A few perfectly undisturbed weeks followed. Peace and calm reigned in the castle, hushing our worries, lulling us into an illusion of this world without the Council, without those working unceasingly against us, trying to destroy our happiness.

Vlad taught me archery himself, as he had promised. At first it was worse than trying to learn from Lucas, because Vlad's closeness was maddeningly distracting. His hands on my hips to steady me whenever I drew back, his nimble fingers over mine when he showed me how to change a broken bow string, or his lips too close to my ear when he checked my aim, made me miss the straw-filled sack a hundred times before I resolved to banish him to the other end of the courtyard during our practice, and watch me from a distance. Then I finally managed to hit the bag, making the golden stems rain through the air, at least as often as I missed it.

We rode to the village, visiting the priest together, and the honest man confirmed that he would help us, if we could offer him a suitable place on neutral ground, somewhere between the castle and the village to perform the weddings. His promise made Vlad shine with joy and my heart soared seeing him so happy.

But our freedom did not last too long. Soon after the last snow had melted and we were considering starting with the restoration of the chapel by the lake, the first members of the Council, faithful to Rareş' promise to keep an eye on us, appeared in the castle. There were never more than two of them at the same time, coming on one pretence or another, keeping me and Vlad apart during the days, but they usually did not linger for more than a few days at the time.

On such days, when Vlad was kept busy with our visitors, I was allowed to leave the castle with Lucas and a couple of Guards, finally getting an occasion to teach my friend to ride a horse properly. It didn't take him long to learn, Lucas seemed to be a natural in everything.

"What do you think the Council will do once they find out about this?" Lucas asked me one early spring afternoon when we rode all the way to the lake.

I shrugged, leaning closer above Frost's neck, caressing his head and running my fingers through his snow-white mane soothingly, as he stomped impatiently while Lucas and I observed the old chapel from across the lake.

The small, mixed group of men from the village and our Guards had taken most of the crumbling walls apart, and now were getting ready to start building it up again. They were so used to the wolf pack accompanying me every time I came here, that they simply smiled at hearing the multitude of paws treading through the grass growing in the cool shadows under the trees. Most of them paused in their work for a moment to bow, welcoming us.

I waved to them before I replied to Lucas, "I don't know, nothing, I hope."

He shook his head, observing me from his tall, chocolate-brown horse standing at Frost's side. "Do you really believe that? I don't know your Council as well as you do, Samara, but I'm sure that they won't let this pass unnoticed, there will be a fight..."

I pulled on Frost's reins, making him turn around and walk back towards the castle, watching his hooves disappear in the new grass.

"I... don't want to think about it now." I said. You know well that he is right. My subconscious whispered unhelpfully.

"Me neither, but... Just remember that this," he said, motioning towards the remnants of the chapel behind our backs, "will have consequences."

"But if we don't do this, then Vlad will never even consider coming home with me, to Aurora... He would never leave this place as it is now." I muttered, feeling the tears prickle the corners of my eyes, knowing well that 'this' had been my idea, and was now my responsibility.

"I'm not saying it is a wrong thing to do, I love the idea actually, it will change the lives of so many here," Lucas said, bringing his gloved hand gently over mine holding Frost's reins, "I just... want you to be prepared... for all possible results... and losses. Your Lord Vlad keeps you a little too... sheltered and uninformed. I simply want you to keep your eyes open."

I nodded, sighing my understanding, and he withdrew his hand quickly. He could ride well, but he still hadn't mastered steering his horse in the right direction, keeping him far enough from the tender stems of grass growing along the path.

When we arrived in the castle at twilight, we found Vlad waiting for us in the courtyard.

"They have just left. But more of them will come again soon." He said the moment I jumped off Frost, landing in his arms. "We need that chapel ready as soon as possible. It is as if they were suspecting something..." Vlad added, crushing me in an embrace while Lucas led our horses towards the stable.

