HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE! I hope you have enjoyed my little take on our favourite two heroes. Here's hoping we get a book next year!!

Karigan was feeling elated and lent into Zachary as he wrapped his arm around her. They chatted companionably as they slowly made their way through the corridors when all of a sudden the royal suites were before them. Karigan blushed as Zachary turned to face her. He smiled softly. "Would you like any help with your dress or are you ok?" Karigan could have cried at his kindness for giving her some space. "I'm ok, thanks, " she replied. He nodded. "I'll see you soon." With that he kissed her, his eyes no longer smiling. His hands brushed her arms ever so lightly, sending shoots of electricity coursing through her skin. She shivered and entered her apartments, her eyes never leaving his as she closed the door softly.

Karigan found her new maid sitting in the corner, waiting for her. "Hi Jade," she said, somewhat wearily as Jade bowed. "Good evening, your majesty." Karigan blinked slowly. I've really got to get used to that, she thought. Karigan could hear water piping in her bathroom and could have kissed the girl with joy. She also had to stop kissing everyone she met. Well, everyone except… Smiling and shaking her head at the direction of her thoughts, she walked into the bathroom and started removing pins from her hair, feeling the relief as the strain left her head. She felt hands join hers as Jade assisted with her disrobing.

Jade went to reach for Karigan's dress pins when she was stopped mid-air by a hand gripping hers. She stood, head bowed and apprehensive of her new mistress. "Jade," Karigan said, "I think we need to talk quickly before you help me with my dress." Jade stood demurely. "I am sorry if I have offended you at all, your majesty." Karigan's eyebrows drew in puzzlement, too tired to figure out what the girl meant. "I don't….Jade I need to tell you something. You may have heard that I was a green rider once upon a time." Jade's lips dipped slightly in amusement before replying "Yes, your majesty." Karigan groaned inwardly. Of course she had. It was just so damn hard to tell a stranger. "Well, anyway. I performed many services for the king and I… sustained some injuries in doing so. There are wounds on my body. Especially my back. Just to let you know so you're not surprised." Jade bowed, "of course, your majesty. Please let me know if I can assist you in any way." Karigan sighed. "I can't move my arms too high so you are going to have to help me with my dress."

Karigan turned as Jade gently undid the pins and removed the back pieces of fabric. She watched Jade's reflection in the mirror opposite, watched as Jade's eyebrows flew up in horror as the dress slipped off Karigan and fell to the floor, revealing her scars in all their glory.

All of a sudden, the night caught up with Karigan. "Thank you, that will be all. I shall see you in the morning," she said brusquely. Jade bowed and murmured, "Good night, your majesty," before collecting the fallen garments and bowing out of the bathroom. Karigan stood naked in front of the mirrors staring at the scars shining back to her in all their ravaged glory and loathed herself all of a sudden. The day had been so long, her back was so sore, she felt overwhelmed with emotion, and at the end of it all, a king expected to lie with a beautiful wife who in truth looked more like a leftover battle axe. Karigan could barely look at herself and felt hot tears dripping down her face. Part of her knew that it was the exhaustion and stress talking but it was a part growing smaller by the second as her tears became an uncontrolled torrent.

She hurried out to the sitting room and reached the door connecting her room to Zachary's just in time to lock it as she felt the doorknob move. "Karigan?" a soft voice called. "I'm sorry," was her garbled reply as she made her way back into the bathroom and sank into the hot water. She sobbed and sobbed, letting waves of emotion crash over her as the heat worked its' magic on her back. Eventually her sobs quietened and she calmed. The pain had eased considerably and the water was lukewarm. With practiced ease she poured oil onto the water and moved her shoulders all around so that it coated her back, which softened the tightness of her skin. She breathed in the familiar scent of lavender and found the routine comforting. She was surprised to hear the fourth bell sound in the distance and got up slowly, feeling much more herself.

She put her nightdress on and brushed her long hair slowly, running her fingers through it's' lengths. She stood again in front of the mirror looking at the beautiful white cotton dangling off her shoulders, following the contours of her breasts and stomach, tapering at her thighs. She stroked the soft fabric in her hands and shivered. Karigan slowly walked out, feeling the heat of the hearth flames matching the heat that had grown in her cheeks. She thought about the man who stood waiting for her, the man she had so desperately wished to be one with for the years they had been forced apart.

Karigan hesitated at the door, reaching for the handle but unable yet to unlock it. What would he say after such a commotion? With a start, she realised that she was his wife. She now had the right to find out. Karigan leant her ear to the door to listen for noises, half thinking he might have fallen asleep and perhaps she should do the same. But no, there was the faint sound of pacing. Karigan sent a final thought of thanks to the gods before unlocking the key and slowly opening the door, unsure whether she should cross the threshold.

The sight that greeted her eyes was not one she would soon forget. Zachary stood framed by the fire, one arm on his waist and the other raking his hair. His shirt was half unbuttoned and Karigan found it difficult not to stare at his well-developed chest. He had stopped mid stride and was looking at her with worry. "Are you ok?" he asked anxiously. Karigan stepped forward into the room. "I'm sorry," she said evenly. "It's been such a long day and I felt, strange," she finished lamely. He smiled at her. Since the day she had sealed the Aeon Ire, they had been connected in a way that seemed immutable. And although she felt a hesitation at breaking this final barrier, she knew it had more to do with worry of her wounds than how she felt about him. Karigan had never felt more certain of her love. Alright, time to 'fess up, she thought. She took a deep breath. "I feel that after all this time, after all this…want between us, I don't want you to be disappointed if I can't…" Gods, I can't stuff this up any more if I tried, she thought with exasperation. She looked at him beseechingly, her eyes asking him to reassure her where her lips had failed.

