It was such a warm day to go out to the markets and look for herbs. I didn't wish to go around and look for whatever needed in a crowded and noisy place. Sellers were trying to attract someone, yelling and offering such prices that would be considered reasonable.

I simply wanted to leave and not be here.

"How much is one bag of those?" I asked quietly, pointing at the yellow herbs mother asked me to bring. The owner of the carriage rushed to me, not wanting to lose a precious customer.

He looked at me briefly, before he answered, "Two gold coins."

"Two gold coins?" I gasped, looking down at the single gold coin mother gave me. "Wasn't it one gold everyday?"

"Two gold coins, young lady." he glared at me, his eyes watching me as though I was a hindrance. "You don't have them, you don't get them."

I was left looking shocked. Mother told me it was only one gold coin for a single bag of those herbs. How—

"The lady would like a bag of those."

I flinched in shock at the masculine voice near me. I turned around, wondering who it was until my eyes landed on a handsome Warrior. He looked like a Warrior— he carried daggers and only Warriors carried daggers. Everyone else carried bows and arrows or swords.

Why was a complete stranger buying those pricy herbs for me? I thought, looking at him with confusion and respect as he paid for the herbs. He lifted the bag of bought herbs in front of me, a small smirk on his handsome face. Were all Warriors handsome?

"Thank you, Warrior." I whispered as I bowed my head down in respect. "You shouldn't have gone through the trouble."

I felt a finger tip my head up, making me look into the wild green eyes of the warrior. He was looking at me with an expression that made me nervous, scared a little.

"It's no trouble helping a beautiful lady." he replied back quietly.

My body tensed when he stepped closer to me. He was acting strangely, moving closer to me in a way I thought was too inappropriate. I gulped and just as I took a step back, I felt my back gently tap something solid.

I froze when I felt arms wrap around me, but when I realised how familiar those arms were, I relaxed into them. The Warrior glanced up behind me, then an irritated look crossed his handsome features.

"What do you think you're doing with my promised bride, Luke?" he tightened his arms around me, his voice as cold as the metal of his daggers.

"Promised bride?" the Warrior, Luke, grumbled. "Truly, Jonathan? Why do you always take the beautiful ones? She's too innocent for your taste, don't you agree? I thought you fancied—"

"Watch your tongue, Luke." Jonathan warned, his arms around me becoming so strong and restricting. Luke shook his head, frowning and casting a look of hatred to my Warrior.

"Is that why I rarely see you in our village?" Luke grumbled.

"That is none of your concern. Stay away from her." he visibly tightened his hold on me and brought me closer to him. "She's mine."

Luke grumbled a few harsh curses before he turned around and walked away from us. All the while, I wondered if Jonathan knew that Warrior. From the way they spoke, they sounded quite close to each other, but I didn't want to think too much of it in case I ended up being disappointed.

But they looked so similar in so many ways— one being the rare colour of their hair.

I turned around and looked at my Warrior questioningly, and when his eyes connected with my own he looked troubled and worried.

"Jewel, what he said— it's not— it wasn't—" he seemed troubled, anxious maybe. I stepped closer to him and placed a palm on his solid chest, feeling the wildness of his heart.

"Rest. I didn't pay it any attention." I whispered softly. When his features didn't soften, but remained the way they were, I smiled. "It's in the past, Jonathan. It's before we even met. I'm certain you stopped ever since you declared to make me yours, true?" I questioned— hoped. Just that small thought made me frown. He wouldn't have the heart to do that to me, that's what he constantly told me.

"I vow on my life as a Warrior, I stopped and became entirely yours ever since I saw you. There's no way I'd worship any other woman but you, my beautiful Jewel." he blurted with wide eyes, as though he couldn't digest the question, and brought me in his arms, brushing his lips to my temple lovingly.

A sign of trust and loyalty.

Mother always told me to be cautious of a warrior's actions, for his actions spoke words his lips could not. Even though the Warrior was unaware of it, his actions would always betray his words.

"You wouldn't betray me. Your actions assure me greatly." I smiled shyly. His eyes softened, and his hand slid up to caress my cheek tenderly. His actions proved it to me, and because he never hid his feelings or thoughts from me, I adored him even more and I trusted him so much that I wasn't sure how much.

"I adore you so damn much, my beautiful Jewel."

Twitch. I felt my fingers twitch.

"Hold a moment, why are you doing this?!" my heart pumped faster, my nervousness increased as he dragged me to our usual spot under a specific tree. I tried to yank my hand out of his hold, but it was pointless.

"Jona—!" I gasped when he unexpectedly spun me and pushed me against a tree. His forearms rested against the trunk of the tree, and I trembled as he gazed at me with vehement golden eyes. He was angry, and the way his taut body pressed closer to me worried me greatly.