As it wasn't completely dark yet and we had time before the dinner would be served, I proposed, "Let me take you out. You spend too much time closed in here. You need to breathe and stop worrying for a while... Meet you by the waterfall." I challenged, disentangling myself from his arms and walking back towards the drawbridge.

Vlad chuckled, "Let's have a race, then. What will I get if I win?"

"You won't. I'm faster. Beat you anytime." I replied, trying not to burst out in a fit of giggles.

I loved his playful mood. I'd never win, he was a much better runner than I, but at least we would have fun.

"What will I get if I win?" Vlad repeated as he reached me, his voice full of child-like excitement.

Wrapping his arm around my waist, he pulled me close, so close that I could feel his heartbeat through the thick velvet of his jacket. He pressed his lips against mine, making me feel weak in the knees, taking my breath away. He knows what he's doing, right? You just lost... my subconscious whispered.

"Anything you'll ask for." I whispered finally.

He smiled, his features glowing with the anticipated victory, then he was gone even before I gathered the long skirt over my left arm.

I took my time running through the trees in his wake, knowing, hoping that I would lose. I found him standing under the trees above the roaring waterfall, a silent shadow waiting for me patiently. He caught me in his arms and kissed me again, slowly, deeply, lowering me into the tall soft grass under our feet.

"I won." he said softly, smiling at me from above, his eyes filled with love and passion boring into mine.

"I think I'll always let you win," I whispered, voice shaking, closing my eyes as I felt his hand finding its way under the layers of my dress.

The night had fallen on the world around us before we were ready to return to the castle.

We stood on the precipice above the mill, embraced, watching the noisy cascade glitter like fused silver in the moonlight, listening to the forest filling with the sounds of its nocturnal inhabitants.

I pressed my hand on Vlad's chest, caressing the silver locket with Aurora's pictures. It shone like the waterfall in the light of the moon.

"What is it?" Vlad asked, perceiving the change in my mood even before I realised it myself. He put his fingers under my chin making me meet his eyes before I could reply.

"Lucas says that this... weddings idea... Is it too dangerous? I don't want anyone to fight, to..." die. Like Ioan before...

"Lucas is a clever young man and a great friend for you. But I wish he would not scare you..."

"But it's true. I... did know this would not be easy when I went to the priest... but it all looks somehow... more dangerous now..."

"We will manage. We must risk it, we must challenge the Council, topple Rareş of his throne. Only if he's gone, I can leave this place with you," Vlad said, bringing his hand over mine, which was still closed over the locket, "and enjoy my life with my daughter without worrying too much about my son. You know that..."

I nodded even as the door of the mill deep underneath us opened, letting light and voices spill into the night.

"Father!" Junior's voice called a few moments before he reached us, running up the precipice in a blur even before Clara could finish saying goodbye to her father.
"What are you two doing here?" he asked.

"Just... walking." I said, looking at Vlad for what I was supposed to say.

"We had a race and she lost..." Vlad said, lips twitching with a barely suppressed laughter.

I rolled my eyes at him, making Junior raise his eyebrows at me. "Right. Whatever. I think I don't want to know the details." He announced, vanishing down the rock wall, then reappearing in no time, Clara in his arms.

"Let's go home. It's late, at least for the humans." Junior said, kissing her on her forehead.

"I'm not tired." She protested. "But Grandmother and Katerina will be, Ioan is a handful right now and we left him with them for the whole afternoon..."

I nodded, understanding her worries well, my heart stumbling at the thought of Aurora... How is she doing with Lia and Stoker? What is she doing now?

We followed Junior and Clara hand in hand, choosing a different, much wider path up the hill to the castle. Here, Junior could carry her the whole way and it didn't take us long to get back.

We found Radu in the courtyard this time. "I went to see the chapel. The men say it won't take more than a few weeks before it is ready..." he said excitedly as Junior set Clara on her feet. "It's great, soon..."

I left the men there, fantasising about our near future, the moment when we would turn the Council against us definitely. I shivered while their excitement infused voices trailed after me as I followed Clara inside, in search of little Ioan.

What have I done...