In three swift movements he was in front of her, his arms grasping hers with trembling intensity. "Karigan, I want you to listen closely. I have loved none other than you. I cannot imagine that I could possibly love you more than I do right this second. I still cannot grasp the fact that we are truly together, after all this time. You could have lost your arms and I still wouldn't care. It is you I love, not your skin, and don't for one second think anything differently." He burnt with passion, but he waited. She thought for a moment, letting his declaration settle and soothe her. Enough, she said to herself.

She could feel the warmth starting to burn through her again as her tension melted and she grew more comfortable. She smiled. "Are you sure you don't love my skin?" she teased. In answer, he growled and kissed her. She met his lips with her own, and her embrace was equally fiery as her urgent need to be with him, filled by him, overtook her senses.

Soon all she knew was heat and warmth as his kisses trailed down her neck. She moaned as he reached her collarbone and then he was struggling with his clothes, kissing her whilst he fumbled with ties, as if he couldn't bear to be without her touch for even a single moment. Whilst he was busy, she undid the bows on her nightgown sleeve and the garment fell to pool at her feet. He stopped and stared at her naked body, his fingers drifting down her neck, her breasts and her navel. She closed her eyes, feeling intense pleasure at his touch. She shivered and he stopped, moving closer. She felt his loins brush against her, hard with desire. "You are so incredibly beautiful. I love you," he murmured into her ear. "I love you too," she whispered back, circling her arms around his waist and placing feather like kisses against his chest.

He groaned and leaned into her and the pressure against her thighs was intoxicating. His lips attacked hers hungrily and he pulled her down onto the rug by the fire, settling her on top of his hips. After a moment of fumbling he was inside her and she gasped at the unexpected feeling. There was a moment of pain and discomfort as he started to move and then she was lost as desire flooded every inch of her before waves of passion crashed over her body. Her climax was spectacular and she gazed down at him, panting and soft.

He had spent those precious moments watching as she had immersed herself in the experience and he was filled with a hunger like he had never known before. He could not bear it a second more when she smiled at him and in an instant he was sitting up, thrusting deeply into her and climaxing himself. She kissed his temples, his cheek, and he could have wept over the depth of love and care that each kiss held. They both sat for some while as their passion faded, clasping each other for dear life. Their union felt as if it has soothed a hundred hurts they never knew existed. Then Karigan yawned and Zachary laughed and kissed her soundly. "Well my love, it seems we are both due for a little rest." Karigan closed her eyes, "I don't even know if I can make it to bed. I might just fall asleep right here." He laughed. "As much as I like the sound of that, I suspect it might look a little strange to the servants in the morning." Karigan agreed and they untangled themselves.

They started forward and awkwardly ran into each other as Karigan turned towards his rooms and he turned towards hers. He hesitated. "Do you want me to walk you to your chambers?" Karigan was confused. "Um, I guess so. I just thought I would be sleeping with you. I hadn't really thought about how this would work." Zachary blinked and grinned. "You know, that never entered my head. But I would be the happiest husband in the world if you would sleep with me tonight." Karigan trailed her fingers down his arm and blushed. "Well, I thought that I might sleep with you every night. If you want." He smiled broadly and held out his hand for hers, then they both walked to his bed and fell asleep in each other's arms.

Karigan opened her eyes to find Zachary tracing the lines of her face with his eyes. She smiled at him and he leaned over to kiss her. "Gods," he said, his voice muffled in her hair, "You won't believe how many times I've dreamed of this moment. It doesn't feel real. I don't understand what I did for the gods to be so gracious." Karigan gazed at him thoughtfully. "We have both been through an awful lot the last few years. Perhaps it is a sign of better things to come." Or, she thought, more likely, the gods felt bad for manipulating her every which way. Not that gods felt bad. But still.

Zachary answered her slight frown with a slow kiss that gradually grew more and more urgent, his hands running over her body before resting on her breasts. She answered his embrace with equal passion and delighted in his gasps as her fingers found their way to his manhood. In a moment of lucidity she found herself surprised at her own boldness and enjoyment of this aspect of their marriage, which was far more than she had expected. But their connection was so strong and had endured so many challenges that she supposed it wasn't that surprising after all.

And then the moment of thought gave way to moans and sighs before finally he was on top of her, thrusting. Her hands ran down his stomach, taunt with muscle as he levered his weight off her. He hissed at her touch and drove harder. Before long they were both crying out with pleasure and release. He collapsed by her side. Karigan scooted into his arms and drew patterns on his chest as they came down to earth and their breath returned to normal.

Eventually the realities of being human got them out of bed and Karigan managed to put her nightclothes on without too much difficulty, before making her way across to her bedroom to bathe and change. She gracefully swallowed down blushes as her maid came in to brush her hair, wayward after a night of lovemaking. Jade then rubbed a small amount of liniment onto Karigan's back. Karigan stood for a few minutes afterwards and considered how she felt. Maybe, a little less tight? A little more ease? She shrugged; only time would tell if this salve would work although knowing who made it gave Karigan more hope than she had ever had in her quest for relief.

Karigan entered her wardrobe and although she would have given anything to wear her comfortable merchants outfit, she instead chose a cotton gown that would keep her cool as she joined the lord governors at the morning brunch.

She left her bedroom, clean and brushed and hungry, to find Zachary standing in front of the window looking handsome and happy. She crossed to him and he encircled her in his arms. "I love you, Zachary," she said, his smile growing wider. "I love you too, Karigan." And all of a sudden, it didn't matter that she couldn't wear her merchant's clothes or that she had royal duties from now until the end. All that mattered was that her heart was cared for by a man who loved her as she was, and whom she loved just as equally. Her peer, her lover, her companion. She smiled. All was well.