"What were you doing with him?" he asked with his jaw locked and his teeth clenched together. I looked into his eyes with confusion. Whatever had gotten him so crossed seemed to be something related to me, but what had I done?

"My beautiful Jewel..." I froze at the warning in his voice. He sounded beyond irritated and he was scaring me. I gulped and shrunk my body back, for once hoping that I had someone here to get me out of this problem.

"I-I-I don't know! I hadn't done anything!" I stuttered helplessly, looking into his eyes pleadingly. "Please, Jonathan, you're scaring me."

His body twitched, and I instantly regretted what I had said. When a Warrior twitched, that was a sign anyone should be cautious of.

"I'm scaring you?" he calmly whispered, as though he could not believe his ears. He shook his head, then his arms gently fell away from the tree trunk and he took a step back. "I can't stand it when the one I adore is scared of me." his voice sounded angry, hurt but also forced. Had I really hurt his feelings with my own words and emotions?

When I took a step forward, he took one back and shook his head again, this time as though telling a child not to do anything. It sent a pang to my heart.

"Go back home, my adored. I won't be around for a while." his lips twitched to let out a forced smile, yet even a child could see that his smile showed his pain. No, don't show that to me.

"Jonathan, ple—"

"No, Jewel." he turned around and began to walk away. "It's too dangerous at night for a young lady. Please, go back home."

I sucked in a sharp breath, the pang in my heart intensified at the action. Without thinking, my feet began to run after him, until I noticed my arms wrapping around his toned waist. He stiffened visibly, and I heard his sharp intake of air, his body so stiff and rigid.

"Please, don't." I hid my face in his broad back, ignoring the stiffness of his body. "Why are you so vexed?"

"Because you're mine!" he yelled, spinning around and facing me with a look of angered desperation. "I loathed the way he made you laugh so freely! I loathed the way his hands touched you like you were an unclaimed treasure! It boiled my blood, Jewel, because you are mine and mine alone!"

When he noticed me silence, his arms gripped my tense shoulders, and when he did I couldn't help the flinch that my body allowed. He noticed it, making his grip on my shoulders tighter as he gazed into my eyes with grave seriousness.

"Am I scaring you?"

Not wanting to hurt him again, I inhaled deeply and squared my shoulders, gathering the courage to look into his eyes bravely and said, "No."

"Prove it." his arms fell from my body and he took a step back again.

My bravery faltered for only a brief moment, before I inhaled again and looked into his eyes calmly. I don't want to kiss him, because that wouldn't prove anything. I was too familiar with kissing him, so it wasn't a challenge.

"T..." I began to stutter, even though they were just a few words I had to say. Forget about your shyness for a moment, for his sake, please do it. "Touch m—"

It was too difficult to say such indecent words whilst looking into his eyes, that was why I casted my gaze down. Breathe, just breathe and try again. Please do it, do it for him, prove to him that you don't hate him, that you don't hate his presence or touch.

"Touch me."

"I won't touch you." he whispered as he observed quietly.

"Jonathan, please!" I cried helplessly, my fists clenching by my sides. "I've never been through any of this, so please help me out a little!"

"You need to prove it on your own, otherwise you're showing me that you're still not comfortable with me."

I let out an air of frustration, then I breathed in deeply. Breathe, just breathe. It's only him, he won't do anything you're not comfortable with. He had proved it enough.

There's only one thing I could do that would prove my feelings for him. Even though it's unacceptable for me to do it, it's the only way. I'm bringing shame to my family by doing this, but I won't let anyone know. No one will know about this, so I don't care.

I bowed my head and my shaky right hand moved towards his hand. From under my eyelashes I could see him watching me curiously. Slowly, I took his hand into my smaller one and guided it steadily to my chest, where I allowed his palm to rest flatly against my heart with both my palms pressing against the back of his hand.

I felt the quick rigidness of his entire body and I heard his sudden loud inhale. He was quiet, motionless. I tightened my hold on his hand, beginning to feel worried.

I had completely and willingly submitted to him. I had completely given my being to him. This action was only done by married women, because it was a sign of submission and a will to be owned. Married women were the only ones who could do this, for they would put themselves in the hands of their man and be completely willing to be tainted and taken by that particular man, who would then claim full ownership on the woman. It was looked down upon those who did it outside of marriage. It was worse than a lady sleeping with a man before marriage or a man other than her husband. It was highly shameful and dishonouring and if anyone found out, I'd be asked to chose either being forced to leave my village or die.

"Jewel—"

"You asked me to prove that I am not afraid of you, true?" I tightened my grip on his hand on my heart, ignoring the flaming of my cheeks. "I can't think of a better way to prove it than this."

