the top deck leaning over the heavy wooden railing. There was a brisk wind to push the sails, tossing my hair about my face and strands of Auron's from his brow.

I dropped my things at my feet and gripped the railing with one hand, my other light against Auron's arm.

"Where are we going, Auron? Why the urgency?"

He did not look at me, only the faintest smile crossed his lips which he quickly suppressed in hopes that I did not see it. I would pretend that I did not and instead sighed and turned, crossing my arms and leaned on the railing beside him.

"We were doing so well. But whatever this is, I'm sure I'll find out eventually," I sighed.

"When we arrive in Bevelle."

"Bevelle?" I took his arm again. "Auron, what is going on? We can't go back there! The priests tried to kill us because we ran!"

"Because you took the sphere," he said, bitterness lining his words.

"It was a foolishness, something you should know greatly of."

"You didn't have to follow me, Mae."

"Beg your pardon, but I do believe that you wanted me to come. I was the one who was adamant about us both staying in the first place. I came with you because I had to, because you are still my master, and I think you would have found a way to take me with you even if I had locked myself in the Via Purifico."

Auron shifted his weight and stretched his arms out over the railing, hidden scars revealed as his sleeves fluttered in the sea breeze.

"I do love you Mae, and I hope that you will understand everything when we reach the city. For now, let's go below deck."

He pushed away and began to descend; I followed a few moments later.

Shutting the door behind us and lighting only one candle in the small cabin which we would share on this short journey, Auron rested his sword against the wall and proceeded to strip himself of his arm guard, belt, and robe. I pulled off my boots and settled at the edge of the bed, tugging my legs up beside me, hands clasped tightly in my lap. I had a vague idea as to why we were returning to Bevelle but I may have been wrong and did not want to think too much of it tonight. I did not want to be angry with Auron again for making a decision with which I did not agree. I neglected my duties as servant tonight and did not help him strip, did not fold up the robe as I always did into a neat square and set it beside the bed. I did not dampen a towel and moisten his face and neck as was ritual before or offer to rub his shoulders and arms to release the tension from a long day of training. The only similarity between tonight and before was that we did not speak.

Auron sat beside me cross-legged and took a hand from my lap, caressing it between his slightly larger, rougher ones. I could only look down at our contrasting skin, desiring to say so much in an effort to understand but these thoughts were suppressed with a light kiss to my cheek and a soft whisper of "I'm sorry, Mae."

He might have been apologizing for that say that now seemed so long ago when he was drunk and tried to hurt me. Maybe he was sorry for snapping at me just then on the deck, trying to find a reason to be upset. But perhaps he was sorry for falling in love with me, knowing that something was going to occur which might hurt me. But I had told him that I would follow if that was his choice and I stayed loyal. I would continue to stay loyal, no matter his decision or its consequences.

He did not pull away, his grip tightening on my hand and I satisfied him by turning my head for a proper kiss, my other hand free to trail his neck and fingertips grazing his jaw line.

"Mae," he whispered. "Will you stay at my side?"

"Who are you asking? Your servant or the woman you love? Because either will do so."

"You have changed your mind then?"

"Perhaps. I believe you love me. And I have also come to acknowledge that I am willing to be more than your servant. So who are you asking?"

"I am asking my servant for her loyalty and the woman I love for her love in return."

I kissed him again and smiled weakly, pulling my hand out from under his so that I could clasp his face lightly beneath my palms. I nodded slowly, saying, "You have both."

I released him completely and Auron watched as I shifted myself to lie down with a hand splayed across my stomach and another out in offering.

"Mae, is this wise?"

"Here I thought that you were the one who wanted me. Is this a lie?"

I was half-teasing him, and perhaps I shouldn't. I still felt a slight tension that had built ever since we left Bevelle. I had rejected his love and his reasons to leave the temples. I still thought it was a stupid decision but I vowed to be at his side nevertheless which was only leading us back to where we had started. In defiance of the temples we had run away to find freedom and a new life but my fears had never disappeared, deep as they were in my heart.

He crawled and knelt over me, his ponytail swinging down over his shoulder, half-lidded eyes wavering as he kissed me deeply and I crossed my hands behind his neck. The growing intensity of the kiss was accompanied by exaggerated breaths and rising heartbeats. Fingers trailed along flesh and our rising breaths were accompanied by the soft creak of leather and rustle of discarded clothing to the smooth floor of the small cabin where every sound we made was amplified.

My thin underwear and his pants were all that remained and I felt him growing against me. My hands wandered down his sides to his hips as he kissed my neck, a rough palm caressing my breast and I ground up my pelvis in urgency, whispering his name into his ear. Trailing my fingers from his hip, I pushed two down inside his waistband just deep enough to brush the tip of his erection and the precum that was swelling before I attempted to tug at his pants.

He did this for me, adding another article to our pile, and kissed me again, his lips and hands exploring every curve on a slow decent until he asked me for permission with gentle eyes to remove my last piece of clothing. I could feel myself blushing furiously with swelled breasts and a slickness between my legs as he came back up for another kiss, more gentle than those that had taken us to this point. With one hand at his waist, I wrapped the other firmly around his stiff organ, stroking once, twice, taking a bead of his fluid to my lips and urged him with a soft "Please."

I wrapped up my legs around his waist, guiding him into me, and clawed at his back with his initial thrust. I pushed back each time, my head craning to the side, eyes wide open to the flickering darkness and the light that snuck from under the doorway. I hoped no one passed by, and if they did, I imagined them listening intently.

He sucked at the soft skin of my neck enough to bruise and I couldn't help but gasp in time with his suppressed grunts. When I caught his gaze again, his eyes were bright and full of promises and I trapped his mouth with a deep moan. I was trembling as he kept trusting and I held tightly to his waist, my breasts pressed firmly to his chest and legs tightening against him as I came, gasping his name in release. He climaxed moments later before pulling out but did not immediately stand up. I perched up on my shoulders for a light kiss, my heart rate slowly returning to normal.

He stood and I followed. There was suddenly a loud blaring noise that announced the ship would soon be at port. Auron looked at me with widened eyes as if wary that I would still turn away. I smiled and we dressed in silence, waiting until it was time to depart.

I squeezed Auron's hand before we stepped off the ship in descending darkness. He did not look at me but rebalanced the long blade on his shoulder and descended first.

Not ten feet from the dock that we were stopped by a stranger calling Auron's name from behind.

Turning to see a man in elaborate summoner's garb approach us, we bowed. The man did as well in reply. "My name is Braska. Thank you for visiting Bevelle."