"Jewel, you don't ha—"

"I want you to own me, Jonathan. I adore you too much, I trust you too much and I truly want to let you know, but I am too inexperienced and I think—" I took a deep breath and lifted my head to look into his widely shocked eyes. "I think this is the best way to prove it."

"You don't have to! There are many ways to prove it to me, Jewel! I don't want to force you into anything! I don't want you getting hurt!" he spoke desperately and his voice raised slightly, showing his evident fret. He tried to pull his hand back gently but I refused, tightening my hold on him.

"It's true that I don't have to, but I want to. You're not forcing me into anything, I am doing this because I want to. So please, my head lowered on its own because of my embarrassed state. I felt I was melting because of my cheeks. "Own me."

A finger gently lifted my chin up, urging me to gaze into tender golden eyes and he softly declared, "I vow on my life as Warrior, if anyone finds out about this, I'll protect you and keep you safe with all my might, even if it costs me my life."

He was already doing too much. A Warrior vowing on his life as a Warrior was a high word of honour. If a Warrior vowed on his life and rank, he would make sure to keep his vow at all costs and if he failed to fulfil his vow, he would take his life by himself because of the shame and dishonour of not being capable enough to keep his unbreakable pledge.

Jonathan had managed to bring me a dark cloak, different to the one I was wearing. With myself being almost unrecognised under the big dark cloak, Jonathan gently helped me on to his rare dark grey stallion with golden mane. I adored his stallion. It was one of the rarest stallions ever existed.

"Are you certain about this?" he asked lowly, as though there was something paining him. "I can truly wait, you don't ha—"

"I don't have to, but I want to." I reassured him, and reassured myself. I wanted to do this. There was no way would I ever regret this, even if people found out.

As Jonathan climbed on to his stallion gracefully, I felt my heart drum louder, quicker. Unconsciously, my hands fisted themselves. I tried to take unnoticeable deep breaths, but the more I did, the more my body trembled. What would I do? Will mother and father feel ashamed of me after this? Will my brother hate me?

When I realised those gentle arms wrapping around me from behind, bringing a muscular frame closer to me, I shivered. I don't wish for him to get the wrong message.

"Calm down. If you say it, we won't do it." I felt him bury his head in the crook of my neck and I felt his soft lips gently caressing my skin. "Are you okay if we go to my home?"

I tried to speak, but I was too nervous. Instead, I nodded slowly.

"Cover your face, my adored."

I did just as he requested, and as soon as his stallion began to move, I lowered my head down. I observed the way he took us through, he was taking us through the forest. No one would see us unless they were travellers coming from or going to different villages.

Much, much later, it came to me that we were in his village, for it was completely different to my village. There were different voices, different scents and in general, different grounds.

I didn't dare lift my head, I only observed from under my eyelashes. The stallion began to slow its pace, and soon I noted the homes that spread out on the peaceful land. Jonathan led us further away, and soon I could imagine the outline of a lovely wooden home secluded from the other homes.

He hopped off his stallion and petted his head, smiling and praising the creature. I looked up at him, admiring the way he treated his horse as though he was a childhood friend.

"Let me help you." his arms reached out for me, snaking around my waist and gently pulling me down to the ground. He took my hand in his and gave it a comforting squeeze. "Even though we came all the way to my village, there's still time. Don't force yourself to do it, Jewel. I can wait till our wedding night." he tried to reason again, though I could see the desire darkening his golden eyes.

I shook my head, managing to give him a smile. "I want to do it. I want to do it with you."

"I don't want to frighten you, Jewel." he whispered and it seemed as though he was pleading. He looked worried, anxious and dare I say... nervous?

"Are you going to accept my willingness or are you going to send me away?" I teased, hoping to hide my nerves and lighten the mood. He let out a grin, but it wasn't as lively as it usually was.

He walked me inside his wooden home and once we were inside, I couldn't help but marvel. I've never seen a Warrior's home, and it looked amazing. The place was suitable for a man, a Warrior, but not a family.

I believed that could be changed.

I smiled softly when I watched him lighting a few candles, the place quickly brightening up and only then was I able to truly appreciate it. I judged it wrongly. The place could house a family. The floor was adorned with animal fur and the walls were holding on to some candles and ancient decorations.

Jonathan came back to hold my hand, quietly walking me into his room and closing the door gently. He went back to lighting some candles, allowing me to appreciate his room, too. The bed was large and looked peaceful. It was well kept and tidy, his fighting tools placed neatly on a wooden table that rested against the wall and some even decorating his wall.

When he faced me, a soft gasp escaped me. His ash blonde hair looked darker, and his eyes held the flames of the candles. He looked more desirable, if possible.